Video & Transcript Research : 'benchmark tests'
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MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 03/25/25
Environment, Climate, and Legacy
Transcript Highlights:
- He has a test he needs to take as well, so I wanted him to go if that's possible. Sounds good.
- <00:53:59.040>
Students peers met that same benchmark. - Students peers met that same benchmark.
- In a city where that relationship has been tested, this event creates something different: officers and
- , where that relationship has been tested, where that relationship has been tested, this<01:11:28.880
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
March 25, 2025 - 12:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- Would this test be in addition to the MCAT? You're recognized?
- standardized testing.
- Requiring standardized testing for admissions and health-related fields allows universities to evaluate
- Standardized tests offer an objective benchmark of a student's academic preparedness for the program.
- I wanted everybody that came to Florida to have to take our Florida driving test.
Summary:
The Government Operations Subcommittee heard a long agenda of bills covering education, public safety, local government, labor relations, and foreign policy. Early measures included HB 1055, which would support Florida State University’s Election Law Center; CS/HB 4073, a Leon County local bill updating career service rules for sheriff’s office employees; CS/HB 253, creating penalties for license plate obscuring devices and misuse of emergency-style lights; and HB 293, codifying the Office of Faith and Community in the Governor’s Office and creating a liaison and advisory council. Members raised questions on academic freedom in HB 1055 and on church-state concerns and oversight in HB 293, but both bills advanced after supportive testimony from university, faith-based, and law enforcement representatives. The committee also approved HB 4029, a local bill for the Greater Naples Fire Rescue District, and HB 889, requiring classroom driver education for minors before licensure, with supporters emphasizing roadway safety and teen crash reduction.
The committee then took up PCS/HB 731, which would require standardized testing for admission to health-related degree programs at state universities. The sponsor argued the bill would ensure qualified applicants and objective admissions standards, while several members and public witnesses raised concerns that it would duplicate existing requirements like the MCAT and create unnecessary barriers; the bill still passed, though with several no votes. HB 1519, expanding Florida’s anti-BDS law to cover academic boycotts, nonprofits, local governments, and certain grants, drew strong support from Jewish organizations and strong opposition from speakers who argued it chilled free speech and punished criticism of Israel. After an amendment narrowing and clarifying parts of the bill, it passed favorably as a committee substitute.
The most contentious debate came on HB 1387, a major overhaul of Public Employees Relations Commission procedures and public-sector union rules. Supporters said the bill would streamline PERC processes, improve fairness, and address cases where unions were certified with very low participation; opponents, including teachers and labor advocates, said it weakened collective bargaining and public employee rights. After a strike-all amendment and extensive testimony, the bill passed as a committee substitute. The committee also approved HB 351, which adds extreme speeding to reckless driving and increases penalties, after removing impoundment language in an amendment, and PCB GOS 25-07, preserving a public records exemption for minors seeking judicial waiver of parental notice/consent for abortion. The meeting adjourned after all measures were reported favorably.
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 029 Feb 11th, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:27:37.840>
the which is a pilot program to test the which is a pilot program to test the - <02:15:42.880>
for of other issues related to tests for of other issues related to tests for - Moving over to the rates that are above 85% of Medicare for the Medicare benchmark.
- Moving over to the rates that are above 85% of Medicare for the Medicare benchmark.
- waiting for that evidence to be tested waiting for that evidence to be tested are<04:40:12.000><
Summary:
The House convened, led the pledge of allegiance, and established a quorum before approving the corrected journal. The Majority Leader then moved a long list of bills—House Bills 1150 through 1179—to be made special orders for February 11, 2026 at 9:15 a.m., and the chamber agreed without objection.
The committee then took up House Bill 1150, a supplemental appropriation for the Department of Agriculture. Representative Serna explained it included technical adjustments tied to other agencies, plus a pilot program to test a biocontrol strategy for the mountain pine beetle infestation in Colorado’s ponderosa pine forests. After brief opposition from a member who said he would vote no on spending measures generally, the bill passed.
House Bill 1151, the supplemental appropriation for the Department of Corrections, generated extensive debate. Supporters said the bill was necessary to cover major costs such as medical case loads, outside medical and mental health contracts, local jail payments, prison case load, private prison utilization, and food services, while also addressing staffing and parole/community corrections coordination. Opponents argued the state keeps funding more beds instead of investing in services that reduce incarceration, criticized DOC management and delays, and said the legislature should demand better accountability and efficiency. Supporters countered that DOC does not control the parole board or community corrections, that the prison population is aging, and that the state must pay for required custody and care. The transcript ends amid continued debate over the corrections supplemental, with no final vote on House Bill 1151 shown in the excerpt.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee 4/2/25
Commerce Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, it updates cross-references related to gasoline and the American Society for Testing and Materials
- This legislation includes policy changes around mortgage indexing, which replaces a defunct benchmark
- Those two Senate provisions relate to the licensing for the testing facilities.
