Transcript Highlights:

• And then ag education, like if it's agriculture education, that's not core education, right?
• And then ag education, like if it's agriculture education, that's not core education, right?
• And then ag education, like if it's agriculture education, that's not core education, right?
• instead cause educational limitations and stunt the educational...
• Educational freedom will instead cause educational limitations and stunt the educational growth of Arkansas

Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee met to review a long agenda of agency rule changes, beginning with housekeeping on the order of business and then taking up rules from multiple state agencies. Early items included Department of Energy and Environment rules on landfill post-closure trust fund spending thresholds and liquefied petroleum gas standards, DFA’s odometer disclosure rule allowing electronic signatures and disclosures, and several Department of Health rules covering ionizing radiation, mobile home and recreational parks, lead-based paint, counseling licensure, hearing instrument dispensers, athletic training, dental specialties and compacts, nursing, pharmacy, physician assistants, medical compacts, speech-language pathology and audiology, radiologic technology, massage therapy, community health workers, doula certification, and cosmetology/body art. Most of these were described as technical updates, conformity with recent acts, federal standards, or compact participation, and nearly all were approved without objection after brief questions and, in many cases, no public comment. The committee also reviewed Department of Labor and Licensing rules on minimum wage/independent contractor standards, boiler rules, motor vehicle commission requirements for ATV/LSV dealers, professional wrestling regulation, appraiser qualifications, and military recruiting and retention programs. Testimony generally emphasized that the rules implemented recent legislation, updated fees or licensing standards, or streamlined existing processes. Members asked a few questions about fee structures, the rationale for regulating professional wrestling, and how the National Guard’s public-private partnership and incentive programs would work; the department said the recruiting incentives would be funded from existing appropriations and were intended to improve retention and force strength. These rules were also approved without objection. The most extensive discussion came on the Department of Education’s Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program rule. The department said the revisions, based on Act 920 of 2025, were intended to add guardrails, clarify allowable expenses, and speed approval of core educational purchases. Changes included defining core educational expenses, limiting certain sports-related spending, adding an intentional misuse standard, restricting phone purchases except for disability-related needs, setting a $1,000 threshold for additional review of technology purchases, capping carryover funds at $8,500, and creating a reconsideration process for denied expenses. Members raised concerns about safeguards, appeals, sports equipment, provider credentialing, rural vendor access, and whether the department would be flexible or overly restrictive. The department said it would review every request, provide written explanations for denials, allow appeals up to the State Board, and refer suspected fraud to prosecutors if necessary. After hearing from 13 members of the public, the committee continued to discuss the rule, but the transcript ends before any final vote on the EFA rule is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> general education general education base<00:07:09.280><c> you</c><00:07:09.400><c> can</c><00:07
• </c><00:08:40.360><c> the</c> Minnesota Department of Education the Minnesota Department of Education
• </c><00:09:15.720><c> Aid</c> in the non-public pupil education Aid in the non-public pupil education
• The increased number of students eligible for special education services and special education services
• There are some changes there as well. education services and special education education services and

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development will come to order.
• I think it's something that educators crave, and they want that connection.
• You're also adding a couple of educators, right?
• educational quality, ensure students are prepared for the workforce.
• Paul Wagner, representing the Council on Public Higher Education.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> video I've worked in special education video I've worked in special education for<00:04:21.519><
• of Education.
• of Education.
• growth of special education.
• Working in education, we are keenly aware of the critical need for special education teachers.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The orange slice will represent education for you.
• Similarly, again, education in orange here.
• Like I said, it's a $32.5 billion education budget.
• My goal in our community is to promote education. I think education is a great equalizer.
• I was raised by educators.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education received a presentation from the Governor’s Office and the Commissioner of Education on the proposed higher education budget. The presentation highlighted a $117.4 billion overall state budget, with education at $32.5 billion and higher education receiving a modest overall increase. Key items included no tuition or fee increases for Florida residents, major financial aid funding such as Bright Futures, Benacquisto, EASE, Open Door, and first responder scholarships, as well as workforce investments including apprenticeship programs, career and technical education, nursing pipeline funding, and performance-based funding for colleges and universities. Committee members asked questions about the proposed expansion of the Guardian program at state colleges and the $100 million university recruitment and retention fund. Officials said the Guardian funding would give colleges flexibility to use trained personnel for campus safety, sometimes alongside or in place of campus police or private security. The Chancellor explained that the recruitment and retention money would be distributed to universities with no specific directives beyond using it for faculty recruitment and retention, emphasizing Florida’s favorable demographics and the opportunity to attract faculty from states facing enrollment declines. The committee then heard testimony from multiple appointees and reappointees to boards of trustees at state colleges and universities, including Eastern Florida State College, Lake-Sumter State College, State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota, Miami Dade College, Northwest Florida State College, and St. Johns River State College. Each described their backgrounds and stressed themes of affordability, workforce alignment, nursing and technical programs, dual enrollment, and local community needs. Several cited strong nursing licensure pass rates and college outcomes. After hearing all appointees, the committee voted unanimously to confirm the full block of nominees, and the confirmations were reported favorably before the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• interest in higher education.
• My passion for higher education is simple: I'm a graduate of higher education.
• So that's the second interest in higher education.
• The Education Appropriations Committee for K-12 education changed my life, and my colleagues said it
• Our family is very vested in higher education. Education in the state of Florida is crucial.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Early Learning K-12 Education Committee.
• We are educators, specialists, professors, and parents.
• So you and I might have gone to classical education or ...classical education-oriented schools.
• But schools today, from a well-trained educator.
• and general education.

