Transcript Highlights:

• Develop leadership skills and engage thoughtfully in civic discourse.

Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and introductions recognizing Dr. Thomas Clem as Doctor of the Day and a YMCA delegation, including Youth and Government students, in the gallery. Senators also noted the YMCA’s 175th anniversary and its community service, and later offered birthday wishes to the President. The chamber then took up several special-order bills. SB 100 adopted the 2026 Florida Statutes and the 2025 session’s enacted statute materials; SB 102 removed provisions that had been repealed or expired; and SB 104 served as the general reviser’s bill, deleting obsolete language, updating cross-references, and correcting drafting errors. All three passed 36-0. The Senate also passed SB 320 on administrative efficiency in public schools, which reduces district-level requirements, expands teacher apprenticeship and certification flexibility, streamlines assessments and budgeting, and adjusts VPK and facility-planning rules; Senator Simon said the goal was to reduce burdens while maintaining accountability. The Senate further passed SB 7010, allowing state and local deferred compensation plans to offer Roth post-tax contributions in addition to pre-tax options. Senator Mayfield explained the bill would give DFS and local governments authority to add that option. The chamber also withdrew SB 1720, relating to public school personnel compensation, from further consideration. At the end of the session, the Senate waived rules so all bills passed that day could be immediately certified to the House, and then adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

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• You don't see that in a lot of other committees, but the highly skilled committees do that.

Summary: The House State Affairs Committee considered three measures. RS 32824 would require paid petition signature gatherers to display on their badge not only their name but also the name of any person or entity paying them. Members discussed whether to use singular or plural wording and whether to keep “entity” in the text; a substitute motion to strike “entity” failed, and the committee then adopted the original motion with changes to use plural language. The bill was introduced. The committee also heard RS 32825C1, which would expand the Legislature’s ability to hire private counsel not just to defend state interests, but to take legal action on behalf of Idaho when federal actions are believed to exceed constitutional authority or otherwise harm the state. The sponsor said the measure would allow legislative leaders to act when the Attorney General’s office is unavailable or short-staffed, and noted it had Speaker Moyle’s support. The committee voted to introduce the bill. Finally, RS 32992, a concurrent resolution, was presented to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The resolution highlights Idaho’s planned semiquincentennial activities, including a year of volunteerism targeting 250,000 acts of service, promotion of an Idaho song called “Forever Idaho,” a statewide signature display project, and planting “Freedom Groves” or “Liberty Groves” on public land. The committee voted to introduce the resolution and send it to the Second Reading calendar. The chair announced the committee would not meet the following Friday.

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• We offer Career Safe, which provides online safety, health training, and employment skill development

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• additional $8 million was provided for water line expansions in Curry County, an additional $2 million for skilled

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• I've been in manufactured homes that looked like they were built by a very skilled craftsman, and I've

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met with a quorum present and took up three bills. The first two, both by Senator Truenow, addressed Florida manufacturing. SB 600 would codify the Office of Manufacturing in the Department of Commerce, support workforce development grants, create a Florida Manufacturing Promotional Campaign, and require biannual reporting. A strike-all amendment clarified that the chief manufacturing officer already exists, the campaign is voluntary, the program falls under Chapter 288, and grant awards are at the department’s discretion. Florida Makes, Associated Industries of Florida, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce appeared in support, and the committee reported CS/SB 600 favorably. SB 602 established fees for the promotional campaign, with an amendment setting the fee at no more than $100 to administer the voluntary program; Florida Makes supported the bill, and the committee reported CS/SB 602 favorably. The committee then considered CS/CS/SB 184 by Senator Gates, an affordable housing and property rights bill requiring local governments to allow accessory dwelling units in single-family residential areas, while exempting planned unit developments and master-planned communities. The bill also limited local restrictions on parking and homestead treatment, allowed a density bonus for housing affordable to military families, and referenced an OPPAGA study on mezzanine financing. An amendment clarified that ADUs could not be used as short-term vacation rentals and must be rented for at least 30 days, allowed manufactured homes if they meet local standards, and removed a requirement that the unit be rented at an affordable rate or to a moderate- or low-income person. Senators asked about homestead exemption treatment, property tax impacts, and local control, and Gates explained that ADUs could be built later and would be separately taxed without affecting the original homestead exemption. Several groups appeared in support of SB 184, including AARP, Americans for Prosperity, Florida Realtors, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Senators Smith and Arrington spoke in favor, with Arrington noting concerns about parking flexibility for local governments. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported CS/CS/SB 184 favorably. At the end of the meeting, Senator Collins asked to be recorded as voting yes on tabs two and three, and the committee adjourned.

