Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:12:39.519><c> to</c> to up to 10,000 out of that account to to up to 10,000 out of that account
• </c> something like teacher pension reform. something like teacher pension reform.
• </c> maybe chip in for our teacher pensions. maybe chip in for our teacher pensions.
• Teachers, for example, TRA, they're here.
• That has a cost because our teachers.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• . teacher. teacher.
• <c> who</c> teachers.
• This includes teachers who teachers.
• Of that, half of that is teacher or teachers' assistants, things of that nature.
• </c><01:28:07.679><c> or</c> of that half of that is teacher or of that half of that is teacher or teachers

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, including roll call, introductions, and approval of the previous meeting minutes by voice vote. It then heard a presentation on SB 253, focused on expanding support for teacher apprenticeship and teaching-and-learning pathways. Senator Hickman and staff from the Kentucky Department of Education and Nelson County Schools described how the program uses dual credit, work-based learning, and registered apprenticeship to help students earn an associate degree in high school and continue toward a teaching degree. They said the goal is to address the teacher shortage by creating a sustainable pipeline into the profession. Witnesses emphasized that the main barrier is cost. Mary Taylor said Kentucky’s youth apprenticeship model has been successful in other fields and that education should be added as an in-demand sector, but an associate degree alone will not solve the teacher shortage because teachers still need a bachelor’s degree and certification. Laura Arnold of Nelson County Schools described the district’s Lead Nelson program, saying the district has invested more than $800,000 since 2021, currently has 37 students in the pathway and seven committed apprentices, and spends about $85,000 per apprentice from freshman year through certification. She said district staffing, planning, and university partnerships are also significant hurdles. Members asked about job guarantees, tenure, and retirement; Arnold said employment is performance-based and retirement issues are being considered. Senator Hickman said the bill would use lottery funds to help cover tuition and dual credit costs so more districts can participate, noting that a prior version died because of a high fiscal note. Representative Payne and Representative Tipton praised the program but stressed the need for funding and noted inconsistencies between statute and budget language on Work Ready Kentucky and dual credit support. Representative Tipton also cautioned that lottery revenue may not keep pace with demand and said the General Assembly may need to make broader funding decisions. After the apprenticeship discussion, the chair moved the committee to the next agenda item on computer science and AI literacy, where Code.org began a presentation on the importance of computer science for all students.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chico State lost a rural teacher training grant, removing dozens of student teachers from rural schools
• Cal State LA lost an urban teacher training program that was training more than 300 student teachers
• Cal State, LA lost an urban teacher training program that was training more than 300 student teachers
• The CSU Mathematics and Science Teacher Initiative produces about 1,000 STEM teachers annually.
• And it all goes back to the instructors, the teachers, good quality teachers.

Transcript Highlights:

• They can find the teachers.” “They can find the teachers in Alabama and Arkansas and North Dakota.
• lot of single subject teachers.
• We built teacher housing.
• We built teacher housing. we authorized historic raises for teachers in Paris.
• We built teacher housing.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard several education bills, with AB 887 by Assemblymember Berman proposing that every school district and charter school adopt a plan so all high schools offer at least one computer science course by 2029-30. Supporters, including a teacher and student, argued California is falling behind other states and that computer science is essential for student opportunity and workforce readiness. ACSA opposed the bill, citing the shortage of qualified computer science teachers and administrative burden. The bill passed the committee on a 6-0 vote and was sent to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 1390 by Assemblymember Solache, which would allow local and county school boards to raise trustee compensation above long-standing statutory minimums that have not changed in decades. Supporters said the current stipends are too low to make board service accessible to working families and younger community members. There was no opposition testimony, and the bill passed with five votes, with the roll left open for additional members. AB 865 by Assemblymember Gonzalez would create a $5 million, three-year grant program for dual-language immersion instructional materials, split between high-demand languages and other languages. Supporters said districts often lack standards-aligned materials in languages beyond Spanish, forcing teachers to create their own. The bill passed 7-0 to Appropriations. AB 857 by Assemblymember Gibson, requiring annual cultural competency training for K-12 staff, also passed 5-1 after supporters linked it to the state reparations task force report and argued it would improve trust and student outcomes. The committee additionally approved AB 677 by Assemblymember Bryan, which would make it easier for unhoused students to access school-based vision and dental screenings by allowing directory information to be used for that purpose with an opt-out process; it passed 8-0. AB 903 by Assemblymember Avila Farias, directing the Department of Education to develop best practices on education technology and digital equity, passed after amendments and with some opponents indicating they would remove opposition once the amendments were in print. Finally, AB 917 by Assemblymember Avila Farias, extending permanent-status protections to certain educators in small districts and county programs, drew significant opposition from small districts and regional occupational programs over flexibility and funding concerns; the bill still passed 5-2 with the roll held open for additional votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our state troopers are funded out of these accounts.
• The biggest pickup was provisions related to charter school accountability that brings their accountability
• Less teachers will mean less services, less programs for kids.
• Go back to the teachers.
• Are going to be cutting teachers, cutting employees.