Bills: HB1796, SGA9249, SGA9269, SGA9244

Keywords: school construction, contract indebtedness, school districts, bonding authority, education funding, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . education.
• and Higher Education.
• Technical Education and Higher Education.
• Accounts will grow through family contributions, incentives, and higher education or secondary education
• Welcome to the Higher Education Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• before education budget side.
• But state Board of Education course education. Local funds are very important education.
• There are numerous statutes and state Board of Education rules that govern exceptional student education
• Department of Education.
• Many of the bureau's in the Florida Department of Education, including be severe exceptional Education

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Instead of focusing fully on her education, Instead of focusing fully on her education, she was distracted
• Transitioning to higher education, whether from a K-12 school or as an adult returning to the education
• Transitioning to higher education, whether from a K-12 school or as an adult returning to the education
• I work in education as a paraprofessional supporting special education, so I have experienced this from
• I work in education as a paraprofessional supporting special education, so I have experienced from this

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Therefore, our civic education council group recommends that the Senate Committee on Education establish
• Education.
• more education.
• Educators may refer to existing webinar recordings provided by the California Department of Education
• and special education.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The joint Senate and Assembly Education Committees held their annual hearing with the California Association of Student Councils and SABLE, featuring student-led policy proposals. Opening remarks from legislators emphasized the importance of student voice and noted that student ideas have previously become law. Committee members also explained hearing procedures and framed the students as peers in a formal policy discussion. The first panel proposed an annual civic engagement day for schools, with flexible activities by grade level to build civic literacy, discussion skills, and participation in voting and local government. Members asked about cost, flexibility for sixth grade, possible voter registration components, and how to measure effectiveness. The second panel proposed requiring at least one student board member in every unified and high school district, with added training and motioning rights. Legislators raised concerns about whether districts would need additional board seats, the fiscal impact of making the requirement statewide, and how to define student motioning authority. The third panel proposed expanding financial literacy into middle school, potentially by embedding it into existing classes such as math, with teacher training and curriculum updates over a 10-year timeline. Members questioned how the content would fit into existing courses and whether the state should wait for the new high school financial literacy course to be fully implemented before designing middle school instruction. The fourth panel proposed strengthening restorative justice by creating a CDE task force and authorizing PPS-certified staff to use restorative justice training materials and participate in discipline processes; Senator Cortese discussed prior legislation, confidentiality concerns, and the likely cost of a state task force. The fifth panel proposed short, twice-a-semester mental health and life-skills sessions for grades 7-12. Members, including a licensed therapist and other legislators, questioned whether brief classroom lessons could effectively address mental health needs, suggested wellness centers and student-led awareness efforts as alternatives, and expressed skepticism that the proposal would achieve its intended outcomes as a state mandate.

Transcript Highlights:

• As well as we move on to the education and government, which was mentioned, we also need educational
• We have our own Santa Ana College educational comprehensive educational plan.
• We have our own San Anna College educational, comprehensive educational plan.
• But educational centers can be career technical education and workforce training centers.
• But educational centers can be career technical education and workforce training center.

