Transcript Highlights:

• Not a question, it's more of a comment. automatically. Um we also have the automatically.
• . enrollments. enrollments.
• And then, um, in your preschool program, how many students would you say you have enrolled?
• We're a declining-enrollment school district that's struggling to serve a diverse population.
• Some of that is due to decline enrollment, but a majority of it is because of the new formula.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If the carrier doesn't file a dispute within a particular period of time, then they automatically are
• If the carrier doesn't file a dispute within a particular period of time, then they automatically are
• These automatic reductions do not reflect the will of the jury, the conscience of our community, and
• By defining opportunity youth as individuals who are unemployed or not enrolled in any sort of education
• Many re-enrolled in education, earned industry certifications, and entered the workforce.

Summary: The subcommittee heard testimony on a broad agenda of workforce, labor, and workers’ compensation bills. HB 4676 would require political subdivision workers’ compensation networks to follow the same notice, access, and complaint rules as certified TDI networks; supporters said public employees and first responders deserve equal access to care, while municipal risk pool representatives opposed added regulation and said existing 504 networks already perform well. HB 4479 would create a rural workforce development grant program at TWC to support college-and-career readiness and local workforce alignment, and HB 3844 would define “opportunity youth” in state law to improve data, coordination, and access to services for disconnected young Texans; both drew strong support from rural, education, and chamber witnesses. HB 5545 would clarify federal tax treatment for wage-replacement benefits in non-subscriber injury benefit plans, with proponents calling it a win for employers and injured workers. HB 5118 would direct TWC and DIR to study AI and automated employment decision tools in hiring, including bias and oversight concerns. HB 1667 would move existing PTSD workers’ compensation language into a broader Labor Code chapter so more first responders, including state and campus officers, could qualify for benefits; supporters called it a technical fix to extend coverage more evenly across agencies. The committee also heard several first-responder and workers’ compensation bills. HB 2369 would speed up claims handling for injured first responders by allowing a single medical evaluation, giving carriers 60 days to accept or deny a claim, and letting workers seek treatment while disputes proceed; law enforcement supporters said it would help injured officers return to work faster, while opponents warned it would revive extent-of-injury waiver problems and increase litigation. HB 4483 would reclassify certain workers’ compensation maintenance taxes as surcharges to reduce retaliatory taxes imposed by other states on Texas-domiciled carriers, and HB 875, as revised by committee substitute, would create a small-project exception to municipal workers’ compensation and bonding requirements for certain low-value construction contracts in small cities; both were presented as cost-saving measures for Texas employers and local governments. HB 4415 would extend anti-retaliation protections for workers’ compensation claimants from first responders to all public employees and expressly waive sovereign immunity for those claims, with supporters describing it as closing a loophole that leaves public workers without the same remedy available in the private sector. The committee also took testimony on HB 5400, which would expand remedies for sexual harassment victims by removing the requirement to first file an administrative charge, extending the filing deadline from 300 days to two years, clarifying retaliation, and eliminating current damages caps. Supporters, including employment lawyers and a parent of a victim, said the current deadlines and caps prevent many survivors from obtaining counsel or full relief, especially younger workers and those in small workplaces or franchises. Across the agenda, witnesses repeatedly emphasized access to care, fair treatment for injured workers, rural workforce development, and stronger protections for vulnerable employees. After each bill was laid out and testimony heard, the chair generally closed the public hearing and left the bill pending; no final votes were taken, and the subcommittee adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2769 by Anchia, relating to... limiting the transfer of certain semi-automatic rifles to certain recipients
• public education HB 2782 by Dutton relating to the instruction Facilities funding for certain open enrollment
• certain political communications. or prohibition of a lecture nearing by school district and open enrollment
• Students enrolled at Texas Southern University or Prairie View A&M University refer to the Committee
• Proposing a Constitution Amendment abolishing the automatic resignation of certain municipal, county,

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As you can see on this, if you can see on the slide, Brian Carrick Tech Center is the enrollment of all
• I've been using 2021 for a while, and so now we have new rates which show that more are enrolling in
• we still have almost half of our student body that graduates every year that does not historically enroll
• So I did throw some disclaimers in here, since you're going to have a takeaway: these enrollment numbers
• So automatically it's going to be roughly over $45 million just for the construction.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of the subject matter in our agenda includes expanding CPR and automatic external defibrillator
• Automatic external defibrillator access, AEDs, transportation and infrastructure safety, housing affordability
• allow health care providers to simply tell new mothers that they can use their own Medicaid card to enroll