Transcript Highlights:

• account for about 40 cents.
• A teacher and a paraprofessional only account for about 40 cents of the dollar loss.
• You already only have one teacher teaching TK through 3 and a teacher-slash-principal teaching 4 through
• So to have a teacher not be able to live in the community their teachers... districts don't want to contract
• Our son's a high school English teacher. Some of our closest friends are teachers.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:33:17.120><c> oversight</c> very little accountability and oversight very little accountability and
• Logan's Law puts accountability first.
• Logan's Law puts accountability<02:03:59.520><c> first.
• When this story accountability first.
• </c><02:04:47.440><c> release,</c> accountability over catch and release, accountability over catch and

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal, excused absent members, and suspended rules to allow co-sponsorship and vote modifications. The Senate reported passage of Senate Bills 52 and 124, and several House committees reported favorable action on bills including HB 1, HB 2, HB 94, HB 246, HB 282, HB 299, HB 307, HB 519, HB 613, and HB 648. Most of those measures were ordered to first reading and placed on the calendar; HB 1 and HB 307 were sent to the Rules Committee after having had two previous readings. The House then recessed briefly before returning to the orders of the day. The chamber took up HB 568, relating to public adjusters. The sponsor explained that the bill would prohibit new public adjuster licenses, allow current licensees to renew, impose conflict-of-interest and contract requirements, set a 5% fee cap, and bar public adjusters from negotiating claims, citing consumer protection concerns and legal opinions about the practice of law. After debate and a brief explanation of vote from a member citing local storm-related abuses, the House voted on roll call and passed HB 568 with one nay vote. The House then considered HB 1, which would opt Kentucky into the federal education freedom tax credit program. Supporters said it would allow private donations to scholarship-granting organizations to benefit Kentucky students without using state general funds, and argued it could help public, private, and homeschool families with education-related expenses. Opponents criticized the speed of the process, warned it could open the door to vouchers and charters, and argued it would mainly benefit wealthier donors while public schools remain underfunded. Members also questioned the bill’s waiver of 11th Amendment immunity and received explanations that the waiver was limited to federal-court jurisdiction over the federal program and would not create individual liability for state actors. A motion to table the bill failed with 19 votes in favor, and debate continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hi, as a teacher myself, I really appreciate this bill. I was a professor at St.
• And I know that one of the things that they've talked about is arming teachers.
• So I'm curious if any other teachers, like if you've talked to any other teachers, I know you're a teacher
• So how are the teachers on this and faculty and administrators?
• They all lived because the teacher pressed their panic button.

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Summary: The Committee on Crime and Public Safety met with a quorum and first took up several bills in executive session. House Bill 2323, relating to a domestic violence registry, was discussed as a private law-enforcement database for domestic abuse offenders; members noted it was similar to other registry bills already advanced, though some said it differed in details. House Bill 2530, described as the scrap metal bill, was also voted do pass without discussion. House Bill 1882 was withdrawn from consideration after members noted it had been rolled with another bill and had been sent back from fiscal review and Rules. The committee then adopted a House committee substitute and two amendments for House Bill 3332, which concerns public safety personnel recruitment and retention and employment benefits for first responders; the substitute removed additional degree programs from scholarship eligibility and the amendments fixed scholarship prioritization language and removed a sunset from the line-of-duty death benefit. HB 3332 was voted do pass. In public hearing, Representative Justice presented House Bill 3174, Missouri’s version of Alyssa’s Law, requiring each school employee to have access to a wearable panic alert system tied to local emergency responders and school personnel. He said the bill is subject to appropriations and would use a qualified vendor list; members questioned cost, funding, liability, and whether schools could already implement such systems. Support testimony came from Lori Alhadeff, Alyssa’s mother, who described the Parkland shooting and argued that faster alerts save lives, including in medical emergencies, and from a teacher who said the system would help in both active shooter and non-shooter emergencies. No opposition testimony was offered. Representative Williams then presented House Bill 3434, which would create a Missouri statewide sexual assault response task force to examine reporting, investigation, medical response, advocacy, and prosecution and report recommendations by December 31, 2028. She said the task force would build on progress made reducing the sexual assault kit backlog but address ongoing inconsistencies across jurisdictions. Members asked about overlap with a prior expired task force, appointment structure, and whether the group should include more medical or law-enforcement representatives. Support testimony from the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence described the history of the kit backlog, the Telesane program, uneven services across the state, and the need for continued coordination and accountability; the Missouri Emergency Nurses Association also supported the bill, citing the need to address both rural and urban response challenges.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to give a quick update to the teacher housing program.
• We've done a lot for teachers in this state from a salary perspective.
• To account for those expenses and then make them whole.
• It was really just correcting the accounting on our end.
• for appropriately in the final accounting.

