Transcript Highlights:

• Hill-Murray's specialized classes support unique learners in literacy and mathematics while also teaching
• Hill-Murray's specialized classes support unique learners in literacy and mathematics while also teaching
• </c><01:14:35.920><c> partnership</c> also served the gro literacy partnership also served the gro literacy
• Prior to that, I was an ESL teacher, coach, and administrator in St.
• Prior to that, I was an ESL teacher, coach, and administrator in St.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• A public school that has a mathematics coach shall require that the mathematics coach hold a mathematics
• So my question to you is, what is the level that you think it needs to be to be a math coach?
• , you have to be competent in the level of math that you're going to be coaching at.
• may limit the number of eligible coaches in the school, but I do hope that we get to a point in our
• schools where we champion, promote, and cheer our math coaches as much as we champion our sports coaches

Transcript Highlights:

• the feedback we got in the two different Girl State programs and the Institute thing was financial literacy
• the feedback we got in the two different Girl State programs and the Institute thing was financial literacy
• And are they the only financial literacy program written into special language?
• duty pay, which is pay, for example, for a teacher who additionally serves as, say, the cheerleading coach

Summary: The committee first approved the May 18 meeting minutes and then received a presentation from Legislative Audit on Arkansas Department of Education grant distributions. Auditors explained that the fiscal year 2025 report summarizes $4.6 billion in grants from state, federal, and miscellaneous sources, across school districts, charter schools, education cooperatives, and other entities, and that the report only shows amounts distributed, not how recipients ultimately used the money. Members asked about specific recipients and programs, including ClassWallet, Economics Arkansas, and CDC surveillance funding; department staff clarified that the Economics Arkansas grant is written into special language and that the CDC-related funding supports student surveys used by state agencies. Questions also focused on bonus and incentive programs such as master principal and National Board Certified teacher bonuses, with department staff saying the bonuses are generally tied to completion of the program or certification rather than classroom performance, though they would follow up on details. The committee then heard a Bureau of Legislative Research update on Consumer Price Index projections from Moody’s Analytics and S&P Global. Dr. Carlos Silva explained the difference between CPI-U and core CPI and said the estimates show inflation slowing over the forecast period, with some near-term variation between the two data providers. Members asked about the historical accuracy of prior projections, and he said the forecasts generally tend to move toward about 2 percent over time, though recent shocks have caused earlier estimates to understate actual inflation. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to the final adequacy report on teacher recruitment, retention, and salaries. BLR staff reviewed Arkansas teacher demographics, shortage areas, educator preparation pipelines, licensure exceptions, survey results from teachers and principals, and teacher support programs. They reported that Arkansas had about 32,800 teachers and 473,000 students in 2025, with an average of 11.9 years of experience and a slight increase in National Board Certified teachers. The report found shortages in multiple subject areas, especially special education, math, science, foreign language, and social studies, and identified 65 districts as high-need geographically. Survey results showed school leadership as the strongest positive factor in recruitment and retention, while workload and salary were the biggest negatives; 30 percent of responding teachers said they were considering leaving the profession. The committee also reviewed teacher salary data showing a statewide average salary of $60,254 in 2025, Arkansas ranking 45th nationally by NEA methodology, and a long-term inflation-adjusted decline in district salaries, though LEARNS Act increases improved the trend. Members asked for additional follow-up information on survey methodology, alternative licensure costs, coursework, incentives for ESL and special education endorsements, exit data, and how salary comparisons are calculated.

Transcript Highlights:

• My second ask is for AI literacy.
• asking for $10 million one-time funding and $5 million ongoing from Prop. 98 to be able to make AI literacy
• also to provide flexibility for adult education consortium funds for senior programs, financial literacy
• We represent 28,000 counselors, librarians, coaches, lecturers, and tenure-track faculty all over the

Transcript Highlights:

• But that's in the substitute bill as. down tutoring maybe coaching coaches are covered under the bill
• because coaches are non-certified positions there are certified coaches who happen to also be certified
• teachers but you're not required to have a certification. to be a coach.
• So this bill closes the coaches loopholes and that's really important.
• So this occurred, your abuser was a teacher. or principal, he was a coach.

