Transcript Highlights:

• if you want to go first. if you want to go first.
• So they couldn't spend EFA funds or whether it's different agent aided aid or adequacy aid on, you know
• So they couldn't spend EFA funds or whether it's different agent aided aid or adequacy aid on, you know
• aid or adequacy different agent aided aid or adequacy aid<00:51:22.400> on<00:51:22.720> you
• They're not aid. for HAL. They're not aid.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission to study the cost of special education met, confirmed a quorum, introduced members and guests, and approved the minutes from the October 29 meeting. Members noted the commission’s mandate under Senate Bill 57 and emphasized the need to focus on recommendations and findings by July 1, 2026. The chair also distributed additional handouts, including materials related to the Education Freedom Account (EFA) program and administrative rules tied to differentiated aid and disability determinations. The main discussion centered on how students qualify for differentiated aid under the EFA program. Matt Sutherton of the Children’s Scholarship Fund explained that the organization, which contracts with the state to administer EFAs, accepts either school-district/IEP documentation or a medical certification of disability (MCD) from a licensed medical professional. Members questioned how this process relates to the state’s special education rules and whether the school-district examiner standards in ED 107/1107.04 apply to EFAs. Sutherton said the MCD form, created with the department, requires the medical professional to sign that they are qualified to make the determination and to identify the disability. Several members expressed concern that the EFA process is less rigorous than the school-district IEP process and may be inflating disability counts. One member argued that the administrative rules cited are primarily for school districts, not EFAs, and said the Department of Education may not know how many of the roughly 890 EFA students receiving differentiated aid came through school-district documentation versus the MCD pathway. Another member said the EFA system appears more generous than the school system and raised concerns about oversight, auditing, and whether the program’s data are accurate. Sutherton said the organization reviews signed documentation, credentials, and diagnosis information, and may request additional records to help adjudicate expenses. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the prior minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the first one, the first six bills.
• That's the first one, the first six bills.
• That's the first one, the first six bills.
• That's the first one, the first six bills.
• with catastrophic aid for not first<00:21:53.000> let's<00:21:53.200> go<00:21:53.559><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session focused on school funding formulas, adequacy aid, and special education aid, with the chair outlining a schedule for the next several Tuesdays and noting that the committee would likely need multiple executive sessions to narrow down the bills. Members discussed the FY 26 formula, including base cost, differentiated aid, extraordinary needs grants, hold harmless provisions, and the roughly $28 million in excess statewide education property tax (SWP) funds that are not currently returned to the state under the existing formula. The first bill discussed was HB 137, which would allow excess SWP funds to remain with the local municipality for school and municipal purposes. Representative Spilsbury argued the issue is fundamental and suggested the state should require excess funds to be remitted back to the state, while Representative Damon said the bill appears to codify current practice and may be unnecessary, especially given possible court action. The discussion then shifted to a related bill from Representative Fellas that would redefine SWP as local money rather than state money and keep the current adequacy aid numbers revenue-neutral for now. Representative Fellas explained that SWP was created in 1999 after the Claremont lawsuit as part of the state’s effort to show increased school aid, but that it effectively labeled part of the local property tax as state money without changing property tax bills. She argued the state should not be tapping local property tax revenue and said her bill would preserve the current distribution while removing the SWP tax label, with future work possible on a different measure of local capacity such as income, home values, or poverty rate. Members also referenced prior discussions of fiscal capacity aid, relief aid, and other formula changes as part of the broader effort to restructure school funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• aid.
• education aid streams.
• education aid streams.
• Our first slide is the governor recommending the elimination of non-public pupil transportation aid starting
• The one at the bottom is just associated with non-public education aid from the first article.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and state AIDS and and federal AIDS and state AIDS and and local<00:11:31.959> AIDS<00:11:32.959
• And the aid amount is a function of initial aid, transportation aid, which is a portion of initial aid
• <00:42:36.160> a Aid um transportation Aid which is a Aid um transportation Aid which is a
• Um, they, you know, maybe have an aid or a part-time aid.
• Back to the first slide in our previous deck, the aid and levy amounts, those sum to the revenue amount

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:42:26.800> that pupil Aid that's a three-fold Aid that pupil Aid that's a three-fold Aid
• So if the legislature creates an aid but only funds that aid for two years, that aid goes out to school
• So if the legislature creates an aid but only funds that aid for two years, that aid goes out to school
• This also lines up with an aid appropriation on my typical aid appropriation spreadsheet.
• or<01:35:56.159> credits reduction Aid Border City Aid or credits reduction Aid Border City

