Bills: SB213 , HB24 , HB163 , HB226 , HB271 , HB288 , HB319 , HB24

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation Education

Keywords: utility tax, poultry industry, energy consumption, agricultural exemption, tax exemption, HB24, Volunteer Rescue Squad Tuition Reimbursement Program, EMS, emergency medical services, EMSP, paramedic training, EMT training, tuition reimbursement, scholarship, workforce development, volunteer rescue squad, volunteer fire department, ambulance service, nonprofit ambulance, Alabama Department of Public Health

Transcript Highlights:

• speaking with Representative Tracy, I'm sorry, Police Chief Tracy En from the Mansfield Police Department
• Thank you, uh, Omar Villarreal, Texas Department of Public Safety, and I'm available as a resource witness
• Omar Villarreal, on behalf of the Texas Department of Public Safety, I'm available to you all as a resource
• we're looking at less government these days after the last election, that's really where we should be headed

Bills: HB 767 , HB 1242 , HB 1373 , HB 1404 , HB 1708 , HB 1936 , HB 2041 , HB 2198 , HB 2270 , HB 2315 , HB 2415 , HB 2427 , HB 2455 , HB 2457 , HB 2522 , HB 2523 , HB 2686 , HB 2763 , HB 2775 , HB 2944 , HB 3034 , HB 1683 , HB 1695

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: highway designation, memorial, Montgomery County, Paul P. Mendes, transportation, HB 1242, Texas Transportation Code, U.S. Highway 281, Brooks County, Ernesto Soliz Cantu, memorial highway, road naming, TxDOT, road signage, commemorative resolution, memorial markers, county road 304, Huppergate Road, Los Robles Trail, Farm-to-Market Road

Transcript Highlights:

• Omar Villarreal, Texas Department of Public Safety, and I'm available as a...
• They've examined the route, and the Texas Department of Transportation ought to prove that route.
• Villarreal, on behalf of the Texas Department of Public Safety, I'm available to you all as a resource
• we're looking at less government these days after the last election, that's really where we should be headed

Bills: HB767 , HB 1242 , HB1373 , HB1404 , HB1708 , HB1936 , HB2041 , HB2198 , HB2270 , HB2315 , HB2415 , HB2427 , HB2455 , HB2457 , HB2522 , HB2523 , HB2686 , HB2763 , HB2775 , HB2944 , HB3034 , HB1683 , HB1695

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: highway designation, memorial, Montgomery County, Paul P. Mendes, transportation, HB 1242, Texas Transportation Code, U.S. Highway 281, Brooks County, Ernesto Soliz Cantu, memorial highway, road naming, TxDOT, road signage, commemorative resolution, memorial markers, county road 304, Huppergate Road, Los Robles Trail, Farm-to-Market Road

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Johnny Mack Brown, and I'm from the Ulysses County Sheriff's Department, and I am for this
• He served as head. headquarters commandant at Fort Lewis before his retirement in 1993.
• Farm-to-market roads are often overseen by the Texas Department of Transportation.
• Andy was headed to a shots fired call.
• Members, this bill authorizes the Texas Department of Transportation to provide battery service.

Bills: HB767 , HB 1242 , HB1373 , HB1404 , HB1708 , HB1936 , HB2041 , HB2198 , HB2270 , HB2315 , HB2415 , HB2427 , HB2455 , HB2457 , HB2522 , HB2523 , HB2686 , HB2763 , HB2775 , HB2944 , HB3034 , HB1683 , HB1695

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: highway designation, memorial, Montgomery County, Paul P. Mendes, transportation, HB 1242, Texas Transportation Code, U.S. Highway 281, Brooks County, Ernesto Soliz Cantu, memorial highway, road naming, TxDOT, road signage, commemorative resolution, memorial markers, county road 304, Huppergate Road, Los Robles Trail, Farm-to-Market Road

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of State.
• Department of Education.
• And so the Department of Defense, Department of War, ...and heart health.
• And so the Department of Defense, Department of War, has actually used those guidelines.
• So I'm trusting the Department of Ag. Follow up. Thank you, Mr. President.

