Transcript Highlights:

• It's going to be impacting people's lives both employment and other ways.
• The report also indicated that of those employers that use AI to impact the livelihood of a worker, 20%
• Secretary Kidd, on behalf of the Rural County Representatives of California.
• you, that something's going to impact you in your livelihood?
• These guidelines will be developed in conjunction with the community and those impacted.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on workplace technology, labor protections, and data center oversight. SB 947, the No Robo Bosses Act of 2026, would require human review before automated systems are used in discipline, termination, or deactivation decisions and would ban predictive behavior analysis in the workplace. Labor groups, worker advocates, and privacy organizations supported the bill, arguing AI can be biased and should not make life-changing employment decisions without human judgment. Business groups opposed it, saying it was broader than prior versions, could interfere with workplace safety tools, and should not include a private right of action or cover independent contractors. After discussion about due process and accountability, the bill passed the committee 3-1 and was sent to the Senate Committee on Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection. SB 978, the Data Center Community Accountability Act, would require data centers to pay upfront for new transmission or distribution infrastructure, create a separate rate structure so costs are not shifted to other ratepayers, and include skilled-and-trained labor standards for construction. Supporters said the bill would protect ratepayers, create good construction jobs, and encourage zero-carbon energy development. Opponents, including the Data Center Coalition and Silicon Valley Leadership Group, argued the CPUC already has ongoing proceedings on these issues and warned the bill could single out one industry and discourage investment. The committee members emphasized labor standards and community concerns, and the bill passed 3-0 to the Senate Committee on Appropriations. SB 951, the California Worker Technological Displacement Act, would expand WARN-style notice requirements for layoffs caused by AI or automation, require reporting to workers, local government, and EDD, and give displaced workers first consideration for other openings. Supporters said the bill responds to rapid AI-driven layoffs and would provide needed transparency and data. Opponents said the definitions were too broad, the notice requirements too burdensome, and the bill conflicted with existing WARN law; they also objected to the private right of action and inclusion of independent contractors. The committee discussed amendments clarifying that an employee may still be discharged for reasonable and substantiated cause during the notice period. The bill passed 3-1 to the Senate Committee on Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection. The committee also approved SB 1032, which would create a licensing and regulatory framework for temporary staffing agencies, and SB 1046, which would direct Cal/OSHA to develop standards to protect lifeguards and park rangers from transboundary pollution in the Tijuana River Valley. SB 1032 drew support from labor and enforcement advocates who said it would help stop staffing fraud, while staffing firms argued the bill was vague and could burden legitimate small businesses; it passed 3-1 to the Senate Committee on Judiciary. SB 1046 was supported by park workers and community groups describing health impacts from pollution and passed 4-0 to the Senate Committee on Appropriations. The committee also took up a consent item, which passed 4-0, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And of course health that directly impacts our population and our communities.
• So these future impacts, for example, we have many grants that have been awarded.
• So, a lot of funding is impacted.
• The loss of funding for one of us impacts all of us in New Mexico statewide.
• , everybody who accesses those environmental and other industrial impacts.

Committee: House Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, changes in federal funding may impact research.
• Uh, changes in federal funding may impact research.
• Uh I do through the community impact.
• This is um there impacted our portfolio.
• We're our region uh rural area as well.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a full quorum and approved the prior minutes. Members offered introductions of guests and family members, then heard a presentation from University of Louisville President Thomas Jared Bradley, who was sworn in before testifying. He described his background and outlined U of L’s strategic priorities: student success, access and affordability, workforce development, community engagement, and research. Bradley highlighted enrollment growth, increases in first-generation and Pell-eligible students, strong transfer pathways with KCTCS, and support programs such as the Cardinal Commitment Grant, 15-to-Finish, Comeback Cards, tutoring, mentoring, and mental health services. Bradley also emphasized U of L’s statewide and regional impact through UofL Health, rural outreach, the Bullitt County rural cancer education and research center, nursing expansion, and the Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership program. He noted major institutional distinctions, including R1 status, a new Carnegie Opportunity College and University designation, and community-engaged classification. He said the university is one of only 10 public universities nationwide with all three designations and reported record enrollment, improved retention, and strong research expenditures. He also thanked lawmakers for significant capital and operating support, including funding for the simulation center, health science center, asset preservation, and the MEP program. During questions, members praised the university’s public service role and asked about first-generation enrollment, retention, graduation rates, and post-graduation outcomes. Bradley said the university is working to improve completion by expanding academic support, early alerts, incentives for tutoring, and faculty/advisor mentoring, especially for first-generation and high-need students. He acknowledged that post-graduation employment data is difficult to collect but said the new Carnegie classification reflects positive outcomes. No votes were taken beyond approving the minutes, and no formal actions were taken on legislation in this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know you know I come from a rural area mostly, and the ambulances are really getting stressed.
• I know you know I come from a rural area mostly, and the ambulances are really getting stressed.
• I'm here today to share the impact of and success of Building Strong Communities.
• </c><00:59:18.480><c> of</c> I'm here today to share the impact of I'm here today to share the impact
• </c><01:01:28.440><c> Beyond</c> BC also extended its impact Beyond BC also extended its impact Beyond