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Education Finance Committee met on January 21, 2025, for its first hearing of the session and began with organizational business. Members and staff introduced themselves, described their districts and backgrounds, and the chair reviewed committee procedures, including how to request bill hearings, amendment deadlines, and handout deadlines. The committee also heard introductions from nonpartisan and partisan staff, including House Research and House Fiscal Analysis personnel who will support the committee’s work this session. The main substantive item was an overview presentation on the state budget and education finance process. Staff explained how Minnesota’s general fund is forecast twice a year, how the committee should read the budget documents and aid/levy tracking sheets, and how the current biennium compares with the upcoming budget window. They described the November forecast, noted that the committee will later receive the February forecast, and outlined the committee’s role in reviewing K-12 state aid spending, school district revenue, and property tax impacts. Staff walked through the aid appropriation summary spreadsheet and explained its columns, including end-of-session spending, fiscal year 2024-25 actuals and estimates, and the 2026-27 and 2028-29 planning horizons. They emphasized that many education programs are forecast-driven and can change with enrollment and other data. The presentation also summarized the state’s overall revenue mix and spending priorities, noting that K-12 education is the largest general fund category and that state aid makes up the majority of school revenue. No bills were heard and no votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I would first like to take up the second floor.
• You know, I think they choose a school first and foremost.
• And first of all, point of personal privilege.
• One, first and foremost, there's not just one company.
• We didn't go all the way back to kindergarten or first grade.

Bills: HB3329, HR1039, HR1040, HB3413, HB3414, HB3415, HB3416, HB3417, HB3418, HB3419, HB3420, HB3706, HB3711, HB4139, HB1268, HB3660, HJR1023, HB3298, HB3056, HJR1084, HB3934, HB3919, HB4118, HB4119, HB3791, HB4260, HB4178, HB4215, HB4324, HB3270, HB4352, HB4305, HB2955, HB3315, HB3066, HB1245, HB4125, HB3075, HB3129, HB3239, HB4153, HB3265, HB4491, SB680, HB4263, HB4268, HB1675, HB3885, HB2984, HB3697, HB2959, HB3671, HB3852, HB2933, HB3057, HB3802, HB4294, HB4285, HB3708, HB3979, HB3977, HB3986, HB3985, HB3588, HB3742, HB3845, HJR1070, HB3590, HB3595, HB3391, HB3183, HB3764, HB3765, HB1002, HB4434, HJR1086, HB4060, HB3881, HB3500, HB4408, HB3648, HB3127, HB3606

Keywords: long-term care, advisory board, sunset legislation, mental health, psychologists, University of Oklahoma, gymnastics, NCAA, congratulations, sports excellence, recognition, honor, athletics, Joseph Castiglione, leadership, education, sports management, HB3413, public finance, state budget

Transcript Highlights:

• They recorded scores of 198 plus and their first year of competition in the SEC.
• The first two years, we grew and became the largest entering class of students in state history.
• We've increased need-based aid by 49%.
• Representative Strom, to start your marathon, you are recognized to explain your first bill.
• And the first of those is House Bill 3413, which I have been recognized to give here.

Bills: HB3329, HR1039, HR1040, HB3413, HB3414, HB3415, HB3416, HB3417, HB3418, HB3419, HB3420, HB3706, HB3711, HB4139, HB1268, HB3660, HJR1023, HB3298, HB3056, HJR1084, HB3934, HB3919, HB4118, HB4119, HB3791, HB4260, HB4178, HB4215, HB4324, HB3270, HB4352, HB4305, HB2955, HB3315, HB3066, HB1245, HB4125, HB3075, HB3129, HB3239, HB4153, HB3265, HB4491, SB680, HB4263, HB4268, HB1675, HB3885, HB2984, HB3697, HB2959, HB3671, HB3852, HB2933, HB3057, HB3802, HB4294, HB4285, HB3708, HB3979, HB3977, HB3986, HB3985, HB3588, HB3742, HB3845, HJR1070, HB3590, HB3595, HB3391, HB3183, HB3764, HB3765, HB1002, HB4434, HJR1086, HB4060, HB3881, HB3500, HB4408, HB3648, HB3127, HB3606

Keywords: long-term care, advisory board, sunset legislation, mental health, psychologists, University of Oklahoma, gymnastics, NCAA, congratulations, sports excellence, recognition, honor, athletics, Joseph Castiglione, leadership, education, sports management, HB3413, public finance, state budget

Transcript Highlights:

• In<00:04:23.520> the<00:04:23.600> first<00:04:23.960> area, In the first area,
• On this first<00:08:58.280> slide, first slide, first slide, um<00:08:59.600> you<00:08
• Is it targeted literacy aid?
• Is it targeted literacy aid?
• Is it targeted literacy aid?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's start with the first question about safety.
• The first problem we identified is that most home care aide applicants never complete the process.
• Some aides have quit due to challenges navigating the system. Other aides have lost income.
• Some aides have quit due to challenges navigating the system. Other aides have lost income.
• However, only for home care aides...

