Transcript Highlights:

• In the most recent jobs report, there were some jobs we got more of and some jobs we got less of.
• We are doing a great job job in things.
• We are doing a great job job in the<02:54:10.479><c> economy.
• were some jobs recent jobs report, there were some jobs we<02:54:46.319><c> got</c><02:54:46.479><c>
• government jobs sector jobs up 172,000 government jobs down<02:55:09.680><c> 42,000.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, February 12, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That could be a lack of transportation to get to a job.
• That could be a lack of transportation to get to a job, lack of education to get a job, lack of childcare
• That could be a lack of transportation to get to a job. to families fully participating in the economy
• That could be a lack of transportation to get to a job, lack of education to get a job, lack of childcare

Summary: The committee first laid over SB 1101 and SB 1813, then heard and advanced SB 1966 and SB 80. SB 1966, presented by Chairman Johns, was amended with a PCS to incorporate the House’s Memorial Roads and Bridges language after a House-Senate coordination issue; the committee adopted the PCS and passed the bill out unanimously, 9-0. SB 80, presented by Representative Clay Staires, was also amended with a PCS and described as a cleanup bill removing several outdated turnpike provisions; members noted it reflected a negotiated consensus, and it passed unanimously, 11-0. After the bill votes, the committee received a required informational presentation from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce on the federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). Director Marshall Votes explained that Commerce administers the grant, keeps 5% for oversight, and passes 90% to 17 community action agencies serving all 77 counties. He said the program currently manages about $8.9 million, served about 33,000 low-income families last year, and leverages that funding into more than $250 million in broader community impact through services such as employment support, housing, transportation, education, health, and childcare. Members asked about Commerce staffing and oversight, and Votes said a small team of a few employees handles planning, monitoring, training, and compliance for CSBG alongside other programs. Committee members thanked Commerce for its work and emphasized the importance of the program for rural communities and all 77 counties. The meeting ended with expressions of appreciation and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sometimes we do a really good job, and I encourage us to do a better job of making it clear what the
• And I encourage us to do a better job of making it clear what the law is and what the procedure is, but
• Sometimes we do a really good job, and I encourage us to do a better job of making it clear what the
• law is and what the procedure is. and I encourage us to do a better job of making it clear what the law

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee approved minutes from March 18, March 23 (morning and afternoon), and March 26. The committee then considered several RS measures related to administrative rules and education funding. RS 33804, presented by Rep. Erickson, was a concurrent resolution for Health and Welfare rules, reflecting rules that were not heard or were rejected; it was introduced and sent to the second reading calendar. RS 33810, presented by Rep. Alfieri, approved temporary and pending rules for the Idaho State Police, Sexual Offender Management Board, and Office of Administrative Hearings; it was also introduced and sent to second reading. Rep. Pickett presented RS 33808, a revised version of the IDLA-related legislation previously known as House Bill 918. He said it preserved the current board structure, removed an additional LSO audit requirement, kept dual credit provisions, struck language on advanced opportunity funds, maintained IDLA access for grades 6-12 while restricting K-5 enrollment, and clarified that private entities would not receive state reimbursement and would pay the full course fee. Rep. Church questioned whether the private-entity language would affect education tax credit receipts and objected to reducing IDLA funding, saying he would vote no. The motion to introduce RS 33808 and send it to second reading passed, with Rep. Church and Rep. Rubel recorded as nays. Rep. Moyle presented RS 33807, which would move the rules coordinator and related review functions from the Department of Financial Management to the legislative branch and eliminate the current eight-year review cycle for rules. He argued that rules have the effect of law and should remain under legislative control, while agencies would still conduct hearings and draft rules. Rep. Rubel asked whether executive-branch stakeholder outreach would continue, and Moyle said it would. The committee voted to introduce RS 33807 and send it to the germane committee, with Rep. Birch recorded as a nay. The committee then adjourned and announced it would meet again at 2:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then also, as Senator King highlighted, the jobs that are...
• And then also, as Senator King highlighted, the jobs that are going to be created through this investment
• are very critical to the predictability of our workforce and making sure that they have jobs in the
• And I do just want to echo Vice Chair Krishna Dawson's words about jobs: you know, $1.5 billion...
• Chair Krishna Dawson's words about jobs, you know, $1.5 billion in new preservation is 30,000 jobs around