Summary: The hearing opened the Select Committee on Effective Postsecondary Career, Technical Education, and Workforce Development Programs at Santa Ana College, with Assemblymember Mike Fong emphasizing the need for affordable, accelerated pathways into high-demand careers and noting his bill AB 1098 creating the California Interagency Education Council. Chancellor Marvin Martinez welcomed the committee and urged changes to AB 927 to remove the “duplication” barrier for community college bachelor’s degrees, arguing that applied baccalaureate programs can lead to high-wage jobs and expand access for low- and middle-income students. The first panel focused on statewide workforce trends and policy. California Community Colleges Vice Chancellor Anthony Cordova highlighted credit for prior learning, Strong Workforce funding, dual enrollment, and apprenticeship growth, asking the Legislature to restore and increase Strong Workforce funding and expand applied baccalaureate degrees. LAEDC’s Josep Bilayo described regional labor market data showing growth in health care, education, construction, bioscience, and clean energy, while stressing the need for employer-led, data-driven programs, wraparound supports, and flexible funding. Andrew Gonzalez of the Building and Construction Trades Council argued that registered apprenticeship must be paid, combine classroom and on-the-job training, and end in a portable credential; he also promoted apprenticeship readiness programs, community workforce agreements, and stronger exposure to trades starting in K-12. Eric Morrison Smith of the Alliance for Boys and Men of Color discussed the California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship Grant Program and related youth apprenticeship recommendations, including bridge programs, intermediary infrastructure, reduced employer barriers, and better coordination of state funding. A later panel highlighted Santa Ana College’s fire technology and firefighting academy programs. President Annabelle Neri and Vice President Jeffrey Lamb said the college is one of the state’s largest fire training providers, with strong partnerships with local fire agencies, law enforcement, and the U.S. Forest Service, and with high job placement and six-figure starting salaries for some graduates. They also described related certificates, advanced officer training, wellness services, and workforce preparation such as mock interviews and sponsorships. Throughout the hearing, members and panelists repeatedly stressed the importance of aligning education with labor market demand, expanding apprenticeships and work-based learning, and using regional collaboration to connect students to living-wage careers.

Transcript Highlights:

• education system.
• education system.
• education system.
• educators across the state.
• state</c><00:52:42.480><c> I</c> Education Educators across the state I Education Educators across the

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> been a Statewide general education been a Statewide general education Levy<00:17:28.600><c> um</
• </c><00:33:00.320><c> uh</c> 91 and 94% % of general education uh 91 and 94% % of general education uh
• educ education programs is in special educ education programs is also<00:42:06.079><c> kind</c><00:42
• </c> gosh all of a sudden special education gosh all of a sudden special education costs<01:04:49.000
• </c> deserve a good quality public education deserve a good quality public education in<01:05:22.200>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:43.880><c> Freedom</c> relatively new uh education Freedom relatively new uh education Freedom
• </c> my scholarship fellowship or education my scholarship fellowship or education grant<00:06:21.160
• education?
• on education statewide.
• </c> education trust fund so the education education trust fund so the education trust<04:30:58.040><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened a public hearing on HB 402, a bill dealing with whether Education Freedom Account (EFA) payments should be described in state law as not constituting taxable income. The bill sponsor argued that the current statute is misleading because New Hampshire should not imply a federal tax result, and said the bill would remove that language and could also be amended to clarify that families should consult tax advisors. He emphasized that the measure was not intended to impose a state tax on EFAs, but to avoid giving inaccurate advice about possible federal tax liability. Testimony was divided. A retired representative and a tax preparer both opposed the bill, saying EFA payments are already treated consistently with IRS rules and that the bill would create confusion, administrative burden, and possible tax consequences for low- and moderate-income families. They argued the bill is a solution in search of a problem and warned that requiring 1099s could add costs for the scholarship organization and recipients. A tax attorney supported the bill’s repeal of the state language, saying New Hampshire should not put tax advice into statute and that the current wording is inaccurate because federal law, not state law, controls taxability. He cited IRS Section 117 and Publication 970, explaining that only some scholarship-like payments are tax-free and that many EFA-eligible expenses may not qualify for federal exemption. Members asked questions about what would be misleading, whether the bill was trying to tax EFAs, and the cost of issuing 1099s. The sponsor and witnesses repeatedly said the bill was not a state tax on voucher payments, but a clarification about federal tax treatment. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fund. $77,000, 173, excuse me, for the education, childhood education fund.
• Department of Education.
• Representative Bagley: How do we educate them and where can they be educated, where can they get a knowledge
• And my question has been always, it's how do we educate them and where they can be educated, where they
• People need access to education and training, but they need affordable education and training.

