Transcript Highlights:

• We're ready to do you guys. We don't want to do the governor companies. Are we ready?
• If you're ready, let's do it. Thank you.
• You ready? Yep. Mr.
• Majority Leader, if you can be ready for that.
• Majority Leader, if you can be ready for that.

Summary: The Senate met, opened with prayer and the pledge, and then handled a series of messages and floor actions. The chamber transmitted a large group of Senate bills to the governor and Senate Concurrent Memorial 1004 to the Secretary of State. It also received House requests to return Senate Bills 1175 and 1198 for reconsideration, which were granted without objection. The Senate then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider several House concurrent resolutions. On H.C.R. 2001, a constitutional referral on election requirements, senators debated a Judiciary Committee amendment and a Hoffman floor amendment that would require voter ID, allow election-day tabulation of early ballots at polling places, and require legislative funding for implementation. Supporters said the measure would improve election security, voter confidence, and speed up results; opponents argued it was vague, could undermine mail voting, and lacked clear implementation details. The amendment was adopted, and after further debate the Committee of the Whole gave H.C.R. 2001 a do-pass recommendation by a 15-12 vote. Later, on third reading, the full Senate passed H.C.R. 2001 by a 16-12 vote and transmitted it to the House. The chamber also considered H.C.R. 2003, a referral on student athletics and biological sex. Senator Ortiz offered a floor amendment to replace the blanket ban approach with rules based on athletic ability and inclusion; supporters said it would preserve fairness while avoiding discrimination, while opponents said it would gut the measure and weaken protections for girls’ sports. The Ortiz amendment failed 11-16, and H.C.R. 2003 then received a do-pass recommendation in Committee of the Whole and later passed third reading. H.C.R. 2044, a referral on prohibiting preferential treatment and discrimination, also received a do-pass recommendation without recorded controversy. The Senate then adjourned after completing the remaining procedural motions and votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• expect more out of them, and we need to expect also that our students emerge excited and prepared and ready
• Majority, he's still not ready. What time is it? It is 10:17, 10:18. Thank you, Mr. President.
• /c><01:26:24.719><c> He's</c><01:26:24.880><c> still</c><01:26:25.040><c> not</c><01:26:25.280><c> ready
• </c> kindergarten students. kindergarten students.
• Uh, the bill requires that school districts also test the vision of students in pre-kindergarten as well

Transcript Highlights:

• READ Act is to ensure every child in Minnesota is reading at or above grade level beginning in kindergarten
• Multiple districts reported kindergarten proficiency above 80% after winter screening.
• 00:23:37.080><c> 80%</c><00:23:38.000><c> after</c> kindergarten proficiency above 80% after kindergarten
• </c> based on the enrollment of kindergarten based on the enrollment of kindergarten through<00:45:33.440
• Assistant Commissioner, when you're ready. Thank you, Madam Chair. Good morning, members again.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• It's an act to amend Title 17 relative to programs for pre-kindergarten-age children, to provide for
• nonpublic and public pre-kindergarten programs.
• It's an act to amend Title 17 relative to programs for pre-kindergarten-age children, to provide for
• nonpublic and public pre-kindergarten programs.
• Senator Jackson, are you ready for 501?

