Transcript Highlights:

• So students who are eligible for free and reduced lunch are able to enroll at no cost to the student
• This bill makes sure that those students may still be counted as transfer students for our junior colleges
• We serve about 18,000 students across five campuses and online.
• Students take classes at different buildings.
• So those transfers are actual community college students that then move on.

Bills: SB 49

Committee: Senate Education K-16

Keywords: Galveston County, legal expenses, appropriation, litigation, state funding

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 heard several higher education bills and took public testimony on each. Senate Bill 60 would let public junior college libraries donate outdated, duplicative, or valueless materials instead of treating them as surplus property; no public testimony was offered, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 49 would expand performance-tier funding incentives so community colleges are also rewarded for student transfers to private four-year universities; it also received no public testimony and was left pending. Senate Bill 365 would allow higher education institutions to choose a transcript lookback period between 5 and 10 years for adult undergraduates seeking to waive older transcripts. Senator Eckhardt and witness Daniel Arrevalo described how old academic records can block adults from returning to college; the bill was left pending after testimony. Senate Bill 895 would expand the FAST dual-credit program beyond public school students to include eligible private school and homeschool students, with support from the Texas Private Schools Association, the Texas Homeschool Coalition, and a coordinating board witness explaining the funding structure; it too was left pending. Senate Bill 1400 would clarify what counts as a transfer for performance-tier funding by allowing students with 30 or fewer prior university credit hours to still be counted as transfer students when moving from a public junior college to a general academic institution. Former Representative Leighton Schubert testified that the change would address funding losses and better reflect modern student pathways; after testimony, the bill was left pending. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment also certifies that a parent of a student may object in writing to the student receiving
• I support students who are gifted, English language learners, and exceptional students and students with
• And so that student will be treated just like the other students that are getting the uniform.
• And so if that student is allowed to, if that student transfers to Ely, as you mentioned, then that student
• It's choice for students.

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Summary: The Pre-K-12 Education Committee took up a series of education, school safety, health, and student access bills. SB 754 on International Baccalaureate bonus funds was amended to clarify the theory of knowledge course and then reported favorably. SB 370 would allow routine non-invasive school health screenings, such as vision, hearing, and dental checks, to proceed with written notice and an opt-out process rather than active parental consent; supporters said it would improve participation and access, while opponents argued it was too broad and weakened parental rights. After debate over scope, funding, and consent, the bill was reported favorably. The committee also advanced SB 1070, which would require ECG screenings for student athletes under a phased rollout beginning in 2026, with religious and medical opt-outs. The bill was renamed the Second Chance Act in honor of Chance Gainer. Supporters described it as a life-saving measure to detect hidden cardiac conditions, while some members raised cost and implementation concerns. SB 508, the Family Empowerment Scholarship bill, would require private schools to disclose in writing what accommodations and services they will provide to students with IEPs, 504 plans, or ELL plans before enrollment; it was supported by parents, advocacy groups, and some school representatives and was reported favorably. School safety measures were also considered. SB 1470 would refine campus locking and supervision rules, create clearer exceptions, expand training and security options for school safety personnel, and allow district-employed law enforcement officers to use canines for threat detection. Witnesses from school safety and Parkland-related advocacy groups supported the bill but urged caution on exemptions and implementation details. SB 1472 would extend a public records exemption to certified school security guards, matching the protection already given to school guardians, and it was reported favorably. Finally, SB 248 would expand participation in FHSAA sports for private school and home education students at public schools when their own schools do not offer the sport, and SB 1618 made broad changes to VPK through grade 12 policy, including reading instruction, financial literacy, school funds restrictions, teacher certification, and advisory council rules; both bills were reported favorably. Several members later recorded votes in support of specific tabs before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:22.840><c> of</c> education and the students of education and the students of Minnesota<00
• </c> you've seen now we're about 20% students you've seen now we're about 20% students uh<00:03:59.200
• </c> students all students be successful students all students be successful thank<00:57:12.160><c> you
• , students who are deaf and hard of hearing, students who are in language immersion programs?
• /c><01:41:17.000><c> de</c><01:41:17.159><c> blinde</c> students students who are de de blinde students

