Transcript Highlights:

• And my understanding is, based on enrollment, if we match up our declining enrollment in Orange County
• In pre-enrollment, there are 16,285.
• I'm sorry, in 26, we have 2,04 folks that are enrolled. Senator Smith. that are enrolled?
• There are 1,070 that are enrolled today.
• There are 1,070 that are enrolled today.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A key issue to discuss is enrollment.
• This is on the student-centered funding formula and enrollment review of apportionments and enrollment
• enrollment Enrollment has been recovering over the past three years.
• Student enrollment growth, specifically unfunded enrollment growth, is largely across 26 districts, with
• We have seen increases in enrollment in Calbright as well.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• what<00:47:54.880> Senate priorities, that is what Senate priorities, that is what Senate
• amendment when we go to open enrollment amendment when we go to open enrollment at<00:59:10.480>
• When that underwriting for enrollment.
• With an open enrollment the coverage.
• c> finite<01:37:28.880> taxpayer priority decisions with finite taxpayer priority decisions

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I enjoyed getting to know everyone's priorities.
• Because I'm looking at the enrollment trends...
• And my understanding is, based on enrollment, if we match up our declining enrollment in Orange County
• In pre-enrollment, there are 16,285.
• There are 1,070 that are enrolled today.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Where are your priorities? Help us.
• Where are your priorities? Help us.
• Where are your priorities? Help us.
• Where are your priorities? Help us.
• Where are your priorities? Help us.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Education Policy Committee approved the minutes from January 21, 2025, and then heard testimony from several school superintendents about the financial and operational impact of recent education-related mandates. Chair Bennett framed the hearing as an opportunity to hear from districts about the effects of more than 65 new mandates and restrictions adopted in recent years. The first witnesses were Corey McIntyre of Anoka-Hennepin, Michael Thomas of Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools, and David Law of Minnetonka Public Schools. The superintendents said districts are facing rising costs, flat or declining enrollment, the end of federal pandemic aid, and mandates they described as unfunded or underfunded. McIntyre cited major budget cuts in Anoka-Hennepin, including reductions in central office staff, and said the district faces continuing shortfalls tied to special education, multilingual learner costs, unemployment claims, paid leave, transportation, literacy materials, and the K-3 discipline statute. Thomas said Prior Lake-Savage is balancing growing student needs against limited revenue, and argued that mandates such as REACT and other requirements should be delayed or better funded so districts can implement them with fidelity. Law said the concerns are statewide, not just metro-based, and criticized the accumulation of expectations around food service, mental health, sick and safe time, unemployment, and family leave without corresponding resources. Several witnesses emphasized that school budgets are heavily committed to staff costs and that new obligations create administrative burdens as well as direct expenses. They urged lawmakers to reduce, delay, or better fund mandates, adjust timelines, and provide more flexibility in local revenue tools and equalization aid. No votes were taken on legislation during this portion of the meeting beyond approval of the prior day’s minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to get people enrolled in doing them.
• Two, our enrollment was abysmal there. We only had 95 people enrolled, which was not a lot.
• We need to enroll you in best management practices.
• People are getting enrolled. They're saying they're going to do best management practices.
• We're upping our enrollment. We're looking at our cost share and rethinking how it's done.