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The conference committee met to act on the conference agreement for gross substitute Senate Bill 6005, the state’s two-year transportation budget. Staff summarized the agreement as a $16.6 billion appropriations package for the biennium, compared with $17 billion in the Senate version and $16.5 billion in the House version. The budget includes about $800 million in reappropriated capital funds to continue existing projects, plus new funding for preservation, maintenance, and ferries, and it is tied to a six-year plan with project lists referenced in the bill. Members from both chambers praised staff and described the agreement as a compromise focused on maintenance, preservation, ferries, and traffic safety. Several speakers emphasized that the budget addresses immediate needs while acknowledging broader long-term challenges, including the need for sustainable transportation revenue and future planning for ferries, culverts, and capital projects. Some members noted concerns about the financing approach and the use of bonds, but still supported the overall agreement. On the motion to approve the conference report, the committee voted 5-1 to recommend the conference budget. Representative Barkis voted do not recommend, while Representatives Donaghy and Fey, and Senators King, Krishnadasan, and Leavitt voted to recommend. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then also, as Senator King highlighted, the jobs that are...
• And then also, as Senator King highlighted, the jobs that are going to be created through this investment
• are very critical to the predictability of our workforce and making sure that they have jobs in the
• And I do just want to echo Vice Chair Krishna Dawson's words about jobs, you know, 1.5 billion...
• Chair Krishna Dawson's words about jobs, you know, $1.5 billion in new preservation is 30,000 jobs around

Summary: The conference committee met to act on the conference report for gross substitute Senate Bill 6005, the state’s two-year supplemental transportation budget. Staff summarized the agreement as a $16.6 billion budget for the biennium, compared with $17 billion in the Senate version and $16.5 billion in the House version. The package includes about $800 million in reappropriated capital funds to continue existing projects, along with new funding for preservation, maintenance, and ferries, and it is tied to a six-year transportation plan and two project lists referenced in the bill. Members from both chambers spoke in support of the compromise while noting ongoing concerns about long-term transportation funding. Several emphasized that maintenance, preservation, ferries, and safety were the central priorities, and that the budget would help keep workers employed and projects moving. Chair Fye and Ranking Member Barkas both said more work is needed in the interim and next session to develop a sustainable long-term revenue and capital strategy, while Senator King, Representative Donaghy, and Senator Krishnadasan highlighted the preservation, maintenance, ferries, and jobs impacts of the agreement. After debate, Representative Fine moved to approve the conference report. The committee then took a roll call vote and recommended the conference budget by a tally of five to one, with Representative Barkas voting do not recommend and the other members voting to recommend. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Economic Development Commission, for an extra help position through the Infrastructure Investment Jobs
• all the struggles that some veterans have in reintegrating into society, that we need to do a better job
• And their job is to work with Arkansas companies to provide those opportunities so that we're not, I
• So if that employee of 24 years doesn't find a state job that's going to give them four more years, they
• Some just keep their years as they are and go look for another job somewhere with the government agency

Committee: All ALC-PERSONNEL

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• within NDUS data and Job Service data.
• Do we not have the jobs available for people in our state?
• Are they getting jobs with these degrees?
• My job is to go out and evaluate, review, assess, verify.
• That makes my job that much harder.

