Transcript Highlights:

• Francis, the intention was that we would repurpose that school or the former school into a university
• <01:13:07.480> students works with Hawaii high school students works with Hawaii high school
• whom I've worked with since high school whom I've worked with since high school who<01:13:47.000
• :28:17.760> to Hawaiian Focus charter schools to Hawaiian Focus charter schools to provide<01:
• acquisition of the St Francis school acquisition of the St Francis school campus<01:40:39.840>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 707, which would create a state income tax deduction for contributions to Hawaii 529 college savings accounts and conform state law to federal changes allowing 529 funds to be used for K-12 expenses. The Department of Taxation said it could administer the bill as written. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported the measure but asked that ABLE accounts be included and that the program title be changed; the Department of Taxation indicated the title issue could be a problem because the bill’s expanded purpose may not fit the current program name. No vote was taken. The committee then heard House Bill 617, which would fund a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges. UH Community Colleges supported the bill, and Maui nursing staff testified that faculty recruitment is challenging but manageable, clinical placements are available, and the campus already has a statewide RN-to-BSN pathway; they said the new program would create two tracks, including a four-year BSN option. Members also heard support from several organizations, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, nursing groups, and health care associations. No action was taken. Next were several UH-related measures. HB 718 would fund faculty and staff positions at the John A. Burns School of Medicine; the dean and other supporters testified in favor. HB 1279 would create a medical education liaison position tied to Project ECHO; the Attorney General raised constitutional concerns about statewide concern and grant standards, while an individual witness supported the concept but suggested the bill should focus on liaison/support functions rather than program administration. HB 1169 would consolidate conference center revolving funds, and HB 1168 would authorize up to $800 million in UH revenue bonds; UH’s CFO said both were procedural/housekeeping measures and supported them. On HB 1168, members questioned debt service, possible uses, and whether deferred maintenance would be included; the CFO estimated annual debt service could be about $33 million to $41 million at current rates, said likely uses could include student housing and research facilities, and said deferred maintenance was not the current strategy. The CFO also explained that revenue bonds require both legislative authorization and a Board of Regents resolution approving the project and amount. Finally, the committee heard HB 548, which would authorize revenue bonds and appropriations to acquire the St. Francis School campus for UH Mānoa. UH supported the bill but noted the property is privately owned and not known to be for sale. A supporter described the site as a unique 11-acre parcel contiguous to the main campus and urged the committee to seize the opportunity for future generations. No vote or final action was taken on the bills in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• bus or in school, load it back on, right?
• Madam Chair and members, Senate Bill 1616 exempts the recognized dental school, dental therapy school
• , or dental hygiene school without Bodex licensure. rather than from therapy school or dental hygiene
• school.
• outside of the school and then they happened to be working for the school?

Bills: SB1176, SB1186, SB1235, SB1286, SB1446, SB1458, SB1515, SB1616, SB1641, SB1668, SB1670, SB1678, SB1747, SB1787

Keywords: stormwater, water storage, replenishment credits, groundwater, aquifer, Arizona Revised Statutes, disclosure, state contracts, procurement records, donations, transparency, EMS, reciprocity, interstate compact, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, licensure, public safety, military personnel, veterinary telemedicine