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• And then there's another part of this. also get stipends for education level, bilingual skill, and also

Keywords: 1184, house, all

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• never, ever hit the required number of beds just due to cost and logistics if we were to just operate skilled

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services took up two bills. Senator Burgess presented SB 116, the Senate Veterans Package, which would reduce the number of Veterans Hall of Fame nominations, expand FDVA health survey and coordination efforts, add mental health training to the veterans suicide prevention pilot program, fix statutory references, improve coordination between Veterans Florida and FDVA, and require FDVA to develop a plan for adult day health care facilities for veterans and their families. An amendment was adopted to appropriate $300,000 for the suicide prevention training pilot and $50,000 for the health survey. The bill was supported in debate, especially for the adult day care provision, and CS/SB 116 was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then heard SB 294 by Senator Harrell, which would exclude specified cardiac conditions—such as heart failure, coronary heart disease, and cardiac arrhythmias—from the list of chronic health conditions that may be managed under collaborative pharmacy practice agreements. Senator Harrell argued that these complex conditions require direct physician involvement and that pharmacists should not be making medication changes for severe cardiac patients based on protocols alone. Senator Rouson asked why heart conditions had been included previously, and Vice Chair Davis asked about fiscal impact; Harrell said there would be no state cost, though patients might face additional out-of-pocket expenses, which she said could be offset by avoiding more serious complications. Public testimony on SB 294 was divided. The Florida Pharmacy Association opposed the bill, arguing that collaborative practice agreements are voluntary, physician-controlled, and already include safeguards, and that pharmacists are highly trained to help manage chronic conditions and improve access and outcomes. A cardiologist with the Florida Chapter of the American College of Cardiology supported the bill, warning that cardiac patients are complex and that pharmacists may make dangerous decisions without the full clinical picture. Senator Burton also supported the bill, saying the original collaborative practice framework was not intended to let pharmacists diagnose or treat serious cardiac disease. SB 294 was then reported favorably by roll call vote. At the end of the meeting, Senators Rodriguez and Garcia asked to be recorded in the affirmative on SB 116, and the committee adjourned without further business.

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• </c><03:57:58.199><c> and</c><03:57:58.439><c> specifically</c><03:57:58.920><c> the</c> out to labor
• </c><04:03:27.479><c> I</c> still being processed through Labor I still being processed through Labor
• I'm the Deputy Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Labor. I promise I will be brief.
• Oh, was that labor?
• Okay, we have asked the Department of Labor for possibilities of more fees in this.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 2 provisions affecting the New Hampshire Retirement System, focusing on Group 2/Tier B retirement changes in pages 25 through 39 of the bill. NHRS Executive Director Jan Goodwin and deputy chief counsel Mark Kavanaugh explained that the 2025 bill is largely similar to prior versions and to HB 727, with the main difference being that the 2025 version does not include the earlier increase in the maximum benefit. They also said the fiscal note for HB 2 is based on earlier actuarial work and that an updated valuation was expected later in the week. A major topic was whether the bill accidentally removed an anti-spiking or special-duty compensation limit. NHRS said the omission appears to be a scrivener’s error caused by moving language between Group 1 and Group 2 definitions, and they planned to flag it in the fiscal note. Members also reviewed the bill’s intent to restore Tier B members to pre-2011 benefit rules, including changes to earnable compensation, average final compensation, and the comp-over-base rule. Some members questioned whether restoring those older rules was appropriate, arguing the 2011 changes were meant to curb pension spiking and that undoing them could be problematic. The committee also discussed the bill’s cost and funding assumptions. NHRS said the 2025 bill would reduce unfunded actuarial liability by about $98.2 million and would have a more favorable effect than the 2023 version, while employer contribution impacts would remain relatively small. Members noted the bill assumes annual appropriations of $27.5 million for 10 years, but House Bill 1 currently provides only $5 million in the first year, and NHRS had not yet analyzed the effect of that shortfall. No votes were taken in the portion provided; the discussion was informational and focused on clarifying the bill’s language, intent, and fiscal impact.

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• from<00:17:33.200><c> a</c><00:17:33.360><c> variety</c><00:17:33.600><c> of</c><00:17:33.760><c> labor
• partners as well from a variety of labor partners as well as<00:17:35.360><c> the</c><00:17:35.600><
• He's a blue-collar laborer. They don't have a lot of money.
• </c> laborer. They don't have a lot of money. laborer. They don't have a lot of money.
• We<01:15:42.800><c> are</c><01:15:42.880><c> a</c><01:15:43.040><c> labor</c><01:15:43.280><c> union<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Education Forward, support funding education programs that help Arizona's welfare systems and ensure skills
• Our programs help them get that high school degree, get them skills training, and into a higher-paying
• We're 20,000 skilled trades jobs short.

Bills: HB4154, HB4155, HB4156, HB4157, HB4158, HB4159, HB4160, HB4161, HB4162, HB4163, HB4164, HB4165, HB4166, HB4167, HB4168, HB4169, SB1847, SB1848, SB1849, SB1850, SB1851, SB1852, SB1853, SB1854, SB1855, SB1856, SB1857, SB1858, SB1859, SB1860, SB1861, SB1862

Keywords: general appropriations act, budget, biennial budget, state spending, appropriations, fiscal year 2026, fiscal year 2027, state treasury, agency funding, operating budget, capital budget, public finance, state agencies, legislative budget, house appropriations, rules committee, HB4155, amusements, amusement industry, entertainment

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• school, if you're in sixth grade or seventh grade and you're struggling with foundational literacy skills
• But these funds are to be used for salaries for EL-skilled instructional services, relevant training
• So it needs to improve the knowledge and skills of teachers, administrators, and paraprofessionals.

Summary: The committee approved the March 9 and 10 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Arkansas Department of Education on the Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship, featuring three third-grade teachers from Cabot, Poyen, and Drew Central who are also teacher merit pay recipients. The teachers described the fellowship as a year-long Zoom-based collaboration with about 23 educators statewide, focused on sharing classroom strategies, data use, and professional support. Members asked about the teachers’ experience, how they share what they learn with their districts, the range of grades represented in the fellowship, and the relationship between the fellowship and merit pay. The teachers emphasized building relationships with students, using data to drive instruction, early intervention, and collaboration across grade levels, while the secretary said the program is intended to identify and elevate high-performing teachers and spread their practices. A major portion of the discussion focused on third-grade reading, retention, and the new ATLAS testing system. Teachers and the secretary said students are screened and progress monitored throughout the year, families are notified early if students are at risk, and schools are using interventions, tutoring, and individualized reading plans. They said ATLAS results are now available much faster than in the past, often within 24 hours or a few days, allowing teachers and parents to respond quickly. Members asked about the impact of poverty, trauma, foster care, DHS involvement, IEPs, and critical shortage areas; teachers said relationship-building, small-group instruction, and coordination with counselors and special education staff are key. The secretary said the fellowship is a small subset of a broader merit pay program, that participation was voluntary, and that the state is trying to build a coherent system with literacy coaches, high-impact tutoring, and clearer standards rather than teaching to the test. Members also discussed broader policy issues, including the need for more positive public messaging about public education, teacher input in decision-making, and support for early childhood education. Several legislators asked whether the state should expand funding for early learning and whether more literacy or academic coaches are needed in districts that improve and then lose eligibility for state support. The secretary said the state has committed literacy coaches to D and F schools and is still working through how to sustain support as schools improve. He also said the administration would look at data and return on investment before supporting additional funding, and he encouraged legislators to help recruit eligible teachers into future fellowship cohorts. After the teacher panel concluded, the committee moved on to the adequacy resource allocation study, where Bureau of Legislative Research staff began a presentation on state and local education funding sources, categorical funds, and district spending patterns.

Transcript Highlights:

• school, if you're in sixth grade or seventh grade and you're struggling with foundational literacy skills
• But these funds are to be used for salaries for EL skilled instructional services, relevant training
• So it needs to improve the knowledge and skills of teachers, administrators, and paraprofessionals.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , of the two different committees allows us to ensure that we're reviewing purely on the technical skill
• different selection committees, a couple of things that we look at: not only their experience and skills
• A couple of things that we look at, not only their experience and skills in the area that we want in

Summary: The committee met to review MassDOT’s failed service plaza procurement and the Inspector General’s findings. Chair Montigny opened with a broad critique of procurement culture, conflict-of-interest risks, and the need for stronger oversight, saying the committee’s role is bipartisan and investigative and that subpoenas would be used if necessary. Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro then summarized his investigatory letter, saying MassDOT had created procedures that could have supported a fair process but did not follow them. He identified eight major problems, including inadequate conflict-of-interest disclosures, undisclosed relationships and communications with Applegreen and Suffolk Construction, violations of contact rules, inconsistent weighting of evaluation subfactors, weak documentation of scoring, unclear information-sharing with subject matter experts, live roll-call scoring that increased perceived bias, and insufficient board/committee review before approval. He recommended clearer disclosure forms, stronger training, better documentation, sealed scoring, clearer rules for internal communications, and more public board involvement. Committee members pressed the Inspector General on whether the conduct violated law, how to define and police “appearance” of conflicts, whether employees should be held accountable, and whether prior evaluators should be excluded from the new process. Shapiro said his report did not conclude that laws were violated, but that the process was seriously flawed and that accountability should be handled within agencies. He also said he would provide additional written recommendations on broader procurement standards and noted that some oversight functions may need clearer definitions and better recordkeeping across agencies and quasi-public entities. The chair and members emphasized that the problems appeared systemic rather than limited to one administration or one contract. MassDOT Interim Secretary Phil Ting and Undersecretary Jonathan Gulliver then described the new procurement approach. They said the prior process had been a failure, but that the new effort is a complete reset with no one from the prior evaluation participating. MassDOT plans to split the plazas into three geographic packages, use a design-build/public-private partnership framework, and create a P3 Commission with appointments from the governor, legislative leaders, and treasurer, plus review by the Inspector General and Attorney General. They said the new scoring will be more objective, with financial scoring set at 60% and based on a guaranteed maximum price and other mathematical measures rather than projected revenues, and that technical and financial evaluations will be separated in a double-blind process. Members signaled cautious support for the changes but continued to question whether the new structure and oversight will be enough to prevent a repeat of the earlier procurement failures.

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• These are not skills that are built from scratch.
• These skills are already embedded and are honorably discharged veterans, and this is a great way to protect
• These skills are already embedded and are honorably discharged veterans and this is a great way to protect

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary met on March 19, 2006, and considered a series of mostly local and judicial bills. Early action included HB 436, which authorizes appointment of honorably discharged veterans as park wardens; supporters said it would give veterans meaningful service roles and improve park safety. The committee adopted an amendment requiring honorable discharge, employment qualification compliance if hired by a public entity, and firearms training where applicable, then reported the bill favorably. The committee also advanced HB 16, extending the jurisdiction of the City Court of Franklin, and HB 44, which shifts certain blight-related hearings in St. Bernard Parish from the Bureau of Administrative Adjudication to justices of the peace and constables; members asked about appeals, fines, jurisdictional limits, and whether the change would affect HOAs, and the bill was reported favorably. Members then approved HB 61 creating Battle of New Orleans Day, with an amendment clarifying holiday language and adding a detailed historical commemoration of the battle and its diverse forces. HB 233, which raises juror mileage reimbursement from 16 cents per mile to the state travel rate, drew support but also concern about the cost to local governments; the sponsor and members discussed the fiscal impact, and the bill was reported favorably. HB 164, expanding commissioner powers in the 15th Judicial District Court, was also reported favorably after testimony that it would help manage caseloads and mirror procedures used in other districts. HB 455, defining public works employees as first responders for coordination and recognition purposes, generated extensive questions about emergency authority, FEMA reimbursement, workers’ compensation, liability, and unintended consequences; the committee deferred the bill to a later meeting for further review. The committee also approved HB 242, authorizing deputy constables in St. Tammany Parish at no state cost, and HB 10, making the Friday of the International Rice Festival a legal holiday in Acadia Parish. HB 9, designating Shreveport as the stuffed shrimp capital of Louisiana, was reported favorably after light discussion. HB 571, which would make permanent the complex litigation section program in the 19th Judicial District Court, was supported by judges and court staff who said it improves efficiency in large cases such as asbestos and hurricane litigation; it was reported favorably. Finally, HB 16 and several other local measures moved forward without objection, while the committee also heard a deeply personal presentation on HB 61 designating February 24 as SCN2A Awareness Day, later amended to honor Emily Catherine Diedon by name; members expressed sympathy, discussed genetic testing and access to care, and reported the bill favorably as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are not skills that are built from scratch.
• These skills are already embedded and are honorably discharged veterans, and this is a great way to protect
• These skills are already embedded and are honorably discharged veterans and this is a great way to protect

Bills: HB9, HB10, HB16, HB44, HB46, HB61, HB101, HB126, HB153, HB164, HB233, HB242, HB436, HB455, HB571, HB594

Keywords: HB 9, HB9, Act 527, Shreveport, Stuffed Shrimp Capital, state symbol, Louisiana symbols, municipal designation, honorary title, cultural designation, tourism, local pride, seafood, shrimp, stuffed shrimp, cuisine, city branding, Louisiana Revised Statutes 49:170.26, legal holiday, Acadia Parish

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• is simple: when taxpayers help support a professional education, it is reasonable to ask for those skills
• And, you know, our industry is clamoring for employees that are trained in just these types of skills
• Industry was telling us you're not producing the type of employees with the skills we need.

Keywords: 989, all

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• HB 213 authorizes optometrists who are skilled professionals, but are not medical doctors and not required
• colleague, Representative Chavez, that even though it may take five minutes, you still need a lot of skill
• And I don't think how long it takes is the determining factor as to what level of skill and risk is involved

