Video & Transcript Research : 'literacy programs'
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OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Mar 25th, 2026 at 09:00 am
Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Teacher prep programs.
- Do you know if this program will be a year-round program potentially for those students that are retained
- Thank you for that program.
- This program, or why do they need an additional $1,500? The program, the $3,000 is a stipend.
- You probably can't build a transitional program.
Bills:
SB1778, SB1570, SB134, SB1966, SB1636, SB1725, SB1726, SB259, SB504, SB592, SB2030, SB1572, SB843, SB1242, SB1255, SB1262, SB1264, SB1286, SB1581, SB1290, SB1316, SB1319, SB1369, SB1379, SB1381, SB1400, SB1427, SB1436, SB1461, SB1496, SB1509, SB1534, SB1553, SB904, SB1592, SB1645, SB1684, SB1767, SB1772, SB1813, SB1894, SB1928, SB1946, SB1980, SB2040, SB2060, SB2061
Keywords:
reading instruction, literacy, educational equity, intervention services, third grade retention, Strong Readers Act, child welfare, child safety, administrative transition, Department of Child Safety and Well-being, Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, juvenile justice, foster care, retirement, public employees, reemployment, benefit adjustment, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, memorial highways, bridge designations
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- literacy literacy Etc<00:31:21.600>
um <00:31:22.120>and <00:31:22.399>sometimes - providers and the actual and the program providers and the actual and the programs<00:42:00.520>
- um a teacher programs themselves um a teacher preparation<00:42:02.720>
program <00:42:03.119>- There's kindergarten through grade 12 programming as well as transitions programming.
- well as grade 12 programming as well as transitions<00:48:33.680>
programming <00:48:34.240> - providers and the actual and the program providers and the actual and the programs<00:42:00.520>
Summary:
The Education Policy Committee met for its first hearing of 2025 and began with member and staff introductions, along with opening remarks from Chair Peggy Bennett about her first time chairing the committee. Members briefly described their districts and backgrounds, and the chair also reviewed committee rules and procedures, including deadlines for bill requests, amendments, testifiers, and handouts.
Nonpartisan House Research then provided an extensive overview of the committee’s jurisdiction and the education code. The presentation covered the Department of Education’s duties, including supervision of public schools, rulemaking under legislative authority, state and federal education funding and compliance, standards and assessments, accountability systems, student discipline, and model policies. It also discussed related entities such as PELSB, the Board of School Administrators, the Perpich Center, regional centers of excellence, Compass, MTSS, and the READ Act. The committee asked questions about zoning for school sites and about teacher licensure changes, including the tiered licensure system and recent adjustments affecting special education teachers and standards of effective practice.
No bills were heard and no votes were taken. The meeting was primarily organizational and informational, focused on orienting members to the committee’s work and the structure of Minnesota’s education policy system.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- That typically is what we're funding is, you know, our robotics programs, our art programs, programs
- Well, let's pick literacy.
- Additional funding for structured literacy could be utilized maybe to implement tutoring programs, again
- , our summer reading program, literacy coaches.
- Or we make it programming.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- As far as the Capital Projects Fund program, we have three programs within it.
- For the Digital Capacity Program, this is a program similar to the Digital Connectivity Program where
- it provides funding to those communities that are in need of digital literacy, digital programming,
- We are setting aside $110 million in that program, as well as $30 million for digital literacy and digital
- programs.
Summary:
The Committee on Commerce and Tourism met briefly and first announced that Senate Bill 232 by Senator Rodriguez was temporarily postponed at the sponsor’s request. The main item was a presentation from Leo Garcia of the Office of Broadband on Florida’s broadband programs, current deployment progress, and upcoming funding opportunities. Garcia said the office is administering multiple grant programs that have awarded hundreds of millions of dollars for broadband infrastructure, community facilities, and digital device access, with a focus on rural areas, workforce development, and digital literacy. He also described the state’s strategic plan and partnerships with local governments, ISPs, workforce boards, community colleges, and community action agencies.
