Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1884 is a bill to expand equal access to teachers by all statewide teacher associations,
• are teachers.
• those teachers.
• It does not hurt teachers.
• , teacher mental health, and student and teacher safety.

Bills: SB1632 , SB1594 , SB2045 , SB1251 , SB1884 , SB1250 , SB1630 , SB1262 , SB1374 , SB1292 , SB1432 , SB1199 , SB1790 , SB1481 , SB1614 , SB1734 , SB1437 , SB1489 , SB1718 , SB1778

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• THE TEACHER TRAINING OCCUR AS PART OF WHAT HAPPENS IN EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION, TEACHER TRAINING
• WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FOR TEACHERS THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN TRAINING FOR ACADEMIA.
• IT WAS ALSO ABOUT WHAT WE ARE NOT DOING FOR TEACHERS AS AN INCENTIVE.
• YOU HAVE TO INCORPORATE SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS IN THAT, THAT IS A COST FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
• IT ACTUALLY INCREASES THE TRUST AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT THE STATE AND YOU ALL ACCOUNTABILITY THAT THE

Transcript Highlights:

• A qualified teacher equals a licensed teacher.
• The majority of them are teachers.
• </c><00:30:58.039><c> so</c> teacher equals a licensed teacher so teacher equals a licensed teacher so
• teacher, the master teacher that's providing support for them?
• </c><01:42:14.560><c> and</c><01:42:14.960><c> again</c> teachers teacher of the years and again teachers

Transcript Highlights:

• And moved it into the Student Support Block Grant, and that accounts for the full guarantee.
• As we know, a great teacher is one of the most important factors in a child's success.
• As we know, a great teacher is one of the most important factors in a child success.
• million to help with the teacher shortage in high-needs schools. ...and the Golden State Teacher Grant
• , but ask for $100 million to help with the teacher shortage in high-needs schools.

Summary: The subcommittee heard May Revision proposals for higher education, beginning with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. Finance proposed a one-time $10 million General Fund backfill to repay a special fund loan used to cover litigation costs, plus provisional language to allow budget flexibility for a remaining legal expense and to repay the loan without interest. The LAO opposed shifting the litigation costs to the General Fund and raised legal concerns about waiving interest on the loan, noting that special fund loans have historically been repaid with interest. Members asked about the litigation amount and the estimated interest savings, which Finance said would be about $245,000. The committee then discussed University of California funding, including the Governor’s proposed compact funding and a $1.5 million one-time increase for the First Star foster youth program at UC campuses. UC said the program has strong outcomes at UCLA, including a 100% college-going rate and high college completion rates, and that the new funding would expand the program to additional campuses and eventually be self-supporting through fundraising. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposal, arguing that UC already has overlapping outreach programs, including the Early Academic Outreach Program, and that the new initiative would duplicate existing services. Several senators questioned whether the state should expand a new program instead of strengthening existing ones, while UC and Finance emphasized the program’s focus on foster youth and its high success rates. For the California Community Colleges, Finance outlined the May Revision’s increase to the Student-Centered Funding Formula COLA from 2.41% to 4.31%, along with enrollment growth funding, categorical COLAs, deferred maintenance, and other ongoing and one-time investments. The Chancellor’s Office supported the flexible “super COLA” approach and asked for more enrollment growth funding, arguing that many districts are already above current targets and that unfunded growth restricts access. The LAO recommended funding at least the statutory COLA, redirecting some ongoing funds to enrollment growth or one-time priorities, and rejecting the $9.7 million Adult Learner Demonstration Project because districts already have incentives to do similar work. Senators pressed Finance and the Chancellor’s Office on the use of COLA funds to cover the new paid pregnancy disability leave requirement, the impact on hold-harmless and basic-aid districts, and whether the state should fund actual enrollment growth rather than a flat COLA. The committee also reviewed California Student Aid Commission proposals, including adjustments to Cal Grant and Middle Class Scholarship funding, continued Golden State Teacher Grant funding, and implementation of the federal Workforce Pell program. Finance said the Middle Class Scholarship changes reflected updated caseload estimates and that the higher 35% unmet-need level had been one-time funding, while CSAC urged continued support and noted the importance of financial aid for student success. The LAO recommended rejecting additional Golden State Teacher Grant funding as not well-targeted and urged caution on Workforce Pell trailer bill language, citing uncertainty about federal rules, ongoing administrative workload, and the need for clearer implementation planning. Members also raised concerns about declining CADAA applications and the need to better promote state aid for undocumented and mixed-status students. No votes were taken during the transcripted portion, and the committee moved through the agenda items with questions and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the instructional model, as far as certified teachers, the ratio is 16 to 1, 16 students to one teacher
• It's the same level of teacher. This is the academic day.
• So this is the... ...approved accountability model.
• So our teacher... Thank you, Madam Chair. So our teachers meet with the kids one-on-one online.
• It's either a paraprofessional or a teacher in person, and then there's an online teacher specific to