Bills: SB604 , SB843 , SB1636 , SB2395 , SB571 , SB1224 , SB1832 , SB2392 , SB747 , SB2623 , SB2624 , SB2185

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill provides $480 million one-time Prop. 98 General Fund to support literacy instruction aligned
• English language arts and English language development framework for all students, including for literacy
• coaches at high-needs schools, evidence-based professional learning, and literacy for elementary school
• There are primarily two contracts that provide virtual behavioral health services and coaching for children

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee held an informational hearing on the final three-party budget agreement and related trailer bills, with the Department of Finance outlining the major budget bill and omnibus measures. Finance described a package built around balancing the state budget amid economic uncertainty, preserving core health and safety-net programs, and making significant ongoing reductions in some state programs. The budget bill included major items such as shifting $1 billion from the General Fund to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund for Cal Fire, funding universal transitional kindergarten, deferring some UC and CSU funding, supporting foster care and homelessness programs, providing Proposition 36 implementation funding, and achieving Medi-Cal savings through changes to benefits and eligibility. The committee also heard that votes on the budget bills were expected later in the week and the following Monday. Finance then walked through the trailer bills, including health, human services, early learning, education, resources, energy, transportation, labor, housing, tax, public safety, courts, general government, cannabis, and energy-related measures. Notable provisions included a Medi-Cal enrollment freeze for certain adults, new premiums and benefit changes for some immigrants, child care COLA changes, education funding for literacy, teacher support, universal meals, and community college student support, as well as resource and climate measures affecting Cal Fire staffing and energy permitting. The housing trailer bill drew the most discussion, with provisions on CEQA streamlining, a vehicle miles traveled mitigation banking program, a renters’ credit trigger, and a six-year moratorium on new residential building standards. Members also discussed a film tax credit expansion, cannabis enforcement funding, a tribal police pilot program, and changes to tax policy, including military retirement income exclusions and wildfire settlement payment exclusions. Committee members largely praised the staff and the budget process, but several raised concerns and asked detailed questions, especially about the housing trailer bill’s new wage standards, tribal consultation provisions, and possible effects on prevailing wage protections. Finance explained that the housing language was intended to set wage floors for market-rate projects receiving CEQA streamlining, with different county-based tiers and a notwithstanding clause preserving existing prevailing wage laws. Members also questioned the size and timing of funding for the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, Clean Cars for All, Proposition 36, and the film tax credit expansion. Other members highlighted support for public safety, veterans’ tax relief, child care providers, housing production, and higher education, while some expressed concern that the budget’s policy changes were being negotiated too quickly or without enough stakeholder input.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sometimes the sports club captain or coach may have intent to communicate with the members very quickly
• media source, then I'm trying to think more positively, but at the same time, from the point of the coach
• , ouch. ...but at the same time, from the point of the coach, then I have to deal with so many different
• If the coach chooses email, particularly, let's communicate with an email instead of a social platform
• That would be looking at literacy rates for our students.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> actually qualify for the use of literacy actually qualify for the use of literacy Aid<00:52:58.520
• I know MDE's literacy team also appreciates the continued focus on improving our students' literacy outcomes
• I know MDE's literacy team also appreciates the continued focus on improving our students' literacy outcomes
• I know MDE's literacy team also appreciates the continued focus on improving our students' literacy outcomes
• I know MDE's literacy team also appreciates the continued focus on improving our students' literacy outcomes

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• winningest coach.
• With the Iowa Hawkeyes' win over UMass on September 13, the coach broke the record.
• Coach Ferentz's career started at the University of Iowa in 1999.
• And since then has won two Big Ten titles and four conference Coach of the Year awards.
• Congratulations, Coach Ferentz, and go Hawks.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're the union that represents the teaching faculty, coaches, counselors, and librarians in the seven
• We're the union that represents the teaching faculty, coaches, counselors, and librarians in the seven
• We're the union that represents the teaching faculty, coaches, counselors, and librarians in the seven
• And that vision is why I'm here today to support the College Financing Literacy Act that's before the
• I began my career as a college possible coach at Burnsville High School.

