Bills: SB204, SB570, SB735, SB784, SB1207, SB1396, SB1447, SB2392, SB2540, SB747, SB875

Keywords: parental rights, education, school trustees, training, handbook, truancy, attendance policy, chronic absenteeism, school attendance, student absence notifications, parent notification, home visit, attendance officer, truancy court, school district, open-enrollment charter school, student support services, school counselor, principal, administrator

Transcript Highlights:

• ability individuals on O-1, EB-1A, and EB-1B visas, as well as F-1 students who pay out of... state tuition

Bills: HB256, HCR19, HB256, HB1308, HB1554, HB1743, HB2308, HB2351, HB2858, HB3676, HB3784, HB4312, HB4552, HB4823, HB4852, HB5007, HB5010, HB5520, HB5524, HCR19

Keywords: severe weather, adaptation plan, vulnerability assessment, environmental protection, state agencies, federal agents, transparency, law enforcement, identification, public trust, immigration enforcement, HCR 19, Texas concurrent resolution, federal immigration enforcement, masked agents, facial coverings, visible identification, uniforms, badges, name tags

Bills: HB256, HB1308, HB1554, HB1743, HB2308, HB2351, HB2858, HB3676, HB3784, HB4312, HB4552, HB4823, HB4852, HB5007, HB5010, HB5520, HB5524, HCR19, HB256, HCR19

Keywords: E-verify, employment verification, illegal employment, state contracts, government entities, license suspension, immigration compliance, state grant funding, E-Verify, compliance, penalties, immigration, government contracts, employee status, state contractors, E-verify program, legally present, employment practices, legal services, public money

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will read the bill hb2 9-0 by Lopez a bear relating to assistance for tuition and fees of post-secondary
• So not only does this bill have a rider to help fund the tuition, but I believe industry is also gonna
• infrastructure to have these type of courses, they're going to have a lot of the help, not only the tuition
• campuses of TSTC, we have around 11,000 students, 1,000 at each one. has a rider to provide funding tuition
• A tuition cost can run around $8,000 or $9,000. a year. costs the school district about $8,000, $9,000

Bills: HB 120, HB20, HB150, HB6, HB 100, HB 124, HB210, HB215, HB1393, HB1587, HB 1151, HB 1268, HB142, HB451, HB39, HB 102, HB 126, HB290, HB300, HB2143, HJR2, HB147, HJR6, HB 120, HB20, HB150, HB6, HB 100, HB 124, HB210, HB215, HB1393, HB1587, HB 1151, HB 1268, HB142, HB451, SB1

Keywords: career readiness, education reform, workforce training, public schools, financial aid, applied sciences, career education, high school diploma, certificate program, work-based learning, job placement, high-growth jobs, technical training, cybersecurity, state command, information resources, data protection, incident response, mental health, telehealth

Transcript Highlights:

• We also discount our tuition as needed to help make it reachable for our students.
• We also discount our tuition as needed to help make it reachable for our students.
• We also discount our tuition as needed to help make it reachable for our students.
• colleges who aren't having their tuition colleges who aren't having their tuition tied<00:44:53.359
• so I know you all probably saw a tuition so I know you all probably saw a tuition freeze<01:16:07.960

