Transcript Highlights:

• be, have the school board authorize this.
• board or school system in order to work.
• They go to the school or the school board unless they're homeschooled, unless it's the summer, unless
• But someone who attends a public school would have to bring it to their school board's office, have to
• boards and to the schools themselves.

Committee: House Labor & Industrial Relations

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The committee first adopted prior meeting minutes and voluntarily deferred three bills before taking up House Bill 232, which would shift the employment-certificate process for minors away from school boards and to Louisiana Works. Rep. Carlson said the bill is intended to reduce burdens on schools and make it easier for 16- and 17-year-olds to work, especially in the summer. A youth advisory council testified in support, describing the current process as cumbersome for students and families. The committee adopted amendments, including a change making the bill effective upon the governor’s signature, and then reported HB 232 favorably with amendments. The committee next considered House Bill 951, creating an Office of Talent Accelerator within Louisiana Works and a Business Workforce Committee to coordinate employer-facing workforce services. Rep. Bamberg and Secretary Susie Schowen described it as a centralized, regional, business-facing effort to respond more quickly to workforce needs tied to major economic development projects, while also supporting existing small and mid-sized businesses. Supporters, including Bollinger Shipyards and Leaders for a Better Louisiana, said similar models in Mississippi had helped expand training pipelines and better match employers with workers. The committee adopted a large amendment set and reported HB 951 with amendments. House Bill 923, a cleanup measure reorganizing Louisiana Works statutes and updating language after last year’s agency restructuring, was then adopted with technical amendments and reported with amendments. The committee also took up House Bill 301, which would create a voluntary portable-benefits framework for independent contractors and gig workers. Supporters said it would give contractors a way to negotiate benefits such as health care or retirement contributions, while opponents warned it could encourage misclassification, weaken workers’ compensation protections, and shift costs to workers and the state. After debate, the committee adopted amendments and reported HB 301 with a 6-5 vote. Finally, House Bill 185 was introduced as a workers’ compensation measure to expand the definition of independent contractor and restore tort immunity for employers in certain contract-labor situations. The sponsor said it was part of the Attorney General’s package and aimed at addressing a recent court decision; the bill was just beginning discussion when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's a—so the school could take action.
• So there's a, so the school could take action.
• How does that impact schools? Yeah.
• You're going to get more tax base for our schools.
• I looked back at my school district, as the bill handler has said, that the school districts are something

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House first established a quorum after introductions of special guests, then moved to bills for perfection. House Bill 2016, concerning anti-Semitism in Missouri schools, colleges, and universities, drew extensive debate. The sponsor said the bill would require educational institutions to adopt non-discriminatory policies protecting Jewish students from harassment and intimidation, use the IHRA definition as a guide, and preserve First Amendment rights. A Pulaski County member offered and secured adoption of an amendment clarifying that protected political, religious, and expressive speech would not be reported, cataloged, or used to create records. Supporters said the bill was needed because of rising anti-Semitic incidents and student safety concerns; opponents argued it singled out one group, could chill discussion of Israel and Palestine, and created a reporting hierarchy. The chamber ultimately adopted the amendment and then ordered the bill perfected and printed. House Bill 2384, a housing and building-code measure, was then taken up. The sponsor said it was aimed at reducing housing costs by rolling back energy-code mandates to 2009 standards, setting clearer permitting timelines, and allowing certain multifamily buildings to use a single staircase. Supporters framed it as a response to Missouri’s housing shortage and rising home prices, while opponents criticized the bill as preempting local control, especially in Kansas City and other municipalities that had adopted newer codes. A Pulaski County amendment was adopted to reduce the number of required hard copies of municipal ordinance books when ordinances are available online. After debate over energy efficiency, safety, and local authority, the House moved the previous question, then adopted the committee substitute and ordered the bill perfected and printed. House Bill 1766, dealing with personal property tax and Hancock limitations, was also perfected and printed. The sponsor said the bill would treat personal property tax growth more like real property under Hancock-style limits, arguing that rapid increases in vehicle values had created windfalls for political subdivisions. Members questioned whether the change would reduce local revenue needed for schools and other services, while supporters said it would protect taxpayers and still allow growth. The House then took up House Joint Resolution 154, which would place a Medicaid work requirement in the Missouri Constitution by mirroring federal policy. The sponsor said it would require able-bodied adults ages 19 to 64 to work, volunteer, attend school, or participate in a work program for 80 hours a month to remain eligible. Opponents raised concerns about administrative burden, documentation requirements, and the impact on vulnerable recipients, while supporters argued the measure should be made permanent through the constitution. The transcript cuts off during that debate, before final action on the resolution is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> from Mastway School IN LEE. from Mastway School IN LEE.
• </c> to school bus driver certificates. to school bus driver certificates.
• School safety is paramount for me. I've introduced bills dealing with school safety.
• </c> the school district. the school district.
• </c> schools to function. schools to function.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• schools.
• For high school students in public schools, let's back up on that, members.
• Assessment instruments in public schools.
• Indicators of achievement and public school performance ratings under the public school accountability
• requirements for high school students.