- Those two Senate provisions relate to the licensing for the testing facilities.
- This is designed to testing facilities.
Keywords:
medical cannabis, cultivation, cannabinoid products, plant canopy, Minnesota statutes, cannabis, hemp, lower-potency, edibles, regulations, licensing, local control, consumer safety, age restrictions, commerce policy, financial institutions, insurance regulation, limited long-term care insurance, Medicare supplement, health insurance
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- But there is a lot of benchmarks that we have to put in any of our proposals because that's the nature
- <00:23:28.880>
that <00:23:29.280>we but there is a lot of benchmarks that we but there - is a lot of benchmarks that we we<00:23:30.240>
have <00:23:30.400>to <00:23:30.559> - put<00:23:30.720>
benchmarks <00:23:31.280>in <00:23:31.520>any <00:23:31.760 - >
of <00:23:31.840>our we have to put benchmarks in any of our we have to put benchmarks
Summary:
The joint AEN-HRE hearing focused on HCR 130, HD1, which urges increased and sustained funding for the island invasive species committees and the Hawaii Ant Lab within the University of Hawaii’s Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit. The Department of Agriculture said it supported the intent and noted that ISC funding flows through the Hawaii Invasive Species Council budget item via DLNR, while also describing ongoing collaboration with DLNR and efforts to support ant control work. Testifiers from CAPS, the University of Hawaii, the Oahu Invasive Species Committee, and CARES all supported the resolution, emphasizing that invasive species work is underfunded, that the island committees and Hawaii Ant Lab do critical control, research, outreach, and eradication work, and that sustained resources are needed to plan effectively and respond to priority pests such as little fire ant, coconut rhinoceros beetle, and coqui frog.
A lengthy exchange followed over whether the resolution was meaningful, since it would be urging the state to fund work the Legislature itself controls. Several members argued that a resolution alone has no legal effect and that funding should come through bills and appropriations instead. In response, the Department of Agriculture said its top biosecurity needs are personnel and chemicals, and noted it is building up its plant quarantine and plant pest control divisions with prior funding and HB 427. Oahu Invasive Species Committee representatives said they rely heavily on Hawaii Invasive Species Council grants, have limited soft funding, and need more stable resources; they also pointed to annual reports and prior testimony as documentation of their work.
After a brief recess, the chairs announced they would pass the resolution with amendments to make it more relevant. The amendments changed the title and text to urge the counties, Congress, and other relevant agencies—not the state alone—to provide increased and sustained funding, and added language urging all of those bodies to seek federal grants. The AEN committee then voted to pass HCR 130, HD1, as amended, and the HRE committee also voted to pass it with amendments. The motion was adopted in both committees.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
September 22, 2025 - 12:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- But it shifted since I came back seven years ago to say, hey, we don't want this to be a test.
- because of a rural area of opportunity designation, or should eligibility be strictly tied to the benchmark
- designation, or should eligibility be strictly tied to the benchmark? A bit of a policy question.
- only thing I would mention is if you look across different states, there's not a single obvious benchmark
Summary:
The Select Committee on Property Taxes met for an educational session focused on how Florida funds public schools and how property taxes are assessed and levied. Dr. Jim Zengali of the Department of Revenue explained the FEFP school funding formula, noting that it is built on weighted student counts, a base student allocation, and programmatic add-ons such as transportation, exceptional student education, school safety, and mental health. He said school funding is roughly split between state general revenue and local property taxes through required local effort, with additional discretionary and capital outlay millages contributing to total school funding. He also described the Department of Revenue’s role in certifying property rolls at fair market value and reviewing them for substantial compliance, including the so-called “nuclear option” if a roll is not approved.
Members asked about trends in millage rates, county-by-county funding differences, the effect of growth and enrollment changes, and how property appraisals are reviewed. Zengali said aggregate millage for school funding has declined over the last decade while revenues have still increased, and he agreed to provide additional data on county trends, parcel strata, student growth, and enrollment impacts. He also clarified that school funding is equalized so students receive similar resources regardless of county wealth, and that federal funding plays only a small role in the FEFP.
