Video & Transcript : 'stem education' :
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MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Formal House Session 40 Apr 29th, 2026
Massachusetts House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- supporting special education and early college programs.
- Really, when we talk about vocational education, the big...
- Really, when we talk about vocational education, the biggest problem is access.
- This was brought to the Joint Committee on Education through a bill. We received no testimony.
- Costs are rising for education, public safety, transportation, health care, and basic needs.
Summary:
The House first adopted several ceremonial resolutions congratulating three Eagle Scouts, then concurred in Senate amendments to House bills affecting the town of Milford’s alcohol licensing law and the town of Middleton’s charter. It also passed to enact a Senate bill on maintenance of private roads in Gloucester and engrossed a House bill allowing Plymouth to create a special revenue account for land acquisition. The chamber later observed moments of silence for former Lynn City Councilor Richard “Rick” Ford, Portuguese American community leader Louis Pedroso, and Quincy veteran Mildred “Millie” Cox, and welcomed several guest groups and dignitaries, including students from Fall River, D.A.R. Good Citizen award recipients, and a British minister visiting the State House.
Most of the floor session centered on FY27 budget amendments, especially housing and shelter policy. Members debated and rejected multiple Republican amendments that would have tightened eligibility for the HomeBASE and emergency shelter programs by requiring citizenship or limiting access to U.S. citizens with Massachusetts residency, with supporters arguing the changes would reduce costs and opponents saying the programs already have strict eligibility rules and that the proposals would exclude lawful residents and vulnerable families. The House also rejected an amendment to block Housing and Livable Communities grants from being conditioned on MBTA Communities Act compliance, with supporters calling it a reprieve for noncompliant towns and opponents saying the law is helping address the housing shortage. A consolidated housing/environment amendment was then adopted 154-0, funding major housing, shelter, clean water, climate, and food assistance accounts.
The chamber also defeated amendments to create a data center commission and to eliminate the vocational-technical school admissions lottery, though the latter was withdrawn after debate. Another rejected amendment would have suspended public policy and public benefit charges on electric and gas bills; opponents said that would eliminate low-income and senior bill relief. The House then turned to education-related amendments, rejecting proposals to change special education reimbursement formulas and to raise the reimbursement rate from 75% to 80%, with opponents arguing the ideas needed committee review and cost analysis. Finally, the House began debating an amendment to fully fund regional school transportation by removing “subject to appropriation,” but the transcript ends before any final vote on that item.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee Apr 1st, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Department of Education.
- I've had meetings with the Secretary of the Department of Education in D.C.
- As an educator and an advocate who cares deeply about ensuring equal educational opportunities, I urge
- I'm an educator and professor at UC Davis.
- public and independent segments of higher education and their respective institutions of higher education
Summary:
The committee met on April 1, 2025, first adopting its rules and then taking up AB 89, a bill to require CIF to align girls’ high school sports with federal policy and restrict participation to biological females. The author and supporters argued the bill was needed to protect fairness, safety, privacy, and competitive opportunities for girls, citing individual student-athlete stories and examples of transgender participation. Opponents, including parents, athletes, advocates, and technical witnesses, argued the bill would stigmatize transgender youth, invite invasive scrutiny and harassment, and solve a problem they said was extremely rare or unsupported by data. After lengthy public testimony and debate, the committee rejected AB 89 on a 2-7 vote and sent it to the Committee on Education as a failed motion.
The committee then heard AB 844, a related measure framed by the author as restoring competitive integrity, protecting student privacy, and bringing California into compliance with Title IX and federal directives. Supporters, including Matt Walsh and a student athlete who said she lost a varsity spot to a transgender student, argued that sex-based sports rules are necessary because biological males retain athletic advantages and that California risks federal funding if it does not change course. Opponents, including educators, parents, LGBTQ advocates, and trans youth, said the bill would increase bullying, harassment, and exclusion, and that existing policies have worked without evidence of harm from transgender athletes. Public comment was again heavily divided, with many speakers on both sides. The transcript ends during public testimony on AB 844, before any final committee vote or action is shown.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Chamber Meeting Mar 21st, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- for adult education learners.