Summary: The committee approved the minutes and then heard Senate Bill 1668, which would extend the deadline for funeral establishments or responsible persons to submit required documentation from seven calendar days to 14 business days and make related changes involving disposition of unborn or stillborn children, minors, and abortion clinic forms. Funeral industry testimony said the current timelines are difficult to meet and create stress for grieving families, while a mother described problems caused by requiring an ex-spouse’s signature after her child’s death. The bill passed on a 4-3 vote, with some members supporting the timing and family-law fixes and others objecting to the abortion-clinic provisions. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1286, on veterinary telemedicine prescriptions. An amendment shortened the telemedicine prescription period for non-antimicrobial drugs from 60 days to 30 days, allowed antimicrobial prescriptions for up to 14 days based on an electronic exam, and barred further antimicrobial prescriptions without an in-person exam. Veterinarians and the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association moved to neutral on the amended bill but warned about safety, overprescribing, and the limits of telemedicine; supporters argued it would improve access for rural, elderly, and low-income pet owners. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill as amended on a 4-3 vote. Senate Bill 1235, creating the emergency services personnel licensure interstate compact, passed unanimously after sponsor testimony that it would improve reciprocity for EMTs and paramedics and help military personnel. Senate Bill 1446, which would change dialysis-center social worker documentation from monthly to quarterly, also passed unanimously, with DeVita Dialysis Services saying the change would reduce paperwork and align Arizona with federal and most-state practice. Senate Bill 1515, a cleanup bill for the Industrial Commission of Arizona that renames positions, removes outdated duties, and changes publication of fee schedules, passed after an amendment and supportive agency testimony. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1678, which would require direct-care staff in certain facilities to complete patient information forms and reestablish the Vulnerable Adult Systems Study Committee. An amendment removed the form requirement and instead required DHS to investigate complaints from EMS personnel about missing DNR orders; first responders and provider groups supported the revised approach, though some members wanted minority-party appointments added to the study committee. The bill passed as amended on a 6-0-1 vote. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 1747 on social media protections for minors, with the sponsor framing it as a child-safety measure and opponents from NetChoice, TechNet, and Meta warning about privacy risks, age-verification problems, constitutional concerns, and the possibility that teens would evade restrictions; supporters argued parents need stronger controls and pointed to app-store-based alternatives, but no vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• SAUs<00:23:11.840> while schools, school boards, and SAUs while schools, school boards, and
• > well<01:12:00.800> before<01:12:01.280> school were in school well before school
• Sometimes hours after school let out. Sometimes hours after school let out.
• to a public school.
• to a public went from a Catholic school to a public school. school. school. my<04:08:45.760> first

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On the side of the schools, it doesn't matter what we do on the schools, folks, they're going to get
• On the side of the schools, it doesn't matter what we do on the schools, folks, they're going to get
• that fund schools.
• . schools. schools.
• the 25 mills out of the school mills. the 25 mills out of the school mills.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and toward private schools, and this would do the same.
• private schools.
• When we have public money going to private schools, it is taking the money out of our public schools,
• to attend religious instruction during the school day.
• to attend religious instruction during the school day.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate convened, recorded attendance, dispensed with reading the journal, and recognized several guest groups, including landscape architects and FFA representatives who delivered plants to senators. The chamber then moved through multiple Committee of the Whole calendars, considering a large number of bills and resolutions, with most measures receiving do-pass recommendations, often after committee or floor amendments. Topics included public monies and cryptocurrency/stablecoin use by the state (SB 1042, SB 1043, SB 1044, SB 1045, SCR 1003, SCR 1033), attorney discipline and family court matters (SB 1039, SB 1139, SB 1147, SB 1148, SB 1328), public records, scholarship organizations, HOA flag rules, deed conveyances, environmental restrictions on solar radiation management, federal land acquisition consent, small modular reactors, water quality testing, and state revenue-related constitutional changes (SCR 1028). One notable procedural dispute occurred when an Epstein amendment to SB 1043 was ruled not germane; the chair’s ruling was upheld on a 14-10 division vote, and the bill later advanced without that amendment. The Senate also retained SB 1419 on the calendar. On later calendars, the Senate advanced health and human services measures focused on Arizona’s Access program and DCS, including SB 1052, SB 1115, SB 1149, SB 1193, SB 1233, SB 1345, SB 1346, and SB 1631. Testimony on SB 1115 centered on whether Access employees should be barred from remote work, with supporters arguing in-person work was needed and critics warning of staffing and service disruptions without a new facility or appropriation. SB 1233 drew discussion about a short cure period for administrative deficiencies; supporters said the bill addressed retaliatory enforcement practices, while opponents said the timeframe was too short. SB 1345 and SB 1346 also drew Access-related debate, including a floor amendment removing Access from SB 1345 and an objection that the bill could conflict with federal Medicaid law. The committee reports for these bills were adopted, and the measures were sent forward with do-pass recommendations. The Senate also advanced regulatory and utility-related bills on another calendar, including SB 1137, SB 1144, and SB 1205. SB 1137 dealt with underground facilities excavation notification and passed with a Kavanaugh floor amendment described as stakeholder-driven technical detail. SB 1144 addressed veterinary technician certification and education alternatives and passed with committee amendment. SB 1205, concerning motor vehicle booting fees regulation, was amended to require an appeals process for private parking lots using booting services after a senator described a personal experience of paying a boot fee and receiving no response to an appeal. The calendar was still in progress at the end of the transcript, with SB 1286 just beginning to be read.