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee held a public hearing on the State Auditor’s Office performance audit of Washington’s Restoring Quality Home Care Initiative (I-1163). Auditors said the initiative’s background checks and 75-hour training requirement are widely viewed as safety measures, but the state lacks pre-2011 data to directly measure safety outcomes. They also found Washington’s long-term care workforce is still short, though the state ranks better than many others in workers per disabled person, and that some groups and regions have larger gaps between authorized and actually used Medicaid care hours, suggesting access problems for certain clients. The audit focused heavily on the certification process for home care aides. Auditors reported that many applicants never finish certification, that the process often exceeds the 200-day legal deadline, and that delays can cause lost income, job loss, and in some cases repeated employer changes that allow aides to keep working without becoming certified. They recommended that the Department of Health accept applications only after training and testing are completed, move testing into training programs more broadly, and eliminate redundant DOH verification of FBI background checks. Committee members asked about testing contract incentives, language access, and the role of immigration in workforce shortages; auditors said they found no financial performance standards in the Prometric contract, did not specifically study immigration status, and did not focus on language barriers in this audit. Department of Health and Department of Social and Health Services officials largely agreed with the audit’s findings and recommendations. They said they have already made improvements, including expanded in-program testing, more staffing, and rule changes, and that testing has been integrated into more than 110 training programs. DSHS noted testing is offered in 13 languages. Both agencies said they support further streamlining and expect continued collaboration, including possible budget or legislative requests. No public testimony was offered, and the committee adjourned without taking any vote or formal action on the audit.

Transcript Highlights:

• not have English as their first not have English as their first language.<00:12:57.519> So
• about the running out of financial aid. about the running out of financial aid.
• trying to fund uh the financial aid trying to fund uh the financial aid programs<00:21:07.360>
• strengthening our student financial aid strengthening our student financial aid protections.<00:
• So, if an federal financial aid.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's start with the first question about safety.
• Let's start with the first question about safety.
• The first problem we identified is that most home care aide applicants never complete the process.
• Some aides have quit due to challenges navigating the system. Other aides have lost income.
• Some aides have quit due to challenges navigating the system. Other aides have lost income.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee heard a State Auditor’s Office performance audit on the Restoring Quality Home Care Initiative (I-1163), which created home care aide certification requirements, FBI background checks, and an abuse/neglect registry. Auditors said some requirements likely improve safety, especially background checks and training, but the state lacked pre-2011 data to measure outcomes directly. They also found Washington has a long-term care workforce shortage, though its workforce supply ranks better than many states, and that more stringent entry requirements do not appear to reduce workforce participation compared with other states. The audit’s main concern was that the certification process is slow and burdensome. Auditors reported that most applicants never finish certification, that only about one-third of fiscal year 2025 applicants were certified within the 200-day legal deadline, and that the average time to certification was 463 days. They identified delays between training and testing, limited testing access in some areas, and redundant Department of Health verification of FBI background checks as key causes. The audit recommended streamlining the process by accepting applications later in the process, expanding testing within training programs, and eliminating the redundant background-check verification. Department of Health and Department of Social and Health Services staff largely agreed with the audit’s findings and recommendations. They said they have already made improvements, including moving exams into more than 110 training programs, increasing credentialing staff, and reducing barriers through rule changes. DSHS noted testing is offered in 13 languages. Committee members asked about testing contract incentives, language access, and whether the agencies would seek statutory or budget changes to implement the recommendations. No public testimony was offered, and the meeting adjourned without any vote or formal action by the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also want to thank the governor for including money for unemployment insurance aid to get us First
• Aid and transportation Aid education Aid and transportation Aid will<01:24:15.280> have<01:24:
• aid.
• aid.
• aid.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I missed the last meeting, so this is my first meeting.
• But I hired my legislative aide— or yeah, the district legislative aide— out of Tier C because that's
• district legislative aid position.
• legislative aides.
• The new legislator may decide whether to retain the district legislative aide or request a new aide,

Transcript Highlights:

• So the first one that we'll talk about is our Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or the FAFSA,
• So the first one that we'll talk about is our Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or the FAFSA,
• program<00:45:02.559> and<00:45:02.720> it first State financial aid program and it
• So one of the first things that a school would check is: did the student apply for financial aid?
• So one of the first things that a school would check is: did the student apply for financial aid?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The second one is that this aid, or the bill, does pay for itself by taking a portion of our buffer aid
• We feel like this aid is warranted.
• proposal throughout session the first proposal throughout session the first concern<00:19:33.960
• c><00:20:27.320> trickle across the state this Aid does trickle across the state this Aid does
• But that was the first payment.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First up, we're going to introduce some new members and staff.
• First up, we're going to introduce some new members and staff.
• First, financial aid integrity: fraudsters often attempt to access Pell Grants and other federal subsidies
• THIS MATTERS FOR 3 PRIMARY FIRST, FINANCIAL AID, INTEGRITY.
• THE DELAYS IN AID CAN REMAIN. FOR EVERY DIFFICULT.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are deeply thankful for the swift response from our local law enforcement, our first responders, and
• It's mainly to see that this is an actual job Colton started 12 years ago when I first got elected.
• No, eight years ago when I first got married, 10 years I haven't been.
• , either to the point of first sale or once it leaves the boundary of the production unit, which is a
• This is a part of the gathering lines, the flow lines from the wellhead to the point of first sale is