Bills: HJR1088 , HJR1090 , HJR1091 , HB1370 , SB2154 , HJR1092 , HJR1093 , HJR1095 , HJR1099 , HJR1100 , HB3021 , SB893 , SB206 , SB248 , SB259 , SB423 , SB563 , SB604 , SB633 , HJR1077 , SB667 , SB1224 , SB1257 , SB1264 , SB1319 , SB1360 , SB1437 , SB1531 , SB1543 , SB1806 , HB3004 , SB1572 , HB4342 , SB1618 , SB2 , SB237 , SB1632 , SB1687 , SB1726 , SB1859 , SB1894 , SB1461 , HB4432 , SB1948 , SB1589 , SJR52 , SR46 , HCR1030 , SB2071 , SB2182 , SB1451

Keywords: education rules, administrative rules, joint resolution, Oklahoma State Department of Education, higher education, State Regents for Higher Education, Teachers' Retirement System, charter schools, Statewide Charter School Board, career and technology education, CTE, OEQA, rule approval, legislative oversight, permanent rules, school governance, teacher retirement, education agencies, Oklahoma Register, Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, prayer, pledges, and recognition of two student pages before taking up a long agenda of House joint resolutions and bills, mostly related to administrative rules and agency approvals. The chamber advanced and passed H.J.R. 1088, 1090, 1091, 1092, 1093, 1095, 1099, and 1100, which approved permanent rules for education, energy and agriculture, business and commerce, building code, health-related agencies, general government agencies, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, and OMES. Several senators criticized the process for moving rule resolutions quickly and without committee vetting, while supporters said the calendar delays required direct consideration. The Senate also adopted conference committee reports and passed SB 206, SB 248, and HB 3021, with HB 3021 making small changes to graduation requirements, including science/math course language, Oklahoma history flexibility for some military families, and personal financial literacy counting toward math in some cases. A major portion of the meeting focused on House Bill 1370, which was described by its author as repealing an automatic state trigger that would replace any federal gasoline tax if the federal government suspended it. Supporters argued the bill would prevent Oklahoma drivers from paying more if the federal gas tax were repealed and framed it as tax relief; opponents argued it could reduce highway and bridge funding and create a budget hole. The Senate suspended several rules to bring the bill up, but rejected a motion to suspend the fiscal-impact rule for a proposed amendment. After debate, the chamber passed the measure 41-7 and then approved it as an emergency measure. The Senate also took up Senate Bill 893, a conference report dealing with foreign ownership near critical infrastructure and agricultural land. The bill would restrict certain foreign adversary ownership or leasing within 10 miles of critical infrastructure, add training zones and other protected areas, delay implementation until July 1, 2027, and create an enforcement process involving Attorney General review and whistleblower-style reporting. Senators raised concerns about enforcement, possible misuse, and profiling, while the author said the bill was aimed at national security and infrastructure protection. The conference report was adopted and the bill passed. Later, the Senate received notice that the House was ready to convene in joint session, and the chamber briefly stood at ease before returning to continue its work.

Transcript Highlights:

• permission to the department for that continuum of oversight.
• So B talks about the emissions and benchmarks adopted by the department. Subsection B and C.
• Department.
• Department.
• Stephen Wancoff, 911 Bureau Chief, with the Department of Finance, Local Government Division.

Bills: HB253 , HB153 , HB255 , HB287 , HB371 , SB151 , HB8 , SB177

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: distance learning, virtual instruction, public education, student enrollment, school funding, education standards, pandemic education response, low-carbon construction, construction materials, rebate, environmental product declaration, EPD, embodied carbon, carbon intensity, greenhouse gas emissions, decarbonization, industrial incentives, clean manufacturing, cement, concrete

Bills: HB253 , HB153 , HB255 , HB287 , HB371 , SB151 , HB8 , SB177

Committee: Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: distance learning, virtual instruction, public education, student enrollment, school funding, education standards, pandemic education response, low-carbon construction, construction materials, rebate, environmental product declaration, EPD, embodied carbon, carbon intensity, greenhouse gas emissions, decarbonization, industrial incentives, clean manufacturing, cement, concrete

