Transcript Highlights:

• Parents sent their child to school that day believing that she would be safe.
• Parents, not politician, should be entrusted to make medical Parents, not politician, should be entrusted
• This came from kids and parents. More kids than parents. This came from kids and parents.
• I'm with the Arizona Mad Moms and Mad Moms Services and Educational Fund.
• These are parents who were stabbed by their children.

Summary: The Judiciary and Elections Committee approved the January 21, 2026 minutes and held SB 1208. It then heard SB 1211, which would allow victims of felony aggravated harassment involving domestic violence to seek a lifetime injunction against a convicted defendant. Supporters from victim advocacy organizations and a survivor described the bill as an important safety measure that would reduce repeated court appearances and trauma. The committee voted 7-0 to give SB 1211 a do pass recommendation. The committee next considered SB 1239, which removes the statute of limitations for failing to register as a sex offender or providing false registration information. The sponsor said the bill closes a public-safety loophole and was requested by DPS, while opponents argued existing warrant procedures already address the issue and raised due process concerns. After discussion, the committee voted 4-3 to recommend SB 1239 do pass. SB 1240 would exclude probationers convicted of dangerous crimes against children from the probation incentive payment formula. The sponsor tied the bill to a recent child sexual assault case and said the change would keep those cases separate from probation performance incentives; defense attorneys warned it could discourage treatment and push more people into prison. The committee voted 4-3 to recommend SB 1240 do pass. The committee also heard and approved SB 1095, as amended, which bans gender transition procedures and referrals for minors and restricts public funding and facilities for such care; supporters called it necessary child protection, while opponents said it was discriminatory. The committee then heard SB 1243 and SB 1244, both related to court-ordered mental health treatment. SB 1243 adds notice to guardians and lets them seek continued treatment, while SB 1244 creates a continuing court-ordered treatment process after repeated annual reviews. Supporters, including family members of seriously mentally ill patients, said the bills would close gaps and prevent dangerous lapses in care; opponents raised due process concerns and warned about expanded involuntary treatment. Both bills received do pass recommendations, with SB 1243 passing 7-0 and SB 1244 passing after amendment and roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> education here in Minnesota. education here in Minnesota.
• </c> It has created an education crisis. It has created an education crisis.
• </c> pursue an education is not a crime. pursue an education is not a crime.
• </c> parents have been deported. parents have been deported.
• </c> educated workforce is in healthcare. educated workforce is in healthcare.

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee adopted the minutes from its February 24, 2026 meeting after a motion by Vice Chair Coulter. The hearing then focused on the impact of federal immigration enforcement, referred to throughout as Operation Metro Surge, on Minnesota college campuses. The chair said the purpose was to document alleged abuses, campus fear, and racial discrimination, and to hear from testifiers about effects on students, faculty, and staff. Representative Novotny briefly objected to the framing, saying the committee should be finding facts rather than making a predetermined presentation, and the chair responded that members should remain respectful and that questions would be held until after all presenters testified. Augsburg University President Paul Pribbenow described what he called relentless and unprecedented disruption, including student stops and interrogations, family separations, and an ICE operation on campus in which armed masked agents allegedly detained a student without a warrant and pointed weapons at students and staff. He said the campus received bomb threats afterward, increased virtual learning options, and saw spikes in student support needs, housing assistance, and leaves of absence. Jenna Chernega of the Inter Faculty Organization said faculty across Minnesota State universities reported widespread student and colleague stress, increased workload, disappearing students, and a need for clearer sensitive-location protections and academic freedom guidance. Mark Grant of Minnesota State College Faculty said community conditions inevitably affect classrooms, that campuses have not yet had an ICE incident but are bracing for one, and that faculty want to support students and may need financial help if enrollment declines. Jennifer Irwin of AFSCME said fear from ICE activity extends beyond campus boundaries and is affecting attendance, work, and daily life for staff and students; she cited a member detained in St. Paul while trying to prove legal status. Student testifiers Brendan Frazier of Concordia University, St. Paul, Jonathan Fitzgerald of Minnesota State Mankato, Sudi Adow of Lead MN, and Will Luther of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities described panic, reduced attendance, food insecurity, disrupted classes, and fear of leaving home or commuting to campus. They urged stronger student privacy protections, support for international and immigrant students, emergency aid, and policies to keep campuses safe. No further committee action or votes were taken after the minutes approval.

