Transcript Highlights:

• <00:32:59.760> that agricultural tech curriculum that agricultural tech curriculum that connects
• Something needs to change.
• That needs to change because that is barking with no bite.
• Something needs to change. Something Something needs to change.
• because that is barking with no change because that is barking with no bite. bite. bite.

Bills: HR203, SB2802, SB3081, SB2902, SB2005, SB3252, SB2096, SB2095, SB2046, SB2999, SB3103, SB83, SB2041, SB3234, SB3156, SB3154, SB2146, SB2053, SB2010, SB2009, SB2667, SB3215, SB2698, SB2363, SB2372, SB2673, SB2948, SB2277, SB2057, SB3085, SB3025, SB2761

Keywords: H.R. 203, House Resolution, Hawaii education, teacher of the year, educator recognition, Jessica Canyon, Natsumi Yamasato, Jodi Kadoyama, Mānana Elementary School, National Blue Ribbon School, Teach For America Hawaiʻi, public education, K-12, elementary school, STEM education, literacy, teacher appreciation, school excellence, Hawaiʻi Legislature, keiki

Transcript Highlights:

• Students, students, students, uh, approximately. 34,000 and change, maybe a little less, maybe a little
• Do I have your permission to change? You're redshirted against the bill on our system.
• So we'll change that.
• No open discussion about the enormous consequences, the bond debt, shared assets, funding curriculum,
• We elect school board members to make policy decisions, to work on curriculum, to make budgets.

Bills: HB4, HB54, SB 10, SB 24

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, citizenship, U.S. citizen, non-citizen, public office, advisory board, task force, state government, local government, political subdivision, commission board, appointment eligibility, officeholder qualifications, public service, naturalization, Texas Government Code

Transcript Highlights:

• We've been really working to change from that one-size-fits-all model to more student-centered pathway
• ,<00:26:07.640> and we all know education's changed, and we all know education's changed,
• curriculum provider for the Wyoming<00:30:26.040> Virtual<00:30:26.360> Academy.
• skills and curriculum modernization. skills and curriculum modernization.
• I think that's a changing state policy.

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The committee heard from Superintendent Megan Degenfelder on several interim topics centered on student-centered learning. She highlighted work-based learning and dual/concurrent enrollment, saying the state is updating accountability measures and should examine whether these programs are helping students progress, avoid duplicative costs, and reduce the need for remedial college coursework. She also discussed broader life-skills education, including financial literacy and soft skills, and said districts vary widely in what they offer. On gifted and talented programs, she noted that districts are statutorily required to provide them but the state does not have a clear picture of how consistently they are implemented, and she suggested the committee may want to study that area further. Members asked follow-up questions about whether dual enrollment should be evaluated only by time-to-degree, and Degenfelder said the analysis should also consider additional credentials and remedial coursework. Senator Schuler and others raised the idea of making financial literacy or other life-skills content more common, though Degenfelder said she did not favor a statewide mandate and instead preferred incentives and district-level implementation. The committee also discussed artificial intelligence in schools as an information-sharing topic, with Degenfelder saying the department is beginning a landscape analysis with districts and teachers. She then reviewed NAEP results, noting Wyoming performs strongly in fourth grade but drops sharply by eighth grade, and said the state wants to understand where students are falling off. Members also raised concerns about international comparisons and the need to improve literacy and math outcomes. The committee then moved to member-submitted topics. Representative Strock proposed reviewing the governance structure of state education, arguing that the current split among the Department of Education, State Board of Education, and other boards creates inefficiency and confusion, especially for licensure and programs like CTE. Senator Scott noted that turnover in the superintendent’s office could be a practical issue in any restructuring, and Strock responded that administrative staff could handle day-to-day operations. Representative Williams then introduced a discussion of common core standards and literacy, arguing that standards may be too broad and not specific enough, especially in early grades, and that Wyoming should emphasize phonics, basic reading, math, and civics more directly. Representative Guggenmos agreed that narrowing early-grade focus to math and literacy could improve outcomes. Finally, Representative Williams raised virtual education, saying it is growing quickly and the committee should study funding, accountability, and student support more closely; the chair opened that topic for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what is your, and know what we discussed changing your formula a little bit over the.
• It would be a pretty Dramatic change during middle school time for career exposure.
• The National Guard Education Assistance Program offers life-changing opportunities for...
• These are big-time changes on our campus. And a very positive way.
• The resources that AG Learning has in place with the full curriculum and the embedded tutorials.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the substitute. basically makes a few minor changes in the bill. clarifies the definition of a full-time
• that's being replaced by 30B, commercial statutes are being combined, and you've got a conforming change
• offer a very robust of curriculum to students, providing them with different opportunities, the same
• Now, however, the legal landscape has changed. In Kennedy v.
• We need things to be released in the atmosphere to create. change.