Bills: HB99, HJR5, HM39, HB206, HB213, SB41, SB153, SB165, SB261, SB264

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 99, a medical malpractice reform measure. Sponsor Chair Chandler and Minority Leader Armstrong described months of stakeholder negotiations aimed at balancing patient compensation with concerns from physicians, hospitals, and insurers about litigation costs, punitive damages, and access to care. The committee substitute kept the existing monetary damage caps but changed several provisions, including definitions of “occurrence” and “value of medical care,” treatment of future medical expenses, a higher clear-and-convincing standard for punitive damages, a two-step process before punitive damages can be pled, and a lower punitive-damages cap for smaller providers versus a higher cap for large hospital systems. Supporters said the bill would help recruit and retain doctors and stabilize the malpractice market; opponents argued it weakens accountability, especially for corporate and out-of-state hospital systems, and several speakers urged a stronger amendment to preserve patient rights. After debate, the committee voted 10-0 to give the House Judiciary Committee substitute for HB 99 a do-pass recommendation. The committee then heard House Joint Resolution 5, which would amend the state constitution to allow legislative compensation. Sponsors and supporters said paying legislators would make service more accessible to working people, parents, rural residents, and others without independent wealth, and would broaden representation. Several advocacy groups and individual commenters backed the proposal, while members raised questions about the pay formula, with the resolution tying compensation to the state median income. Some members supported the idea but preferred a salary commission or a different mechanism. The committee approved HJR 5 on a 7-3 vote. Finally, the committee began hearing House Memorial 39, which calls for a task force to study the current state of sexual assault examination kits and report on backlog progress. Sponsor Rep. Ferrari and the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs explained that a prior task force a decade ago found more than 5,000 untested kits and led to policy changes, including the Sexual Assault Survivors Bill of Rights and a statewide tracking system. The memorial is intended to reassess whether backlogs remain and recommend further fixes.

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• development, cell sites, and network upgrades, creating local jobs for contractors, engineers, and other skilled
• development, sell sites, and network upgrades, creating local jobs for contractors, engineers, and other skilled
• Last year, we announced that, For contractors, engineers, and other skilled workers.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2383, Representative Simmons’s bill addressing theft of copper and other infrastructure-related property. After a brief executive session and no further discussion, the committee voted the bill do pass by a roll call of 17 ayes, 1 no, and 1 present. The committee then heard House Bill 2711, sponsored by Representative Deal, which would lower the assessed valuation of broadband communications equipment from 33.5% to 12% for new broadband equipment placed in service after August 28, 2026, with a proposed sunset period discussed as part of a substitute. Representative Deal and several industry witnesses, including AT&T, Verizon, Missouri Cable Association, Missouri Broadband Providers Association, Missouri Chamber, and electric co-ops, argued the measure would improve Missouri’s competitiveness, encourage private investment, and help expand broadband in rural and underserved areas. Opponents, including county assessors, argued the bill would reduce local tax revenue, create unequal treatment, and could become a precedent for other industries. Committee members questioned whether the bill would apply only to new builds or also to upgrades and existing infrastructure, and whether the tax relief would actually drive expansion into rural areas. The committee then began hearing House Bills 2402 and 2816, which deal with solar energy siting and taxation. The sponsors described the bills as setting local assessment rules for solar projects, establishing a per-megawatt valuation, requiring larger setbacks from homes, schools, and churches, and limiting the amount of tillable land that can be used for solar in a county, while also addressing Chapter 100 agreements and decommissioning concerns. Supporters, including Missouri Farm Bureau and county officials, said the bills would provide needed guardrails, local control, and more consistent taxation. Opponents and affected landowners said existing solar projects have caused glare, dust, noise, and property value concerns, while some developers said they wanted clearer statewide rules and consistency for future projects. The committee did not take final action on the solar bills before going into recess.

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• Retirees from uniformed services bring leadership, technical skills, and stability to local economies
• These retirees bring high-level leadership skills, technical expertise, and a commitment to service that
• They have skills, and they are ready to go to work here if we will let them.

Bills: SB97, SB55, SB40, SB38, SB120, SB113, SB116, SB117, SB118

Keywords: tax credits, municipality, county property, industrial revenue bonds, economic development, qualified expenditures, solar energy, tax credit, renewable energy, photovoltaic, solar thermal, New Mexico, economic incentive, energy independence, SB40, Driver Privacy and Safety Act, automated license plate reader, ALPR, license plate reader, vehicle surveillance

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• and supporting not only our educators but other school employees so that they're equipped with the skills
• starts from the beginning as we're establishing our STEM programs and thinking about what jobs and skills
• can be designed with a specific instructor in mind as opposed to really thinking broadly about what skill

Keywords: 996, all