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But the students of UTEP have voted and supported the construction of a new student union building.
• This was voted and approved twice: first by the student body and then second by the Student Government
• Vulnerable students, pre-K students.
• There were two other students.
• And students. First and foremost, we declared teachers and students.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A typical cohort is about 30,000 students, which means approximately 6,000 students do not graduate from
• The problem is that all of these students, all of these programs have no centralized list of students
• from which they can recruit, meaning that they can directly contact students who are non-graduate students
• if that student has attended that school.
• Register their student for school.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, that funding varies by student depending on the students they serve.
• Chairman, Representative Baca, so the four student groups—Native Americans, students with IEPs, English
• Is this for all students? Mr.
• How is it impacting students?
• that we hear from students.

Transcript Highlights:

• Native American students, English learners, students with disabilities, and low-income students.
• This means that I am here for the students And the students only.
• Our Native American students, and to talk about the actual programs that are supporting those students
• disabilities, Latino students, and Black students.
• When I was in graduate school, I was a student who created an organization, a student.

Transcript Highlights:

• Conduct in-person interviews with students during those visits aligned with the students IEP to assess
• It lets parents and students know what their rights are.
• There were some students who were there for years and years.
• SB 414 puts students first, particularly... students who have often been left behind, students with specific
• We serve a diverse student population where majority of students are not on track to graduate.

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What the bill proposes to do is that students um would be eligible if identified.
• That is a huge number of students as, as I understand it, uh, but all of the students on free and reduced
• We're responsible for the education and well-being of hundreds of students.
• The student I mentioned earlier did not need to be referred to an IT process.
• The student needed to have a didn't have a learning disability. The student simply needed glasses.

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• for all students in for all students in Minnesota<00:06:55.160><c> hello</c><00:06:55.479><c> my</c><
• </c><01:03:46.880><c> have</c> students 46,000 of these students have students 46,000 of these students
• Twenty-eight percent of our students are students of color.
• It is simply discriminatory against nonpublic students, not schools, but students.
• We admit all students who apply.

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• funding per student.
• I think 130,000 students in Broward County, sorry, 193,000 Florida students took AP classes.
• For students who maybe would aspire to be accelerated students, we want these classes available so they
• to give a tracking number, a student ID number, to every student who receives public funding so that
• and that we use a student identification number to keep track of where students are and that we do a

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Summary: The Appropriations Committee heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, SPB 25-200, totaling $117.4 billion. Chair Hooper and committee chairs highlighted major spending priorities including a 4% raise for state employees, continued health insurance contributions, investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and workforce development, along with reductions tied to long-vacant positions. Education funding was a major focus, with increases for K-12 public schools and scholarships, higher education workforce programs, nursing initiatives, tutoring, and university performance funding. Health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/economic development, and agriculture/environment budgets were also outlined, including Medicaid, mental health, corrections staffing, affordable housing, beach restoration, citrus recovery, and water projects. Members then questioned several budget choices, especially K-12 funding. Senators Polsky and Smith raised concerns that the Senate’s AP and dual enrollment funding changes could disadvantage public schools, while Burgess argued the budget preserves the money in the FEFP and gives districts more flexibility rather than reducing support. Questions also addressed voucher availability, school stabilization funding, and the My Safe Florida Home program. The committee adopted 171 consent amendments and three late-file amendments, then approved SPB 2500 as a committee bill. It also favorably reported implementing and conforming bills for state employees, retirement, natural resources, judgeships, K-12 education, higher education, and health and human services, along with SB 7022 on Florida Retirement System contribution rates and elected-officer DROP options, CS/SB 1320 on the Resilient Florida Trust Fund, SB 7014 ending the Mediation and Arbitration Trust Fund, SB 7028 on cancer research, CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home quality and oversight, CS/SB 168 on mental health diversion and behavioral health data, SB 114 creating an insurance and risk management research center at FSU, and SB 180 on emergency preparedness and post-storm recovery. Most bills were reported favorably with little or no opposition, though SB 180 drew discussion about local-government authority after storms and the need to balance recovery speed with local safety and planning concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• You can have students use blocks and manipulatives. You can have students complete worksheets.
• Our students deserve nothing less. For years to come. Our students deserve nothing less. Thank you.
• students?
• comes to students and the outcomes and students I see two pathways around what this can do for students
• and if we're truly going to move the needle on student achievement, ensuring students are reading by

