Transcript Highlights:

• and high students to our middle school and high school<00:23:53.600><c> career</c><00:23:54.000><c>
• We spend school career day next year.
• And I Paul 8 Paul II Catholic School.
• ,</c><00:26:23.679><c> we</c> Before we left to go back to school, we Before we left to go back to school
• </c> especially as a high school student. especially as a high school student.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, I come to you as a high school student who does not feel a sense of safety when attending school
• such as Bothell High School.
• My own son has a shelter-in-place at school.
• America has a reputation for school shootings and school-related violence.
• I used to think I was safe from school shootings once I graduated high school.

Summary: The committee first waived the five-day notice rule for five House bills, then held public hearings on several measures. On Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2548, the committee heard staff and sponsor testimony on expanding health care merger notice requirements to the Attorney General, adding transactions involving majority ownership/control and asset sales, requiring public posting of notices, pausing closings until information requests are substantially complied with, and adding filing fees. Supporters, including the sponsor, the Attorney General’s Office, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, nurses, and patient advocates, said the bill would improve transparency and oversight of consolidation and private equity in health care; the Washington State Medical Association and Washington State Hospital Association were neutral after compromise language, though the hospital association raised concern about the added fees. The hearing closed with many people signed in pro and con but not testifying. The committee then heard Second Substitute House Bill 2333, which would allow candidates and elected officials to use campaign or surplus funds to reimburse personal security expenses related to threats tied to their public roles. The sponsor and several prosecutors described personal threats and argued the bill is needed to protect public servants, while public disclosure officials said current PDC processes and the state Address Confidentiality Program already provide some protections and cautioned against over-codifying agency discretion. Some testimony urged restoring earlier address-protection provisions, while county auditors said the revised bill removed operationally unworkable redaction language and was acceptable as amended. The bill had broad signed-in support and opposition, but no vote was taken. For Engrossed House Bill 1574, staff explained the bill would expand Good Samaritan-style protections for people seeking overdose help, bar arrest or conviction for possession in those circumstances, limit related penalties and forfeiture, and allow hospitals and other health facilities to distribute public health supplies without committing paraphernalia infractions. Supporters said it would save lives and improve access to drug checking and harm reduction services, while prosecutors and law enforcement groups said the bill was too broad, especially regarding arrest limits, protection-order violations, probation/parole, warrants, and civil forfeiture. The sponsor said the bill was intended to keep people alive and encourage calls for help. The committee also heard Engrossed House Bill 2156, which would let Attorney General investigators be designated limited authority peace officers to electronically serve search warrants in economic and financial crime cases; the AGO and retailers supported it as a tool against organized retail theft and wage theft, while sheriffs and police chiefs opposed it and urged added guardrails and deconfliction with local law enforcement. Finally, on Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2320, the committee heard a bill to regulate 3D-printed and digitally manufactured firearms and digital firearm manufacturing code. The sponsor and supporters, including students, pediatricians, and a gun-violence survivor’s family member, said it was needed to address untraceable ghost guns and keep pace with technology, while opponents argued the bill was overbroad, raised constitutional concerns, and targeted files and speech rather than criminal conduct. No votes were taken in the hearing excerpts provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> and uh while I pray aloud like my school and uh while I pray aloud like my school teacher<00:03:
• He actually, when my son was in grade school and high school, he was his youth minister.
• He actually, when my son was in grade school and high school, he was his youth minister.
• </c> from the Diabraville School District. from the Diabraville School District.
• </c> have the New Albony Middle School SGAA. have the New Albony Middle School SGAA.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 25 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:41.440><c> bus,</c> watching people pass a stop school bus, watching people pass a stop school
• And I the only the stop school bus.
• Proof school bus drivers violation.
• </c><00:23:15.360><c> Um</c> illegal passings of school buses. Um illegal passings of school buses.
• So, we really deeply care about school.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• However, in 2021, my school, Buffalo High School, and Buffalo School District actually passed a policy
• However, in 2021, my<00:03:15.360><c> school</c><00:03:16.319><c> uh</c><00:03:16.560><c> Buffalo</c>
• <00:03:16.959><c> High</c><00:03:17.200><c> School</c><00:03:17.360><c> and</c><00:03:17.519><c> and<
• /c> my school uh Buffalo High School and and my school uh Buffalo High School and and Buffalo<00:03:18.000
• c> Buffalo School District actually passed Buffalo School District actually passed a<00:03:19.280><c>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you talking about the Charter School Network? Yes. Yes, Chairman. Follow up, Mr. Chairman.
• Representative Tanner, why are you citing charter school numbers and not brick-and-mortar public school
• I could provide you a link to the report, but it's on the system, public school system.
• I have been around public schools a while. Of course, I went through them. Recess is a thing.
• And I just think this kind of legislation steps on the toes of school districts and schools and teachers

