Transcript Highlights:

• them to work with students not to discriminate against current students or students are seeking to enroll
• them to work with students not to discriminate against current students or students are seeking to enroll
• </c><00:10:18.399><c> current</c><00:10:18.880><c> students</c> to discriminate against current students
• to discriminate against current students or<00:10:19.680><c> students</c><00:10:20.079><c> are</c><00
• Um and area about working with students.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Some students are dealing with severe medical issues.
• All students who are enrolled in...
• So, even though the students didn't move, education didn't change.
• How many out-of-state students are participating in this? Mr.
• And then they also reported to us student IDs.

Committee: Senate Senate Education

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill will cut the testing time in half for Washoe County students.
• This bill will cut the testing time in half for Washoe County students.
• They provide sort of a clearer course of action based on what students' results were.
• So we are drastically over-assessing our students, just holistically in education.
• Instruction to provide targeted supports for students.

Bills: AB386

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: AB386, Washoe County School District, reading assessment, literacy, elementary school, pupil assessment, statewide assessment, alternative assessment, reading proficiency, standards-based testing, valid and reliable test, State Board of Education, Department of Education, pilot program, school testing, assessment equivalency, education grant, Nevada education, NRS 388.157, school accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:12:19.120><c> and</c><00:12:19.360><c> student</c> programs because students and student programs
• because students and student demographics<00:12:20.560><c> just</c><00:12:20.760><c> change</c><00:12
• </c> and the eight is the number of students and the eight is the number of students in<00:52:22.040>
• </c> the number of compensatory uh students the number of compensatory uh students at<01:00:20.559><c
• </c> drop in the number of eligible students drop in the number of eligible students uh<01:03:50.880>

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• go forward in this meeting, may we strive to provide the proper education to the children and the students
• MIRS was... ...students, and I echo what Mr. MIRS was saying.
• If this was just one student or a couple of students, if this was a one-off or a one-time thing, I would
• Regarding their academic opportunities, unless that student reaches out, that's important because students
• But these offerings can only work if a student knows about them.

Bills: SB140 , HB102 , SB133 , SB34

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: Coach Safely Act, youth athletics, noncompliance penalties, Department of Public Health, youth athlete, dual enrollment, high school, community college, university, educational access, high school credit, violence prevention, conflict resolution, mediation, public education, high school graduation, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And one of the things that we did in Olympia is that we always ask the students, because students are
• the very best at being students, right?
• Students often come into these sessions with major misconceptions.
• Students often come into these sessions with major misconceptions.
• She was a student, and she had to go back to class. Thank you, Ms.

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee met on January 27 and heard extensive public testimony on several bills before moving into executive session. Senate Bill 5921 would create a Department of Health medical psilocybin program for adults with qualifying conditions, with licensed producers and clinician participation requirements, training, background checks, and program standards. Supporters, including the sponsor and many clinicians, veterans, first responders, and patients, described psilocybin as promising for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, trauma, and end-of-life anxiety, while opponents and some medical groups raised concerns about missing safeguards, contraindications, monitoring, cost, and the bill’s narrow medical model. Testimony was split sharply, with many also urging broader decriminalization or community-use protections. The committee later heard Senate Bill 6115, which would have the Department of Health contract for age-appropriate cancer education for grades 6-12; supporters from Cancer Pathways, educators, and families said it would improve prevention and risk awareness, while the bill drew substantial opposition in sign-in counts, and the hearing was ultimately closed without action that day. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5185, a pilot pathway for international medical graduates to obtain full unrestricted primary care licensure after supervised clinical practice, completion of exam and competency requirements, and annual reporting. The sponsor, Washington Medical Association, the Medical Commission, and IMG advocates said the proposal would expand access to primary care while maintaining patient safety, and the bill received supportive testimony. In executive session, the committee adopted proposed substitutes and advanced Senate Bill 5916 on non-opioid pain drugs, Senate Bill 5985 on endometriosis, Senate Bill 6019 on home care rate statutes, Senate Bill 6161 on dementia information, and Senate Bill 6183 on HIV antiviral drug coverage. For Senate Bill 5981 on the 340B drug pricing program, the committee adopted an amendment adding reporting and transparency requirements before moving the bill forward. The committee then adjourned, and the remaining hearing items were rescheduled for a later date.

