Transcript Highlights:

• RENTAL PRE-RIDE INSTRUCTIONS MUST HAVE AN APPROVED EDUCATION COURSE.
• THIS IS FOUND IN EDUCATION STATUTE 34395, AND THAT DOES NOT APPLY SO THOSE EXEMPTIONS INCLUDE SOMEONE
• THAT CAN BE A BOATER SAFETY EDUCATION COURSE BUT ALSO A TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE.
• THE STATUTE SAYS THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF EDUCATION STATUTE.
• SB 472 ON EDUCATION AND CORRECTION FACILITIES FOR LICENSED PROFESSIONALS BY SENATOR TRUENOW.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• higher education as well.
• , uh Education Education Policy, uh Education Partnerships<00:54:27.599><c> Coalition,</c><00:54:28.000
• Digital literacy education matters. Education and boundaries work together.
• </c><01:47:32.480><c> Education</c> literacy education matters.
• Education literacy education matters.

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The dep the department of education.
• </c><00:25:18.080><c> The</c> the Department of Education. The the Department of Education.
• The department stands on of Education.
• Thank you for commitment to education.
• The department stands on of Education.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education heard several advice-and-consent nominations to the School Facilities Authority. For GM779, Shelley Pa was introduced as a nominee for a term ending June 30, 2029. The Department of Education supported her nomination, citing her large-scale operations and stakeholder-engagement experience. In her testimony, Pa said she retired from community policing, wanted to give back to teachers and students, and believed her strengths were collaboration, listening to community input, and helping balance differing priorities. Committee members questioned her about the construction and infrastructure focus of the board, her lack of direct construction experience, and how she would handle disagreements and budget limits; she responded that she would rely on collaboration, ask questions, and keep decisions centered on students, teachers, and the community while staying within budget. The committee then heard GM777 and GM778 for Robert Davis, with terms ending June 30, 2025 and June 30, 2029. Davis described more than 30 years with the Department of Education, including roles as teacher, coach, counselor, vice principal, principal, and complex area superintendent, and said he had worked on major facilities projects and managed pandemic-era funding. He emphasized communication, transparency, and trust, and explained that his experience on the Early Learning Board helped him understand how to set policy, identify schools for pre-K, and use data and community factors in decision-making. Members asked how he would handle SFA’s growing pains, the need to balance DOE wishes with practical and budgetary limits, and the board’s role when the legislature controls funding; Davis said the board must keep communication open, include the right people, and make sensible decisions that move projects forward without stalling. For GM780, nominee Michael Unbasami was introduced for a term ending June 30, 2029. The Department of Education supported him, highlighting over five decades of public service and experience in facilities management, finance, and legislative affairs. Unbasami said he had recently retired after 31 years as associate vice president for administrative affairs for the community colleges and had extensive experience with facilities planning, construction, renovation, repairs, and working within budgets. He stated that the DOE should be treated as the SFA’s client because it knows student, teacher, and facility needs best, while SFA’s role is to implement construction work and collaborate on priorities. Committee members pressed him on how to balance DOE requests with practical project delivery, especially for teacher housing and other non-classroom needs, and he said the legislature funds the work, SFA must keep projects moving, and the workflow should involve collaboration but also realistic decisions that fit the budget and avoid delays.

Transcript Highlights:

• in education.
• in education.
• in education.
• in education.
• in education.

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:59.320><c> um</c> education um education um over<00:05:00.600><c> the</c><00:05:00.759><c> last
• </c> access to early care and education access to early care and education creates<00:09:15.040><c> a
• leads to disparities care and education leads to disparities in<00:10:28.200><c> education</c><00:10
• :28.640><c> outcomes</c><00:10:29.320><c> long-term</c> in education outcomes long-term in education
• </c> we stand up in our um K12 education we stand up in our um K12 education system<01:07:03.960><c>

Bills: HF2582 , HF2266 , HF2518 , HF2039 , HF1941

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: child care, grants, appropriation, workforce development, families, YWCA Minneapolis, job training, child development, economic assistance, WomenVenture, economic development, entrepreneurship, women entrepreneurs, business training, financial support, youth programs, funding, employment, Minnesota, American Indian

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, we are the Committee on Education.
• monies to the Public Schools Educational Support Programs Division of Educational Services for the Deaf
• Education exempted themselves.
• Education exempted themselves.
• In fact, education has a $716 million fund balance right now.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• education.
• education.
• education.
• education.
• education.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Education to order. Education to order.
• </c> the bill to the Committee on Education. the bill to the Committee on Education.
• </c> Heidi Armstrong Department of Education. Heidi Armstrong Department of Education.
• . education. education.
• </c> Maybe does Board of Education know? Maybe does Board of Education know?

