Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm puzzled by the opposition because this is such a strategic testing of this concept, and it has
• So I'm puzzled by the opposition because this is such a strategic testing of this concept, and it has
• worked in other states. ...testing of this concept, and it has worked in other states, and that's why
• Prior to 2024, restaurant employees typically completed the required food safety course, completed the test
• As restaurant employers have continued to grapple with pandemic-related policy..." ...testing has been

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It could be a standardized test if they choose to go that route.
• won his case that I had multiple, multiple school administrators that did not know that the Lemon test
• School administrators that did not know that the Lemon test was abandoned?
• for certain, do certain tests on the students.
• for certain, do certain tests on the students.

Summary: The A&B Subcommittee on Education heard and advanced several bills, beginning with HB 4491, which would allow virtual charter, charter, and homeschool students to participate in extracurricular activities in their resident school district. The sponsor said the bill was intended to expand student opportunity and was still being worked on, especially on eligibility and proximity requirements. Members raised concerns about accreditation, fairness, and potential disruption, but the bill was reported out 8-2. The committee then approved HB 4146, which moves the state-paid maternity benefit for teachers to begin in a teacher’s first year of employment, and HB 4149, which grants up to 10 years of service credit for certain prior experience, including out-of-state or out-of-country teaching, active-duty military service, law enforcement, and firefighting. HB 4158 raised the income cap for O-TAG grant eligibility to $80,000, and HB 4159 allowed parents to request dyslexia screening after formative assessments at any time during the year, with notice from the State Department; both passed with little opposition. A more contentious debate surrounded HB 3242, which sought to clarify voluntary religious expression in schools and provide Attorney General guidance and legal protections for districts. Supporters argued it protected First Amendment rights and gave schools guardrails, while opponents warned it could expose schools to litigation, create power imbalances, and blur the line between voluntary student expression and school-sponsored religious activity. After debate, the bill passed 6-4. Finally, HB 3718 was heard to address delays in special education evaluations by starting the 45-school-day timeline from the date of request rather than the date of consent, with the sponsor citing families missing scholarship deadlines because evaluations took too long. Members discussed federal timing rules and district practices, and the bill passed 7-3. The chair closed by noting it was the subcommittee’s final House bill meeting of the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• items before the test?
• We certainly had our National Guard that was out not only doing tests and then eventually that morphed
• You know, we have to conduct a physical fitness test every single year.
• No, if you were to look at the new testing standards, I mean, they're pretty rigorous.
• “The new testing standards, I mean, they're pretty rigorous.

Bills: S7022 , S0178 , S0430 , S0464 , S0538 , S0920 , S1036 , S1136 , S1216

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Keywords: public records, open government, sunshine law, education assessments, testing materials, exam security, assessment instruments, test items, answer keys, scoring rubrics, item banks, developmental materials, workpapers, student testing, academic dishonesty, cheating, Florida Department of Education, State Board of Education, Board of Governors, Florida College System

Summary: The Education Pre-K through 12 Committee considered and reported favorably several bills. SB 1036 on school counselors was amended to clarify certification exemptions and passed, with support focused on addressing counselor shortages and student mental health needs. SB 1136 on dental screenings for K-12 students was converted by delete-all amendment to place the screening definition in the School Health Services Act and to require written parent notice and exemption procedures; it passed with support from PTA and other advocates. SB 920 on mathematics education passed after discussion of applied algebra courses tied to career pathways, while preserving Algebra I standards, end-of-course testing, graduation requirements, and university admission eligibility. SB 178 on athletics and public K-12 schools also passed after amendment adding a $15,000 annual cap on coach-provided personal support per team and discussion of guardrails to prevent recruiting abuses; members emphasized the role coaches play in supporting students. SB 1216 on public school personnel compensation passed with broad support for giving districts more flexibility on pay, cost-of-living adjustments, and advanced degree compensation. The committee also approved SPB 7022, a public records exemption bill extending protections for examination and assessment instruments to 2031 and clarifying coverage for district and school materials. SB 464 on observance of Veterans Day in K-12 schools passed after debate over whether schools should be closed or use the day for programs, with supporters arguing for statewide consistency and honoring veterans. Finally, SB 538 on physical education passed after a delete-all amendment establishing standardized extracurricular participation rules for public, private, virtual, and home education students, addressing coach compensation at the district level, and clarifying participation limits across schools. The committee recessed briefly for Senator Avila’s arrival, postponed SB 430, and adjourned after recording one additional favorable vote on SB 1036.

