Transcript Highlights:

• this working, that the student will be queried or the family will be queried, and it will all be by computer
• Naomi Padron, on behalf of the Computer and Communications Industry Association, we’re pleased to support
• You know, financial literacy, whatever it is, you know, our first, is...
• You know, financial literacy, whatever it is, you know, it's very common outside of the school system

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several education-related bills, with most of the discussion centered on student privacy, faculty health coverage, Native student data collection, mental health training for coaches, and human trafficking prevention education. AB 1159, the California Learner Personal Information Protection Act, would expand student data privacy protections to higher education, clarify existing ed-tech rules, and add limited enforcement. The author and supporters said current law is outdated and does not adequately protect sensitive student information, while some college-related stakeholders raised definitional concerns about preserving routine student communications and access to course materials. The bill was approved on a due-pass motion to the Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies and Consumer Protection Committee and placed on call. AB 1171 would keep unspent funds in the part-time community college faculty health insurance program from being swept for other uses and would require all community college districts to begin negotiating participation by 2030. The author and supporters argued that part-time faculty often lack employer-sponsored coverage despite teaching most community college courses, while opponents said the bill was premature because participation is still growing and the program’s full-year spending data is not yet known. Members debated whether the Legislature should preserve the funding in statute or continue handling it through the budget process. The bill passed on a due-pass motion to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. AB 1581 would require collection of tribal affiliation data for Native American and Alaska Native students in CalPADS to address severe undercounting and improve resource allocation. The author and tribal and education supporters said Native students are often misclassified, making it harder to provide culturally responsive programs and measure outcomes; committee members discussed how the reporting would work for multitribal and multiracial students and emphasized the need for tribal consultation and workable data definitions. The bill passed on a due-pass motion to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. AB 1665, requiring mental health training for school coaches, was supported as a way to help trusted adults recognize warning signs and connect student athletes to services; it also passed to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. AB 1766, which would expand human trafficking prevention education from kindergarten through 12th grade and address online grooming and exploitation, received strong support from the author, survivors, and advocacy groups, with testimony emphasizing earlier prevention and digital safety; the transcript ended during support testimony and did not include final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Early Literacy Program External Evaluation, $750,000.
• Public Information Campaign, 16, 0.5 FTE. 1 B early Early Literacy 2 early 1 B early Early Literacy 2
• c><04:28:20.080> and literacy program 3 administration and literacy program 3 administration and
• support a 5 9.3 FTE 6 Early Literacy support a 5 9.3 FTE 6 Early Literacy Competitive<04:28:28.560
• <04:28:32.560> Program program B8 Early Literacy Program program B8 Early Literacy Program

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The committee and floor took up House Bill 1411, which concerned the Cover All Colorado program. Debate centered on whether removing the program’s cap would create an open-ended entitlement and add pressure to the state budget. Supporters and opponents argued over fiscal impacts, with several members saying the program had grown far beyond its original cost estimate and that the state needed to protect the budget and maintain a balanced plan. The bill was ultimately passed as amended. House Bill 1412 was then considered, authorizing the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to use statistical sampling and extrapolation to recover Medicaid overpayments in certain provider audits, including ABA therapy and non-emergency medical transportation. Sponsors said the measure would help recapture millions in overpayments tied to fraud, waste, and abuse, and noted safeguards such as strict benchmarks, internal audit review, and a third-party audit firm. An amendment striking the word “alleged” from the bill was adopted, and the bill passed as amended. House Bill 1413, which changes leave provisions for certain public servants, was also approved. The bill removes a statutory cap on how much sick leave state employees may earn, while leaving actual leave policies to departments and bargaining agreements, and increases annual military leave to align with federal law. Members described it as a modest employee-benefit measure in a year without across-the-board pay raises. The House also laid over House Bill 1410 until later in the day and received the committee of the whole report on a large slate of other bills. Later, Representative Richardson sought to reverse the committee’s action on an amendment to House Bill 1389, which involved the comprehensive human sexuality education grant fund, arguing the grant program should be repealed if it is no longer funded.