Summary: The committee heard a series of budget proposals focused on education finance, with repeated questions about whether the state’s investments are coordinated, targeted to the highest-need students, and likely to produce measurable results. On the first item, the administration proposed $1 million for a study of California’s curriculum framework, standards, and instructional materials process, plus $250,000 for supplemental ELA/ELD guidance. CDE and Finance said the study would examine how other states organize standards, frameworks, and adoptions, while the chair and members questioned why California has gone so long without updating some standards, what the study would actually accomplish, and whether the proposal was too vague to justify the cost. The issue was held open. The committee then took up a proposed $25 million statewide literacy network within the system of support. CCEE and CDE said the network would coordinate multiple existing literacy leads, create a clearinghouse of evidence-based resources, and improve coherence across the state’s many literacy initiatives. Members pressed on how a one-time, five-year allocation could support a long-term system, how the work would reach distressed and rural districts, and whether the proposal would translate into classroom change rather than just another layer of coordination. The issue was also held open. Next, the committee reviewed a $500 million proposal to expand literacy coaches and reading specialists and to create a math coaches program. CDE described the existing literacy coach cohorts as producing positive reports from participating LEAs, while the LAO recommended modifications, especially for the math coach portion, including limiting eligibility to elementary schools, setting minimum grant amounts, directing funds to eligible school sites, and making eligibility automatic rather than application-based. Members focused on whether coaches were actually being placed at the schools with the greatest need and whether the state has a coherent long-term strategy for literacy and math investments. The committee also heard a $40 million proposal for training and implementation of K-2 reading difficulty screeners, which the LAO said was reasonable but could be reduced because $25 million had already been provided for training; CDE said the new funds were needed for full implementation, procurement, and sustainability. Finally, the committee heard a $10 million proposal for a developmentally appropriate TK multilingual learner screener, with CDE explaining why the preschool language-identification process is different from K-12 EL assessment and the chair asking staff to explore whether a single, more consistent approach could be developed. The meeting concluded with a presentation on universal school meals and kitchen infrastructure, including a $31.5 million backfill, an $84.1 million increase for projected meal growth, a COLA adjustment, and $150 million for kitchen upgrades and training to support freshly prepared meals.

Transcript Highlights:

• and all students across students and all students across Minnesota.<01:18:16.320><c> Beginning</c><01
• </c><01:20:43.040><c> students</c> academic supports our students students academic supports our students
• Public charter school students are public school students.
• </c> students are public school students. students are public school students.
• </c> our students and staff. our students and staff.

Bills: HF3492 , HF3493 , HF3494 , HF3495 , HF3602

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: school safety, grants, education funding, Northern Lights Express, security improvements, rural schools, safe schools, charter schools, nonpublic schools, Tribal education, funding increase, safe schools aid, school security, mental health support, Tribal schools, cybersecurity, funding, mental health, evidence-based plans, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you know how much it costs to educate a student in Weare per student?
• Do you know how much it costs to educate a student in Weare per student?
• </c> student in where per student? student in where per student?
• </c> school students presently. school students presently.
• </c> when a when a student le one student um when a when a student le one student um either<03:10:12.479

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And when we have events on our campus where we have high school students or junior high students come
• But in conversation, it is—I mean, these potential students or students know the three programs, or two
• Our freshmen included 52 students and then 22 students for their sophomores.
• Our freshmen included 52 students and then 22 students for their sophomores.
• I am a student, a third-year atmospheric science student at the University of North Dakota.