- preparation programs at the 13 education preparation programs in our state.
- As a 32 year educator.
- Speaker, gentle lady, for people who are not in the education committee.
- inclined to support whatever that would be on an education bill.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- for the Department of Education and $140 million to the University of Hawaii.
- It is an education issue. House Bill 1890 makes a clear and responsible step forward.
- And would like the words of the chair of education entered in the records as if they were my own.
- education, the senator from Mililani town, and also the house education chair and house education vice
- chair and House education vice chair, and also the vice chair of labor and technology.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Elementary and Secondary Education Mar 11th, 2026
Elementary and Secondary Education
Transcript Highlights:
- The Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education will now come to order, Madam Secretary.
- House Bill 1767 is the educator and parent bill of rights with the combination bill.
- So the bill is definitely education related. I was just trying to find out.
- So in order to disrupt homelessness, we do that through education.
- So in order to disrupt homelessness, we do that through education.
Summary:
The Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education met in executive session and public hearing, with a quorum present. It first voted House Bill 1767, described as the educator and parent bill of rights combination bill, due pass by a 14-1 vote with one present. The committee then considered House Bill 2918, which was amended by a substitute focused on defining school-sponsored media as a news source and distinguishing news from commentary or editorial content; the sponsor said the changes were intended to promote balanced, truth-in-labeling journalism and to protect only bona fide news sources. The substitute was adopted, and the House Committee Substitute for HB 2918 passed 11-3 with three present.
The committee also voted House Bill 2304 due pass by a 10-4 vote with three present, though the transcript does not describe the bill’s subject. The committee then moved out of executive session and heard House Bill 2772, sponsored by Representative Melissa Douglas, which would create a postsecondary McKinney-Vento-style liaison for students experiencing homelessness. Douglas said the bill would help students transition from K-12 homelessness supports into higher education by giving them a designated point of contact in financial aid, and she noted that a substitute would remove earlier appointment and donation provisions and leave implementation to higher education institutions.
Committee members asked about the liaison’s qualifications, duties, staffing, and fiscal impact, and Douglas said the substitute removed the most controversial appointment requirements and was intended to be a zero-fiscal-note approach. Supporters testified that the bill would improve coordination and help homeless and foster students persist in postsecondary education. An opponent argued the proposal duplicated existing services, would be costly, and was unnecessary given current state, federal, and nonprofit supports. No vote was taken on HB 2772 before the hearing ended and the committee adjourned.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- As Thomas Jefferson said, educate and inform an educated, informative whole mass of the people.
- So, we are required to be an educated mass of people to know what's happening.
- So it is up to us, voters, to be educated on the issues, isn't it?
- c> an</c><00:09:32.640><c> educated</c> educate and inform an educated educate and inform an educated
- </c> required to be an educated required to be an educated uh<00:09:43.360><c> mass</c><00:09:43.760>
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- And this one has been changed to be primary or secondary educational institutions.
- It has changed to be primary or secondary educational institutions, a child care provider, or a medical
- Quote line 24: “It is the intent of the legislature to prohibit any health care provider or educational
- And, you know, as an educator, I would feel that the way this is written is so broad that I would need
- Okay, so then I come down here and the entities include an educational institution.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Status of Persons with Disabilities Jan 26th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- LEND stands for Leadership, Education, Neurodevelopmental-Related Disabilities, and I'm a self-advocate
- to real market, labor market needs. build skills, explore careers, and connect education to real market
- Because we know that disability employment spans education, workforce, health, transportation, human
- fall through that cliff, educational and employment cliff.
- the public, educate the people who are impacted by these changes because there are so many different
Summary:
The Disability Employment Subcommittee met with SEED (the State Exchange on Employment and Disability) staff for a presentation on state disability employment policy options and possible collaboration with Massachusetts. After roll call, the committee approved prior meeting minutes and heard an inspirational quote from Jane Goodall emphasizing that every individual matters and can make a difference. Members then introduced themselves and described their roles in disability employment, accessibility, state government, and advocacy.