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the clerks of court. FDLE outlined 28 legislative budget requests for fiscal year 2026-27, including funding for a new Fort Myers regional operations center lease, technology and data system upgrades, moving several programs off uncertain federal grants, expanding the wellness office, cryptocurrency seizure efforts, cybersecurity, forensic equipment, digital forensics, criminal history modernization, training, and the SAFE fentanyl enforcement program. Members asked about the reported 79% increase in officer misconduct cases, the role of body cameras and masking, public records request burdens on local agencies, and the status of Fibers and the Uniform Arrest Affidavit systems. FDLE said the misconduct data covers all sworn officers and corrections personnel, that many cases would not be affected by body cameras because they involve off-duty conduct or internal matters, and that it is working with agencies and vendors to improve participation in reporting systems. DJJ Secretary Matt Walsh updated the committee on the Florida Scholars Academy, describing the new unified education system across 39 residential facilities. He reported first-year enrollment, course completions, graduations, and compliance results, and said the program now provides in-person and blended instruction, individualized support, mental health services, and career and technical education. He also discussed staffing shortages in some detention facilities, the need for more residential beds, and the importance of recognizing and supporting staff. In response to questions, he explained how the program addresses students with disabilities and behavioral needs through one-on-one instruction, paraprofessionals, and immediate mental health support. The clerks of court presented a budget request centered on funding shortfalls and rising costs. Clerk and Comptroller Stacey Butterfield said clerks are operating with outdated funding levels despite increased statutory duties, higher postage and staffing costs, and growing workloads in priority case types such as injunctions for protection and other high-risk matters. The clerks requested $22 million in direct appropriations, including support for due process costs, jury management, and staffing for 37 new judges approved last session. Members also asked about Senate Bill 532, which Butterfield described as a CPI-based measure to update court fines and fees that have remained unchanged since 2008. The committee took no votes on the presentations and adjourned after discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's why accountability is necessary.
• Or pay their teachers. Or pay a teacher, right.
• On campus or improve a building on campus with this or pay their teachers or pay a teacher, right?
• The school, the teacher. So that's already in place.
• I get the privilege of teaching the teachers.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition, teacher preparation also matters for retaining teachers.
• Those teachers.
• , enough teachers to fill every classroom with a highly qualified teacher.
• candidates or teachers.
• It is for new teachers, so it's serving our existing teacher workforce but also our incoming teacher

Transcript Highlights:

• There is ongoing support for those teachers.
• This program provides grants to participants to increase the teacher workforce and really lift up teacher
• This program is aimed at increasing the teacher workforce and really lifting up teacher candidates from
• It's 35 years since we've experienced this level of teacher layoffs.
• They will have less money to be able to hire teachers.

Bills: HF2430 , HF2433

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, Tony Choggera, on behalf of the California Teachers Association.
• It requires teachers, administrators, parents...
• At the end of the day, this is about accountability, access, and equality.
• We are their primary protectors, advocates, and teachers.
• Moms for Liberty stands for limited government, parental rights, and accountability.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh our state some of these accounts.
• We will be uh funding a accounts.
• Members, vote yes on the Niska amendment. account, an account that's supposed to account, an account
• </c><01:07:00.880><c> development</c> interventions, and teacher development interventions, and teacher
• </c> um we have current and retired teachers um we have current and retired teachers of<01:27:50.719>

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of the daily rate of pay for teachers of the daily rate of pay for teachers with<00:03:23.840><c
• . teachers. teachers.
• </c> then hold them accountable for results. then hold them accountable for results.
• </c> teachers and so I'm in support of that. teachers and so I'm in support of that.
• </c> we stack on top of our teachers. we stack on top of our teachers.