Bills: SB3263 , SB3261

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: student-athletes, name image likeness, NIL, compensation, transparency, University of Hawaii, Title IX, funding, protections, athlete agents, student athletes, endorsement contracts, professional representation, registration requirements, sports law, 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on Senate Bill 3263, which would create a state-supported endowment for University of Hawaii athletics NIL (name, image, and likeness) funding. University of Hawaii Athletics Director Matt Eliott supported the bill, saying NIL requires both immediate funding and a longer-term sustainable solution. He asked for several changes: lowering the initial endowment target from $10 million to $2 million so the fund could start sooner, allowing NIL reporting by team rather than by individual student-athlete, and clarifying that athletes may choose whether to use an agent, while still allowing certified agents or a parent/guardian if desired. Committee members raised concerns about using taxpayer dollars for athlete compensation, the burden on a small-state budget, and whether the university could realistically raise the required matching funds. Several senators questioned whether the university had a concrete fundraising plan and whether the endowment would meaningfully help UH compete with larger programs. Eliott said UH is already fundraising privately for current NIL obligations, had raised more than $1.6 million toward a $3 million annual goal, and would continue fundraising for both short-term needs and the endowment match. He also said the university is not trying to compete with Power Five schools on the same scale, but to be successful at its own conference level. Members also discussed transparency and privacy, with some senators arguing that if state money is used, the public should know how it is spent, while Eliott said individual student-athlete NIL information should remain private and team-level reporting would be preferable. He confirmed international student-athletes are eligible for NIL and said about 60 to 70 UH athletes are currently participating, with more than 100 expected next year. The discussion also touched on UH’s Mountain West media rights and local TV rights, with Eliott explaining that the conference distribution is expected to remain around $3.5 million and that local TV rights would be negotiated separately. No vote or final action was taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the general education formula each year. the general education formula each year.
• Nonpublic education and protecting educational choice, as well as leaving the homeschooling language
• </c> happened under the realm of education. happened under the realm of education. we<00:58:00.480><c
• </c><01:27:05.840><c> that</c> touting your your crazy education that touting your your crazy education
• </c> embarrassment of riches in our education embarrassment of riches in our education committee.<01:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• A little over 80% of our career technical educators are coming out of industry and into the educational
• And into the educational field now.
• Coming out of industry and into education, they really have to figure out how to handle the classroom
• Representative Diger highlighted the need to attract and retain these very critical educators in our
• I'm with Career Technical Educators of Idaho, and it's a privilege to be here today.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The committee first disposed of Senate Bill 1291 with a due-pass recommendation to the floor. It then took up House Bill 816, which would adjust Idaho’s career ladder rules for career technical education and pupil service staff so prior relevant experience can count toward movement on the ladder, rather than leaving many employees stuck for years at the same level. The bill’s sponsors and LSO staff explained that the career ladder is an apportionment model, not a salary schedule, and that the change is intended to help recruit and retain educators who come from industry or clinical settings. Testimony in support came from a school psychologist, a school nurse, school administrators, and a CTE representative, all emphasizing shortages, recruitment problems, and the cost of contracting for these services. Despite support, a motion was made and approved to hold HB 816 in committee. The committee then considered House Bill 815, a narrow fix for Answer Charter School’s transportation block grant funding. Sponsor Sonia Galavis and Answer representatives explained that the school began full busing only in 2022-23, but its transportation funding was still being calculated from a small 2010 pilot program, leaving it far below comparable schools despite running multiple buses and transporting students daily. Testifiers, including a parent and the school’s executive director, said the current formula creates an unfair funding gap and limits access for families. The committee heard that the bill would correct an unintended anomaly without affecting newer charter schools, and it voted to send HB 815 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. The committee also adopted an RS for House Bill 816, with a technical correction to the language, and sent it to the second reading calendar. Representatives Diger and Galavis were named to carry that measure on the floor. The meeting then adjourned after completing its work for the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, United Way of the Concho Valley addresses vital issues such as education, financial stability,
• Their team is easy to work with and always interested in furthering the education of all the students
• 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> Honesty and Transparency in Education Honesty and Transparency in Education Act.<00:34:57.760><c
• </c> educators deserve professional respect educators deserve professional respect and<00:40:06.000><
• ,</c> how we foster thoughtful education, how we foster thoughtful education, critical<00:45:21.280><
• </c> long valued local control of education. long valued local control of education.
• </c> institutions of higher education. institutions of higher education.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Required services include prenatal education.
• Health care providers should learn from education, an education that extends more than just a paragraph
• Continuing education is about preparation.
• Education leads to faster care. Education leads to better outcomes.
• Education leads to better outcomes. Education better outcomes, education protects lives.