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• can also be an Idaho school of civics excellence with 75% or more of graduates participating.
• School counselors or something like that.
• Among the most formative experiences in my life was my participation in JROTC in high school.
• In my life was my participation in JROTC in high school.
• , but recognize that career awareness needs to start sooner in elementary and middle school.

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The committee first approved the March 4, 2026 minutes without objection. It then heard House Bill 712, which would create a civics seal or endorsement on high school diplomas for students who meet specified academic and civics requirements, including coursework in U.S. history and government, a civics test score, and a civics project or related activities. The sponsors described it as a voluntary recognition to encourage civic knowledge and engagement, and testimony from the Idaho Family Policy Center and Dr. Samuel Lair supported the bill as a way to promote citizenship and public service. Committee members asked about how the coursework requirement is defined and whether the seal could be earned alongside other diploma endorsements; the Department of Education clarified that the required coursework is two credits each in U.S. history and American government. The committee voted to send HB 712 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 761, which would consolidate the Idaho STEM Action Center into the Workforce Development Council. Senator Lent and Workforce Development Council/STEM Action Center Director Wendy Seacrest explained that the merger is intended to streamline operations, reduce administrative overlap, and better connect STEM education with workforce development. Seacrest said the combined structure would continue most STEM programs, including teacher professional development, community partnerships, and career awareness efforts, while tying them more closely to careers and workforce needs. She also said the consolidation would save more than $300,000 annually and eliminate two staff positions, and that private donations and foundation support would still be available, including direct support to local districts or organizations and a 50% match requirement for new programs. With no public testimony against the bill, the committee voted to send HB 761 to the floor with a due pass recommendation and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• School implications.
• Chairman, as I recall, all in all, there's 150 million for the UNM Medical School.
• The number one there, part A, is the School of Medicine project, 150 million there, Mr.
• In House Bill 2, we did appropriate some money for the School of Medicine.
• It's simply saying 150 for UNM School of Medicine is its guidance.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But we also value our hourly school workers. They are not seasonal.
• We talked about it in terms of hourly school workers.
• The school permanent fund comes from mining, and there are millions of dollars that support our schools
• And that can continue to bring stability to our schools across the state of Minnesota.
• Those hourly school workers that we have talked a lot about.

Transcript Highlights:

• Total for the 2025 2026 school year.
• </c> in the EFA program in any given school in the EFA program in any given school year<00:35:15.040>
• We've got 15,000 kids in public schools. We've got 15,000 kids in private<00:44:34.160><c> schools.
• ,</c> taking children out of public schools, taking children out of public schools, but<00:50:56.960>
• our school budget.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee first took up Senate Bill 63, which Representative Maguire described as a straightforward bill setting funding for the Division of Travel and Tourism. He said it was not controversial. The committee voted to retain the bill by roll call, with one no vote and one member absent, and the motion passed 23-1-1. The committee then considered Senate Bill 74, dealing with annual reporting requirements for state departments that issue permits. Representative Maguire explained Amendment 2282 would shorten the reporting burden by requiring summary data on delayed permits rather than listing every permit, and would delay the first report until 2027 so agencies would not have to reconstruct old data. The amendment was adopted by voice vote, and the bill was then approved as amended by a 24-1 roll call vote. Next, the committee heard Senate Bill 241 on construction of a public pier at Hampton Beach. Representative Sweeney moved inexpedient to legislate, saying the project was ambitious and lacked public support. The motion passed unanimously 25-0, sending the bill to consent. Division Two then took up Senate Bill 145, a replace-all amendment to the education freedom account bill. Supporters said the amendment clarified the bill, kept the policy intact, removed a reimbursement program and an open-ended appropriation, and established a cap of 10,000 students with priority for current students and certain other groups. Opponents argued the measure was still a major expansion, would increase spending after crossover, and that the cap was not meaningful. After discussion, Amendment 2301H was adopted and the bill was approved as amended by a 25-0 vote, with members noting it could go on consent because no money remained in it.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Senator Hoschild establishing a school Senator Hoschild establishing a school seasonal<00:17:37.280
• </c> the local schools in those communities. the local schools in those communities.
• If it was, you'd have my schools.
• I think it's an equity... school districts based on a formula school districts based on a formula uh<
• </c> properties also pay into school properties also pay into school referenda?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:49.320><c> staff</c> educators and school staff educators and school staff would<00:10:51.160
• I have four children that attend our public schools, and every day we drop them off at our schools with
• ,</c> public schools, public schools, and<00:29:50.640><c> every</c><00:29:50.920><c> day</c><00:29:51.520
• ,</c> We place great trust in our schools, We place great trust in our schools, and<00:37:35.800><c>
• </c> and going into our schools and going into our schools to<00:41:36.440><c> create</c><00:41:36.800