Summary: The committee meeting began with quorum, member introductions, and an overview of the Agriculture, Environment, and General Government budget process. The chair emphasized using the committee resource book and performance metrics to review the base budget and invited members to identify areas of interest for later discussion. Members were also reminded about appearance forms and speaking procedures. Wes Gregory of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services presented on agricultural best management practices and water policy. He said the office had updated all nine commodity BMP manuals and added a manual for small farms and livestock, expanded enrollment by 742 producers covering 677,000 acres, and used GIS and data analysis to target areas such as the Indian River Lagoon. He also described cost-share projects, a new field application for enrollment and inspections, cross-training staff, and a request for $20 million for regional water quality projects. Members asked about BMP enrollment, compliance, and enforcement; Gregory said noncompliance is uncommon and cases can be referred to DEP. Adam Blaylock of DEP reviewed environmental grant programs, saying the state has appropriated $2.9 billion since 2018 for water quality projects, with about 1,100 projects reducing nitrogen and phosphorus statewide. He described the Water Quality Improvement Grant, Indian River Lagoon, Biscayne Bay, Springs, Alternative Water Supply, and Resilient Florida programs, including a planned public dashboard and a water-quality monitoring portal. Senators asked about the application window, award timing, and the high cost of septic-to-sewer conversions, with Blaylock estimating a blended average of about $35,000 per home. Chief Conservation Officer George Worthing of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission then presented on invasive animal control. He discussed prevention, risk screening, law enforcement at ports, public outreach programs such as the Python Challenge, Lionfish Challenge, and Exotic Pet Amnesty Program, and early detection tools like the Ive Got One reporting system. He also described control efforts for Burmese pythons, tegus, and lionfish, along with research and partner coordination. Members asked about the most harmful invasive species and whether iguanas may be taken; Worthing said iguanas are open for take, subject to other laws. The meeting ended after members briefly identified priorities such as water quality, recreation water quality, sustainability, sea level rise, and septic-to-sewer infrastructure, and the committee adjourned without any formal votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Education in K-20 has been a priority for my family.
• I currently have a granddaughter who attends as a dual-enrollment student.
• I currently have a granddaughter who attends as a dual-enrollment student.
• I currently have a granddaughter who attends as a dual-enrollment student.
• One of my big priorities is real estate.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to consider a large slate of confirmations and reappointments to boards of trustees for Florida’s colleges, universities, and the Florida Prepaid College Board. Chair Harrell opened by emphasizing the importance of trustee appointments to maintaining Florida’s higher education system, and the committee heard brief testimony from each nominee about their background, ties to the institution, and priorities such as student success, workforce alignment, fiscal stewardship, and community partnerships. Several nominees highlighted personal connections to their schools, including alumni status, family legacy, or prior service on the board, while others emphasized experience in business, law, education, health care, or public service. Testimony focused heavily on workforce development and institutional growth. Speakers cited nursing, dual enrollment, applied programs, military and veteran support, broadband access, agriculture, law enforcement, and technical training as key areas for colleges to meet regional labor needs. University nominees discussed research expansion, affordability, strategic planning, and partnerships with industry and government, with Florida Atlantic, Florida Polytechnic, the University of West Florida, and the University of South Florida each described as being in periods of growth or transition. Miami-Dade College, Tallahassee State College, Polk State College, and other state colleges were praised for enrollment, economic impact, and job placement outcomes. The committee also heard from the Florida Prepaid College Board reappointee, who described the program as a long-term promise backed by public trust and reported recent technology and customer-service improvements. After testimony, the committee took up the nominations as a group. One nominee, Drew Weatherford, had withdrawn and was not voted on. The remaining trustees were approved unanimously by roll call and reported favorably to the Ethics and Elections Committee. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, yeah, higher education is a priority for all of us, no argument for that.
• So we have a lot of data in this regard, but those are the types of priorities.
• How do we determine the priority for funding higher education versus the new UMass?
• the one and then. first two priority projects.
• For Fitchburg State, our two strategic priorities really begin with this work.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on the BRIGHT Act, a higher education capital bill that would use Fair Share surtax revenue to fund major repairs, modernization, and decarbonization projects across UMass, state universities, and community colleges. UMass leadership described a $4.8 billion deferred maintenance backlog, aging buildings, and the need to modernize facilities, improve accessibility, and reduce emissions. Administration officials said the bill would authorize $2.5 billion in capital funding, split roughly 50-50 between UMass and the rest of public higher education, plus additional targeted funding for housing planning, smaller modernization projects, campus master plans, and workforce skills grants. They emphasized that the financing structure is modeled on the Commonwealth Transportation Fund and would not raise student costs, while also supporting affordability through financial aid and free community college. Members raised questions about regional equity, the distribution of funds among the five UMass campuses and the 24 state university/community college campuses, project labor agreements, whether the bill would unlock private or federal matching funds, and how the system is preparing for AI and changing workforce needs. UMass officials said project selection is data-driven, based on deferred maintenance, safety, accessibility, sustainability, and programmatic needs, and that the flagship campus in Western Massachusetts would likely receive a large share because of its size and needs. They also said UMass Boston would receive its own share and would not be shortchanged by the Bayside project. On labor, they said PLAs are commonly used and they would follow existing board and building authority policies. On affordability, they said the university has shifted hundreds of millions into need-based aid and that the state’s recent support has helped keep tuition low for many students. DCAMM and higher education officials said the state’s public campuses account for a large share of state-owned building space and a disproportionate share of operational carbon emissions, making decarbonization a major driver of the bill. They said the legislation would allow larger, more comprehensive projects that can address deferred maintenance, energy efficiency, and program needs at the same time, while also making some projects shovel-ready through the Fair Share supplemental funding already appropriated. A later panel from the State Universities Council of Presidents argued the bill’s authorization is still too small to meet long-term needs and urged the committee to increase the bond cap and ensure a more equitable distribution among segments. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're strong supporters of dual enrollment.
• So, we are very strong supporters of dual enrollment.
• Every student would have been enrolled, and from our perspective, every student would be enrolled in
• in dual enrollment.
• As a former dual-enrollment student myself, I appreciate the efforts to expand dual-enrollment programs

