Transcript Highlights:

• at the beginning of the step of entering into universities, we trust the threshold of a placement test
• I took a placement test at TCC, and they placed me in the courses that I needed to be in to build me
• And it sounds like to me we've had plenty of people advocate for test optional and this and that.
• And to an earlier point, how does this impact, like I know UCO is doing the temporary pilot of no tests
• Representative Hasenbeck continued, “...or admissions test requirement for that data to show if they’

Bills: HB2950 , HB2978 , HB3132 , HB3242 , HB3467 , HB3700 , HB3701 , HB4115 , HB4274

Committee: House Education Oversight

Keywords: postsecondary education, standardized test scores, educational equity, higher learning access, Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, HB2978, school libraries, library media center, library media program, community standards, sexually explicit conduct, obscene material, age-appropriate materials, school curriculum, book challenges, book banning, censorship, public schools, school board, education committee

Summary: The Education Oversight Committee heard several bills focused on higher education, school library materials, military student transfers, women’s privacy, academic grading standards, program review, and teacher professional development. HB 2950, by Rep. Woolley, would remove the ACT requirement for homeschool students seeking Oklahoma’s Promise and bar colleges from imposing extra homeschool-specific hurdles; supporters said it would treat homeschoolers the same as other students, while opponents raised concerns about oversight and taxpayer-funded aid. The committee also heard HB 3132, which would direct higher education institutions to seek accreditors that do not impose DEI mandates, and HB 3700, which would require colleges to grade students only on academic criteria rather than opinions or beliefs. HB 3701 would codify regents’ procedures for reviewing and acting on low-performing degree programs, and HB 4115 would cap required teacher professional development hours, with the sponsor emphasizing local control and that the bill is permissive rather than mandatory. The committee also considered HB 2978, which would prohibit public school library materials from including descriptions or depictions of sexually explicit conduct. Supporters framed it as protecting children and aligning library collections with community standards, while opponents worried the language could limit access to materials that help students understand abuse and safety. HB 4274, a cleanup bill on military student schooling and school choice, would restore omitted transfer language, clarify in-district enrollment timing, and align the six-month relocation requirement with the Open Transfer Act. HB 3242, dealing with privacy for women in schools, universities, and domestic violence shelters, drew questions about how gender would be verified and how the bill would affect transgender students and shelter access. Most bills advanced on motions for due pass after committee discussion. HB 2950, HB 2978, HB 3132, HB 4274, HB 3242, HB 3700, HB 3701, and HB 4115 all received due pass recommendations. HB 3467 was laid over until the next meeting, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Submit to random drug testing as ordered.
• Drug testing is fully observed, meaning participants must lift their shirt above their waist, drop their
• Submit to random drug testing as ordered.
• The drug testing is invasive, it's rigorous, and it's mandatory.
• Our participants also test their skills in the real world, all while under supervision of the court.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They are required to meet a higher ACT test threshold to access the same scholarship their parents have
• The ACT is a single-day, high-pressure standardized test.
• It is influenced by test prep, access, testing locations, accommodations, and resources.
• What is the instruction test? Well, they have a GPA, a great point average.
• If they think they can, based on their tests that they took, based on...

Bills: HB3674 , HB4326 , HB4331 , HB3029 , HB2963 , HB3551 , HB2973 , HB3019 , HB3461 , HB2961 , HB3261 , HB3759 , HB3429 , HB3069 , HB3372 , HB3705

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee

Keywords: school resource officer, sexual assault training, law enforcement training, CLEET, school safety, mental health, continuing education, HB4326, Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, Oklahoma's Promise, scholarship, tuition assistance, higher education, State Regents for Higher Education, eligibility expansion, adopted students, foster care, DHS custody, child-placing agency, tribal custody

Transcript Highlights:

• Proving ground, and just nine days later, the Trinity Test, history's first atomic bomb detonation, took
• the birthplace of America's missile and space activity, conducting over 42,000 rocket and missile tests
• 16th, 2025, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Anniversary of Trinity Site, remembering the test
• He's part of the White Sands Test Center.
• They are the range control for all the testing, so they manage all tests that go on at White Sands.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just recently, a shrimp testing firm tested the shrimp from various restaurants in the Galveston area
• Do they test the shrimp? Do they have standards in place?
• They don't normally test any of the actual product; they just kind of look at the paperwork.
• Okay, let's test it. Ooh, this stuff's bad. Currently, they do not destroy that product.
• The FDA catches people doing this every quarter, and they're only testing less than one percent.

Bills: HB2226 , HB2269 , HB2343 , HB2760 , HB3621 , HB4079 , HB4204 , HB4518 , HB4531 , HB4555 , HB4850 , HB4876 , HB4903 , HB4996 , HB5122

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: construction trust funds, Property Code, Chapter 162, construction payments, mechanics lien, contractors, subcontractors, laborers, material suppliers, materialmen, real property improvement, assignment of payment rights, unpaid trust funds, trust fund beneficiaries, construction industry, payment protection, Texas construction law, property owners association, landscaping, grass maintenance

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to view the case test, and we're going to view the budget. Okay.
• We see they're passing all these tests. That's what we expect to see.
• We're going to view the case test, and we're going to view the budget. Okay.
• We see they're passing all these tests. That's what we expect to see.
• After the vendor is selected, what will the process for beta testing and testing include?

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:17.120><c> this</c><00:10:17.360><c> test</c><00:10:17.760><c> to</c><00:10:18.079><c> all
• </c><00:10:19.120><c> uh</c><00:10:19.360><c> law</c> able to provide this test to all uh law able to
• provide this test to all uh law enforcement<00:10:20.079><c> entities</c><00:10:21.040><c> in</c><00
• </c><00:10:36.959><c> Um,</c> test. also standardized questions.
• Um, test. also standardized questions.

Bills: HB0032

Committee: House Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs

Keywords: English proficiency, commercial drivers, vehicle operation, traffic safety, penalties, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My biggest concern on the bill is testing.
• So I'm concerned about the testing.
• I wouldn't say that I haven't seen one test that actually reached out, Mr.
• Concern how the testing will include diversity, how much testing is already being done in the schools
• Do I need to change my testing moving forward?

Bills: SB234 , SB210 , SB243 , SB244 , SM16 , HB8

Committee: House House Education

Keywords: foster children, school transportation, education funding, public education, child welfare, New Mexico Highlands University, soccer field, women's sports, infrastructure improvement, funding allocation, student athletes, appropriation, New Mexico State University, nutrition, travel support, funding, education, university support, financial assistance, parenting students

Summary: The committee heard Senate Bill 37, the High-Quality Literacy Instruction Act, which would strengthen reading instruction and educator preparation around the science of reading. The sponsor and supporters said the bill requires evidence-based, culturally and linguistically responsive literacy instruction, including support for English learners and students in bilingual and dual-language programs, use of approved high-quality instructional materials for K-3 reading and interventions, a K-3 reading assessment, literacy coaches, and parent progress reports. An amendment package was adopted to clarify biliteracy language, broaden references to bilingual/dual-language and Indigenous language settings, remove awkward phrasing, and adjust reporting requirements from monthly to four times per school year. The committee then moved forward with the amended bill. Public testimony was largely supportive. Students, educators, school leaders, advocacy groups, and tribal representatives said structured literacy has improved reading outcomes and can help struggling readers, including students with dyslexia and multilingual learners. Several speakers emphasized that the amended bill better protects bilingual, dual-language, and Native language programs, and some noted the importance of parent communication and early intervention. Supporters also cited recent literacy gains in New Mexico and said the bill aligns teacher preparation, materials, assessment, and coaching. Opposition focused mainly on concerns that the bill could still privilege English over Indigenous languages, that high-quality materials requirements may be too restrictive or costly for districts, and that testing and reporting could add workload. Tribal speakers from Acoma and Taos said they could not support the bill without further changes to explicitly protect Native language revitalization. Other opponents raised concerns about funding for materials and coaches, the burden on teachers, and whether the assessment and HQIM requirements would be flexible enough for local needs. In committee discussion, the sponsor and PED said existing funds and staff could support implementation, that the assessment would be formative and teacher-focused, and that the bill was intended to complement, not replace, Native and bilingual education programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do we ever suggest, like, I mean, every person has to pay to take a test?
• Who sets the cost of those tests? And what role does the private sector play?
• We were already charging for testing fees.
• As far as the testing goes, obviously, it's been a long time since I took a test.
• Have you taken a test? I did not take a test.