Committee: Senate Education K-16

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 met with a quorum and considered a long agenda of education-related bills, mostly from the House and several taken up in lieu of Senate measures. Early action included House Bill 27 on personal financial literacy for high school students, which was reported favorably and sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also advanced House Bill 4 on public school accountability and assessment, House Bill 4687 on liability and immunity for certain charter school campuses or programs, House Bill 2598 on school psychologists, House Bill 3629 barring registered sex offenders from serving on ISD boards, House Bill 824 adding civics instruction to high school government curriculum, and House Bill 4236 creating a task force to review the comptroller’s school district property value study. Most of these bills were reported out unanimously or near-unanimously and several were certified for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also heard and advanced higher education and school governance measures, including House Bill 127 on protecting public higher education from foreign adversaries and trade secret theft; members adopted a committee substitute after explanation that it revised the Research Security Council, clarified definitions, adjusted gift restrictions, and removed redundant procurement language. House Bill 4361 on timely emergency notifications at public institutions of higher education, House Bill 1868 on studying dual credit funding and workforce capacity, House Bill 718 on restricting certain private partnerships for student housing, House Bill 4848 on competency-based/work-based/degree programs at public institutions, House Bill 2853 on student union building fees at UTEP, House Bill 100 on instructional materials adoption, and House Bill 2243 creating the Texas Commission on Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention were also reported favorably, with House Bill 2853 drawing one no vote. One bill was held pending further clarification: House Bill 1105, concerning tuition and lab fee exemptions for certain paramedics, after a member raised questions about whether the exemption already exists and whether the bill merely clarifies coverage for EMS first responders. The committee also discussed House Bill 100 as a companion to Senate Bill 451 and noted that House Bill 27 and House Bill 127 were being used in lieu of Senate bills. Overall, the committee reported most measures favorably, often by unanimous vote, and several were placed on the local and uncontested calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• to provide for charter school funding.
• So anytime your middle school kid interacts with another middle school kid, you'll be informed.
• arts to make them a specialty area of their school.
• it like a specialty area of their school.
• It also adds several Lafayette-area high schools to the existing high school specialty plate statute.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Away from school to focus on their health.
• Like many students with disabilities, school was never easy for me.
• I was on dialysis, and I had just acquired my disability after high school.
• And so going to school, higher education is stressful enough in anyone's life.
• Sasha Horwitz, on behalf of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And actually, the state of Arizona already has a process for firearm safety in schools.
• And I think that my school district does... I don't know.
• We heard other discussions about school counselors and school nurses and school budgets, and it has nothing
• And as it pertains to the private schools, Mr. Chairman, we don't regulate the private schools.
• They're private schools. They're called private schools.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A mechanism that enables the school district or charter school to securely transmit—you can't securely
• transmit on a cell phone—the current map of each school campus and floor plan of each school building
• The plan of each school building to local law enforcement agencies in a printable format.
• and law enforcement officers in real time during an emergency at the school.
• that have the highest-risk security issues, schools that have more fights, schools that have fewer school