Summary: The committee was called to order, the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer were offered, and the minutes from the previous meeting were approved. Members then received a memo summarizing major audit items and began hearing audit presentations from the State Auditor’s Office and private auditors on a range of state agencies and organizations. Several audits were reported as clean, including the Bank of North Dakota, the North Dakota Guaranteed Student Loan Program, the Office of the Governor, the Office of the State Treasurer, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Transportation’s flexible transportation fund, Lake Region State College, and the Department of Environmental Quality. The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association also received an unmodified opinion, though repeat findings were noted for limited segregation of duties and financial statement preparation due to its small staff. The Council on the Arts audit found two findings: payroll charged to federal awards without adequate timekeeping records, and unallowable expenditures from a restricted cultural endowment fund. The Department of Public Instruction audit identified unsupported scholarship applications in the paraprofessional-to-teacher program, though additional testing showed the funds were used for their intended purpose. The most extensive discussion centered on the North Dakota Racing Commission audit, which identified four findings: overspending the promotion fund’s 25% operating limit, grant conditions not being met, improper Breeders Fund awards, and improper procurement for advertising services. Racing Commission director Bruce Johnson acknowledged complacency and weak controls, said the agency would tighten procedures, and explained that the commission had since worked with procurement and would follow the rules more closely. Auditors also explained that the commission would now be audited every two years because of the findings. Another major discussion involved the University of North Dakota School of Law, where auditors found a lack of documentation supporting admissions decisions for post-baccalaureate programs. UND officials said they remain in good standing with the American Bar Association but agreed better documentation and tools are needed; the committee pressed for more transparency and follow-up on admissions criteria. The committee also received an update on Dakota College at Bottineau, where Minot State University reported that bank reconciliations had been brought current after a significant backlog and would now be maintained through shared services. Members requested a written follow-up report on the issues and corrective actions. Finally, the North Dakota Fair Association explained that its foundation has been dissolved and remaining funds were transferred to another nonprofit for continued support of the state fair, and the Department of Public Instruction provided an update on school meal debt, saying the reported amount was about $1.1 million from a partial district survey and that debt remains a local issue, though it could be revisited if school meal funding changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's my job. Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee.
• Every day, there's an article published about the looming threat of AI-induced job loss.
• And with emerging robotics, thousands of jobs could be at risk.
• If you have, say, a job that requires writing a lot of reports, a lot of your job activity, a lot of
• The job losses happening across the state.

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> find affordable housing near uh the job find affordable housing near uh the job sites.<00:08:03.360
• </c> the last five years over 2600 jobs the last five years over 2600 jobs created,<00:16:57.519><c>
• </c> reporting started in 2021, 373 new jobs reporting started in 2021, 373 new jobs have<00:26:48.400
• We lost an employer with 600 jobs, and it caused the unemployment rate.
• They're contributing to those jobs that come from the tourism industry.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:00:13 Kentucky Small Business Update 00:01:50 Kentucky Angel Investment Tax Credit Program Update 00:14:16 State of the Tourism Industry 00:38:03, 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with a quorum call and approval of the August minutes, then moved to an update from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce on small business conditions. Chamber representatives John Hughes and Amit Patel said Kentucky has benefited from pro-growth policies such as lower income taxes, regulatory modernization, and workforce development, but they emphasized ongoing challenges including workforce shortages, child care access, housing availability, rising insurance costs, and inflation. Patel, speaking as a hotel operator, said recruiting and retaining staff has become difficult and that his company is considering child care stipends and other benefits to help employees. Members asked about child care benefits, community involvement, and health care costs; Patel said the business is discussing additional support for employees and noted that health care costs have tripled over three years. The chamber said it will prioritize child care and housing policy in the upcoming session. The committee then received an update from the Cabinet for Economic Development on the Kentucky Angel Investment Tax Credit program from David Brock of KY Innovation and Matt Wingate. Brock outlined the state’s broader innovation and entrepreneurship programs, including innovation hubs, SBIR/STTR matching funds, the Kentucky Enterprise Fund, SSBCI, and STEP, and said these programs have helped create jobs, raise capital, and support exports. He explained that the angel tax credit is intended to encourage private investment in innovative Kentucky small businesses with high growth potential. The credit is generally 25% of investment in non-enhanced counties and 40% in enhanced counties, with annual and per-investor caps and eligibility rules for both businesses and investors. Brock reported that 317 businesses have been certified, 117 have received at least one investment, 445 investors have made 750 investments, $57.2 million has been invested, $19 million in credits has been awarded, and 373 new jobs have been reported since 2021. Committee members asked about the relationship between the program’s industry verticals and university research, the difference between enhanced and non-enhanced counties, and where investments are occurring geographically. Cabinet staff said the verticals align with the original Innovation Act framework, and that enhanced counties are defined by statute, including distressed and disaster-impacted areas. They said most investments and credits have been in non-enhanced counties, though some examples were cited in Bath County and Auburn. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> creates even more highquality local jobs creates even more highquality local jobs that<00:08:50.560
• I'm giving you a new job, just kidding.
• </c><00:19:33.240><c> within</c> workers to either find new jobs within workers to either find new jobs
• </c><00:20:40.480><c> um</c> Matthews I'm giving you a new job um Matthews I'm giving you a new job um
• </c><00:40:21.359><c> with</c> bit of work in my previous job with bit of work in my previous job with