Summary: Senator Molly Cook held a press event on the deadline to file bills for the 89th Legislative Session to introduce her first legislative package, which she said is guided by a “nurse-first” approach focused on public health and safety. She described six pillars for the agenda: access to health care, safe homes and infrastructure, a clean environment, opportunity through jobs and public education, belonging and connection, and healthy and fair systems. She said the package includes 93 bills, with more than 20 developed from constituent input or collaboration in Senate District 15. Cook highlighted several measures, including SB 1312, which would bar electric service disconnections during extreme weather events; SB 1550, which would require hands-on CPR instruction in schools; SB 1764, which would set clearer rules for exiting a state takeover of a school district; SB 2725, the “Safe Streets Bill,” which would let cities lower residential speed limits to 20 mph without a costly study; SB 2723, which would repeal homosexual conduct as a criminal offense; and SB 2728, which would help new mothers use their Medicaid card to enroll newborns. She also noted bills on AED access, housing affordability and renters’ rights, youth e-cigarette exposure, hurricane preparedness, criminal justice reform, LGBTQ+ protections, women’s health, education accountability, and anti-corruption. In response to questions, Cook emphasized that the smoke-shop and e-cigarette bills were prompted by constituents concerned about a vape shop near an elementary school and would restrict advertising near schools and other sensitive locations, keep minors out of shops, and limit proximity to schools. She also explained that the speed-limit bill would remove the need for a costly study before cities lower residential speeds, while still requiring signage and public notice. The event ended with Cook thanking her staff and saying she looked forward to continuing the work in Austin.

Transcript Highlights:

• It almost stopped me from enrolling, as I could not afford anything.
• As Assembly Member Erin's mentioned, AB 2768 would defer enrollment-related fees for foster youth for
• They simply fall through the enrollment gaps.
• This will also help students in making important enrollment decisions.
• Enrollment in teacher preparation programs A teacher shortage is an unfortunate, persistent reality.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our team of presenters will share and highlight Quincy CTE program at a glance, including enrollment,
• Approximately 1,360 students are currently enrolled in the Quincy Public Schools CTE programs, including
• Our total enrollment of 1,360 reflects an increase of approximately 60 students from the previous year
• At North Quincy High School, students can choose to enroll in elective classes, which are precursors
• I decided to enroll in this career pathway because my passion for teaching began during my elementary

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held an informational hearing at Quincy Public Schools focused on career and technical education (CTE). Committee members said the visit was intended to gather input for statewide CTE legislation, including efforts to expand awareness and access, improve middle school exposure, invest in equipment and facilities, and strengthen ties to workforce boards and labor pathways. Quincy officials described their CTE system as integrated with academics and highlighted support from district, city, and state partners. School leaders outlined Quincy’s CTE offerings, including 15 Chapter 74 programs at Quincy High School and four at North Quincy High School, with about 1,360 students enrolled. Presenters emphasized curriculum aligned to DESE frameworks, work-based learning, industry-recognized credentials, safety training, business electives, dual enrollment and articulation with Quincy College, and grant funding such as Skills Capital and Perkins. They also discussed support liaisons for nontraditional careers and military pathways, advisory committees, and plans to seek Chapter 74 approval for an engineering program at North Quincy, along with new computer science and business offerings. Testimony from MassHire South Shore described workforce partnerships, YouthWorks, job fairs, resume workshops, and the Credit for Life Fair, while the assistant superintendent explained Quincy’s MyCAP planning grant and efforts to build a student-driven college and career readiness system. Three students testified about their pathways in welding, early education and care, and healthcare technology, describing hands-on learning, certifications, clinical or co-op experiences, and future plans for college and careers. Committee members praised Quincy as a model for combining CTE with general education, and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn and unanimous adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• in 1961, yet we have 43 more enrollment in 1961, yet we have 43 more schools.<00:37:16.960> So,
• So currently in the HAR, the process looks at three critical areas: utilization of space, enrollment,
• The department has concerns about the measure because federal privacy laws prohibit automatic sharing
• The department has concerns about the measure because federal privacy laws prohibit automatic sharing
• with even within the the automatically with even within the the agency.<00:51:25.119> So<00:51

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1783, which would expand public-private partnership options for charter school facilities. The Department of Education offered comments, the Charter School Commission and SFA supported the bill, and Hawaii Technology Academy, Hawaii Kids, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, HGA, Aloha Project, and several individuals testified in support, while UPW opposed it. Supporters said charter schools need faster and more flexible ways to address severe facility shortages and high costs, and SFA described the bill as a pilot model that could leverage developer partnerships and state contributions, citing Maryland as an example. Members asked whether the bill was limited to charter schools; DOE said the language could be read to include other public school facilities, but if focused only on charter schools, DOE was less concerned. The Charter School Commission also described an existing public-private preschool model through Parkway Village Preschool and PACTED. The committee then took up HB 1778, which would establish a CIP database for school facilities. SFA supported the bill, saying it would create a more disciplined, transparent basis for funding decisions by documenting facility condition, needed repairs, classification, and timing. DOE initially said it rested on its comments, then responded to questions by saying it already maintains deferred maintenance lists, uses systems such as Maximo, CPT, GIS, and finance software, and sends legislators project-status letters twice a year. DOE said it is working on improving its outward-facing dashboard and integrating its systems, but questioned whether the bill would add value beyond existing tools. Members emphasized the need for a publicly accessible, real-time transparency tool, while DOE said it was still evaluating its current systems and was not yet seeking funding for a new IT program. For HB 2344, creating an Independent Public School Realignment and Closure Commission, DOE said it wants to remain part of any consolidation process to keep students and education central, while SFA said the bill is timely and framed it as a restructuring response to changing conditions and possible federal funding cuts. SFA compared the proposal to the federal BRAC process for military base closures and said Hawaii has the same enrollment as in 1961 but many more schools, arguing that the state needs a more deliberate approach to school closures and land reuse. The Attorney General’s office raised technical concerns about several sections, including unclear references to administrative support, a governor-approval sequence, a possible conflict with existing statutes governing closed-school disposition, and a missing section number. Testimony on HB 2345, which would establish a geographic CIP district, began with DOE in opposition; DOE said the bill would duplicate existing work, add confusion by creating two agencies doing the same thing, and spend money inefficiently because district project coordinators and project lists already exist.

Transcript Highlights:

• the agency is taken and prohibits the agency from any automatic enrollments.
• APD wait list, the pre-enrollment list, some for more than a decade or more.
• the agency is taken and prohibits the agency from any automatic enrollments.
• There can be no auto enrollment. So this is 100% completely voluntary.
• It would be based on, you know, the numbers who enroll first. Senator Davis.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including interns, Denim Day awareness, a resolution honoring Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange, and a remembrance of former Senator Karen Johnson Gendron. The chamber then moved to special order bills. CS/HB 687 on transportation offenses involving death was substituted for SB 138, amended to add warnings and penalties for refusal of breath or urine tests, and passed 37-0. CS/SB 306 on Medicaid providers, requiring broader after-hours access and network availability for Medicaid enrollees, also passed 37-0. The Senate then took up CS/CS/HB 913 on condominium associations, a major post-Surfside reform bill. Senator Bradley explained that the measure was intended to provide financial relief and flexibility while preserving safety and accountability. The bill was substituted for SB 1742, amended several times to limit milestone inspections and structural integrity reserve studies to buildings three habitable stories or more, and then passed 37-0 after extensive debate. Senators from both parties praised Bradley, Pizzo, Garcia, and staff for years of work on condo safety and affordability, with several members describing the bill as a balance between protecting residents and avoiding financial hardship. The final major item was CS/HB 1205, the bill on amendments to the state constitution and citizen petition drives. Sponsors Gates and Grohl argued the bill was needed to combat fraud, identity theft, and misuse in the petition process, citing a lengthy Office of Election Crimes and Security report. The House bill was substituted for SB 7016, and the chamber considered a long series of amendments and substitute amendments addressing petition circulator registration, volunteer participation, submission deadlines, invalid-signature thresholds, voter notification, and fiscal impact statements. Several amendments were adopted, while others were debated over whether they would protect access to the citizen initiative process or strengthen election integrity. The transcript ends during debate on the main substitute amendment, before final disposition on the bill is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Talked about dual enrollment. I talked about CCR.
• Talked about dual enrollment. I talked about CCR.
• Talked about dual enrollment. I talked about CCR.
• Talked about dual enrollment. I talked about CCR.
• The reason the automatic next year.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, we are also removing the requirement to submit a W-9 form per provider enrollment, and
• This will allow us to do some automatic verifications with the IRS because they will no longer have to
• submit those W-9 forms as part of their enrollment application.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then heard an emergency rule from the Department of Human Services on hospital-based residential treatment for adolescents with substance use disorder. Paula Stone explained that the rule would allow Medicaid reimbursement for services in a general hospital unit for ages 12 and up, with Unity Hospital in CERC expected to open the first such unit. Members asked about length of stay, cost, and capacity; Stone said stays would be determined by ASAM criteria with no fixed cap, the proposed Medicaid rate is $850 per day pending CMS approval, and the unit would have 24 beds split between boys and girls with on-site schooling. The committee then considered a rule on electronic visit verification for in-home personal care, attendant care, respite care, and home health services. Elizabeth Pittman said the update is intended to keep the state compliant with federal EVV requirements under the 21st Century Cures Act, improve auditing and corrective action plans for providers with too many manual claims, and remove the W-9 submission requirement in favor of IRS verification. Members confirmed that federal law requires an EVV system, and Pittman noted Arkansas uses an open system that allows providers to use the state option or their own vendor. No objections were raised to the EVV rule, which was reported as reviewed. The meeting then concluded with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• , we have been doing a really good job in enrolling our seniors into our programs.
• Counties are dual enrolling individuals.
• Dual training assists with enrollments across all of our programs, including CalWORKs.
• We know that home visiting has shown that parents enrolled in it are more likely to enroll in school
• using partnerships and infrastructure, existing or participant lists for enrollment.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• reports waiver claims report service utilization reports and then the number of individuals in pre enrollment
• Next is the online crisis enrollment.
• And we have to make sure that any client who comes on for services within 5 days of enrollment and the
• to say that you all have done a great job on, you know, getting the in individuals with the pre enrollment
• The other thing, too, that we're working on with this is so we have a pre enrollment list which people

Transcript Highlights:

• At UNT-Olivar, we're very proud that 100% of our students are enrolled in traditional courses.
• This is also an opportunity for increased enrollment. at the university.
• Currently UHVA has an in-person enrollment of less than 1% of these graduates.
• Kingsville's enrollment is or... No sir, I don't typically keep track of other institutions.
• I agree with both of my consti But also, to add, I would enroll in the program.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These standards serve to establish the minimum acceptable level of physical condition and enrollment
• The dashed line in that graph indicates the GSF at enrollments according to the previous calculator prior
• of having to wait for that utility bill and someone typing in what we're spending, it does it automatically
• It does it automatically for you, and then we can compare historical data.
• or change to look at every hour, every eight hours, so they can go down to the minute, and it automatically

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is a steeper decline than the drop... ...in enrollment, but I don't know why.
• Our next supplemental fund is declining enrollment funding.
• of declining enrollment.
• They do not receive both, like declining enrollment funding.
• In Arkansas, we fund based on prior-year enrollment. States also adjust mid-year.

Summary: The committee approved the March 9 and 10 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Arkansas Department of Education on the Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship, featuring three third-grade teachers from Cabot, Poyen, and Drew Central who are also teacher merit pay recipients. The teachers described the fellowship as a year-long Zoom-based collaboration with about 23 educators statewide, focused on sharing classroom strategies, data use, and professional support. Members asked about the teachers’ experience, how they share what they learn with their districts, the range of grades represented in the fellowship, and the relationship between the fellowship and merit pay. The teachers emphasized building relationships with students, using data to drive instruction, early intervention, and collaboration across grade levels, while the secretary said the program is intended to identify and elevate high-performing teachers and spread their practices. A major portion of the discussion focused on third-grade reading, retention, and the new ATLAS testing system. Teachers and the secretary said students are screened and progress monitored throughout the year, families are notified early if students are at risk, and schools are using interventions, tutoring, and individualized reading plans. They said ATLAS results are now available much faster than in the past, often within 24 hours or a few days, allowing teachers and parents to respond quickly. Members asked about the impact of poverty, trauma, foster care, DHS involvement, IEPs, and critical shortage areas; teachers said relationship-building, small-group instruction, and coordination with counselors and special education staff are key. The secretary said the fellowship is a small subset of a broader merit pay program, that participation was voluntary, and that the state is trying to build a coherent system with literacy coaches, high-impact tutoring, and clearer standards rather than teaching to the test. Members also discussed broader policy issues, including the need for more positive public messaging about public education, teacher input in decision-making, and support for early childhood education. Several legislators asked whether the state should expand funding for early learning and whether more literacy or academic coaches are needed in districts that improve and then lose eligibility for state support. The secretary said the state has committed literacy coaches to D and F schools and is still working through how to sustain support as schools improve. He also said the administration would look at data and return on investment before supporting additional funding, and he encouraged legislators to help recruit eligible teachers into future fellowship cohorts. After the teacher panel concluded, the committee moved on to the adequacy resource allocation study, where Bureau of Legislative Research staff began a presentation on state and local education funding sources, categorical funds, and district spending patterns.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, there's a program called the 1115 waiver, and this allows Medicaid to begin enrolling someone in
• Medicaid to begin enrolling someone in Medicaid to begin enrolling someone in services<00:37:16.880><
• compassionate release are being enrolled compassionate release are being enrolled and<00:38:24.720
• So it's not the case that anyone who's sick is automatically granted if this law goes into effect.
• granted if this law goes automatically granted if this law goes into<00:39:56.079> effect.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety held an informational briefing on best practices for medical or compassionate release programs used by correctional systems nationwide and how Hawaii’s current approach compares. Kristen Johnson of the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission introduced Molly Crane of Families for Justice Reform, noting that the commission, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Hawaii Paroling Authority have all been involved in developing proposed legislation, though the bill itself was written by community advocate Bob Merse. Crane described FAM’s work on justice reform and said the group has studied compassionate release programs across the country, including federal reforms, to help Hawaii align with best practices. Crane argued that compassionate release is intended for people who are too ill or cognitively impaired to pose a public-safety risk and who are often the most expensive and resource-intensive people to incarcerate. She said Hawaii is the only state without a compassionate release statute and currently relies on an agency policy, which she described as complex and slow. She cited examples of severe medical cases in custody, including people with advanced dementia, multiple sclerosis, kidney failure, and hospice needs, and said the burden on correctional medical staff, overtime, off-site transport, and specialized care can consume a disproportionate share of staff time and state resources. She also said the recidivism rate for this population is under 1 percent, citing Vera Institute research. Members asked about the source of the recidivism figure, how a statute would streamline the process, and why the issue had not advanced in the past. Crane said the proposed bill would reduce layers in the process by moving cases from the medical director to the director and then to the Hawaii Paroling Authority, with a target timeline of about 30 business days from petition to hearing. Johnson said prior efforts failed in part because the agencies most affected were not included early in drafting and revision, and she said one attempt was vetoed, another was removed in conference committee, and another passed one chamber but did not advance. Johnson also explained that incarcerated people’s medical care is paid entirely by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, with no private insurance or Medicaid/Medicare coverage while incarcerated, making severe cases a direct burden on state funds. No votes or formal actions were taken because the briefing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, we finally decided to turn off our automatic lights, and now he's sleeping through more.
• You know, we finally decided to turn off our automatic lights, and now he's sleeping through more.
• The HFC scenario takes a negative $45 million reduction to SEG to account for enrollment declines.
• growth units for fiscal year 27. ...generating online units, enrollment growth units for fiscal year
• And that that language doesn't say that other families cannot be enrolled.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:09:30.359> cuts<01:09:31.120> and be layering automatic cuts and be layering automatic
• cut, and ensures that automatic cut, and ensures that decisions<01:09:46.200> are<01:09:46.319
• <01:38:31.240> So college enrollment and graduation.
• So college enrollment and graduation.
• in college and 60% more likely to enroll in college and 60% more likely<01:38:47.600> to<01:38

Bills: HF3493, HF4114

Keywords: safe schools, charter schools, nonpublic schools, Tribal education, funding increase, special education, funding, education finance, appropriations, budget, cross subsidy

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm thinking residency or enrollment. This is numbered by enrollment there.
• I'm thinking residency or enrollment. This is numbered by enrollment there.
• “The schools, according to the number enrolled—not the number of students enrolled.
• Right now, parents fill out the form annually to participate, or a family can be automatically enrolled
• enrolled in that program.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up HB 651, a school-funding bill that would raise the base cost of an adequate education and increase differentiated aid for students in poverty, English language learners, and special education. The chair opened with housekeeping notices about parking and eating in committee spaces, and noted a revised fiscal note would be distributed. Representative David Luneau presented the bill as part of a broader package of public school funding measures, explaining that HB 651 builds on HB 550 and is intended to respond to court rulings and the ongoing school-funding litigation by adjusting both the base adequacy amount and equity-based funding factors. Luneau said the bill would raise the state’s adequacy grant from about $4,100 to $7,351 per student and increase differentiated aid, while also updating statutory language so future recalculations include the court-identified resource elements. He argued the measure is about fairness and shifting more of the burden from local property taxpayers to the state, not about increasing overall education spending. He reviewed fiscal-note figures indicating the bill would add roughly $576 million to the state share of school funding, bringing the total state share to about $1.65 billion, and said the note also mentions possible effects on charter schools and vouchers. Committee members asked about the evidence supporting higher costs for low-income and English learner students, how long ESL funding should continue, why free-and-reduced-lunch aid remains higher than special education aid, whether the formula is based on enrollment or average daily membership, and whether the bill is truly equitable across districts of different sizes and needs. Luneau and later witness Zach Shen of the New Hampshire School Funding Fairness Project said the bill is supported by research and court findings, that the current formula relies heavily on local property taxes, and that shifting more funding to the state would reduce property-tax pressure and help address disparities among districts. Shen also cited broad public support for the related HB 550 testimony and said HB 651 is intended as a step toward a more equitable funding system. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.