Transcript Highlights:

• compensation; state aid for school districts; surplus refund payments; increasing funding for special education
• compensation; state aid for school districts; surplus refund payments; increasing funding for special education
• That's what we tried to hit with special education. We're one-upping that now.
• We have an opportunity to give over $300 million to our schools through special education in this package
• compensation, state aid for school districts, surplus refund payments, increasing funding for special education

Keywords: 970, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the parameters we have on ensuring that education is the first priority for students and not
• to House Bill 2961 by Hildebrand of the House and Woods of the Senate, an act relating to higher education
• bill House Bill 2961 by Hildebrand of the House and Woods of the Senate, an act relating to higher education
• amendments to House Bill 4268 by Johns of the House and Ugugh of the Senate, an act relating to education
• House Bill 4268 by Johns of the House and Ewh of the Senate, an act relating to education.

Bills: HJR1101 , SB1319 , SB1264 , HB4237 , SB1277 , SB2069 , HB3066 , HB2115 , HB2153 , HB2268 , HB2961 , SB1679 , SB2018 , HB4294 , SB2095 , HB4113 , SB1894 , SB1810 , HB4268 , HB1752 , HB3413 , SB625 , HB3644 , HB3940 , HJR1096 , HJR1100 , HJR1099 , HB2992 , SB1636 , HB4302 , SB1613 , SB1443 , HB1409 , HB1675 , HB1225 , HB1381 , HB4359 , SB1503

Keywords: Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, OMMA, medical marijuana, cannabis, marijuana regulation, administrative rules, permanent rules, rule approval, joint resolution, legislative oversight, Title 75 Section 308, Oklahoma Administrative Code, OAC 442, patients, caregivers, licensees, dispensaries, growers, processors, SB1319

Transcript Highlights:

• the fund growing. 80% will be given to the legislature for the purpose of improving health and educational
• And also, we want to do things with education.
• This isn't about whether health or education matter. We all agree that they do.
• discussed many different ways that we might approach appointing or electing the superintendent of education
• , and we've talked about different ways to make up that state board of education.

Bills: HB3327 , HB3711 , HB4104 , HJR1077 , HB3329 , SB2184 , SB171

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: State Board of Education, Oklahoma education board, board appointments, school governance, education reform, governor appointments, legislative appointments, speaker of the house, president pro tempore, senate confirmation, board vacancies, removal for cause, public education, state superintendent, school board training, board member qualifications, emergency clause, Oklahoma statutes 70 O.S. 3-101, school funding, transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• million... ...items already included in the budget are $420 million in funding for early childhood education
• We are prioritizing education, workforce, and training while creating high-demand, high-paying jobs within
• And then I see a lot of higher education money increases, I guess you'd say.
• guardianship services, foster care, and other critical services. $3.7 million to various higher education
• She knows how important education is and how transformative it is to society and to these young people