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Years of dedicated apprenticeship training prepare them for these specialized jobs.
• </c><00:09:58.800><c> allowing</c> for these specialized jobs allowing for these specialized jobs allowing
• Many of these families are working two or even three jobs, and they cannot afford to lose income.
• She said many families are working two or even three jobs and cannot afford to lose income.
• In my job, I see newborns, infants, and children all day, every day.

Committee: House Labor

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , retirement, and health care, which is in these jobs, which I totally support.
• So I think the department's doing a good job in this.
• Like, this is considered, you know, part of our job.
• So many people sacrificed to come do this job.
• So I gave it all up to come do this job.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 513 by Representative Young, which would regulate name, image, and likeness activity for intercollegiate and interscholastic athletes, especially high school athletes. Young said the bill reflects recommendations from a task force and sets guardrails such as parental consent and prohibited NIL categories. The committee adopted a technical amendment and then reported the bill favorably as amended. Members then heard several Senate bills from Senator Mizell and Senator Cloud. Senate Bill 233 would create a statewide data exchange compact to allow state agencies to share information more efficiently; it was reported favorably. Senate Bill 300 would make various changes to the Procurement Code, including auction techniques, sole sourcing for consulting services in limited cases, and procurement process clarifications; it was reported favorably. Senate Bill 303 would allow executive branch agencies to buy or share technology solutions with other states and use the federal GSA schedule, and it was reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 411, removing a 20-year lease limitation for certain Orleans Parish state property, was also reported favorably. The committee spent substantial time on House Bill 660 and House Bill 719, both dealing with district attorney funding and staffing. HB 660 would raise the state warrant amount for assistant district attorney salaries from $50,000 to $60,000, with supporters arguing it is needed to recruit and retain prosecutors; an opposition witness argued the state should fund both prosecutors and public defenders more equitably. The committee adopted an amendment making the bill effective only upon appropriation and reported it favorably as amended. HB 719 would increase the number of assistant district attorney warrants statewide, with most of the new warrants directed to Baton Rouge, St. Tammany, and Caddo; it too was amended to be subject to appropriation and reported favorably as amended. House Bill 596, which would have created an inactive well-feet assessment credit for oil and gas operators, was voluntarily deferred after concerns that it could reduce funding for the oil field site restoration fund. Later, the committee reported favorably as amended House Bill 802, which redirects existing revenue to watershed and flood restoration work in the Amite River Basin, and House Bill 940, which creates a task force and rules framework for law enforcement responses to unlawful drone activity. It also reported favorably House Bill 76 on coverage for orally administered anti-cancer medications, House Bill 950 on consumer protection materials for seniors, and began discussion of House Bill 1028, which would require higher Medicaid reimbursement rates for non-emergency medical transportation providers.

Transcript Highlights:

• If I did, it would certainly make my job a whole lot easier.
• That's a pretty good job. I'm not going to... ...list on what we did last year.
• That's a pretty good job. Not going to have everything you want.
• You're going to have to vote for this because it's a good job.
• And I'm so proud of the job that they did.

Bills: HB3418 , HB3985 , HB3463 , HB3002 , HB4303 , HB3919 , HB3416 , HB3417 , HB3415 , HB2206 , HB3414 , HB3265 , HB3310 , HB3413 , HB4486 , HB1219 , SR39 , SB1177 , HB3298 , HB2696 , HB3941 , HB3970 , HB3264 , HB3321 , HB2650 , HB3497 , HB3980 , HB3981 , HB4421 , HB3177 , HB3322 , HB3499 , HB3500 , HB3845 , HB3742 , HB3622 , HB1250 , HB2710 , HB3831 , HB4408 , HB1002 , HB3008 , HB3086 , HB3595 , HB3678 , HB4107 , HB3695 , HB3315 , HB3590 , HB3006 , HB3151 , HB2959 , HB2398 , HB3026 , HB3467 , HB4268 , HB3372 , HB2210 , HB4359 , HB4427