Transcript Highlights:

• THERE WILL BE A TEST AFTERWARDS.
• AND UNLIKE DOCTOR BOYD I DON'T HAVE A TEST AND IT COLLECTS THINGS LIKE TEMPERATURE, IT'S MOVEMENT XY
• QUESTION OUR CASE AI DOES MAKE MISTAKES BY THE WAY SO IN OUR CASE WE DO A LOT OF FIELD TESTING SO ANY
• EQUIPMENT THAT WE DEVELOP GOES OUT TO THE FIELD AND THEN WE TEST IT FOR ACCURACY, WE MONITOR ERRORS.
• THINGS HAPPEN YOU WOULD NOT HAVE DREAMED OF HAVING AND SO THERE IS A TESTING PROCESS AND THEN YOU ALSO

Transcript Highlights:

• The next topic I'll talk about is electric vehicle supply equipment testing.
• So we're proposing to authorize Commerce's Weights and Measures unit to test and inspect electric vehicle
• One of the biggest challenges new markets and cannabis face is the ability to test product fast enough
• This testing capacity often results from the onerous burden to become a licensed testing facility.
• Like the testing facility, there's a one-time cost associated here, but the agency can absorb that cost

Bills: HF1646 , HF2443

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: medical debt, debt relief, healthcare financing, consumer protection, financial hardship, commerce, cannabis, insurance, housing, ombudsperson, affordability, property, task force, financial institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 4605, authorizing the town of Millis to establish a means-tested senior citizens' property
• The House Bill authorizing the town of Millis to establish a means-tested senior citizens' property tax
• An act authorizing the town of Millis to establish a means-tested senior citizens' property tax exemption
• Third reading of the bill: An act amending the town of Arlington's means-tested senior citizens' property
• An act amending the town of Arlington's means-tested senior citizens' property tax exemption, House Bill

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House took up several local bills after suspending procedural rules and Joint Rule 12 for a petition from Mark J. Cusack concerning military creditable service for judges, referring it to the Committee on Public Service. The House also considered four local measures: a Harwich affordable housing trust bill, a Charlemont commercial recreation tax bill, a Millis senior property tax exemption bill, and a Falmouth sewer-related funding bill. All were advanced through second reading and ordered to a third reading. The chamber then passed to engrossment a series of additional local bills, including a Hopkinton bridge designation bill, a Nantucket charter amendment, a Swampscott disability property tax exemption bill, an Arlington senior tax exemption amendment, and a Reading home rule charter bill. Each was approved without recorded opposition. The House later recessed and returned to consider a supplemental fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill, House Bill 5348, reported out of Ways and Means with a total appropriation of $300 million. House Bill 5348 was taken up by suspension of the rules, read a third time, passed to be engrossed, and then passed to be enacted after the constitutionally required separate vote, with no votes in opposition recorded. The House adopted an order to meet again Wednesday at 11 a.m., and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• literacy exam, but in the second grade they don't, they're good, and you don't have to go back and test
• optional for school districts if they want to allow their second graders to take the third-grade reading test
• They can in the second grade, and if they pass the third-grade reading test in the second grade.
• They'll still need to take the third-grade reading test because that's federal law.
• would not be subject to retention if they were to fail in the third grade as they already passed the test

Bills: SB1530 , SB1579 , SB1778 , SB1847 , SB1990 , SB1992 , SB2060

Committee: House Appropriations and Budget

Keywords: research funding, development rebate, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, tax incentives, higher education partnerships, property tax, valuation increase, taxpayer rights, homestead, protest process, reading instruction, literacy, educational equity, intervention services, third grade retention, Strong Readers Act, Medicaid, ADvantage Waiver, home-based services, eligibility criteria

Transcript Highlights:

• Scope hasn't moved forward, but education, training, and testing have.
• </c> education, training, and testing have. education, training, and testing have.
• Does that mean a piece of are on a test. Does that mean a piece of paper?
• So graduates coming from optometry school for the last 11 years have been trained and tested as they
• </c> require additional training and testing require additional training and testing to<00:44:34.079>

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, when it was chronic pain testing, I guess, for an example, there could be testing done to make
• Do we have any way to know how much these diagnostic tests are saving by diagnosing earlier?
• to $1,800. ...chronic pain medication and testing to $1,800.
• Children do not have a testing limit, so it would be applicable to adults. Okay.
• I think we have testing up to $500 for the adults.