Transcript Highlights:

• No schools. Senator Gruders. Thank you.
• Churches and schools.
• policy to mandate that we have sworn officers in school in every school, and it kind of never happened
• You go to our high schools, you graduate from our high schools, you go to our colleges, you graduate
• When I came out of school, I worked three jobs and I put myself through nursing school.

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then read an amended joint proclamation expanding the special session call to include financial penalties for government officials, criminal penalties for offenses committed by illegal aliens, and programs and appropriations to support law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. No committee reports, governor’s messages, or House messages were on the desk before the chamber moved to the special order calendar. The main item was Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 2B, the immigration bill, along with a late-filed strike-all amendment by Senator Gruters. Gruters said the amendment aligned terminology with federal law, increased penalties for crimes by unauthorized aliens, added transnational crime organizations to gang definitions, required stronger participation in the federal 287(g) program, created financial penalties for noncompliance, offered a $1,000 bonus for officers assisting ICE in large operations, directed more information-sharing with federal agencies, and barred DHSMV from issuing licenses or IDs to unauthorized aliens. He framed the bill as supporting President Trump’s immigration agenda and focusing on criminal illegal aliens rather than street-level enforcement. A long question-and-answer period followed, with Senators Polsky, Pizzo, Smith, Jones, Roscoe, Berman, and others pressing the sponsor on scope, legality, costs, and implementation. Questions focused on whether the bill would require participation beyond jails and detention centers, whether schools or churches could be affected, liability and immunity for local agencies, the size and purpose of the proposed appropriations, and the impact on undocumented students receiving in-state tuition waivers. Gruters and Senator Fine said the 287(g) provisions were intended to apply to jails and detention facilities, that green-card holders and lawful residents would not be affected, and that the tuition waiver repeal would end discounted tuition for students in the country illegally while not affecting their ability to attend. Fine also defended the mandatory death penalty provision for certain capital offenses committed by illegal immigrants, acknowledging it would likely be challenged in court but arguing the bill was designed to test and advance the policy. No final vote or other action on the bill is reflected in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• is what that school is doing.
• Other schools are not saying it.
• Mountain West schools are at the cap. Mountain West schools are at the cap.
• cap. other schools are not saying it. cap. other schools are not saying it.
• to play at their schools? to play at their schools?

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House-Senate higher education briefing focused on how the University of Hawaii athletics department plans to remain competitive in the NIL era, especially as the House settlement and related changes allow new forms of athlete compensation. Chair and Senator Kim opened by framing the issue as balancing competitiveness, sustainability, compliance, and UH’s educational mission. Coaches Laura Beeman and Timmy Chang described how NIL and the transfer portal are already affecting recruiting and retention, with Beeman saying women’s basketball has lost six to 10 recruits because UH cannot yet match offers, and Chang citing examples of players being courted with large sums and the need to retain proven local and out-of-state athletes. Both emphasized that student-athletes should still prioritize education, culture, and team values, while also receiving support that helps them stay at UH. Athletic Director Matt Elliott then outlined UH’s broader strategy. He said the department’s vision is to create an outstanding student-athlete experience, recruit and retain elite athletes, compete at the highest level of the Mountain West, and strengthen the bond with the community. He described NIL as having moved from a largely unregulated period to a new phase in which institutions can directly control some NIL payments, while outside deals still must be reviewed for fair market value. Elliott said UH wants to use NIL to help athletes cover basic needs and build financial stability, while also keeping them academically on track. He noted the department is pursuing fundraising, including a “Boost the Bose” account, corporate sponsorships, and licensing deals, to support NIL opportunities. In response to questions from Senator Kim, Elliott clarified that UH’s approach involves both institution-controlled payments and outside NIL deals: internal payments can be structured at the department’s discretion within the cap, while external sponsor deals must go through NIL Go and meet market-value standards. No votes or formal actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• to public schools.
• school students.
• school students.
• of schools be revised to public schools of schools be revised to public schools as<00:07:35.120>
• Back when I was in high school, there was a school shooting at Church High School.