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Because the Pell is enough to cover the CC tuition, but there would be then this question of indirect
• This bill is relating to the University of Hawaii resident tuition fee.
• Havi to Grant the resident tuition Havi to Grant the resident tuition tuition<00:48:20.520> fee
• Regents to Grant a waiver on all tuition Regents to Grant a waiver on all tuition and<00:54:17.799
• bill to include reinstating tuition bill to include reinstating tuition waivers<01:01:55.000>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met at the University of Hawaiʻi’s Bachman Hall and heard testimony on several UH-related bills. HB 542 would expand the Hawaiʻi Promise Program to provide unmet-need scholarships at four-year UH campuses. UH system officials, the UH Student Caucus, and a Honolulu Community College student testified in support, emphasizing college affordability, student retention, and workforce needs. Committee members asked about current program data, eligibility, transfer patterns, and cost; UH said it had data available, noted about 10% of current Hawaiʻi Promise students transfer to four-year campuses, and estimated the full expansion would cost about $12 million. UH also suggested a possible alternative of focusing on transfer opportunities from two-year to four-year campuses. The committee then heard HB 840, which concerns athletics appropriations for UH. UH Mānoa and UH Hilo supported the bill. UH officials said the funding would help cover recurring athletics operating costs, women’s sports travel and recruiting, Austin Awards, and a new nutrition fueling station, while Hilo said the money would help with travel, per diem, and conference-related costs. Members asked about the history of the athletics funding, the difference between Austin Awards and special talent waivers, NIL planning, and whether the appropriation should be restored to the base budget. UH explained that a $4 million athletics appropriation was originally made in 2018 or 2019, later removed from the base, and has been reappropriated annually since then. Finally, the committee heard HB 842, which would fund three additional permanent mental health practitioner positions at UH Mānoa’s Counseling and Student Development Center. UH supported the bill, and Academic Labor United and a high school student testified in favor, citing student stress, overwork, and the need for more counseling access. In questions, members discussed the current counselor-to-student ratio, recruitment challenges in a tight labor market, and strategies for hiring, including looking at candidates on soft-money grants who may be seeking stable employment. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So Preschool Open Doors is for community-based centers that charge for tuition, and so the way that supports
• <02:38:18.560> and<02:38:18.640> so centers that charge for tuition and so centers
• that charge for tuition and so the<02:38:18.960> way<02:38:19.160> that the way that the
• You keep saying school security, but is it in the classification attendant? Yes, yeah.
• um attendant yes yeah classification um attendant yes yeah they're<03:59:28.080> not<03:59:28.359

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, tuition will not be able to fully cover.
• You know, tuition will not be able to fully cover.
• So, like, what is the tuition increment that BFET and Workforce are paying?
• So, like, what is the tuition increment that be fed and workforce are paying?
• , $60,000; cost of tuition, $80,000; et cetera.

Summary: The committee held a work session on the state of Washington’s community and technical college system with State Board executive director Nate Humphrey and Tacoma Community College president Ivan Harrell. They described the system’s open-access mission, 34 colleges serving more than 307,000 students, relatively low tuition, enrollment growth over 12 consecutive quarters, and strong outcomes such as more than 46,000 credentials awarded last year. They also highlighted system initiatives including guided pathways, I-BEST, dual enrollment, tribal partnerships, a new program search tool, and six colleges named Aspen Prize finalists. At the same time, they emphasized major challenges: high rates of student food, housing, and homelessness insecurity; sharply rising emergency aid requests; and federal funding disruptions affecting TANF, BFET, adult basic education, Carl Perkins, NOAA-related tribal work, and several federal grants. Members asked about SNAP impacts, declining high school graduates, and how BFET and TANF interact with other aid programs. The presenters also discussed system priorities such as AI, Workforce Pell, capital planning, nursing accreditation alignment, and the Washington College Grant. The committee then heard testimony from AFT Washington and the Washington Association of Higher Education on faculty and staff conditions in the community and technical college system. Jackie Kane and Suzanne Sutherland argued that classified staff, professional staff, and contingent faculty are essential to student success but face low pay, instability, and weak retention, and they urged lawmakers to protect existing funding and avoid further cuts. They said working conditions for faculty and staff are student learning conditions, and that underfunding leads to reduced services, shortened advising, and program instability. Marina Parr of the Workforce Board presented on federal H.R. 1’s new Workforce Pell provisions and the updated Career Bridge website. She explained that Workforce Pell would allow federal aid for short-term training programs of 8 to 15 weeks, with high completion, employment, and earnings thresholds and a requirement that credentials be stackable and portable. She said Washington is well positioned to implement the program because of its existing eligible training provider evaluation system and Career Bridge, which now has a redesigned public portal, digital portfolios, multilingual access, and performance data on programs. Members asked about rulemaking, possible gaps in state services, and how the wage and completion standards would be applied. The Washington Student Achievement Council then briefed the committee on the new Washington Completes FAFSA campaign created by executive order. Staff described an advisory board with statewide representation, a pilot that used microgrants and other supports at 25 priority schools, and a new goal of 46,000 FAFSA or WASFA completions this year. They reported that completion rates were tracking slightly ahead of last year, with 24% of high school seniors having completed a FAFSA by the end of November, and they showcased a public dashboard with subgroup data and a WIAA-based leaderboard. Members asked about outreach to rural and homeschool students, legislative communications, Pierce County representation, and barriers to FAFSA completion, and staff said they would provide toolkits and continue expanding outreach. The committee then began hearing from student presenters about affordability, access, equity, and student experience.