Bills: SCR63 , SCR12 , HB89 , HB451 , HB595 , HB617 , HB621 , HB730 , HB1064 , HB1125 , HB221 , HCR58 , SB106 , SB206 , SB248 , SB441 , SB104 , SB122 , SB180 , SB260 , SB424 , SB476 , SCR9 , SCR30 , SB57 , SB414 , SB525 , SB35 , SB65 , SB135 , SB215 , SB246 , SB249 , SB269 , SB276 , SB282 , SB296 , SB323 , SB363 , SB369 , SB474 , SB484 , SB490 , SB492 , SB500 , SB501 , SB513 , HCR31 , HB462 , HB547 , HB613 , HB691 , HB712 , HB720 , HB723 , HB728 , HB735 , HB747 , HB759 , HB825 , HB845 , HB846 , HB903 , HB904 , HB907 , HB923 , HB929 , HB941 , HB962 , HB965 , HB1036 , HB287 , HB370 , HB515 , HB521 , HB570 , HB1200 , HB29 , HB39 , HB58 , HB67 , HB73 , HB76 , HB77 , HB82 , HB112 , HB121 , HB125 , HB132 , HB134 , HB151 , HB154 , HB155 , HB161 , HB166 , HB187 , HB191 , HB207 , HB211 , HB224 , HB238 , HB241 , HB242 , HB250 , HB260 , HB265 , HB275 , HB300 , HB320 , HB338 , HB339 , HB349 , HB379 , HB399 , HB427 , HB463 , HB464 , HB468 , HB545 , HB550 , HB551 , HB565 , HB588 , HB639 , HB725 , HB782 , HB805 , HB808 , HB834 , HB847 , HB853 , HB858 , HB861 , HB883 , HB916 , HB937 , HB977 , HB1012 , HB1027 , HB1044 , HB1054 , HB1091 , HB1117 , HB90 , HB127 , HB138 , HB150 , HB201 , HB268 , HB273 , HB285 , HB315 , HB354 , HB355 , HB360 , HB376 , HB445 , HB506 , HB606 , HB649 , HB665 , HB681 , HB721 , HB746 , HB757 , HB781 , HB835 , HB844 , HB857 , HB872 , HB886 , HB889 , HB892 , HB982 , HB987 , HB1037 , HB1068 , HB1072 , HB1078 , HB1085 , HB1132 , HB1137 , HB1167 , HB1174 , HB1232 , HB1238 , HB23 , HB136 , HB17 , HB21 , HB51 , HB55 , HB74 , HB106 , HB108 , HB133 , HB140 , HB159 , HB168 , HB215 , HB226 , HB263 , HB296 , HB299 , HB322 , HB364 , HB519 , HB535 , HB538 , HB568 , HB571 , HB622 , HB635 , HB676 , HB772 , HB784 , HB1006 , HB1018 , HB1033 , HB1034 , HB1043 , HB1070 , HB1134 , HB1237 , HB1239 , HB36 , HB119 , HB126 , HB129 , HB245 , HB271 , HB280 , HB337 , HB351 , HB677 , HB726 , HB789 , HB850 , HB956 , HB966 , SB149 , SB382

Keywords: fiscal notes, legislation, legislative auditor, state policy, conflict of interest, logging, recognition, John Keith, environment, safety, HB89, Act 615, district attorney, assistant district attorney, retiree health insurance, group health insurance, retirement benefits, public employee benefits, Third Judicial District, Thirtieth Judicial District

Transcript Highlights:

• So, starting in kindergarten, but by first grade, a requirement that once a child's been identified as
• before me is really probably 95% of the house version, but my focus was on that, really starting in kindergarten
• intervention can prove successful long-term outcomes and not just through high school, but our work-readiness
• instead of waiting until 3rd grade and hoping things catch up, it focuses on early identification at kindergarten
• These kids have played in the championship game since kindergarten. Let that sink in.

Bills: SB1778 , SB1570 , SB134 , SB1966 , SB1636 , SB1725 , SB1726 , SB259 , SB504 , SB592 , SB2030 , SB1572 , SB843 , SB1242 , SB1255 , SB1262 , SB1264 , SB1286 , SB1581 , SB1290 , SB1316 , SB1319 , SB1369 , SB1379 , SB1381 , SB1400 , SB1427 , SB1436 , SB1461 , SB1496 , SB1509 , SB1534 , SB1553 , SB904 , SB1592 , SB1645 , SB1684 , SB1767 , SB1772 , SB1813 , SB1894 , SB1928 , SB1946 , SB1980 , SB2040 , SB2060 , SB2061

Keywords: reading instruction, literacy, educational equity, intervention services, third grade retention, Strong Readers Act, child welfare, child safety, administrative transition, Department of Child Safety and Well-being, Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, juvenile justice, foster care, retirement, public employees, reemployment, benefit adjustment, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, memorial highways, bridge designations

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm fine with kindergarten. But why was it cut from fifth grade to third grade?
• Representative, please proceed when ready. Thank you, Mr. Chair and committee members.
• I do want to, before, go ahead and get ready and get set.
• I'm ready for any questions. Thank you for being here. Appreciate your testimony.
• Make sure you state your name for the live stream and proceed when ready.