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• senior or a high school junior for tomorrow.
• That’s coming out of our schools.” For our state GDP, right? That's coming out of our schools.
• Our public schools need it. They're doing the best.
• As I was driving here today, I was stuck behind a couple of school buses.
• By way of background, MAVA represents 72 member schools.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Higher Education

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education held its second public hearing of the 194th General Court on capital investments in higher education, focusing primarily on H.54, the Bright Act, along with H.1426/S.949 on green and healthy public colleges and universities and deferred maintenance, and H.1424 on capital investment in Gateway Cities. Chairs and administration officials framed the hearing as a response to aging campus infrastructure, climate goals, workforce needs, and federal pressures on higher education, and explained that testimony would be taken from pre-registered speakers in person and virtually. University of Massachusetts leaders strongly supported the Bright Act, describing large deferred maintenance backlogs, aging buildings, and the need to decarbonize campuses while modernizing research and teaching facilities. UMass officials said the bill would help keep tuition and fees lower by reducing the need for campuses to finance capital work themselves, and argued that the investments would improve competitiveness, support research, and create construction jobs. Governor Healey, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, Secretary of Education Tuttweiler, and Secretary of Administration and Finance Gorzkowicz also backed the bill, saying it would leverage Fair Share surtax revenues for a proposed $2.5 billion in campus investments plus additional targeted grants, and that it would support affordability, economic growth, and climate resilience. Committee members asked about the balance between deferred maintenance and decarbonization, the role of grant programs versus direct spending, the impact on tuition and fees, and how the plan would help campuses respond to federal cuts such as NIH and NSF funding. Administration officials said the proposal was designed to be phased in quickly, with some projects ready to start immediately and others taking longer, and that the grant programs would be structured to include all campuses equitably. They also said the plan would build on an existing financing model similar to the Commonwealth Transportation Fund and could help campuses avoid future tuition increases tied to capital costs. Additional testimony came from MassBay Community College, where President David Podell and recent nursing graduate Deanna Cavazos described the benefits of a new Framingham campus building and said community colleges need modern labs, better planning capacity, and deferred maintenance support to serve the enrollment growth from MassReconnect and MassEducate. State university leaders, including President Mary Grant, President Linda Thompson, and President John Keenan, said their campuses face outdated classrooms, insufficient electrical capacity, and aging facilities, and urged passage of the Bright Act as a long-overdue investment in student success and workforce preparation.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> intrusive government role in schooling intrusive government role in schooling and<01:11:35.000><
• </c> into elementary school spaces. into elementary school spaces.
• They have not are for school yet.
• school or not?
• Um and I feel like that school.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:02.880><c> over</c> when I decided to go to law school over when I decided to go to law school
• I and a specialty certification in school social work.
• served at Beaumont Middle School as their full-time social worker.
• </c><00:57:39.359><c> teachers,</c><00:57:40.320><c> our</c><00:57:40.520><c> school</c> public school
• teachers, our school public school teachers, our school staff,<00:57:41.760><c> our</c><00:57:41.960

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SUNY schools such as in my district and many others are becoming premier centers of learning, innovation
• So I also think, and I agree with Senator May here, that we need to support our medical schools.
• So I also think, and I agree with Senator May here, that we need to support our medical schools.
• SO I ALSO THINK, AND I AGREE WITH SENATOR MAY HERE, THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR MEDICAL SCHOOLS.
• ADULT LITERACY IS IMPORTANT AND WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN FOR 20 IS 201 SCHOOLS, INCREAP AND SEEK