Transcript Highlights:

• fall short when it comes to accessing career options in competitive STEM fields, from biotech to computer
• fall short when it comes to accessing career options in competitive STEM fields, from biotech to computer
• fall short when it comes to accessing career options in competitive STEM fields, from biotech to computer
• <00:39:58.720> science<00:39:59.480> while in to biotech to computer science while
• in to biotech to computer science while not<00:39:59.839> all<00:40:00.000> students<00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• this is an ongoing discussion with the House of Representatives, as well as other major pieces of literacy
• There are other major pieces of literacy legislation moving from that side of the building.

Bills: SB1290, SB1332, SB1369, SB1379, SB1381, SB1386, SB1390, SB1428, SB1584, SB1696, SB175, SB1778, SB1794, SB1806, SB1836, SB201

Keywords: 2-1-1 services, revolving fund, Department of Human Services, crisis pregnancy, abortion, legal funding, housing, infrastructure, water projects, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, economic development, zero-interest loans, clawback provision, local contractors, mental health, crisis services, 988 Lifeline, suicide prevention, behavioral health, human trafficking

Transcript Highlights:

• Or personal financial literacy. and economics and one credit in ethnic studies, world geography, or world
• history, and then a half credit in government and a half credit in economics or personal financial literacy

Bills: HB178, HB178, HB1551, HB1939, HB2040, HB2354, HB2674, HB3029, HB3460, HB3631, HB3662, HB5201, HB5381

Keywords: efficiency audit, political subdivision, tax rate, fiscal management, government accountability, Texas education, public schools, curriculum, social studies, high school graduation requirements, State Board of Education, Education Code, ethnic studies, world history, world geography, U.S. history, government, economics, personal financial literacy, free enterprise

Bills: HB178, HB1551, HB1939, HB2040, HB2354, HB2674, HB3029, HB3460, HB3631, HB3662, HB5201, HB5381, HB178

Keywords: Texas education, public schools, curriculum, social studies, high school graduation requirements, State Board of Education, Education Code, ethnic studies, world history, world geography, U.S. history, government, economics, personal financial literacy, free enterprise, religious literature, Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament, New Testament, ninth grade

Transcript Highlights:

• Roundy is a national board-certified teacher with 18 years of experience and a dedicated advocate for literacy
• Roundy is a national board-certified teacher with 18 years of experience and a dedicated advocate for literacy
• , monitors and all IT devices computers, monitors and all IT devices as<00:56:05.599> well<00:
• If there's an adjudication, which river basin or where that's at, um, is it for computer modeling?
• that's at um is it for computer that's at um is it for computer modeling?

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• certification while phasing out waivers in a way that prioritizes our early learners in math and literacy
• I mean, look, we have data that shows first-year residents are achieving literacy outcomes equivalent
• it up to TEA, is when a hurricane hits, you've got no Wi-Fi, you've got no phone, you've got no computer

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• classroom for a period of time, nine times out of ten, they're going to be sitting on an iPad or a computer
• It included a third-grade literacy policy that It included a lot of things and then also a lot of school
• This lack of early identification and proper has created a crisis. worst literacy rate, our Texas public
• Millions of our children are hindered in a Achieving literacy by lack of adequate instruction.
• went into a storefront, outgrew the storefront, peeling the onion layers back, we have a crisis in literacy

Bills: HB3, HB3

Keywords: education savings account, educational expenses, certified educational assistance organization, school choice, funding, special education, tuition reimbursement, emergency communication, public safety, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, grant program, emergency communications, public safety radio, first responders, radio system, dispatch, 911, emergency management, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 17 directs the Revisor to recodify an early childhood literacy program for children participating
• <00:20:58.000> program<00:20:58.320> for early childhood literacy program for early
• childhood literacy program for children<00:20:58.960> participating<00:20:59.440> in<00
• Um, and they're walking around with computers in their pockets and then they're having to figure out
• Um, and they're walking around with computers in their pockets and then they're having to figure out