Committee: Senate Health Policy

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Summary: The committee first considered SB 268, a public records bill for emergency physicians. A strike-all amendment narrowed and clarified the exemption, and the sponsor said it was intended to protect current emergency department physicians and eligible family members who submit a written request. Emergency physician Dr. Sean Patterson and several health care organizations supported the bill, citing threats, harassment, and safety concerns tied to mandatory reporting and patient encounters. The committee adopted the amendment and reported SB 268 favorably as a committee substitute. The committee then heard SB 514, creating the Doula Support for Healthy Births Pilot Program in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties for pregnant and postpartum women, with priority for those affected by substance use disorder. Members discussed how the Department of Health would implement the pilot, collect data, and work with existing maternal health partners. An amendment changed the funding source to specific appropriations in the General Appropriations Act. Supporters said doula care can improve maternal and infant outcomes and help address Florida’s maternal health crisis. The bill was reported favorably as a committee substitute. SB 36, on use of professional nursing titles, drew extensive debate over whether nurses with doctoral degrees should be able to use the title “doctor” in clinical and advertising settings while clearly identifying themselves as nurses. The sponsor said the bill was about transparency and patient clarity, while several senators raised concerns that patients could confuse DNPs with physicians. Supporters from nursing groups said the bill protects earned credentials and does not expand scope of practice. The committee adopted an amendment aligning the bill with the House version and reported SB 36 favorably as a committee substitute. The committee also reported favorably SB 864, creating a public records exemption for uterine fibroid research data; SB 844, requiring continuing education on sickle cell disease care management for certain health professionals; SB 1404, revising memory care licensing for assisted living facilities; and SB 914, clarifying dry needling authority for occupational therapists. Finally, the committee took up SB 1758, a broad public assistance bill affecting Medicaid and SNAP. The sponsor described reforms including stronger fraud enforcement, a Medicaid work requirement for certain able-bodied adults, expanded behavioral health services through a waiver, pharmacy program changes, and SNAP fraud reduction measures. Members questioned the work requirement, implementation costs, eligibility verification, and due process concerns, while the sponsor said the bill would require federal approval and legislative review before implementation. Three amendments were adopted to adjust drug list update timing, expand public testimony on the high-cost drug list, and require faster prior authorization responses with a temporary supply in emergencies. The transcript cuts off before the final disposition of SB 1758.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:02.720><c> and</c> officers that we have and educate and officers that we have and educate
• </c> have, and by empowering and educating have, and by empowering and educating the<00:16:38.800><c>
• They've been higher education.
• </c><00:29:48.880><c> Uh</c><00:29:49.120><c> so</c> education course. Uh so education course.
• ,</c> continuing continuing education, continuing continuing education, conferences,<00:42:20.560><c>

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• or a disconnect between the educational or a disconnect between the educational programs<00:20:13.360
• </c> term is associated with the education term is associated with the education the<00:20:22.120><c>
• to our education system.
• </c><00:55:46.720><c> in</c> it just says spend it on education in it just says spend it on education
• Department of Education.

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• WE BEGIN COMPLIANCE INSPECTION AND PROVIDE THE COMMISSION OF EDUCATION TO OVERSEE SCHOOL EDUCATION AND
• THEY HAVE TO SUBMIT IT TO THE OFFICE HERE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
• THEY REPORTED MONTHLY TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THROUGH A SHARE FILE.
• WHERE THE NUMBER ONE RANKING STATE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION BY U.S.
• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our mission is pretty simple: managing assets to support education.
• The federal Department of Education is in flux.
• We make educational data usable we strengthen educator preparation and we remove unne ce s s ary barriers
• The first goal focuses on educator certification assessments.
• The third goal focuses on access to education data.