Keywords: public works, bidding procedures, construction contracts, transparency, public trust, electronic bidding, school districts, property rights, public nuisance, compensation claims, government enforcement, Oklahoma Safe Neighborhoods Act, municipal audit, state auditor, local government, financial transparency, gasoline tax allocations, counties, county officers, education

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer, and recognized the Doctor and Nurse of the Day, along with several visiting groups in the galleries, including the Goldsby Volunteer Fire Department and families honoring fallen firefighters Todd Pendleton and Brian Jenkins, the Sapulpa Elks Antlers, the Grove Chamber of Commerce, and northeastern Oklahoma cattlemen. The chamber adopted Senate Resolution 39, celebrating the 100th anniversary of U.S. Route 70 and its economic importance to southern Oklahoma communities. The main item of business was the Joint Committee Report for Senate Bill 1177, the General Appropriation Bill for the State of Oklahoma. Senators questioned the budget’s overall size, the use of gross production tax revenues, the new sovereign/endowment trust fund, Medicaid and Health Care Authority funding, mental health appropriations, child care subsidy funding, school security, career tech, tourism, the Commissioners of the Land Office, textbook allocations, and several other agency lines. The chair explained that the budget included about $1.5 billion in cash and sweeps, a $250 million base appropriation for the Health Care Authority, $200 million for the endowment trust fund, $31 million for PREP projects, $25 million for the Governor’s Quick Action Closing Fund, and other agency-specific appropriations and supplements. Several members debated the report before adoption. Supporters argued the budget addressed agency needs and future savings, while opponents criticized it as a flat or spending-heavy budget that favored special projects and well-connected interests over core services such as child care, mental health, water infrastructure, and county needs. After debate, the Joint Committee Report for SB 1177 was adopted, and the Senate moved through the budget discussion with no recorded roll-call vote in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The people that are leaving the state, the people that are not going into this job to begin with, the
• Speaker, there are lots of jobs and positions of public trust that are dangerous.
• If that is ignored, once again, who's going to want to do these jobs? Who?
• And this amendment does a good job of... And this amendment does a good job of reducing that risk.
• They have a right to be able to do their jobs.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , SB5467 , SB5820 , SCR8406 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5995 , SB6278 , SB5831 , SB5915 , SB5963 , SB6025 , SB6046 , SB6084 , SB6134 , SB6136 , SB6137 , SB6188 , SB6291 , HB2689 , SB5922 , SB5944 , SB5957 , SB5988 , SB5994 , SB6011 , SB6065 , SB6103 , SB6151 , SB6244

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, SB 5467, water-sewer district, water sewer district, surplus property, public property sale, local government, RCW 57, real property disposal, personal property, notice of intent to sell, public auction

Transcript Highlights:

• And he's great at it, but that's not his job. And He'll keep doing it.
• More prosecutors that are better trained will allow us to do our job.
• And the staff down there do a wonderful job in upholding those core values.
• He took a job that paid more with the Chickasaw nation down there.
• And then the instructor I just spoke of that went back to his police job.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We worked very closely with SPO to get the CYFD jobs at the top for SPO hot jobs is what they're called
• We need to give them the tools they need to do their jobs.
• I've probably met with 20 staff since I've taken this job one on one.
• And so it's not a great job to do. It's a very hard job. I completely understand the turnover.
• Both parents have to work jobs, so one may be asked to put their career on hold.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is truly one of the most competitive job markets in our state right now.
• But do you think some of these jobs are being taken away by ICE?
• I mean, we are a force, 5,000 jobs in 2024 alone across very rural areas where there aren't many jobs
• You all have done a great job, and we're very thankful for what you do.
• You know, General, you guys did such an amazing job. Thank you so much.