Bills: HB1997, HB2343, HB2566, HB2493

Keywords: students with disabilities, individualized education programs, emergency plans, evacuation procedures, support services, Hawaii education law, HB2343, Maui State Veterans Home, veterans home, veterans, long-term care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, hospice, Alzheimer's care, respite care, assimilate, transfer deadline, Act 99, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1997, which would require IEPs for students with disabilities to include individualized emergency accommodations and evacuation supports. The Attorney General’s office supported the intent but recommended amendments to explicitly include students with Section 504 plans and to change references from “department schools” to “public schools” so charter school students are covered. Testimony in support came from disability advocates and several individuals, including Peter Fritz, who said emergency evacuation planning should be made explicit because it is not clearly required by federal law, and Ka Swan, who emphasized student safety during emergencies. No vote or final action was taken on the bill in the transcript. The committee then took up House Bill 2343, relating to the Maui State Veterans Home. The measure would repeal a deadline for transferring the home to a state agency with a Maui affiliation and instead require the transfer to occur as soon as practicable. The Department of Defense, the Office of Veterans Services, HHSC Oahu Region, and several individuals testified in support. Committee members asked whether a more definite deadline should be used, but the department said the open-ended language was preferable because the Maui entity is not yet ready and Oahu is currently providing oversight. No vote or final action was recorded. House Bill 2566, authorizing special license plates for Hawaii Civil Air Patrol members, was also heard. The City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services testified in opposition, while Johnny Perry testified in support. The committee did not take a vote in the transcript. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2493 on wrongful imprisonment compensation procedures. The Attorney General’s office opposed the bill, arguing it would create an automatic payment mechanism without a sufficient finding of actual innocence, could trigger payments within five days of dismissal, and raised concerns about insufficient time for prosecution review and about funding and appropriation issues. Supporters, including people who said they had been wrongfully convicted and later found actually innocent, argued the bill would reduce delays and help released individuals survive while awaiting compensation. Judiciary staff requested technical amendments and said operational details still needed review. Members questioned the AG about the meaning of “actual innocence,” burden shifting, and whether the bill would better define the standard, but no vote or final action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under the direction of the school nurse, [the school] may maintain a supply of epinephrine auto-injectors
• <03:04:53.359> postsecondary name of a school postsecondary name of a school postsecondary
• 04:56.120> a institution or independent school a institution or independent school a school<03
• school Under the direction of the school school Under the direction of the school nurse<03:04:58.319
• accordance with and it's the school accordance with and it's the school statutes<03:05:06.560>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and high students to our middle school and high school<00:23:53.600> career<00:23:54.000>
• We spend school career day next year.
• And I Paul 8 Paul II Catholic School.
• ,<00:26:23.679> we Before we left to go back to school, we Before we left to go back to school
• especially as a high school student. especially as a high school student.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In particular, our public school system.
• It would update the requirements for school safety plans to align with those new definitions.
• A lot of the kids that are subject To these kinds of interventions in school, they may not be verbal.
• Supports school staff with clear guidance and training and promotes de-escalation over restraint.
• Or getting written up or having to stay after school. That's not the purpose of a timeout.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Total for the 2025 2026 school year.
• in the EFA program in any given school in the EFA program in any given school year<00:35:15.040>
• We've got 15,000 kids in public schools. We've got 15,000 kids in private<00:44:34.160> schools.
• , taking children out of public schools, taking children out of public schools, but<00:50:56.960>
• our school budget.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee first took up Senate Bill 63, which Representative Maguire described as a straightforward bill setting funding for the Division of Travel and Tourism. He said it was not controversial. The committee voted to retain the bill by roll call, with one no vote and one member absent, and the motion passed 23-1-1. The committee then considered Senate Bill 74, dealing with annual reporting requirements for state departments that issue permits. Representative Maguire explained Amendment 2282 would shorten the reporting burden by requiring summary data on delayed permits rather than listing every permit, and would delay the first report until 2027 so agencies would not have to reconstruct old data. The amendment was adopted by voice vote, and the bill was then approved as amended by a 24-1 roll call vote. Next, the committee heard Senate Bill 241 on construction of a public pier at Hampton Beach. Representative Sweeney moved inexpedient to legislate, saying the project was ambitious and lacked public support. The motion passed unanimously 25-0, sending the bill to consent. Division Two then took up Senate Bill 145, a replace-all amendment to the education freedom account bill. Supporters said the amendment clarified the bill, kept the policy intact, removed a reimbursement program and an open-ended appropriation, and established a cap of 10,000 students with priority for current students and certain other groups. Opponents argued the measure was still a major expansion, would increase spending after crossover, and that the cap was not meaningful. After discussion, Amendment 2301H was adopted and the bill was approved as amended by a 25-0 vote, with members noting it could go on consent because no money remained in it.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Hoschild establishing a school Senator Hoschild establishing a school seasonal<00:17:37.280
• the local schools in those communities. the local schools in those communities.
• If it was, you'd have my schools.
• I think it's an equity... school districts based on a formula school districts based on a formula uh<
• properties also pay into school properties also pay into school referenda?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To recognize the Barton High School Bears boys basketball team as the 2006 Class 2A state champions.
• Whereas the Barton High School boys basketball team won the Class 2A State Championship held at Bank
• All those in favor of Senate Resolution 17 to recognize the Barton High School Bears boys basketball
• All those in favor of Senate Resolution 29 to congratulate Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences,
• and the Arts students on science fair competition accomplishments and to observe Arkansas School for

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The Arkansas Senate convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge, and moved through announcements including Work Zone Worker Highway Awareness Week. The chamber also received committee reports on several Joint Budget bills and Senate resolutions, including recognitions for Coach Van Compton and the Parkview Arts and Sciences Magnet High School boys basketball team. A special guest, Victoria Ferguson Banks of the Searcy County Quilt Guild, displayed an Arkansas-themed quilt that will be hung in the hallway during session. The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 17 honoring the Barton High School Bears boys basketball team as Class 2A state champions, Senate Resolution 29 recognizing Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts students for science fair accomplishments and designating ASMSA Day at the Capitol, and Senate Resolution 30 honoring Loy Bailey upon his retirement after 48 years with the Arkansas Department of Health. Mr. Bailey briefly addressed the chamber and thanked legislators for their support of public health and employee pay improvements. On the budget calendar, the Senate passed Senate Bill 1, the Senate appropriation for fiscal year 2026-27, by a 34-0 vote with its emergency clause. The chamber also adopted amendments to Senate Bills 3 and 10, passed House Bill 1060 for the Arkansas State Library appropriation, and approved in batches a series of appropriation and reappropriation bills, including Senate Bills 2, 14, 19, 22, 26, 32, 42, 52, 53, 60, 61, 62, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, and 74, all by 34-0 votes with emergency clauses adopted. The Senate then recessed briefly, later returned, and adjourned subject to clearing the desk, with plans to meet again the next day and to hold a special language committee meeting after adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The second part was added on where it says new paragraphs, and this deals with the new school district
• It's Pasquani school district, named after an Indian group up in the lakes region around Newfound Lake
• They have to now set their tax rate for the new school year, which is going into the next year here,
• Hein, Graten, and school district. Hein, Graten, and Bridgewater. Bridgewater. Bridgewater.
• involved with a new found school involved with a new found school district.<00:04:28.960> Um<

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference on HB 718 met to reconcile House and Senate language. Members discussed two main parts of the bill: provisions requiring the Department of Education to report on rules that exceed state or federal requirements, including any fiscal impact on school districts, and language related to the new Pasquaney school district and its tax-rate setting timeline. Conferees said they were agreeable to the Senate’s additions on reporting and the handling of indeterminable fiscal impacts. The group focused on a House amendment, 2725H, which made two technical changes to the Senate language: adding the word “certified” to align with existing statutory language and changing the bill’s effective date to “upon passage” so the Department of Revenue Administration could act in time. A further clarification was proposed to specify July 1, 2025, for the tax-rate language, and members agreed to that change as well. There was some concern raised that the bill’s underlying special education implications could have indeterminate fiscal effects on school districts, and one member said that without a fiscal note they could not support it. After discussion, the House members voted in favor of the three changes, the Senate member present also supported them, and the chair announced the result as effectively unanimous. The committee then said the report would be drafted and the bill would move forward, with HB 102 mentioned as another item to be placed on consent.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is especially true at our older school sites.
• So one of the things that we do is we work collaboratively with school and where a particular school
• And so one of the elements of this is we only use schools for our four-day sites.
• So really, the school might only need to give up parking for two days.
• We would want to work with the schools collaboratively.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Another bright spot continues to be concurrent enrollment participation among high school students grew
• This Nationally recognized college access program allows high school students the opportunity to earn
• Now that time has come for those fewer babies to go to high school.
• And so, with fewer babies, that means fewer high school graduates.
• So, I I don't have the number for you on how much money will be saved per school or per program.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• $28,000 per pupil in spending, a supercola of funding for local school districts, up to 14 weeks of
• $28,000 per pupil in spending, a supercola of funding for local school districts, up to 14 weeks of
• , As the first charter school graduate elected to the state legislature, I can also say very clearly,
• The unnecessary singling out of charter schools in a budget bill.
• At Garfield High School, she met her future husband, Kay.