Committee: All JBC-SPECIAL LANGUAGE

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of those results, please, of the testing of those results, please, of the testing that<00:56:48.720
• test.
• </c> life ballots, not these simple some test life ballots, not these simple some test ballots,<00:59
• </c> ballots, some testing information I've ballots, some testing information I've received<00:59:46.400
• There's just a handful of life test.

Bills: SF0028 , SF0030 , SF0031 , SF0032

Committee: House Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Keywords: voting, elections, electronic voting systems, transparency, public testing, voter registration, qualified elector, residency requirements, voting rights, mortgage modification, priority, electronic signatures, real property, financial covenants, 911 services, emergency response, grant funding, next generation technology, government accountability, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• They have different testing about Missouri knowledge, Missouri Constitution knowledge, and then also
• And then is the Missouri state test, the Missouri civic test, that they have to take their sophomore
• And then is the Missouri State test, the Missouri Civic test, that they have, the Missouri state test
• , the Missouri civic test, that they have to take their, what, sophomore year?
• The seal should recognize students who engage in rigorous, time-tested activities such as mock trial,

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Summary: The Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education first met in executive session and adopted a House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2722, then voted the bill do pass by a roll call vote of 13 yes and 2 no. The sponsor explained that the substitute clarified the roles of liaisons for foster care students, McKinney-Vento students, and unaccompanied youth in higher education, and added language to avoid conflicting with Missouri law on public benefits for non-citizens. Members also discussed the fiscal note, which was expected to be minimal or not yet available until after committee reporting. The committee then heard House Bills 3483 and 3532, sponsored by Representatives Prouty and Pollitt, which would require the General Assembly to create Missouri-specific educational materials about how the state legislative process works and how a bill becomes law. Supporters, including legislators, teachers, students, and social studies coordinators, said the materials would help students understand Missouri government, civic engagement, and the differences between state and federal lawmaking. Several witnesses suggested the materials should be tailored by grade level, with third grade and high school mentioned as likely targets, and some members raised questions about drafting, implementation, and the estimated fiscal note. One witness spoke in opposition, saying only that he opposed the bill in the spirit of civil discourse. Finally, the committee heard House Concurrent Resolution 31, sponsored by Representative Martin, which would establish a Missouri seal of civic recognition for students who demonstrate civic knowledge, participation, and service. The sponsor described a tiered recognition system tied to coursework, civic engagement, and community or military service, administered through DESE and the existing civics and patriotic work group. Members asked about the resolution format, the role of the work group, how schools would track eligibility, and whether the measure should be narrowed to high school graduation before expanding to younger grades. Supporters, including a retired educator and civic education advocates, said the seal could encourage stronger civic learning and student engagement, while one coalition witness urged a streamlined, merit-based model and local district flexibility. The committee took no final action on the latter two measures during the hearing and adjourned after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• The state society of CPAs asked me to bring this bill because it gives another pathway that test takers
• It doesn’t change the test. Everyone still has to take the same test that they were taking before.
• He said the state society of CPAs asked him to bring the bill to give another pathway that test takers
• Representative Beaulay said the bill does not change the test and that everyone still has to take the
• same test as before.

Bills: HB387 , HB388 , HB468 , HB548 , HB827 , HB848 , HB921 , HB924 , HB953

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: engineering, land surveying, construction, state fire marshal, plan review, contracting services, unsolicited contact, homeowners, penalties, regulations, wholesaling, real estate, earnest money, cancellation rights, residential properties, Louisiana Real Estate Commission, certified public accountant, CPA, accounting board, Louisiana State Board of Certified Public Accountants

Transcript Highlights:

• The goal I had was to kind of, how do we test balloon?
• So this is a test.
• Is there, for your test program here, a sunset clause on it so that we can analyze it?
• We're just trying to, this is our test of what these uses might be able to be used for.
• They have, the actuary does the stress test. ...fund.