SEED staff Katya Alpanis and Dina Klumkina explained that SEED provides technical assistance, research, peer-state examples, and policy resources to help states advance disability employment. They outlined seven policy areas, including career readiness and work-based learning, behavioral health and retention, stay-at-work/return-to-work supports, employer recruitment and accommodation tools, disability-owned business development, interagency coordination, and state-as-model-employer strategies. They shared examples from other states such as Kentucky, Virginia, Alaska, Washington, Minnesota, New Jersey, Illinois, Colorado, New York, and others. In response to questions, they clarified that PEAT has been refunded and is expected to return online, and that SEED’s role is policy support rather than implementation of accessibility requirements.
Committee members discussed Massachusetts-specific interests, including digital accessibility, existing state efforts, and prior SEED engagement with Massachusetts agencies and legislators. Members raised concerns about upcoming Medicaid work requirements and the risk that people with disabilities could fall through the cracks, and asked whether SEED could help inform state policy responses. The group identified two likely project areas: a Massachusetts state-as-model-employer roadmap and a youth/young adult employment and volunteer pipeline, potentially linked to transition supports and civic engagement. SEED agreed to follow up with briefs and a questionnaire, and the committee planned an offline follow-up discussion to narrow priorities and develop a scope of work. No formal votes beyond approving the minutes were taken.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Conference Committee on HF2431 5/17/25 - Part 4
Transcript Highlights:
- , the Senate accepts the House offer to maintain the Hennepin Healthcare Graduate Family Medical Education
- , the Senate accepts the House offer to maintain the Hennepin Healthcare Graduate Family Medical Education
- There are plans to request those from the Office of Higher Education, hopefully at some point tomorrow
- There are plans to request those from the Office of Higher Education, hopefully at some point tomorrow
- </c><00:14:39.839><c> um</c> office of higher education um office of higher education um to<00:14:42.399
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on State & Local Government (3-3-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- What is their sick-day policy, and are they employing educators?
- Are those educators participating in TRS?
- and are those they employing Educators and are those Educators<00:11:06.079><c> participating</c><00
- :11:06.680><c> in</c> Educators participating in Educators participating in TRS<00:11:08.720><c> what
- We can secure a more stable future for Kentucky educators and taxpayers alike.
Summary:
The Senate State and Local Government Committee met and first took up Senate Bill 193, described as a simple measure to restore a wallet card for jailers to carry when outside the jail. The chair noted the fiscal impact was essentially zero, there were no questions, and the committee voted to pass the bill 9-0.
The committee then heard Senate Bill 9, a proposal focused on the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS). The sponsor argued TRS remains underfunded despite large state contributions, cited rising unfunded liability and negative cash flow, and said the bill is intended to standardize and limit what sick leave, personal leave, and annual leave can count toward retirement calculations. The bill would generally cap TRS retirement credit at 10 sick days and 2 personal days per year, prevent annual leave from being rolled into sick leave, require more uniform reporting and oversight from participating districts and agencies, and shift costs to districts that offer benefits beyond TRS limits. The sponsor also said the bill would add 30 maternity leave days, allow voluntary supplemental contributions for Tier Four teachers, and include a floor amendment directing the state auditor to audit TRS and report on agency leave policies.
During the presentation, the sponsor emphasized fairness, transparency, and accountability, and used a hypothetical high-salary administrator to illustrate how leave payouts can increase retirement benefits and create additional unfunded liability. Senator Mills thanked the sponsor and said members had been working to understand the issue, but no committee action on Senate Bill 9 was completed in the portion provided.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee Mar 25th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- California invests tens of billions of dollars in education and training programs.
- , The California EDGE Coalition advocates for education and workforce investments, as well as systems
- Existing law provides valuable workplace rights and immigration enforcement rights education to high
- This bill will make sure that workers like me receive know-your-rights education.
- AGC and our members are actively investing through our construction education foundation.
Summary:
The committee heard and advanced several labor, workforce, and public works bills. SB 1166 would place AC Transit employees under PERB jurisdiction for unfair labor practice disputes; supporters said it would reduce costly court litigation and align AC Transit with other transit agencies, while AC Transit was neutral. The bill passed 4-1 to Judiciary. SB 1054 would add wage-data elements to state reporting systems to improve Medi-Cal/Calfresh verification and workforce-program accountability; supporters emphasized reducing administrative burdens and improving data for education and training outcomes. It passed 4-0 to Appropriations. SB 1149 would expand bereavement leave to cover a “designated person” and align it with other California family-leave laws; supporters cited chosen-family and LGBTQ+ concerns, and the bill passed 5-0 to Appropriations.
The committee also considered SB 909, which would raise and index public works contractor registration fees and prevailing-wage penalties and direct more penalty revenue to enforcement. Supporters argued stronger penalties and funding are needed to deter wage theft and backlogs, while contractor groups warned of higher costs, uncertainty, and no fix to staffing delays; it passed 4-1 to Judiciary. SB 1132 would require a standardized know-your-rights curriculum in the workforce development system, with supporters saying workers need labor and immigration rights information at job-entry points; it passed 4-1 to Appropriations. SB 1241 would strengthen enforcement of skilled-and-trained workforce requirements on public works projects by defining substantial compliance plans and limiting repeated noncompliance; labor supporters said it closes loopholes, while contractor groups argued the market lacks enough workers and the bill is too rigid. It passed 4-1 to Appropriations.
The committee later took up SB 1038, which would require CalPERS to notify unions when employer audits are initiated so they can help members respond to potential pension or pay corrections. Supporters said members need representation when audit findings can create repayment obligations, and there was no opposition. The bill passed 4-0 to Appropriations. After a brief recess, the committee returned and formally closed the roll on SB 1038, then adjourned.
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Jan 27th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- division received $1.98 million ongoing to comply with Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education
- Act, which mandates early childhood education services be provided for eligible infants and toddlers
- work supports in the form of child care subsidies to families who are working or completing their education
- That need is for education, prevention, or screening.
- It's really just prevention, education outreach that is done through the department and also through
Summary:
The committee heard budget presentations for several Department of Health and Welfare divisions, including Early Learning and Development, Public Health Services, and Family and Community Partnerships. The analyst and director explained recent reorganizations, such as moving the Idaho Child Care Program into Early Learning and Development, shifting Emergency Medical Services out of Public Health, and proposing to move the Idaho Home Visiting Program from Public Health to Early Learning and Development for efficiency. The presentations also covered ongoing and one-time funding requests for child care capacity, immunizations, HIV and hepatitis prevention, lab testing, disaster preparedness, and kinship navigation services.
A major focus was the Idaho Child Care Program capacity funding. Committee members asked about the source of the money, how much was already set aside, whether the funds would create new slots rather than subsidize existing ones, and how the department would verify proper use. The director said the money comes from the federal Child Care Development Block Grant, is intended to expand provider capacity in underserved and rural areas, and can support both licensed and unlicensed providers as long as federal health and safety requirements are met. Members also questioned the proposed five new program integrity positions, including a fraud investigator, and the director said they are needed for a full annual review of providers and beneficiaries; she later corrected that the positions are ongoing, not one-time, funding.
Public health questions centered on the effectiveness of HIV and hepatitis prevention spending, the immunization assessment fund, and the role of public health more broadly. The director said HIV and hepatitis funds support education, screening, and surveillance rather than treatment, that the state continues to see a need despite rising case counts, and that the department is revamping outcome reporting. On immunizations, she said the assessment fund is financed by insurer assessments and supports vaccine purchases at lower cost, with the governor recommending an increase based on the assessment board’s decision. Members also asked about the home visiting program’s funding history, the proposed transfer of funds between Youth Safety and Permanency and Switzie for rare complex cases, and the use of ARPA funds for one-time data modernization projects. No formal votes were taken in the transcript, and the committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Children and Family Law (02/18/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> parental rights it's direct education parental rights it's direct education care<03:15:08.239><c
- </c> federally approved education federally approved education systems<03:15:42.359><c> they</c><03:15
- impact on that educator student negative impact on that educator student relationship<03:59:58.319><
- </c><04:00:23.199><c> or</c> broadly interpreted by Educators or broadly interpreted by Educators or
- </c> bill as a misdemeanor leaving Educators bill as a misdemeanor leaving Educators and<04:05:17.720
Summary:
The Children and Family Law Committee opened a hearing on House Bill 285, which would add language to the parental rights and responsibilities statute directing judges to consider known mental health or medical conditions that could affect parenting. Representative Ball, the bill’s sponsor, said the intent was not to require disclosure of private records, but to give judges a reminder to ask whether anything in a parent’s condition could interfere with parenting and to help ensure children’s safety and best interests, especially in high-conflict or pro se family court cases. He said the proposal was meant as a guardrail and not as a way to reduce parenting time or take children from parents.