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Focused state priorities: how can we?
• With one-time money, focused state priorities, how can we stick to clear, stable, statewide priorities
• And for priority schools rather than rewarding only existing teachers.
• They have to serve in a priority school or teach in a priority school for two years.
• A priority school is defined as a school where at least 55% of the students enrolled are English learners

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance heard an extended discussion on state efforts to recruit, prepare, and retain teachers, with a focus on whether current programs are sustainable and well targeted. Testimony from the Learning Policy Institute, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the Department of Education, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office described persistent shortages, especially in special education, math, science, bilingual education, and high-need schools. Speakers emphasized that residency programs, Golden State Teacher Grants, National Board incentives, classified employee pathways, and undergraduate teacher pipelines have helped increase preparation and retention, but many of these efforts rely on one-time funding and lack long-term certainty. Committee members repeatedly raised concerns about the “leaky pipeline,” working conditions, the burden of student debt, and whether the state should simplify and institutionalize support for aspiring teachers rather than rely on a patchwork of grants. The agencies presented data showing continuing shortages and uneven distribution of fully credentialed teachers. CTC reported projected hiring needs of roughly 20,000 to 25,000 teachers annually, with the highest needs in self-contained classrooms, special education, and certain regions of the state. It also noted that emergency permits, waivers, and intern credentials remain high, and that teachers entering through those routes have higher turnover. LPI cited research showing residency-prepared teachers are more effective and more likely to stay, and argued that Golden State Teacher Grants attract candidates who might not otherwise enter teaching and help them complete preparation. CDE stressed that most new demand comes from attrition and urged support for multiple entry points, tuition assistance, and campus-based coursework. Several members also discussed the role of community college pathways, dual credentialing, and support for school leaders as part of retention. The LAO recommended rejecting the educator pipeline proposals under discussion, citing limited evidence of effectiveness and suggesting that any new spending should be more narrowly targeted to the highest-need schools and long-standing shortage subjects. The LAO also said that if the Legislature funds new programs this year, Proposition 98 would be preferable given the state’s fiscal condition. Committee members pushed back on the idea that declining enrollment or layoffs would solve shortages, noting that shortages and layoffs can coexist in different subject areas and regions. The discussion ended with agreement that staff would continue working with agencies on how to make teacher pipeline investments more consistent, coherent, and easier for candidates to navigate. The committee then turned to the Golden State Teacher Grant Program. Finance proposed $50 million in one-time General Fund support to extend the program for one additional year, while the LAO recommended rejecting the proposal because the first CSAC evaluation is not due until later in the year and because the funding would be non-Proposition 98. CSAC supported the extension, saying demand has been strong, over 20,000 aspiring educators have been served since 2021, and the agency had to pause applications after receiving more than 9,200 this year; it also said more than 2,500 candidates had already expressed interest for next year. Members asked how many students the new funding would serve, and CSAC estimated just under 5,000 awards at $10,000 each. The discussion also covered whether the grant could be moved into Proposition 98 and how the one-time nature of the funding affects confidence among prospective teachers.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the number of folks enrolled.
• Next, enhancing enrollment and client initiatives: trying to get more clients enrolled in Medicaid, maximizing
• health care coverage outreach and enrollment.
• Most recent open enrollment period, we've talked nationally about the impact on open enrollment of the
• Most recent open enrollment period, we've talked nationally about the impact on open enrollment of the