Garcia explained that Florida has already deployed over 1,100 miles of fiber and enabled about 4,300 connections, and said the remaining unserved and underserved locations should drop significantly by the end of 2026 before the BEAD program addresses the rest. He said BEAD is a fully federal program for Florida, providing $1.16 billion from NTIA, with most of it reserved for infrastructure and additional amounts for workforce training and cybersecurity/digital literacy. He noted that Florida is prioritizing fiber but will also use fixed wireless or satellite where fiber is not cost-effective or feasible. He also said the office is seeking additional spending authority for the Digital Capacity Grant Program.
Members asked about county coverage, especially Duval County, and Garcia said Duval and Monroe had not yet received funds because they currently have limited unserved or underserved areas, but they are expected to be addressed through BEAD and related workforce and literacy efforts. Senator Davis raised permitting delays as a major challenge, and Garcia said the office is exploring ways to help local communities process permits more quickly. Senator Wright asked about competition with satellite-based broadband providers, and Garcia said the state is technology-agnostic but prioritizes fiber for reliability. There were no public comments, no votes or formal actions taken, and the meeting adjourned.
MS
Transcript Highlights:
- readiness course, the financial literacy program for grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 shall be in addition to
- readiness course, the financial literacy program for grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 shall be in addition to
- existing program as part of a program existing program as part of a program rather<00:47:37.200>
- saw what that program did. saw what that program did.
- <02:09:36.800>
is those comprehensive CTE programs is those comprehensive CTE programs is
Summary:
The committee took up several education-related bills. Senate Bill 2071 would allow school boards to vote on providing health insurance to board members and their dependents using local, not state, funds; it was advanced after Senator Brian objected that it could create an incentive for people to seek school board seats for the insurance benefit. Senate Bill 2072 would move the deadline for teacher supply cards earlier, from August to July, using EF funds, and it was reported. Senate Bill 2103 would require school boards to adopt policies banning or restricting student cell phone use during school and class time, and it was also reported. Senate Bill 21103 would remove a requirement that school counselors follow the National Association of School Counselors’ code of ethics and instead align them with the Mississippi teacher code of ethics; it passed without opposition. Senate Bill 2236 would authorize the use of LifeVac choking devices in schools, with the sponsor saying the devices are inexpensive and could be provided free to districts; it passed as well.
The committee then spent most of its time on Senate Bill 2242, the Mississippi Math Act, which would create a statewide math improvement initiative within the Department of Education. The bill would deploy math instructional coaches, require K-5 universal math screeners three times a year, create individual math plans for students below benchmark, support algebra readiness, protect data under FERPA, and establish a fund for grants and other deposits. Senator Boyd said the bill is modeled on efforts in other states, especially Alabama, and is intended to build on Mississippi’s literacy reforms by focusing on support, intervention, and professional development rather than retention or punishment.
Members raised concerns about cost, the proposed anti-lapsing language for the fund, and whether the bill should require high-quality instructional materials statewide rather than leaving curriculum choices to local districts. Senator Hopson estimated the program could cost about $3.5 million and suggested the anti-lapsing language might be removed or handled through appropriations. Senators Blunt, Hill, and Wiggins argued that the success of literacy reforms came from requiring standardized, high-quality instructional materials and accountability, not home rule alone. Senator Wiggins offered an amendment to require high-quality instructional materials for math statewide, and Senator Boyd said he was supportive of that as a friendly amendment. The discussion ended with the amendment still being worked through and the bill not yet finally disposed of in the excerpt.
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session-Day 19, March 4, 2026-AM
Wyoming Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate File 59, K through 12 language and literacy program. Ayes 46, noes 14, excused 2.
- Senate File 14, literacy position for K through 3 reading program.
- and language and literacy programs.
- and language and intervention program and language and literacy<01:14:51.600>
programs. - And the meat of the literacy programs.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Higher Education Committee and Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee Aug 26th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- The grant program was guided by three core principles: AI literacy, critical engagement, and empowered
- For example, the first-year writing program at San Jose State has integrated digital and creative literacy
- jump-start program.