Summary: The Assembly met with an initial quorum call, then proceeded through routine floor business, guest introductions, and several procedural motions. Members approved requests to suspend rules for adjournment-in-memory remarks and guest seating, removed some bills from the consent calendar, and re-referred or withdrew several measures. The chamber also took up a number of second-reading and concurrence items later in the day. Two major bills drew floor debate. SB 762, a tax measure allowing eligible local governments to seek voter approval for transactions and use tax rates above the statutory cap, was presented as a response to local fiscal pressures and was described by supporters as giving voters local choice rather than imposing a tax increase. It passed with an urgency vote of 54-13 and was sent immediately to the Senate. AB 126, the education budget trailer bill, was presented as a major investment in TK-12 education, special education, community schools, and educator leave; one member supported many provisions but objected to policy changes affecting charter schools being included in a budget bill. The Assembly concurred in the Senate amendments on AB 126 by a vote of 56-1. The Assembly also concurred in AB 35, an urgency environmental protection bill intended to speed implementation of Proposition 4-funded projects by narrowing administrative delay; supporters said it would accelerate wildfire prevention, water, and other environmental projects. The measure passed unanimously, 66-0. The consent calendar was then adopted, including AB 2796 on criminal history information, which passed 67-0. The session concluded with multiple adjournment-in-memory tributes, including remarks honoring victims of a B-52 test flight crash at Edwards Air Force Base, former West Covina Mayor Lloyd Johnson, civil rights leader Harold Brown, educator and activist Kiyoko Nancy Oda, and Auburn Mayor John Mike Holmes, followed by announcements of summer recess and adjournment until August 3.

Transcript Highlights:

• But specifically, Florida law already directs patriotic programs in schools.
• But specifically, Florida law already directs patriotic programs in schools.
• Marquise McMillar, Orange County Public Schools.
• Marquis McNeill with Orange County Public Schools. We were supporting the bill as amended.
• And I do want to give kudos to my school board, who actually brought the bill to me.

Summary: The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee met with a quorum and took up several bills. SB 420, by Senator Burgess, would require George Washington and Abraham Lincoln portraits to be prominently displayed in social studies classrooms and K-5 classrooms, with the Department of Education selecting the portraits. Supporters framed the bill as a patriotic and educational measure tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary, while senators raised concerns about exclusivity, precedent, local control, and whether the measure could be expanded politically. Burgess said the bill was intended to be nonpartisan, historically rooted, and not to affect curriculum, and he committed to seeking funding so it would not be an unfunded mandate. The committee reported SB 420 favorably. The committee then considered CS for SB 206, by Senator Harrell, which revises teacher preparation and training related to autism spectrum disorder. The strike-all amendment requires teacher preparation programs to include autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities, requires ESE-certified teachers to complete an autism microcredential by August 1, 2027, creates an Autism Education Loan Forgiveness Program, authorizes salary supplements and stipends, and requires district professional development to include autism-specific training with local CARD centers. Senators asked about implementation timelines, grandfathering current teachers, and whether the endorsement requirement should include a grace period; Harrell said she was open to further discussion and wanted to make the bill workable. Public testimony was largely supportive, including from an Orange County Public Schools representative and a parent of a child with autism. The committee adopted the amendments and reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee considered CS for SB 556, by Senator Berman, which allows students with disabilities to satisfy the high school physical education requirement by participating in Special Olympics for one year if included in the student’s IEP. An amendment also clarified that two years of marching band participation satisfies both PE and fine/performing arts credit requirements. Testimony supported the bill as an inclusive option that could reduce administrative burdens and give students more flexibility. The committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also voted to recommend confirmation of appointees in tabs 4 through 7, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:22:56.000> Food work that's done under the school Food work that's done under the school
• c><00:30:15.000> School<00:30:15.320> production<00:30:15.760> kitchen um uh School
• through partnerships to meet the local farm-to-school meal goal of 30% of food served in a school to
• I became a vegetarian back in high school, and there was nothing for me to eat when I was in school for
• hcmp um provides oversight of the school hcmp um provides oversight of the school Food<00:51:36.359

Keywords: 910, house, all