Bills: HF630 , HF1435 , HF1607

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• . accountability. accountability. accountability<00:03:30.480><c> both</c><00:03:30.799><c> for</c><00
• :03:31.519><c> the</c><00:03:31.920><c> authorizer</c> accountability both for the authorizer accountability
• </c> statute a little bit of accountability statute a little bit of accountability so<00:05:06.160><c
• </c><00:21:37.200><c> or</c> understanding that any educ teachers or understanding that any educ teachers
• salaries, par salary, support teacher salaries, par salary, support teachers<00:25:48.400><c> or</c>

Summary: The committee heard House File 1999 informationally only, with no formal action taken. Representative Green explained that the bill addresses large and sometimes anonymous data requests made to school districts and other government entities, arguing that while public access to data is essential, some requests create significant staff and cost burdens when requesters do not follow through. She described examples from districts that spent thousands of dollars preparing data that was never inspected, and said the bill aims to add accountability while preserving open government and press access. Testifiers largely supported the bill’s goals but discussed technical changes. Matt Eling of Minnesotans for Open Government said the amendment largely codifies existing guidance on handling large requests by breaking them into components and allowing inspection or copying in stages. Superintendent Jeff Felson of Owatonna Public Schools said his district had received 12 anonymous requests in three years, nine of which were abandoned, costing about $40,000, and one large request cost more than $400,000 and required significant staff time. Rich Newmeister also supported the effort but raised concern about language referring to providing data on a “rolling basis,” suggesting training and clearer guidance for districts instead. Members asked whether school districts already set their own data-request policies, whether anonymous requests must be answered, and how the bill would affect private personnel data. Representative Green said districts do have their own policies, anonymous requests are allowed under current law, and the bill is meant to provide clearer statutory guidance. She also said she was open to removing the “rolling basis” language after feedback. The discussion ended with general support for the bill’s intent and a reminder from the chair that the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• Four are teacher Currently, the district has 14 active projects.
• housing scope school replacement and teacher housing.
• To separate the teacher management by staff.
• We're moving on to item D, teacher housing in Hatch. Mr.
• housing account that we can use towards this.

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• to act as mentors to designated teachers. ...and retired classroom teachers to act as mentors to designated
• teacher no more than one mentee at a time.
• How are they supposed to hold that union accountable if a union can be chosen by three, accountable if
• The teachers in Florida Virtual School are public school teachers, and they are...
• The teachers in Florida Virtual School are public school teachers, and they are in the Florida Retirement

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, a quorum call, approval of the journal, and adoption of the special order calendar. The chamber then took up several Senate bills on special order, with members offering questions and debate before final votes. The first major measure, CS/SB 156, the Officer Jason Rayner Act, would reclassify certain offenses against law enforcement officers and add manslaughter of an officer to the life-sentence reclassification statute. Supporters said it honored Officer Rayner and clarified that resistance to officers with violence is unlawful; opponents argued it reduced judicial discretion and could sweep in unintended cases. The bill passed 100-8. The House next passed CS/SB 688 on naturopathic medicine, which creates a regulatory framework and licensure standards for naturopathic physicians, defines scope limits, and establishes a board under the Department of Health. Supporters framed it as a consumer protection and medical freedom bill, while opponents called it an expansion of scope and criticized the low penalty for unlicensed practice. It passed 85-22. The chamber also passed CS/CS/SB 1062 on speech and debate education, creating a Florida Speech and Debate Hall of Fame, a Speech and Debate Week, and a statewide debate initiative, by a unanimous 112-0 vote. Members then approved CS/CS/SB 1220, a broad transportation bill covering FDOT authority, airports and seaports, drone and delivery devices, autonomous vehicle crimes, tolls, and other transportation issues; an amendment added provisions on Space Florida, golf carts, automated license plate recognition, and related matters while removing digital driver’s license repeal language. The bill passed 87-23. SB 962 on affordable housing, which clarifies that Live Local Act zoning preemption does not unintentionally capture working farms and farm operations, passed 109-2. Finally, CS/CS/SB 1580 on aiding illegal gaming was introduced and discussed; it would strengthen penalties for illegal slot machines and unregulated gaming arcades, clarify reporting and enforcement, and preempt local regulation, with questions focused on VFWs, sweepstakes, fantasy sports, and online betting. The transcript then shifted into lengthy farewell remarks and recognitions, including tributes from members leaving the House and acknowledgments of guests in the galleries.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:25:40.040><c> teacher</c><01:25:40.480><c> and</c> a classroom teacher and a classroom teacher and
• so teachers from International teacher so teachers from the<01:27:13.760><c> Philippines</c><01:27:14.719
• teacher.
• teacher.
• teachers a year.