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met on April 13, 2026, and considered the main budget bills for fiscal year 2026-27. Members heard a broad overview of House Bill 1, the general appropriations bill, including the governor’s proposed budget, major funding items for education, workforce, corrections, health, and economic development, and a plan to use surplus funds to pay down LASERS’ unfunded liability. The committee discussed a 29-page amendment set that shifted savings from retirement and other areas into one-time expenditures, including FEMA Katrina debt, LSU, firefighter pay raises, crime victim reparations, rehabilitation services, and additional school choice support. Questions focused on the MFP per-pupil adjustment, the crime victim reparations shortfall, LSU funding, waiver slots, and whether the bill remained at a standstill overall. The committee adopted the amendments and reported HB 1 favorably as amended, making it Special Order No. 1 for April 16. The committee then took up House Bill 312, the supplemental appropriations bill, which also redirected the full $144.3 million surplus payment to LASERS and used savings from MFP, Medicaid forecast changes, and other reductions to fund statewide initiatives. Those included LED, corrections, DOTD road projects, public safety, IT modernization, school safety, firefighting equipment, community and technical college workforce programs, and DCFS shortfalls. Members raised questions about mental health funding and the retirement payment strategy; the amendments were adopted and HB 312 was reported favorably as amended and set as Special Order No. 4. House Bill 313, the funds bill, was amended to make additional deposits into the State Emergency and Response Fund, Voting Technology Fund, oil and gas regulatory funds, geological storage, reading enrichment, Imagination Library, and conservation accounts; it was reported favorably as amended and set as Special Order No. 5. House Bill 314, the revenue sharing distribution bill, received amendments inserting fiscal year 2027 distribution numbers and was reported favorably as amended and set as Special Order No. 7. The committee also advanced House Bill 383, the ancillary expenses bill, which covers self-generated, dedicated, and federal funds for agencies such as Group Benefits, Risk Management, Prison Enterprises, and Technology Services; a technical amendment updated accounting-standard references, and the bill was reported favorably as amended and set as Special Order No. 6. House Bill 983, the judiciary budget, was amended with a technical date correction and reported favorably as amended; members discussed funding for judges, staff pay, FINS, and whether pending legislation affecting Orleans Parish judges would later change the budget. House Bill 1126, the legislative branch budget, was reported favorably without amendment after brief questions about the Law Institute increase, and HCR 3, the hospital stabilization formula resolution tied to Medicaid hospital reimbursements, was reported favorably and set as Special Order No. 8. The committee also made HB 983 Special Order No. 9 and HB 1126 Special Order No. 10 for April 16, authorized technical corrections on adopted amendments, and adjourned after the chair thanked members and staff for their work.

Transcript Highlights:

• million... ...items already included in the budget are $420 million in funding for early childhood education
• We are prioritizing education, workforce, and training while creating high-demand, high-paying jobs within
• "And then I see a lot of higher education money increases, I guess you'd say.
• guardianship services, foster care, and other critical services." "$3.7 million to various higher education
• She knows how important education is and how transformative it is to society and to these young people

Bills: HB1 , HB312 , HB313 , HB314 , HB383 , HB983 , HB1126 , HCR3

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: state budget, appropriations, education funding, public health, social services, government operations, state institutions, budget, funding, state general fund, local government, fiscal year, economic development, state treasury, emergency response, education, voting technology, sustainability, revenue sharing, fund distribution

Transcript Highlights:

• We increased their funding when it comes to FBA but also in what we're going to compensate their educating
• Sir, it includes about $111 to $112 million for education instruction pay raises, and the mechanism in
• We'll see later on with my colleague from Enid present the limits bill for education, but essentially
• But so essentially that'll be at SCE and then four other agencies in the state that have educators in
• And that is essentially then We're adding $3 million back into the state higher education regions.

Bills: SB1177 , SB1177

Committee: House Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget

Keywords: education funding, mental health services, public safety, housing, state budget, 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It said DSB received notice from Rehabilitation Services—this is the Office of Special Education and
• Department of Education—that RSA has been designated as a high-risk grantee.
• received notice from rehabilitation services this is the office of special education and rehab services
• in the u.s department of education that rsa has been designated has designated as a high risk grantee
• Well, and it's for both state agencies, departments, and higher education.

Committee: All ALC-PERSONNEL

Summary: The committee first considered a Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism request to swap three administrative coordinator positions for one park superintendent, one maintenance supervisor, and one park manager for Blanchard Springs State Park. Members were told the change would be funded by conservation tax special revenues, would not increase total positions, and had OPM’s support. The item was reviewed and approved without objection. Members then approved two special compensation plans: one from the Department of Commerce for lump-sum bonuses of up to $5,000 for employees involved in the unemployment insurance system migration to a cloud-based platform, and one from the Department of Veterans Affairs for $2,000 recruitment bonuses for certified nursing assistants at the Fayetteville and North Little Rock State Veterans Homes. The Department of Health also received approval to reinstate a previously frozen fiscal support manager position for the State Medical Board, with the agency noting the position was already authorized and would not increase total staffing. The committee spent substantial time on a Commerce reduction-in-force affecting the Division of Services for the Blind and related workforce operations. Secretary Hugh McDonald said the layoffs were driven by over-obligated federal funds, lack of fiscal planning, and a need to realign operations; he said the RIF would be permanent and that 56 employees remained furloughed, with 17 positions slated for elimination. Senators questioned the division’s accountability structure, the role of the board and governor, and whether the cuts disproportionately affected African American employees; Commerce was asked to provide racial composition data for the workforce and the RIF. The committee also reviewed quarterly employment and overtime reports. Members asked about overtime levels at DHS, Corrections, and Transportation, and whether higher staffing levels and the new pay plan were reducing overtime. OPM said overtime was being monitored, that direct-care positions are exempt from the hiring freeze, and that the state had hired more than 1,200 employees at DHS since the new system went live. No further action was taken on the report items, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• To address this problem, AB 1582 makes it an unfair labor practice for a higher education employer to
• which establishes a new unfair practice... ...which establishes a new unfair practice under higher education
• AB 1818 eliminates the antiquated code section in the Higher Education Employer-Employee Relations Act
• The section in the Higher Education Employer-Employee Relations Act, HEERA, is no longer used for its
• It's not fair for the CSU to take and manipulate legislative education funds to benefit their own pockets

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement heard several labor and retirement bills. AB 1582 by Assembly Member Ortega would make it an unfair labor practice for a higher education employer to disregard or delay arbitration decisions involving contracting out, with make-whole relief including attorney fees and costs. Supporters from AFSCME and other labor groups said UC has repeatedly ignored arbitration outcomes on outsourcing disputes, while UC opposed the bill as an overbroad change that could create systemwide operational and financial risk. The committee passed the bill on a do-pass basis to Appropriations. AB 1818 by Assembly Member Ortega would repeal an outdated HEERA provision that CSU has used to reopen bargaining when it claims state funding is insufficient. Teamsters and other labor supporters argued CSU has used the provision to avoid honoring negotiated raises, while CSU said the bill would limit its ability to manage compensation responsibly when state funding is uncertain. The committee also passed AB 1818 to Appropriations. AB 1564 by Assembly Member Arreguín would make communications between an employee and union representative confidential in public employment matters. Labor supporters said the measure would protect trust in the representational relationship and codify existing PERB case law, while school, local government, county, city, and business groups warned it could hinder workplace investigations, including those involving student safety and harassment. The bill passed 7-0 to Appropriations. AB 1844 by Assembly Member Pacheco, placed on the consent calendar, would update Judges’ Retirement System 2 to allow non-spouse beneficiaries for survivor benefits and to extend access to survivor options for vested judges; it was approved unanimously, 7-0. After all items were taken up, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you talk about the investments in your education and being able to stay in your communities?
• If the state would finance those education programs properly, you wouldn't have to worry about it.
• So are you really worried about your communities and how to fund your education and your programs in
• Do you need the funding for your education and your programs and your communities?
• we want to educate our kids and not have to worry about state funds.

Committee: House Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources

Summary: The Agriculture Committee met with 11 members present and heard no bills for public hearing or executive action. Instead, the committee received a presentation from the Montgomery County R-2 FFA ag issues team on proposed data centers in their county, framed as a mock town hall discussion. The students and panel discussed the project’s scale, including roughly 1,760 acres across two sites, and debated concerns about eminent domain, noise, light pollution, water use, electricity demand, soil and wildlife impacts, recycling of equipment, and tax abatements versus projected school district revenue. The presentation featured sharply divided viewpoints: a county/economic development perspective emphasizing jobs, utility planning, and major tax revenue for schools; a community and environmental perspective raising concerns about farmland loss, groundwater and well impacts, property values, and long-term ecological effects; and a farmer’s perspective opposing the project to protect agricultural land and rural life. The panel cited figures such as about 50 million gallons of water annually, potential school district revenue of about $11 million in the first year of the initial phase and roughly $43 million annually when fully built out, and discussed PILOT payments and the Powering Missouri Growth Plan as ways to offset costs. Committee members then praised the students’ preparation and public speaking, and several offered policy and practical suggestions, including considering local construction labor, emergency service capacity, backup generator noise, and clearer context for water-usage numbers. One member asked what legislation could help, and the students suggested setting environmental-use limits such as water or light-pollution restrictions. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after the presentation and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• The rights, inclusion, and independence of Arizonans who have disabilities through advocacy, education
• Senate Bill 1131 is withdrawn from the Committee on Education.
• Senate Bill 1131 is withdrawn from the Committee on Education.
• Senate Bill 1131 is withdrawn from the Committee on Education.
• His work can be seen in environmental projects in Pima, Maricopa, and Yuma counties, education initiatives