Committee: Senate Labor

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:27:16.800><c> Um</c> for rural and frontier counties. Um for rural and frontier counties.
• </c> it does put more weight on small rural it does put more weight on small rural and<01:27:38.400><
• </c> vote yes for the counties of rural vote yes for the counties of rural Colorado<01:28:01.040><c>
• </c> public that the likely areas of impact public that the likely areas of impact would<02:09:54.560
• </c> programs that are going to be impacted programs that are going to be impacted that<02:19:18.000>

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> impact the world beyond high school. impact the world beyond high school.
• Thank you for your commitment to ensuring that rural students are not left behind.
• A tax credit reduces federal revenue, and that does impact all Kentuckians.
• A tax credit reduces federal revenue, and that does impact all Kentuckians.
• </c><01:52:09.280><c> all</c> revenue and that does impact all revenue and that does impact all Kuckians

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting focused on Kentucky school choice and innovation, with discussion of the state constitution’s “common schools” requirement and how that has been interpreted alongside newer education models. Chairman Tipton described model laboratory schools, Gatton and Craft Academies, magnet and virtual programs, and said these options show that Kentucky has long expanded opportunity through innovation. He then turned the discussion to Senate Bill 207, which he said was designed to support schools of innovation. Senator Steve West reviewed the history of Kentucky charter schools and explained that SB 207 was modeled on a South Carolina approach. He said the bill allows a local school board to contract with a third-party entity to manage an existing school, seek waivers from certain state rules, and receive SEEK funding while also allowing outside private investment. He emphasized that the district initiates the process, that the school remains public, and that the bill includes accountability through a time-limited contract that can be ended if the school is not performing. Members asked about the difference between SB 207 and the earlier charter school law, whether schools could cherry-pick students, and whether teachers would remain district employees. West and Tipton said the new model is tied to an existing school rather than a new charter, cannot cherry-pick students, and keeps teachers as district employees. Representative Brown raised concerns that charters and exceptions could leave some children out, especially lower-income students, while West responded that the proposal is intended to expand choice for families who may not otherwise have it and cited examples from other states where similar models improved low-performing schools. No vote or formal action was taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, it might, I guess, impact efficiency overall.
• </c> might I guess it it would impact might I guess it it would impact efficiency efficiency efficiency
• </c><00:46:07.160><c> of</c> 2040 now to avoid the worst impacts of 2040 now to avoid the worst impacts
• </c> share just a short story of the impact share just a short story of the impact energy<01:23:14.159
• I think that was just for potentially rural electrics.

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• How is this going to impact our overall needs and our resources?
• My last question is: in your presentation on cost and incentive impacts of setting, and impacts of setting
• Rural communities don't tend to have that choice. They are not going to be eligible.
• The carrier will not be able to pursue this expedited path for a lot of the rural communities, most rural
• So if you want to have an impact on future rates, reduce the amount of spending that's allowed.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is meant to reduce future damage to homeowners and businesses that have been impacted by flooding
• And many of our communities are still reeling from the impacts.
• When hurricanes impact our state, elections are often impacted.
• When hurricanes impact our state, elections are often impacted.
• Elections are often impacted. Election season, hurricane season tend to overlap.