Bills: HF2436

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I serve as a state policy manager for the Computer and Communications Industry Association, an international
• displaces focus away from real solutions, including those that promote parental education and digital literacy
• Aidan Downey, representing the Computer and Communications Industry Association.
• Aiden Downey, representing the Computer and Communications Industry Association, in opposition.
• Aidan Downey, representing the Computer and Communications Industry Association, in respectful opposition

Summary: The committee first heard AB 56, which would require social media platforms to display a warning label about potential mental health harms from prolonged use, with amendments shortening the initial warning and allowing immediate access to the platform. The author and supporters, including a parent who lost a daughter to suicide and a therapist, argued that social media contributes to teen anxiety, self-harm, and other harms and that families need clearer public health information. Opponents from tech and civil liberties groups argued the bill would be ineffective, burdensome, and likely unconstitutional, saying it would create warning fatigue and should be replaced by more targeted tools and digital literacy measures. Several members discussed emergency access concerns, language access, and whether the warning should be more actionable; the bill was moved on a 9-0 vote to the Judiciary Committee. The committee then took up AB 358, which would amend CalECPA to allow law enforcement, with the victim’s consent, to inspect certain abandoned tracking or surveillance devices found in a victim’s home, vehicle, or personal property without first obtaining a warrant. The author and a San Diego prosecutor said the bill is narrowly tailored to devices used solely for spying and is intended to help stalking and domestic violence survivors act quickly before evidence is lost. Opponents from EFF and the ACLU warned the bill would weaken warrant protections, create a loophole around CalECPA, and reduce transparency and accountability. Members debated Fourth Amendment issues, abandonment, and the practical need for rapid access; the bill passed the committee on a 9-0 vote to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 1137, which builds on last year’s CSAM reporting law by allowing any user to report child sexual abuse material, requiring clearer reporting mechanisms, adding human review in some cases, and mandating third-party audits and public reporting. Supporters, including survivor advocates and a parent of a child victim, said the bill would reduce the burden on survivors and improve removal of abusive content. Tech industry opponents said they support the goal but objected to the human-review mandate, public audit disclosures, and enforcement provisions, arguing they could create security risks and compliance burdens. Members generally supported the bill’s intent but raised questions about audit frequency and human review; the bill was moved on call with seven votes at the time of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• think we're steering away from it being used as a crutch, but more on we're learning about digital literacy
• think we're steering away from it being used as a crutch, but more on we're learning about digital literacy
• So, for example, to give you one that you've probably seen in headlines as well, computer science majors
• The numbers for computer science majors are declining rapidly.
• Faculty who teach computer science also do work in AI and in robotics and automation.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Supporting literacy doesn't start in kindergarten; it starts at birth.
• Supporting literacy doesn't start in kindergarten; it starts at birth.
• My mom has always been very involved in literacy efforts.
• We can invest in literacy now or choose to pay for the consequences later in the future.
• The literacy gap is not just an The literacy gap is not just an educational<00:53:04.320> hurdle,<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because this is sort of like if I'm having a problem with my computer and I struggle with computer stuff
• When I'm having a problem with my computer and I struggle with computer stuff, it's no different than
• Like, do you give me permission to remote into your computer and try to figure out what's going on?
• Therefore, broadband access, digital literacy, education, and device access are all crucial.
• You sign consent in case there are any literacy issues, so we assist with all of that.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to authorization of a full-time literacy to authorization of a full-time literacy position<01:10
• <01:35:04.000> So,<01:35:04.400> the software and computer upgrades.
• So, the software and computer upgrades.
• many computer co costs in the classroom. many computer co costs in the classroom.
• Senate File 14, Literacy Position for K through 3 Reading Program. Ayes 30, noes 1. Message 262.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sorry, my um, computer is glitching. Can you hear me okay? Yes. Go ahead. Here.
• Seeing none, let's move on to HCR 44, HR 40, urging the DOE to co-develop a 6 to 12 grade AI literacy
• Seeing none, let's move on to HCR 44, HR 40, urging the DOE to co-develop a 6 to 12 grade AI literacy
• AI literacy and usage curriculum<01:00:44.320> with<01:00:44.480> teachers.
• This is to establish an artificial intelligence literacy curriculum with teachers.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several education resolutions, beginning with HCR 11 and HR 14, which ask the Board of Education and the State Public Charter School Commission to report on improving access to stable, suitable, and affordable facilities for public charter schools. The Charter School Commission supported the measure, and OHA also supported it while noting long-standing facility challenges, the lack of a dedicated facilities appropriation, and the strain on charter schools that have had to use operating funds for buildings and temporary structures. Kealakehe Academy, Hawaii Technology Academy, and several individuals also testified in support. The committee then took up HCR 181 and HR 171, which seek a shared decision-making committee to develop an action plan for a K-12 Ka Waihona School in Kapolei. The Department of Education said it has already developed a strategic plan for Kaipuni education, has expanded immersion programs over the past decade, and is addressing growth through interim guidance and a new priority placement process. Community witnesses, including representatives of Ke Alo Ever, strongly supported the resolutions, emphasizing the need for a K-12 pathway, the importance of Hawaiian language and culture, and the role of community voice in planning. They argued that teacher shortages, especially for licensed Hawaiian immersion teachers, remain a major barrier and proposed a kumu recruitment and retention program tied to community, UH, and DOE partnerships. The committee also heard HCR 187 and HR 177, which urge the Department of Education to begin initiatives to address teacher retention statewide. DOE and the University of Hawaiʻi College of Education said teacher retention is already being addressed through the Teacher Education Coordinating Committee, a five-year plan focused on building capacity, improving satisfaction, and compensation, and a new DOE human resources plan. In response to questions, DOE said it is seeking better school-level data on why teachers leave, is preparing for contract negotiations, and is working with the standards board and DLIR on an apprenticeship-related grant. TECC representatives said the group has been working since the pandemic era, may narrow its focus to retention as the most actionable area, and expects to provide more concrete recommendations in its annual report. The transcript ends as the committee moves on to the next item, HCR 47 and HR 43, without showing any votes or final actions on the measures heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this bill relates to measures to support kindergarten readiness and early literacy and numeracy
• And she, that included taking some tests on the computer, and she came to me after school one day and
• think that's a perfect example about how a simple accommodation of a printed version as opposed to a computer

Summary: The committee heard and discussed several higher education and public school bills. Senator Burwell presented SB 1242 to remove an outdated Coordinating Board approval requirement for Texas State Technical College land and facility acquisitions, and SJR 59 to create a constitutionally dedicated endowment for TSTC capital needs; both drew strong support from industry and workforce groups and were left pending. SB 757, by Senator Middleton, would create a debt-to-earnings accountability system for public college programs, with supporters saying it would protect students from low-value degrees and opponents warning it could unfairly penalize programs with long-term value, especially graduate, medical, and public service fields; it was also left pending. SB 1241, by Senator Millington, would expand acceptable college entrance exams beyond the SAT and ACT, including the Classic Learning Test, and was left pending after testimony from CLT, homeschool, and student groups in support. SB 1085, by Senator Blanco, would let Sul Ross State University offer lower-division courses at its satellite campuses in the Middle Rio Grande region; it too was left pending. The committee then took up a series of public school and higher education measures, voting several out favorably. SB 605, as substituted, limits commissioner approval of charter school expansion amendments for schools under conservatorship or a management team and was reported favorably 9-0. SB 1871 and SB 1873, both by Senator Perry, were revised to narrow teacher immunity, clarify removal and suspension procedures, require periodic review of in-school suspension placements, and align discipline rules; both substitutes were adopted and reported favorably. SB 1872, SB 1874, SB 762, SB 1962, SB 1750, SB 2252, SB 2253, SB 2365, SB 1924, and SB 37 were also considered, with most reported favorably on party-line or near-unanimous votes. SB 1750 would replace a flat charter school facilities funding cap with an attendance-based formula; SB 2252 and SB 2253 address kindergarten readiness, early literacy/numeracy, and educator preparation; SB 2365 concerns student phone use during instructional time; SB 1924 restores local citation authority for certain school offenses and adds reporting, notice, and completion requirements; and SB 37 would expand state oversight of higher education curriculum, governance, faculty senates, and compliance with state law. Other measures heard included SB 769, which would require a Coordinating Board report on barriers faced by students with disabilities in higher education; supporters emphasized the need for better data and accessibility, while witnesses suggested broader reporting on race, disability types, and K-12-to-college transitions. SB 2231 would designate a Free College Application Week in October and was left pending. SB 1878 would modernize the Josie School statute and provide formula funding and aid eligibility for Polytechnic College. SB 1409 would authorize universities to offer self-funded student health benefit plans, with Rice University and Texas 2036 supporting the measure as a way to lower costs and expand coverage. SB 2431 would require universities to give foreign language credit for study abroad programs, SB 2314 would require schools to inform students about opting in or out of record sharing for direct admissions through My Texas Future, and SB 2138 would extend the state’s anti-ESG contracting restrictions to public higher education endowments and governing boards; these later bills were introduced and left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• all just online, it's somebody<00:32:24.000> with<00:32:24.159> a<00:32:24.399> computer
• <00:32:24.720> that's<00:32:25.120> much somebody with a computer that's much somebody
• with a computer that's much smarter<00:32:25.760> than<00:32:25.919> I<00:32:26.080>
• And that vision is why I'm here today to support the College Financing Literacy Act that's before the
• Many of these students lack financial literacy skills and struggle to decipher complex, inconsistent,