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and recognition of the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Corinna Saldana. The chamber also received a proclamation honoring Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s centennial and a visit from university representatives, and briefly highlighted the House softball championship trophy. Early business included a motion to return SB 1113 to the Senate for further amendment and a motion to reject Senate amendments to HB 2133 and send it to conference committee. The House then considered a series of Senate bills in Committee of the Whole. Bills receiving due pass recommendations included SB 1038, SB 1042, SB 1133, SB 1327, SB 1431, and SB 1447. SB 1429 and SB 1566 were amended before receiving due pass recommendations. SB 1124, SB 1167, SB 1214, SB 1315, SB 1635, and SB 1763 were also amended and recommended for passage, while SB 1501 was retained on the calendar. Debate focused especially on SB 1327, concerning foreign funding and public universities, SB 1315, concerning school-law enforcement interoperability plans, and SB 1635, which opponents argued was overbroad and threatened speech and community safety efforts. After the Committee of the Whole report was adopted, the House placed several bills on third reading and then passed SB 1067, SB 1160, SB 1235, SB 1620, and SB 1668. Recorded votes showed SB 1067 passed 1-0 with six not voting, SB 1160 passed 32-23 with five not voting, SB 1235 passed 45-10 with five not voting, SB 1620 passed 48-7 with five not voting, and SB 1668 passed 55-0 with five not voting. The House adjourned until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• A mechanism that enables the school district or charter school to securely transmit—you can't securely
• transmit on a cell phone—the current map of each school campus and floor plan of each school building
• and law enforcement officers in real time during an emergency at the school.
• To our schools about what is and is not an interoperability system.
• that have the highest risk security issues, schools that have more fights, schools that have fewer school

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So again, and I will also just echo the last concerns also around our schools.
• , to high school, or to college.
• And our enrollment and ADA has declined steadily in California for our public schools.
• I teach in Woodland High School in Yolo County.
• Their kids are going to school.

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Nurses are not often trained to work in a school setting, and this program is a lifeline, often for school
• of School Business Officials on behalf of hundreds of school leaders statewide.
• Rick Chesa with Public School Employees, representing the essential workforce that keeps our schools
• platform, School Links.
• We urge you to provide dedicated funding for the High School and Beyond platform, School Links.

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee opened with committee guidelines for the 2026 session, including limits on testimony, amendment deadlines, confidentiality expectations, and professionalism rules. Chair Ormsby also reviewed housekeeping for the public hearing, noting the meeting was recorded and live streamed, and that testimony would be limited to one minute because of the large number of sign-ups. The committee then began its work session on Governor Ferguson’s proposed 2026 supplemental operating budget, presented by OFM Director Katie Chapman, who outlined the state’s fiscal pressures: higher caseloads in major programs, a revenue forecast decline of about $390 million, federal policy changes tied to H.R. 1, inflation, and a relatively small ending fund balance. She said the governor’s budget solves about a $2.3 billion shortfall through nearly $800 million in spending reductions, revenue shifts, fund transfers, use of about $1 billion from the Budget Stabilization Account, and some tax preference changes, while also making targeted investments in areas such as child welfare, behavioral health, wildfire response, housing, and IT modernization. Chapman also explained that the proposal does not fully balance over the four-year outlook under the state’s statutory assumptions, but said the governor relied on the budget-balance law’s exception tied to BSA use and low employment growth. A question from Rep. Connors about credit ratings was answered with the view that the impact is difficult to predict and that Washington’s strong pension funding and balanced-budget framework remain positives. The public hearing drew testimony from state officials and many advocates, most of whom opposed specific cuts or fund shifts in the governor’s proposal. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs objected to proposed sweeps from the corporations and charities fund and the library archives account, citing prior cuts, layoffs, cyberattack-related costs, and the need to upgrade aging systems. Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove urged restoration of wildfire prevention funding, saying the proposed amount was still $30 million short of the commitment in House Bill 1168 and that underfunding would increase suppression costs and risk to communities. Many education witnesses opposed reductions to Working Connections Child Care, transition to kindergarten, local effort assistance, Running Start, and higher education across-the-board cuts, arguing they would harm access, equity, and workforce development. Higher education leaders from community colleges, the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and Evergreen State College described staffing cuts, program reductions, and pressure on student services, while K-12 groups and OSPI said the budget would deepen existing funding gaps. A large portion of testimony focused on human services, health, housing, and civil legal aid. Child welfare and youth-serving organizations supported some targeted investments but opposed cuts to child care, child welfare network administration, and youth programs; advocates for foster youth, homeless youth, and mentoring programs asked for continued or increased funding. Health care and long-term care providers warned that proposed Medicaid and rate changes would reduce access for seniors, people with disabilities, and safety-net patients, while Planned Parenthood and abortion access advocates urged full restoration of the Abortion Access Project and related reimbursements. Housing and legal aid witnesses backed the governor’s proposed right-to-counsel funding but asked for more support, and homelessness advocates sought contingency funding for federal housing programs. Crime victim and domestic violence service providers repeatedly said the proposed $12 million was far short of the roughly $21.38 million needed to avoid service cuts and closures. Other testimony addressed the Climate Commitment Account shift for the Working Families Tax Credit, with environmental advocates opposing the diversion of CCA dollars and workforce advocates supporting the governor’s economic security and employment programs. No votes or formal committee action were taken during the hearing portion described in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so schools were unable to complete phase two because of MDE's failure to finish it.
• And so schools were unable to phase two.
• </c><00:03:43.440><c> So</c> schools and not have the background.
• So schools and not have the background.
• diploma due to receive a high school diploma due to their<00:04:19.079><c> service.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• in their schools and want more kids in their schools, and they have blighted areas where they can take
• Next, we have schools.
• elementary schools.
• with the hospitals and the schools, we had a local hospital that was just built and a local school that
• On the school side, I can tell you that I empathize with the school building issues as well.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to continue its tax reform and relief study agenda, approved the December 3, 2025 minutes, and announced a new subcommittee to examine property tax statement issues with counties, auditors, and the tax office. Representative Headland was named chair, Senator Rummel vice chair, and Representatives Dressler and Dr. Dr. and Senator Patton were also assigned. The chair noted the group may need an additional meeting and thanked staff and attendees. A major portion of the meeting focused on economic development incentives. The Department of Commerce presented on the Renaissance Zone program and TIF districts, describing Renaissance Zones as locally tailored tools that combine local property tax relief with state income tax incentives. Commerce said the program has supported thousands of projects since 1999 and cited examples from Beach and Mandan showing increases in property and taxable value, business retention, housing, and downtown revitalization. Committee members raised concerns that smaller rural communities often lack the staff and expertise to apply, and Commerce said it provides outreach through conferences, office hours, and one-on-one assistance. League of Cities and local officials from Bismarck and Ellendale echoed the capacity issue, discussed how the programs have worked in their communities, and suggested possible reforms or more targeted support for small towns. Ellendale’s mayor also described two TIF districts, one for industrial infrastructure in Oaks and one for housing infrastructure tied to a data center project in Ellendale. The committee then turned to stripper oil taxation. The Tax Department gave a comparison of oil and gas tax structures in selected states, noting that most have some form of stripper or marginal well provision, while Alaska does not appear to have a specific stripper-well exemption. Members asked for more detail on definitions and North Dakota’s annual adjusted rate. The Department of Mineral Resources followed with a detailed presentation on North Dakota stripper wells, explaining the statutory thresholds, the 12-consecutive-month production test, and the fact that once a well qualifies it remains on stripper status even if production later rises. DMR said about 11,332 stripper wells are active, representing roughly 54% of wells and about 16% of state production, and emphasized that stripper status can extend well life, preserve tax revenue, and reduce orphaned wells. Committee members and industry witnesses discussed refracs, the economics of keeping marginal wells active, and the competitive disadvantage created by North Dakota’s oil price discount. No votes were taken on these informational items.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> accountant or being a um school accountant or being a um school psychologist<00:13:22.079><c> so
• or enrolled in the school will have some idea what path they want to go.
• or enrolled in the school will have some idea what path they want to go.
• or enrolled in the school will have some idea what path they want to go.
• </c><00:37:17.280><c> are</c> and I don't know how the schools are and I don't know how the schools are

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But it is believed, and I do have the numbers by school and by year of school, if you're interested in
• any particular school.
• But it is believed, and I do have the numbers by school and by year of school, if you're interested in
• any particular school.
• any particular school.

