Transcript Highlights:

• We think that hurts local jobs.
• The other is the local sales and use tax for affordable and 0.1%.
• They will continue creating jobs and anchoring their local economy for years to come.
• Through CRP, local boards have engaged more than 9,600 businesses statewide.
• Through CRP, local boards have engaged more than 9,600 businesses statewide.

Bills: SB6256 , SB6275 , SB5868 , SB5954

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: tax exemptions, affordable housing, nonprofit, unoccupied property, housing policy, community reinvestment, economic development, local investment, financial assistance, SB 5868, superior court, judge, judgeship, judicial vacancy, court administration, Skagit County, Yakima County, RCW 2.08.061, Washington courts, county judges

Bills: HB9 , HB50 , HB9 , HB50

Committees: Senate Senate Judiciary , Senate House Judiciary

Keywords: Immigrant Safety Act, immigration detention, civil immigration violations, ICE, federal immigration enforcement, sanctuary policy, public bodies, local government, sheriff's department, school district, higher education, deputization, 287(g), 8 U.S.C. 1357(g), 8 C.F.R. 287.7, intergovernmental services agreement, detainer, immigration cooperation, public property, attorney general enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• Officers, this is purely for our local officers. I'll defer.
• Local law enforcement.
• And I would just say I think every state agency, every local government is struggling.
• . with the instruction to use it to help the local governments in my district.
• You know, I'm a local government person. You guys know that.

Bills: HB9 , HB50

Committee: House House Judiciary

Keywords: Immigrant Safety Act, immigration detention, civil immigration violations, ICE, federal immigration enforcement, sanctuary policy, public bodies, local government, sheriff's department, school district, higher education, deputization, 287(g), 8 U.S.C. 1357(g), 8 C.F.R. 287.7, intergovernmental services agreement, detainer, immigration cooperation, public property, attorney general enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• school districts and have local control over services.
• </c><00:37:05.560><c> school</c> services are provided via local school services are provided via local
• </c> force with the esteemed superintendent force with the esteemed superintendent unowsky<01:32:35.639
• </c> um Senator onski oops superintendent um Senator onski oops superintendent onski<01:58:27.920><c>
• Stanowski, superintendent of Richfield Public Schools.

Bills: HF984 , HF921 , HF922

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: education funding, nonpublic schools, counseling services, guidance services, transportation for students, HF921, tax increment financing, TIF, excess tax increment, school district aid, levy adjustment, property tax levy, education finance, Minnesota education aid, decertification, local government finance, school funding formula, state aid reduction, referendum equalization aid, debt service equalization

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> superintendent compensation. Um Mr. superintendent compensation. Um Mr.
• </c> locally elected school boards have. locally elected school boards have.
• It appoints the superintendent. superintendent. superintendent.
• c> the</c> all locally locally elected by the all locally locally elected by the members<01:08:16.080
• </c> appointment of of the superintendent. appointment of of the superintendent.

Transcript Highlights:

• Superintendent. Okay. I had a question for the superintendent, correct? In Cambridge.
• Superintendent. Okay. I had a question for the superintendent, correct? In Cambridge.
• Superintendent. Senator, Chairman, I would be based on local board policy. Thank you.
• Thank you, Superintendent.
• Superintendent.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> local</c> They're getting their local local They're getting their local local property<00:34:39.599
• the superintendent.
• The school board elects the superintendent. They hire a superintendent.
• superintendent? superintendent?
• </c> superintendent and um the superintendent superintendent and um the superintendent would<01:57:33.840