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He's an engineer, but he's worked for the large computer companies.
• Or a desktop computer, those are becoming even farther and fewer between.
• I see people connect their cell phones to their TVs now and not even have an actual, Computer anymore
• between the cows and this tower, which is then relayed out via this cell signal to the ranchers' computer
• is training the extension agents on how to use AI effectively and safely, so it also promotes AI literacy

Transcript Highlights:

• deal with many things in life that are important for everyday living by showing me how to use a computer
• It's just saying there's another tier of literacy that you don't possess and it's okay, right?
• And I know I don't have the literacy to execute Figure this out.
• And I know I don't have the literacy to execute the response that I need to the system.
• As my literacy started expanding, they started looking at me as a threat.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Commission on Correctional Consolidation and Collaboration met at 10:07 a.m. and approved the minutes from its February 9 meeting. The commission said it would accept Department of Correction testimony in writing because of a scheduling issue, and then spent most of the hearing hearing from people with lived experience in county and state correctional settings. Members repeatedly reminded witnesses to keep remarks to about three minutes and focused the discussion on correctional consolidation, collaboration, programming, and reentry. Testimony from multiple sheriff’s offices was broadly supportive of county-based programming, treatment, education, and reentry services. Witnesses from Hampshire, Barnstable, Hampden, and Franklin counties described access to GED and college courses, vocational training, recovery meetings, therapeutic groups, housing and ID assistance, work release, and reentry centers. Several said these programs helped them gain sobriety, employment, family reunification, and parole readiness. Hampden County witnesses emphasized immediate reentry planning and individualized case management; Franklin County witnesses praised respectful treatment and an accessible off-site reentry center; Barnstable witnesses highlighted the women’s therapeutic treatment program, creative writing, and the Bridge Center; Hampshire witnesses described the Bridge House, work release, and transition supports. Several witnesses contrasted those experiences with what they described as limited or delayed programming in DOC facilities, especially for people serving longer sentences or with restrictive classifications. One witness said DOC programming was hard to access because shorter sentences and offense labels affected eligibility; another described overcrowding, little counseling, and no reentry planning in state prison. A juvenile lifer testified that classification barriers and lack of tailored programming left him feeling unprepared, and another witness said DOC’s handling of classification hearings and records was unfair and opaque. Some speakers also raised concerns about mental health care and visitation policies, especially at Framingham, where one witness said suicidal thoughts were met with inadequate responses and another said family visitation was denied without clear explanation. Commissioners asked follow-up questions about DOC access, step-down opportunities, family support, and whether more transitional housing or acclimation time before release would help. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the prior minutes.