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Higher Education Conference Committee met to discuss budget priorities for SUNY, CUNY, community colleges, TAP, student aid, and capital funding. Chair Toby Ann Stavisky emphasized the need for increased operating and capital support, protection against enrollment-based funding losses, no tuition increases, a review of TAP because it has not kept pace with living costs, and action on student loan access and research funding cuts. Assembly Chair Alicia Hyndman outlined the Assembly’s higher education proposal, including $475.7 million to expand TAP eligibility, raising income thresholds for TAP and the Excelsior Scholarship, creating a graduate tuition assistance program, adding community college operating aid, expanding the Opportunity Promise Scholarship, forgiving SUNY hospital debt service, increasing CUNY operating support, restoring opportunity program funding, creating a $110 million student loan support program called New York Rises, and funding five-year capital plans for SUNY and CUNY plus additional ECAP grants. Members broadly supported making higher education more affordable and accessible, while highlighting district-specific needs. Senator May praised SUNY Reconnect, community college workforce programs, hospital debt service relief, and a five-year SUNY capital plan. Senator Gonzalez framed the budget as an investment in economic mobility. Senator Griffo supported affordability, operating and capital aid, and additional support for medical schools and hospitals. Assembly Members Walker, Colton, and Fall backed TAP expansion, opportunity programs, disability supports, SUNY Downstate’s transformation, and capital needs at CUNY and SUNY campuses. Assembly Member Smullen, speaking for the minority conference, urged a five-way budget process, said TAP has not kept pace with inflation, and called for a more stable long-term funding model for community colleges. He also stressed aligning higher education with workforce needs. Assembly Member Pirozzolo pointed to the College of Staten Island as an example of the benefits of investment and warned that employers recruiting students directly from high school could weaken higher education unless colleges continue strengthening trade and career training. The meeting ended with no vote on the budget items, and the chairs adjourned the conference committee after concluding remarks.

Transcript Highlights:

• And lastly, some school administrators claim this bill hinders AB 218 investigations.
• And lastly, some school administrators claim this bill hinders AB 218 investigations.
• Hart Union High School District, PERB decision. ...consistent with the William S.
• We're also deeply concerned that it is very difficult... ...bad actors from our schools.
• This will affect day-to-day activities and critical school operations.

Committee: House Public Employment and Retirement

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Whip and members, Senate Bill 1166 allows a county school superintendent to offer high school equivalency
• preparation instruction through an accommodation school to students in the 11th or 12th grade rather
• Madam Whip and members, Senate Bill 1424 requires each public school to provide annual age-appropriate
• from participating in a school district-sponsored interscholastic activity or program if the student
• regular school hours if prescribed requirements are met.

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of third-read consent bills across multiple committees, with staff giving brief descriptions and members asking only occasional clarifying questions. Topics included claims against the state, CPA certification, creditor assignments, insurance adjuster licensing, school equivalency instruction, extending a credit enhancement board, firearm safety instruction in schools, student eligibility for school activities, Celebrate Freedom Week civics instruction, release-time courses, voter registration roll access, campaign filing addresses, federal land designations, public records review standards, workers’ compensation burial benefits, first responder death benefits, veterans’ flags in HOA communities, restrictions on sexually explicit material for minors, agency guidance posting, standardized state hiring, mental health court procedures, autopsy supervision, tribal child welfare MOUs, controlled substance scheduling, EMT privacy, guardian notification in court-ordered treatment, dense breast tissue notice repeal, referral agency background checks and insurance, attorney disciplinary recoveries, fentanyl penalties, campus firearms rules, suppressors, defamation standards, mandatory reporting of child abuse, attorney licensing authority, municipal penalties tied to emergency calls, forcible detainer procedures, utility-worker assault enhancements, water basin reporting, small modular nuclear reactor siting, groundwater recovery assumptions, ICE notification after arrests, a military-police-to-peace-officer pathway, and scholarship tax credits. Most bills were simply presented as consent items, with no major debate or votes recorded in the transcript. A few measures drew brief discussion. On SB 1040, members clarified that the voter-registration portal would redact personal identifying information such as voter registration numbers, ID numbers, and Social Security numbers. SB 1193 prompted comments that emergency medical technician data being open source was surprising and that the issue might be expanded to paramedics. SB 1243 was described as a guardian-rights bill to streamline notice in court-ordered treatment. SB 1318 was characterized as a cleanup measure aligning dense-breast-tissue notice requirements with federal law. SB 1477, dealing with referral agencies for assisted living and home care, was noted as having passed committee unanimously. The most substantive exchanges came on SB 1148 and SB 1418. For SB 1148, members discussed shifting attorney licensing responsibility more directly to the Arizona Supreme Court rather than the State Bar, with staff explaining that the court already oversees licensing but currently delegates some functions to the Bar. On SB 1418, which limits county regulation of small modular nuclear reactors in certain circumstances, a member objected that it would reduce local control and said they would likely oppose it on the floor. H.C.M. 2009 was also presented, asking Congress to amend the Antiquities Act, compensate states for subsurface minerals, and streamline mining permits; the sponsor tied it to Arizona’s mining history and land-swap interests. The caucus ended after SB 1142, with no recorded votes or formal actions beyond the bills being discussed as third-read consent items.