Summary: The meeting began with approval of the October 15 minutes and a brief discussion of the committee’s report process, including the likelihood of a minority report and a deadline of November 1 for any separate report. Members then heard from Jod Adams of the New Hampshire Alliance for Public Charter Schools, who gave an overview of charter schools in the state: there are 37 charter schools, with 6,034 students last year, and schools are formed by certified teachers, parents, or nonprofit organizations. She said charter schools receive about $9,180 per pupil in adequacy aid and charter school grant funding, must fundraise for additional money, and are governed by their own boards under their charters and bylaws. Members asked about admissions, governance, transportation, and special education. Adams said charter schools are open enrollment, not geographically based, and may use lotteries when applications exceed available seats. She explained that districts and charter schools coordinate on special education and busing, with the sending district responsible for special education coordination and certain transportation obligations depending on where the student lives and attends. She also said charter schools are public schools, not selective, and that each school’s board operates independently of the local district school board, though some schools may have special arrangements. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on funding and statutory obligations. Adams and members discussed how special education aid follows the student, while charter schools do not receive some district-level aid such as catastrophic aid; free and reduced lunch funding and Title funds can go to charter schools. Members also raised concerns that some state laws and administrative rules do not clearly specify whether they apply to charter schools, creating confusion and, in some cases, causing districts to perform services such as dyslexia screening for charter students without additional funding. Adams agreed that clearer statutory language would help and noted that charter schools are subject to many state requirements, including testing and reporting, even though not every public-school rule applies to them.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and this Superintendent. Thank you, Mr. Superintendent Reese, for your presentation.
• To our panel of local and regional superintendents. Okay, I think we're ready to get back to it.
• Members very much appreciate hearing from the local superintendents.
• I never dreamed I would be a superintendent. And go into my job looking for a superintendency.
• I will echo Superintendent Chavez.

Transcript Highlights:

• Superintendent.
• Ed Monansala, Superintendent, El Dorado County Superintendent of Schools, Nancy Albaran, Superintendent
• Corey Greenlaw, Assistant Superintendent for the National County Superintendent of Schools, Dr.
• Next, Fresno County Superintendent. We're close. Assistant Superintendent.
• Corey Greenlaw, Assistant Superintendent with Fresno County Superintendent of Schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think we have 15 superintendents each. Donna has 6.
• And I I think that when our superintendents talk, you'll And I I think that when our superintendents
• I'm joined today with Doctor Rick Surrency who superintendent of Putnam County and Robbie Everett superintendent
• We work directly with our superintendents with Superintendent training. They engage in workshops.
• Superintendent Brown, any questions for the executive directors or the superintendent. >> Senator Berman

Transcript Highlights:

• Superintendents would be required to go through an inspiring Superintendent Academy.
• Have you worked with the superintendents?
• From the land of the very small school, a lot of our most successful superintendents are superintendents
• And to keep things just, I think our local superintendents and school boards will deal with that.
• And I do think that it's going to be up to local school districts and superintendents to make sure what

Committee: House House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• He said his issue is that they are trying to tell the local school board how to deal with its superintendent
• > case</c> dealing with the local uh in this case dealing with the local uh in this case superintendent
• school board how to deal with the local school board how to deal with their<01:04:32.440><c> superintendent
• school superintendent is the responsibility of the local school board, not the legislature.
• My question is why we want to have the RSA that tells the superintendent, the local school board, how

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 129, which would redefine “evidence-based” in public education to require objective, science-based evidence for pedagogical methods. The prime sponsor said the bill is a verbatim reintroduction from the prior session and argued that current federal definitions are too vague, allowing subjective surveys and other weak evidence to justify teaching methods. He said the bill is limited to pedagogy, not subject matter, and is intended to improve student outcomes, reduce fad-driven practices, and potentially save money by limiting unnecessary retraining and new materials. Members asked repeatedly about the bill’s scope, including whether it would affect classroom teachers, curriculum content, and existing instructional approaches such as phonics versus whole language or queuing. The sponsor said the bill applies to state and local education bodies and educator training policies, not individual teachers in their classrooms, and that teachers would retain flexibility. He also said standardized testing could be part of a scientific study but is not itself a study, and that textbook providers could be asked to furnish the studies supporting instructional guidance included in their materials. Several members raised concerns about the fiscal note and possible cost shifts to local districts and taxpayers. The sponsor disputed the idea that the bill would necessarily create major new costs or require additional staff, saying any costs would likely be limited and that the department is already applying federal evidence-based rules. He also said if some current methods are not science-based, updating them would be justified even if there were some initial expense. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Rick Serency, who is Superintendent of Putnam County, and Robbie Edwards, Superintendent of the Fayette
• We work directly with our superintendents with superintendent training. They engage in workshops.
• The county I'm in, I'm the superintendent. I've got an assistant superintendent and four directors.
• The county I'm in, I'm the superintendent. I've got an assistant superintendent and four directors.
• Let's say our local supplement was $4,000.