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The joint Committee on Education and Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs heard Senate Bill 422, which would authorize the Department of Education to award a high school diploma to qualified people whose schooling was interrupted by military service or wartime practices during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. The Department of Education testified in support, noting a prior law that created the Kono diploma program before it sunset in 2020. Several members of the public also testified in support. Both committees later recommended passage of SB 422 without amendments, and the recommendation was adopted by voice votes. The committees then heard Senate Bill 530 on Braille literacy. The bill would establish Braille literacy as state policy, require Braille-related literacy assessments for eligible blind and low-vision students, authorize DOE rulemaking, create a Braille Literacy Resource Center, and appropriate funds. DOE and the Department of Human Services supported the measure, as did the National Federation of the Blind, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and a blind testifier who described the importance of early Braille instruction. The Attorney General’s office raised concerns about statutory language requiring yearly assessments and suggested revisions so annual decisions remain with IEP teams. The committees voted to pass SB 530 with amendments, including the Attorney General’s suggested changes, and adopted the recommendation. The next measure was Senate Bill 532, which would allow school staff and agents trained by a licensed clinician to volunteer to administer medication to students in public schools under certain conditions and clarify who may prescribe such medication. DOE and Department of Health testimony supported the bill. The Attorney General recommended replacing the term “licensed clinician” with the defined term “health care professional.” The Hawaii Academy of Physician Assistants supported the bill but asked that physician assistants be included among providers who may prescribe medications for school administration. After questions about current school health aide duties and field-trip medication procedures, the committees voted to pass SB 532 with amendments, including the Attorney General’s terminology change, and adopted the recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• I love the idea of teacher housing.
• teacher or counselor, is still available.
• Public School System Stabilization Account Overview and Proposals.
• It also improves local cash flow and simplifies state and local accounting.
• Tony Trugero, California Teachers Association.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> knew she was a school teacher. knew she was a school teacher.
• </c> teachers leaving profession. teachers leaving profession.
• teacher shortage.
• You got to have great teachers, teachers, teachers, but<00:53:07.640><c> but</c><00:53:07.840><c> I've
• foreign</c> teacher, uh French teacher, foreign teacher, uh French teacher, foreign language,<01:41:06.640

Committee: House Primary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• SCA 5 creates the Equalization Reserve account in the General Fund.
• The account is based SCA 5 creates the Equalization Reserve account in the General Fund.
• The account is based on the same fiscal rubric as a public school system stabilization account, sometimes
• Deposits remain as principal in an interest-bearing account.
• Students, teachers, administrators, and school board members need their resources now.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Appropriations heard SCA 5, the Education Equalization Act, which would create an Equalization Reserve in the General Fund funded only in strong budget years with non-Prop 98 dollars. Senator Cortese and supporters argued it would provide a stable, ongoing stream of funding to reduce per-pupil disparities between basic-aid and non-basic-aid districts without reducing the Prop 98 minimum guarantee. Supporters included education foundation, school board, administrator, employee, and business representatives. Opponents, including the California Charter Schools Association, argued the measure unfairly excludes charter and county school students and could worsen inequities; some committee members also raised concerns about its fiscal effects and constitutional structure. The committee ultimately voted 4-0 to adopt SCA 5, with the measure kept on call for additional members. The committee then took up a series of Assembly bills, most of which were suspense-file candidates and were moved without objection after brief or waived presentations and no opposition testimony. AB 402, AB 708, AB 1080, AB 1126, AB 1235, AB 1555, AB 1641, ACA 7, AB 1672, AB 1943, AB 2565, and AB 2571 were all sent to suspense. AB 1204 drew testimony from school district leaders and coalition members who said it would worsen LCFF funding disparities by shifting future growth away from the base grant; the bill was opposed and moved to suspense. AB 1672 received support from CalPACE. The Department of Finance did not attend and had no comments on the measures. Finally, ACA 18 was presented as a constitutional amendment to double student voting seats on the UC Board of Regents, creating separate undergraduate and graduate student representation. The author and UC student witnesses said the change would strengthen student voice on issues such as tuition, housing, basic needs, and free speech, and would align UC with CSU and community college governance. There was no opposition testimony, but the committee treated ACA 18 as a suspense-file candidate and moved it to suspense without objection. The hearing then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you did hear that we had a TIA spent... teachers to TIA, to the teacher incentive allotment.
• Some very good special education teachers that served my son, JD.
• This is the most important, the hardest for teachers.
• just teachers, it's therapists, other experts. that come in to play.
• Per our 2324 TAPER accountability report...

Bills: SB568 , SCR5 , SB57 , SB1447 , SB27 , SB24 , SB 57 , SB 24 , SB 27

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• This program is different from the Teacher Residency Program because these aspiring teachers do not have
• Line 149, under Grow Your Own Teacher Fund.
• It's currently in an account that rolls over each fiscal year.
• , this being the most unrestricted and flexible account.
• Salaries are statutorily tied to teacher level 3 teacher minimums, and so they automatically get an increase

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance