Transcript Highlights:

• students come in one two three grade students come in one two three grade levels<00:08:22.639>
• to fifth grade.
• to fifth grade.
• <00:15:11.440> to blocks of time from say third grade to blocks of time from say third grade
• Funding for elementary grade levels, I personally believe, is not adequate in order to keep our class

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides for medical school students' grading. This is Senate Bill 234 by Senator Presley.
• It provides for medical school students' grading. Senator Presley on your bill.
• This is a bill regarding grading for medical students within our medical schools in Louisiana.
• So instead of happening around the 10th grade, this moves that back to around the eighth grade.
• I do imagine that the board plays a role in those high-level administrative hires.

Bills: HB818, HB1063, SB28, SB64, SB142, SB234, SB482

Keywords: higher education, accountability, curriculum review, faculty governance, disciplinary procedures, SB 28, Act 233, associate educator program, associate teachers, teacher certification, alternative teacher pathway, education workforce, teacher shortage, minimum age, age requirement, Louisiana schools, Title 17, R.S. 17:7.8, educator pipeline, teacher recruitment

Summary: The House Education Committee met on April 29, 2026, and heard several education-related bills. SB 234, which would change Louisiana medical schools from pass-fail grading to letter grading, was briefly discussed and reported favorably without objection. SB 142, dealing with the management of Board of Regents support fund matched endowments if a related constitutional amendment passes, drew questions about endowment matching, oversight, and the roughly $75 million in outstanding match requests; it was also reported favorably. SB 482, which expands the use of career coaches in middle and high school individual graduation plans and adds reporting requirements for career development funds, received support from BESE and other groups, with members asking about counselor shortages and whether districts would be required to contract with outside vendors; it was reported favorably. SB 64, requiring two people to be present for the initial viewing of video from special education classroom cameras, was supported as a safeguard for students and staff and was reported favorably. The committee then took up HB 1063, a broad higher education governance bill that would require board review of core curricula, increase transparency in hiring and board actions, limit faculty senate authority to advisory status, and restrict spending without board certification. The bill prompted extensive questioning about whether it would create new boards, how it would be funded, and whether boards could realistically handle the workload; the author said the committee would not vote that day and moved to voluntarily defer the bill, which passed without objection. HB 818, as amended, was converted into a reporting bill requiring public inventories and state reporting on assessments used by schools, including their purpose and results; after amendment adoption, it was reported favorably. Finally, SB 28 lowered the minimum age for associate teachers from 25 to 21 to help address the teacher shortage, with department staff saying it could expand the pipeline of candidates; it was reported favorably. The committee also announced its next meeting would be Wednesday, May 6, and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are the fifth grade class.
• These are, this is the fifth grade class.
• I too have two incredible students in the fifth grade.
• FFA chapter, grades 7 through 12.
• level, post the number of vacations. ...to determine the capacity of each public school by grade level

Bills: HM3, HM11, HM14, HM15, HM21

Keywords: nurses, health care workers, healthcare workers, frontline workers, hospital staff, clinicians, allied health professionals, support staff, public health, workforce shortage, nursing shortage, safe staffing, patient safety, rural health care, frontier communities, behavioral health, mental health, substance use disorder, substance abuse, health care memorial

Transcript Highlights:

• On lines four and five on the first page, it seems to apply to any grade level.
• it seems to apply to any grade level. it seems to apply to any grade level.
• Uh, what age level or grade level you typically envision participating in this?
• >> what, uh, age level or grade level you >> what, uh, age level or grade level you
• levels is it would be pre-K of the grade levels is it would be pre-K through<02:32:30.080> 12

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• students that that have a higher level students that that have a higher level of<00:27:48.960>
• By March 2026, when presented with unrehearsed fifth-grade-level passages, Cindy will increase her rate
• When presented with unrehearsed fifth-grade-level passages, Cindy will increase her rate of reading orally
• When presented with unrehearsed fifth-grade-level passages, Cindy will increase her rate of reading orally
• When presented with unrehearsed fifth-grade-level passages, Cindy will increase her rate of reading orally

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• level.
• They're not at grade level. They're above grade level. So that's a pretty good score.
• If you're at proficient, you're at grade level. And now we look at, we've got 40, 50...
• If you're at proficient, you're at grade level.
• But even if they, you know, with their license required them to move to different grade levels, this