Transcript Highlights:

• The more education we get out there for families to know the signs, the early signs of type 1 diabetes
• And as I said, it's very important that we have parents recognize the signs and symptoms and that they
• The bill focuses on research, clinical care, education, and advocacy to support children with rare diseases
• you know, we oftentimes increase screenings for newborns already, because what we know is that when parents
• A child is typically considered missing because their parents are aware of the pending removal and attempt

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

Summary: The Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee met to review and advance the Senate’s fiscal year 2025-26 budget proposal for the committee’s portfolio. The presentation highlighted a $1.8 billion increase over the current base budget, including full funding for Medicaid and KidCare, investments in IT modernization, Medicaid provider rate increases, mental health and substance use services, opioid treatment, foster care and guardian assistance, elder care, veterans’ services, cancer research, school nurse staffing, and other public health initiatives. The committee adopted a motion allowing technical adjustments and then approved the budget proposal to be reported to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee then heard and voted on several bills. SB 152 on surgical smoke protection required hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt smoke evacuation policies; nurses testified in support, citing workplace and patient safety risks, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 958 on early detection of type 1 diabetes required the Department of Health to provide educational materials to schools and, by amendment, early learning coalitions; it was also reported favorably. CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home oversight added consumer satisfaction surveys, reporting requirements, quality incentive changes, and financial reporting penalties, with an amendment exempting state-operated homes and directing a study of best practices; it passed after questions about dementia, language access, and retaliation protections. CS/SB 738 modernized child care regulation by streamlining DCF processes and reducing obsolete requirements, and was reported favorably without opposition. The committee also approved CS/SB 1356 creating the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at FSU and a Sunshine Genetics pilot to expand rare-disease screening and research, with support from members emphasizing early detection and data collection. SB 1370 separated ambulatory surgical centers into their own statute, with testimony that the change would better reflect the industry and help avoid burdensome regulation; it passed favorably. Finally, CS/CS/SB 1626 made a range of child welfare changes, including codifying DCF coordination with military installations, adjusting shelter certification, refining criminal-background exemptions, extending licensing compliance time, addressing room-and-board rate methodology, and clarifying missing-child procedures; after adopting three amendments and hearing both support and concerns, the bill was reported favorably. The committee also recorded a member’s affirmative vote on SB 958 before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was created through a cross-sector, cross-system collaboration of business, education, government,
• after school education Government after school programs<00:03:42.680><c> museums</c><00:03:43.159><c
• the zoo Boston Scientific of Education the zoo Boston Scientific Mayo<00:03:53.079><c> 3M</c><00:03:
• </c><00:58:00.240><c> opportunities</c> job placement educational opportunities job placement educational
• </c><01:39:46.000><c> certificate</c> counseling and education certificate counseling and education certificate

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bills 656 and 657 were referred to the Education Committee.
• and the Division of Career Technical Education have been reviewed and approved by the House Education
• House Bill 49 by the State Affairs Committee, relating to education.
• It also, with regard to the education service providers, requires that anyone as an education service
• expenses that have been approved by the local education agency and verified by the State Board of Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Good afternoon, and welcome to the Appropriations Committee on Higher Education.
• While many higher education institutions have... Threats to their physical safety.
• with educational institutions for over 20 years.
• have a special mission to educate our citizens and help improve our society.
• So education is very much in my interest.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education heard two bills and then moved through a series of confirmations for university and college boards of trustees. Senate Bill 176, by Senator Polsky, would require public postsecondary institutions to have clear, publicly available safety policies and reporting procedures for threats to students, faculty, staff, and visitors. An amendment clarifying the bill’s scope was adopted without objection, there was no public testimony against it, and the committee reported the bill favorably. Members spoke in support, emphasizing campus safety and the need for clear reporting paths. The committee also heard Senate Bill 116, by Senator Bradley, which would establish the University of Florida Diabetes Institute in statute to advance research, prevention, care, education, collaboration, and outreach on diabetes. Testimony included support from AARP and others, and members praised the institute’s research role and the growing public health importance of diabetes. The bill was reported favorably. The remainder of the meeting focused on confirmations for trustees at FIU, UNF, UCF, USF, and Miami Dade College. Nominees and reappointees described their backgrounds and priorities, including student success, research growth, workforce development, engineering, health care, cybersecurity, and fiscal stewardship. Committee members asked several nominees about nursing NCLEX scores and university performance, and one public commenter raised concerns about campus climate and student safety. The committee then voted to report the confirmations favorably in a block and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They provide true equity for Californians through their educational opportunities.
• Trade Tech continues enhancing the education they bring, thank you. Looking brighter, as L.A.
• Trade Tech continues enhancing the education they bring to the people of Los Angeles.
• Tens of thousands more have been injured, roughly 40,000 lost one or both of their parents.
• That work improved the lives of countless kids, helped pay parents, and put thousands of children on

Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and dispensed with the reading of the previous day’s journal. Members handled routine procedural motions, including permission for guest seating and adjournment-in-memory remarks. A motion by Assemblymember Tangipa to suspend the rules so ACA 12, described as preventing double taxation on roads, could be taken up without reference to file failed on a roll call vote of 17 ayes to 46 noes. The floor then featured several guest introductions and recognitions. Assemblymember Elhawary honored Los Angeles Trade Technical College on its centennial, highlighting its role in accessible education, workforce training, and reentry programs. Assemblymember Addis recognized Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal Poly Maritime for Cal Poly’s 125th anniversary and its students and leadership. Assemblymember Haney welcomed representatives from Heel Palestine and six children from Gaza receiving medical care in California, describing the organization’s humanitarian work and the children’s resilience. The remainder of the session was devoted to adjournment-in-memory tributes. Members honored former Congressman Doug LaMalfa, emphasizing his long public service, rural advocacy, and work on agriculture, water, wildfire prevention, and local representation. The Assembly also remembered Alan Stewart Hammond IV for his civil rights and media policy work, and Rob and Michelle Reiner for their contributions to early childhood programs, equality, and public service. The House then adopted the adjournment motion and recessed until Thursday, February 5 at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> apply for any other available education apply for any other available education benefits<00:24:19.120
• <00:26:32.279><c> bills</c><00:26:33.279><c> and</c> educational bills and educational bills and uh<00
• She's a single parent<00:41:15.680><c> of</c><00:41:16.000><c> three</c> parent of three parent of three
• ,</c><01:01:35.040><c> business,</c> currently allow is education, business, currently allow is education
• </c><01:08:20.400><c> us</c><01:08:20.560><c> with</c> higher education has provided us with higher education

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As the measure was amended in the Education Committee, a strike-everything amendment was recommended,
• As the measure was amended in the Education Committee, a strike-everything amendment was recommended,
• Members, House Bill 2991 is the social media online content and minors having to have parental consent
• kids are, you know, 15, 16 years old and what the different rules are about how that works with parental
• pits the interests of perhaps protected First Amendment speech in certain aspects against perhaps parental

Committee: House Rules

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sharing our stories and educating lawmakers is essential for this.
• But I mean, I think it stems from, again, parents to kids, even like parents to babies, the teaching
• and the Santa Clara County Office of Education of best practices.
• And so that helps support the training at the higher education place.
• Butte County Office of Education. Oh, yeah, sorry, Butte County Office of Education.