Summary: The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met and first took up CS/HB 567, a broad transportation bill by Rep. McFarland. The bill, as explained, covered a range of transportation policy changes including higher speed limits, local regulation of e-bikes and e-scooters, parking accommodations for pregnant women, advance land acquisition for DOT projects, changes to FDOT contracting, elevation of roads in capacity projects, MPO quality metrics, and repeal of the Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council. Two amendments were adopted: one added a prohibition on driving too fast through flooded roads and creating excessive wake, and another updated language to allow for future technology in traffic management systems. The strike-all removed several items from the original bill, including utility-right-of-way language, private-public-use airport funding, and an electric vehicle tax redirect, and added MDX board changes. The bill then passed favorably on a recorded vote. The committee next considered CS/HB 1535, also by Rep. McFarland, a lengthy hurricane recovery and preparedness measure. It requires local governments to post storm-preparedness and recovery information online, expands special needs shelter information, mandates emergency management training, improves debris removal planning, and adds provisions for fiscally constrained counties. It also addresses shelter access, rebuilding rules, permitting timelines and fees after storms, homestead rebuilding limits, and election flexibility after disasters, including a process for supervisors of elections to request emergency changes through the Secretary of State. Members asked several questions about local rebuilding ordinances, election “super sites,” and the request/approval process. The bill drew support from several groups, including disability advocates, builders, waste and recycling interests, crane owners, and restaurant and lodging representatives, and it passed favorably. The committee then heard CS/HB 561 and CS/HB 563 from Rep. Cobb on manufacturing. HB 561 would elevate a chief manufacturing officer within the Department of Commerce, create a voluntary Florida manufacturing promotional campaign, and require biennial reporting on manufacturing efforts; an amendment removed the grant portion of the program, and the bill passed favorably with support from industry groups. HB 563 established an annual fee, capped at $100, for participants in the voluntary manufacturing promotional campaign and also passed favorably. Finally, Rep. Spencer presented HB 827, which directs a statewide study on the impact of automation and artificial intelligence on Florida’s workforce, to be updated every three years and developed with business, academic, and local input; it too passed favorably. The meeting then adjourned with notice that the subcommittee would meet again the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• Catalina Sanchez with the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation.
• Kett on behalf of the Rural County Representatives of California.
• of racist redlining practices, both past and present, and their lasting impacts.
• We continue working on the impact to smaller institutions.
• So this is impacting our grid today.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of bills, with members repeatedly noting that votes would likely be held later because a quorum was not yet present. Early measures included AB 2393, which would create fixed statutory damages for false arrest or imprisonment claims involving aggravating conduct such as face coverings, restraints, forcible transport, or firearms; supporters said it would help victims obtain accountability, while no opposition appeared. AB 2050, the HOA reserve-funding bill, drew support from HOA and housing finance advocates who said underfunded reserves lead to special assessments and safety risks, while consumer groups warned of large cost increases; Senator Laird said he would move it when a quorum was available. AB 1564, making employee-union communications confidential in certain public-employment disputes, was supported by labor groups and opposed by counties, school administrators, and other local agencies who argued it would hinder investigations. AB 2231, a CEQA streamlining bill for two Sutter Health hospital projects, was backed by the author and health-care supporters but opposed by a construction trade group that said it would strip workers of wage-and-hour remedies. The committee also heard AB 2689, which would allow non-renewal of subsidized housing leases for over-income tenants under specified conditions; there was little testimony beyond the author’s presentation. AB 801 would require the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation to regularly examine lenders for fair lending compliance; supporters framed it as a response to federal retreat from consumer protection, while credit unions and bankers said they shared the goal but wanted more work on impacts to smaller institutions. AB 2721, as amended, would require hotels to post notice when they have actual knowledge of ICE or CBP reservations; hospitality workers and labor supporters said it would improve worker safety, while hotel industry groups said they were moving toward neutral after amendments, though some owners remained opposed. AB 2035 would create a narrow, court-supervised alternative vote threshold for a single HOA, Laguna Woods Village, to amend outdated CC&Rs; the author and HOA representatives said the change was needed because repeated elections had failed to reach quorum. Later bills included AB 1827, which would raise the small-claims limit for businesses from $6,250 to $15,000 and allow up to three filings per year; supporters said it would modernize access for small businesses, while the Judicial Council opposed it as likely to crowd calendars and shift small claims away from its intended purpose. AB 1577 would require data centers to report energy-use information to the Energy Commission and local agencies; supporters said better data is needed for grid planning, while one industry group remained opposed in print but encouraged by amendments. AB 2164 and AB 1854 both expanded California shield-law protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care providers and related entities against out-of-state legal actions and extradition requests; supporters said the bills were needed to protect providers and patients after Dobbs, while opponents argued they would shield harmful medical practices and interfere with parental rights and other states’ investigations. AB 2529 would require claims against public agencies to include a declaration that the contents are true and correct, and AB 2247 would create the Thrive Act to fund trauma-focused mental health services for youth affected by gun violence; both drew support from local agencies or survivors, with no significant opposition recorded in the excerpt. The final bill discussed, AB 1821, would change Public Records Act response timelines from calendar days to business days to address large, complex, or bad-faith requests; the author said it would better match agency work capacity while preserving access, and the hearing continued with testimony as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• employers, and rural communities will lose competitiveness for these economic opportunities. ...in a
• Most of our member mills are in smaller, more rural communities—think Longview, think Wallula, think
• The remaining 80% is impacted by the inputs that we use every day to manufacture our products.
• This will provide for implementation of impactful decarbonization projects while avoiding aggravating
• This will provide for implementation of impactful decarbonization projects while avoiding aggravating