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• almost the exact same time school coach almost the exact same time as<00:28:44.720><c> he</c><00:28:
• contracts for coaches as reward uh<00:42:35.440><c> academic</c><00:42:36.000><c> performance</c><00
• Um, they're any community coach.
• Um they're they're<01:25:46.560><c> any</c><01:25:46.880><c> community</c><01:25:47.520><c> coach.
• So we all they're any community coach.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• rates. ...literacy rates, the ability to read is a determinant of that.
• They got to see literacy.
• They got to see literacy.
• Coach Mooney, thank you, Madam... ...Speaker.
• Coach Mooney, I want to congratulate you for being the burden man. Good job.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former member Terry Fields and the Parkland victims, the Pledge of Allegiance, and routine organizational actions including approval of the journal and adoption of a special order report. The chamber then took up House Bill 1119, relating to materials harmful to minors, which the sponsor described as a measure to clarify and strengthen standards for removing obscene or pornographic content from public school classrooms and libraries while preserving educational uses and not targeting classical literature, LGBTQ content, or other protected viewpoints. Members questioned the bill’s use of terms such as “predominantly,” its relationship to existing local review processes, the impact on AP/IB and college-level materials, the applicability to voucher-funded schools, and the risk of additional First Amendment litigation and costs. The sponsor responded that the bill was needed because current standards were being bypassed and that the legislation was aimed at material harmful to minors, not general literary value. The House considered numerous amendments, most of which were defeated. Amendments offered by Representatives Gant, Aristide, Bartleman, Eskamani, Nixon, Rainer, Woodson, and Harris sought, among other things, to preserve parental choice during review periods, restore a whole-work constitutional standard, limit repeated objections, protect educational and abuse-prevention materials, prevent LGBTQ-inclusive books from being labeled harmful solely on that basis, shield school districts from funding penalties, and delay enforcement in districts already under litigation. Supporters of the amendments argued that the bill would encourage censorship, remove books with clear literary or educational value, burden districts with costs and lawsuits, and harm students who rely on school libraries for access to reading material and representation. Opponents of the amendments argued the bill was necessary to protect minors from explicit content and that the proposed changes would weaken that protection. All of the amendments described in the transcript failed. After the amendment process, the House waived rules, read HB 1119 a third time by title, and entered structured debate on final passage. In closing debate, opponents repeated concerns about constitutional vulnerability, overbroad book removals, and the educational harm of limiting access to literature, while supporters framed the bill as a child-protection measure and a clarification of existing law. The transcript ends during the structured debate on final passage, before the final vote on the bill is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• rates. ...literacy rates; the ability to read is a determinant of that.
• They got to see literacy.
• They got to see literacy.
• Coach Mooney, thank you, Madam Speaker.
• Coach Mooney, I want to congratulate you for being the burden man. Good job.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then our growth of financial literacy resources—this is something that we have campus collaborations
• Health Education Program, our Suicide Intervention Program, confidential advocacy, peer wellness coaching
• Within our peer education program, we also have a more intensive program: our peer wellness coaches.
• Our peer wellness coaches, in addition to that quarter-long training, receive additional training and
• Our peer wellness coaches are able to provide a relatable, peer-to-peer consultation that really has