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2710, which would revise school accountability report cards. The sponsor and members described a committee substitute that clarified the report card’s purpose, added an appeal process and changed deadlines, set the top decile of schools as the highest rating, addressed the 95% participation issue with an asterisk-style disclosure, shifted the Show Me Success funding language toward growth-based criteria, clarified growth-to-proficiency language, added agricultural industry reporting, and removed an anonymous survey section and a changing-target provision. After discussion about how letter-grade cutoffs would be set and whether the bill captured enough information about school quality, the committee adopted an amendment changing “growth to proficiency” to “growth relative to grade level” and exempting special school districts or state-operated schools serving only students with disabilities. The substitute was adopted and the committee voted the bill do pass by 16 ayes and 6 noes. The committee then considered House Bill 2872, a literacy bill. The sponsor explained that the substitute kept the four approved screeners, retained the commission, and softened the three-cueing language so science of reading remains the primary approach while allowing teachers some flexibility. Members discussed retention and possible future exceptions, including parental consent and reading plans, but those changes were not yet drafted. The substitute was adopted and the bill passed the committee 20-0, with two present. Next, the committee heard House Bill 2120 and House Bill 1698 together under a combined substitute addressing bullying and related reporting requirements. The substitute removed language on second-degree harassment, added a title reference to Sawyer’s Law, modified reporting procedures to require notice by the end of the school day or the next school day if the incident occurs on a weekend, and clarified investigation and liability protections for teachers. The substitute was adopted and the combined bill passed unanimously. The committee then moved out of executive session and heard House Bill 2335, which would let districts and administrators reduce repetitive annual teacher trainings by using a rotation after a teacher’s first three years. The sponsor and several witnesses from school administrator and teacher groups supported the bill as a time-saving retention measure, while a student witness raised concerns about ensuring continued training on mental health emergencies. Testimony then began on House Bill 2918, the Cronkite New Voices Act, which would expand student journalism rights at public schools and public colleges. The sponsor, a Hazelwood plaintiff, student journalists, an advisor, a law professor, and free-speech advocates testified in support, arguing the bill would protect student speech while preserving limits for libel, obscenity, privacy, and disruption; no opposing testimony was presented before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> and</c><00:02:10.479><c> proceed</c> ready, introduce yourself and proceed ready, introduce yourself
• </c><00:07:48.240><c> as</c> attainment, like workforce readiness as attainment, like workforce readiness
• They have intermediaries and job ready.
• </c><00:42:58.240><c> programming</c> their future readiness programming their future readiness programming
• So, I'm just lean into career readiness.

Bills: HF3650 , HF2238

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

Transcript Highlights:

• They were getting ready to, of course, we're going to announce them.
• But whenever Senator Cervantes is ready, we'll yield back to him. Thank you, Senator Worth.
• Senator Wilson, we're not ready to congratulate you quite yet.
• program or a pre-kindergarten program except out... ...kindergarten program or a pre-kindergarten program
• The pre-K, the kindergarten program provides transportation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Page 627 is the core for the pre-kindergarten funding, Mo Quality Pre-K Kindergarten Child Care Grant
• This is to provide child care grants to private providers for kids the year before kindergarten, with
• Okay, I think we're ready to go to 632, I believe, which is the LEA piece of this.
• This funding goes to LEAs to expand pre-K instruction for children the year prior to kindergarten.
• readiness for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, recommended by the governor for $445,000.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• Page 627 is the core for the pre-kindergarten funding, MoQaulTab, for child care provider grants, recommended
• This is to provide child care grants to private providers for kids the year before kindergarten, with
• I think we're ready to go to 632, I believe, which is the LEA piece of this. Yes.
• Kindergarten. Page 658 is the core for First Steps, recommended by the governor for $87.7 million.
• readiness for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, recommended by the governor for $445,000.