Summary: The committee first corrected its action on Senate Bill 151, noting that the earlier motion had been made incorrectly after the committee substitute was amended. Members then moved to do not pass the Senate Finance Committee substitute and do pass the same committee substitute so it could be sent to the floor. The only change identified in the substitute was an adjustment to the sunset date. A roll call vote followed, with several members voting yes and a few voting no or being excused, and the motion to report the committee substitute out with a due pass recommendation carried. After the SB 151 vote, the chair said the committee was essentially finished and expected to meet on the floor the next day, likely around noon, with a plan to come in earlier and handle a few more bills. The discussion then shifted to House Bill 2 and the broader issue of state employee compensation. One member argued that over the past several years the state had already provided substantial pay raises and benefits, citing roughly $1.3 billion in raises, about $184 million annually for health care costs, and $116 million annually for employer pension costs, for a total of about $1.6 billion over four years. That member said the state had done enough on employee compensation and that a proposed 1% increase did not make sense given competing priorities such as child care and other needs. The committee then adjourned, and there was a brief question about when the university fund bill would be heard, but no firm timing was given.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> This establishes within the department This establishes within the department of<00:06:46.639><c
• Department of Taxation. Anyone from DO Tax? Department of Health. Aloha.
• I'm Lola Irvin with the Department of Health, and the Department of Health supports this bill and we
• Department of taxation. &gt;&gt; Okay. Department of taxation.
• > of</c> Honolulu DOT, Department of Honolulu DOT, Department of Transportation.

Bills: HB2392 , HB2462 , HB2423 , HB1771 , HB2081 , HB2334 , HB2336 , HB1666 , HB2375 , HB2415 , HB2451 , HB2373 , HB1641 , HB1694 , HB1695 , HB1986 , HB1797 , HB1879 , HB2034

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: transportation, tax credit, employer incentives, commuting, environmental impact, flexible work arrangements, carpooling, bicycling, public transportation, consumer protection, subscription services, motor vehicles, ownership expectations, transparency, biodiesel, renewable diesel, diesel blend, B5, blending mandate, clean energy

Summary: The committees heard testimony on several transportation-related measures. SB 2356, relating to parking, drew support from the Office of Planning, the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Appleseed Center, Realtors, and the Hawaii Bicycling League. Members discussed the bill in the context of the planned stadium-area mixed-use development, with questions about whether parking would be built in structures rather than as large surface lots. Senators expressed support and noted the measure’s broader housing and parking-reduction goals, but no vote was taken during the hearing. The bulk of the hearing focused on SB 2699, which would create a fare-free youth transit program, a special fund, annual evaluations, and appropriations tied to the environmental, energy, and food security tax. The Attorney General’s office raised technical concerns about whether the special fund met statutory requirements. The Department of Education and Department of Health supported the bill, as did the City and County of Honolulu DOT, Appleseed Center, Hawaii Youth Transportation Council, Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, Hawaii Bicycling League, Our Children’s Trust, and numerous youth testifiers. Supporters emphasized reduced family transportation costs, better school attendance, improved health and mobility, and environmental benefits. One senator raised emergency-planning concerns about how children using free transit would be handled during events like tsunamis; DOT and DOE responded that emergency procedures are being developed. The chair said the committee would work on language changes, including a delayed effective date to July 2027, and defer decision-making until the 12th. The final measure discussed was SB 2470, which would require leading pedestrian intervals, accessible pedestrian signals, and other safety improvements at state-controlled intersections, and create a process for community requests for accessible pedestrian signals. Appleseed Center, the Hawaii Association of the Blind, and the Disability Rights Center supported the bill, citing pedestrian safety, reduced collisions, and the need for audible cues for blind and low-vision pedestrians. Testifiers urged a phased-in approach that prioritizes high-traffic intersections. The hearing ended with the bill still under consideration and no final vote announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, as the chair of the subcommittee, we are seeing from probation and many departments that the biggest
• to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic," which is based on about five years of research funded by the Department
• I'm just trying to do the math in my head real quick, and I'm like a million dollars a year for events
• More importantly, I am a member of the Eden Valley Fire and Rescue Department, serving as the Assistant
• It implements some updated language around the report that I worked on with the Department of Children