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 2271, which would formally place adult residential facilities in code and rebase their Medicaid reimbursement rates. Sponsor Chairman Ruby and HHS staff explained that these facilities, often serving people with dementia or acquired brain injury, are reimbursed at a much lower rate than skilled nursing care and help reduce bottlenecks in higher-level facilities. Members questioned how the program differs from basic care and nursing facility memory care, and the bill was referred to the HR section for deeper review before possible action on Monday. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2396, as amended, which would authorize an independent third-party performance audit of the Department of Commerce and the North Dakota Development Fund, with findings shared with the state auditor. Sponsors said the proposal was prompted by concerns raised in testimony and that a private audit could begin faster than a state audit. The committee adopted an amendment adding an emergency clause and directing the report to the Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee, then passed the bill 20-0 with 3 absent. Next, Representative Clemine presented Senate Bills 2226, 2036, and 2037. SB 2226 would presume an incarcerated person indigent at initial appearance so counsel can be provided at that critical stage; the commission said the appropriation would fund contract attorney hours, and the bill was sent to HR for further review. SB 2036 would create procedures for determining juvenile fitness to proceed in delinquency cases, with a $500,000 appropriation for mental health evaluations, and SB 2037 would begin a juvenile criminal code framework and include a $300,000 appropriation for fitness-to-proceed evaluations; both were also referred to HR, with some concern raised about staffing and overlapping functions. After a short break, the committee heard education-related appropriations bills. SB 2234 would replace expired ESSER funding for Choice Ready grants, but members noted the program was not included in the K-12 budget and sent it to E&E for comparison with existing appropriations. SB 2286, a University of North Dakota request for a new nursing school facility, drew extensive discussion about the age and condition of the current building and the size and scope of the project; the committee ultimately adopted a do-not-pass motion 22-0. SB 2213, the “science of mathematics” bill modeled on the science of reading initiative, would fund math professional development and implementation; it was also referred to E&E for further review. The committee then briefly passed the Racing Commission budget, SB 2023, and began discussion of the Trust Lands budget, SB 2013, including a proposed retention increase for investment-related positions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Despite the fact that 29% of Minnesota eighth-grade students failed to demonstrate a minimum level of
• The eighth graders who cannot read at grade level and the fourth grade students underperform their national
• <00:03:27.959> level graders who cannot read at grade level graders who cannot read at grade
• level and<00:03:28.319> the<00:03:28.400> fourth<00:03:28.640> grade<00:03:28.840
• We are creating standards that are clear, measurable, appropriate for each grade level, and ensuring

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:43:02.720> Academic<00:43:03.280> standards grade level specific.
• Academic standards grade level specific.
• <00:43:08.560> level determine the grade level determine the grade level specificity.<00:43
• <00:59:00.960> level<00:59:01.280> reading 29.10 amends the grade level reading 29.10
• It's committed to serving dyslexia and grade-level literacy proficiency through education, training,

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The position requested is a Supreme Court police chief at a grade LESO5, with a salary range of $67,000
• But when you collapse everybody's existing pay grades... ...to 15%.
• But when you collapse everybody's existing pay grades...
• But when you collapse everybody's existing pay grades or titles, and you get rid of a whole bunch of
• And then even if we get to the midpoint on those pay grades, ours are still falling way below.

Summary: The committee met to consider several budget and staffing requests tied to constitutional offices and the Supreme Court, with opening remarks noting that fringe benefits are now calculated at 40% to 45% and that constitutional officers may pay the maximum if they choose. Item B, a Supreme Court request for one new Supreme Court police chief position with no appropriation increase, was approved. Item C, from the Secretary of State, sought five additional Capitol Police corporal positions, title realignments, and salary maximum adjustments, along with a $498,000 appropriation increase; members questioned how the office could absorb pay changes without new funding, and the office explained it was cleaning up a large and outdated classification structure while also preparing to provide security for an additional building. The item was approved. Item D, from the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, proposed moving from line-item maximum salaries to state pay-plan grades, with no change in total positions but about a $349,000 increase in salaries and matching funds. Office representatives said the office had not had raises in nearly a decade and needed the change to stay competitive and retain staff, but members raised concerns about comparing the office’s pay to other agencies and about office staffing and accessibility. Senator Hill asked to hold the item for offline discussion, and the committee agreed to hold it until the next day. Item E, from the Auditor’s Office, requested salary realignments, increases to line-item maximums, and two new positions tied to UCP claims and compliance work, with a total increase of $579,468. The auditor said the office had already pulled a government relations position from the request after an updated packet was issued, and defended the remaining increases as market-based and revenue-neutral, with some work funded by interest earnings. Members questioned the need for a legislative affairs position and whether the salary increases were aligned with the market, but after discussion the committee approved the item. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• reporting at the school level and financial and organizational reporting at the level of the scholarship
• , the department level, and the other support providers.
• I think here the concept, again, To be at the state board level.
• And in third grade, more than half of students in third grade are not at that particular cut level.
• Yes, the ACT in high school in 11th grade.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Due to behavioral issues arising, he was given a BIP, a behavioral intervention plan in 2nd grade, and
• Um, When he was in 8th grade, he was having a behavioral day.
• I taught in both 1st, I mean 2nd and 3rd grade.
• When I became his teacher in 2nd grade, our school began implementing a social and emotional learning
• He went from reading two grade levels behind to reading on grade level in 3rd grade, passed his star