Transcript Highlights:

• The elementary school does.
• The schools have had some summer programs.
• We have a food pantry and the elementary school operates that.
• A lot of private donations, and the school may have both. the elementary school operates that.
• If I can answer the follow-up: so it has nothing to do with the school summer program that schools run

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2949, as amended by a PCS, which would relax child care staffing ratios in an effort to improve the economics of day care centers and expand availability. Representative Tedford said the bill came from an interim study on child care deserts and that he was open to further changes, including tightening the infant ratio back to 4:1 and possibly reducing the toddler ratio. Members raised concerns about safety, learning, and the lack of data on how the changes would affect staffing and children. After discussion, the committee vote ended 2-2, and the bill did not pass. The committee then heard House Bill 3052, the Sir Major White Bullock Child Protection and Family Notification Act, which would require a more structured DHS response when there are repeat fentanyl-related births, including broader family notification and earlier involvement of extended family. Representative Stewart emphasized that the bill was narrowly focused on fentanyl, did not criminalize mothers, and did not mandate automatic removal. Members discussed whether the bill should also address drug dealers or other drugs, but Stewart said separate legislation would address penalties for fentanyl suppliers. The bill passed unanimously, 5-0. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 3638, with a PCS, to create a summer EBT program and revolving fund to help provide food support for children during the summer months when school meals are unavailable. Vice Chair Guys said the program would supplement existing SNAP benefits and summer meal efforts, and would be funded through a mix of public and private sources. Members asked about overlap with food pantries and school meal programs, and about federal matching and administrative costs. The committee approved the bill 5-0. The meeting then adjourned after all House bills were heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• High school students each year.
• And as an elementary school teacher, we had absolutely no funding.
• And I'm glad that you brought the program from La... with schools.
• And Doherty, we have the School of the Arts, which is... ...and Doherty, we have the School of the Arts
• I think they had the first school; this is the second.

Committee: Senate Joint Committee on the Arts

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Arts held an informational hearing on California’s first sector-specific creative economy strategic plan, developed under AB 127 by the California Arts Council with an interagency work group and outside research support. Committee members and panelists described the plan’s purpose as strengthening the state’s creative workforce, stabilizing creative businesses, expanding equity and access, and building infrastructure for long-term implementation. The opening presentation highlighted major forces shaping the sector over the next decade, including AI, climate disruption, affordability, access to capital, and social cohesion, and outlined six action areas: workforce preparation, business growth, cultural tourism and identity, cross-sector incentives, ROI/data tracking, and state capacity-building. Testimony from the California Department of Education and the Workforce Development Board focused on existing workforce pipelines, including updated arts/entertainment/design CTE standards, the Entertainment Equity Alliance, apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship pathways, and High Road Training Partnership investments. Speakers said these efforts are producing strong placement outcomes, including paid on-the-job training, union placements, and support for workers facing barriers, while also emphasizing the need for entrepreneurship training and wraparound supports. Committee discussion also centered on a major unresolved issue: how to define and measure the creative economy consistently across agencies, since current labor data often misses gig, contract, nonprofit, and business activity. A second panel of practitioners and advocates described local examples of the plan in action. The Handy Foundation, Arts for LA’s Creative Jobs Collective, the Arts Council of San Bernardino County, and the California Arts Council chair all argued that artists and creative workers should be treated as essential contributors to education, community health, local economies, and resilience, not as peripheral workers. They urged stronger school partnerships, more arts access, and better recognition of creative careers. Members also discussed AI’s impact on creative work, with panelists saying it should be treated as a tool that requires guardrails, training, and union and educator involvement rather than as a replacement for human creativity. No formal votes were taken; the hearing was informational, and members expressed support for continued implementation, better data systems, and additional funding in future budget and policy actions.