Bills: SB 10, SB 11

Keywords: human trafficking, trafficking victim, compelling prostitution, affirmative defense, criminal defense, coercion, force fraud or coercion, sexual exploitation, victim protection, Penal Code, Texas criminal law, prosecution, party liability, affirmative defense statute, survivor rights, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It aligns due process provisions for the accused with the changes in the bill and expands this process
• None of the students who attend Lifewise classes miss any core curriculum.
• We have a curriculum in place.
• Um, Curriculum and education that they need.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lorelai used Indian Education Initiative grant funds to review the curriculum through a culturally relevant
• lens and develop an indigenized park garden curriculum, a greenhouse, and outdoor classrooms.
• And she worked alongside teachers to review school-wide curriculum through a culturally relevant lens
• relating to public utilities, creating the **Utility Oversight Fund**, increasing certain fees, and changing

Transcript Highlights:

• A positive change for districts and schools coming out in the 2023 legislative session was the change
• or our curriculum changes and our standard changes, which are in process, out three years.
• Chang changes that we would say that any Chang changes that we made<01:47:50.400> to<01:47:50.520
• <01:49:04.520> changes<01:49:05.000> and changes or our uh curriculum changes and changes
• or our uh curriculum changes and our<01:49:05.360> our<01:49:05.520> standard<01:49:05.920

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hopper, who is the world languages curriculum director for Putnam City North school district.
• It directs KLEA to consult with the Department of Education to develop that curriculum.
• There were some changes, obviously, as is within their purview. And it was within each body.
• This house will actually just have a very simple change.
• That's the change. This is a new program that was established last year.

Bills: HB3312, HB3700, HB2981, HB2961, HB3016, HB4478, HB4326, HB3025, HB3710

Keywords: firearm safety, public schools, education policy, student safety, gun control, opt-out option, grading system, student assessment, academic integrity, state funding, opinion conduct, open meetings, school boards, transparency, public access, education governance, HB2961, TSgt Marshal Dakota Roberts Gold Star Survivor Act, Gold Star family, Gold Star recipient

Transcript Highlights:

• think are facing higher education in Alabama and how do you think your position is going to make any changes
• colleges and universities to make sure that they're one of the things that we do is help approve curriculum
• 00:17:56.880> is<00:17:57.120> help<00:17:57.280> approve<00:17:57.679> curriculum
• that we do is help approve curriculum that we do is help approve curriculum and<00:17:58.640>

Keywords: 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As economic and technological changes accelerate, it is crucial that our educational institutions equip
• We thank the Senate for their changes last session to the mental health...
• We thank the Senate for their changes last session to the mental health professionals loan repayment
• We thank the Senate for their changes last session to the mental health professionals loaner payment
• We actually spent less than five minutes total discussing curriculum.

Summary: The Senate Education K-16 Committee heard Senate Bill 1961, which would expand reporting on post-secondary outcomes and workforce data, including employment, earnings, regional labor demand, and credentials of value. Senator Bettencourt said the bill is intended to close data gaps and improve alignment between education programs and workforce needs. Witnesses from Opportunity Austin, Texas 2036, Samsung Austin Semiconductor, and the Fort Worth workforce community testified in support, saying better data would help students, parents, schools, employers, and regional economic development efforts. After questions from members about regional workforce pipelines and semiconductor talent needs, public testimony closed and SB 1961 was left pending. The committee then took up several pending bills and reported them favorably, including SB 1325, SB 604, SB 1832, SB 747, SB 2185, and SB 2395, with committee substitutes adopted where needed. SB 1325 was amended to remove the DSHS commissioner’s authority to issue standing orders for respiratory distress medication in schools. SB 1832, relating to school transfer or private-school funding options for students victimized by a public school employee, and SB 747, relating to intimate visual material policies, were both advanced on recorded votes. SB 2185, on the bilingual education allotment, was initially moved to a local calendar but was later backed up and reported to the full Senate after a fiscal note was noted. SB 2395, on school district general obligation bonds, was also reported favorably and then moved to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also heard SB 646, which would expand the Mental Health Professional Loan Repayment Program to additional professions, increase award amounts, and add stipends for rural and bilingual service. Senator West said the bill responds to mental health workforce shortages and inflation. The Texas Counseling Association supported the measure, and a Hogg Foundation representative said participation has grown sharply since prior changes. SB 646 was left pending. The committee also heard SB 2647, which would create a Texas state accrediting agency and interim oversight system for higher education accreditors; supporters from the Texas Public Policy Foundation and a massage school owner argued it would improve accountability and reduce accreditor overreach, while Senator Menendez raised concerns about effects on law and medical school accreditation and student opportunities. SB 2647 was left pending. Finally, the committee heard SB 2786, which would exempt first responders from the Texas Success Initiative entrance exam, and SB 2615, which would standardize remote-work policies across public higher education institutions. The Texas State Association of Firefighters supported SB 2786, saying it would remove an extra step for career advancement; the bill was left pending because the committee substitute had not yet been adopted. SB 2615 was presented as a way to ensure more consistent in-person staffing expectations while preserving exceptions for illness, disability, and some non-teaching roles; it too was left pending. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• to create and adopt local curriculum to create and adopt local curriculum similarly<00:16:31.800
• They will listen to you and give you lip service, but then nothing changes.
• there's very much an changes there's very much an anti-religious<00:24:52.200> atmosphere<00:
• He said it is one thing to have curriculum introduced or surveys introduced that would take students
• He said it is one thing to have curriculum introduced or surveys introduced that would take students