Bills: SB1287, SB1983, SB1796, SB1806, SB1558, SB2135, SB483, SB1198, SB1265, SB2154, SB2139, SB1552, SB2118, SB1775, SB259, SB1344, SB1380, SB2007, SB1572, SB2074, SB1423, SB1425, SB1502, SB1503, SB1833, SB1561, SB1555, SB2044, SB1749, SB904, SB1565, SB1500, SB667, SB1484, SB1562, SB1644, HR1045, SB227, SB1627, SB1475, SB1966, SB2049, SB1531, SB80, SB1734, SB1630, SB1894, SB1975, SB1432, SB1437, SB1812, SB346, SB710, SB1489, SB1614, SB2045, SB1250, SB1304, SB1501, SB1946, SB592, SB65, SB1257, SB444, SB640, SB2178, SB1242, SB1642

Keywords: abstraction, licensing, Oklahoma Abstractors Board, criminal background, good moral character, SB1983, foster care, resource family partner, resource family partners, Department of Human Services, DHS, child welfare, foster homes, foster children, placement data, data sharing, de-identified data, aggregated data, sibling groups, placement disruptions

Bills: SB330, SB2069, SB2095, SB1721, SB1433, SB1316, SB1280, SB1455, SB1456, SB1457, SB1459, SB1461, SB1463, SB1465, SB1466, HJR1088, SB1684, SB378, SB1447, SB1920, SB1443, HR1047, SB1877, SB1884, SB1365, SB2174, SB1525, SB1810, SB1771, SB1805, SB1916, SB1530, SB1847, SB1990, SB2060, SB1992, SB1579, SB1778, SB2132, SB1623, SB2067, SB1589, SB1441, SB1224, SB372, SB1232, SB1264, SB1450, SB2011, SB2030, SB1980, SB1936, SB1477, SB1593, SB1725, SB1670, SB1480, SB1726, SB1633, SB1735, SB1632, SB1277, SB1217, SB1826, SB1824, SB1813, SB1326, SB1937, SB1641

Keywords: elk population, wildlife management, Oklahoma State University, veterinary medicine, ecosystem health, habitat assessment, waterfowl hunting, crane hunting, hunting guide, hunting outfitter, wildlife conservation, commercial hunting, outfitter license, guide license, hunting services, licensed guide, licensed outfitter, game and fish, hunting for compensation, waterfowl guide

Transcript Highlights:

• aid component, which is we previously probably unwisely still call catastrophic aid, and because it
• aid component, which is we previously probably unwisely still call catastrophic aid, and because it
• where's differentiated aid.
• Catastrophic aid, I know, is going to be special education aid. Excuse me.
• formerly catastrophic aid.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The work session focused on special education, especially the differentiated aid component and special education aid, which members noted is still often called “catastrophic aid.” The chair said the committee was trying to better understand how special education costs are growing, how districts are delivering services through SAUs or internally, and how reimbursement formulas affect local costs. Members also discussed the need for better data before making decisions on several education funding bills, and Representative Brown was tasked with capturing questions for follow-up information from the department or elsewhere. Testimony from the state special education director, Becky Fad, centered on why student counts in various disability categories have shifted over time. She said the categories themselves have not changed much, but autism has increased because of greater understanding and identification, developmental delay has grown because it applies to children under age 10 who may not yet have a clear diagnosis, and some students previously classified under speech/language or other health impairment are now identified in more specific categories such as autism. She emphasized that the IEP is based on a child’s individual needs, so a change in category would not necessarily change services, though it may help educators support the student differently. Members asked about whether the shifts reflect better diagnostic capability, whether the department should gather more data on the reasons for the changes, and whether autism-spectrum data could be broken down further. Fad said the department does not currently have data on the causes of the shifts or on where students fall within the autism spectrum, but that collecting and analyzing such data is on its list of priorities and a new data manager had recently been hired. She also explained that each child is counted only once on the chart by primary disability, that the IEP or eligibility team determines the primary category based on evaluations, and that any child can be referred for special education by a parent, teacher, or doctor, after which the district must meet within 15 days to decide whether to evaluate. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• prioritize aid distribution accordingly. prioritize aid distribution accordingly.
• So that would be my first question, or first two questions.
• So that would be my first question, or first two questions.
• First up, we have Meredith Fergus, financial aid analyst with the University of Minnesota. Welcome.
• First question. here till midnight. No. First question.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all