- This summer, at orientation, we launched a new AI literacy program on campus called AI Literacy Essentials
- AI Faculty Fellows Program.
Summary:
The Assembly Committee on Higher Education and the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an oversight hearing on the California State University’s AI-empowered initiative, including the systemwide rollout of ChatGPT EDU and broader AI integration across CSU campuses. Opening remarks emphasized both the promise of AI for student success, workforce preparation, and access, and the need to address risks such as bias, privacy, misinformation, environmental impacts, and mental health harms. CSU representatives said the initiative grew out of Academic Senate recommendations and a systemwide generative AI committee, and that the goal was to provide equitable access, training, governance, and workforce alignment across the 23-campus system.
CSU officials described systemwide contracts for AI tools, the AI Commons training hub, and faculty grant programs supporting AI-related curriculum innovation. They said more than 93,000 ChatGPT EDU accounts had been activated, over 4,300 faculty had taken voluntary training, and $3 million had been awarded to 63 faculty-led projects from more than 400 submissions. San Jose State University highlighted its own AI-focused programs, courses, orientation training, faculty fellows, student ambassadors, and interdisciplinary efforts to build AI literacy and responsible use into instruction and co-curricular programs. CSU also said it was tracking metrics on adoption, academic outcomes, workforce outcomes, and environmental impacts.
Faculty, staff, and student representatives welcomed the educational potential of AI but raised concerns about the rollout, saying it had moved quickly and without enough consultation or consistent systemwide policy. They urged stronger protections for academic freedom, intellectual property, privacy, equity, and worker input, and warned about bias, surveillance, job displacement, and the environmental cost of AI. Legislators pressed CSU and OpenAI representatives on training requirements, data privacy, bias reporting, discipline for misuse, liability, sycophancy, and safeguards against harmful uses such as non-consensual imagery or self-harm-related interactions. CSU said interactions in the licensed tool are private, data are not used to train models, and campuses retain their own conduct processes; members also asked CSU to follow up on systemwide training, policy consistency, and additional safeguards.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Education Study Apr 30th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Moving to literacy, we are taking a similarly proactive approach under SB 37 the High Quality Literacy
- One of our programs, if I can quote one of our program coordinators wrote us and said that they've noticed
- students in the program have improved their attendance.
- This program will change the course of their life.
- And the other one is literacy and everything that we do for literacy.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- They already have some programs.
- There's already a program. Yes, sir.
- We're not telling them what to put in the program. Let's be clear.
- This new statute would create a program for that.
- And participate in just a course or program. Well, it says for a week.
Keywords:
artificial intelligence, AI, BESE, State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, content standards, K-12 education, public schools, curriculum, digital literacy, computer science, STEM, technology education, student privacy, ethical AI, workforce development, future-ready workforce, instructional resources, education policy, school standards, Louisiana education
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- Is there a sunset on this program? There is not a sunset on this program.
- I've seen that work well with this program before, and in Indiana, I believe they have a similar program
- They have agreed to be that pilot program.
- That liked the transitional programming.
- Senate Bill 1379 establishes a two-year pilot grant program.
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
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- They provide a full special education program.
- And so that's why this grant program is so... ...without us even realizing it.
- Douglas Knapp, first-grade teacher in West Sacramento and literacy coach who participated in the literacy
- students who demonstrate climate literacy through both coursework and hands-on learning.
- On behalf of Ten Strands and the California Environmental Literacy Initiative, support.
AR
Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session
EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE AND HOUSE May 18th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- in Teaching Fellowship Program.
- Now, in order to be in this program, this was a new program that we worked on throughout the agency,
- So, you know, we've been looking back at this program. This is year one of the program.
- This program, going through this, what's the most important, This program, going through this, what's
- This specific program, the teacher fellowship program, was to…” “The teacher fellowship program was to
Summary:
The Senate and House Education Committee approved the March 9 and 10 minutes and then heard a presentation on the Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship Program from Department of Education staff and three third-grade teachers from Cabot, Poyen, and Drew Central. The teachers described the year-long fellowship for high-performing merit pay recipients, saying it provided collaboration with educators across the state, shared resources, and ideas they brought back to their districts. Members asked about the teachers’ experience levels, how they shared information locally, and whether the program should be expanded to more teachers and districts.