Bills: HF1354 , HF1901 , HF2124 , HF2130 , HF2260 , HF2099 , HF104 , HF134 , HF1769

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: public safety, school safety, active shooter, active shooter drill, violence prevention, threat reporting, anonymous tip line, See It, Say It, Send It, Minnesota Fusion Center, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, BCA, officer-involved death, missing person, endangered missing person, criminal background check, national background check, FBI fingerprint check, adult entertainment license, massage license, correctional facilities

Transcript Highlights:

• and Trauma teams at Health department and Trauma teams at Health Partners<00:09:58.000><c> have</c><
• that the biggest barrier to departments that the biggest barrier to entry<00:13:55.560><c> into</c><
• to formulate an estimate and Department to formulate an estimate and just<00:49:43.240><c> it</c><00
• I'm also a professor and department chair of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Metro
• </c><01:32:55.600><c> of</c> I worked on with the Department of I worked on with the Department of Children

Bills: HF1354 , HF1901 , HF2124 , HF2130 , HF2260 , HF2099 , HF104 , HF134 , HF1769

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: public safety, school safety, active shooter, active shooter drill, violence prevention, threat reporting, anonymous tip line, See It, Say It, Send It, Minnesota Fusion Center, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, BCA, officer-involved death, missing person, endangered missing person, criminal background check, national background check, FBI fingerprint check, adult entertainment license, massage license, correctional facilities

Transcript Highlights:

• The team was led by head coach Chance Griffin.
• If any of y'all follow Longgrove softball a few years ago, we'd lost our head coach at who he'd had for
• So if you want free lunch, head down to the second floor.

Bills: HB3880 , HB3263 , HB2970 , HB3043 , HB3044 , HB3078 , HB3940 , HB4117 , HB3428 , HB4275 , HB3257 , HB3901 , HB4298 , HB4260 , HB2981 , HB3695 , HB2960 , HB3967 , HB3968 , HB4339 , HB4341 , HB4342 , HB2940 , HB4295 , HB4196 , HB3134 , HB1016

Keywords: Oklahoma Today Magazine, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, tourism promotion, advertising sales, commission pay, employee bonus, sales commission, digital publication, print publication, sponsorships, bulk subscriptions, newsstand sales, ancillary products, public records, procurement exemption, administrative procedures exemption, tourism magazine, revenue sharing, executive director, state agency compensation

Transcript Highlights:

• The team this year was led by head coach Chance Griffin.
• If any of y'all follow Long Grove softball a few years ago, we'd lost our head coach we'd had for a long
• They'll serve lunch starting at 11, so if you want free lunch, head down to the second floor.

Bills: HB3880 , HB3263 , HB2970 , HB3043 , HB3044 , HB3078 , HB3940 , HB4117 , HB3428 , HB4275 , HB3257 , HB3901 , HB4298 , HB4260 , HB2981 , HB3695 , HB2960 , HB3967 , HB3968 , HB4339 , HB4341 , HB4342 , HB2940 , HB4295 , HB4196 , HB3134 , HB1016

Keywords: Oklahoma Today Magazine, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, tourism promotion, advertising sales, commission pay, employee bonus, sales commission, digital publication, print publication, sponsorships, bulk subscriptions, newsstand sales, ancillary products, public records, procurement exemption, administrative procedures exemption, tourism magazine, revenue sharing, executive director, state agency compensation

Summary: The House convened, the clerk called the roll, and the chamber proceeded with the day’s order of business. Chaplain Ronnie Wilson delivered the invocation, using a personal story about hiking the Manitou Incline to reflect on perseverance and the idea of being “not far from the kingdom of God” from Mark 12. The House then recited the Pledge of Allegiance. After floor reassignment notices, Representative Cantrell introduced the Long Grove, Oklahoma state championship fast-pitch softball team, noting their back-to-back titles, six straight state tournament appearances, and strong academic and team traditions. Several announcements followed, including committee meeting notices, a birthday acknowledgment for the presiding speaker, and a reminder about the Farm City Festival lunch on the second floor. No bills were debated or voted on in the portion provided. The only formal action at the end of the session was a motion by the floor leader to adjourn, and the House adjourned until Monday, February 16th at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• public hearing with decision-making to follow on House HCR 200 and HR 190 urging the United States Department

Bills: HR39 , HCR43 , HR178 , HCR188 , SB3144 , SB3102 , SB2053 , SB3248 , SB2256 , SB3118 , SB2245 , SB2519 , SB3055 , SB2090 , SB2765 , SB2169 , SB3136 , SB2521 , SB2851 , SB3154 , SB3262 , SB2387 , SB3001 , SB2818 , SB2972 , SB2372 , SB2108 , SB888 , HR63 , HCR69

Keywords: pedestrian safety, crosswalks, traffic calming, school zone, Honolulu, community safety, raised crosswalks, traffic infrastructure, agritourism, agricultural tourism, Hawaii Tourism Authority, HTA, working group, farm tourism, regenerative tourism, working lands, agricultural land use, county ordinances, permitting, farm bureau

Transcript Highlights:

• It's your head; use it. It has been an absolute pleasure serving with all of you.
• Members, Senate Bill 1162 is the limits bill for the Oklahoma State Department of Health.
• This bill is for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, much like the
• House and Hall of the Senate, an act relating to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.
• Members, this is the limits bill for the Department of Agriculture.

Bills: SB1365 , SB2139 , SB1595 , SB1303 , SB2180 , SB2072 , SB1772 , SB1209 , SB137 , SB1944 , SB372 , SB1636 , SB1256 , SB1827 , SB2104 , SB1226 , SB1876 , SB1966 , SB80 , SB1148 , SB1147 , SB1149 , SB1161 , SB1162 , SB1164 , SB1159 , SB1165 , SB1174 , SB1156 , SB1158 , SB1163 , SB1175 , SB1176 , SB1166 , SB1167 , SB1157 , SB1146 , SB1481 , SB1144 , SB1145 , SCR20

Keywords: SB1365, Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act, procurement exemption, competitive bidding, state purchasing, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, tourism department, merchandise for resale, gift shops, lodges, golf pro shops, state parks, restaurant contracting, retail outlets, public procurement, purchasing flexibility, Title 74, emergency clause, restrictive covenants, discriminatory covenants

Transcript Highlights:

• She's behind my head, but former Mother of the Year, Dr.
• It's your head. Use it. It has been an absolute pleasure serving with all of you.
• Members, Senate Bill 1162 is the limits bill for the Oklahoma State Department of Health.
• Members, Senate Bill 1162 is the limits bill for the Oklahoma State Department of Health.
• Hall of the Senate, an act relating to the Department of Human Services.

Bills: SB1365 , SB2139 , SB1595 , SB1303 , SB2180 , SB2072 , SB1772 , SB1209 , SB137 , SB1944 , SB372 , SB1636 , SB1256 , SB1827 , SB2104 , SB1226 , SB1876 , SB1966 , SB80 , SB1148 , SB1147 , SB1149 , SB1161 , SB1162 , SB1164 , SB1159 , SB1165 , SB1174 , SB1156 , SB1158 , SB1163 , SB1175 , SB1176 , SB1166 , SB1167 , SB1157 , SB1146 , SB1481 , SB1144 , SB1145 , SCR20

Keywords: SB1365, Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act, procurement exemption, competitive bidding, state purchasing, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, tourism department, merchandise for resale, gift shops, lodges, golf pro shops, state parks, restaurant contracting, retail outlets, public procurement, purchasing flexibility, Title 74, emergency clause, restrictive covenants, discriminatory covenants

