Transcript Highlights:

• Noella van vant Tiana lolotai Junior Noella van vant Tiana lolotai Junior tupai<02:37:01.840>
• Okay, the next two people are Junior Tupai and Adam Poola.
• people are Junior tupai and Adam<02:43:59.279> poola<02:44:00.520> pooloa<02:44:01.520
• Junior Tupai: These are exemptions that have been afforded to the community for years.
• Junior Tupai: These are exemptions that have been afforded to the community for years.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard several measures, beginning with HB 194, which would designate May 22 as Maritime Day. Testimony from labor, health, and community groups was in support, and the committee later recommended passage of the bill as is, with several members voting yes and some reserving or being excused. HB 458 would designate April 27 as Brother Joseph Dutton Day; the Department of Accounting and General Services, the Joseph Dutton Guild, and a descendant all supported it, and the committee recommended passage with technical amendments. HB 957 would designate the first Friday in May as Lā‘au Day; support came from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and many individuals, and the committee recommended passage as is. HB 345 would establish the ʻōpae ula as the state shrimp to promote awareness and protection of anchialine ecosystems; DLNR, Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAu, and other supporters testified, and the committee recommended passage with technical amendments. The committee also heard HB 901, which would allow public charter schools to appeal directly to the Board of Education on certain operational, governance, or funding matters. The Attorney General and the Public Charter School Commission offered technical comments and suggested amendments, while the commission described its current monitoring and renewal process and said it works closely with schools over the life of a charter contract. Members raised concerns about whether the bill would shift too much work to the Board of Education, and one member voted no when the committee later moved the bill with the Attorney General’s amendments. HB 1066 would add Head Start-related ex officio members to the Early Learning Board; the Early Learning Board and the Executive Office on Early Learning supported it, explaining the changes were needed to align with the federal Head Start Act, and the committee moved it forward without opposition. HB 1069 would add voting members from the Department of Education and Board of Education to the School Facilities Authority Board. DOE and the School Facilities Authority supported the change as a way to strengthen collaboration, though questions from members focused on the current communication process between the agencies. HB 1343 would require the Board of Education to adopt a policy banning student phone and related device use during school hours; the committee noted written testimony in support and then moved to decision-making. At the end of the meeting, the committee adopted recommendations to pass HB 194, HB 458 with technical amendments, HB 957, HB 345 with technical amendments, HB 901 with amendments, HB 1066, HB 1069, and HB 1343.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is [unclear], and I'm a rising junior at University Preparatory in San Jose.
• My name is Struthy Menoge, and I'm a rising junior at Basis Silicon Valley High School in San Jose.
• I'm a junior at Los Gatos High School and the policy officer at SCYCA.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is [unintelligible]; I’m a rising junior at University Preparatory in San Jose.
• My name is Struthy Menoge, and I’m a rising junior at Basis Silicon Valley High School in San Jose.
• I’m a junior at Los Gatos High School and the policy officer at SCYCA.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard a long slate of education bills, beginning with SB 685 on nonpublic schools for students with disabilities. Senator Cortese and the California Department of Education described the bill as a response to the Ninth Circuit’s Laughman decision, removing the obsolete “non-sectarian” requirement while preserving secular use of public funds, nondiscrimination protections, background checks, credentialing, and incident reporting. There was no opposition, and the bill later passed 7-0 to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 1181, a pilot grant program for violence prevention, student wellness, and school safety in Central Valley and other schools. Supporters framed it as a prevention measure, while opponents from EFF, ACLU Cal Action, and community advocates warned it could increase law enforcement involvement, surveillance, and use of fusion centers; despite those concerns, it ultimately passed 5-0 to Appropriations. Members then considered SB 1067, which would create a statewide framework for annual K-2 math assessments starting in 2028-29 to identify students needing early intervention. The author and supporters argued California faces a serious math achievement crisis and that early assessment would help close gaps, while CTA and several educators and administrators sought