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• that spend a lot of time in our schools and work for schools, and so what that amendment does is change
• She said some changes would raise bigger concerns.
• She said this change will empower students.
• This change will empower students.
• And so I really like the opportunity to just change the walls of education.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• opt-out to an opt-in, so that would change this right here that would change as it’s listed for nonacademic
• there's a bill in the house to change there's a bill in the house to change the<00:28:31.480>
• out to an opt in so that would change out to an opt in so that would change this<00:28:41.519>
• <01:20:49.760> page use so I just think if you change page use so I just think if you change
• <01:55:15.400> I but mandating a training curriculum I but mandating a training curriculum

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Teachers are expected to update and submit a curriculum map for each subject they teach.
• The kind of threat fundamentally changes the profession.
• The mere threat of personal liability changes how people work.
• HB 2249 changes the calculus.
• Okay, Madam Chair, Senator Miranda, like I said, what they do is they usually change it from a female

Bills: HB2020, HB2032, HB2033, HB2249, HB2313, HB2318, HB2378, HCR2003

Keywords: interference, disruption, educational institutions, public order, conduct rules, statewide assessment, student testing, academic standards, third grade reading, reading retention, promotion and retention, school accountability, assessment window, testing window, test scores, school report cards, nontest data, graduation rates, dropout rates, education data privacy

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from February 18 and March 4, 2026, then took up HCR 2003, the Protect Girls in Sports in Arizona Act. Supporters, including Superintendent Tom Horne and several athletes and coaches, argued the measure would protect fairness, safety, and privacy in girls’ sports and locker rooms by requiring sports to be designated male, female, or co-ed and by limiting access to certain private spaces. Opponents, including the ACLU and Arizona Education Association, argued the resolution was discriminatory, would function as a bathroom ban, and could create enforcement and privacy problems. The committee passed HCR 2003 on a 4-3 vote, giving it a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard HB 2020, which would make certain threats or disruptions at educational institutions by minors a class 1 misdemeanor instead of a class 6 felony, and passed it 4-3. HB 2032, which shifts the statewide testing window later in the school year and changes related score deadlines, drew support from school leaders who said it would better reflect full-year learning; it passed 6-1. HB 2033, allowing school districts and charter schools to choose paper-and-pencil statewide testing by governing board vote, also passed 6-0 with one member not voting. HB 2318, establishing term limits for school district governing board members, was amended to clarify the limit applies only after two consecutive four-year terms beginning after a specified date; it passed 4-3 despite opposition from the Arizona School Board Association over impacts on rural districts. The committee next approved HB 2378, which changes eligibility rules for School Facilities Oversight Board members so certain architect and engineer members may not have school-construction business interests, passing 4-3. HB 2313, which prohibits teacher strikes or organized work stoppages and reduces school funding if a strike occurs, passed 4-3 after testimony from educators who said it was punitive and could worsen staffing shortages. Finally, the committee considered HB 2249, which expands the Parents’ Bill of Rights to require written parental consent and notification regarding school facilitation of social transitioning and creates significant civil penalties for violations. Opponents warned it was vague, punitive, and likely to chill ordinary school interactions, while supporters said it was needed to stop schools from hiding information from parents. After adopting a six-page amendment, the committee passed HB 2249 on a 4-3 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Native involvement all supported policy and systemic changes in schools. that have come to recognize
• It's been a challenge because of changing leadership.
• You know, change is good when it's provided in the best interest of those who will be affected.
• The students and parents are going to be affected with this change.
• One, our concern around reporting requirements and as states would. increase and think about changes