Summary: The Environment and Energy Committee heard testimony on House Bill 2537, which would change how energy-intensive, trade-exposed facilities (EITEs) are treated under the Climate Commitment Act. Committee staff and the bill sponsor explained that the measure would require Ecology to update its post-2034 report to include proposed allowance-reduction methods, leakage-risk adjustments, and consignment recommendations, and would add new reporting and decarbonization-planning requirements for EITEs to continue receiving no-cost allowances. The committee also briefly took up House Bill 2245, a separate Clean Energy Transformation Act bill, and later voted the proposed substitute out of committee on an 11-8 vote with 2 excused, after debate over exemptions for certain utilities and market customers. Supporters of HB 2537, including The Nature Conservancy, NRDC, Washington Conservation Action, Climate Solutions, Clean and Prosperous Washington, Ecology, and some utility representatives, said the bill would provide needed clarity, better data, and a path for long-term industrial decarbonization while helping prevent emissions leakage. They argued that EITEs receive substantial public value through free allowances and should be required to document emissions sources, energy needs, and feasible reduction pathways so the state can design a post-2035 policy consistent with climate goals. Ecology said it generally supports the bill, though it recommended streamlining duplicative reporting and noted the work would require significant agency resources not included in the governor’s budget. Opponents, including the Association of Washington Business, the Northwest Pulp and Paper Association, the Association of Western Pulp and Paperworkers, WISPA, the Alliance of Western Energy Consumers, Food Northwest, Simplot, Kaiser Aluminum, and Newcor Steel, warned that the bill could increase compliance burdens, expose sensitive business information, and worsen leakage risks by making Washington less competitive. They said many facilities have already made major investments and face high capital costs, limited clean electricity supply, permitting delays, and technologies that are not yet commercially viable at scale. Several speakers pointed to recent plant closures and job losses in pulp and paper, food processing, and metals as evidence that leakage is already occurring, and urged the committee to preserve flexibility, protect confidentiality, and consider targeted funding or other incentives rather than new mandates alone.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are they meeting the needs of more rural schools, suburban schools?
• Without intentional investments, this mismatch will exacerbate access gaps, particularly in rural and
• Coming from a smaller campus, that will be significantly impacted by this reallocation of funding.
• I find it very personal, and I know it's going to impact us more than it already has on my campus.
• And I know it's going to impact us more than it already has.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on three education budget items: the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), differentiated assistance/statewide system of support, and universal school meals plus kitchen infrastructure grants. For ELOP, the Department of Finance described the Governor’s proposal to provide $4.7 billion ongoing Proposition 98 funding and $62.4 million to set a minimum Tier 2 rate of $1,800 per pupil. The LAO recommended instead fixing the Tier 2 rate at $1,579, and committee members questioned how the rate was determined, how much funding is actually spent, and whether overlapping funding from ELOP, ACEs, and 21st Century programs is being tracked. CDE said ELOP is showing positive attendance and math outcomes, but some requested data will not be available until mid-2027; members also raised concerns about double-funding, transparency, and whether middle and high school students are being equitably served. On differentiated assistance, CCEE outlined the statewide system of support and the various tiers of universal, targeted, supplemental, and intensive assistance. Finance explained the Governor’s proposal to replace the current DA structure with a more stable universal and targeted assistance model, funded at $131.9 million ongoing, with a three-year support cycle aligned to LCAP and ESSA timelines and broader State Board authority to revise eligibility criteria. The LAO objected to considering the proposal before the State Board finalizes the new performance criteria, and committee members expressed concern that moving to a three-year cycle could delay support for LEAs that newly fall into need mid-cycle. There was also discussion about whether the proposal would weaken subgroup-based equity guardrails or give the State Board too much discretion over who qualifies for support. For school meals and kitchen infrastructure, Finance proposed $1.8 billion ongoing for universal meals and an additional $100 million ongoing plus $100 million one-time for a fourth round of kitchen infrastructure and training grants. The LAO recommended rejecting the new kitchen grant round because prior rounds are still being spent and the unmet need is not yet clear. CDE said prior investments have improved meal participation, efficiency, and menu variety, but many schools still lack the facilities for scratch cooking and face construction, electrical, and procurement barriers. Members asked for more data on how prior grants were used, which schools are benefiting, and whether funds could also support lower-cost food access strategies such as pantries, while noting federal restrictions on some meal-service innovations.