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Summary: The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee met to discuss the needs of rural school districts and the role of Florida’s three regional education consortia: the Panhandle Area Education Consortium, Northeast Florida Educational Consortium, and Heartland Educational Consortium. Executive directors and several rural superintendents described the consortia as member-led organizations that provide shared services, professional learning, leadership development, grant support, cooperative purchasing, risk management, IT/cybersecurity help, and back-office assistance that small districts could not afford to provide on their own. They emphasized that rural districts are often very small, have limited staff, and must still meet the same state reporting and compliance requirements as large urban systems. Testimony focused heavily on teacher recruitment and retention, alternative certification, and the difficulty of staffing specialized roles such as CFOs, MIS directors, IT staff, and content-area teachers. Superintendents said many new hires are career changers or alternatively certified teachers who need consortium-supported training, and several argued for more flexibility in funding so districts can raise salaries and compete with neighboring districts and nearby states. Members also asked about the impact of declining enrollment, homeschooling, and voucher-related school choice; superintendents said those trends are reducing FTE and creating budget instability, while also requiring districts to right-size staff and programs. Several speakers described the financial strain on rural districts, including rising insurance costs, transportation costs, and the challenge of forecasting budgets when enrollment changes after the school year begins. One superintendent recounted major hurricane damage and said consortium risk-management support was essential to recovery. Others said the consortia help districts pool resources for property and health insurance, payroll, student data systems, and procurement, and that this shared approach saves money and improves services. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Superintendent.
• Ed Monansala, Superintendent, El Dorado County Superintendent of Schools; Nancy Albaran, Superintendent
• Corey Greenlaw, Assistant Superintendent for the National County Superintendent of Schools; Dr.
• Next, Fresno County Superintendent. We're close. Assistant Superintendent.
• Corey Greenlaw, Assistant Superintendent with Fresno County Superintendent of Schools.

Summary: The joint hearing focused on coherence in California’s education planning and reporting systems, especially the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) and related grant plans. Committee chairs and members described widespread frustration with duplicative, lengthy, and sometimes conflicting reporting requirements, while emphasizing that the goal was not to reduce accountability but to make planning more useful, stable, and student-centered. State Superintendent Tony Thurmond also previewed the Governor’s education budget priorities, including expanded learning, community schools, universal transitional kindergarten, literacy supports, and concerns about the proposed Prop. 98 deferral. Panelists from the State Board of Education, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office said the LCAP was intended to balance local flexibility with statewide transparency, but has become overloaded by repeated revisions and additional requirements. They argued for fewer core reporting elements, more stability over time, better alignment of planning cycles, and integrated systems that reduce duplication. Fresno County staff described a multi-year calendar and support tools that help districts manage timelines, but said these tools only ease the burden rather than solve the underlying problem. The LAO noted that some newer plans, such as expanded learning and transportation plans, are narrative-heavy and often less informative than separate reporting requirements. Local district leaders and county officials described the practical effects of the current system: staff time diverted from instruction, multiple portals and forms, audit risk aversion, and planning documents that can exceed 100 pages. Several superintendents said coherent systems work best when districts have clear priorities, stable governance, and aligned budgets, and when state requirements are predictable and tied to outcomes like literacy, attendance, and student achievement. The California Federation of Teachers added that coherence also depends on meaningful collaboration with educators, classified staff, parents, and communities. Committee members repeatedly asked whether the state should streamline reporting, create a uniform portal, or develop a more unified grant-reporting structure, and Thurmond said the department was piloting a simplified common form and was willing to work with the Legislature and districts on broader solutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• their local efforts to close the achievement gap.
• This is not a rebuke of local control.
• We operate where state policy meets local practice, and what we consistently see is that strong local
• let locally elected officials responsible for the As the locally elected officials responsible for the
• However, local governance cannot succeed in a vacuum.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Emphasizing the ability for locally based contractors to do this work, using the local workforce, will
• And just... but may increase fiscal impact to local governments.
• I would expect indeterminate costs to local government that would shift from local government to the
• As we heard in public testimony, the costs to our local governments and our local government systems
• Local governments to do what's right for their community.