Transcript Highlights:

• city council deliberations with the empty homes tax, where they're essentially creating a new classification
• for property tax classification E.
• city council deliberations with the empty homes tax, where they're essentially creating a new classification
• for property tax classification E.
• for property tax classification E.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on three resolutions: HCR 61, HCR 182, and HCR 183. Testimony on all three was generally supportive, with support noted from the Hawaii Children’s Action Network, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, ACLU, Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Hawaii Renewables Fuels Coalition, the University of Hawaii, and CARES. Angela Melody Young testified in strong support on behalf of CARES on multiple items, urging consideration of county processes, financing structures, and the need for procedures free from partisan influence. For HCR 183, the University of Hawaii said it stood on its written testimony and was available for questions. The discussion focused less on opposition and more on suggested policy considerations. Testimony on HCR 61 raised questions about how physical notes or related procedures should be administered and whether the process should be housed in a nonpartisan office. On HCR 182 and HCR 183, testimony emphasized coordinating state and county financing and planning, including references to property tax classifications, general obligation bonds, and long-term statewide projects such as Aloha Stadium. At the close of the hearing, the chair recommended taking all three resolutions together. The committee voted to pass HCR 61, HCR 182, and HCR 183 unamended, with all voting members present voting aye and two senators excused. The resolutions were adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• When I talk about the cost information, when I talk about direct costs, that's like tuition and fees,
• <00:42:31.599> and direct costs, that's like tuition and direct costs, that's like tuition
• The reality for most students is that their non-tuition expenses are now greater than tuition and fees
• net price, especially since many students have to borrow to help cover their non-tuition expenses.
• Uh, next up online we have Mark Salisbury from Tuition Fit. Welcome.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We set the ceilings on tuition.
• We set uh the ceilings on tuition. We set uh the ceilings on tuition.
• they they charge higher tuition they they charge higher tuition for<01:08:50.680> those<01
• And they started setting tuition and fee caps.
• started setting tuition and fee caps. caps. caps.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Postsecondary Education Committee held its first-ever meeting and first meeting of the session, with Chairman Tipton outlining committee procedures, attendance rules, and the process for submitting committee substitutes. After a roll call confirmed full attendance, the committee heard a presentation from Senator David Givens on the history and purpose of Kentucky’s performance-based funding model for postsecondary education. Givens said the model was created to replace an older “shares” approach that distributed funds based largely on prior-year allocations, and argued the new system better aligns funding with student success and the state’s long-term educational attainment goals. Council for Postsecondary Education President Aaron Thompson and CPE staff then explained the model in more detail. They said the system was designed to address long-standing funding disparities among institutions, reward outcomes such as degrees, credit-hour progression, and completion in high-demand fields, and support the state’s “60 by 30” goal of having 60% of Kentuckians hold a postsecondary credential by 2030. Thompson said Kentucky is now at 56.2% attainment, above the national average, and highlighted gains in graduation and retention rates, lower student borrowing, and improved completion outcomes. He also emphasized that the model is part of a broader strategy that includes affordability, adult learners, low-income students, and wrap-around support services. CPE staff described the work group process that developed and periodically revises the model, noting that the General Assembly created the framework in House Bill 303 and later enacted Senate Bill 153 and Senate Bill 191 to codify changes. They explained that in 2016 the legislature carved out about 5% of institutional budgets, roughly $43 million, to be redistributed through the new model, and that the model has been reviewed every three years with changes made each time. Recent revisions included increasing the student-success weight, adding a premium for low-income students, creating a premium for adult learners, and redefining underrepresented students as first-generation college students. No votes were taken at this meeting, and the committee adjourned after the informational presentation and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Excess funds after tuition fees are available to the guardian.
• Back to my dashboard, I have that tuition fee invoice that Gina just mentioned.
• I have that tuition fee invoice that Gina just mentioned.
• The school said the tuition is X.
• Each year, we verify schools, tuition, and fee schedules.