Transcript Highlights:

• could make it go at K12 with students could make it go at K12 with nine<00:25:12.240><c> students.
• Questions. our students. I would truly implore you our students.
• </c><01:12:43.440><c> We</c> care of our students and staff. We care of our students and staff.
• The principal is the students.
• </c><02:14:00.480><c> The</c> student. Teacher efficacy is harmed. The student.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• who are highcost special students who are highcost special education<00:18:32.960><c> students.
• </c> actually spent on high school students. actually spent on high school students.
• So, these are not high set students. These students actually receive a high school diploma.
• So is it student wellness? Student wellness. Excuse me. Which one? Well, I think it was wellness.
• So is it student wellness? Student wellness. Excuse me. Which one? Well, I think it was wellness.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Two, the $100 per student cut to local effort assistance.
• These pressures slow student completion and weaken the workforce pipeline.
• We serve almost 64,000 students, including 46,000 undergraduates.
• Also, for this fall, 78,000 students applied for admission at UW Seattle.
• Those are your homeless and foster students.

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee opened with committee guidelines for the 2026 session, including limits on testimony, amendment deadlines, confidentiality expectations, and professionalism rules. Chair Ormsby also reviewed housekeeping for the public hearing, noting the meeting was recorded and live streamed, and that testimony would be limited to one minute because of the large number of sign-ups. The committee then began its work session on Governor Ferguson’s proposed 2026 supplemental operating budget, presented by OFM Director Katie Chapman, who outlined the state’s fiscal pressures: higher caseloads in major programs, a revenue forecast decline of about $390 million, federal policy changes tied to H.R. 1, inflation, and a relatively small ending fund balance. She said the governor’s budget solves about a $2.3 billion shortfall through nearly $800 million in spending reductions, revenue shifts, fund transfers, use of about $1 billion from the Budget Stabilization Account, and some tax preference changes, while also making targeted investments in areas such as child welfare, behavioral health, wildfire response, housing, and IT modernization. Chapman also explained that the proposal does not fully balance over the four-year outlook under the state’s statutory assumptions, but said the governor relied on the budget-balance law’s exception tied to BSA use and low employment growth. A question from Rep. Connors about credit ratings was answered with the view that the impact is difficult to predict and that Washington’s strong pension funding and balanced-budget framework remain positives. The public hearing drew testimony from state officials and many advocates, most of whom opposed specific cuts or fund shifts in the governor’s proposal. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs objected to proposed sweeps from the corporations and charities fund and the library archives account, citing prior cuts, layoffs, cyberattack-related costs, and the need to upgrade aging systems. Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove urged restoration of wildfire prevention funding, saying the proposed amount was still $30 million short of the commitment in House Bill 1168 and that underfunding would increase suppression costs and risk to communities. Many education witnesses opposed reductions to Working Connections Child Care, transition to kindergarten, local effort assistance, Running Start, and higher education across-the-board cuts, arguing they would harm access, equity, and workforce development. Higher education leaders from community colleges, the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and Evergreen State College described staffing cuts, program reductions, and pressure on student services, while K-12 groups and OSPI said the budget would deepen existing funding gaps. A large portion of testimony focused on human services, health, housing, and civil legal aid. Child welfare and youth-serving organizations supported some targeted investments but opposed cuts to child care, child welfare network administration, and youth programs; advocates for foster youth, homeless youth, and mentoring programs asked for continued or increased funding. Health care and long-term care providers warned that proposed Medicaid and rate changes would reduce access for seniors, people with disabilities, and safety-net patients, while Planned Parenthood and abortion access advocates urged full restoration of the Abortion Access Project and related reimbursements. Housing and legal aid witnesses backed the governor’s proposed right-to-counsel funding but asked for more support, and homelessness advocates sought contingency funding for federal housing programs. Crime victim and domestic violence service providers repeatedly said the proposed $12 million was far short of the roughly $21.38 million needed to avoid service cuts and closures. Other testimony addressed the Climate Commitment Account shift for the Working Families Tax Credit, with environmental advocates opposing the diversion of CCA dollars and workforce advocates supporting the governor’s economic security and employment programs. No votes or formal committee action were taken during the hearing portion described in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mora, the Dean of Students, who also runs the pathways programs from Uxbridge High School with me to
• H. 3249 directly benefits our students by establishing the high school trade partnership program.
• H. 3249 makes a strategic, coordinated investment in Massachusetts students and our economic future.
• I'm looking at the long-term effect, bringing those students into the workplace.
• And we... ...including high school students, where this is their first job.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on a large slate of bills related to advertising, economic development, tourism, digital advertising, delivery taxes, and alcohol taxation. The first panel supported H. 3249, which would create a high school trade partnership program linking public schools with private employers, especially in manufacturing, and would offer employers a tax credit for participation. Representative Soder, Uxbridge High School leaders, and others argued the bill would strengthen career pathways, build a skilled workforce, and keep students and jobs in Massachusetts. The committee then heard testimony on H. 3031 and S. 2003 to modernize the Massachusetts Tourism Trust Fund by dedicating an additional share of hotel occupancy tax revenue to tourism promotion. Tourism and hospitality representatives from Cape Cod, Southwick Zoo, and Indian Ranch said the proposal would not raise taxes but would reinvest existing visitor-generated revenue into marketing that supports jobs, local businesses, and municipal tax receipts. A tech-industry coalition opposed several digital advertising tax bills and a delivery tax bill, warning they would raise costs, create uncertainty, and burden consumers, small businesses, and delivery workers. The largest portion of the hearing focused on S. 2029, which would raise the alcohol excise tax by 10 cents per drink and dedicate the revenue to public health programs. Public health experts, advocates, a student prevention leader, and representatives from Jane Doe, Inc. argued the tax would reduce alcohol-related harms, address decades of inflation-driven erosion in the tax, and generate substantial new funding for prevention, treatment, domestic violence services, and community schools. Committee members asked questions about the current tax structure, inflation, and how the proposal compares with neighboring states. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair adjourned after public testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, members, SB 1435 makes the ban on referring students to sexually explicit materials a Class
• A person authorized to perform the duties of a medical examiner, including a medical student, resident
• But at the same time, I fully understand wanting to make sure every student has their, you know, high
• time the student spends in the released-time course as... ...academic credit to participating students
• In H.R. 1 that provides scholarships for private and public school students.