Summary: The subcommittee heard and approved four bills focused on reducing or modernizing professional regulation. HB 6015, by Rep. Oliver, repeals the word “reusable” from the wine keg statute to allow businesses more flexibility in container materials; members joked about the possibility of a Home Depot bucket, and the bill passed 16-0. HB 339, by Rep. Abbott, creates an alternative temporary licensure pathway for surveyors and mappers based on employer recommendation and exam passage, but members raised concerns about qualifications, liability, and oversight; Abbott said he was open to amendments, and the bill passed 14-1 with Rep. Overdorf dissenting. HB 139, by Rep. Lopez, allows pawnbrokers to use digital transaction forms instead of only printed forms; a technical amendment added readability and placement requirements for digital forms, and the bill passed unanimously. HB 195, by Rep. Chambliss, lets the Department of Corrections coordinate with DBPR boards so inmates who complete licensure-related classes can receive credit toward professional licensure; supporters framed it as a second-chance and workforce bill, an amendment clarified that DBPR handles professions without boards, and the bill passed favorably 15-0. The committee then received a presentation from DBPR Secretary Melanie Griffin on the department’s role overseeing more than 1.7 million businesses and professionals across over 30 fields. She highlighted enforcement and complaint data, including more than 24,000 inspections and complaints handled in the last fiscal year, a preference for education and voluntary compliance over formal discipline, and the department’s alternative dispute resolution program, which returned $2.7 million to consumers and saved $270,000 in costs. Griffin also reviewed recent deregulatory and efficiency efforts, including endorsement/reciprocity reforms, fee waivers, reduced processing times, and shorter call wait times, and said DBPR is continuing to look for ways to cut red tape while protecting public safety. Members questioned Griffin about permitting, continuing education, complaint processing, board vacancies, fraud in cosmetology and construction, coordination with other agencies, and whether schools can block students from taking state exams over unpaid tuition. DBPR staff said complaints are generally processed within 60 days, schools cannot bar graduates from taking the exam because of tuition debt, and the department works with other agencies when issues cross jurisdictional lines. The panel discussion that followed featured industry representatives from landscape architecture, building/code administration, pools, roofing, construction, HVAC/electrical, and hospitality, who generally supported reducing local permitting burdens, standardizing requirements, improving reciprocity and training pathways, and using technology and clearer scopes of work to make licensure and inspections more efficient.

Transcript Highlights:

• See, you did your homework, you tested, you, you completed the.
• They instead have pivoted to reimagine the current test as it currently is.
• And we can actually design a test that it's the needs of the next 50 years.
• This test was conceived in the 1960s. There's never been another one.
• So, for how many years are you testing?

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> they</c><00:36:22.320><c> are</c> When species are tested, they are When species are tested, they
• The Canadians tested differently than the Americans tested.
• </c> Association did their own testing. Association did their own testing.
• The Canadians tested differently bus.
• ><c> tested.

Committee: House Public Works and Highways

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• but if you're 18, you can walk in and just take the written exam, take the eye exam, take the road test
• Statutorily mandated that if you're 16 or 17, you have to take Driver's Ed to come to the DMV and test
• I mean, the way the state statute reads, you have to take driver's ed in order to come in and test if
• So at 18, you can just come in and take the test.
• So at 18, you can just come in and take the test.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our audit tested 40 expenditures totaling over $39 million.
• Just want to clarify a little bit on the testing that we've done.
• Just want to clarify a little bit on the testing that we've done.
• Significant testing included tests of expenditures, appropriations, solid waste pilot projects, and fees
• Significant testing included tests of expenditures, appropriations, solid waste pilot projects, and fees

