Transcript Highlights:

• There is one teacher for 60 students like I.
• There was one teacher for every 50 students.
• Our particular interest in aligning capstone projects with students' IEPs is to ensure that students
• Would gifted students...
• Madam Chair, nothing changes for gifted students.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 124, which would create a permanent Office of New Americans within the Department of Workforce Solutions. The sponsor and supporters said the office would help immigrant and refugee workers access training, licensing, language support, and other workforce resources, while also helping employers fill labor shortages in industries such as construction, agriculture, oil and gas, health care, and child care. Support came from advocates, business groups, faith organizations, and immigrant-rights groups; there was no opposition. Members asked about data protection, the number of other states with similar offices, and whether the office could help recruit and credential foreign-trained medical professionals. The bill passed on a do-pass motion with several yes votes and some no votes recorded, and the sponsor explained the vote as a way to support families and workforce integration. The committee then considered House Bill 314, which would authorize zero-interest loans through the Local Government Division for political subdivisions to repair flood- and debris-damaged public infrastructure and remove debris from the October 19, 2024 storm event. There was no public testimony in support or opposition. Members briefly asked about the $150 million appropriation and whether it was already in the budget, and the sponsor said it was. The bill received a do-pass motion, a second, and was approved without opposition. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 64, as amended, to codify the Office of Special Education and a deputy secretary position within the Public Education Department. The sponsor and department officials said the bill would formalize an office already created by executive order, improve statewide coordination, support compliance with IDEA and the Yazzie-Martinez case, and develop a statewide IEP template to reduce inconsistency across districts. They emphasized that gifted education would remain in Curriculum and Instruction and that the bill would not add new paperwork or mandates for districts. Supporters included education leaders, disability advocates, vocational rehabilitation, and special education professionals; there was no opposition. Members raised questions about parent understanding of IEPs, monitoring and enforcement, funding, charter school coverage, and the treatment of gifted and twice-exceptional students. The bill passed on a do-pass motion with unanimous support from those present.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's in my district, and I've had some students wondering why there isn't a student as part of this final
• a student as part of this final group.
• We have 2,000 students at Rigby High School.
• When we see the parents who are there with us, they become the students, the students become the teachers
• You saw my Future Hispanic Leaders of America students there.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For student housing.
• So, on the student housing and student life projects and athletic facilities, that can be on a project
• If you’re a university student, could you raise your hand? University students? Okay.
• University students? Okay.
• Our students spent a semester at the Super 8 Motel because there was no housing for the students that

Summary: The committee first announced that House Bill 180 would be rolled because of administration concerns, with plans to meet with stakeholders and sponsors later in the week. The committee then took up House Bill 8, which would create and transfer $300 million to a Major Capital Projects Fund for higher education, with stated priorities of $150 million for the UNM School of Medicine, $50 million for a multipurpose building at NMSU, and $100 million for student life and housing projects statewide. The sponsor and staff explained eligibility rules, match requirements, waiver procedures, and how institutions would apply through the Higher Education Department, with the legislature retaining final appropriation authority. Public testimony was strongly supportive. Representatives from the New Mexico Council of University Presidents, NMSU, and the independent community colleges said the bill would address major capital and housing needs, especially for student housing and facilities that are not well served by current funding streams. Committee members asked detailed questions about match waivers, who would set waiver standards, whether housing and family housing projects would qualify, and how the fund would interact with the budget and the State Investment Council. Staff clarified that the fund is a transfer from the general fund rather than an endowment, and that the $150 million for the UNM School of Medicine in the budget depends on passage of HB 8. Members also discussed the bill’s graduation-rate standards for athletics projects, noting current rates at UNM and NMSU are below the 65% threshold and would need to improve over time. After questions concluded, the committee adopted an amendment that removed the general-fund transfer language and struck a section on page 5, then voted “do pass” on House Bill 8 as amended. Representative Pettigrew was noted in opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• How many students are served in a school?
• And the school finance system is essentially designed, predominantly, to fund, based upon students. student
• The special education student population is 14%.
• Yeah, generally MNO follows the student, INS doesn't, but MNO follows the student.
• Survives when there are no students are the students that are left behind that that smaller number are

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What does it mean to a student?
• The majority of our students come from households living below the poverty line. 95% of our students
• qualify for free and reduced lunch, and over 40% of our students are students of color.
• The consequences for our students, districts, and environment are serious. First, student safety.
• First, student safety.

Summary: The committee opened with a public hearing on Senate Bill 5808, a proposal to require nonprofit health carriers with “excess surplus” to pay 10% of that surplus into the state health care affordability account for Cascade Care Savings. Committee staff said the bill could generate about $330 million one time in 2027, while the Office of Insurance Commissioner would have implementation costs. Supporters argued the bill would redirect consumer premium dollars to help people afford coverage, while opponents from health plans said reserves are needed for solvency, claims, and capital needs and warned the bill would destabilize nonprofit insurers. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 2254, which would let the Partnership Access Line assessment cover administrative costs; HCA and Seattle Children’s supported it as a technical fix that saves general fund dollars, and a child psychiatrist asked that savings be reinvested in behavioral health services. House Bill 2385, which extends deadlines for the Medicaid Access Program because of federal restrictions on new provider taxes, also drew support from provider groups seeking future Medicaid rate increases. The committee then heard Substitute Senate Bill 6286, which would increase fines on private detention facilities that deny Department of Health inspections and dedicate the fines to an account for community repair and assistance to harmed individuals and families. Supporters, including Tacoma’s mayor and family members affected by detention, framed the bill as an accountability measure; fiscal staff estimated Department of Health costs of about $395,000 in the 2025-27 biennium. Senate Bill 6006 would exempt food banks from sales tax on certain services enacted last session, with food bank and tribal representatives saying the savings would go directly to food and operations. Senate Bill 6351 would create exemptions from the new sales tax on live presentations for before- and after-school care, arts and cultural nonprofit classes, and K-12 school purchases; school districts, arts groups, and PTA representatives supported it, while asking for clarifying language and broader nonprofit exemptions. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1717 would let cities and counties create local sales tax remittance programs for affordable housing projects, and housing builders, Habitat affiliates, counties, and city officials supported it as a local tool to lower development costs. In executive session, the committee received briefings on several tax and spending bills and then voted to advance multiple measures. It adopted a substitute and passed Senate Bill 5949, which narrows a B&O tax exemption related to insurance premiums; a proposed retroactivity-removing amendment failed. It adopted a substitute and passed Senate Bill 6129 on cigarette, tobacco, and nicotine taxes after rejecting several amendments, including proposals to study the tax policy or replace the bill with illicit-market enforcement language. The committee also passed Senate Bill 6228 repealing a preferential B&O rate for prescription drug resellers, Senate Bill 6231 repealing data center sales tax exemptions, and Second Substitute Senate Bill 5965, which retained a bag-fee approach rather than a full ban after adopting an amendment. The committee then returned to public hearing and began testimony on Senate Bill 6353, a major Working Connections Child Care bill that would keep income eligibility at 60% of state median income, lower the provider rate target from the 85th to the 75th percentile, and make other program changes; the briefing was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• At a time when we're really concerned with student achievement, we really need to try and keep students
• We work all the time with student groups.
• One student group is called Palante Transformative Justice.
• And I remember being a student in Chelsea High School.”
• They actually have relationships with students.

Bills: H3895 , H5157

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Keywords: career education, technical training, Lynn Vocational Technical Institute, pilot program, youth education, school safety, education, mental health, children, security measures, 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How many students are served in a school?
• And the school finance system is essentially designed, predominantly, to fund, based upon students. student
• The special education student population is 14%.
• Yeah, generally MNO follows the student, INS doesn't, but MNO follows the student.
• Survives when there are no students are the students that are left behind that that smaller number are

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: committee meeting, legislation, public testimony, discussion, procedural

Summary: The meeting covered various topics, but specific discussions and bills were not detailed in the available transcript. Despite the lack of documented debates or acknowledgments, it was noted that committee members were present, and there may have been attempts to address crucial legislative matters. The dynamics of the meeting suggested a standard procedural gathering where routine insights were likely shared among the attendees.

