Transcript Highlights:

• And I say this as a former superintendent are are living in a world where they sit down in April 2 budget
• The world in which we live right now is a world in which has one superintendent testified before this
• Here's often is your explicit knowledge of education being a former superintendent.
• We want to make sure that that superintendents of schools, I can do accurate budgeting or more accurate
• And right now it's not the superintendents. Don't know how to add subtract, multiply divide.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I had a superintendent who believed in me and who was able to offer me those jobs rather than try
• Um, I had a superintendent who believed in me and who was able to offer me those jobs rather than try
• Um, I had a superintendent who believed in me and who was able to offer me those jobs rather than try
• Um, I had a superintendent who believed in me and who was able to offer me those jobs rather than try
• Um, I had a superintendent who believed in me and who was able to offer me those jobs rather than try

Bills: HF1049

Keywords: school library aid, education finance, school districts, charter schools, funding eligibility, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• But school superintendents are, and I say this as a former superintendent, living in a world where they
• But the world in which we live right now is a world in which, as one superintendent testified before
• this committee, he's a superintendent of a very small school district, 1,800 students.
• Your thoughtfulness, your explicit knowledge of education being a former superintendent, I'm thankful
• And right now, it's not that superintendents don't know how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide.

Summary: The committee first heard the proposed Pre-K-12 education budget for fiscal year 2025-26, totaling $34.7 billion. The chair highlighted major increases for the FEFP, including $29.6 billion for public schools and K-12 scholarships, a $984 million year-over-year increase, along with higher per-FTE funding, $4 billion for the Family Empowerment Scholarship, $431.4 million for VPK, funding for school safety, the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, school hardening, Jewish day school security, and an education enrollment stabilization fund. With no public comment, the committee adopted a motion for staff technical corrections and then approved the budget proposal as a recommendation to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee then considered SB 1402 on dropout retrieval programs. The bill expands eligibility so any individual who has withdrawn from high school may enroll in dropout retrieval services and clarifies how school grades are calculated for virtual instruction providers that offer those services. An amendment clarifying the grading calculation was adopted, and the committee reported the bill favorably. Next, the committee took up SPB 7030 on educational scholarship programs, a broad measure addressing school choice funding and administration. The bill would fund the Family Empowerment Scholarship as a separate categorical, expand the education stabilization fund, create fall and spring application windows, require a single scholarship application and more documentation, assign student IDs, standardize payment timing to monthly installments, require continued eligibility verification, and add Level 2 background checks for providers receiving state funds. Members raised questions about background-check enforcement, payment timing, data sharing, and the impact on homeschool and private-school families. Public testimony included support from school-choice advocates and concerns from private-school representatives about added regulatory burdens and deadlines. The committee adopted the bill as a committee bill and reported it favorably, with Senator Osgood voting no. Finally, the committee considered SB 508 on the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, which requires private schools to disclose in writing what accommodations, modifications, and services they will provide to students with existing plans such as IEPs, EEPs, 504 plans, or ELL plans before enrollment. An amendment was adopted to require public schools to consult with private schools about equitable services. Testimony was mixed: supporters said the bill would give parents needed information for informed choice, while private-school representatives said the language could be burdensome and vague. The committee reported the bill favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:13:10.560> particularly think school superintendent particularly think school superintendent
• And this was an add-on that we had, um, superintendent request.
• <00:21:43.280> requested boards and superintendent requested boards and superintendent requested
• I went from teacher to superintendent of a couple different districts.
• I went from teacher to superintendent of a couple different districts.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:46:25.680> schools as stated by the superintendent schools as stated by the superintendent
• It was an agreement informally made between the two superintendents and the boards, and they had this
• It was an agreement informally made between the two superintendents and the boards, and they had this
• It's all right. informally made between the su two informally made between the su two superintendents
• I am the superintendent Timothy Brick.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And what this does, it says that the superintendent, if there's a complaint in one of these education
• classes, it requires that the superintendent would have a designee with him, somebody that he could
• And I worked with the superintendents, and they're all good with this.
• And I worked with the superintendents, and they're all good with this. Thank you, Senator Hodges.
• And I think six years ago, when a decision was made to hire Cade Brumley as Superintendent of Education

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

Transcript Highlights:

• From Assembly District 29, Superintendent Crystal Lomato, escorted by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas.
• Superintendent Crystal Amato is a champion for equity and access and education across San Benito County
• In 2015, she was the first woman elected county superintendent of education.
• She has held roles as deputy superintendent, assistant superintendent, and principal.
• Starr Rivera-Lacey, Superintendent. and President of the Palomar Community College District, leads one

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• classroom at all levels, and for the last 20 years, I've served and currently serve as a Deputy Superintendent
• This is really to align the way that we prepare principals and superintendents with best practices.
• Right now, principals and superintendents have the same license, as well as every other administrator
• This bill would create different pathways for a principal license, as well as for a superintendent.
• Superintendents, PED work very closely as well as their office of special education and their general

Transcript Highlights:

• > on assistant superintendent, testify on assistant superintendent, testify on behalf<00:55:33.200
• . superintendent. superintendent.
• Um, Superintendent, do you delivery.
• I was an area superintendent with Superintendent Hamamoto, and we were turning out the work.
• Um the Aayashi, superintendent.

Bills: SB2003

Keywords: Mauna Kea, land management, University of Hawaii, astronomical observatories, leasable lands, natural resource management, stewardship authority, 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Water, Land, Culture, and the Arts and Education heard testimony and discussed SB 20003, which would require the auditor’s report under Act 255 to include a recommendation on whether the Monarch Stewardship and Oversight Authority is fit to continue managing Monaca lands. Testimony focused on the bill’s reversion language, the role of the auditor, and whether the measure gave the auditor too much discretion without clear criteria. The Office of the Auditor’s position, read into the record, was that it had strong reservations because the bill did not provide standards for assessing fitness and asked that the requirement be held or amended. Other testimony suggested a work group with relevant agencies and Hawaiian practitioners to manage the transition and reduce conflict. Committee members debated whether the bill should simply restore the original reversion language or also require an audit-based fitness determination. Several members questioned the need for a 2031 audit when Act 255 already provides for a performance and financial audit in 2031 and noted that the bill could shift authority away from the legislature. In response, the committee chair explained that the measure was intended to restore language removed during conference and to address the transition back to the University of Hawaii if the authority was not meeting the act’s purpose. The committees ultimately recommended SB 20003 be passed with amendments. The amendments would strike the auditor/audit section, add language addressing timelines by providing a 10-year lease extension and sublease extension, and make technical changes including a defective date. The committees voted to adopt the amended measure and send it forward as an SD1. The transcript also included a separate Education Committee hearing on SB 3286, which would require the University of Hawaii to develop a facilities and student housing master plan and report to the legislature. University of Hawaii testimony said the system supports the intent but that the bill’s requirements are a heavy lift across 10 campuses and should follow development of a broader academic strategy. Members raised concerns about deferred maintenance, shifting priorities, and the lack of a systemwide plan, while the university said it already has a six-year capital improvement plan but acknowledged it does not fully incorporate the broader academic and housing strategy the bill contemplates.

Transcript Highlights:

• may have heard from your superintendants may have heard from your superintendants that<00:47:25.839
• seems to be that that superintendent seems to be that that superintendent felt<00:53:57.599>
• > heavily<00:54:24.400> in superintendents that are heavily in superintendents that are
• >> but I would think those superintendents >> but I would think those superintendents
• superintendent uh the state<01:03:39.359> superintendent?

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next we have superintendent >> Thank you.
• The Department of superintendent.
• Next, we have Superintendent Hayashi from the DOE with comments. beneficiary.
• Next, we have Superintendent >> Thank you.
• Thank you. superintendent, campus operations and superintendent, campus operations and support<00:36:

Bills: SB3082, SB3110, SB3251

Keywords: military families, family leave, qualifying military exigency, Hawaii Revised Statutes, financial support, Hawaii National Guard, civil-military program, education, collective bargaining, exemption, SB3251, Hawaii public safety, ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Border Patrol, law enforcement hiring, state employment ban, police powers, Department of Law Enforcement, DLNR

Transcript Highlights:

• Holbert, Interim Superintendent Fremont Holbert, Interim Superintendent Fremont 38.
• Well, thank you, Superintendent Smith. Well, thank you, Superintendent Smith.
• Like I talked to a superintendent superintendent superintendent um,<01:56:07.000> saying,<01:56
• Superintendent >> Permission to speak? Mr. Superintendent Bertram. Bertram. Bertram.
• >> Permission Superintendent Smith. >> Permission Superintendent Smith.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think—this group of superintendents we have here today are talking to them.
• I think I'm not going to speak for them, but I can tell you from the superintendents that I have here
• That's why you don't have superintendents here who are in the old system in part; because they probably
• Let's be clear that the cell phone—and I agree with Senator Stuts—um, I see Superintendent Macky...
• Senator Stuts, um, I see Superintendent Macky out there.

Bills: SB92, HB9, HB9

Keywords: K-12 education, wireless communication devices, digital safety, social media education, classroom distraction, three-cueing system, reading instruction, structured literacy, scientific strategies, elder abuse, elder exploitation, financial exploitation, elderly person, senior abuse, probate, inheritance forfeiture, slayer statute, intestate succession, will contest, joint tenancy

Transcript Highlights:

• And they’re within the context of trying to work out their new superintendent.
• Any other questions for Superintendent Jones?
• I am currently on the superintendent emergency draft on the superintendent emergency draft rules for
• Um, superintendent.
• Charles Oski, Superintendent, Johnson County School District Number One.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Director of Leadership Development for CES and a retired superintendent. Good morning.
• I know where all those are at, and I'm a recovering superintendent, like she is.
• Good morning, Rhiannon Chavez, Superintendent of Cuba Independent School District.
• there way back when I was a freshman superintendent.
• That's, I think, those are the concerns I hear from superintendents.

Transcript Highlights:

• I also would like to thank our superintendent of public instruction.
• Welcome, Superintendent. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and members of the committee.
• Derek Lennox on behalf of the California County Superintendents, pleased to support.
• Superintendent. Thank you, Senator, for your great leadership.
• Jeff Baca, representing the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, in support.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard a series of bills focused largely on school safety, immigrant student protections, Holocaust and genocide education, civic engagement, and workforce pathways. SB 631 would expand the charter school revolving loan fund by increasing loan amounts and broadening eligibility, including for charter schools affected by natural disasters; it drew support from the Treasurer’s Office and the California Charter Schools Association and was advanced on a 4-0 vote, with the bill held on call. SB 472 would reinforce Holocaust, slavery, and genocide education requirements and create or expand teacher training and grants; it received strong support from survivors, educators, and Jewish organizations and passed 6-0, with several members asking to be added as coauthors. The committee also took up a package of immigration-related school bills. SB 48 would bar school officials from allowing immigration enforcement access to campuses without a judicial warrant and protect student records; it was backed by Superintendent Tony Thurmond, teachers, school districts, and many advocacy groups, and passed 5-0 to the Judiciary Committee. SB 98 would require K-12 schools and higher education institutions to notify campus communities when immigration enforcement is present; it also drew broad support from student groups, colleges, and education organizations and passed 3-0 to Higher Education, with the bill held on call. Both measures were presented as responses to recent immigration enforcement activity near schools and the chilling effect on attendance and student well-being. Other measures advanced included SB 848, which would strengthen protections against employee sexual misconduct in schools by updating safety plans, training, reporting, and misconduct tracking; it was supported by education groups and a survivor who described grooming at her high school, and passed 6-0 to Public Safety. SB 638 would create a statewide coordinating entity for education and workforce programs and support career pathways, with testimony emphasizing the need to align fragmented funding and improve access for underserved communities; it passed 7-0 to Higher Education. SB 316, on high school voter registration and pre-registration, passed 8-0 to Elections after testimony from students and civic engagement advocates, and SB 334, which would add sexual harassment prevention content and a Sexual Harassment Safety Week to school curriculum, was presented with support from student advocates and AAUW, with no opposition noted in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, I just wanted to say thank you to, uh, Superintendent Luck and his staff at Roswell.
• Uh, starting my 5th year as superintendent, about to roll into my 29th year of education.
• Thank you, Superintendent. I was just wondering, does it also have Lucy Hall?
• Um, so Superintendent, what is your vacancy rate?
• Superintendent. Any other final comments? No, sir. Just a quick clarification.

Transcript Highlights:

• And thank you, Superintendent.
• And thank you,<00:48:10.880> Superintendent.
• Um, there's a lot you, Superintendent.
• He thanked the superintendent and Chair Mohler.
• He thanked Superintendent Evans.

Bills: HF2354, HF3407, HF4359, HF4192, HF3356, HF3695, HF1597, HF3155, HF3871, HF4437, HF4446, HF3990

Keywords: medical assistance, fraud prevention, subpoena authority, criminal penalties, consumer protection, ghost guns, unserialized firearms, 3D-printed guns, 3D printer firearms, CNC milling, home-built firearms, firearm serialization, serial numbers, unfinished frame, unfinished receiver, ghost gun ban, gun control, firearm design files, CAD files, digital gun blueprints

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:56.959> and administrators, our superintendent and administrators, our superintendent
• not have superintendent or principles. not have superintendent or principles.
• who represents the superintendent. who represents the superintendent.
• And we heard from our principals and our superintendents.
• They don't want the superintendents.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Glenn Hill, and I'm the proud superintendent of Paint Creek ISD.
• Donald Hesseman, Superintendent, CFO from West Hardin CCISD, I'm testifying on the bill.
• Brandon Edo, proud superintendent of Cushing ISD, East Texas.
• I'm the proud superintendent for Bartlett Independent School District.
• I've been the proud superintendent for six years.

Bills: HB2

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

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