Transcript Highlights:

• That they are scared out of their minds about the impact of Republicans' big ugly bill, particularly
• Peterson's service and dedication to conservation is a reminder of the lasting impact that one individual
• ESPECIALLY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. WILLING TO HELP AMERICANS. AS THEY SEARCH FOR HEALTH CARE.
• But I also heard from grocery stores, rural and urban.
• BUT I ALSO HEARD FROM GROCERY STORES, RURAL AND URBAN.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, September 8, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• three-year pilot program to provide legal support to students in schools, one in a metro area and one in a rural
• Is there a fiscal impact of this? Yes, thank you for that question.
• going to create a condition where we have large blocks of urban voters settling the fate of small rural
• Does the bill require this group to consider the kind of big-picture impact on students, such as excessive
• That's what, when I talk to my folks in rural Oklahoma from the western side, they're like, we've already

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• three-year pilot program to provide legal support to students in schools, one in a metro area and one in a rural
• Is there a fiscal impact of this? Yes, thank you for that question.
• going to create a condition where we have large blocks of urban voters settling the fate of small rural
• Does the bill require this group to consider the kind of big-picture impact on students, such as excessive
• That's what, when I talk to my folks in rural Oklahoma from the western side, they're like, we've already

Summary: The Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Education met after an extended recess and first laid over House Bills 3244, 4146, 4158, and later 3718 for a future hearing. The committee also noted that its Wednesday meeting would be held at 4:30 p.m. in Room 4S5. Several bills were then heard and advanced, with PCS substitutes adopted without objection where noted. House Bill 4478, by Rep. Deck, raised the student activity fund deposit threshold from $100 to $500 and required all such deposits to be made by the end of the business week; it passed 6-0. House Bill 3671, by Rep. Provenzano, allowed experienced teachers to carry career teacher status to a new district for evaluation purposes only, not for contract or tenure decisions; after a question about tenure, it passed 7-0. House Bill 3051, by Rep. Stewart, streamlined and modernized the Tulsa Reconciliation Scholarship to make it easier for eligible students to access while preserving the program’s historic purpose; it passed 6-1. House Bill 3671 also drew questions about whether the bill would affect tenure, and the author said it would not. House Bill 3051 prompted questions about eligibility and whether there was any ranking system; the author said the scholarship remained equally available under current law. House Bill 3710, by Rep. Pogemiller, created a bipartisan district realignment commission to study school-district consolidation or reorganization every 10 years, considering financial efficiency, academic outcomes, enrollment, location, and proximity to other schools; supporters argued it would start a needed conversation about district structure and administrative costs, while opponents raised concerns about forced consolidation and local control. After extensive debate, it passed 5-4.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:56:50.920><c> the</c><00:56:51.040><c> internal</c> rural districts often lack the internal rural
• This impact is especially pronounced for small and rural agencies.
• ><c> pronounced</c><01:03:22.080><c> for</c> This impact is especially pronounced for This impact is
• </c><01:42:02.640><c> on</c> which in turn had a negative impact on which in turn had a negative impact
• </c> were impacted. were impacted.

Bills: HF3753 , HF4299 , HF4700 , HF4282 , HF4139 , HF3530 , HF4031

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: school safety, threat assessment, pilot project, education, real-time monitoring, public safety, HF4299, school safety specialists, Minnesota School Safety Center, appropriation, general fund, fiscal year 2026, school security, school violence prevention, student safety, Department of Public Safety, school resource support, education funding, peace officer, training reimbursement

Transcript Highlights:

• industry association and represents the men and women who steward Arizona's lands, livestock, and rural
• Yvonne introduced the first mobile children's advocacy center in the country, extending services to rural
• Chair, Representative Carter and members, HB 2104 may seem narrow, but its impact reaches into the core
• So, members, we continue to hear from the families of those that are impacted by the SMI situation that
• With your permission, your Committee on Rural Economic Development will be meeting tomorrow at 9 a.m.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Secondarily, when we have kids in more rural schools, the response time for emergency responders can
• I would like to note there was some testimony earlier talking about rural areas.
• I would like to note that those rural areas do not have full-time school nurses and therefore would only
• And I understand and completely respect that our rural students do not have the ability to maintain or
• Approximately 10% of school-aged children in the country are impacted by asthma.

Bills: HB2246 , HB2360

Committee: House Education

Keywords: firearm violations, education, student discipline, school policies, safety measures, albuterol, asthma, inhaler, rescue inhaler, respiratory emergency, school nurse, student medication, self-administration, anaphylaxis, public schools, private schools, charter schools, tribal compact schools, K-12 health, medication policy

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, I mean, how many lives would that have impacted? Or 63 tons...
• This area has proven extremely susceptible to impacts of severe weather.
• Additionally, with Texas having the largest rural population in the United States, the rural and border
• I'm the Executive Director of Lioness Justice-Impacted Women's Alliance.
• I'm the Executive Director of Lioness Justice-Impacted Women's Alliance.

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And when people think state park cabins, they think something very rural and rustic, and that is not
• And litter impacts tourism, which results in less money for local economies.
• So we had a student from New York City talking to a student from rural Texas.
• And so we had a student from New York City talking to a student from rural Texas.
• Over 9,400 students statewide impacted by Constitution and Law Day presentations.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Summary: The Louisiana Commission on Civic Education met with quorum, approved the minutes from its previous meeting, and took several action items related to the Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LIAC). The commission unanimously approved the 2026-27 LIAC membership slate after reviewing recommendations from the selection committee, and it also approved the council’s budget and mileage reimbursement guidelines, noting the only change was an updated IRS mileage rate. Members thanked the legislature for continuing to fund LIAC after earlier years when it relied on outside donations. The meeting featured presentations on civic education resources and America 250 programming. Brandon Burris, representing the Lieutenant Governor’s office, highlighted Louisiana state parks, the Checkout Louisiana library backpack programs for parks and museums, Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s anti-litter campaign, and Homework Louisiana. Liam Julian of the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute discussed national civics education trends, teacher discomfort with controversial topics, and the institute’s teacher training, student camps, debate programs, and civics app. Louisiana Public Broadcasting’s Katie Stark and Nancy Torren presented America 250-related materials, including a PBS Kids feature on a Louisiana child and LPB’s “Louisiana’s Hidden History” videos and teacher resources on Bernardo de Galvez and Spanish Louisiana. LIAC members then reported on their work, including school safety efforts, digital service-hour tracking, AP self-study access, minor work permits, AI-generated harassment concerns, and local civic engagement projects. Peggy Cotonia of the Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education reported 87 Law Day presentations and 287 total Law Day and Constitution Day presentations reaching about 9,400 students, along with updates on awards and a shortened but still free summer institute for teachers. Barry Irwin reported that legislation to clean up outdated commission membership and quorum language had passed the House and been heard in Senate Education, moving toward final passage. The commission adjourned after no further business.