Summary: The Select Committee on Youth Mental Health and Treatment Access held its third hearing to review the state of youth mental health, progress under the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), and remaining implementation and funding challenges. The chair emphasized that schools are often the main point where education, health care, and social services intersect for students, and that the committee’s goal is to ensure public investments translate into better access and outcomes. The hearing featured testimony from researchers, a youth advocate, state officials, and local practitioners. PPIC researcher Shalini Mostala reported that teen mental health remains a serious concern, with high rates of chronic sadness, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts, though recent California data show some improvement since the pandemic. She noted persistent disparities by gender, race, and rural status, and said school-based health centers, wellness centers, and community schools are associated with lower suicidal thoughts. Youth advocate Ella Cruz, speaking for NAMI California, described her own mental health struggles and argued that youth voice, peer-to-peer support, and reducing stigma are essential; she also said technology and AI cannot replace trusted adults or trained professionals. Committee members asked about phone use, stigma, cultural barriers, and how to make supports more accessible and relatable to students. Dr. Sohill Sood of the California Health and Human Services Agency said statewide survey data show declining stigma, increased counseling use, and lower suicide ideation among students, and he highlighted CYBHI’s certified wellness coaches, digital tools, awareness campaigns, and the first-in-the-nation fee schedule that allows schools and colleges to bill health plans for behavioral health services. He said the program is growing quickly, with more than 230,000 claims and over $11 million in new revenue to date, while acknowledging that billing systems and coordination are still being built. Trina Frazier of Fresno County described a multi-tiered system of care supported by CYBHI, CalAIM, and other grants, serving thousands of students through school-based services, wellness centers, and mobile therapy units; she said ongoing funding and flexibility are critical. Rachel Kroberniski of El Segundo High School’s James Morehouse Project described a long-running wellness center and peer mentorship model that supports students in multiple languages, and said peer programs help students feel seen, connected, and more willing to seek help. Members broadly praised the flexibility, collaboration, and peer-based approaches described by the witnesses. Questions focused on sustaining funding after one-time grants expire, improving coordination among schools, counties, and providers, expanding the fee schedule to higher education, and ensuring continuity of care for students after high school. Officials said county offices of education, DHCS, and other partners are using communities of practice and technical assistance to spread best practices, and that CYBHI services can follow some young adults through age 25, with additional supports through community-based programs and digital platforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• Both of my parents and a few of my siblings graduated from Baylor.
• educational development through the classical model.
• and public school finance refer to the Committee on Public Education.
• on Public Education.
• Savings Account Program, refer to the Committee on Public Education.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:12:49.360><c> about</c> insulin provided him education about insulin provided him education about
• and the money I paid for that education, and my clients got value for that.
• </c><00:26:41.000><c> and</c> additional three years of education and additional three years of education
• </c><00:26:43.240><c> and</c> the money I paid for that education and the money I paid for that education
• </c><00:26:53.080><c> classes</c> additional years of of education classes additional years of of education

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• IF THEY ARE UNDER 18 IT REQUIRES THAT THEIR PARENT OR GUARDIAN SIGN OFF.
• TO FULFILL THE REQUIREMENT OF WHAT THAT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM REQUIRED OF ME.
• IN AN INTERNSHIP IN EDUCATION, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT CHOICE. IT'S NOT A PAID INTERNSHIP.
• THAT WAS A PART OF THE REQUIRED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM THAT I HAD TO DO.
• NOT A SINGLE TIME HAVE I MENTIONED A PARENT IS GOING TO COME IN AND WAIVE THEIR RIGHT TO MINIMUM WAGE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so, what we're trying to do through this bill is expand those infant care items that parents are
• Um, so, what we're trying to do through this bill is expand those infant care items that parents are
• And so I think that that's for parents.
• ,</c> also support the realities of parenting, also support the realities of parenting, we<00:17:43.360
• </c> understanding that we don't want parents understanding that we don't want parents to<00:19:26.840