Amy Baker of the Joint Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research then discussed existing homestead benefits. She said about half of Florida’s parcels are homestead properties, most fall in the $250,000 to $500,000 value range, and many seniors without mortgages pay property taxes in lump sums rather than through escrow. Baker explained that Florida’s homestead tax burden is middle-of-the-pack nationally and that the main benefits are Save Our Homes and portability on the differential side, plus the $25,000 homestead exemption and related exemptions on the exemption side. She said these benefits reduce taxable value substantially, with homestead properties receiving a large share of the reductions, and noted that the committee requested follow-up data on exemption usage, portability timing, senior exemptions, and county-level patterns.
The final presentation, by Lizette Kelly of the Department of Revenue, covered millage rates and the TRIM process. She reviewed the history of truth-in-millage notices, required taxpayer mailings, public hearing notices, and later changes that tied local millage resets to rollback and majority-vote rates. Kelly explained the difference between proposed and adopted millage, the rollback rate, and the majority-vote rate, and described how taxing authorities include counties, cities, special districts, and MSTUs. She also outlined how county taxable value is calculated from just value through assessment differentials and exemptions, and how certain exemptions, such as the additional senior exemption, apply only to the taxing authority that adopted them. No votes were taken during the meeting, but members requested several follow-up data reports for later discussion.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate - Conservation Jan 29th, 2026 at 09:13 am
Senate Conservation
Transcript Highlights:
- He couldn't test positive.
- And by the time they did the lumbar puncture and tested that fluid, the DNA was out of his system.
- And then additional testing, such as pathogen testing, for those mosquitoes.
- Our partners can also do insecticide resistance testing.
- testing.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- They tested them yesterday. We are going to stand in recess for just a minute. Try it now.
- But we wanted to test it at lower levels in case that might have been too high of a forecast, and we
- A person who repairs or tests the insulation currently has to hold a license through the TCEQ.
- Testing, inspection, and maintenance of backflow prevention assemblies are essential for safeguarding
- A report has been a well-tested vehicle for proving identity theft.
Bills:
SB 438, SB 512, SB 647, SB 648, SB 1495, SB 2121, SB 2145, SB 2154, SB 2167, SB 2184, SB 2211, SB 2268, SB 2349, SB 2443, SB 2629, SB 2702, SB 2902
Keywords:
SB 438, Texas, State Office of Administrative Hearings, SOAH, administrative law judge, ALJ, public information act, open records, confidentiality, privacy, home address, home telephone number, emergency contact information, social security number, family members, Government Code 552.117, Government Code 552.1175, Tax Code 25.025, public records, government transparency
Summary:
The meeting of the committee commenced with the establishment of a quorum, where members discussed and voted on five significant bills related to energy efficiency, insurance regulation, and public utility governance. Notably, Senate Bill 2717 was presented, incorporating feedback to foster collaboration among various state agencies for improved energy efficiency performance. This was followed by a detailed discussion on Senate Bill 1642, which proposed changes to the Texas Department of Insurance's executive structure to optimize management and consumer focus. Each bill saw active participation from senators who moved to adopt committee substitutes for clarity and responsiveness to stakeholder concerns, indicating a proactive approach to legislative issues.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Commerce Committee Meeting - 2025-04-02
Commerce Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- It updates cross-references related to gasoline and the American Society for Testing and Materials.
- Those two Senate provisions relate to the licensing for the testing facilities.
- As noted, we create a licensing variance for testing facilities.
- This is designed to ensure that the market is able to launch effectively and have the kind of testing
- Is there anyone else that takes exhaust the list of test?
Keywords:
medical cannabis, cultivation, cannabinoid products, plant canopy, Minnesota statutes, cannabis, hemp, lower-potency, edibles, regulations, licensing, local control, consumer safety, age restrictions, commerce policy, financial institutions, insurance regulation, limited long-term care insurance, Medicare supplement, health insurance
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Commerce Committee Meeting - 2025-03-27
Commerce Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- The benchmark index used to calculate these maximum interest rates, and as of August 1st, 2024, to respond
- the National Association of Insurance Commissioners group capital calculation and liquidity stress testing
Keywords:
financial institutions, insurance regulation, insurance holding company, group capital calculation, liquidity stress test, NAIC, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, insurer solvency, affiliate transactions, groupwide supervision, internationally active insurance group, lead state commissioner, policyholder protection, hazardous financial condition, deposit or bond, contract for deed, conventional loan, cooperative apartment loan, mortgage interest rate cap, average prime offer rate
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Feb 13th, 2026 at 05:31 pm
House Appropriations & Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- So B talks about the emissions and benchmarks adopted by the department. Subsection B and C.