Bills: HB6, HB120, HB210

Keywords: hemp, consumable hemp products, hemp-derived cannabinoids, CBD, cannabidiol, CBG, cannabigerol, Texas hemp law, hemp regulation, cannabinoid products, delta-9 THC, intoxicating hemp, hemp gummies, hemp vape, retail registration, product registration, QR code labeling, child-resistant packaging, youth access, minor sales

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, only 48% of Texas third graders are reading on grade level, and it drops to 42% in math.
• They need to build out new classroom space to add students and new grade levels for their innovative
• credential attainment, and lifetime earnings, but nearly 60 percent of Texas students do not meet grade-level
• If especially maybe in younger ages, maybe eighth grade and below or sixth grade and below, that we could
• Fewer than half of Texas students meet grade-level standards in math and reading by third grade.

Bills: HB2

Keywords: disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license, volunteer management system, volunteer registration, criminal history check, background check, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Summary: The committee continued public testimony on House Bill 2, which would make major changes to public school funding, teacher pay, special education, early learning, school safety, and related programs. Many superintendents and education advocates supported the bill’s overall direction but urged changes, especially a larger basic allotment and more flexible funding for rural and small districts. Witnesses from Paint Creek, West Hardin, Cushing, Blooming Grove, Mildred, Buffalo, Plano, and rural school groups said the bill’s targeted raises and new requirements would not fully cover inflation, TRS/Medicare costs, transportation, insurance, or support staff salaries, and several asked the committee to restore the House version’s higher basic allotment and small-school allotment. Charter school representatives supported the facilities funding changes and said charter schools need state help because they cannot levy taxes, while also noting the funding gap with ISDs. Fine arts advocates asked the committee to restore the fine arts allotment, arguing arts improve engagement, attendance, and academic outcomes, especially in rural and at-risk communities. Early learning and special education witnesses supported parts of the bill but raised concerns about pre-K restrictions, disability-related pre-K access, and the need to preserve or clarify special education provisions and mental health oversight language. Several witnesses praised the teacher pay raise, teacher incentive allotment expansion, and teacher preparation investments, saying they would help recruit and retain educators and improve student outcomes. Others, including counselors and support staff advocates, argued the bill should also include raises for counselors, nurses, librarians, bus drivers, custodians, aides, and other non-teaching employees who keep schools running. One witness from the Texas Counseling Association opposed the substitute because it removed a counselor pay provision, warning of counselor shortages and inequities. A parent and special education advocate said the bill’s structure creates too many strings attached and asked for a larger basic allotment instead of more targeted funding. Another witness from Mental Health America urged keeping the collaborative task force on public school mental health services through 2031, and a disability rights advocate said the committee substitute appears to omit some special education items that were in the House version. The committee also briefly took up House Bill 6, a school discipline bill. After questions about automatic mandatory expulsion for vape possession and concerns about younger students, the committee adopted the substitute and voted to report HB 6 favorably to the full Senate by a 9-1 vote, with Senator Menendez voting no and Senators West and Menendez expressing reservations but supporting further discussion. After that vote, testimony on HB 2 resumed. Senators used the hearing to ask about the bill’s cost, the difference between the basic allotment and the bill’s targeted funding buckets, and whether the permanent teacher pay increase shifts pressure off districts. The bill’s supporters emphasized that it represents an historic, roughly $8 billion investment and that many of the new funding streams are intended to be permanent or to address specific district needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• The TEKS are the elements of what a student must know in one grade level in order to successfully enter
• the next grade level.
• That they can be successful at each grade level.
• HB 100 ensures that teachers will have the material with 100% of the grade-level TEKS, that it will be
• Students will have the highest quality of tools necessary in order to show mastery at each grade level