Committee members questioned whether the existing best-interest factors already cover parenting ability, whether the new language could invite stigma or weaponization in custody disputes, and whether judges already have authority to ask these questions. Ball responded that judges often do not ask, that family court can be difficult for unrepresented parties, and that the language would simply make the issue explicit. He also said he would be open to amendments, including language that more directly instructs judges to ask the question. One member raised concerns about whether the bill should say judges “shall” ask rather than “may,” and Ball said he was willing to work with the committee on wording.
Sarah Horn, a NAMI New Hampshire board member and parent, testified in opposition. She described her own history with OCD, ADD, PTSD, hospitalization, and recovery, and said mental illness had not harmed her ability to parent; she warned the bill could increase stigma and discourage people from seeking treatment. In response, Ball said her testimony was part of why he had considered an amendment to include physical health as well, so the bill would not single out mental health. The hearing ended without a vote in the transcript provided.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Public Service Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Public Service
Transcript Highlights:
- Next is Eddie Boynton from the Braintree Education Association, MTA. He's also online.
- I'm Edward Boynton, a 13-year educator currently teaching middle school math in Braintree.
- This is especially important in the education sector.
- This is especially important in the education sector, where employees lack the federal protections of
- victim to high-fee, predatory retirement products sold to unsuspecting educators by 403(b) companies
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on several public service and retirement-related bills. Senator Kelly Dooner and Rep. O’Rourke supported a Taunton home rule petition to extend Chief Walsh’s service during the city’s transition to a new public safety facility, citing the need to manage new equipment, cameras, and 911 systems smoothly. Senator Lovely testified in favor of bills expanding retirement savings access through the SMART Plan and the CORE Plan, arguing that automatic enrollment and broader eligibility would help state, municipal, and nonprofit workers save for retirement. No questions were raised on the Taunton petition, and the hearing later moved through the remaining testimony without any votes taken during the transcript.
Mary Waldron of the Old Colony Planning Council and Jeffrey Walker of the Southeast Regional Planning and Economic Development District urged support for legislation protecting regional planning agencies from being required to make retroactive payments to the State Retirement Board for past employer contributions. They warned that the costs would be unsustainable, could force layoffs or closures, and would jeopardize their ability to provide transportation, housing, economic development, and planning services. Bill Keith and Patrick Charles of PEREC testified on several retirement administration bills, including measures to ease statement-of-financial-interest filing rules, require payment for certain creditable service purchases, and clarify the definition of wages to include sick, vacation, and personal time; committee members asked questions about regional transit authorities joining retirement systems and about adding local retirement board representation to a proposed commission.
Jonathan Osimo and Rob Fabino of the Massachusetts Teachers Retirement System supported bills to penalize delinquent pension reporting by employers and to create a special commission to study retirement credit purchases, saying better reporting would improve retirement processing and that a broader review could improve fairness and sustainability. Eddie Boynton of the Braintree Education Association backed the SMART Plan bill, describing how automatic enrollment and low-fee fiduciary oversight could protect educators from high-cost supplemental retirement products. Matthew Nugent testified for a bill to divest public pension funds from firearms and ammunition. After the final witnesses, the chairs asked if anyone else wished to testify, heard none, and then adjourned the hearing.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- Education ATT. SB 1639, school security projects, capital fine. Education ATT.
- SB 1754, ADE special education parent complaints.
- SB 1754, ADE special education parent complaints.