Summary: The committee was called to order, the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer were offered, and the minutes from the previous meeting were approved. Members then received a memo summarizing major audit items and began hearing audit presentations from the State Auditor’s Office and private auditors on a range of state agencies and organizations. Several audits were reported as clean, including the Bank of North Dakota, the North Dakota Guaranteed Student Loan Program, the Office of the Governor, the Office of the State Treasurer, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Transportation’s flexible transportation fund, Lake Region State College, and the Department of Environmental Quality. The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association also received an unmodified opinion, though repeat findings were noted for limited segregation of duties and financial statement preparation due to its small staff. The Council on the Arts audit found two findings: payroll charged to federal awards without adequate timekeeping records, and unallowable expenditures from a restricted cultural endowment fund. The Department of Public Instruction audit identified unsupported scholarship applications in the paraprofessional-to-teacher program, though additional testing showed the funds were used for their intended purpose. The most extensive discussion centered on the North Dakota Racing Commission audit, which identified four findings: overspending the promotion fund’s 25% operating limit, grant conditions not being met, improper Breeders Fund awards, and improper procurement for advertising services. Racing Commission director Bruce Johnson acknowledged complacency and weak controls, said the agency would tighten procedures, and explained that the commission had since worked with procurement and would follow the rules more closely. Auditors also explained that the commission would now be audited every two years because of the findings. Another major discussion involved the University of North Dakota School of Law, where auditors found a lack of documentation supporting admissions decisions for post-baccalaureate programs. UND officials said they remain in good standing with the American Bar Association but agreed better documentation and tools are needed; the committee pressed for more transparency and follow-up on admissions criteria. The committee also received an update on Dakota College at Bottineau, where Minot State University reported that bank reconciliations had been brought current after a significant backlog and would now be maintained through shared services. Members requested a written follow-up report on the issues and corrective actions. Finally, the North Dakota Fair Association explained that its foundation has been dissolved and remaining funds were transferred to another nonprofit for continued support of the state fair, and the Department of Public Instruction provided an update on school meal debt, saying the reported amount was about $1.1 million from a partial district survey and that debt remains a local issue, though it could be revisited if school meal funding changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first test, basically the way it works is you start with the first test, and if the applicant does
• not meet the first test, only then would the ZBA move on to determining whether the second test is met
• I'd be interested to see anything you'd be willing to share with. unnecessary hardship test.
• It takes some unnecessary hardship test.
• </c> &gt;&gt; can we have you summarize test? &gt;&gt; can we have you summarize test?

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She has gone through the required test, and every time she's submitted, she's had a new test that has
• </c> she's submitted she's had a new test she's submitted she's had a new test that<00:35:19.520><c>
• </c><00:35:23.920><c> being</c> instead of all of those tests being instead of all of those tests being
• They have been revoked, and they passed every test.
• I revoked and they passed every test.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its June 3 meeting and received an opening update on transportation revenues. Leadership noted that the gas tax formula dropped 4.1 cents on July 1, reducing road fund revenue by about $125 million, and warned that city, county, rural, and secondary road funding will be affected. The chair said the committee would likely have to be selective about transportation project requests given the reduced revenue outlook. The main presentation was an update on the I-69 bridge project. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials said the project is the missing link in the Henderson-Evansville corridor and is being delivered in three sections, with Kentucky leading section two. They said section two is a $933 million project, with Kentucky’s share described as $58 million and the balance Indiana’s, and that toll revenue will be used to finance the project through a TIFIA loan and Garvey bonds. Officials said Kentucky and Indiana have executed an agreement under House Bill 546 to use tolls, are working on a broader bi-state development agreement, and will ask the General Assembly next session to carry forward $150 million in general funds without conditions and to ratify the agreement. Members asked about the timeline, toll sharing, whether tolls would sunset, and whether US 41 bridges would remain open for local traffic; officials said construction is planned for 2027, tolling would begin in 2031, toll revenue would be shared 50/50, and at least one US 41 bridge would remain open for local use. The committee then heard a combined update from the Department of Vehicle Regulation and the Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing on implementation of several recent changes. Officials reported that the new registration category for special-purpose vehicles is fully operational statewide, with all counties enrolled and 292 vehicles processed so far; they also said counties received at least five plates each and that the program is permissive, not mandatory. They described implementation of Senate Bill 43’s medical review board reforms and third-party driver’s license issuance framework, saying the medical review process has been updated and that third-party partners may eventually handle easier transactions such as renewals, name changes, and address changes, while initial issuances would remain at KYTC regional offices. They also reported that the sheriff’s inspection process has been integrated into CAVIS, reducing paperwork and fraud and improving tracking. Members asked about communication to counties and cities with differing local rules, the number of counties participating, and how to coordinate multiple policy changes; officials said all counties are enrolled, though not all have submitted applications, and that they are still finalizing the scope of third-party services.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if we want to see those benefits, we want to see it be able to be tested. Thank you.
• And if we want to see those benefits, we want to see it be able to be tested. Thank you.
• And if we want to see those benefits, we want to see it be able to be tested. Thank you.
• And if we want to see those benefits, we want to see it be able to be tested. Thank you.
• And if we want to see those benefits, we want to see it be able to be tested. Thank you.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I only know here in Missouri from the same test that you and I took, correct? Sure.
• Just pull them over, give them a reading test, or...
• Just pull them over, give them a reading test, or...
• And most of those tests that we take... It's just fine.
• You took a test. There was a fee associated with that.