- So B talks about the emissions and benchmarks adopted by the department may be 15% lower than the emissions
- Emissions baselines and emissions benchmarks every three years to reduce emissions levels over time.
- Does that mean that there are emission benchmarks that the department adopts or creates, but subject
- If you're producing a product and the benchmark changes every year or every six months, it would be very
Keywords:
distance learning, virtual instruction, public education, student enrollment, school funding, education standards, pandemic education response, low-carbon construction, construction materials, rebate, environmental product declaration, EPD, embodied carbon, carbon intensity, greenhouse gas emissions, decarbonization, industrial incentives, clean manufacturing, cement, concrete
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Environment and Agriculture (02/14/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- We can just run some analytics in Benchmark, and it'll tell us.
- We can just run some analytics in Benchmark, and it'll tell us.
- So, that is up there now under your benchmark program, available to any certified police officer.
- We can just run some analytics in Benchmark, and it'll tell us.
- We can just run some analytics in Benchmark, and it'll tell us.
Summary:
The subcommittee work session focused on HB 153, a bill intended to improve law enforcement response to animal cruelty cases. The bill’s sponsor explained that the proposal would require one sheriff or deputy and one state trooper in each county to receive specific training in animal cruelty laws so they could serve as knowledgeable resources. The sponsor described real-world examples where agencies were unclear about jurisdiction, veterinary involvement, and response protocols, arguing that better training was needed because animal cruelty cases can require quick action and many towns do not have animal control officers.
Jerry Sorenson, a retired UNH professor and longtime animal cruelty instructor, described the existing training structure at Police Standards and Training. He said recruits receive a required two-hour introductory block at the academy, while additional animal cruelty materials and a more comprehensive online resource library are available through the Benchmark system for certified officers. He noted that the older two-day in-service course he taught was more detailed and guided, but the current online materials are more of a self-study resource and are not mandated for in-service officers. He also said the committee could track usage through Benchmark analytics.
Kurt Arenberg of the Humane Society of the United States and Rob Johnson of the Farm Bureau both supported the goal of ensuring a trained law enforcement contact is available statewide, but they questioned whether assigning one trained officer per county would be the best way to achieve it. They emphasized the need for a real-time response and for officers to know where to find help and guidance, rather than expecting one person per county to handle all cases. Vincent Greco of State Police said the agency is willing to help and has handled animal cruelty matters, but he said one trooper per county would not realistically meet the goal given coverage demands and vacancy rates; he suggested broader access to resources and training may be more effective. Representative Freeman asked how cases are handled now and was told State Police responses generally follow standard criminal investigation steps, with assistance from animal control, veterinarians, and other resources when available. No vote or final action was taken during the work session.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 27th, 2025
House Appropriations & Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- Benchmarking with public salaries: New Mexico is that, oops, that column on the right.
- And benchmark against the public sector and the private sector.
- So, we're really testing the market on this one.
- just changed the audit rule to direct all the auditing firms that I've authorized to audit to do testing
- : it was former Governor Martinez who constituted the executive order, which I think has stood the test
WY
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division III (03/03/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- We have to meet the federal benchmark of providing or using at least 9% of the funds for quality, 3%
- There's no way to interpret this without a benchmark.
- to say you know a uh Manpower benchmarks to say you know a person<03:23:05.040>
should <03:23: - workload benchmarks because it just<03:23:51.359>
is <03:23:51.600>the <03:23:51.760> secondarily be what should the Benchmark secondarily be what should the Benchmark be<03:23:59.199
Summary:
The committee held a Division 3 budget work session focused on the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Economic Stability. Karen Hebert, the division director, and Nathan White, DHHS chief financial officer, walked members through the governor’s operating budget pages and a briefing book, explaining that the division was consolidated in 2018 and serves programs aimed at financial stability, poverty reduction, child care access, and related supports. Members repeatedly asked for clearer breakdowns of general fund spending, historical growth since consolidation, and how the division’s broad mission areas map onto specific budget lines.