Summary: The House convened with prayer, pledges, and several ceremonial recognitions, including Wilson County Day, San Antonio Mission Indian Descendants Day, and Blue Ribbon Lobby Day, along with acknowledgments of visiting groups and a birthday greeting. The chamber also announced committee meetings and then moved into floor business, including conference committee action on Senate Bill 1, the state budget. A series of motions to instruct House conferees on SB 1 were debated and voted on. One motion sought to restore salary for Attorney General Ken Paxton after his impeachment-related suspension; it passed 88-56. Another, from Rep. Olcott, directed conferees to support amendments requiring data collection on the costs of undocumented immigrants in hospitals and prisons; after extended debate and a failed amendment from Rep. Martinez Fischer to also study immigrants’ economic contributions, the motion passed 86-61. The House also adopted instructions to eliminate Texas Lottery Commission funding, to support amendments restricting public education institutions from affirming gender identities inconsistent with biological sex, and to seek an additional $4 billion in property tax relief, with each motion passing on recorded votes. The House then took up a supplemental calendar and passed several bills, including HB 39 on veteran death data, HB 102 on priority registration for certain students entering military service, HB 126 on student-athlete compensation and representation, HB 290 on tuition and fee assistance for members of the Texas military forces, HB 300 on Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program updates, and HB 2143 naming a highway in honor of Army Specialist Joey Lins. The chamber also postponed consideration of HJR 2 and HJR 6. Later, the House considered HB 120 on career and technology education pathways and HB 20 on applied science pathway programs for high school students. HB 120 received a perfecting amendment and was advanced after discussion about workforce preparation. HB 20 prompted extensive questioning about transportation, costs, and how students would access partner campuses such as community colleges and TSTC sites; debate continued as the transcript ended, with members examining how the program would operate and whether approval authority would rest with TEA.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some are over capacity at certain grade levels.
• It's not clear in the bill how the mandate to ignore grade or age levels works in the context of grade-level
• It's not clear in the bill how the mandate to ignore grade or age levels works in the context of grade-level
• It's not clear in the bill how the mandate to ignore grade or age levels works in the context of grade-level
• available per grade level and specials?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She's in first grade.
• to second grade, and she was in a higher grade and now he or she's in a lower grade, and they have to
• move from fifth grade to second grade<00:34:14.800> and<00:34:15.040> she<00:34:15.280>
• <00:34:16.079> and grade and she was in a higher grade and grade and she was in a higher grade
• <00:34:17.760> and now he or she's in a lower grade and now he or she's in a lower grade and

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The 24-star administration shows less than half of students are meeting grade level expectations.
• You'll note instructional improvements by our teacher. across grade levels and in all tests.
• Classroom teachers, regardless of grade level, et cetera, are eligible to earn a designation.
• grade, also across multiple grade levels, and a significant reduction in F and D. schools.
• With 80% of my students testing at or above grade level in reading proficiency.

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• We will need additional funding to update kindergarten through second grade and grades six through 12
• to update kindergarten through 2 grade to update kindergarten through 2 grade and<01:32:05.760><
• > our<01:32:07.800> literacy and grades six through 12 our literacy and grades six through
• phonics in all of our Elementary grades phonics in all of our Elementary grades and<01:32:11.600
• Well, we're again seeing enrollment growth similar to prepandemic levels.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Educators and community members check for content and grade-level alignment, as well as equity gaps in
• This discrepancy is particularly evident at the high school level.
• This discrepancy is particularly evident at the high school level.
• And so, by students taking these tests, we can then, at our level or at the district level, make changes
• or at the district can then at our level or at the district level<01:20:30.000> make<01:20:30.199

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides for medical school students' grading. This is Senate Bill 234 by Senator Presley.
• It provides for medical school students' grading. Senator Presley on your bill.
• This is a bill regarding grading for medical students within our medical schools in Louisiana.
• So instead of happening around the 10th grade, this moves that back to around the eighth grade.
• I do imagine that the board plays a role in those high-level administrative hires.

Summary: The House Education Committee met on April 29, 2026, with a quorum present and heard several higher education and K-12 bills. SB 234 by Sen. Presley, which would provide grading for medical school students, was briefly discussed and reported favorably without objection. SB 142 by Sen. Reese, dealing with continued management and oversight of Board of Regents support fund matched endowments if a related constitutional amendment passes, drew questions about endowment matching, oversight, and the roughly $75 million in unmatched requests; it was also reported favorably without objection. SB 482 by Sen. Reese, expanding the role of career coaches in middle and high school graduation planning and reporting on career development fund spending, received support from BESE and others, with committee members discussing counselor workload and district flexibility; it was reported favorably without objection. The committee then took up SB 64 by Sen. Hodges, which would require two people to review initial video/audio recordings from cameras in self-contained classrooms when complaints arise, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. HB 1063 by Rep. Owen, a broad higher education governance bill that would increase board oversight of curriculum, hiring, faculty senates, and discipline, generated extensive discussion and testimony from Rep. Owen and a representative of Parents Defending Education Action, but the author said he did not want to vote on it yet and moved to voluntarily defer it; the committee agreed without objection. HB 818 by Rep. Riser, as amended, was converted into a reporting bill requiring public inventories and state reporting on assessments, with Cynthia Posey of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers explaining the amendments; the committee adopted the amendments and reported the bill favorably with one opposition card noted. Finally, SB 28 by Sen. McMath, carried by Rep. Carver, would lower the age for associate teachers from 25 to 21 to help address the teacher shortage; Department of Education staff said the change could expand the pipeline, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee also announced it would meet the following week on Wednesday, May 6, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I mean, you level that our general population.
• But to be the community college level, the regional university, and the comprehensive level.
• grade.
• Are they proficient in reading when they get to grade 3?'
• level across the state as to what that cost might be?

Keywords: 914, all