additional clarity and amendments to ensure alignment with existing diagnostic practices and limits on high-stakes use. The bill drew broad support from educators, parents, and advocacy groups and passed 7-0 to Appropriations. SB 1107, a school shade-structure bill, would expand eligible shade projects and allow bundling through design-build to reduce costs; it received support from LAUSD, school boards, and climate-focused groups and passed 7-0. SB 1128, on take-home devices and screen time for kindergarteners, was presented as a modest first step to give families more flexibility and reduce early screen exposure, with support from early childhood advocates and no opposition, and it passed 7-0. The committee also approved SB 1048, creating a voluntary State Seal of Climate Literacy for students who complete climate coursework and hands-on projects. Supporters, including Ten Strands, students, teachers, and county offices, said it would recognize real-world climate learning and green career readiness; it passed 7-0. SB 1140, sponsored by CFT, would require LEA construction contractors to follow campus security provisions during school projects to reduce unauthorized access; it drew support from labor and gun violence prevention groups and passed 7-0. SB 930, requiring end-to-end encryption for proctoring companies handling K-12 exam data, was presented as a student privacy measure in response to cybersecurity risks and passed 6-0. Finally, SB 1083 was introduced by Senator Perez as a follow-up to last year’s Safe Learning Environments Act, with extensive committee amendments to refine the statewide misconduct data system, disclosure rules, contractor fingerprinting, and access requirements; the transcript cuts off before the bill’s full hearing and vote are shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a junior at Hawthorne High School in L.A., and I am a member of the statewide Student Advisory Board
• I'm a junior at Anaheim High School. I'm here with Oakland, also California, PFL.
• I'm a junior at Anahim High School. I'm here with Oakland, also California, PFL.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard the Governor’s proposals for universal school meals, the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), and community schools, with the kitchen infrastructure grants, Tier 2 ELOP funding, and ongoing community schools funding as the main budget issues. For universal meals, the Department of Education and the Department of Finance supported continued investment in school meal infrastructure and explained that federal changes, inflation, and underreporting in meal counts could affect future funding. The LAO recommended rejecting a fourth round of kitchen infrastructure grants, arguing prior rounds are still being spent and that future funding should be tied to clearer goals and data. Several public commenters and school groups supported continued kitchen grants and universal meals, citing supply-chain delays, workforce needs, and benefits such as more freshly prepared meals and higher participation. For ELOP, the administration proposed $4.7 billion ongoing Proposition 98 funding and an additional $62.4 million to set a minimum Tier 2 rate of $1,800 per pupil. The LAO recommended fully fixing the Tier 2 rate at $1,579 and tying future changes to program requirements, while CDE supported the proposal and said the program is improving attendance and academic outcomes. Senators and witnesses discussed whether ELOP should remain a standalone program or be folded into LCFF, with concerns raised about accountability, flexibility, and whether the program should better serve older youth. CDE said new CalPADS reporting and the biennial report will provide more data soon, and public testimony largely supported stabilizing Tier 2 funding while also asking for more support for middle and high school students. For community schools, the Governor proposed $1 billion ongoing Proposition 98 funding to expand the model to thousands more schools and to support existing sites, along with new accountability through annual self-certification and future accreditation. The LAO recommended continuing the current one-time grant approach instead of creating a new ongoing categorical program, warning about reduced flexibility, administrative burden, and the state’s capacity to support a much larger number of grantees. CDE strongly supported the ongoing funding and asked for additional support for county offices and technical assistance. Committee members questioned how accreditation would work for a model meant to be locally tailored, and administration staff said technical assistance would come first, with schools losing eligibility only if they failed to meet standards after support. Public testimony was overwhelmingly supportive of community schools, with parents, students, county offices, and advocacy groups describing gains in attendance, graduation, mental health supports, family engagement, and student belonging, while some commenters urged clearer eligibility rules, stronger reporting, and continued support for related programs such as MTSS and homeless student services.