- SB 1809, National Guard education reimbursement.
- SCR 1051, education funny teacher compensation program.
ND
Transcript Highlights:
- Calling the Senate Education Committee to order. First order of business: calling the roll.
- and 21, just again, further clarification of the parent of an eligible student qualifies for an education
- On point two, the bank may bar a participating school or education provider if they fail to comply with
- And on line 18.3, participating on public school or other education service provider is autonomous.
- transparency, specifically as we talk about cost of education and where priorities may be, you know,
Summary:
The Senate Education Committee met with a quorum and first took up House Bill 1540, an education savings account bill. Senator Wobbema presented Amendment 040-003, describing mostly clarifying and reorganizing changes, including eligibility language, administrator duties, school participation standards, assessment provisions, and a correction removing a requirement that the department pay for state assessment materials if a parent selected that option. The committee adopted the amendment 4-2, then advanced HB 1540 as amended on a 4-2 vote and sent it to Appropriations, with Senator Wobbema designated as carrier. One senator opposed the bill, arguing it would divert resources from public schools and conflict with the state’s obligation to provide a free appropriate education while districts still face funding needs.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education Mar 5th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education
Transcript Highlights:
- Welcome to the Appropriations Committee on Higher Education.
- So the largest is education and general at $6.8 billion.
- So the largest is education and general at $6.8 billion.
- So the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association publishes an annual report on higher education
- The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association publishes an annual report on higher education
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education received a presentation from Tim Jones, Senior Vice Chancellor and CFO for the State University System of Florida, on the system’s funding methodology, budget structure, tuition, and performance-based funding. He outlined the system’s scale, including 12 universities, more than 430,000 students taking classes, about 78,000 employees, and a roughly $20 billion operating budget. He also reviewed tuition levels, noting Florida’s low resident undergraduate tuition, the lack of tuition increases since 2013, and the distinction between state-set resident tuition and Board of Governors authority over other tuition categories.
Jones described several funding components, including performance funding, preeminence funding, faculty recruitment and retention programs, universities of distinction, nursing pipeline and matching programs, and operational enhancements. He explained that performance funding is based on a 100-point model tied to retention, graduation, employment, and other metrics, with student success plans required if scores decline or fall below 70 points. He said the current performance funding allocation is $350 million and the legislative budget request seeks $400 million. He also said the new SUS 30 strategic plan will lead to updates in the performance metrics and benchmarks, with some changes possibly phased in over time.
Senators asked questions about how the new strategic plan will affect future scoring, how long universities have to improve after declining scores, and how out-of-state enrollment and tuition are handled. Jones said universities will be evaluated on the current metrics for the upcoming budget cycle, while the new plan’s changes will be developed later and may include glide paths. He also said there is no statutory cap on nonresident students, though the Board of Governors has a 10% systemwide guideline under discussion, and that graduate out-of-state tuition varies by program and requires institutional and Board of Governors approval. No votes were taken, no public testimony was offered, and the committee adjourned.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Budget Review Subcommittee on Education (11-5-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- This chart on the right shows higher education inflation measured using the Higher Education Price Index
- </c> began reinvesting in higher education began reinvesting in higher education and<00:13:51.360><c>
- </c><00:14:29.920><c> stu</c> and 2026 state funds for educating stu and 2026 state funds for educating
- Uh, the primary indicator that we use to measure higher education costs is the higher education price
- Uh, the primary indicator that we use to measure higher education costs is the higher education price
Summary:
The committee met for its fifth and final Interim Joint Budget Review Subcommittee on Education meeting, but did not initially have a quorum and approved the minutes later when enough members were present. The Council on Postsecondary Education, represented by President Aaron Thompson and Vice President Bill Payne, opened with condolences for the UPS crash victims and then presented higher education budget recommendations for the 2026-2028 biennium. Thompson emphasized the return on investment from state support for higher education, citing gains in retention, enrollment, persistence, graduation, reduced time to degree, lower student debt, and expanded dual credit participation, while noting that affordability and access remain priorities.