Committee: Joint Higher Education Institutions Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In these roles, I've had the privilege of representing the voices of student athletes and student performers
• And a con of mental health, especially someone who's a student and an athlete: a student-athlete has
• Great representation of students, high school students, and even more of an excellent representation
• for student athletes.
• My first day as dean of students, I disarmed a student that had a Glock 9 with hollow tips.

Summary: The Education Pre-K through 12 Committee heard a presentation from Florida High School Athletic Association Executive Director Craig Damon, joined by student athletes Sydney Daniel and Taylor White. The students spoke about the value of education-based athletics, leadership, and the need for safe, equitable opportunities. Damon then discussed FHSAA issues including rising sportsmanship problems, ejections, violent incidents, recruiting allegations, transfers, mental health pressures on student athletes, and the need for qualified coaches. He said the association tries to be proactive, work with schools on discipline, and emphasize that school changes should be for academic reasons rather than athletics. Senators asked about mental health, transfer rules, and a recent Jacksonville incident; Damon explained the current transfer exceptions and said the association lacked authority over the Jacksonville football game because the schools were not in FHSAA football. The committee then heard a panel on high school coaches’ compensation led by Florida Coaches Coalition Executive Director Dr. Andrew Ramgett, with Coach Mike Hickman, Coach Charlie Ward, and superintendents from Okaloosa and Walton counties. Ramgett argued that coaching supplements are outdated, have not kept pace with the expanding year-round demands of coaching, and amount to very low hourly pay in many sports. He also said Florida’s restrictions on booster club funding and minimal certification requirements contribute to turnover and difficulty retaining qualified coaches. Hickman and Ward described coaching as a demanding, year-round profession that affects students beyond athletics, including academics and mental health. The superintendents said they value coaches but must balance compensation against limited district funds and other staffing needs; one noted Walton County uses a dedicated administrative lane for football coaching and athletic administration. Senators discussed whether booster club funding should be allowed, whether compensation should be tied to performance, and whether any increase in base student allocation would actually reach coaches. Public commenters, including Florida Athletic Coaches Association Executive Director Shelton Cruz and former coach Tyrone McGriff, urged support for coaches and emphasized their broader impact on students’ lives and school safety. At the end of the meeting, the committee took up confirmation hearings for appointments on tabs 3 through 6 and, with no appearance forms filed, voted unanimously to recommend confirmation. Senator Burgess then moved to adjourn, and the committee concluded the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> from these fields alongside students from these fields alongside students outlined<00:09:22.959>
• </c> which has further impacted student which has further impacted student attendance<00:17:54.799><c
• </c> Inter Agency Council on Student Inter Agency Council on Student Attendance.<00:18:52.640><c> Thank
• If you really want to students.
• If a student is disrespectful.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard House File 3585, as amended, which would create an interagency council on student attendance and re-refer the bill to education finance. Representative Keeler moved the bill and an A1 amendment that corrected the council’s placement from the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to the Department of Education; the amendment was adopted. Keeler and Representative Bakeberg described the bill as the product of several years of bipartisan work on chronic absenteeism and truancy, emphasizing that attendance problems involve multiple systems and require ongoing coordination rather than a single-agency response. Testimony was strongly supportive. Matt Shaver of Allies cited statewide chronic absenteeism data and argued that schools cannot solve the problem alone because root causes such as housing, transportation, health, and economic instability lie outside school control. Assistant Commissioner Angela Mansfield of MDE said the task force and pilot districts showed coordination gaps and supported the council, while also noting MDE’s Compass staff would need permanent funding to carry out the work. Ashley High Totower of Hennepin County’s BEET program said attendance is a public health, child welfare, transportation, housing, and economic issue, and Kenneth Avon of the Minneapolis Foundation said absenteeism is an ecological problem requiring cross-sector coordination. Student witnesses also supported the bill but urged stronger youth representation. Henry Brick of Catalyst for Systems Change said students understand the causes of absenteeism best and proposed expanding student seats on the council from one to five. Ava Northrup of the Minnesota Youth Council said youth voices should be more than symbolic and suggested two youth representatives, one from the metro and one from greater Minnesota, plus additional youth task forces or panels. In member discussion, Representative Lawrence questioned whether the council duplicated existing MDE work, asked who would coordinate the group, and raised the lack of a sunset; Keeler and Bakeberg said the Department of Education would coordinate and that a sunset could be considered later. Other members asked about fiscal impact, and the chair said a fiscal note had been requested and the bill would move on to education finance.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> being a high school student. being a high school student.
• </c><01:34:46.880><c> doesn't</c> students. students can say it doesn't students. students can say it
• </c> on students freedom of speech. on students freedom of speech.
• . students. students.
• students from bullying?