A major focus of the discussion was third-grade reading, the new ATLAS testing system, and the state’s third-grade retention law. The teachers said they do not teach to the test, but use standards, data, interventions, small groups, and relationships to help students grow. They described progress monitoring throughout the year, early screening in K-2, and interventions such as before-school tutoring, RTI meetings, and co-teaching. One teacher reported that six students in a small group improved 10 to 15 points on ATLAS, and another said a student who started the year reading four words per minute improved significantly with targeted support. Secretary Jacob Oliva said the state is trying to create clarity and alignment through Arkansas Learns, science-of-reading support, literacy coaches, and faster test-result turnaround, with student scores now available within about 24 hours and district-level results expected later in the summer.
Members also asked about student poverty, trauma, ACEs, DHS involvement, social workers, community supports, and the role of counselors. The teachers emphasized that relationship-building is essential, especially for students facing unstable home situations, and described local supports such as backpack food programs, church donations, fire department incentives, and family assistance. Oliva said the fellowship was intentionally small in its first year because it targeted top-tier merit pay recipients, but he expects participation to grow. He also said merit pay and fellowship eligibility spans many grade levels and subjects, including kindergarten and hard-to-staff areas, and that D and F schools receive state literacy coaches. No additional committee votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.
NE
Nebraska 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Afternoon Session Apr 8th, 2026
Nebraska Unicameral Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It's spent on literacy. It's spent on learning to read.
- With her, they had a very avid reading program.
- and literacy improvement and retention and literacy supports.
- We have things like Unite for Literacy, which has been running programs in coordination with the state
- This is just like we do with other programs.
Bills:
LB878, LB958, LB958A, LB762, LB1187, LB966, LB929, LB962, LB1209, LB937A, LB962A, LB1050, LB1050A, LB965, LB1022, LB753, LB788, LB913, LB1055, LB1195, LB429, LB721, LB722, LB727, LB745, LB749, LB778, LR293, LR296, LR422, LR495, LR496, LR497, LR498, LR499, LR500, LR501, LR502, LR503, LR504
Keywords:
paid parental leave, state employees, workplace benefits, family support, economic impact, Medicaid, Medical Assistance Act, home and community-based services waiver, HCBS waiver, waiver participant, assessment tool, clinical interviewing, service tier, retroactive coverage, doula, doula reimbursement, maternal health, prenatal care, pregnancy, birth outcomes
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:19:20.440>
but not only our teacher prep programs but not only our teacher prep programs - <00:19:51.280>
skills focus of foundational literacy skills focus of foundational literacy - Let me put this bluntly: literacy is learning, and when we provide a child with the foundational literacy
- We also identified several current innovation programs buried inside of 124D and move all those programs
- reading and addressing the literacy reading and addressing the literacy crisis<01:42:41.119>
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Primary and Secondary Education. (2-4-26)
Primary and Secondary Education
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, reading, literacy, especially early reading, early literacy is so critical.
- We have literacy coaches that work through the Division of Early Literacy.
- We do know that, like through our grant programs and other things, we are pushing on structured literacy
- In Jefferson County, we used to use a balanced literacy program called Next Steps Forward in Guided Reading
- Steps In Jefferson County, we used to use a balanced literacy program called Next Steps Forward in
Summary:
The committee first heard House Bill 44, sponsored by Representative Chris Lewis, which would create a robotics program trust fund and a robotics funding selection committee through the Kentucky Department of Education. Supporters, including Kentucky First Robotics executive director Kelly Gowen and students from Whitfield Academy, said the bill would expand hands-on robotics education in high schools, connect students to manufacturing and engineering careers, and help meet workforce needs. The proposal would fund grants for coach stipends, competition fees, kits, supplies, and related expenses, and Lewis requested a one-time $500,000 appropriation along with private contributions from manufacturers. The students demonstrated their robot and described how robotics programs teach coding, design, manufacturing, and competition skills. The committee took no questions and approved HB 44 with a favorable expression of opinion for passage on the House floor.