Transcript Highlights:

• These outstanding students represent the Elizabeth Davis Middle School chapter of the National Junior
• Beyond the National Junior Honor Society, these students balance rigorous academic schedules that include
• House, please join me in giving a warm House welcome to the Elizabeth Davis Middle School National Junior

Keywords: March 06, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He's a junior at Alamo Navajo Community School. He had to travel just over four hours to get here.
• He's involved in Student Council and is the current junior class president, and he'll be with me today
• Current junior class president, and he'll be with me today.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our high school or junior high counselors, you know, those are some of the most important folks in the
• certain skills, apprenticeships, but would, a lot of times a company will work with a college or junior
• Or junior college and set up a program where the school actually does the training, but the company benefits

Summary: The committee approved the November 3 minutes and then received an extensive presentation from Arkansas education and workforce officials on how the LEARNS and ACCESS Acts are affecting career and technical education, concurrent enrollment, and postsecondary readiness. Officials said the state’s goal is for students to leave high school employed, enrolled, or enlisted, and reported increases in K-12 CTE enrollment from about 161,000 to 171,000 students and concurrent CTE enrollment from about 12,000 to 16,000. They also described the new success-ready pathways, merit and distinction designations, and how those measures tie into school accountability and graduation outcomes. The discussion then turned to scholarships and grants. Officials explained that ACCESS expanded concurrent credit support, increased funding per credit hour, and broadened eligibility for the Arkansas Academic Challenge and Governor’s Scholar programs by adding diploma-of-merit and diploma-of-distinction pathways. They said the Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship itself did not change, but the non-distinguished Governor’s Scholar award now includes diploma of distinction as an additional eligibility route. Members raised concerns about how these requirements apply to private school and homeschool students, and officials said the intent is to ensure those students can qualify if they meet the same standards, though some implementation details are still being worked out. Questions also focused on whether students who explore multiple pathways could be penalized in school letter grades; officials said the system allows multiple ways to earn credit, including AP, IB, concurrent credit, technical certificates, and apprenticeships. Officials also reviewed workforce scholarships and short-term training funding. They said the state is developing policy for the Workforce Challenge and related professional skills training to set an 80-hour minimum and tiered funding, and they discussed the new federal Workforce Pell rules, which they said are very narrow and will likely apply to only a small number of Arkansas programs unless providers repackage training into stackable, credit-bearing pathways. Members asked for lists of eliminated programs, apprenticeships, and data on scholarship recipients, and staff said they could provide those. The committee also heard from Cody Waites on a $35.8 million U.S. Department of Labor cooperative agreement for the American Manufacturing Apprenticeship Incentive Fund, which Arkansas will administer nationally. He said the grant will support advanced manufacturing apprenticeships, use a pay-for-performance model, and be distributed to sponsors after apprentices are employed for 90 days, with applications opening January 28 and the state expecting to keep administrative costs under 8-9%.

Transcript Highlights:

• So when someone, like in the old days when we used to do junior, we do. house built to junior, and somebody
• I think that the GROW Fund program is the same thing as well as when we used to do Junior, which is basically

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm with my juniors, and their first question is, "Do I have to pass this to graduate?"
• Some juniors take PSAT if they got a good enough score, because I think there are scholarships that are
• available if you take it as a junior.

Transcript Highlights:

• I graduated valedictorian at Grand Ridge in 1995 and obtained my AA from Shapola Junior College in 1997
• I graduated valedictorian at Grand Ridge in 1995 and obtained my AA from Shapola Junior College in 1997
• came here... ...I had a positive image of Pensacola State College, which at that time was Pensacola Junior