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met to continue reviewing how Family Empowerment Scholarship students are funded through the FEFP and the role of scholarship funding organizations. Staff gave a statutory overview of parent, SFO, and Department of Education responsibilities, including application deadlines, eligibility verification, quarterly payment timing, cross-checks to prevent duplicate funding, and the 99% district FEFP limitation for certain awards. The committee then heard demonstrations from Step Up for Students and AAA Scholarship Foundation showing their parent portals, application workflows, reimbursement systems, school enrollment/invoice processes, and marketplace tools for tuition, tutoring, and approved goods and services. Step Up reported major growth since HB 1, saying its scholarship population expanded from about 260,000 to more than 440,000 students, with application processing averaging about 10 days. It also highlighted faster tuition, provider, and reimbursement payments, multilingual support in English and Spanish, and resources such as videos and a call center. Members asked about support for Creole speakers, optional Florida ID numbers, student identifiers, marketplace pricing, tutor qualifications, background screening, and how awards differ from funded status. Step Up said it does not currently support Creole, does not do background screenings for tutors, sets no marketplace prices itself, and uses a unique internal student ID separate from the state ID. AAA demonstrated its revised software for the 2025-26 school year, including an eligibility screener, household and student application steps, messaging with staff, reimbursement requests, and administrative review and payment batching. AAA said the new system is custom-built, more transparent about award value versus available balance, and designed to better handle quarterly funding for UA students. Members questioned AAA and Step Up about student ID numbers, public-school cross-checks, fraud controls, school fee schedules, whether schools must participate, and reimbursement timing. Both organizations said they report quarterly to DOE, receive public-school cross-checks, and recover funds when students return to public school; AAA said its average reimbursement turnaround is about 14 business days, while Step Up said its reimbursement approvals have improved significantly. The committee also requested follow-up information, including one-pagers, data on income levels and demographics, and additional details on forecasting and system costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• We haven't raised tuition, and I'm not suggesting we raise tuition since 2010.
• We have a built-in-state tuition filed in our legislature that would give these kids that have grown
• They also pay full tuition, which directly subsidizes our in-state students.
• They also pay full tuition, which directly subsidizes our in-state students.
• Why are our parents having to pay for out-of-state tuition when we have it right here, and they've been

Summary: The committee first took up PCS for HB 1503, which would require general education courses that use technology to provide students opportunities to build digital literacy, including instruction on applications of artificial intelligence and related topics such as software engineering, computer networks, database systems, and cybersecurity as applicable to the course. It would also require high school computer science courses offered by school districts to include instruction on AI. There was no public testimony or debate, and the bill was reported favorably on a unanimous roll call vote. The committee then considered PCS for HB 1279, an education bill that the sponsor said was intended to improve consistency, oversight, and transparency while putting Florida students first. The bill drew extensive questioning and opposition over provisions affecting university admissions and funding, including a 95% Florida-resident first-time-in-college enrollment target tied to preeminent funding, a cap on nonresident students from any one country, standardized GPA weighting, limits on institution-wide graduation requirements, and changes related to accreditation references and other education programs. The sponsor argued these changes would open more seats for Florida students, preserve academic rigor, and align statutes with existing regulations and court action, while opponents said the bill would harm university competitiveness, research, revenue, faculty recruitment, and access for international and nontraditional students. Public testimony on HB 1279 was largely opposed. Speakers included a student advocate, a dental hygiene representative concerned about dual regulation of expanded-function dental programs, and faculty representatives from FSU and FAMU who warned the bill would politicize admissions and curriculum, reduce competitiveness, and create negative fiscal impacts. During debate, supporters emphasized taxpayer investment in Florida students and the need to prioritize in-state applicants, while opponents argued the bill would weaken the state university system and undermine its national standing. The committee reported PCS for HB 1279 favorably by a 12-5 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Current law allows Florida National Guard airmen to receive up to 100% tuition for a technical certificate
• active members of the Florida National Guard to be eligible for financial assistance of up to 50% of tuition
• Of up to 50% of tuition.
• bill sets aside $500,000 of funds appropriated for the education program each fiscal year to provide tuition
• We don't want to give them, you know, the same 100% tuition, but do want to work on a partial tuition