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Students joined our legislature today for Education Day to engage elected officials on critical issues
• impacting students' education.
• highlighting the importance of supporting dreamers and children of immigrants and pursuing higher education
• And through the years, he educated me how important it is to support ranchers and farmers in our county
• Appropriations. 2921, physical education. 2923, quarter.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior journal, and recognized the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Sarah Lee Davison of Tucson. Members also introduced numerous guests and advocacy groups in the gallery, including Aliento students for Education Day, gun violence prevention advocates, agricultural visitors, military veterans, and representatives of the Kino Border Initiative and Nucor Steel. The chamber then observed a moment of silence in honor of Andy Grosetta, a longtime Arizona rancher and cattle industry leader, after a proclamation was read memorializing his life and renaming a meat transparency bill the Andy Grosetta Act. The House entered Committee of the Whole and considered HB 2074 and HB 2148. HB 2074, described by supporters as a measure to strengthen mandatory reporting related to partial-birth abortion and verify compliance with existing law, drew sharp opposition from Democrats who argued it would criminalize medical workers and punish women seeking care; supporters said it targeted only those with direct knowledge of the procedure and protected unborn children. The committee adopted the Judiciary Committee amendment and then gave HB 2074 a do pass recommendation as amended. HB 2148, described briefly by its sponsor as a transparency bill, also received an Appropriations Committee amendment and a do pass recommendation as amended. The Committee of the Whole reported both bills back to the House, which adopted the report and referred HB 2074 and HB 2148 to engrossing. The House also announced committee meetings for later that day and the following morning, including Appropriations, Federalism and Military Affairs, Science and Technology, Transportation and Infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence and Innovation, and Rural Economic Development. The chamber then adjourned until 10 a.m. Thursday, January 29, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Students joined our legislature today for Education Day to engage elected officials on critical issues
• impacting students' education.
• highlighting the importance of supporting dreamers and children of immigrants and pursuing higher education
• And through the years, he educated me how important it is to support ranchers and farmers in our county
• Appropriations. 2921 Physical Education. 2923 Quarter.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I plan on continuing my education at BYU-Hawaii.
• I plan on continuing my education at BYU, Hawaii.
• I've always had great bosses who've treated me well, who've never been in a situation through education
• I've always had great bosses who've treated me well, who've never been in a situation through education
• , it's a very high threshold, but we're able to work with respondents to be able to do training, education

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas are protected with good health care, good retirements, and that includes Social Security, good education
• , and that includes everybody should have a good education.
• And that includes Social Security, good education, and that includes everybody should have a good education
• protect Social Security, to protect Medicare, to protect health care, to protect a path to higher education
• It makes it harder for the people of Texas to get a high-quality education here in this great state.