The committee then considered House Bill 253, sponsored by Representative James Tipton, which would phase out the use of three-cueing reading instruction and require greater alignment with the science of reading. Tipton said the bill builds on the 2022 Read to Succeed law and would prohibit three cueing in public schools by the 2029-2030 school year, while also barring public university teacher prep programs from teaching it beginning in 2027-2028. He and Kentucky Department of Education officials said the bill is intended to shift instruction toward phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension, and to expand professional learning for teachers through LETRS and other options. KDE testified that enforcement would focus on support rather than punishment, using literacy coaches, regional support staff, and MTSS specialists to help districts transition.
Members discussed the bill’s delayed implementation, the evidence against three cueing, and whether reading recovery should be excluded from approved interventions. Supporters cited studies and brain research they said show three cueing can hurt later reading performance, while several members emphasized the need for teacher flexibility and support. Representative Jackson noted Kentucky’s 2025 NAEP third-grade reading ranking of fourth in the nation as evidence that current efforts are helping. Representative Truett and others raised concerns about how the bill would affect classroom practice and intervention strategies, and Tipton and KDE said the goal is to align instruction with evidence-based methods rather than punish educators. The transcript ends during continued discussion of reading recovery and related instructional approaches, with no final vote on HB 253 shown in the excerpt.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Formal House Session 57 Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Early literacy, you know, it's phonics, wind back phonics. Thank you.
- in alignment with evidence-based literacy instruction.
- I would like to thank the gentleman... ...and student literacy.
- This bill provides $315 million in the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program.
- These four important programs will certainly help... ...and private wells.
Summary:
The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and welcomed several student and community guests, including ambassadors from Robinson Middle School in Lowell, visitors honoring the Gaudet family and Patricia Rappucci, Scottish visitors celebrating Scotland’s World Cup appearance, Top-Notch Scholars students from Lawrence, and the King Philip Regional High School baseball team after its first state championship. The chamber also adopted several routine resolutions and orders, including extending the reporting deadline for the Health Care Financing Committee and suspending Joint Rule 12 for a condominium-related petition. The House then rejected concurrence with the Senate on the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act and instead voted to appoint a committee of conference.
The major policy action was on Senate Bill 3064, the Mass Ready Act, a large climate resilience and environmental bond bill. Members speaking in support emphasized flood protection, clean water, PFAS remediation, municipal vulnerability preparedness, coastal resilience, parks, trails, housing, and agricultural and food-system investments. The bill was described as authorizing roughly $3.8 billion in general obligation bonds, with discussion of specific funding for the Clean Water Trust, PFAS remediation, coastal infrastructure, biodiversity, healthy homes, and farmland preservation. A consolidated amendment was adopted, and after debate the House passed the bill to be engrossed by a roll call vote.
The House also took up the conference report on H. 5511, the early literacy and teacher preparation bill. Supporters said the measure would require evidence-based reading instruction, move away from three-cueing approaches, support educator training and apprenticeships, and improve student literacy outcomes statewide. The conference report was accepted on a roll call vote of 152-0. Later, the House considered amendments to the Mass Ready Act, including one proposal to increase PFAS remediation funding that was ultimately withdrawn, and adopted another consolidated amendment before passing the bill to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 151-0. The House then adopted an order to meet the next day at 11 a.m. and adjourned to an informal session.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Face challenges including high class sizes and loss of programming, while the programs I've highlighted
- impact and effectiveness of programs impact and effectiveness of programs across<00:35:05.520>
- language that ensures literacy language that ensures literacy instruction<00:42:55.440>
meets - Minnesota students deserve literacy Minnesota students deserve literacy instruction<00:43:43.520
- happens to the community aded program happens to the community aded program where<01:10:39.280><
- language that ensures literacy language that ensures literacy instruction<00:42:55.440>
Keywords:
education, mandate relief, school funding, local control, state laws, fund transfers, 1183, house
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations and Budget REVISED: Start time changed to 12:00 PM for Oklahoma State Department of Education
Appropriations and Budget
Transcript Highlights:
- Programs Director, and finally, my wife, Lynn, is here today.