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I wish I didn't have to say this in 20125, but access to education and housing are gut, and concentration
• to</c><00:00:56.760><c> housing</c><00:00:57.760><c> are</c><00:00:58.039><c> gut</c> access to education
• to housing are gut access to education to housing are gut and<00:00:58.879><c> concentration</c><00:
• and the Minnesota building Educators and the Minnesota building families<00:04:06.239><c> act</c><00
• Legacy preferences are exclusionary, and they exacerbate inequities in higher education.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> was had in the Senate uh education was had in the Senate uh education committee.<00:06:11.120><c
• </c> not circumvent special education law. not circumvent special education law. one one one follow<01
• special education law in any way.
• </c> or manifest educational or manifest educational hardship. hardship. hardship.
• </c> state board, manifest educational state board, manifest educational hardship<01:26:55.840><c> is

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 69, which would require local school boards to publicly vote on whether to accept or reject charitable gifts or donations, prompted by a case in which a church offered to pay off school lunch debt but the offer was refused and families were sued instead. Senator Keith Murphy said the bill is intended to force transparency and public accountability in similar situations, while acknowledging that boards may still reject gifts with strings attached or for ethical reasons. Members raised questions about anonymity, privacy, and whether school boards already have authority to address meal debt before litigation. Murphy said the bill was aimed at cases where money is refused and families are sued, and he said he would accept amendments to make the vote requirement apply to both accepted and rejected gifts. The hearing on the bill was then closed. The committee then took up Senate Bill 206, which requires public schools to adopt policies limiting student cell phone use during the school day. Trisha Milo, presenting for Senator Rashardi, said the bill is meant to improve focus, reduce distraction and cyberbullying, and create more consistent policies across districts, while still allowing exceptions for medical, disability, language support, and instructional needs. Committee members questioned whether districts would retain flexibility, whether the bill should apply to charter schools and other devices, and whether the annual policy-update requirement and enforcement language were too prescriptive. Milo said districts would still have flexibility in how they write their policies and that she would seek clarification from the senator on several drafting questions. Becky Wilson of the New Hampshire School Boards Association testified in support of the general concept of a cell phone policy, saying many districts already have some form of policy, though not all do, and that existing sample policies are outdated. She said the annual update requirement would likely be burdensome and that the enforcement language seemed intended to ensure administrative involvement rather than teacher discipline, but she suggested the wording may need revision. Members also discussed whether very small districts or districts without schools should be covered and whether the bill should better distinguish between classroom enforcement and student discipline. The chair closed the hearing on Senate Bill 206 after no further testimony, and the committee moved on to the next bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> citizenship</c> Public education is where citizenship Public education is where citizenship first
• 05.800><c> such</c><00:42:06.000><c> as</c> inspiration that educators such as inspiration that educators
• ,</c> have so much respect for our educators, have so much respect for our educators, and<01:12:46.960
• and for education, for our students and for education, for our state<01:13:55.600><c> and</c><01:13:
• </c><01:15:14.760><c> in</c> the gloom and doom of education in the gloom and doom of education in Minnesota

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The committee held a joint hearing recognizing the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and focusing on civic education, free speech, voting, and Minnesota’s America 250 commemorations. Opening remarks emphasized the importance of education, Indigenous land acknowledgement, and the idea that democracy depends on informed and engaged citizens. The chair then invited student debaters from the Minnesota High School League to testify about how debate, free speech, and evidence-based reasoning have shaped their education and civic participation. The students argued that debate teaches critical thinking, helps young people engage with difficult issues, and should be protected as part of a healthy democracy; one also urged lawmakers to move beyond empty promises and take action on issues such as eviction moratoriums, ICE collaboration, and protest protections. Commissioner Willie Jett of the Minnesota Department of Education testified that public education is where citizenship first becomes real, and that schools, libraries, and educators help students learn to listen, question, debate respectfully, and understand both the ideals and failures of American history. He said democracy is something each generation must learn and strengthen, and thanked the committee for convening the hearing. Former students Sarah Griffin and Charlie Crocker then offered tributes to Senator Swedzinski, describing how his teaching encouraged civic engagement, disagreement, and action, and how his classroom shaped their lives and public service. Their remarks emphasized that democracy is not a spectator sport and that ordinary people build it through small, courageous acts. Secretary of State Steve Simon followed with testimony on Minnesota’s civic culture and voter participation. He said Minnesota has long ranked near the top nationally in voter turnout, including youth turnout, and attributed that to a combination of good election laws and a strong pro-voting culture. He highlighted school-based civic education efforts such as pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds and the Students Vote mock election program, and noted that Minnesota’s congressional delegation was unanimous in supporting the Voting Rights Act in 1965 as an example of the state coming together on major moral questions. The Minnesota Historical Society then began its presentation on America 250, with Kent Whitworth describing the organization’s role, the new edition of the Northern Lights curriculum, and broader commemorative activities; Dr. Bill Convery introduced historical context about how Americans have celebrated independence and how the semiquincentennial can leave a legacy for future generations.