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• That's an ex and the teachers earlier.
• </c><00:21:04.720><c> the</c> every district and help teachers the every district and help teachers the
• </c><00:36:23.119><c> So,</c> accountability measure in it. So, accountability measure in it.
• And if I may say, to your point, one of Mississippi's Teacher of the Year is a gifted teacher.
• Teacher of the Year is a gifted teacher. If y'all didn't meet her, she was here.

Committee: Joint Education

Transcript Highlights:

• You already only have one teacher teaching TK through 3 and a teacher-slash-principal teaching 4 through
• You already only have one teacher teaching TK through 3 and a teacher-slash-principal teaching 4 through
• So to have a teacher not be able to live in the community their teachers...
• So to have a teacher not be able to live in the community their teachers...
• Our son's a high school English teacher. Some of our closest friends are teachers.

Summary: The committee heard opening public comment and then took up several K-12 budget items in the Governor’s January proposal. On LCFF and necessary small schools, the Department of Finance described a 2.41% COLA, a roughly $2.2 billion increase for districts and charters, and a $30.7 million ongoing augmentation to raise necessary small schools funding by 20%. The LAO supported funding the COLA and said the small schools proposal had merit, but questioned the 20% figure and warned about a sharp funding cliff around the enrollment thresholds. Members and witnesses repeatedly raised declining enrollment, attendance, and the need to align funding with outcomes and local cost pressures. The chair and several members also asked whether consolidation, shared administration, or alternative formulas could better address small district costs, and the issue was left open for further discussion. The panel then discussed special education equalization. Finance proposed $509 million ongoing Proposition 98 funding to raise the statewide special education base rate to $999 per ADA, which would fully equalize SELPA base rates; the LAO said the same target could likely be reached with less money under current assumptions. CDE strongly supported equalization as an equity issue and said about 15% of students are identified with disabilities, with identification rising by roughly 20,000 to 25,000 students per year. Members raised concerns about staffing shortages, high caseloads, and the need to use any additional funds for inclusive practices, alternative diploma pathways, and the extraordinary cost pool. The committee also discussed whether the budget language should reflect the $509 million amount or the $999 rate, and the item was held open. For the Learning Recovery Emergency Block Grant, Finance proposed restoring $757.3 million one-time to complete the program, while the LAO recommended approval because learning loss remains unresolved and districts have generally used the funds for tutoring, supplemental instruction, and other academic supports. CDE explained that LEAs must revisit their needs assessments and that many districts are using the funds alongside other support systems, but members pressed for clearer accountability and better data on how much money actually goes to tutoring or other direct services. The committee then reviewed the Student Support and Professional Development Discretionary Block Grant, with Finance proposing $2.8 billion one-time and the LAO saying discretionary funding can help districts address local priorities but should be paired with fiscal oversight and possibly more targeted priorities. Members split between supporting flexibility for local needs and worrying that the grant could be used to cover ongoing structural deficits without clear evidence of student-outcome gains; the issue was also held open. Finally, the committee heard a high-level overview of school facilities funding under Proposition 2, with Finance proposing to continue $1.5 billion in bond spending in 2026-27. OPSC said that at the current pace all Prop 2 K-12 funds would likely be exhausted around 2029-30, and that demand is shifting toward modernization as enrollment declines in many areas. Members asked about school closures, reuse of unused sites, and the new small school district facilities program, which OPSC said is moving toward proposed regulations and would begin accepting modernization applications in November 2026 and new construction applications in January 2027. The committee also briefly noted community college facilities funding and asked for more information later in the process.

Transcript Highlights:

• Who do we hold accountable if this change isn't successful?
• Now by law, every new teacher gets it.
• . setting, capacity building, and accountability.
• That slows our ability to hire the person, the teacher that needs to be in that role, the correct teacher
• We have great subs, but it's not our student's permanent teacher.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm also a fifth grade teacher, a former fifth grade teacher, and current California parent of two teenagers
• Without the teachers, students can't learn. So let's take care of those teachers, number one.
• Without the teachers, the students can't learn. So let's take care of those teachers, number one.
• Without the teachers, the students can't learn. So let's take care of those teachers, number one.
• make sure that those teachers are at 75%.

Summary: The committee heard several education-related bills. SB 1154 would let community college districts use best-value procurement for public works over $1 million. The author and community college supporters argued it would improve project quality and reduce delays and change orders, while contractor groups opposed it, saying the bill’s skilled-and-trained workforce and safety provisions would narrow competition and add subjectivity. The bill passed the committee on a 4-2 vote and was placed on call. SB 1347, a cleanup bill clarifying that stock albuterol may be kept in all public schools, including preschool programs, drew support from school nurses, respiratory care advocates, and a physician who said it would help schools respond to asthma emergencies. With no opposition, it passed unanimously and was placed on call. SB 1222 would create a pilot program designating a lead county office to help regions improve career technical education implementation; supporters said it would expand access and build regional capacity, while Senator Cabaldon questioned the need for another pilot and urged more direct funding instead. The bill passed and was placed on call. The committee also considered SB 1378, which would create a California Excellence in Service Learning designation for schools and districts. Supporters said it would recognize and encourage service-learning programs without mandating curriculum changes, while some members raised concerns about adding more state designations and administrative work. It passed and was placed on call. SB 1048 would create a Seal of Climate Literacy for high school students; supporters said it would recognize climate-related learning and connect students to green careers, while members cautioned against using seals to influence curriculum and noted equity and implementation concerns. It also passed and was placed on call. Finally, SB 1101 would require higher education institutions to notify students, faculty, and staff when their personal information is shared with federal agencies in OCR-related investigations or subpoenas. Supporters framed it as a privacy and free-speech protection in response to recent federal requests for campus information, while the author said the bill would not block lawful subpoenas but would require notice and limit voluntary disclosures. The committee discussed legal and constitutional issues, but no vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> for account for account expenses<01:41:48.679><c> and</c><01:41:49.000><c> the</c><01:41:49.360>
• </c><01:43:52.199><c> program</c> education Freedom account program education Freedom account program
• </c> and above the education Freedom account and above the education Freedom account for<01:44:10.760
• I still remember the teachers.
• That's what a teacher does. Groupthink is bad, and I think it's especially bad for teachers to be.

Summary: The committee opened with House Bill 184, which would create a committee to study changing school start times. Members discussed Amendment 0394, which made the study committee’s duties more investigative and adjusted reporting recipients, including the Governor. Several members raised questions about whether the committee should review evidence-based studies, local district decisions, and existing district reports; supporters said the amendment would better allow the committee to gather information and recognize local control. The amendment passed 17-0, and the bill as amended also passed 17-0. Representative Litchfield noted that no one had testified in opposition and encouraged the future study committee to review an Oyster River School District report on school start times. The committee then took up House Bill 394, concerning cooperative school district budget committees and board member representatives. Amendment 0476 was adopted 17-0 after discussion that it clarified the bill’s language and reflected work with the School Boards Association. The committee then voted OTPA on the bill, which also passed 17-0. House Bill 738, requiring background checks for employees and volunteers at certain non-public schools or education service providers receiving public funds, was moved inexpedient to legislate. Supporters said the bill would create practical and legal problems for private citizens and homeschooling families, and the motion passed 15-2 with no minority report, placing the bill on consent. The committee next considered House Bill 235, which would amend the educator code of ethics and conduct to add responsibilities to parents. Supporters argued parents should be explicitly included in the code, while opponents said parents were already covered in existing ethics language and statute. The bill passed narrowly, 9-8. The committee then returned to House Bill 532 on alternate dispute resolution and individualized education plan team meeting facilitation. Amendment 0480H clarified that different rules would apply separately to neutral conference, mediation, and IEP facilitation; it passed 17-0, and the bill as amended also passed 17-0. Finally, the committee moved to House Bill 564, concerning adoption of school administrative unit budgets, and voted to retain the bill for further review because members said there was still confusion about how it would apply to single-district and multi-district SAUs.

Transcript Highlights:

• account is a revolving state account, but not always.
• account is a revolving state account, but not always.
• account is a revolving state account, but not always.
• account is a revolving state account, but not always.
• account is a revolving state account, but not always.