Payne outlined CPE’s operating funds request, including $43.3 million in the first year and $86.6 million in the second year for inflation adjustments, plus $30 million and $45 million for performance funding. He said the inflation request would apply across the board to institutions to offset rising costs, and that the KSU land grant match would not need additional funding because the state has already met the matching requirement. He also explained that state support for educating students has not kept pace with inflation over time, creating pressure on institutional budgets and tuition, though tuition increases have been held to historic lows in recent years.
A major portion of the discussion focused on the performance funding model and how it affects smaller institutions. CPE proposed two approaches to address institutions that have received little or no performance funding, especially Kentucky State University and Morehead State University. The first approach would create a $20 million minimum distribution pool, providing $1.95 million to each university and $4.4 million to KCTCS, with the goal of giving smaller and rural institutions a base level of support. The second approach would provide direct appropriations totaling a little over $5.6 million to Kentucky State, Morehead State, and five community colleges that have not been receiving performance funding. Members, especially Representative Tipton and Senator West, questioned how the model had treated small schools over time, and CPE officials explained that the original small school adjustment was not large enough to prevent KSU and Morehead from effectively being left out of the distribution. No votes were taken.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- Let's educate them and say you can save... ...versus just educating instead of legislating?
- Why don't we just educate? We're doing our best to educate.
- I'm shocked at the lack of education.
- It's an educational benefit. It educates the planning board.
- It educates the local licensing boards.
Summary:
The committee hearing focused on a broad set of energy efficiency, building decarbonization, school modernization, and lighting bills. Testimony generally came from municipal leaders, labor unions, environmental groups, and advocates who supported measures such as H. 3529/S. 2294 on building energy and decarbonization, H. 3577/S. 2286 on a zero-carbon renovation fund, H. 3476/S. 2275 on healthy and sustainable schools, H. 3565 on Mass Save zero-carbon assessments, H. 3477 on clean lighting and appliance efficiency standards, and the Dark Sky bills on outdoor lighting. Supporters argued these bills would cut emissions, lower utility bills, improve indoor air quality and school conditions, and direct resources to environmental justice, gateway, and low-income communities.
Witnesses emphasized that Massachusetts’ older building stock and school facilities need major upgrades, and that state funding and financing tools are needed to close gaps left by declining federal support. Mayors, labor leaders, and environmental advocates said the proposals would create local jobs, expand apprenticeships, and help municipalities and schools undertake retrofits, ventilation improvements, heat pump installations, and other decarbonization work. Several speakers also defended Mass Save as highly cost-effective while urging new funding sources beyond ratepayer bills for larger-scale building upgrades. One representative asked about the difference between current Mass Save audits and proposed zero-carbon assessments, and the sponsor explained the new assessments would include heat pumps, solar, storage, wiring upgrades, and rate-structure guidance.
There was also testimony on the Dark Sky bill, with astronomers and museum representatives arguing that better-shielded, downward-facing lighting would reduce energy waste, protect wildlife and human health, and preserve night skies without compromising safety. Committee members raised concerns about pedestrian safety and whether education might be enough instead of legislation; supporters responded that the bill follows established lighting standards and targets only unnecessary glare and skyward light. On the school bill, an open-shop contractor group opposed the measure, arguing its PLA and apprenticeship requirements would restrict bidding and reduce competition, while labor organizations strongly supported the workforce standards and prevailing wage provisions.
No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee heard extensive testimony and several members asked clarifying questions, but the transcript does not show any final action or disposition on the bills.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Transportation May 28th, 2026
Joint Committee on Transportation
Transcript Highlights:
- So this is actually very key to the education piece and key to enforcement.
- We have a huge education problem with riders.
- We have a huge education problem with the public, which then leads over to a huge education issue in
- We can educate the public, and then we can begin enforcing it.
- Those are the things we have to try to educate the public, and again, there'll be a huge educational
Keywords:
Boston, easement, highway improvement, Woburn, Burlington, public safety, transportation, land transfer, vessel transportation, Marston Mills, Osterville, Barnstable, state highway, traffic safety, maritime regulation, local legislation, Hyannis Transportation Center, Thomas S. Cahir, Cape Cod, commemorative designation