A major portion of the discussion centered on the Bureau of Child Development and Head Start collaboration and the child care subsidy program. Hebert said the child care scholarship/subsidy helps low- and moderate-income families access daycare so parents can work, attend school, or receive treatment, and that eligibility is based on state median income up to 85%. She reported a 45% increase in utilization, 4,032 children receiving daycare support as of the end of January, and about 15% of eligible children being served. She also described the quality improvement system “Granite Steps for Quality,” with 160 providers enrolled out of 717 licensed programs, and noted that 1,200 child care professionals added credentials in the last year.
Members pressed for cost-benefit information, asking for data on how much the state pays, how many providers and children are served, and whether the department could quantify unmet need. The witnesses said some projects were funded with short-term ARPA child care dollars and that detailed cost data for specific examples, such as the Gorm Community Learning Center expansion, would need to be looked up. They also explained that the child care fund is a federal block grant with required spending set-asides of 9% for quality, 3% for infants and toddlers, and up to 5% for administration, and that unused funds remain available. The committee also reviewed slide 10’s accounting units, including that the Child Care Workforce Fund is 100% general funds and was created as a priority item under HB 2 from the 2024 session, while some other child care-related units are 100% federal funds.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Education Study Jun 26th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students performing at or above grade level expectations for reading or on benchmark
- household, and so that is just that that is that indicator uh the ELs are the students that we actually test
- Uh, when we get all those test scores, I'm just very hopeful, uh, uh, finally about what's happening,
- And that's what I was asking because the the students are tested in Spanish too, um, that the scores
- teacher can actually be informed about what errors the student is making when they are face to face and testing
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, we are, if we do have this information, it allows us to benchmark, uh, outcomes, look at trends within
- So the current research shows on objective tests that it's equivalent to psychiatry's performance on
- tests.
- At which point you can become licensed after passing a national test and oral examination in the state
- So once they get the doctorate, pass the test, we cut them. They would cut them loose.
ND
Transcript Highlights:
- So the test itself is the thing. The test itself is the thing. The kid has a bad testing date.
- And then we have test fairness.
- Significance of the test scores.
- And we are already field testing. And it is basically like our test was too difficult.
- We had a very high-end test.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Education Committee Apr 1st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- So the test itself is the thing. The test itself is the thing. The kid has a bad testing date.
- And then we have test fairness.
- Significance of the test scores.
- And we are already field testing. And it is basically like our test was too difficult.
- We had a very high-end test.
Summary:
The committee met to hear presentations on dual credit programs from North Dakota higher education leaders, a school superintendent, and teachers. Valley City State University described its dual credit model, emphasizing quality control through annual teacher training, syllabus and outcomes alignment, faculty qualification review, school visits, and pathways aimed at the College Studies Certificate. Members asked about teacher employment, course scheduling, revenue, scholarships, and whether a centralized model might improve efficiency; VCSU said most instructors are K-12 employees, online offerings are still small, and centralization could weaken local relationships and choice. Lake Region State College similarly stressed access and partnerships, noting about half of its headcount is still in high school, with both online and face-to-face dual credit options, district reimbursement arrangements, and support for rural schools. Lake Region also said dual credit helps students who might not otherwise see themselves as college-bound, but reduced tuition can still be a barrier for some families.
Fargo Public Schools reported continued growth in dual credit, with 50 courses offered in partnership with several NDUS institutions and a 12.61% increase in participation. The superintendent highlighted a growing education pathway, including students completing Introduction to Education and field experience, and said the district is exploring a grow-your-own teacher pipeline. He also raised concerns about inconsistent institutional processes, teacher credentialing requirements, and transfer clarity, arguing for more aligned statewide systems. In response to questions, he said AP and dual credit can coexist, with AP often better for highly selective out-of-state colleges and dual credit better for students targeting North Dakota institutions, and he described some use of Arizona State online courses in earlier rural partnerships but said Fargo is focused on local institutions.
Two teachers then testified on the classroom perspective. A West Fargo anatomy and physiology teacher said dual credit has expanded access, lowered costs, and prepared students well, but agreed that foundational science courses may be more effective when taken later in high school to reduce knowledge loss before college. A Drake-Anamoose English teacher, who has taught dual credit for more than 20 years, said the program has supported many students who went on to a wide range of careers and emphasized that small rural schools rely on dual credit to provide opportunities they otherwise could not offer. No formal votes or actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- tests that they believe will more accurately reflect their educational prowess.
- Today I’m representing the Classic Learning Test, or CLT, and I am testifying in support of SB 1241.
- I’m not real familiar with the Classic Learning Test.
- One of these that we greatly support is the Classical Learning Test.
- You passed Uncle Paul, Tio Pablo's test. So thank you for your testimony.
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.