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 18 was taken up in committee, with the chair noting a preference to hear testimony from people who had traveled farther before hearing from lobbyists or other local witnesses. Representative Engan presented the bill as a family-support measure that would exempt certain infant care items from sales tax, arguing that the cost of raising children has risen sharply and that the bill would provide immediate relief to parents. He cited examples of potential savings on cribs, mattresses, strollers, and baby bottles, and said he was open to expanding the list of covered items. Chair Gomez offered a DE1 amendment that would replace the blanket sales tax exemption with an expansion of Minnesota’s child tax credit, arguing that the child-rearing cost burden is better addressed through targeted assistance rather than a broad exemption that could also benefit higher-income purchasers. After discussing the policy differences and the fiscal impact, Gomez withdrew the amendment. Members then asked questions about the bill’s scope, whether luxury items should be excluded, and why the exemption was limited to baby items rather than older children’s needs. Engan said he would be open to excluding luxury items and to discussing broader expansions, including school supplies. The committee then heard testimony in support from Sarah Gangelhoff of the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, who said the bill would help families facing high housing, food, and child care costs and would especially benefit women and single-mother households. Maggie Hanggi of the Minnesota Catholic Conference also supported the bill, saying the tax relief could help families afford essential infant items and reduce fear for prospective parents. Members raised concerns about whether tax exemptions effectively reach the families most in need, with one member noting that low-income families may not even be in a position to shop for these items; Engan responded that the savings would still be real for those who do purchase them. No final vote or disposition on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• SCR 112 is not only about educating the public; it's about the prevalence of this terrible crime, but
• don't know what the impact is going to be with all these children that are being taken away from parents
• I also rise today as a voice of a mom, because it really is a scary time to be a parent today.
• And that's not a conversation that a parent really prepares for, but we have to.
• Awareness matters, education matters, acknowledgment matters, but awareness alone is not enough.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized guests in the gallery. The body then took up several gubernatorial appointments: confirmation of Hampas to the Boating and Waterways Commission, Peter Stern to the California Horse Racing Board, and Diane White to the State Mining and Geology Board. Each appointment was presented by Senator Grove and approved by roll call, with later calls on the items lifted and the confirmations finalized by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The main floor debate centered on SCR 112, designating January 2026 as National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Senator Grove and several colleagues described human trafficking as modern-day slavery and emphasized survivor support, law enforcement tools, public awareness, and the vulnerability of foster youth, Indigenous women and girls, immigrants, and children targeted online or in hotels and other venues. Senators Rubio, Troy, Valadez, Arreguín, Wahab, and others spoke in strong support, citing local cases, online grooming, and the need for prevention and services. The resolution was adopted on a 38-0 vote. The Senate also adopted SR 74, which amended the Senate’s standing rules to create two new committees: Emergency Management, and Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection. Senator Ashby explained that the new committees would better address wildfire response, disaster preparedness, data privacy, artificial intelligence, and consumer protection. The chamber then approved a consent calendar containing SB 557, SB 57, SB 674, SB 623, and SB 837, all by 39-0 votes. The Pro Tem thanked members and staff for completing deadline-week work and announced the next floor session for February 2, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, we'll take all questions on education, then health care, and so on.
• You are recognized to present the higher education portion of the GAA.
• The higher education budget totals $8.8 billion and 1,224 authorized positions.
• So I'm a foster parent to three siblings.
• Parents will find a way.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:44.959><c> maybe</c> people have an adequate education maybe people have an adequate education
• </c> not built when special education came not built when special education came into<00:35:34.079><c
• </c> that we have has students being educated that we have has students being educated in<00:35:39.200
• </c> entire year of the House Education entire year of the House Education committee<01:00:15.599><c>
• Senate Education heard it.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on HB 366, which would increase school building aid for eligible projects. Representative Cahill, the prime sponsor, said the bill would raise the annual minimum from $50 million to $60 million and help address a long backlog of school construction and renovation needs after years of a moratorium on applications. He argued that districts forced to build during the moratorium were left to shoulder costs through local property taxes, and he cited examples such as Londonderry, Claremont, and other communities with aging or inadequate facilities. He also said the current aid structure, including paying 80% upfront and 20% at completion, concentrates too much spending at once and limits how many projects can be funded. Several committee members asked about the fairness and structure of the program. Representative Maguire questioned whether aid should be distributed more broadly to all districts rather than only a few selected projects, and Representative Luneau noted that the committee would also be considering related bills on catastrophic aid, special education aid, and the school foundation formula. Cahill responded that building aid has historically been targeted to property-poor communities and that the state should be a reliable partner in school construction. He also said the bill includes a small retroactive component for communities that built during the moratorium, which he described as a compromise. Testimony in support came from Representative Cluder, who described Claremont’s Stevens High School project as a case where a bond issue narrowly failed and the city later had to fund renovations without state aid, contributing to high property taxes. He said the bill would help property-poor communities and urged passage. Tony Weinstein of New Market also supported the bill, saying his community had serious facility and safety needs, had moved forward with scaled-back renovations during the moratorium, and still faced debt-service burdens without state participation. Robert Thompson, superintendent in Hampstead, testified that his district needs an addition for overcrowding, safety, and special education space, and said building aid would help reduce out-of-district placements and transportation costs. No vote was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Resolution 22 by the Education Committee, relating to rule approval by the House Education Committee
• House Bill 608 by the Education Committee, relating to education.
• House Bill 636 by the Education Committee, relating to education.
• And it brings confusion to the existing statute that says you cannot instruct in public education on
• Friends, this section of code that we are about to amend is the parental rights and education law, and