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee met to hear SB 2-C, a major immigration enforcement bill sponsored by Senator Gruters and co-introduced by Senator Fine. The sponsor described the bill as a response to federal immigration priorities and said it replaces a single immigration officer with a State Board of Immigration Enforcement, expands local-federal cooperation, increases penalties for crimes committed by unauthorized immigrants, requires detention in certain cases, broadens information sharing, funds detention-bed expansion and law-enforcement training, and ends in-state tuition waivers for undocumented students. The bill also includes provisions related to sanctuary policies, voter fraud, transport of unauthorized aliens, and driver’s license-related offenses. The sponsor said the bill appropriates roughly $300 million overall, including $250 million for grants and $48 million for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for interdiction and border-related enforcement work. Committee members questioned the bill’s scope, costs, and implementation. Senators focused heavily on the tuition-waiver repeal, asking how many students would be affected and whether the bill would harm students who have long lived in Florida. They also pressed on whether the bill should include stronger E-Verify provisions, how sanctuary-policy enforcement would work, whether local officials could be penalized for policy choices, and how immigration status would be verified in court and jail settings. The sponsor and Senator Fine said the tuition waiver would be removed for undocumented students, that the bill does not address E-Verify, and that the measure is intended to make immigration status a factor in detention and sentencing. Questions also addressed detention-bed capacity, reimbursement rates, and whether corrections staff would receive bonuses or salary increases; sponsors said bonuses are included for participating law enforcement, while broader salary issues would be handled in the regular budget process. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters and information-only witnesses, including Sheriff Bob Gualtieri and former officials, said the bill would help Florida coordinate with federal authorities, expand bed space, and close loopholes in existing immigration enforcement. Opponents from the Southern Poverty Law Center, ACLU of Florida, Florida Policy Institute, labor groups, and immigrant advocates argued the bill is unconstitutional, likely to trigger litigation, and harmful to families, schools, and the economy. They warned that the pretrial detention provisions could lead to wrongful detentions and that the tuition changes would reduce access to higher education and cost the state tuition revenue. No final vote is reflected in the transcript excerpt, but the committee continued through public comment and extended the meeting to complete the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Director of Child Nutrition Services and members of the school nutrition team from schools across the
• and more than 1,200 schools.
• And now there are 116 divisions and more than 1,200 schools today.
• House Bill 416 permits any local government body that uses school buses to reimburse the school board
• House Bill 416 permits any local government body that use school buses to reimburse the school board

Keywords: March 12, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This year, I have all my kids in public schools.
• This year, I have all my kids in public schools.
• My name is Filma Fontenelia, and I'm a middle school teacher in the Clover Park School District.
• My name is Filma Fontenelia, and I'm a middle school teacher in the Clover Park School District.
• Our schools don't need more money for millionaires.

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• School, playground, and crosswalk speed zones must be marked with standard school speed limit signs.
• and student safety in school bus loading and unloading areas.
• If you speed in a school zone, you get a double penalty.
• Now if you drive distracted in a school zone, you would be doubly penalized.
• You can now do camera enforcement of school bus cross-arm violations.

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I taught for over a decade in some of the public schools in our state, including Centennial High School
• School state, including Centennial High School in<00:23:22.720><c> Circle</c><00:23:23.039><c> Pines
• We love our schools.
• </c> has impacted nearly every school has impacted nearly every school district<00:42:30.160><c> in</
• 01:24:25.120><c> School</c> Association of Secondary School Association of Secondary School Principles

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So there was no one at the school that entire week. That was the deadline.
• A mistake was made by the counselors and by school personnel.
• A mistake was made by the counselors and by school personnel.
• We heard from schools. We heard from parents. We heard from superintendents.
• It's a time for them to revive for the last little part of school.

Committee: All HOUSE MANAGEMENT

Summary: House Management took up a series of House resolutions, mostly honoring Arkansas schools, teams, and individuals. Resolutions passed recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and commending CASA programs, the Mountain Home Bombers’ 2025 boys and girls 5A cross-country championships, a corrected resolution for a girls’ championship team roster, Mount St. Mary Academy’s 6A girls golf title, Central Arkansas Christian High School Choir, a local candy shop for state and national awards, Joe T. Robinson’s 5A football championship and 1–4A swim and dive title, Arkansas Tech University Golden Suns coach Dave Wilbers and the Golden Suns cross-country team, and North Rock’s girls basketball championship. One resolution honoring the Passion Play was pulled from the agenda and moved to regular session. The main substantive discussion centered on House Resolution 1052, which urged support for Arkansas Girls’ State applicants who missed a school deadline because of counselor or administrative error. Sponsors and supporters said roughly 150 girls statewide were affected, that the deadline fell during spring break, and that the American Legion Auxiliary had previously extended deadlines but declined to do so this year. They argued the girls had met the requirements, that the issue was caused by adults, and that the program is a once-in-a-lifetime civic opportunity. They also said they had contacted the board, offered help with space, funding, and volunteers, and received no willingness to change course. Committee members asked about the impact on students, including families with both a son and daughter where only the boy was being allowed to participate, and about whether the message to girls was fair. Supporters said the situation teaches civic engagement, grace, and advocacy, but that it also sends a harmful message if girls are denied because of adult mistakes while boys are still being accepted. After discussion, the committee voted to pass the resolution, and the meeting adjourned.