Summary: The Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security heard and approved three bills. SB 884 by Senator Martin would create benefits for members of the Florida State Guard, including leaves of absence, scholarships for eligible members, state park discounts, and annual sportsmen’s, gold, and fishing licenses. The bill drew no questions or debate, and was reported favorably. SB 336 by Senator Arrington would expand the Florida National Guard’s Educational Dollars for Duty Program to include spouses and children of active Guard members, providing up to 50% tuition assistance and reserving $500,000 annually for that purpose. Senators raised concerns about whether the existing program is already underfunded and about eligibility verification, but the sponsor said the goal was to add funding rather than reduce support for current Guard members. The bill was reported favorably. SB 402 by Chair Wright would revise Florida’s law on unlawful use of military uniforms, medals, or insignia by replacing branch-by-branch references with a definition of “armed forces” that includes the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard. Members spoke in support, emphasizing the harm caused by people falsely claiming military service or collecting donations under false pretenses. The bill was reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, Senator Truenow recognized former Senator Kerry Baker and Troop 43 from Tavares, and the committee adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• This disrupts campus diversity and tuition revenue.
• As you may know, the current cohort tuition model sets a fixed tuition rate for each entering class for
• As you may know, the current cohort tuition model sets a fixed tuition rate for you aid.
• As you may know, the current cohort tuition model sets a fixed tuition rate for each entering class for
• $9,000 in terms of our tuition.

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee held an oversight hearing on how federal actions are affecting California higher education, with opening remarks from the chair and members emphasizing the importance of state-federal shared governance and the need to protect access, affordability, and campus diversity. The first panel included leaders from the CSU, University of the Pacific, California Community Colleges, and UC, who described broad impacts from federal grant terminations, changes to student aid, loan limits, visa and immigration policy, and proposed reductions to research support. Testimony focused on the elimination of Grad PLUS loans, caps on Parent PLUS and Pell-related changes, the loss or suspension of hundreds of grants, and the resulting harm to student support services, research, workforce pipelines, food assistance, and health care training. UC and CSU representatives warned of major losses in research funding, indirect cost reimbursement, and student opportunities, while community college leaders highlighted uncertainty around federal grants and the need to maintain services for low-income, first-generation, undocumented, and other vulnerable students. Committee members asked how the state could respond, including through intersegmental partnerships, dual enrollment, transfer pathways, and support for basic needs and nutrition programs. Witnesses said California could help by sustaining financial aid, protecting minority-serving institution programs, and investing in research, housing, and workforce development. Several speakers stressed that federal changes were creating instability for students and campuses, and that the effects would likely be long-lasting, especially in health care, teaching, STEM, and social work pipelines. A second panel then focused on equitable access. The California Student Aid Commission described state efforts such as the $3.9 billion investment in aid programs, the Cal Grant system, the Dream Act, and possible reforms to better serve adult learners, foster youth, undocumented students, and students with dependents. The Los Angeles Community College District reported that federal cuts and policy shifts are discouraging students from applying for aid, threatening TRIO and MSI/HSI-funded services, and reducing support for basic needs, counseling, and workforce programs. The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities and the CSU Academic Senate echoed concerns about FAFSA confusion, international student restrictions, grant losses, and the erosion of equity-focused programs. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and discussed possible state responses.

Transcript Highlights:

• If another data classification exists, it will still be protected. Quite frankly, Mr.
• The legislature created a very elaborate data classification system.
• words nonpublic to the classification words nonpublic to the classification statement<01:24:04.679
• classif or the emergency classification classif or the emergency classification is<01:47:20.520>
• emergency classification emergency classification applications<01:47:48.840> we<01:47:49.000

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• funded entirely without general revenue funds, and now provides our academic institutions. with free tuition
• is especially vital as inflationary costs besetting higher education. cannot be absorbed through tuition
• As you know, we have held tuition flat for the past four years.
• And we have been instructed to forego tuition increases for the next two years.
• Approximately 90% of our full-time undergraduate students pay no tuition.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, as noted, we do not play a role in estimating tuition and fee and enrollment changes.
• <00:26:34.240> and resident tuition and resident tuition and fees<00:26:35.960> and
• First was tuition support. Second was the opening and the operations of the new campus at St.
• And have that full load of tuition flowing through the system.
• and have that full load of tuition and have that full load of tuition flowing<01:27:33.960> through

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Item G is a request for continuation of an OPM differential for classifications at Disability Determination
• Item M is a request for continuation of classifications tied to grant positions provided by the American
• Items 1, 2, and 3 are continuations of classifications tied to Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
• The classifications include an extra help position at Commerce, a grants coordinator at Emergency Management
• The classifications include an extra help position at Commerce, a grants coordinator at Emergency Management

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The committee reviewed several personnel and appropriation items. Item C, a two-for-two position swap with no increase in total authorized positions and recommended by OPM, was approved. Item D, a Department of Higher Education request for South Arkansas College, added three authorized positions overall, including food service, public safety, housing, and project/program support roles, and was also approved. Item E moved positions and $3 million in salary and match appropriation within Workforce Services to consolidate shared services, with no net change in positions; it was approved as well. The committee then considered Items F through O as continuations of previously approved or reviewed personnel actions into FY27. These included growth and surrender pool positions, various pay differentials, hard-to-fill and on-call differentials, a labor market adjustment for crime lab medical examiners, and continuation of several federal grant-funded positions at Commerce, Emergency Management, State Police, and Military Department. No questions were raised, and the block of continuation items was approved on a single motion. Reports were taken up with no action required and were simply noted as reviewed. On the supplemental agenda, the committee suspended the rules and approved Item A-1, which authorized salary increases for 92 employees whose merit raises would place them over their grade maximums. Senator Dotson asked about the public safety entries on the list, and staff indicated they were likely crime lab medical examiner positions. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill would redress the historic inequity in the retirement classification of the Massachusetts Port
• Section 3, by allowing them the opportunity to be moved from their current Group 2 retirement classification
• into the more appropriate Group 4 retirement classification for public safety employees.
• This change in retirement classification is further warranted when you look at their professional law
• We were asking for Group 4... ...classification for correctional educators.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held a hearing on a wide range of credible service and retirement-related bills, with testimony largely focused on allowing public employees to buy back prior service time or receive more appropriate retirement classifications. Bills discussed included retirement buyback for Joint Base Cape Cod firefighters (H. 4317), clarification of call firefighter buyback rights (H. 2883/S. 1915), veterans’ buyback (H. 2957), a Bridgewater State University police death-benefit/heart-law issue (filed by Rep. Gallagher), unpaid parental leave buyback for municipal employees (H. 2946), school nurse creditable service (H. 2887/S. 1787), former private/parochial school teacher buyback (S. 1900/H. 2873), Massport police retirement classification (S. 1888), contract employee buyback (H. 2795), Retirement Plus late entry (H. 2792), CVTE/teacher-related buyback issues (H. 2762), Peace Corps/AmeriCorps creditable service (H. 2927), and institutional school teacher retirement fairness (H. 2757). Several speakers also referenced related bills for teachers and nurses that had been heard previously or were filed in parallel in the other branch. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support of the bills. Speakers argued that the measures would correct inequities, recognize prior public service, and help recruit and retain workers in hard-to-fill public jobs. Firefighters described the unique federal-to-state transition at Joint Base Cape Cod and said some members were left out of earlier buyback opportunities. Veterans, teachers, school nurses, correctional educators, and Massport police all described service requirements, administrative gaps, or outdated statutory language that they said unfairly limited retirement credit or placed them in the wrong retirement group. Several witnesses emphasized that the proposals were fiscally responsible because employees would pay the cost of the buybacks, and some noted that similar bills had been filed repeatedly in prior sessions. Committee members asked a few clarifying questions, mostly about why certain employees had been excluded under current law or how the retirement provisions would work. No opposition testimony was presented. The hearing concluded after all scheduled witnesses testified, with the chairs thanking participants for their service and the committee voting to adjourn.