Committee: House Budget

Summary: The committee first heard the Office of the Governor’s FY 2027 budget request from Adam Gresham. He explained the office’s staffing and noted a $500,000 core reduction, along with a reallocation of three positions and about $168,000 from the governor’s office to the mansion operating fund to better reflect where those employees work. Members asked about the National Guard emergency line, which Gresham said had already spent about $63,457 in FY 2026 and could be used again for disaster activations, though he did not expect to use the full $4 million. He also said the agricultural resiliency transfer fund had not been used and had no current transfer plans. Several members commented on the size of the governor’s cut and whether the judiciary and other offices were also being asked to reduce budgets. No votes were taken. The committee then moved to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Childhood and early childhood-related budget items. DESE staff described funding for the Office of Childhood, MoQPK child care provider grants, LEA pre-K grants, early childhood special education, Parents as Teachers, First Steps, preschool coordination, after-school programs, and child care subsidy. Members asked extensively about the MoQPK grants, including why Head Start providers were eligible, how curriculum approval works, and what safeguards exist against fraud or improper payments. DESE said it conducts physical inspections, desk reviews, payment-system checks, and investigations as needed, and that it had not had findings in this area. Some members questioned whether DESE or DSS was the right home for early childhood programs, while others defended the partnership and the role of early educators in identifying child needs. A major portion of the discussion focused on early childhood special education and the child care subsidy program. DESE explained that First Steps serves children birth to age three, while early childhood special education covers ages three to five and is driven by IEP eligibility; members asked for more data on diagnoses, trends, and how many children come off IEPs. The committee also discussed the child care subsidy budget and the governor’s proposed shift to paying providers based on authorization and at the beginning of the month. DESE said the change is being piloted, that a wait list is expected to begin around March 1, and that a May rollout is being considered, but only if software testing and fiscal projections show the system is sustainable. Members expressed frustration that promised changes had been delayed and that providers had been told different timelines, while DESE said the delay was driven by software issues, fiscal caution, and the need to avoid repeating prior payment problems. The hearing ended with the committee in recess before later resuming discussion of the subsidy program; no final votes or actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• As we noted in our testimony, there are key distinctions between the oversight of public pre-kindergarten
• <01:23:13.000><c> of</c><01:23:13.600><c> public</c><01:23:13.920><c> pre</c><01:23:14.239><c> kindergarten
• </c><01:23:14.960><c> and</c> oversight of public pre kindergarten and oversight of public pre kindergarten
• classrooms are house and kindergarten classrooms are house and doe<01:30:34.400><c> schools</c><01:30
• um because I think we set kindergarten um because I think we set forth<01:31:33.320><c> in</c><01:31

Summary: The Committee on Education heard several Department of Education-related bills and received extensive testimony on school meals and veteran diplomas. HB 628 would restore authority for the Department of Education to issue high school diplomas to veterans whose schooling was interrupted by World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. The superintendent testified in support, explaining the authority had sunset in 2020 and describing the measure as a way to recognize veterans. No opposition or questions were raised, and the bill was left without further action in the excerpt. The committee also heard HB 1074 and HB 110, both supported by the Department of Education and the School Facilities Authority. HB 1074 was described as a cleanup measure to clarify land-related language and make the statute more consistent across state agencies and DOE. HB 110 concerned benchmarking and the farm-to-school/local food effort; DOE and several supporters, including county councils, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and the Hawaii Farmers Union, said the bill would help align metrics and support the 30% local food goal by 2030. Members questioned DOE about progress, and DOE said it was working on menus, procurement, and coordination with distributors and farmers. A Farm to School representative said the current bottleneck was poor communication with farmers and the need to bring them into planning earlier; DOE said it was still figuring out the process and that island-based procurement and separate RFPs were being explored. HB 328, relating to school meals and local resource food and plant-based options, drew the most testimony. DOE testified with comments, and the Attorney General’s office suggested revisions to clarify that the bill would apply to both DOE and charter schools, to separate public and private funds if donations or grants are accepted, and to add standards if nonprofit or private entities receive public money. Supporters included HSTA, the Hawaii Public Health Institute/Farm to School Network, Climate Protection Hawaii, the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, and numerous individuals and organizations. Supporters emphasized healthier school meals, student-requested plant-based options, support for local farms, and the 30% by 2030 goal. Some testimony urged more local purchasing and raised concerns about decentralization, while DOE said it was considering island-based procurement and separate contracts to better support local producers. No votes were taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, I got held back in kindergarten. And they would bell ring, and...
• In kindergarten, they would bell ring, and they'd say recess was over, and I would stay out there on
• and fourth grade because third grade was such a critical grade for kids, and a lot of them weren't ready

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• On row seven, you'll see the Executive is recommending that no pre-kindergarten or kindergarten through
• We have our leadership properly positioned and ready to then take us and move us forward because this

Transcript Highlights:

• On row seven, you'll see the Executive is recommending that no pre-kindergarten or kindergarten through
• We have the staff properly positioned, and then we have our leadership properly positioned and ready

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, these kids that took the fourth-grade test last year in 2023-24 were the kindergarten, what we call
• These kids that took the fourth-grade test last year in 2023-24 were the kindergarten, what we call COVID
• One, is the court system ready for the influx of information that's going to come their way?