Bills: HB2104 , HB1903 , HB1909 , HB1982 , HB2034 , HB2105 , HB2210 , HB2215 , HB2271 , HB2345 , HB2355 , HB2384 , HB2389 , HB2397 , HB2418 , HB2429 , HB2442 , HB2479 , HB2481 , HB2681 , HB2688 , HB2714

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: aviation, wildland fires, funding, disaster relief, emergency response, energy assistance, low-income, utility costs, state program, energy affordability, court unification, task force, Washington courts, judicial administration, court reform, access to justice, local court rules, uniformity, centralization, rural courts

Transcript Highlights:

• You have the Water Code, and the local government has the Water Code.
• So my local bookstore, BookPeople, is a community treasure.
• Locally, Ellis County is potentially having to increase its property tax rate in order to cover the local
• Locally, Ellis County is potentially having to increase its property tax rate in order to cover the local
• We can provide the data, and the locals can say.

Bills: HB2242 , HB2446 , HB2799 , HB4502 , HB2920 , HB2790 , HB5620 , HB5060 , HB5076 , HB5080 , HB5081 , HB5128 , HB5130 , HB3847 , HB5116 , HB2969 , HB4546 , HB4202 , HB5624 , HB3964 , HB4803 , HB872 , HB4775 , HB4777 , HB4961 , HB5570 , HB2988 , HB4260 , HB1375 , HB5009 , HB5411 , HB5134 , HB4388 , HB3095 , HB1387

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: constables, civil rights, local government, law enforcement, policy-making authority, affidavit, medical bills, civil actions, reasonable charges, healthcare services, judicial statistics, court performance, family law, civil cases, efficiency reporting, court security, emergency management, harassment penalties, judicial safety, court committee

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills affecting civil practice, judicial conduct, and attorney regulation. HB 4961 and the similar HB 3095 would bar uninsured motorists from recovering non-economic damages after a collision, with HB 3095 also addressing certain exceptions and limiting economic damages in some cases. Supporters said the measures would encourage insurance coverage and fairness for insured drivers, while opponents argued they would unfairly punish injured people who were not responsible for the lack of insurance, including pedestrians, passengers, children, and others. HB 3095 drew constitutional concerns from witnesses, and the committee later withdrew the committee substitute and left the bill pending; HB 4961 was also left pending after questions about its scope, including passengers. HB 5570 would expand a continuing legal education exemption to attorneys appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate who serve on boards or commissions. The author and witness said the bill would free up time for public service while still requiring ethics training. A committee member raised a discrepancy in the number of attorneys covered, and the bill was left pending. HB 2969 would prohibit the State Bar from adopting rules or penalties that unreasonably burden attorneys’ religious exercise or free speech, especially in relation to sincerely held religious beliefs. Supporters framed it as a protection for lawyers of faith against an ABA-style speech code, while no one testified in opposition; the bill was left pending. HB 4260 would prohibit county judges and county commissioners from practicing law in courts over which they have jurisdiction. The author described it as an ethics measure to avoid conflicts of interest, but county officials and the County Judges and Commissioners Association opposed it, saying existing ethics rules already address conflicts and that the bill would impose hardships, especially in rural counties. The bill was left pending. HB 4388 would require all judges, including those who serve only in administrative roles, to remain subject to the Code of Judicial Conduct; supporters said some judges avoid discipline by relinquishing judicial functions, while opponents said the bill was unnecessary and could burden county judges who serve as administrators. It was also left pending. The committee also heard HB 5134, which would limit Rule 202 pre-suit depositions to people who have suffered or reasonably expect to suffer actual damages and allow attorney’s fees against abusive petitioners. The author said the bill would curb harassment and fishing expeditions, but members questioned how the standard would work in practice; the bill was left pending. Finally, HB 3964 would narrow common-law public nuisance claims by barring suits over lawful conduct, conduct already addressed by other remedies, and products, while preserving other causes of action. Supporters said the bill would prevent regulation through litigation and protect legislative authority; opponents said it would eliminate important remedies and that no Texas abuse had been shown. The author indicated he would revise the bill, and it was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• In speaking with our local...
• Our local grocery stores experience increased foot traffic and increased sales.
• Our local restaurants also benefit from this influx.
• So the court security committee fund is funded by local court costs.
• So the state actually doesn't fund any, it doesn't fund security at the local level?