Keywords: redistricting, gerrymandering, Texas Democrats, voter suppression, Hakeem Jeffries, equitable representation, minority communities, legislative session, political motivations

Summary: Texas Democratic leaders and members of Congress held a press event in Austin with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to denounce the Republican-led special session and proposed congressional redistricting map. Speakers, including Lizzie Fletcher, Lloyd Doggett, Al Green, Joaquin Castro, Sylvia Garcia, and Greg Casar, argued that the session should instead focus on flood recovery after the Hill Country Independence Day floods, affordability, health care, the energy grid, and other state priorities. They said the new map was a partisan and racially discriminatory gerrymander designed to help Donald Trump and Texas Republicans gain seats, weaken minority voting power, and undermine free and fair elections. Several speakers said the current Texas map is already under legal challenge and claimed the proposed changes would further reduce the ability of Black and Latino communities to elect candidates of choice. They also tied the redistricting fight to broader national issues such as Medicaid, Social Security, tariffs, housing costs, and corruption. Jeffries said Texas Democrats would not “bend the knee” and pledged support for their efforts, while emphasizing that the fight would continue politically, in court, and through public organizing. In the question-and-answer portion, Jeffries said all options should be on the table to protect Texans, but that Texas Democrats would decide their own strategy. Fletcher said the immediate priority was informing the public about the rushed process, noting that many Texans testified before seeing a map and that the hearings were moving quickly. No formal vote or legislative action occurred at the event itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• All Texas licensed dentists receive extensive education and injection techniques and facial anatomy.
• Um, dentist training and education is focused on oral health.
• access to safe, comprehensive care and restricts our ability to practice fully within our scope of education
• And this is why we have educational pathways such as oral maxillary facial surgery training for a reason
• We spend all of our education in the maxillofacial region.

Committee: House Public Health

Transcript Highlights:

• government that… true responsibilities in government that… Public Safety is one of them and, uh, education
• thing that we do with all of these other… thing that we do with all of these other state agencies, education
• This will be a starting point to educate people. All right, Chair, have we adopted the sub yet?
• power of annexation legally lies and has historically been the case, it prohibits the City Board of Education
• municipality or the county where the land is located and the municipality served by the Board of Education

Bills: HB287 , HB280 , HB57 , HB252 , HB286 , SB36 , HB287 , HB280 , HB57 , HB252 , HB286 , SB36

Committee: House County and Municipal Government

Keywords: law enforcement, transparency, reporting, public safety, regulation, accountability, public nuisance, event liability, local government, community health, legal action, education, property acquisition, municipality, land use, annexation, competitive bidding, procurement, disclosure statements, state contracts

Transcript Highlights:

• Catlin, who instilled in her the values of education, hard work, and service.
• But understanding the importance of education and with the desire to become a physician, Dr.
• Board of Education ruling, and ordered the Huntsville Public Schools to integrate.
• This bill is about... joining education for those members of the...
• Education for those members of the Sun... any board that comes before the sunset.

Bills: SJR 2 , SB 4 , SJR 36 , SJR 2 , SB 4 , SR 42 , SR 74 , SR 76 , HCR 5 , SB 710 , SB 710

Keywords: SJR 2, Senate Joint Resolution 2, constitutional amendment, homestead exemption, property tax relief, school property tax, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, school district taxes, Texas Constitution Article VIII, public school finance, homeowner exemption, elderly exemption, senior tax relief, disabled exemption, tax year 2025, voter approval, November 2025 ballot, local government, Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:

• These are specific accounts: General Fund-State, Opportunity Pathways, Washington Education Investment
• This would include basic education spending and K-12 education, the debt service on previously issued
• To avoid family programs, health care, and higher education.
• Higher education is 1.17%, and low-income health care and community behavioral health is 2.83%.
• We also have people who know a lot about Medicaid, education, and other areas. Next slide, please.

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative-Executive Committee on Budget Transparency and Fiscal Sustainability

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The AACC taught me civic education and engagement.
• Most of the law-abiding individuals are educated. We understand what's going on.
• Massachusetts unequivocally stands for protecting children and the right to education, safety, and a
• Some of the impacts were education.
• It kept those who were incarcerated up on…” “The impacts were education.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Election Laws

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on S. 7 and H. 63, proposed constitutional amendments to restore voting rights to people incarcerated for felony convictions. Sponsors Rep. Erica Iderhoven and Sen. Liz Miranda argued that Massachusetts should reverse the 2000 disenfranchisement change, describing it as a recent and racially discriminatory policy that excludes thousands of residents—disproportionately Black and Latino—from civic participation. They said the amendment would put the question before voters, likely in 2028, and noted that implementation details such as domicile and where incarcerated people would register to vote would be handled separately through legislation and existing jail-based voting work. A large number of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people testified in support, many speaking remotely from MCI Norfolk, MCI Shirley, and MCI Framingham. They said voting would affirm dignity, accountability, rehabilitation, and connection to community, and several described civic education programs inside the facilities that had helped them engage with public policy. Witnesses repeatedly characterized disenfranchisement as “civil death,” linked it to racial injustice and the legacy of slavery, and urged the committee to advance the bills favorably. A few speakers also addressed practical questions about voting location and domicile, with sponsors saying those issues are not specified in the constitutional amendment and would be worked out later. Committee members asked several questions, including whether incarcerated people would vote in the community where they were incarcerated or where they previously lived, and whether future legislation could include carve-outs based on offense type or time served. Testifiers and sponsors generally said the amendment itself does not decide those implementation questions, and some said they would oppose carve-outs. One member raised a broader moral objection about allowing people convicted of serious crimes to vote; supporters responded that punishment should not erase democratic rights and that voting can support rehabilitation and reentry. No vote or final committee action was taken during the transcript provided. The hearing also briefly included testimony on a separate matter, S. 521, a proposed ratification of the federal Child Labor Amendment. Witnesses supporting that measure warned against renewed child labor rollbacks in other states and argued Massachusetts should reaffirm protections for children and education. That portion of the hearing was separate from the voting-rights discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think this bill has a really important niche of state departments and public higher education that
• At MAC, our focus is education advocacy.
• Immigrant and LEP communities depend on state systems for health care, housing, and education, and other
• Rick Levy, retired educator... Jason Johnson. Thank you. Can you hear me?
• As both union members and education employees, our jobs in higher education are under attack.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight heard testimony on several bills. Senator Mike Moore supported S. 2185, which would delay implementation of the heavy-duty omnibus/advanced clean truck requirements while requiring the Commonwealth to purchase or lease electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles starting in 2025; he argued the delay is needed because infrastructure, grid capacity, vehicle availability, and costs are not yet ready. The committee also heard strong support for S. 2156/H. 3318, which would require free menstrual products in public buildings, with advocates and students describing period poverty and the need to treat menstrual products like other basic restroom supplies. Senator John Keenan testified for S. 2158, a bill to let municipal light plants protect proprietary and competitively sensitive information from public disclosure while keeping board meetings and minutes open, saying it would help level the playing field against larger competitors. A major portion of the hearing focused on S. 2125/H. 3384, the language access and inclusion bill. Testimony from the AAPI Commission, Mass Speaks coalition members, Mass Appleseed, MLRI, ATASK, MAPC, the Boston Bar Association, Mass Advocates for Children, and others described barriers faced by limited-English-proficient residents in accessing MassHealth, DCF, courts, domestic violence services, schools, and other state services. Witnesses cited untranslated documents, inadequate interpretation, delays, and the burden placed on bilingual staff and children; several also pointed to recent federal moves toward English-only policy as making state action more urgent. Committee members asked questions about implementation, interpreter availability, and the role of technology and remote participation, and the chair noted the bill had been reported favorably in a prior session and intended to be again. The committee also heard testimony on time-zone legislation. Dr. Karin Johnson, representing sleep medicine interests, supported H. 3405 for permanent standard time and opposed S. 2157 for permanent daylight saving time, arguing that standard time better aligns with circadian rhythms and health, while permanent daylight saving time would worsen morning darkness and sleep disruption. Members questioned the strength of the scientific evidence and discussed school start times, geography, and whether Massachusetts should align with neighboring states. No votes were taken during the hearing, and testimony continued on additional bills as the session progressed.