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> may</c> student enrollment because students may student enrollment because students may not<00:29
• Students who are low-income, students of color, first-generation students, students with disabilities
• Students who are low-income, students of color, first-generation students, students with disabilities
• , students of color, low-income students, students of color, students<01:13:48.800><c> first</c><01:13
• , students with students first generation, students with disabilities,<01:13:51.920><c> all</c><01:13

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call: 0:00:00 Approval of Minutes: 0:01:45 Federal Education Updates 0:02:12 Dual Credit Updates: 0:43:38 Kentucky State University's Doctoral Program Request: 01:27:08 Postsecondary Accreditation: 1:49:05 Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations: 2:14:48 Adjournment 2:16:31, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the previous meeting minutes, and heard a presentation from Austin Reid of the National Conference of State Legislatures on education-related provisions in the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1). Reid said the law is projected to increase the federal deficit over 10 years, with major savings coming from Medicaid, student loan changes, and SNAP. He focused on how those changes could affect schools, including possible effects on free and reduced-price meal certification, state funding formulas that use SNAP as a proxy for low-income status, and Medicaid-funded school services for students with disabilities. Reid also outlined the new federal scholarship tax credit, which gives a dollar-for-dollar credit for donations to qualifying scholarship-granting organizations. He said families up to 300% of area median income may benefit, the program begins in 2027, and states must opt in and designate eligible organizations. He noted unresolved questions about whether states can add their own criteria and said Treasury regulations will be important. He also described the expansion of 529 plans to cover more K-12 and postsecondary expenses. On higher education, Reid explained a new workforce Pell grant option for short-term programs, with states and governors playing a role in determining eligible programs. He said the programs must meet placement, completion, and earnings measures and that implementation is expected to be tight before the July 1, 2026 effective date. He also reviewed student loan changes, including lower institutional loan limits, prorated borrowing for part-time enrollment, new caps on graduate and Parent PLUS loans, and a new earnings-based accountability standard that could make some programs ineligible for student loans if graduates earn too little. No votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because if students posted, they might, you may not know if a student posted, and so it may be started
• Because if students posted, they might, you may not know if a student posted, and so it may be started
• population, the student year.
• College students are young; they are vulnerable.
• students.

Summary: The Education Administration Subcommittee met with a quorum and took up two bills. The first, PCS for HB 725 on political activity at public institutions of higher education, would require colleges and universities to notify students and employees about existing campus political activity rules at orientation and on their websites, and to adopt standardized policies through the State Board of Education and Board of Governors. The sponsor said the bill is intended to mirror federal IRS/501(c)(3) guidelines, protect institutions from risking federal funding, and clarify what is and is not allowed; supporters framed it as an awareness and free-expression measure, while opponents warned it could chill speech, create vague enforcement standards, and lead to unintended consequences for students and faculty. Public testimony was largely opposed, with speakers from student, civil liberties, education, and advocacy groups raising free-speech concerns. The committee passed the bill 13-5. The second measure, PCS for HB 1437, addressed disputes under mutual management plans between conversion charter schools and district school boards. The sponsor said the bill fills a gap by providing a clearer dispute-resolution path through mediation by the Department of Education or, ultimately, an administrative law judge at DOAH. Members asked about appeal rights and whether DOE is perceived as favoring charter schools; the sponsor said the bill simply sets the process for the current issue and that the administrative law judge provision serves as the final step. There was no public testimony, and the bill was reported favorably 18-0.