Bills: HB2242 , HB2446 , HB2799 , HB4502 , HB2920 , HB2790 , HB5620 , HB5060 , HB5076 , HB5080 , HB5081 , HB5128 , HB5130 , HB3847 , HB5116 , HB2969 , HB4546 , HB4202 , HB5624 , HB3964 , HB4803 , HB872 , HB4775 , HB4777 , HB4961 , HB5570 , HB2988 , HB4260 , HB1375 , HB5009 , HB5411 , HB5134 , HB4388 , HB3095 , HB1387

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: constables, civil rights, local government, law enforcement, policy-making authority, affidavit, medical bills, civil actions, reasonable charges, healthcare services, judicial statistics, court performance, family law, civil cases, efficiency reporting, court security, emergency management, harassment penalties, judicial safety, court committee

Transcript Highlights:

• of our goal here is to make the locals control over their academics and not have it be at the superintendent
• Why have them talk to the superintendent because they have a local problem and have that superintendent
• That's the whole point of this, of having a local superintendent so that they can deal with the local
• Now, what we're going to be doing now by taking the superintendent out of the local school district,
• out of the taking the superintendent out of the local<04:18:54.960><c> school</c><04:18:55.359><c> district

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• their local efforts to close the achievement gap.
• This is not a rebuke of local control.
• Madam Chair, Brian Easter, Superintendent of the Maple School. act as a strategic partner in local success
• This is not a rebuke of local control.
• We operate where state policy meets local practice, and what we consistently see is that strong local

Summary: The hearing opened with several procedural announcements and then took up AB 2148, which would prohibit artificial intelligence from replacing education workers. The author and supporters from the California Federation of Teachers and California School Employees Association argued the bill was a modest first step to protect human educators, students’ social-emotional development, and teacher agency in classroom technology decisions. Public support came from labor and education groups, while some school administrator and county office representatives said they were moving to neutral or awaiting the printed amendments. The committee discussed teacher shortages and the role of AI as a supplement rather than a replacement, then passed AB 2148 as amended to Higher Education on a 5-0 vote. The committee then heard AB 2202, which would create a Closing the Achievement Gap Commission to advise the State Board of Education. The author and sponsors said the commission would improve coordination between state and local education leaders and help the state better support local efforts to close achievement gaps. Support came from CSBA, CFT, charter schools, and many district leaders. Members raised questions about early childhood representation on the commission, and the author said he would discuss that with the sponsor. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote. The consent calendar, including AB 1569, AB 2071, AB 2206, AB 2298, AB 2467, AB 2580, AB 2652, and AB 2726, was also approved. AB 2555 was then heard as a special order bill to reform English learner reclassification. The author said the current system is outdated, inconsistent, and too subjective, and proposed a more automatic, transparent process with stronger parent involvement and post-reclassification monitoring. Testimony in support emphasized personal experiences of delayed reclassification and the need to recognize biliteracy; there was no opposition. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations on a 6-0 vote. The committee also approved AB 1860, which would extend design-build authority to county offices of education while preserving prevailing wage, apprenticeship, and skilled workforce requirements; opposition from county superintendent and facilities groups was removed after amendments, and the bill passed 6-0 to Appropriations. Later, the committee passed AB 2514, which would create a State of Achievement Gap Dashboard to track state-level progress in closing achievement gaps, and AB 2149, which would require the Legislative Analyst’s Office to publicly assess the state’s progress and recommend actions. Both bills were presented as part of a broader package to improve state accountability for student outcomes, and both passed as amended to Appropriations on 7-0 votes. Finally, AB 2490 was heard, proposing to allow longer-term substitute assignments with added training, mentorship, and parent notification to address teacher shortages and classroom instability. Supporters said it would reduce “subchurn” and help maintain continuity, especially in special education; opponents, including CTA, Public Advocates, and CTC staff, argued the bill was unnecessary given existing rulemaking and could create legal and training concerns. The transcript cuts off during committee discussion of AB 2490, so no final vote is shown for that bill.