Summary: The Postsecondary Education and Workforce Committee met on January 27 and first took executive action on three bills. House Bill 2311, which makes administrative changes to the Workforce Education Investment Accountability and Oversight Board, was reported out with a do pass recommendation after the Leavitt amendment was withdrawn; supporters emphasized transparency, accountability, and student success metrics, while one member opposed moving it forward and urged more interim work. House Bill 2324, which extends tuition waiver access for children of eligible veterans when a disability determination occurs after age 18, passed unanimously. House Bill 288, the Dietitian Licensure Compact, was amended to delay implementation until July 1, 2028 and then passed unanimously as a substitute bill; members cited workforce shortages and the value of broader licensure portability. The committee then held public hearings on several bills. House Bill 2422 would shift private security guard licensing fees from individual guards to their employers, eliminate transfer fees, and penalize companies that require reimbursement; the sponsor and workers testified that the current system burdens low-wage guards and contributes to high turnover, while some members asked about whether fees could instead be lowered or eliminated. House Bill 2438 would create the SEEDS scholarship for early childhood education students using up to $10 million from the GET account if it remains sufficiently funded; the sponsor described it as a targeted test of surplus GET funds to address early learning workforce shortages, and testimony from educators, providers, and advocacy groups strongly supported it, while WASAC said the bill may need technical changes to avoid conflicts with existing 529 rules. The committee also heard House Bill 2525, which would create a WSU heritage orchard program and registry for old or rare apple varieties; the sponsor and industry witnesses said it would preserve agricultural history, support research, and aid future breeding and education. Finally, House Bill 2586 would align Passport to Careers with federal financial aid formulas and automatically deem Passport-eligible youth financially needy for the Washington College Grant; the sponsor and WASAC said it would help foster youth and homeless students access aid earlier and more predictably, and multiple students and advocates testified in strong support. No final action was taken on the bills heard in public testimony during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, this I think was the first major test of our ability to work together under this power-sharing
• agreement, and I'm really pleased that we passed that test and delivered a budget resolution on time
• agreement, and I'm really pleased that we passed that test and delivered a budget resolution on time
• > You know, this I think was the first You know, this I think was the first major<00:09:25.200><c> test
• and delivered um a we passed that test and delivered um a uh<00:09:34.240><c> budget</c><00:09:34.680

Bills: HF601

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: agriculture, depredation compensation, livestock, crop damage, elk, wolves, wildlife management, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• talking about harmful content as already defined in the penal code, which has to pass a three-pronged test
• That three-part test is also a subjective test based on community standards. say that it is somewhat
• Let's walk through the three-part test and see how that fits. Can you read back test number one?
• But, you know. as defined in Supreme Court precedent, I don't believe that that would meet the test for
• We don't want our teachers to suddenly be subjected to lawsuits, subjective tests.

Bills: HB14 , HB 106 , HB146 , HB267 , HB274 , HB 1127 , HB1359 , HB1393 , HB1584 , HB1640 , HB1710 , HB2152 , HCR101 , HJR8 , HR51

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: nuclear energy, advanced reactors, energy security, grant programs, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, HB 106, oil and gas, Railroad Commission of Texas, overhead electrical lines, electrical distribution system, power line maintenance, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas lease, well operator, energy safety, utility infrastructure, regulatory compliance, cleanup fund, oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we don't drug test when they come into the jail.
• So, we don't drug test when they come into the jail.
• So defendant has to pay for those tests.
• We do make our providers sign a testing.
• </c> test. Thank you. test. Thank you. Senator<01:30:28.239><c> Senator</c><01:30:28.639><c> Dain.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:01 Recognition of New Members: 00:01:17 Disaster Response: 00:01:41 Pretrial Discussion: 00:31:25, 958, all

Summary: The committee first established a quorum, approved the minutes from the November 7, 2024 meeting, and then heard an update on disaster response and courthouse recovery efforts after the April flooding. Representatives from the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Franklin County Circuit and District Court Clerk’s office, and the Franklin Circuit Court described damage in Perry, Hardin, and especially Franklin counties. Perry County had limited roof and water infiltration issues with no operational impact. Hardin County’s justice center basement took about 18 inches of water, affecting court records and mechanical/electrical equipment, and court operations were briefly suspended. Franklin County’s courthouse was far more severely damaged, with about four feet of water on the first floor, forcing relocation of court operations to temporary sites, including AOC space and the regional jail for custody proceedings. Witnesses said damaged files from Hardin and Franklin counties were removed, sent to an out-of-state vendor for drying and remediation, and would be returned or destroyed as appropriate. They estimated combined costs for file restoration, building repair, and remediation at about $11 million, with insurance through KCOJ/KO expected to cover only part of the losses and FEMA reimbursement still pending a federal disaster declaration. They also said the Franklin County courthouse’s first floor remains gutted, electrical panels and HVAC systems need major replacement, and the second and third floors may be used temporarily once power and data are restored. Members asked about roof damage in Hardin County, the status of FEMA applications, digitization of court records, and whether Senate Bill 25 restricted funds could be used to cover the funding gap; staff said the funds cannot be spent without General Assembly authorization. The committee also discussed broader record-retention and e-filing issues, with members noting the limits of paper filing and the need for better digitization as a backup in emergencies. AOC staff said they are working with the Supreme Court and state law librarian on what records can be digitized and how long hard copies must still be retained. After the disaster-response presentation, the committee moved on to a separate informational presentation on pre-trial services, with introductions from the executive officer of pre-trial services, the president of the Kentucky District Judges Association, a circuit judge, and the manager of pre-trial services, who began explaining how the pre-trial system works for newer committee members.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> because there's no means testing at all. because there's no means testing at all.
• And um STD testing and that we don't.
• This is tried and tested.
• This is tried tried<01:02:59.680><c> and</c><01:02:59.920><c> tested.
• We have an opportunity tried and tested.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Higher test scores in microdistricts, higher attendance rates.
• It's a struggle on test scores. The best is always to have kids through the door.
• the test scores of the students that are online.
• Are they tested? Do they understand?
• Yeah, they're, they're all are required to all the state mandated tests.