Summary: The committee first heard CS/SB 1458 on apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. The bill sponsor said it would add consistency and transparency by requiring local education agencies and training providers to define their roles and funding shares in contracts, cap an LEA’s share at 10% when it serves only an administrative role, and require public meetings and published work papers for the district workforce education funding steering committee. Several industry and business groups appeared in support, and the bill was reported favorably without debate. The committee then took up CS/CS/SB 1726 on higher education, which was substantially revised by a delete-all amendment. The amended bill addressed presidential searches, trustee eligibility, interim presidents, polling by universities, mission reviews, and other governance issues. Members asked about the requirement that final presidential candidate groups include at least three applicants, the qualifications for interim presidents, trustee residency/alumni requirements, and limits on candidate polling. Senators Leek and Smith offered contrasting views, with Leek warning about candidate withdrawals and Smith supporting the bill as a way to depoliticize higher education governance. The bill, as amended, was reported favorably. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to confirmation hearings for university and college boards of trustees. Several appointees and reappointees from FAMU, UNF, Pensacola State College, UF, and UWF described their ties to their institutions and goals such as student success, workforce alignment, military support, research, and regional access. The UWF nominees drew the most scrutiny over their votes for former board chair Scott Yenor, whose public comments about women and other groups were criticized by senators and public commenters. Some nominees said they were unaware of the full scope of those remarks and would not have voted for him with that knowledge; others defended their votes as based on his education-reform views. Public testimony also raised concerns about UWF board members’ lack of higher-education experience and local ties. The committee confirmed the non-UWF nominees in a block vote and then began individual votes on the UWF nominees, with debate centered on Yenor-related concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• Grandma, or as Stanley Junior calls his great grandma, honey, born in 1935, the oldest of five children
• HB 4930 by Munoz relating to the governing board of certain junior college.
• The calculation of the voter approval tax rate in certain junior college districts for the Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Imagine, if you will, a Senator Pizzo: College junior right now about to graduate.
• be for those that are college freshmen right now, college sophomores right now, Senator Pizzo: And juniors
• working in Florida is a lot more relevant to stemming the tide of illegal immigration than a college junior

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a junior at Northampton High School. My name is Zara Usman.
• I'm a junior at Northampton High School, and I am a member of the Student Union there.
• My name is Nadia Lowe-Yarslek, and I'm a junior from the Northampton School District.
• I'm 16 years old and a junior at Northampton High School.
• My friend Lucia, a junior at our school, is a part of the club Best Buddies.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Ways and Means Committee held its final public hearing on the FY26 state budget, with chairs and members emphasizing that public testimony would help shape the budget and asking speakers to keep remarks brief. Committee leaders introduced members, explained the hearing process, and repeatedly thanked residents, students, and advocates for participating. No votes were taken during the hearing. Testimony focused heavily on education funding and the Chapter 70 formula. Students from Amherst, Northampton, Gateway Regional, Chester Elementary, and other districts described budget-driven cuts to electives, special education supports, paraprofessionals, counselors, transportation, and building maintenance. They urged higher Chapter 70 aid, increased minimum aid, rural school aid, and a reopening or restructuring of the funding formula, arguing that current formulas leave many districts unable to meet student needs and force local layoffs and overrides. Other speakers urged funding or protection for a range of programs and facilities, including the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute for homicide survivor services, the Museum of African American History, the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and CART/interpreter services, the Access to Counsel housing legal aid program, the Department of Mental Health and Pocasset Mental Health Center, and Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children. One speaker opposed offshore wind-related spending and urged a reset of the state’s energy approach, while another advocated ending the aircraft sales tax exemption. Committee members responded sympathetically to many speakers, asked a few follow-up questions, and several expressed support for maintaining or expanding the programs discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• more focus groups that there are more immediate productivity gains and this is often coming from junior
• more focus groups that there are more immediate productivity gains and this is often coming from junior
• more focus groups that there are more immediate productivity gains and this is often coming from junior
• <00:10:22.000> employees<00:10:22.800> or often coming from junior employees or often
• coming from junior employees or others<00:10:23.920> that<00:10:24.160> are<00:10:24.399

Bills: HF1316, HF4369

Keywords: HF1316, child support, new hire reporting, centralized work reporting system, independent contractors, payors, employers, payor of funds, withholding orders, income withholding, child support enforcement, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, gig economy, rideshare drivers, delivery drivers, 1099, W-9, W-4, newly hired workers, rehired employees

Transcript Highlights:

• I think I have—I didn't go to the bathroom in junior high because there were kids in there who I thought
• And nobody ever beat me up in junior high. That is just fear.
• And nobody ever beat me up in junior high. That is just fear.
• And nobody ever beat me up in junior high. That is just fear.
• And nobody ever beat me up in junior high. That is just fear.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so for the first two years they're taking generals and they're all fine, and then their junior year
• And so for the first two years they're taking generals and they're all fine, and then their junior year
• And so for the first two years they're taking generals and they're all fine, and then their junior year
• And so for the first two years they're taking generals and they're all fine, and then their junior year
• My name is Shay Horning, and I am a junior at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.