Keywords: House Room C, General Assembly Building, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In this model, workforce enrollment is weighted one and a half times non-workforce enrollment.
• What is your share of enrollment? What's your share of workforce enrollment?
• And then those final. enrollment, what's your share of workforce enrollment?
• that were going to be workforce enrollments, which include baccalaureate enrollments, and just made
• and the priority That we're holding ourselves accountable for the mission in terms of enrollment and

Summary: The Appropriations Committee for Higher Education met to review Florida’s workforce and Florida College System funding models as part of budget planning. Chair Harrell opened by emphasizing the state’s growing focus on technical education and workforce pathways, and the committee first heard from Tara Goodman of the Department of Education on district workforce education. Goodman explained the programs funded through district workforce dollars, including career certificates, applied technology diplomas, registered apprenticeship, and adult general education, and described the model’s reliance on lagged enrollment, program cost weights, local tuition offsets, and supplemental factors such as disability services, GED testing, and minimum funding for small rural districts. She also noted federal support through Perkins and WIOA and said the model is used to determine unmet need and guide appropriations. In response to questions, she said health care programs are generally among the higher-cost offerings and may be supplemented by pipeline funds. The committee then heard from Kathy Hebda, Chancellor of the Florida College System, on the college system’s funding model. Hebda described the main funding sources, including the program fund, student success incentive funds, pipeline funds, tuition and fees, and performance-based incentives, and explained that the current model was developed by the 28 college presidents under legislative direction. She said the model uses a three-year average FTE, weights workforce enrollment more heavily than non-workforce enrollment, gives significant weight to completions, includes a small-college factor and regional cost differentials, and also provides targeted funding to bring colleges up to a floor based on per-FTE funding. Senators asked about colleges below the target, cost differences among programs, faculty salaries, and health insurance costs; Hebda said the model is meant to provide flexible operating dollars that colleges can use for those expenses, but specific salary and benefit decisions are left to the institutions. Seminole State College President Georgia Lorenz also testified in support of the college funding model, saying it holds institutions accountable for enrollment and completions, can be adjusted to reflect state priorities like workforce, and addresses differences in size and regional costs. No bills were voted on, and the committee adjourned after brief closing remarks thanking Seminole State College and the presenters.

Transcript Highlights:

• the priorities of the state and how you spend our precious tax dollars.
• But this is a priority.” “This is a priority that families are asking for. It’s popular.
• That was a top priority for L.A. Gator last year.
• As a result, our enrollment is suffering, and parents are uncertain about even enrolling when they know
• I am the Director of Enrollment at Brighton School here in Baton Rouge.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it is for co-admissions and co-enrollment.
• Not to the degree that we're having co-admissions and co-enrollments. enrollment.
• rates and to fund enrollment growth.
• Since 2010, our system-wide enrollment... enrollment is up 32% for about 23,000 students, which is like
• They come, you know, they get- ready to enroll, they're not even enrolling yet and all of a sudden they

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if the district has declining enrollment, has 45 districts do?
• It's not necessary for and neighborhood public school to lose enrollment.
• But if for 5 years in a row, you're seeing declining enrollment in your district.
• When you're in a declining enrollment, we are points away from being in a school district.
• Modifies the priority levels for the program to include to tears of income eligibility.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > by<00:09:09.120> 75%, enrollment is up by 75%, enrollment is up by 75%, an<00:09:11.600
• because we know that uh the enrollment because we know that uh the enrollment cliff<00:32:15.760
• future for that enrollment future for that enrollment and<00:32:24.480> then<00:32:24.720
• That takes time and and enrollment.
• This is a legislative cre priority.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee opened with quorum and decorum reminders, then approved the minutes from February 26, 2026. Members briefly set aside a planned follow-up on GO students from Minnesota State after being told the questions had been fully answered, and moved on to Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College’s storm damage presentation. Bemidji State President John Hoffman and facilities staff described the June 21 derecho that hit Bemidji, causing widespread roof, window, tree, and infrastructure damage across both campuses and the surrounding community. Hoffman said the institutions were already recovering from pandemic-era enrollment and budget losses, but had improved new student enrollment, retention, fundraising, and deficits before the storm. He emphasized that the campuses were well insured, but that restoring the tree canopy and campus character would take far longer than repairing buildings. Facilities worker Brent Steinmets gave a personal account of the storm response and cleanup, describing days of chainsaw work, debris removal, window repairs, and stump grinding, and noting that many employees were also dealing with damage at their own homes. Members asked what kind of funding request was being made, and Hoffman said Chair Duran was preparing a bill tied to the storm damage and reforestation needs, while alumni had already raised more than $80,000 through a “Replanting Our Roots” campaign. He said the institutions had spent about $50,000 in deductible costs and another $25,000 in unreimbursable overtime, and had hired a landscape architect to plan reforestation. Members also asked about enrollment growth and staffing reductions; Hoffman said overall enrollment was up a little more than 2% since fall 2022, new student enrollment had risen 17%, NTC headcount was up 75%, and the campuses had reduced about 30% of instructional faculty and close to 30% of overall employees while reorganizing programs and administration. Discussion also focused on preserving liberal arts and applied liberal arts offerings, with Hoffman saying the institutions were emphasizing critical thinking, communication, citizenship, interdisciplinarity, and human intelligence alongside workforce training. No vote was taken on the storm-related funding proposal during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Enroll typically involves the educational institution. We enroll our kids in school and such.
• 1, Priority 2, even Priority 3, and the majority of the users of this voucher program will be Priority
• Yes, they are included in those that can enroll. In those that can enroll? Yes.
• They're just not enrolled. They're not enrolled at the public school anymore.
• enrollment, aren't we?