Transcript Highlights:

• Right down on 71 by the Austin Airport, they unveiled the first test structure fabricated right here
• Right down on 71 by the Austin Airport, they unveiled the first test structure fabricated right here
• It was easier to scale up than some of the other designs that were tested.
• All of the designs that were tested were.
• Our program at Sam Houston Electric on pole testing and standards. All right, thank you.

Bills: SB1468 , SB1612 , SB1789 , SB2530 , SB2571 , SB2717 , SB2967

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: utility systems, Texas A&M, regents authority, construction, improvement, construction contracts, trust funds, property rights, mechanics lien, contractors, trustee liability, mechanic's lien, liability, attorney's fees, windstorm insurance, Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, insurance regulation, administrative penalties, coastal counties, catastrophe year

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of the recent testing data shows that schools still have a lot of ground to cover to make up the
• And so, of course, we recognize that our kids are more than test scores and that they've been facing
• A lot of the spending was largely federal, and I think the test scores through 2024 only reflect kind
• So when you drill down into... ...which is an increase of almost 60,000 students that would be tested
• So, 65% of our test takers in 2023-24 came from low-income families.

Summary: The committee heard presentations on the Governor’s education budget proposals for the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), Learning Recovery Block Grant, and Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), followed by testimony from State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond. On LCFF, Finance outlined the proposed 2.43% COLA, repayment of prior deferrals, and a trailer bill penalty for LEAs that fail to adopt Local Control Accountability Plans on time. The LAO said its COLA estimate was slightly lower and raised concerns that the Governor’s proposed TK staffing ratio increase may be more costly than estimated. Members also discussed whether the current COLA formula should better reflect California-specific or district staffing costs, and whether TK should be more clearly separated from the K-3 grade span adjustment to avoid larger K-3 class sizes. The chair asked staff to work with the LAO on both the TK/K-3 issue and alternative COLA calculations. For the Learning Recovery Block Grant, Finance proposed restoring the first of three delayed payments, $378.6 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund, while the LAO recommended adopting the proposal but extending the expenditure deadline by at least a year. The LAO reported that districts had spent $1.6 billion of the $6.8 billion received through 2023-24 and said most districts were only now shifting from federal COVID relief to block grant spending. Members questioned whether the large state and federal investments were improving outcomes, citing declining reading and math trends, while Finance and the State Board president pointed to some signs of improvement, especially in math, attendance, and gains for some student groups. Darling-Hammond emphasized that student needs have grown, that recovery spending has gone to devices, ventilation, staffing, tutoring, summer school, and community schools, and that targeted interventions appear to be helping some districts recover faster than others. On ELOP, Finance proposed adding $435 million to expand universal access by lowering the Tier 1 threshold from 75% to 55% unduplicated pupils, bringing ongoing funding to $4.4 billion. The LAO said the estimate was reasonable but recommended delaying implementation for a year, aligning ELOP with ASES to reduce overlap, moving toward funding based on participation rather than enrollment, and considering a fixed Tier 2 rate. Members and witnesses discussed staffing challenges, the use of funds for students with disabilities, and uncertainty in Tier 2 funding caused by unspent dollars and opt-outs. Darling-Hammond supported ELOP as part of California’s broader after-school and summer learning strategy, said most districts are now offering full-day TK and expanded learning, and urged the state to reduce fragmentation across categorical programs and build more unified systems for funding, reporting, and support.