Summary: The committee heard a long list of Senate bills, mostly on consent, covering appropriations, public records, workers’ compensation, state hiring, burial costs, military flags in HOAs, court-ordered treatment, mental health service of process, medical examiner authority, tribal MOUs for DCS, controlled substances scheduling, EMT privacy, mammography notices, assisted living referral disclosures, accommodation school GED eligibility, released-time religious instruction, school board and charter governance issues, firearm safety instruction, student eligibility for extracurriculars after criminal convictions, Celebrate Freedom Week, tax-credit scholarship administration, CPA and insurance licensing pathways, immigration-related arrest notifications, defamation standards, peace officer certification for veterans, mandatory child abuse reporting, attorney licensing, business emergency-call penalties, unlawful occupant removals, attorney discipline costs, fentanyl sentencing thresholds, concealed weapons on campuses, firearm muffling devices, utility-worker assault penalties, water planning, environmental review for power plants and SMRs, groundwater recovery, voter registration rules, campaign address privacy, and federal land acquisition notifications. Several bills were pulled from consent for further discussion, including SB 1078, SB 1435, SB 1567, SB 1665, SB 1184, SB 1586, SB 1741, SB 1424, SB 1475, SB 1572, SB 1142, SB 1055, SB 1099, SB 1107, SB 1148, SB 1068, and SB 1069. Members raised concerns about constitutional issues, due process, school funding, public safety, and whether some proposals were unnecessary or duplicative. Supportive comments were also made on a few measures, such as expanded pathways for students in accommodation schools, child welfare coordination with tribes, and alternative certification or licensing pathways. The discussion included notable debate on SB 1166, which would allow some 11th graders and students over 16 in accommodation schools to receive GED preparation; members split between concerns about encouraging students to leave high school early and support for youth in detention, emancipation, or unstable situations. SB 1127 on mandatory reporting was clarified to require direct reporting of known abuse or neglect to DCS rather than delegation to another person. SB 1188 on controlled substances drew questions about how federal rescheduling would be mirrored in state law. The meeting ended with announcements and an “Affordability Award” recognizing Rep. Stahl Hamilton, followed by a request for guests to leave for a closed caucus.

Transcript Highlights:

• Nearly 145,000 K-12 students received special education services in Minnesota last year.
• That's just over 17% of all Minnesotan students.
• Schools can provide and give that best programming for the students that need the services.
• </c><00:04:08.120><c> that</c> programming uh for the students that programming uh for the students that
• </c><00:13:07.560><c> best</c> school boards have our students best school boards have our students best

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Financial education as a foundation to our K-12 setting in terms of students graduating.
• It is essential to empower our students with a strong foundation in financial capability.
• And when students are denied access to opportunity, that's a challenge, right?
• they can reach and how many students are in Washington’s public schools.
• They are students.