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• , even if the teacher might say they are not.
• For the teacher, the teacher won't be able to be hired. Recognized for a follow-up. Thank you, Mr.
• a full-time teacher by a school district who is now applying as a substitute teacher, those individuals
• any other teacher who has an off-hour schedule?
• If they have folks that are not teachers, or not coaches, or not PE teachers, could they roll this out

Bills: SJR47 , SB1491 , SB1579 , SB1806 , SB1552 , SB483 , SB63 , SB137 , SB346 , SB514 , SB1344 , SB1360 , SB1380 , SB1437 , SB1189 , SB1217 , SB1221 , SB1262 , SB1272 , SB1325 , SB1339 , SB201

Transcript Highlights:

• My mother is a high school, or was—she's a retired high school English teacher.
• I believe classroom teachers need to have a voice in educational decision-making.
• I always believe that giving teacher voice.
• Teachers are other teachers' best teachers. So I think that's the collaboration.
• But it's just to our accountability plan to, first, Thank you.

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• thing of it, it doesn't have to be necessarily an ag teacher, but one of the grade school teachers can
• You have teachers who may not be there on the weekends or during off times.
• in the number of teachers we have in the pipeline.
• These include lesson... ...for teachers to tap into, if need be.
• don't have an agricultural background, but even if they do... ...elementary teachers.

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Transcript Highlights:

• In Spring Valley, a sixth grade teacher at Kingsland Public School with 44 teachers and 500 students
• </c><00:30:31.279><c> in</c> This year started with 3,200 teachers in This year started with 3,200 teachers
• </c><00:30:58.320><c> at</c> Spring Valley, a sixth grade teacher at Spring Valley, a sixth grade teacher
• </c> fewer job protections than teachers. fewer job protections than teachers.
• Blley, taught me grade teacher, Mrs.

Bills: HF238 , HF3381 , HF3754 , HF1049

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Just two examples: Chico State lost a rural teacher training grant, removing dozens of student teachers
• Cal State LA lost an urban teacher training program that was training more than 300 student teachers
• Cal State, LA lost an urban teacher training program that was training more than 300 student teachers
• The CSU Mathematics and Science Teacher Initiative produces about 1,000 STEM teachers annually.
• And it all goes back to the instructors, the teachers, good quality teachers.

Summary: The subcommittee heard opening remarks and updates from UC President James Milliken and CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia on the state of higher education, including federal funding losses, civil rights/Title IX compliance, enrollment, housing, and budget needs. Both leaders emphasized the value of UC and CSU to California’s workforce, research, and economic mobility, while warning that federal grant cancellations, investigations, and changes to student aid are creating major financial and operational strain. UC reported losing or having at risk more than 1,600 grants and over $1 billion in research activity, while CSU said it had lost more than 200 grants totaling about $161 million, including minority-serving institution grants that affected student support programs. Both systems said they are investing in civil rights services and trying to limit the release of personally identifiable information in response to federal requests. The committee then reviewed the higher education student housing grant program. Finance and Legislative Analyst’s Office staff said the governor’s budget does not include major new changes but continues support for the program. CSU reported 12 approved projects that will add about 5,047 beds, with roughly 75% below market rate, and said it has about 68,000 beds systemwide, a 92% occupancy rate, and ongoing housing insecurity among students. UC said its housing projects have added more than 7,000 beds when reduced-rent and regular-rent units are combined, but nearly 10,000 students were on housing wait lists at the start of fall 2025. Both systems described rapid rehousing efforts, emergency beds, and partnerships with community colleges, and UC noted several joint housing projects, including at Riverside, Merced, and Santa Cruz. Members discussed whether future housing bonds and use of surplus school sites could help expand capacity. In the enrollment section, the LAO recommended maintaining UC’s 2026-27 resident undergraduate target, funding enrollment growth separately from base increases, pausing the nonresident reduction plan at the three highest-demand UC campuses, and holding UC enrollment flat in 2027-28. For CSU, the LAO recommended revising the 2026-27 enrollment expectation downward to reflect updated projections, while also funding enrollment growth separately and holding enrollment flat in 2027-28. CSU said it has rebounded from pandemic-era declines, is above its funded target by about 3,000 FTE, and is shifting about $89 million and 10,000 FTE from lower-demand campuses to higher-demand ones while developing turnaround plans for seven campuses with sustained enrollment declines, including Sonoma State. UC said it has already exceeded its compact enrollment goals and is planning continued growth, but that sustaining it depends on ongoing state support. Members raised concerns about campus-specific enrollment declines, nonresident caps at UC San Diego, and the need for stronger turnaround plans and teacher preparation pathways. The final section covered core operations and deferred payments: Finance said the governor proposes another one-year deferral of about $129.7 million for UC and $143.8 million for CSU, and the LAO recommended retiring the deferrals when one-time funds are available. CSU described rising compensation, financial aid, utilities, insurance, and deferred maintenance costs, and said it is pursuing cost-saving measures such as procurement alignment, campus integration, and shared administrative services.