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several gallery introductions, including the Oklahoma Elks Lodge Association, Guthrie Day visitors, students from Sanger Ridge Elementary and Stillwater, and multiple honored guests and athletic teams. The chamber also heard a farewell speech from Representative Dale Kerbs reflecting on his 10 years in the House, his committee work, staff, family, and major policy changes during his tenure. A concurrent resolution recognizing the YMCA on its 175th anniversary was also adopted. The bulk of the meeting focused on a series of Senate bills carrying joint committee reports, many of them appropriations or retirement-related measures. The House passed bills providing COLAs or related benefit changes for judicial retirees (SB 1148), firefighters (SB 1147), police retirees (SB 1146), public employees (SB 1145), and teachers (SB 1144), along with a one-time stipend for a small group of retired police and firefighters who missed prior increases (SB 1149). Members asked questions about pension solvency, tiered COLA structures, and whether any bills reduced state contributions; the sponsors generally said the systems were stable or that future legislatures would retain oversight. The House also passed limits bills for the Health Care Authority (SB 1161), State Department of Health (SB 1162), Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (SB 1164), Department of Human Services (SB 1163), Public Safety (SB 1165), Agriculture (SB 1166), and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (SB 1175 and SB 1176). Several other measures were approved with little or no debate, including appropriations for remediation assistance (SB 1159), a Pardon and Parole Board pay increase (SB 1156), funding for the Office of Juvenile Affairs to ensure juveniles receive prescribed medication (SB 1158), a new OSBI cybercrimes and fraud unit (SB 1157), and OMES provisions for Pay for Success and a public contract-spending database (SB 1167). The House also passed a school bill adding 20 minutes of recess for K-5 students, with members joking about recess for legislators as well. Most bills passed with strong bipartisan margins, and several emergency clauses were adopted by the required two-thirds vote. The House then recalled HB 1933 from engrossing and enrolling and adjourned until Monday, April 20, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Nebraska Department of the Fund, the Division of the State of Development of the Department of Change
• of Water, the Department of Revenue, the Department of Administrative Services, the Nebraska Commission
• on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, the Department of Correctional Services, the Department of
• The department shall annually select schools.
• The department shall annually reimburse... ...the department shall annually reimburse each participating

Bills: LB764 , LB815A , LB839 , LB888 , LB955 , LB972A , LB1029 , LB1087 , LB1091 , LB1126A , LB1181A , LB1237A , LB1261A , LB304A , LB762 , LB889 , LB929 , LB966 , LB1022 , LB1187 , LR508

Keywords: law enforcement, correctional services, Department of Correctional Services, corrections officers, state prison employees, peace officer, certification, police standards, training academy, Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, Nebraska Police Standards Advisory Council, criminal justice, correctional staff, conditional officer, law enforcement authority, public safety, LB815A, LB815, appropriation, appropriations bill

Transcript Highlights:

• of Education rather than just through guidance from the department.
• This bill comes from the Department of Education and updates Title 14.
• Lisa Henry here from the Department of Education to answer any questions you may have.
• Hi, Lisa Henry, Department of Education. The bill itself prohibits the sale.
• Hi, Lisa Henry, Department of Education. The bill itself prohibits the sale.

Bills: SB293 , SB279 , SB293 , SB279

Committee: House Education

Keywords: SB 293, youth camp, child care licensing, Office of Child Care Licensing, OCCL, American Camp Association, ACA accreditation, Purchase of Care, POC reimbursement, summer camp, school-age child care, child care exemption, Division of Public Health permit, Title 14, Delaware Department of Education, health and safety standards, child care provider reimbursement, summer child care, camp licensing, license exemption

Summary: The House Education Committee met and first heard Senate Bill 293, the Youth Camp Licensing Act, which would amend child care licensing rules for youth camps. The sponsor said the bill, with amendments, would remove accreditation language, clarify shelter requirements for outdoor camps, and eliminate limits that had restricted the number of children camps could serve, especially for families using purchase-of-care assistance. YMCA and school representatives testified in support, saying the measure would expand access to safe, affordable summer care for low-income working families. The committee voted to release the bill. The committee then approved Senate Bill 328, which would require the Department of Education’s school facility evaluation instrument to be established by regulation and to include lead-based paint hazards in the standard of good repair. The Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Advisory Committee supported the bill, explaining that lead had not been included in the original evaluation tool and that the new language would improve transparency and public comment. Senate Bill 318, updating the Delaware State Education Association special license plate program, also passed after DSEA testified that proceeds support scholarships for educators and students pursuing education careers. House Bill 443, dealing with background checks for education volunteers and mentors, passed as well. The sponsor said it would allow DOE to continue receiving wrapback reports for mentors in the state mentoring program and ensure state and federal criminal background checks remain in place. The committee also released Senate Joint Resolution 15, which directs DOE to reevaluate Delaware’s use of the SAT, modernize the accountability framework, and develop additional measures of student achievement and readiness; supporters argued the SAT does not capture career and technical pathways or other indicators of success. House Bill 459, which prohibits the sale of energy drinks on public middle and high school campuses during school hours or events, passed after discussion focused on whether the bill would affect possession versus sale and whether it could lead to student discipline; DOE said the bill only bans sales, and the sponsor said an amendment would clarify intent. Finally, House Concurrent Resolution 137 passed, directing DOE to review math instruction and MTSS supports statewide; testimony emphasized low math proficiency and the need for stronger, more coherent interventions. The committee also began hearing Senate Bill 279 on occupational therapist salary placement, with discussion centered on aligning OT compensation with other specialist roles and broader salary regulation updates, though the transcript cuts off before final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, you know, when you have three departments... I'm good to respond to this, too.
• It's both DOE and DHSS. ...and Kids Department. It's the employee, employer, and the employee.
• If they are, then why are we spending 350 grand in the Department of Education?
• And having somebody at the department that can provide support will be really helpful.
• So just handing it over to the department on that one, I'm going to give this report.