Committee: House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My biggest concern on the bill is testing.
• So I'm concerned about the testing.
• So I'm concerned about the testing. That is not...
• So this is my biggest concern: how the testing will include diversity, how much testing is already being
• After being in the classroom for 25 years, it was like more testing.

Bills: SB234 , SB210 , SB243 , SB244 , SM16 , HB8

Committee: House House Education

Keywords: foster children, school transportation, education funding, public education, child welfare, New Mexico Highlands University, soccer field, women's sports, infrastructure improvement, funding allocation, student athletes, appropriation, New Mexico State University, nutrition, travel support, funding, education, university support, financial assistance, parenting students

Transcript Highlights:

• She said AB 1906 requires coverage of these tests without cost sharing as ordered.
• she will be accepting the Chair's amendments, which align coverage with clinical guidelines, limit test
• AB 1906 requires coverage of these tests without cost sharing as order. women are more likely to die
• Allowing patients to test in their homes expands access for rural and working Californians, increases
• I will be accepting the Chair's amendments, which align coverage with clinical guidelines, limit test

Summary: The committee heard AB 2575 on health care AI guardrails, with the author and supporters from the California Nurses Association and labor groups arguing that AI should support, not replace, clinical judgment. They said the bill would require basic disclosures about AI tools, protect workers from retaliation for overriding AI in good faith, and prevent developers or employers from shifting liability to frontline clinicians. Opponents including the California Medical Association, CalChamber, hospitals, and other health care organizations argued the bill would add costs, create uncertainty, and discourage useful AI applications. Committee members discussed bias in health care and accepted amendments narrowing the disclosure provisions; the bill was moved with a 7-1 vote and re-referred to Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement. AB 634 would ban the manufacture, sale, and distribution of products containing tianeptine, described by supporters as “gas station heroin.” The author and law enforcement supporters said the substance is dangerous, easily accessible, and can cause opioid-like addiction, while no opposition came forward. The committee also heard AB 1607 to extend the Maddy EMS Fund, which reimburses emergency providers for uncompensated care. Supporters said the fund is essential to keeping emergency departments staffed, especially amid expected coverage losses; an ACLU representative opposed the funding source because it relies on criminal and traffic fines. Members supported the need for the fund but raised concerns about the fairness and long-term stability of the revenue source, and the bill advanced on a 8-0 vote. AB 1906 would require coverage of at-home cervical cancer screening tests without cost sharing, and the author said the bill would improve early detection and reduce disparities, especially for rural and working Californians. Support came from Planned Parenthood, Health Access, and several health and labor organizations; insurers said they appreciated the amendments and were reviewing their position. The committee adopted amendments aligning the bill with clinical guidelines and passed it 6-0 to Appropriations. The committee also took up AB 2247, the Thrive Act, to create a pilot program for trauma and mental health services for youth affected by gun violence in four counties. Supporters described barriers survivors face in accessing counseling, while members questioned the narrow focus on gun violence, the choice of counties, documentation requirements, and whether the program should instead be housed in victim compensation. The bill passed 8-0 to Judiciary. Later, AB 2531 would expand California’s uncompensated care program so veterans denied abortion care through the federal VA system could receive coverage in California, and would add an abortion resources link for veterans. Supporters framed it as filling a gap created by federal restrictions; opponents argued state funds should not support abortion. Members noted the VA already provides many reproductive services but not this one, and the bill passed 7-0 to Military and Veterans Affairs. The committee also heard AB 1915, which would modernize restaurant facility rules and create a self-certification pathway for some equipment installations. Restaurant and business groups supported the bill as a way to reduce costly delays, while the Contractor State License Board opposed the self-certification provision over safety and inspection concerns. Members generally supported streamlining but echoed public safety concerns and indicated further work was needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please do a head-to-head test of her methods with theirs. Thank you.
• Last year, I was given the opportunity to test out of three required years of a language as part of my
• graduation pathway requirements by taking a proficiency test for Portuguese.
• how helpful the language competency tests were for me, being able to skip two semesters of a course
• From schools with less resources to help students with test preparation, to high schoolers working to

Bills: HB1295 , HB2007 , HB2262 , HB2636

Committee: House Education

Keywords: reading instruction, structured literacy, early literacy, dyslexia, phonics, phonological awareness, language comprehension, vocabulary, fluency, oral language, orthographic knowledge, multi-tiered system of supports, MTSS, screening assessments, intervention, reading intervention, elementary education, kindergarten, first grade, second grade