Transcript Highlights:

• Brubaker, the best summer job I ever had in my life; and then summer... ...Baker, the best summer job
• , and oftentimes imperfectly, but they're doing their jobs.
• You may disagree with how they're doing their job.
• I disagree with a lot of how many law enforcement officers do their job.
• More often they're doing their job; you just think they're making a mistake.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, pledge, and several member introductions and recognitions, including resolutions and visiting groups. The chamber then moved to a special order calendar and took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 88 on utility terrain vehicles, which would allow local governments to opt in to street use of UTVs under specified safety conditions; it passed 32-5 after debate over safety concerns. SB 102 on exceptional student education created a workforce credential/badge program for students with autism or on modified curricula; despite concerns about unfunded mandates, it passed 36-0. SB 106 on exploitation of vulnerable adults authorized alternative service methods for scammers through the apps they used to contact victims and passed 37-0. SB 130 expanded and eased procedures for compensation of victims of wrongful incarceration, including extending filing deadlines and removing restrictive bars; it passed 38-0. SB 158 eliminated cost sharing for diagnostic and supplemental breast exams under the state employee health plan and passed 38-0. The Senate then considered SB 234 on crimes against law enforcement officers, prompted by the killing of Officer Jason Raynor. The bill clarified that a person may not resist an officer with violence and added a mandatory life sentence for manslaughter of a law enforcement officer. A late amendment to restore “good faith” language failed, and after extensive debate over due process, racial profiling, and sentencing concerns, the bill was temporarily postponed rather than brought to a final vote. SB 262 on trust code technical changes passed 36-0. SB 274 designated portions of roads in Orlando as Harris Rosen Way and Geraldine Thompson Way; it passed 38-0 and then received 37 co-sponsors. SB 280 created an enforcement mechanism for candidate party-affiliation qualification requirements and passed 38-0. SB 296 repealed the statewide middle and high school start-time mandate and returned the issue to local districts with reporting requirements; it passed 38-0. Later, SB 356 designated January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Florida, with the sponsor emphasizing anti-Semitism and the need for education and remembrance. The transcript also included additional ceremonial remarks and recognition of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity members in the gallery. Throughout the meeting, most measures advanced with unanimous or near-unanimous support, while SB 234 generated the most substantive disagreement and was set aside for later consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Worse, the law doesn't actually define what a job site is.
• Worse, the law doesn't actually define what a job site is.
• Worse, the law doesn't actually define what a job site is.
• Farming can be a stressful job. You're often working alone.
• Farming can be a stressful job. You're often working alone.

Bills: HF47 , HF434 , HF1503 , HF1702

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: telecommunications, installation, certification, safety, underground utilities, HF434, cervidae, deer, elk, moose, chronic wasting disease, CWD, wildlife importation, animal health, biosecurity, zoo, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, AZA, USDA exhibitor, species survival plan

Transcript Highlights:

• do you feel like, did they give you any indication that this would make it hard for them to do their job
• Now, again, like I said, it is not meant to increase anyone's individual job duties.
• I think it's going to be really problematic to put an application process out for a job where a person
• You did a phenomenal job presenting your bill.
• And so we're not trying to add more job duties for anybody.

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Summary: The Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education met in executive session and public hearing, with a quorum present. It first voted House Bill 1767, described as the educator and parent bill of rights combination bill, due pass by a 14-1 vote with one present. The committee then considered House Bill 2918, which was amended by a substitute focused on defining school-sponsored media as a news source and distinguishing news from commentary or editorial content; the sponsor said the changes were intended to promote balanced, truth-in-labeling journalism and to protect only bona fide news sources. The substitute was adopted, and the House Committee Substitute for HB 2918 passed 11-3 with three present. The committee also voted House Bill 2304 due pass by a 10-4 vote with three present, though the transcript does not describe the bill’s subject. The committee then moved out of executive session and heard House Bill 2772, sponsored by Representative Melissa Douglas, which would create a postsecondary McKinney-Vento-style liaison for students experiencing homelessness. Douglas said the bill would help students transition from K-12 homelessness supports into higher education by giving them a designated point of contact in financial aid, and she noted that a substitute would remove earlier appointment and donation provisions and leave implementation to higher education institutions. Committee members asked about the liaison’s qualifications, duties, staffing, and fiscal impact, and Douglas said the substitute removed the most controversial appointment requirements and was intended to be a zero-fiscal-note approach. Supporters testified that the bill would improve coordination and help homeless and foster students persist in postsecondary education. An opponent argued the proposal duplicated existing services, would be costly, and was unnecessary given current state, federal, and nonprofit supports. No vote was taken on HB 2772 before the hearing ended and the committee adjourned.