Summary: The committee spent much of the meeting hearing presentations on student mental health supports at Central Washington University, Washington State University, the University of Washington, and the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges. CWU described high levels of student distress, loneliness, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and basic-needs insecurity, along with a campus-wide holistic well-being model that includes behavioral intervention teams, emergency aid, peer outreach, community partnerships, and a collegiate recovery community. WSU emphasized loneliness, common presenting concerns such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and relationship distress, and the role of housing and residence life, resident advisors, living-learning communities, and coordinated crisis response in identifying and supporting students. UW highlighted prevention and support programs through LiveWell, including alcohol and other drug consultations, confidential advocacy, suicide intervention, student needs navigation, peer health educators, and peer wellness coaches. The community and technical college system reported persistent access barriers, especially for students ages 18 to 24 and those facing housing or food insecurity, and said the legislature-funded mental health pilot at four colleges expanded counseling access, telehealth, and referral pathways, while broader system efforts focus on awareness, telehealth, basic-needs supports, and workforce training in behavioral health fields. Members asked each panel how they gather student feedback, and the institutions said they use surveys, evaluations, and ongoing outreach to students in services. Questions also focused on substance-use and recovery resources, Greek life outreach, and whether colleges have enough licensed mental health staff versus academic advisors; the community college board said not all colleges have licensed mental health providers on staff, and some rely on community contracts or telehealth. The committee also discussed whether counseling services are increasing because of post-pandemic effects or because students are more willing to seek help, with presenters saying both factors likely play a role. The committee then shifted to artificial intelligence in higher education. Washington State University, the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and the community and technical college system described campus AI task forces, governance structures, and efforts to set policies for students, faculty, and staff. Presenters said institutions are requiring course-level AI use statements, promoting ethical and transparent use, expanding access to approved tools such as Microsoft Copilot, and using AI for teaching, research, advising, and administrative support while guarding privacy, equity, and academic integrity. Members raised concerns about deepfakes, bias, student monitoring, and whether AI should be used to screen applications or evaluate student work; presenters said human review remains essential and that some institutions prohibit AI use in hiring or admissions screening. The final presentation, from OSPI, described the statewide rollout of the School Links high school and beyond plan platform under 2023 legislation, saying it will standardize career and college planning across K-12, provide better data and student guidance, and connect students to postsecondary pathways and employers; OSPI said the rollout is underway but current funding only extends through June 30, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• considered for the future about how we can, because you know, as you said before, I'll give a shout out to Coach
• So after we lost by one vote here at the legislature to add financial literacy as a graduation requirement
• almost 50 of all of our school districts in the state of New Mexico now have some type of financial literacy
• are interested in visiting the school board association if they were already looking at financial literacy
• So we were proud that APS worked with us and able to get financial literacy there, working with Dona

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Chamber of Commerce Foundation, a survey discovered that over 70% of Americans fail a basic civic literacy
• We see this often if a student is with a counselor, a behavior coach, or even a basketball coach, something

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• He is my guiding light in many respects, and that is Coach Bobby.
• Senator Simon: There is no FSU without Bobby, and so I want to recognize him not just for the coach that
• We are requiring DVA to evaluate the health literacy of veterans and provide recommendations to us on

Transcript Highlights:

• this bill would lay a foundation of important life skills, supporting young people with financial literacy
• to help workers pursue higher-paying careers and achieve greater economic independence. ...coaching
• Boston, we continue to see evidence that direct cash support, combined with career and financial coaching
• It operates as a guaranteed payment, but the coaching is available as well as support with food resources
• It operates, the resources operate as a guaranteed payment, but the coaching is available as well as

Bills: H5085 , H5286

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

Keywords: poverty alleviation, family support, economic mobility, youth transition, financial education, matched savings, community programs, Department of Children and Families, DCF, child abuse investigation, child neglect, pediatrician, advanced practice registered nurse, medical misdiagnosis, rickets, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta, vitamin D deficiency, bone fragility, child welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• to Alabama schools as a football coach on the occasion of his retirement.
• Three coaches responded immediately, and the two school nurses were there within seconds.
• :40:01.280><c> and</c> Three coaches responded immediately and Three coaches responded immediately and
• </c><02:23:01.000><c> So</c> like you'd recruit a football coach.
• So like you'd recruit a football coach.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> congratulate the players, the coaching congratulate the players, the coaching staff,<01:43:01.600
• Congratulations, Coach MJ. Thank you, and I yield back. coach, Mary Joe McCcluskey.
• In 2006, coach, Mary Joe McCcluskey.
• </c><01:55:45.440><c> an</c> coaching, she's put together an coaching, she's put together an inspiring
• Thank you, Congratulations, Coach MJ.