Bills: HF2634, HF2241, HF2649, HF2520, HF2610

Keywords: North Star Promise, scholarship, higher education, Minnesota Office of Higher Education, in-demand jobs, workforce development, career training, job market, high-demand occupations, high-demand industries, college aid, state financial aid, FAFSA, student eligibility, program of study, degree program, certificate program, community college, university, labor market data

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm 16, a junior at Stillwater Area High School, and I'm currently taking ethnic and cultural studies
• Pestle, a 17-year-old junior at Highland Park Senior High School, began her testimony.
• Hi, my name is Isabelle Hernandez, and I am a junior at Johnson High School.
• “Hi, my name is Isabelle Hernandez, and I am a junior at Johnson High School.
• I'm 17 and a junior at Highland Park Senior High. Thank you for having me here today.

Bills: HF29, HF921, HF922, HF1048, HF1049

Keywords: railroad, infrastructure, transportation funding, environmental remediation, capital investment, HF921, tax increment financing, TIF, excess tax increment, school district aid, levy adjustment, property tax levy, education finance, Minnesota education aid, decertification, local government finance, school funding formula, state aid reduction, referendum equalization aid, debt service equalization

Transcript Highlights:

• On the right side of the slide, you see the Junior Ranger program, and this is just one little example
• What we find is this Junior Ranger program, that was newly developed, gives kids activities.
• slide you it uh on the right side of the slide you see<00:17:50.640> the<00:17:50.760> junior
• :18:16.080> this experiences and what we find is this experiences and what we find is this junior
• Ranger program that was newly junior Ranger program that was newly developed<00:18:18.440> gives<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I was counselor for 130 juniors. I had four cabins and counselors, CITs, and everything else.
• was<01:09:12.839> the<01:09:13.400> uh<01:09:13.719> the<01:09:14.279> junior
• day uh where I was the uh the junior day uh where I was the uh the junior Chief<01:09:15.839>
• 19.600> you counselor uh you counselor uh you 130<01:09:22.400> uh<01:09:23.120> Juniors
• I had four cabins 130 uh Juniors I had four cabins and<01:09:26.400> counselors<01:09:27.040>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We had afternoons off to go work on a construction site junior year and senior year, and I took that
• uh to go work on a construction<01:10:17.280> site<01:10:18.400> uh<01:10:19.400> junior
• site uh junior year and Senior<01:10:20.719> year<01:10:21.239> and<01:10:21.679> I
• > Senior<01:10:27.760> year<01:10:28.719> and<01:10:29.000> I between my Junior
• and Senior year and I between my Junior and Senior year and I I<01:10:29.400> actually<01:10:

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Housing Finance and Policy Committee approved the previous meeting’s minutes and then heard testimony from Housing First Minnesota and the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities on housing supply, affordability, and land-use policy. Mark Foster of Housing First Minnesota said the state is chronically undersupplied by roughly 100,000 units, that the median new single-family home price has risen above $530,000, and that only about 27% of Twin Cities households can now afford a new home. He argued that regulatory and local approval processes, especially planned unit developments and aesthetic mandates, add significant cost and reduce the number of homes built, and he urged the committee to remove exclusionary barriers and modernize residential development approvals. Members questioned Foster about zoning, aesthetic requirements, and homeowners associations. He said most new housing in growing metro communities is negotiated through PUDs, which he described as increasing costs and limiting supply, and gave examples such as stone exterior requirements adding thousands of dollars to a home. He also said HOAs can be useful in some cases but are often imposed when not needed. Several legislators responded positively to the Housing First Minnesota Foundation’s work, including transitional housing and veteran housing projects. Elizabeth Wefel of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities said cities outside the metro also face a housing shortage, but their challenges differ: market failure, inadequate sewer and water infrastructure, and gaps in starter, workforce, and senior housing. She said many Greater Minnesota cities are already updating zoning, reducing lot sizes, allowing more density and ADUs, and investing local money, land, and partnerships to spur development. She asked the legislature to speed up rollout of housing funds, support infrastructure and workforce programs, and adjust housing tax credit and TIF rules, while warning against one-size-fits-all preemption of local zoning authority. Members discussed the need for tailored solutions and the differences between metro and Greater Minnesota housing markets.