Bills: HB 3

Keywords: emergency communication, public safety, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, grant program, emergency communications, public safety radio, first responders, radio system, dispatch, 911, emergency management, Texas Division of Emergency Management, public safety infrastructure, Project 25, P25, broadband emergency alerting, outdoor warning sirens, homeland security, disaster response

Transcript Highlights:

• Priorities.
• On enrollment, we have been tracking enrollment.
• In contrast to declining enrollment trends nationwide, we've been steadily growing enrollment across
• Enrollment continues to climb, with approximately 69,000 new students enrolled this fall, including a
• Both dual enrollment and apprenticeships are two priorities for our office.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So students enrolling full-time will receive larger awards than students enrolling part-time.
• <00:25:49.480> for estimated increases in enrollment for estimated increases in enrollment
• relative to anticipated enrollment relative to anticipated enrollment changes<00:26:29.679> so
• <00:35:59.000> are year to and fees and enrollment are year to and fees and enrollment are
• We do expect students who may have previously enrolled to make the decision to not enroll for summer

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee received an informational presentation from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education on the State Grant program and governor-recommended changes, with some discussion of North Star Promise. Staff explained that State Grant is the state’s largest financial aid program, intended to promote college access and choice for students with the highest financial need, and that it works alongside Pell Grants. They reviewed program eligibility, award calculation, and participation rules, and noted that the program serves a large share of low- and middle-income students, including many dependent students, student parents, BIPOC students, and adult learners. They also described how awards and spending are distributed across public and private institutions and how the agency projects spending using enrollment, tuition, and FAFSA data. A major focus was the current fiscal-year deficit in State Grant. Staff said the program is experiencing a shortfall driven by higher-than-expected enrollment, more students with greater financial need, and major FAFSA formula changes that increased the number of applicants with zero or negative student aid index values. They said the office has already rationed awards where allowed and imposed a FAFSA deadline for spring awards, and does not expect to fund some awards. Officials explained that if the program projects a surplus, they typically adjust the living and miscellaneous expense allowance to spend down funds; if it projects a deficit, they can increase student and family responsibility to reduce award sizes, but the program must stay within its appropriation. Senator Duckworth asked several questions about whether unused funds could be transferred between State Grant and North Star Promise, and how the two programs are treated. Staff said State Grant funds revert to the general fund at the end of the biennium, while North Star Promise uses a special revenue account, and that transfers may be possible but would need clarification under current authority. They referenced a prior legislative transfer from North Star Promise funds to cover a shortfall in the Fostering Independence Grant and said they would follow up on the exact transfer authority. No votes or formal actions were taken during the presentation and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 5175 by Bernal, relating to governing actions involving certain investment securities and priority
• Davis, relating to the disclosure of information regarding an open enrollment charter school management
• HB 5175 by Bernal, relating to governing actions involving certain investment securities and priority
• HB 5175 by Bernal, relating to governing actions involving certain investment securities and priority
• HB 5175 by Bernal, relating to governing actions involving certain investment securities and priority

Keywords: 1184, house, all