Summary: The committee met on March 17 to review the FY27 budgets for the Department of Education and several special schools and commissions. Fiscal staff outlined the Department of Education’s roughly $6.4 billion budget, noting that most funding goes to the Minimum Foundation Program and subgrantee assistance. Major changes discussed included the removal of one-time teacher pay stipends, increases for the LA GATOR scholarship program, and projected adjustments in early childhood funding. Members also reviewed the constitutional amendment proposal tied to using about $2 billion to pay down teacher retirement obligations and provide future teacher pay raises. Dr. Cade Brumley testified that Louisiana’s education outcomes have improved and answered questions on math performance, charter school funding, the LA GATOR scholarship, and the special education Choice program. Members pressed the department on the sustainability and balance of funding between LA GATOR and Choice, the number of applicants and current recipients, and outreach efforts. Brumley said charter schools are funded through the MFP like other public schools, that LA GATOR currently serves about 5,500 students with applications recently reaching about 17,000, and that the Choice program serves about 500 students with a waiting list of about 700 applicants. He also said the department would implement whatever funding levels the legislature approves. The committee then heard the special schools and commissions budget, including the Special School District, Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, Thrive Academy, École Pointe-au-Chien, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, and BESE. Testimony focused on facility needs, enrollment, and program outcomes. LSU? No—LSM leaders described urgent roof and ceiling repairs estimated at about $800,000, while Thrive Academy highlighted student achievement, community service requirements, and economic impact. LPB said it is facing a federal funding loss of about $2.5 million and is responding with higher Passport fees, underwriting, and private fundraising. BESE’s small staff and administrative role were also explained, with members asking about board operations and the use of statutory dedication funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• Therefore, our civic education council group recommends that the Senate Committee on Education establish
• Education.
• and more education.
• Trying to weave into educational curriculum or educational settings a little bit more information that
• Educators may refer to existing webinar recordings provided by the California Department of Education

Summary: The Senate and Assembly Education Committees held their annual joint hearing with the California Association of Student Councils and SABLE, where student delegates presented policy ideas developed over two days. Committee members repeatedly praised student voice and noted that several past student proposals had become law. The hearing began with opening remarks from legislators and student organizers, who emphasized the importance of civic participation and the value of hearing directly from students. The chair also reviewed hearing rules and explained that the panels would be treated as peers in a formal policy discussion. The first panel proposed an annual civic engagement day for grades 7-12, with flexible activities such as mock elections, civic fairs, Socratic seminars, and public comment practice. Members asked about costs, grade-level flexibility, voter registration, and how the proposal would fit within existing curriculum time. The second panel proposed amending Education Code Section 35012 to require at least one student board member in every unified and high school district, with expanded training and motion rights. Legislators supported the concept but raised technical concerns about fiscal impact, the need for odd-numbered boards, the scope of motioning authority, and whether districts would need reimbursement if the mandate became statewide. A third panel proposed adding middle school financial literacy instruction by embedding it into existing classes, with curriculum and teacher training developed over time by state agencies. Members questioned how it would fit into adopted materials and whether the state should wait until the new high school financial literacy course is fully implemented before designing middle school instruction. The fourth panel proposed expanding restorative justice by creating a CDE task force and authorizing PPS-certified staff to use restorative justice training materials in discipline processes. Senators discussed prior legislation, confidentiality concerns in closed-session hearings, and the fiscal cost of a state task force, while expressing support for stronger restorative practices. The final panel proposed more active mental health education through short, twice-semester classroom sessions for grades 7-12 focused on coping skills, time management, and awareness of resources. Assemblymember Castillo and Senator Cortese questioned whether teachers and counselors could effectively deliver the program, whether it would duplicate or overburden existing efforts, and whether wellness centers or student-led awareness efforts might be more effective. Committee members generally agreed the topic was important but were skeptical that another curriculum mandate was the best solution, and no votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• of educational opportunity.
• As far as what constitutes an adequate education, we do have the working definition of educational adequacy
• As far as its public education students or public school students, As far as its public education students
• Music and art education, excuse me.
• The adequacy definition was updated by the Joint Education Committee, or Joint Committee on Educational

Summary: The committee received a lengthy Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on Arkansas academic standards, accountability systems, and adequacy requirements. Staff reviewed how state curriculum and standards have evolved from the 1997 Public Education Act through the 2003 Quality Education Act and the 2017 Educational Support and Accountability Act, including required coursework, standards for accreditation, career and technical education, graduation requirements, and recent additions such as computer science, personal finance, firearm safety, and fetal growth and development instruction. Members asked for a chart comparing the major laws and repeals over time, and staff agreed to provide one. The presentation then turned to federal ESSA requirements and Arkansas’s state accountability system. Staff explained Arkansas’s long-term goals for proficiency, English learner progress, and graduation rates, and reported 2025 ATLAS proficiency results, which remained below the 80% goal across student groups. They also reviewed English learner progress, graduation rates, school support and improvement, and equitable access to educators. Data showed gaps by subgroup and by school poverty/minority concentration, with Title I and high-poverty schools more likely to have emergency/provisional teachers and less experienced staff. Members questioned the lack of recent data for some ESSA measures, including equity labs and school index calculations, and asked staff to follow up with the Department of Education. The committee also discussed NAEP results, ACT scores, and teacher quality measures under the state accountability act. Arkansas’s NAEP performance remained below national averages in fourth- and eighth-grade reading and math, and ACT composite scores and benchmark attainment were also reviewed. Members asked for additional information on historical highs and lows, the number of assessments students take by grade, dropout data, and comparisons with other states. No formal votes were taken; the main action was agreement to request additional information from DESE and to schedule department follow-up at a future meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul Federation of Educators. Educators. Educators.
• </c><01:26:33.920><c> our</c> educators that you are educating our educators that you are educating our
• We educate all children. I'm an educator, and that's what we do.
• So we educate Republicans. We educate Democrats. We educate independents. It doesn't matter to us.
• So we educate Republicans. We educate Democrats. We educate independents. It doesn't matter to us.

Bills: HF3435, HF3409

Keywords: school access, school site, school district, charter school, federal agents, DHS, Department of Homeland Security, ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, CBP, Customs and Border Protection, USCIS, immigration enforcement, judicial warrant, student privacy, school safety, sanctuary schools, warrant requirement, federal warrant, school grounds

Transcript Highlights:

• However, the long-term solution is ensuring that we are retaining good educators and that the education
• However, the long-term solution is ensuring that we are retaining good educators and that the education
• Next up, Tab 4, SB 7038 on education by education post-secondary, Next up, Tab 4, SB 7038 on education
• Next up, tab 4, SB 7038 on education by education post-secondary, SB 7038 on education, by education
• Education.

Bills: S1062, S1718, S7038

Keywords: speech education, debate, high school, Florida Debate Initiative, civics, competitive teams, student participation, educational advancement, educator preparation, certification, professional development, temporary certificate, military service, collaboration, teaching effectiveness, education, Florida College System, tuition waivers, vocational rehabilitation, state universities

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met to consider several education bills and the proposed fiscal year 2026-2027 Department of Education budget. The committee first took up CS/SB 1062 on speech and debate, which would formalize Florida’s Speech and Debate Week, strengthen the partnership between the Department of Education and the Florida Debate Initiative, require annual public reporting, and support statewide speech and debate programming. The bill drew extensive supportive testimony from students, alumni, and advocates who said debate improved civic engagement, literacy, confidence, and school performance, while also noting the need for equitable access and funding for travel and competition. The committee adopted a delete-everything amendment and then reported the bill favorably as amended by a unanimous vote of members present. The committee then heard SB 1718 on educator preparation and certification, which expands access to educator preparation coursework, broadens eligibility for temporary certification for some formerly certified professionals, and allows prior subject-area exam results to satisfy requirements. Public testimony largely supported easing barriers for experienced educators while emphasizing that certification changes are only a partial solution to teacher shortages and should be paired with better pay, retention, and professional respect. The bill was reported favorably. Next, the committee considered SB 7038 on education, which included a wide range of higher education and workforce-related changes, including a tuition waiver for Florida State Guard members, residency clarifications, oversight changes for blind services and vocational rehabilitation providers, licensure updates for private colleges, dual enrollment and assessment revisions, scholarship and funding changes, and reserve-fund requirements. An amendment restored the Classical Learning Test as a qualifying option for a grandparent tuition waiver, adjusted a Pell Grant performance metric, changed accreditation timing, and made other technical revisions. A dental education stakeholder raised concerns that one provision could disrupt long-standing exemptions for dental assisting programs, and the Florida Dental Association said it was working with the sponsor to avoid unintended impacts. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably as amended. The final major item was a high-level review of the proposed pre-K-12 budget, totaling $34.9 billion with local funds. Highlights included $30 billion for public schools and K-12 scholarships, a $50 increase in the base student allocation, a 1.64% increase in total funds per FTE, $4.5 billion for family empowerment scholarships as a separate FEFP categorical, $25 million for districts facing future enrollment declines, $65.3 million to help districts with current-year enrollment losses, $432.8 million for VPK, and $30.4 million for regional education consortia. Senators asked about reductions or flat funding in some allocations, teacher pay, declining enrollment support, Schools of Hope funding, and support for non-teaching school staff. Public testimony on the budget focused heavily on concerns about charter and voucher funding, especially the $6 million for Schools of Hope, with speakers urging more investment in traditional public schools, teacher compensation, and school infrastructure. The committee concluded the meeting by adjournment after no further business.