Summary: Treasurer and legislative supporters held a press event to announce pre-filing of legislation that would require financial education for Washington students as a graduation requirement. Treasurer said the goal is to give young people a foundational understanding of personal finance so they are not dependent on their parents’ money knowledge and can better navigate loans, credit, interest, taxes, housing, and other financial decisions. Senator Adrian Cortes said he is leading the effort in the Senate and described the bill as important for preparing students for adult life and supporting working families and future small business owners. Testimony from an educator, a financial education nonprofit leader, and a credit union representative all backed the proposal. Vanessa Medina, a Vancouver public school teacher, said students need practical skills for student loans, car loans, leases, and job benefits. Christy Johnson said the financial system is increasingly complex and that financial literacy is a life skill and social justice issue, especially given the wealth gap and the pressures facing young people. Tracy Godat said her organization already has free materials and professional development ready for educators, and Joe Atomack said credit unions see the need every day and can help expand access through school branches and student work experience. In response to questions, Cortes said the new bill differs from a previous House-passed version mainly by reducing reporting requirements and therefore lowering fiscal impact for districts and OSPI. He said the bill would align with the State Board of Education’s Future Ready process and could take effect by 2033 or earlier, depending on integration. The treasurer said the issue has broad bipartisan support and argued that Washington is behind other states in not already requiring financial education.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a huge component of students with disabilities.
• Many times what happens is students who have attendance issues...
• If you're a parent and you have a student, you've probably all received this list of how your student
• Absent, that's a hundred and ninety-nine thousand students.
• Thank you for doing something that matters for our students.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think Senator is even though a student has been expelled from a A student has been expelled from a
• </c> students in the state of New Hampshire. students in the state of New Hampshire.
• Sure. districts have barely any students districts have barely any students labeled<00:29:24.399><c>
• ,</c> And if we raise that to 16,000 students, And if we raise that to 16,000 students, $60,000<00:29
• . students. students.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Including undocumented students.
• We have to continue to stand with our students.
• Protecting students at our public schools.
• These students have a lot of grit.
• college students experiencing housing insecurity.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I SPENT TIME WITH STUDENTS AT UWF.
• WHETHER NEW YOUNG STUDENTS OR RETURNING STUDENTS TO PREPARE THEM TO COME OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY WITH
• NO, I WILL TALK TO THE MEETINGS WITH THE STUDENTS.
• THIS SHOWS POSITIVE STUDENT GROWTH.
• THAT IS HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE COMING OUT.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> parental advocacy, potentially student parental advocacy, potentially student speech,<00:23:38.159
• You know, we really emphasize to our student athletes and to all of our students that we're accountable
• So it's it's really our students.
• . students. students.
• We share with students, or try to train students on when they should share that, when they should and

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Education heard testimony on HB 1895, which would add education-worker protections by expanding harassment-related offenses. The Department of Education, HSTA, HGA, and several school employees and principals testified in support, describing increased harassment and threats toward teachers and staff, especially since COVID, and saying the bill would help deter bad actors. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the measure, saying the language was vague and overbroad, could criminalize ordinary parental advocacy or speech, and might not survive constitutional scrutiny. In response to questions, the public defender said existing statutes already cover threatening or assaultive conduct against educational workers, while DOE representatives said the bill was aimed at excessive and repetitive disruptive behavior. No vote or final action was taken in the excerpt. The committee then took up HB 1592, concerning protections for educational workers and sports officials. DOE, the Charter School Commission, HGA, HSTA, school principals, athletic programs, and many individual testifiers supported the bill, with several describing threats, harassment, and aggressive behavior at schools and athletic events. One principal said he had repeatedly involved law enforcement after threats and incidents on campus, and a teacher testified about the need to keep school environments safe and orderly. The Office of the Public Defender again opposed the bill, arguing that current law already enhances penalties for assaults and terroristic threatening against educational workers and sports officials, and that new offenses would have little deterrent effect. Committee members questioned whether the bill should be a separate statute and how to distinguish passionate advocacy from harassment; DOE said the line was crossed when conduct became excessive and repetitive, while the public defender urged clearer drafting and more emphasis on prevention, education, security, and de-escalation. No vote or final action was announced in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We wanted to continue to protect our students.
• So to continue to protect our students.
• students students with<00:00:59.480><c> the</c><00:00:59.600><c> hope</c><00:00:59.920><c> that</c><
• </c> future for our students future for our students and<00:02:53.040><c> this</c><00:02:53.360><c> bill
• </c> and student safety. and student safety.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> distributed to students. distributed to students.
• </c> the expense of students today. the expense of students today.
• So just returns to our students.
• </c> equally to every student in the state. equally to every student in the state.
• </c> to make that decision for our students. to make that decision for our students.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all