Transcript Highlights:

• And model and support schools.
• it is a small school.
• schools.
• In the Rossville Independent School District, there is one rural school.
• It's also a small school.

Transcript Highlights:

• School boards of directors generally consist of five members, but school boards and districts with a
• The business... ...equity across school boards, school programs, facilities, and outcomes.
• Karen Bolton, and I am currently a school board director in a Burminton School District here today representing
• Our district has successfully navigated recruitment in school boards and school directors to meet our
• school boards.

Summary: The House Education Committee held public hearings on two bills. House Bill 1662 would move several education-related boards and commissions—the State Board of Education, the Professional Educator Standards Board, the Financial Education Public-Private Partnership, and the Charter School Commission—toward operational independence from OSPI by July 1, 2027, including separate administrative services, asset and employee transfers, and transition planning by OFM. The prime sponsor and supporters said the bill would improve transparency, fiscal accountability, and agency flexibility, while OSPI-related testimony emphasized that small agencies need more nimble administrative support. No one testified in opposition; the hearing record noted 2 pro, 1 con, and 5 other sign-ins, and members were told the bill was substantively the same as the version passed the prior year except for date changes. The committee then heard House Bill 1683, which would require most school districts with 2,000 or more students to elect at least some school board members from director districts rather than entirely at-large, with larger districts needing more district-based seats and districts under 2,000 students exempt. The sponsor and supporters argued the change would improve geographic and demographic representation, especially for lower-income communities and communities of color, and would help ensure school boards reflect the students and families they serve. Opponents, including a school directors association representative, said the bill would be an unfunded mandate, reduce local control, and create added election costs and recruitment challenges; one witness also suggested the bill should consider broader proportional-representation options. Staff noted that 23 districts would currently be out of compliance, and the hearing record showed 12 pro, 163 con, and 2 other sign-ins. No executive action was taken on either bill during this portion of the meeting. At the end of the hearing, the chair reminded members that several bills heard that week would be on next Thursday’s executive session agenda, urged prompt amendment requests, and announced that the committee would adjourn to caucuses.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have, for example, classical schools and arts schools and STEM schools and CTE schools, and the
• So we have, for example, classical schools and arts schools and STEM schools and CTE schools, and the
• public schools.
• And when it did go out to schools, some schools did distribute it that way.
• And when it did go out to schools, some schools did distribute it that way.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from February 10 and 11, 2026. It then heard House Bill 634 from Representative Kyle Harris, which would require funds appropriated for specific education purposes to be used only for those purposes, with any misused money to be repaid or offset. Harris argued the bill was about legislative control and accountability over taxpayer dollars, while several members questioned whether it would limit local flexibility, especially for charter schools and districts facing changing needs. Testifiers from the Idaho Association of School Administrators and the Idaho Charter School Network opposed the bill, saying it would reduce local discretion, complicate budgeting, and undermine charter school flexibility and accountability structures already in place. Some members supported the bill as a way to prevent money from being shifted away from intended uses, while others argued existing audits and local school boards already provide oversight. After debate, the committee first voted on a substitute motion to send HB 634 to the floor with a due pass recommendation; that motion failed. The committee then voted to hold HB 634 in committee, and that motion passed 10-3. Representative Harris and Representative Monica Church then presented a related RS, which Church said would improve transparency by tightening how instructional and administrative staff are defined so teacher salary increases are not diverted to non-classroom roles. After brief discussion, Representative Pickett moved to introduce RS 33152C1, and the committee approved the motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• school officers.
• This can include obtaining school resource officers and school guardians.
• school officers.
• This can include obtaining school resource officers and school guardians.
• school days thereafter.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee received a presentation from Auditor General staff on recurring findings from audits of district school boards, colleges, and universities. For school districts, the main issues discussed included missing or outdated safe-school officer training documentation, weak purchasing-card controls, vendor banking-change fraud risks, incomplete background screenings and disqualification-list procedures, missing website budget disclosures, excessive or untimely IT access, late deactivation of former employees’ access, missed emergency drill deadlines, inaccurate capital outlay and resiliency education records, weak tangible property inventories, adult education reporting errors, untimely bank reconciliations, and improper use of workforce development funds. The auditors said many of these issues are repeated from prior years and are summarized in their annual report on significant findings and financial trends. For universities and colleges, the auditors highlighted similar control weaknesses, including vendor information change controls, IT access issues, cash and investment reconciliation problems, purchasing and procurement deficiencies, personnel and compensation issues, and student fee compliance concerns. Specific examples included a UF consulting contract totaling about $6 million, FAU underreporting carry-forward balances by about $77 million, UCF’s payment loss of about $107,000 from an email scam tied to vendor changes, and a North Florida College unauthorized transfer involving a few hundred thousand dollars. The committee asked questions about the UF consulting work, the FAU carry-forward issue, and whether the listed findings meant every named entity had every issue; auditors clarified that the lists reflected entities with findings in those categories, not necessarily each specific problem. The committee then turned to enforcement for entities with long-standing uncorrected audit findings. Staff reported 144 entities with 197 findings repeated in three or more successive audit reports and recommended sending letters requesting updated corrective-action status, including for late-filed 2022-2023 reports where appropriate. The committee approved the staff recommendation and directed letters to be sent. The meeting ended with members emphasizing the importance of audit oversight and taxpayer accountability.

Transcript Highlights:

• . school. school.
• Will big school, a big public school.
• ><c> school.
• </c> regular public school. regular public school.
• . schools. schools.

Keywords: Education - Room 216, 22 January, 2026; 10:30 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a map of all the K to 12 schools from the 2023-24 school year, right?
• Now, a lot of schools might have school nurses, a lot of schools might not have school nurses, right?
• first year of high school.
• It is the last week of school or the end of the school year for many of us parents.
• out of school entirely.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held a hearing on several vaccination-related bills, including proposals to eliminate non-medical or religious exemptions for school immunizations (notably H. 2554 and S. 1557), a bill to require or improve reporting and administration of immunization data and exemptions (described as the Community Immunity Act, S. 1618), and H. 2431, which would prohibit COVID-19, mRNA, or gene-altering vaccine requirements. The committee also heard testimony on H. 2463, which would classify funeral directors as public health workers for vaccine-priority purposes during emergencies. The chair reviewed testimony rules and repeatedly asked speakers to keep comments orderly and brief so the committee could hear as many people as possible. No votes were taken during the hearing. Testimony on H. 2554 and S. 1557 was sharply divided. Pediatricians, infectious disease specialists, public health advocates, and groups such as the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Massachusetts Medical Society, March of Dimes, Massachusetts Families for Vaccines, and several parents supported eliminating religious exemptions, arguing that vaccination protects medically vulnerable children and adults, improves herd immunity, and helps prevent outbreaks of measles, pertussis, and other diseases. They cited local school data showing pockets of lower coverage and incomplete reporting, and several speakers referenced outbreaks in other states and the need for stronger, more consistent reporting and exemption management. Opponents argued the bills would infringe on religious freedom and parental rights, force families to choose between faith and education, and unfairly target a small number of families; some also said Massachusetts already has high vaccination rates and that the real issue is incomplete data or the gap population rather than religious exemptions. H. 2431 drew testimony from supporters who said COVID-era mandates caused job losses, privacy concerns, and harm, and that the bill would prevent future requirements for COVID, mRNA, or gene-altering vaccines in schools, workplaces, and public settings. Supporters described personal experiences with alleged vaccine injury or mandate-related hardship. H. 2463 was supported by the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association, which argued funeral directors work in infection-facing settings and should be eligible for vaccine priority during public health emergencies. The hearing featured extensive public testimony but no committee action beyond hearing the bills and taking questions from members.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:25:31.760><c> related</c> school property or at a school related school property or at a school
• know, through school uh in the Manchester school district myself.
• It can't just be the schools that are responsible for this. school-based problem, but um somebody school-based
• uh in the Manchester school school uh in the Manchester school district<01:40:02.320><c> myself.
• within the school day.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Into the school of their choice.
• We were not allowing them to jump from school to school one single time without being punished.
• public schools and communities. ...integrity of high school athletics and support public schools and
• My grandkids are all in Christian school. I understand the value of school choice.
• We've had them in public school, and we've had them in private school.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . school. school.
• Um school.
• time next school year.
• time next school year.
• Schools security.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• plan. school districts to this school year it school districts to this school year it represents<00:08
• </c> So over the next two years, school So over the next two years, school districts<00:09:57.839><c>
• I and I have not of school buses?
• to school districts.
• </c> summer school and extended day teachers. summer school and extended day teachers.

Bills: HB0150

Keywords: Wyoming business council, economic development, task force, evaluation, policy reform, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> school bus. school bus.
• </c> for the schools and outside the schools. for the schools and outside the schools.
• </c> the school nor a {quote} school the school nor a {quote} school function,<00:30:36.200><c> but</
• We have seen uh school uh school boards.
• You have an school school board member.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• school principal, a school through as a school principal, a school teacher,<01:37:23.199><c> um</c><01
• I've seen schools seen good schools.
• </c> them to private school. them to private school.
• public schools.
• </c> school route, to go the private school school route, to go the private school route,<02:03:54.239

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Funding Committee met in executive session on a bill concerning school meal access and reimbursement. The bill would address local school districts’ responsibility to provide meals during school hours, reimburse schools for meals served at no cost, and make an appropriation. The committee first moved to retain the bill, with supporters saying it was complex, had uncertain fiscal impacts, and should be considered alongside other related meals bills. Opponents argued the committee already had enough information, that the bill served a small number of students at relatively low cost, and that delaying action would harm children who need food to learn. The committee also heard from Tim Roar, a Keene school business administrator and co-designer of the bill, who explained that the proposal was intended to be an opt-in program for districts, with rulemaking to set participation requirements. He said the bill was meant to target aid to students between 175% and 200% of poverty, reduce bad meal debt, and avoid spending taxpayer money on families who could afford to pay. He estimated the state cost at about $250,000 in year one, with local taxpayer costs around $8,500 for Keene, and said some districts already have systems for online applications while others do not. Committee members questioned him about meal debt, online application software costs, and how districts handle students who reach debt limits. Roar said districts still feed students who are hungry, but use other resources and family outreach when meal debt is capped, and he argued that parents should be responsible for providing lunch when they can afford it. Other members pushed back, saying they had seen students go hungry and that teachers sometimes pay for lunches themselves. One member noted the bill would increase eligibility, make it easier to apply, strengthen personal responsibility, and was not a mandate. The discussion ended without a recorded final vote in the excerpt, though the retain motion remained the central action under debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:09:53.680><c> private</c><00:09:54.160><c> schools,</c> parochial schools, private schools,
• parochial schools, private schools, public<00:09:55.519><c> schools</c><00:09:56.720><c> that</c><00:
• </c> that only has a public school. that only has a public school.
• Our public schools our public schools.
• Um, this should not be a public school versus private school debate.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call: 0:03 Bills for Consideration: 3:10 Adjournment: 56:19, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're providing $45 million for school hardening in public schools.
• public school.
• Forty-five of 67 school districts have declining enrollment, while private schools, parochial schools
• year with all the school... ...also enrolled in public school?
• to private schools.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met for Budget Day and heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, SPB 25-200, totaling $117.4 billion. Chair Hooper said the plan reduces overall spending from the prior year, keeps strong reserves, includes a 4% pay raise for state employees, maintains employee health care contributions, and makes major investments in water quality, transportation, and education infrastructure. Committee chairs then summarized their budget silos, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and agriculture/environment/general government. Members asked questions mainly about school funding, AP and dual enrollment support, voucher and scholarship impacts, and the My Safe Florida Home program. The committee adopted a large consent package of amendments and then approved three late-file amendments: funding virtual college tours for high school students, funding the FSU Sunshine Genetics program, and providing money for the Port of Fernandina customs facility. The committee then voted to report SPB 2500, the General Appropriations Bill, as a committee bill. It also favorably reported SPB 2502 (implementing bill), SPB 2504 (state employees placeholder), SB 7022 (Florida Retirement System contribution rates and DROP changes), CS/SB 1320 (recreating the Resilient Florida Trust Fund), SPB 2506 (gaming compact revenue distributions, including water projects and rural lands), SPB 2508 (29 new judgeships), SB 7014 (ending the court mediation and arbitration trust fund), SPB 2510 (K-12 conforming bill), SPB 2512 (higher education conforming bill), and SPB 2514 (health and human services conforming bill). The committee also took up several policy bills. It approved SB 7028 on cancer research, creating grant parameters, reporting requirements, a five-year pediatric cancer research incubator, and the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute VisionGen Initiative. It approved CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home quality, adding resident satisfaction surveys, medical director standards, safety culture reviews, electronic health record requirements, financial reporting penalties, and a study of best practices. It approved CS/CS/SB 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, which expands mental health diversion options, adds Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, expands grant uses, and creates a behavioral health data repository. It also approved SB 114 creating the Florida Center for Excellence in Insurance and Risk Management at FSU and moving the public hurricane loss model there. The committee then began considering SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response, including a late-file amendment, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said selling School Trust Lands is the last opportunity to make money off of school trust lands to
• </c><00:10:32.600><c> trust</c> this issue the office of school trust this issue the office of school
• economic return to school kids?
• economic return to school kids?
• economic return to school kids?

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up HF 1425, which would prohibit the sale of state-owned school trust lands in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to the federal government and instead require a land trade. Representative Skraba argued the federal wilderness law requires an exchange, not a sale, and said the state should trade Boundary Waters school trust lands for federal lands elsewhere, citing potential benefits for logging, mining, and school trust revenue. He said the current proposed sale price was too low and moved to lay the bill over for possible inclusion in a future bill. Later, he withdrew a DE1 amendment and instead moved to re-refer the bill to the Education Finance Committee, but that motion failed. Testimony was largely opposed to the bill. Aaron Vandal of the Office of School Trust Lands said the exchange option was no longer viable, that the lands have produced no revenue for education for decades, and that selling them is the trust’s last opportunity to generate returns for schoolchildren. Bob Meyer of the DNR supported Vandal’s position and said the agency could not negotiate mineral rights in the way suggested. Aon Clems of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and Amanda Hefner of Save the Boundary Waters both opposed HF 1425, though they emphasized different reasons: Clems argued a sale best fulfills the state’s fiduciary duty to maximize long-term returns for education, while Hefner said a sale would harm public education funding, align with the trust’s original purpose, and help consolidate federal ownership in the wilderness. Members then questioned the valuation and the practical differences between a sale and an exchange. Representative Jacob challenged the low per-acre price and asked about the federal government’s set-aside amount, while Representative Fischer asked how the appraisal was determined. DNR lands and minerals director Joe Henderson explained the valuation came from an independent appraiser, was based on the wilderness restrictions and lack of development potential, and was from a 2020 appraisal that is now being updated. Representative Schultz supported the sale approach and said the state should not transfer the land at such a low price. The committee did not advance the bill to the Education Finance Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a school board member, it was the expectation of the school board member and of the school board to
• And if one school doesn't offer and another school does, that's their choice.
• It may not be the right private school. They need to go to another school.
• To a private school.
• parents who were leaving the public school and going to these little private schools or charter schools

Summary: The Student Academic Success Subcommittee met with a quorum and heard four bills, all of which were reported favorably by unanimous votes. The chair opened with remarks about student performance and assessment, then the committee took up House Bill 1111 by Rep. Valdes, which would eliminate the certificate of completion for students who do not meet standard high school graduation requirements. Supporters argued the certificate is a meaningless “participation trophy” that can mislead students and families, while the sponsor said students would instead be pushed toward additional support, concordance testing, or other pathways to a standard diploma. Members raised questions about effects on ESE students, timing, and alternative pathways; the bill passed 17-0. The committee next approved House Bill 921 by Rep. Overdorf, which adds cursive writing instruction for grades 2 through 5 and defines cursive proficiency. The sponsor and supporters said cursive has historical, cognitive, and fine-motor benefits and helps students read signatures and historical documents. The bill also passed 17-0. After a brief recognition of visiting students, the committee heard House Bill 423 by Rep. Bartleman, which requires private schools participating in the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program to give parents written notice about which services in an IEP, 504 plan, ELL plan, or similar plan will be honored. Supporters framed it as a transparency and consumer-protection measure for families, especially those with children with disabilities; the sponsor emphasized it does not require private schools to provide specific services, only to disclose them. The bill passed 17-0. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 251 by Rep. Tendrich, which would recognize January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Florida. The sponsor and public witnesses described rising antisemitism, the importance of remembrance, and the need for education about the Holocaust. Members from both parties shared personal reflections and support, and a survivor’s letter was read into the record. The bill passed 16-0. At the end of the meeting, the chair noted the committee had gone four-for-four on unanimous support and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also opened high school too this year, Legacy Ranch High School.
• That could attract Students from another school district to that school district. That's correct.
• So it's not necessarily school district A sending over to school district Bypically school District B
• Grades a high school grade if it's counting toward a high school graduation requirement and a grade for
• By partnering with school districts and charter schools with higher education institutions, this bill

Bills: HB20, HB120

Keywords: fraudulent solicitation, disaster relief, nonprofit organizations, criminal penalties, consumer protection, fraud prevention, charitable donations, higher education, LGBTQ studies, DEI studies, program prohibition, educational policy, HB120, Texas, Texas Education Code, public universities, public colleges, queer studies, gay studies, lesbian studies

Transcript Highlights:

• Though we are not a public school in the sense of a school governed under PED, we are a school that serves
• a school just like this one.
• do in-school suspension.
• schools of the rulemaking?
• year 20 to school year 2024.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:11:49.519><c> even</c> School okay and in Catholic School even School okay and in Catholic School
• But when I was in high school, it was actually in junior high school with the nuns.
• I did not approach my school district, my school board, about this.
• I did not approach my school district, my school board, about this.
• school district school district yes to school district school district yes to create<01:16:48.679><c

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• "We have three schools. We got a high school, middle school, elementary school.
• "We have three schools. We got a high school, middle school, elementary school.
• "We have three schools. We got a high school, middle school, elementary school.
• </c> school, middle school, elementary school, middle school, elementary school. school. school.
• . school. school.

Keywords: 916, all