- I can't speak to that specific program that you've talked about.
- what has become known as the Heroes Literacy Instructional Team, I believe.
- literacy or lack thereof in our older students?
- Invest literacy just that alone would.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Dyslexia training requirement 3/25/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- science of reading and structured literacy through programs recognized under the Minnesota READ Act.
- ,<00:02:52.960>
I clients who struggle with literacy, I clients who struggle with literacy - <00:02:59.960>
Minnesota programs recognized under the Minnesota programs recognized under the - ,<00:04:03.560>
but professional development programs, but professional development programs - And so, our teacher prep programs.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Administration of Criminal Justice May 12th, 2026
Administration of Criminal Justice
Transcript Highlights:
- had conversations with Senator Mazzell in reference to this, and she's very passionate about this program
- , the report shall, at a minimum, include the following information: prevention and intervention programs
- ... ...available to juveniles, including school and community-based programs, development of diversion
- programs, expanded eligibility for juveniles in the custody of OJJ, access to educational resources
Bills:
HB75, SB134, SB201, SB258, SB288, SB313, SB320, SB321, SB325, SB339, SB345, SB393, SB422, SB440, SB470, SB487, SB523
Keywords:
HB75, Act 963, gaming, casino gaming, promotional play, promotional wagers, slot machine proceeds, net gaming proceeds, gross revenue, taxable revenue, gaming operators, gaming tax, Louisiana gaming, gaming revenue deduction, casino tax, gaming promotion, revenue cap, pilot program, child sexual abuse materials, sexting
Summary:
The Criminal Justice Committee heard and advanced a series of bills, mostly on juvenile justice, gaming background checks, corrections, and criminal procedure. Early in the meeting, the committee reported favorably SB 258 on juvenile traffic violations, SB 321 on electronic bonds, SB 134 on child sexual abuse material/sexting-related offenses involving juveniles, and HB 75 on promotional play for racetracks after adopting an amendment narrowing the bill’s application. The committee also reported favorably SB 422 on unsupervised probation for certain fourth-offense OWI cases, SB 440 on the Renaissance District board membership, SB 393 on explosives regulation after correcting a bill-number mix-up, SB 339 on gaming-industry background checks, SB 325 on excluding certain persons from sports wagering, and SB 288 on criminal history background checks. Most of these measures were described as technical cleanups or modernization efforts and drew support from law enforcement, district attorneys, or industry groups, with little or no opposition.
The most substantial debate centered on SB 201, which would change how Louisiana handles juvenile homicide sentencing, including first- and second-degree murder cases and review of old death sentences converted to life terms. Supporters from the Attorney General’s office said the bill would align sentencing procedures with existing Supreme Court law and give courts a more neutral framework. Opponents from the SPLC and the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights argued it would weaken the safeguard that life without parole for children should be reserved for the rarest cases, expand exposure to juvenile life-without-parole sentences, and raise constitutional concerns. After an amendment was adopted, the committee voted 7-3 to report SB 201 favorably as amended.
The committee also heard SB 523 on clemency and sentencing considerations for defendants who are victims of domestic abuse, human trafficking, or sexual assault. Supporters said it would create a path to pardon or commutation and allow victimization to be considered at sentencing, while several survivor-advocacy groups opposed the bill’s pre-sentence investigation requirement, warning it could introduce biased or harmful information and that the bill did not go far enough to fix sentencing problems. After testimony from the Board of Pardons and Parole and the Sheriff’s Association, the committee reported SB 523 favorably as amended. It also reported SB 320 on DNA detection and rape-kit data reporting, SB 470 on pregnant women in custody and shackling during delivery, and SB 345 requiring annual OJJ reporting, with members noting confidentiality concerns that may need amendment later. The final bill taken up in the excerpt was SB 313, which would bar clerks and vendors from charging additional electronic filing fees in criminal and traffic cases, but the transcript cuts off before action on that measure.