Transcript Highlights:

• So about 17% of our students will.
• So, students from Roswell Early College High School.
• That's all it does: add 0.25 to students in CTE. Thank you, Senator.
• Any of the students, you guys are, FAA is a CTE type of program.
• We owe it to our students. We owe it to the protection of our kids.

Committee: Senate Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Standardized students are asking for.
• </c> representation for female students. representation for female students.
• other students struggled.
• </c><00:45:41.200><c> are</c> like it's um students are like it's um students are um<00:45:42.680><c>
• </c> programmatically for the students. programmatically for the students.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SCR 78, which urges the Department of Education to strengthen natural health education and adopt a comprehensive menstrual cycle curriculum. The Department of Education said it supported the intent and had offered technical amendments to scaffold the curriculum by grade level. The Commission on the Status of Women and several advocates, including students and Ma'i Movement Hawaiʻi, testified in support, describing gaps in menstrual health education, stigma, and the need for more inclusive, age-appropriate instruction. No opposition was heard, and the chair moved on after no questions from members. The committee then took up SCR 194, urging the Department of Education to meet the criteria to recognize cheerleading as a Title IX sport. The Department supported the measure, noting recent expansion of girls flag football and surfing as recognized sports and saying cheerleading would create additional opportunities for students. The Commission on the Status of Women also supported the resolution, saying it could improve participation, resource allocation, and representation for female students. No opposition or further action was recorded in the excerpt. Finally, the committee discussed SCR 195, requesting the Board of Education and Department of Education to revise graduation requirements to include a standalone financial literacy course. The Board of Education and Department of Education both supported the intent but cautioned against a one-size-fits-all mandate, emphasizing school-level flexibility, existing stand-alone and online options, and the requirement that the class of 2030 must complete financial literacy before graduation. Hawaii Kids Can supported the resolution while raising questions about equity, access, quality, and how different delivery models compare; it also asked for more information on community survey data. Committee members questioned the department and board about asynchronous versus in-person instruction, standards, and how the requirement would be tracked in the personal transition plan. No vote or final action was taken in the provided portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have students taking those blocks. How successful have we been as it relates to.
• I think that what we do need to work on is communication out to students and, and students at community
• I assume that those students are in the community colleges.
• I think what we have seen is that students, most students who have hours that don't transfer either have
• That way the student doesn't because if they want them to take their version, that's fine.

Committee: Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• With the additional weighting, level two special education students count as 1.2 students, level three
• special education students count as 1.3 students.
• With the additional weighting, level two special education students count as 1.2 students, level 3 special
• education students count as 1.3 students.
• So it would be no issue at all to pick up the charter school students.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then took up several House bills with strike-and-insert amendments. House Bill 5510 was amended to incorporate provisions from Senate Bills 1065 and 928, modernizing Alcohol Beverage Control licensing and adding rules for low-proof spirit alcohol products, including a $1.25 per gallon tax; the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation. The committee then considered House Bill 5453 on school funding. After discussion of a proposed block-grant system and supplemental aid for special education, the committee adopted an amendment replacing much of the bill with weighted funding for level two and level three special education students, exempting those funds from block grant rules and limiting their use to direct instruction. The committee also adopted a clarification to extend the special education funding to charter school students and reported the amended bill to the Senate. House Bill 5412, dealing with multi-year technology licensing contracts for local fiscal bodies and science-of-reading training for K-5 teachers, was amended to clarify contract language, delay implementation dates, change “endorsement” to “training,” and require charter school teachers to participate; it was then reported. The committee next amended and reported House Bill 4006, which creates aerospace development and workforce grant programs, changing the funding mechanism to use Department of Commerce reporting and personal income tax proceeds rather than direct employee withholdings. It also took up House Bill 4009, combining voluntary portable benefits for independent contractors with microcredentialing and an expanded apprenticeship tax credit, adopted the Finance Committee amendment, and reported it. Finally, House Bill 4004 creating the Recharge West Virginia training reimbursement program was amended to raise the annual employer reimbursement cap from $50,000 to $100,000 while keeping the $10,000 per-employee limit, and the committee reported the bill. The meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> that</c> students.
• These wonderful students that students.
• I'm joined by my student, Claire Alrech. She is a third-year student at Minnesota Law.
• </c> students. Thank you. students. Thank you. &gt;&gt; Thank<00:26:39.840><c> you.
• </c> feel like that's safe for your students. feel like that's safe for your students.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So one thing, I guess, as a former administrator, I always told my students, or the student center system
• Like, what are we doing to ensure that we keep our students here and that we attract students from other
• We serve students. 40% of our students come from here in mid-Missouri. Then it's St.
• We're an open-enrollment institution, but we allow students through a federal grant, we pay for students
• We allow students, through a federal grant, we pay for students to come to summer school.

Committee: House Higher Education and Workforce Development

Summary: The Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development heard two bills. House Bill 3221, sponsored by Rep. Castile, would bar state funds from supporting higher education degree programs that the federal government designates as low-earning, with the Coordinating Board for Higher Education reviewing the federal list and reporting impacts. The sponsor framed it as taxpayer accountability and return on investment, while many committee members and witnesses argued it was premature, lacked data, and could harm essential but lower-paid fields such as education, social work, early childhood education, counseling, and the arts. Supporters said the bill would mirror federal policy and affect only a small number of programs; opponents warned it could discourage universities from offering needed programs and would not account for long-term career outcomes or transferable skills. No vote was taken, and the sponsor said the bill was still a work in progress. Testimony in support of HB 3221 came from a lobbyist for FGA Action and others who said federal law is already moving in this direction and cited a small number of affected programs. Opposition came from representatives of independent colleges, community colleges, and other witnesses who said the federal rules are still being developed, the earnings test is based on a limited snapshot, and some low-wage programs serve important workforce needs or lead to later advancement. Several members asked for more information on the federal list, the number and demographics of affected students, and possible unintended consequences for rural schools and workforce development. The committee then heard House Bill 3416, sponsored by Rep. Bosley, which would create the Strengthening HBCUs Fund and direct a portion of gaming and classroom trust revenues to Lincoln University and Harris-Stowe State University for capital improvements and related support. The sponsor said the bill is intended to address historic underfunding of HBCUs and align Missouri with similar efforts in other states and at the federal level. Lincoln University President John Mosley testified in support, describing recent growth, major campus projects, and the need for additional infrastructure funding without increasing debt. Committee members asked about the funding amounts, whether Lincoln receives any special state support, and how the money would be distributed. No opposition testimony was heard, and the committee adjourned after the HB 3416 hearing without taking a vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, impacting student outcomes.
• When a student actually leaves general education.
• , um, student enrollment and attendance.
• is in Aldean, Aldean's getting money for that student.
• Yeah, generally M&O follows the student. INS doesn't, but M&O follows the student.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• At a time when we're really concerned with student achievement, we really need to try and keep students
• We work all the time with student groups.
• One student group is called Palante Transformative Justice.
• And I remember being a student in Chelsea High School."
• They actually have relationships with students.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a public hearing on two bills: H.5171, an act relative to safer schools, and H.3895, an act expanding career and technical education opportunities for Lynn students. The hearing focused primarily on H.5171, which would limit school resource officers’ role to serious criminal or delinquent conduct, encourage de-escalation and anti-bias training, and create grants for alternative school safety approaches such as restorative justice. Witnesses from the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee and the Committee for Public Counsel Services supported the bill, arguing that police involvement in routine school discipline can escalate situations, especially for students with disabilities, and contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline. They described examples of student encounters with SROs that led to fear, arrest, or other harmful outcomes. Committee members raised concerns about school safety, including gang activity and weapons in schools, and asked whether the bill would remove SROs entirely. Testimony clarified that the bill would not eliminate SROs or their role in responding to actual criminal activity, but would narrow their involvement in discipline and encourage better training. One witness, Joey Ford of Parent Data Force, was neutral on H.5171, saying problems often stem from broader district discipline practices, restraint and seclusion, and inconsistent DESE standards rather than SROs alone. For H.3895, Ford testified in strong support, saying career and technical education had been valuable in his own schooling and helped him develop useful skills and stay engaged in school. After testimony concluded and no additional witnesses remained, the committee closed testimony on both bills and adjourned without taking a vote on the legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that would have increased by $100 per student for 2027.
• The third area is student transportation.
• The $100 per student cut to local effort assistance.
• Student retention rates are climbing, particularly for first-generation students and students receiving
• Student retention rates are climbing, particularly for first-generation students and students receiving

Bills: SB5998

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: fiscal appropriations, budget, state funding, financial management, operating expenses, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• grant the previous year, then qualified students who are siblings of qualified students.
• Qualified students who received a scholarship grant in the previous years are qualified students who
• They get a lot of transfer students or transfer students out.
• , a transfer student, a continuing student; it just looks at... ...you're a first-time student, a transfer
• student, a continuing student.

Summary: The committee first heard the Office of State Treasurer’s FY27 budget presentation from Treasurer Vivek Malik. He highlighted record investment earnings, growth in MOBUCK$ linked deposits, record unclaimed property returns, expansion of the MOST 529 plan, and changes to the MoABLE disability savings program. Members then focused heavily on two budget requests: $750,000 for the Show Me My Retirement Savings program and additional spending authority for the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (MOST Scholars) program, along with a staffing request for compliance and communications positions. Much of the discussion centered on MOST Scholars’ rapid growth, how applications are prioritized, whether income is reverified, how funds flow through educational assistance organizations, and concerns about marketing, geographic distribution, and the use of public dollars for private schools. The treasurer also answered questions about the 529 plan, the pending lawsuit over the ESA general-revenue transfer, and whether funds should be swept back to general revenue when unused. Several members raised policy objections to MOST Scholars, including concerns about discrimination by participating private schools, the lack of annual income requalification, and whether the program shifts money away from public education. Other members defended the program as a parent-driven choice option and asked about expanding access, improving outreach, and ensuring the program is fully funded. The treasurer said the office was following the statute as written, that the program’s demand could exceed available resources, and that the office would continue to seek more funding and better outreach. The committee then concluded the treasurer’s budget hearing. The committee next began the FY27 budget hearing for the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. Commissioner Bennett Boggs introduced the department’s leadership team and gave a brief overview of the department’s role in aligning postsecondary education with workforce needs through its coordinating board and strategic planning. The hearing had just started when the transcript ended, and no votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> public school students currently have. public school students currently have.
• subject to the same student privacy regulations as that of public school students.
• They were etc<01:05:57.359><c> students.</c> etc students. etc students.
• Those are the questions we... many ET etc students? many ET etc students?
• </c> lives of the students. lives of the students.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• underrepresented student teacher grants and<00:05:53.120><c> student</c><00:05:53.440><c> loan</c><00
• :05:53.680><c> debt</c><00:05:54.000><c> counseling</c> and student loan debt counseling and student
• </c> assistance for post-secondary students assistance for post-secondary students grants<00:09:15.360
• For dependent students to 100% of the parental contribution, setting the student aid index, parental
• And this loses state student aid.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Income students and English learners.
• their in-person students?
• In other words, we grow by 1,000 students or 1,500 students?
• Year's student enrollment, not on this year's student enrollment. I hope that makes sense.
• losing students uniformly across the state.

Keywords: 996, all