Keywords: Native education, Department of Education, federal funding, testimony, treaty obligations, public schools, educational policies, Indigenous students

Summary: The meeting focused on the responsibilities of the U.S. Department of Education towards Native students, highlighting the importance of federal education programs that satisfy treaty obligations to Native communities. Various witnesses testified about the impact of educational policies designed to support Native students who primarily attend public schools. Concerns were voiced over recent proposals that could potentially undermine these programs, citing the role of federal funding in ensuring successful educational outcomes for Native youth. The chair of the committee emphasized the need for continued federal support and attention to the unique educational challenges faced by Indigenous populations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because the world of cyber changes so much.
• You struggle to find a way to teach cyber and cyber security in the K through 12 curriculum.
• But in others, the staff has changed.
• needs of our local workforce, it will always change.
• We also do work again, not just our workforce, but on changing systems, I believe, and it's going to

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Massachusetts found that 22% of Muslim students whose teachers taught lessons on Islam reported that the curriculum
• the state government to begin to address the subtle Islamophobia embedded in Massachusetts school curriculum
• Over the years, we have seen that including diverse perspectives doesn’t just change who’s at the table
• It changes the outcomes and strengthens the entire system.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight reopened a hearing on several bills related to public commissions, diversity on boards, and honorary or representative designations. Most of the testimony focused on bills promoting the rights and inclusion of American Muslims, including support for a Muslim commission that would recommend qualified Muslim residents for appointments, assess state programs’ effects on the community, and advise lawmakers. Witnesses described Islamophobia, discrimination in schools and public spaces, and the need for Muslim representation in government. One speaker, Ahmed Svahani, opposed the Muslim commission bill, arguing it could allow the state to define who counts as a “real Muslim,” create an official class, and silence dissenting voices. Other testimony supported a bill to promote diversity on public boards and commissions, with Mass NOW arguing that boards should better reflect the state’s racial and gender diversity and that diverse boards make better decisions. Mass Equality testified in support of a commission on the status of transgender people, citing federal restrictions on gender-affirming care, discrimination in housing, employment, and education, and gaps in existing representation. The National Lawyers Guild’s Massachusetts chapter also supported the Muslim commission bill, citing civil-rights concerns and increased reports of discrimination and retaliation against Muslims. No votes were taken on the bills themselves during the hearing. At the end of testimony, a motion was made and seconded to close the hearing, and the committee voted in favor of adjournment, ending the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so it's not going to change unless we're able to work something out. Is that the main issue?
• However, our Department of Public Instruction has developed that curriculum.
• change with the effects of those new rules.
• The treatment landscape has changed significantly since 1965, and the policy should too.
• Maybe it's improving educational standards and curriculum, making more tribal communities aware.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• aligning this with those changes in statutes.
• And what will, and how will this bill change that?
• This bill changes that.
• And changing how we think about mental health is a way. ...direction, and changing how we think about
• Some of the changes include authorizing...

Summary: The Appropriations Committee heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, SPB 25-200, totaling $117.4 billion. Chair Hooper and committee chairs highlighted major spending priorities including a 4% raise for state employees, continued health insurance contributions, investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and workforce development, along with reductions tied to long-vacant positions. Education funding was a major focus, with increases for K-12 public schools and scholarships, higher education workforce programs, nursing initiatives, tutoring, and university performance funding. Health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/economic development, and agriculture/environment budgets were also outlined, including Medicaid, mental health, corrections staffing, affordable housing, beach restoration, citrus recovery, and water projects. Members then questioned several budget choices, especially K-12 funding. Senators Polsky and Smith raised concerns that the Senate’s AP and dual enrollment funding changes could disadvantage public schools, while Burgess argued the budget preserves the money in the FEFP and gives districts more flexibility rather than reducing support. Questions also addressed voucher availability, school stabilization funding, and the My Safe Florida Home program. The committee adopted 171 consent amendments and three late-file amendments, then approved SPB 2500 as a committee bill. It also favorably reported implementing and conforming bills for state employees, retirement, natural resources, judgeships, K-12 education, higher education, and health and human services, along with SB 7022 on Florida Retirement System contribution rates and elected-officer DROP options, CS/SB 1320 on the Resilient Florida Trust Fund, SB 7014 ending the Mediation and Arbitration Trust Fund, SB 7028 on cancer research, CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home quality and oversight, CS/SB 168 on mental health diversion and behavioral health data, SB 114 creating an insurance and risk management research center at FSU, and SB 180 on emergency preparedness and post-storm recovery. Most bills were reported favorably with little or no opposition, though SB 180 drew discussion about local-government authority after storms and the need to balance recovery speed with local safety and planning concerns.