Bills: SB293 , SB279

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: SB 293, youth camp, child care licensing, Office of Child Care Licensing, OCCL, American Camp Association, ACA accreditation, Purchase of Care, POC reimbursement, summer camp, school-age child care, child care exemption, Division of Public Health permit, Title 14, Delaware Department of Education, health and safety standards, child care provider reimbursement, summer child care, camp licensing, license exemption

Summary: The Senate Education Committee approved the June 10 minutes and then heard House Bill 447, which would create a framework for voluntary child care cost-sharing partnerships among the state, employers, community sponsors, and families. Supporters said the bill is meant to help make child care more affordable and support workforce participation by using the existing Interagency Resource Management Committee to coordinate planning and funding. Committee discussion focused on how the tri-share model would work, who would participate, and whether it would reach lower-income families; no public comment was offered on the bill. The committee then took up House Bill 300, as amended, which would establish a statewide Title IX coordinator within the Department of Education to provide training, technical assistance, data collection, and oversight for interscholastic athletics in grades 6 through 12. The bill’s sponsor and supporters said the position would help schools comply with Title IX, improve consistency, and make athletic participation and spending data more transparent; opponents or skeptics questioned whether a new DOE position was needed and whether districts were already meeting their obligations. The sponsor and witnesses responded that existing federal data are delayed and incomplete, that some Delaware schools have participation gaps, and that a state-level coordinator would provide needed support and accountability. Public comment on HB 300 included testimony from the Delaware State Education Association, the Delaware Association of School Administrators, the Delaware School Sports Network, and the Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy, all generally supporting the bill or its goals. DASA noted it remained neutral but appreciated changes made in House Amendment 1 to reduce reporting burden. After public comment, the chair asked members to sign the bill release forms for the two bills heard, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Head coach David Yden has led the Deer Creek cross-country program for more than 20 years.

Bills: HR1052 , SB2184 , SB171

Keywords: 4-H, youth development, community service, education, volunteering, Oklahoma, statutory revision, consolidation, law amendment, emergency legislation, legal clarity, SB171, state government, Capitol security, peace officer commission, legislative security, Department of Public Safety, Commissioner of Public Safety, President Pro Tempore, Speaker of the House

Transcript Highlights:

• That will be coached by the head coach Gerald Harris, the Ind, and he led the program to a national top
• Built on the four pillars, head, heart, hands, and health, 4-H empowers young people across Oklahoma
• Using my head for clear thinking, my heart for greater loyalty, my hands for larger service, and my health
• LA's lobbyists, fellow members, sitting at the head of the table, where some of the old school lobbyists
• , they're treating you like you're something special, you get a big ego, you start getting the big head

Bills: HR1052 , SB2184 , SB171

Keywords: 4-H, youth development, community service, education, volunteering, Oklahoma, statutory revision, consolidation, law amendment, emergency legislation, legal clarity, SB171, state government, Capitol security, peace officer commission, legislative security, Department of Public Safety, Commissioner of Public Safety, President Pro Tempore, Speaker of the House