Committee: House Education & Employment Committee

Summary: The Education and Employment Committee heard and passed HB 921, which adds cursive writing to required instruction for grades 2 through 5 and requires students to demonstrate proficiency by the end of fifth grade. The bill sponsor argued cursive is important for historical literacy, everyday signatures, and possible early identification of learning differences. Opponents and several members supported teaching cursive but objected to the testing/proficiency requirement, saying students and teachers are already overburdened and that reading cursive is not currently part of the standards. Some members also raised concerns about fairness to charter schools and the bill’s application only to public schools. Despite those concerns, the bill passed 21-0 and was reported favorable. The committee then took up PCS for HB 1405, a major rewrite of Florida’s juvenile prevention and truancy statutes in Chapter 984, covering children in need of services/families in need of services. The bill updates definitions and procedures, strengthens truancy intervention, requires earlier and more detailed school reporting, adds parent involvement through child study teams, allows virtual participation, and sets review timelines for shelter placement. Sponsors said the goal is prevention and family support rather than punishment, with court involvement only after school-based intervention. Members asked about school compliance, court capacity, parent accountability, and whether all counties have child study teams; the sponsors said the bill expects CSTs in every school and can escalate cases to court and, if needed, to prosecutors for noncompliant parents. Public testimony on the juvenile justice bill was supportive, including from the Department of Juvenile Justice, youth services groups, and juvenile justice advocates. In debate, members praised the modernization effort and the emphasis on early intervention and family participation, while also noting the bill’s size and suggesting further attention to attendance thresholds. The PCS for HB 1405 was then approved unanimously and reported favorable. The committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you all know, the staff works tirelessly behind the scenes to keep us all prepared and ready to serve
• , our infrastructure readiness, our financial readiness, and overall quality of life, as well, all of
• It's a kindergarten through 20 braiding of education, and no one in the country was doing that.
• We're getting ready to start the USF football stadium. We've got the new TIA terminals.
• They have this program called Future Ready, which is remarkable.

Transcript Highlights:

• to establish early childhood centers, and that under the current statute, which limited that to kindergarten
• to establish early childhood centers, and that under the current statute, which limited that to kindergarten
• The statute which limited that to kindergarten through grade 12, what was happening when they would get
• Let's be ready next week for a fast-moving committee here. All right, thank you.
• Let's be ready next week for a fast-moving committee here. All right, thank you.

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS EXPENSE ELIGIBILITY FOR THE AUTISM MICRO CREDENTIAL TO INCLUDE PRE- KINDERGARTEN STRUCTURES AND
• WE ARE READY FOR YOU. WE ARE READY FOR YOU NOW. DO YOU WANT TO TAKE IT AT YOUR SEAT OR THE PODIUM?

Transcript Highlights:

• woman of strong faith, Helen volunteered and supported many charitable organizations and was always ready
• one of her children and later grandchildren, along with their many graduation ceremonies from kindergarten

Summary: The Senate convened with the Pledge of Allegiance, welcomed an intern in the presiding member’s office, Michael Morrison, and recognized former Senator Richard Moore. The chamber then adopted a motion to adjourn in memory of Helen Riley Curtin, with a brief tribute describing her life as a longtime Peabody teacher, community volunteer, and devoted family member, followed by a moment of silence. The Senate then took up several local bills for final action. It passed to be enacted House No. 3898, amending the charter of the Town of Natick, and House No. 4502, amending the town manager act for the Town of Arlington. It also passed to be engrossed House No. 2275, authorizing the City of Revere to pay a sum of money to Denise Matera Condelli, widow of former school committee member Anthony Matera; House No. 4292, amending the Hopkinton charter regarding appointment powers of the Board of Library Trustees; and House No. 4143, allowing Wellesley to amend the income threshold for senior real property tax deferments. The Senate also suspended rules to take up House No. 4962, establishing a sick leave bank for Sally DeRogier of the Department of Correction, and House No. 4763, validating the results of a Bourne annual election, ordering both to third reading. Finally, the Senate adopted an order to reconvene the following Monday at 11:00 a.m. and adjourned in memory of Helen Riley Curtin.

Transcript Highlights:

• So in the first section there it's grades kindergarten through fifth, and then in section 2 it's the
• disciplinary purposes unless the cause for discipline occurred during the recess period only applies to kindergarten
• Do we—I guess this is where we would give you a right... kindergarten through fifth and then in section
• disciplinary purposes unless the cause for discipline occurred during the recess period only applies to kindergarten

Committee: House Education