Summary: The House convened with 69 members present, approved the previous journal, and received a substitute appointment notice for Kenneth Zakin to temporarily serve in Legislative District 3, Seat B. It also received an enrolled Senate bill for the Speaker’s signature and a large batch of committee reports and bill referrals, including several new bills and resolutions being printed or sent to standing committees. House Joint Memorial 15 and House Resolution 24 were sent for printing, and multiple bills were introduced and referred, including measures on hazardous waste, libraries, transportation funding, motor vehicle registration, campaign finance, elections, building codes, and taxation. The chamber then considered and passed several bills on third reading. House Bill 528, concerning self-directed and directed blood donation, passed 52-17. House Bill 521, which moves fingerprinting authority for certain non-criminal-justice private entities into a new code section, passed 69-0. House Bill 498, allowing the Legislature to hire private counsel for offensive litigation, passed 61-8. House Bill 539, tightening rules around temporary administrative rules and related review requirements, passed 67-2. House Bill 516, correcting a leftover reference in the parental rights and education law, passed 59-10 after debate over its effect on existing education restrictions. House Bill 522, addressing drone incursions near prisons and related penalties, passed 62-7. House Bill 635, requiring the Education Professional Standards Commission to report possible criminal conduct to law enforcement, passed 66-8. House Bill 594, codifying a court decision on distribution of penalties and interest from late tax payments to subjurisdictions, passed 69-0. House Bill 610, preserving homeowners exemptions for Idahoans serving religious or community missions when they intend to return, passed 48-20. Other business included holding House Bill 639 and House Joint Memorial 12 on the third reading calendar, and announcing that House Bill 620, 532, 629, 503, and Senate Concurrent Resolution 115 had been reported out of committee earlier in the day. The House also heard announcements about the Simplot Games, Idaho Food Bank, Whammy Kids, an Energy Caucus meeting, Idaho School Board Association lunch, and girls’ state basketball tickets. The House adjourned until 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to go ahead and get started committee on Pre K through 12 education will now come to order
• It's not necessarily one of the most popular areas of statewide education policy.
• So it our teachers, our educators have the right materials, right textbooks.
• Live to be a follow up and see those resiliency education standards.
• So we had Florida educators. We had Florida principles.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> implementing the federal education implementing the federal education opportunity<00:04:02.720><
• </c> act relating to post-secary education. act relating to post-secary education.
• </c> States Department of Education funding. States Department of Education funding.
• . to post-secary education.
• </c> an act relating to health education. an act relating to health education.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal, excused absent members, and suspended rules to allow co-sponsorship and vote modifications. The Senate reported passage of Senate Bills 52 and 124, and several House committees reported favorable action on bills including HB 1, HB 2, HB 94, HB 246, HB 282, HB 299, HB 307, HB 519, HB 613, and HB 648. Most of those measures were ordered to first reading and placed on the calendar; HB 1 and HB 307 were sent to the Rules Committee after having had two previous readings. The House then recessed briefly before returning to the orders of the day. The chamber took up HB 568, relating to public adjusters. The sponsor explained that the bill would prohibit new public adjuster licenses, allow current licensees to renew, impose conflict-of-interest and contract requirements, set a 5% fee cap, and bar public adjusters from negotiating claims, citing consumer protection concerns and legal opinions about the practice of law. After debate and a brief explanation of vote from a member citing local storm-related abuses, the House voted on roll call and passed HB 568 with one nay vote. The House then considered HB 1, which would opt Kentucky into the federal education freedom tax credit program. Supporters said it would allow private donations to scholarship-granting organizations to benefit Kentucky students without using state general funds, and argued it could help public, private, and homeschool families with education-related expenses. Opponents criticized the speed of the process, warned it could open the door to vouchers and charters, and argued it would mainly benefit wealthier donors while public schools remain underfunded. Members also questioned the bill’s waiver of 11th Amendment immunity and received explanations that the waiver was limited to federal-court jurisdiction over the federal program and would not create individual liability for state actors. A motion to table the bill failed with 19 votes in favor, and debate continued.