Transcript Highlights:

• The purpose of this bill is to allow students with special needs to fulfill their PE requirement by actively
• Under this bill, a student with a disability who participates in the Special Olympics for one school
• made it very, you know, easy because a lot of the requirements are more geared toward neurotypical students
• This legislation will empower our students with... ...credit for their hard work.
• This legislation will empower our students with disabilities and promote a more inclusive, efficient

Bills: S0556, S0794, S1600

Keywords: high school diploma, graduation requirements, physical education credit, performing arts credit, marching band, Special Olympics, students with disabilities, IEP, individual education plan, 504 plan, Florida education, school credits, diploma substitution, ROTC, dance class, State Board of Education, public schools, graduation pathways, adaptive physical education, Agency for Persons with Disabilities

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs considered three bills and a confirmation. On SB 1600, the committee adopted a strike-all amendment and a technical amendment that shifted the bill from creating an accreditation process to requiring the Office of Insurance Regulation, DCF, and community-based care lead agencies to study liability insurance coverage and availability in the child welfare sector and report findings to the legislature by January 1, 2027; the bill also included enforcement provisions for failure to provide requested information. Support was noted from child and family advocacy groups, and the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard CS for SB 556, which would allow students with disabilities to satisfy a physical education graduation requirement through participation in Special Olympics, if included in the student’s IEP, and would clarify that two years of marching band participation can satisfy both PE and fine arts credit. Special Olympics Florida, families, and other supporters testified in favor, emphasizing flexibility, access, and recognition of rigorous activity. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered CS for SB 794, which requires background screening for employees of residential facilities and day training programs serving people with developmental disabilities and directs a review of waiver support coordination, including quality, consistency, access, competencies, recruitment and retention, caseloads, and geographic gaps in services. An amendment to conform to the House version was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably. Members then questioned Secretary Taylor Hatch regarding her confirmation as Secretary of the Department of Children and Families. Senators raised concerns about child welfare system performance, parent notification and rights, CBC funding formulas, managing entities, opioid settlement spending, peer support expansion, and technology/interoperability improvements. Hatch described DCF’s recent data and initiatives, including reductions in out-of-home care entries, youth advisory efforts, missing children recovery operations, expanded behavioral health capacity, and technology upgrades for benefits processing. Public comment included support from family and provider organizations and concerns from a former foster care worker about medical misdiagnosis cases. The committee voted to recommend Hatch’s confirmation favorably, with Chair Grall voting no, and adjourned after allowing Senator Sharief to be recorded as voting in favor of SB 1600.

Transcript Highlights:

• College students often lack access to consistently accurate and transparent information regarding course
• requirements for completing their degrees, especially students who transfer from another institution
• Too often, Texas students, especially transfer students, face delays in completing their degrees due
• They're required to list the minimum requirements for transfer student admission on the institution's
• per student per program, and there's no fiscal note.

Bills: SB800, SB1534, SB2055, SB2310, SB2431, SB2786, SB3039, SB1242

Keywords: sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, higher education, student safety, orientation policies, health physics, workforce development, nuclear energy, radiological safety, scholarship, education, Texas Leadership Scholars Program, student funding, transparency, degree requirements, certificate programs, student transfer, foreign language

Bills: HCR13, HCR91, HCR183, HR15, HR83

Keywords: coral reefs, sunscreen, environmental education, student stewardship, marine conservation, tree canopy, public schools, environmental equity, shade coverage, education, HCR183, House Concurrent Resolution, Department of Education, DOE, immigration enforcement, ICE, federal immigration officers, sensitive locations, school safety, student protection

Transcript Highlights:

• morning. to lay out SCR 23, which designates the first full week of April as Gifted and Talented Students
• As of the latest TEA data, there are More than 450,000 identified gifted and talented students across
• Administrative code 89.1 requires that each district provide services for gifted students at all grade
• A statewide observance brings visibility to the needs and achievements of gifted and talented students
• . students, many of whom thrive outside of traditional learning models.

Bills: SB2053, SCR19, SCR23, SCR29

Keywords: Governor's Medal of Service, Texas award, state honor, public service recognition, Governor's office, Governor's award, Texas Government Code Chapter 3108, ceremonial award, honorary medal, state service award, local government retirees, private sector contributions, Texas Legislature recognition, gift acceptance, donations, grant funding, executive recognition, Texas Life Monument, human life, preservation

Bills: SB 49, SB 60, SB 365, SB 685, SB 895, SB 1191, SB 1400, SB 1401, SB 1786

Keywords: junior college funding, performance tier, credentials, education, workforce development, Texas education law, performance tier funding, junior college, Texas education, student success, performance funding, education policy, state finance program, public junior colleges, educational outcomes, academic fresh start, higher education, student admissions, Texas Education Code, public university

Bills: HB113, HB342, HB632, HB690, HB1003, HB1078, HB1132, HB1146

Keywords: grading scale, education reform, students, public schools, academic policy, special education, due process, local education agency, burden of proof, IEP, education law, data sharing, student information, privacy, education, LA FIRST, foreign adversaries, terrorism, contracting, school funding

Transcript Highlights:

• But, uh, with your permission, would you mind if I ask them to stand so we can see the students from
• Thank you all for being here today and thank you for the job that you do in your schools for our students
• see it, but if you want to see it up close, this is my husband with the teacher and some of the students
• from that class that appeared students from that class that appeared in<00:08:52.959> the<00:
• I wish I could meet them today students.

Bills: SB211, SB305, SB300, SB211, SB305, SB300

Keywords: school safety, local law enforcement, superintendent, complaints, school bus regulations, education funding, RAISE Act, student outcomes, public schools, local education agencies, accountability, weighted allocations, special education, English language learners, gifted students, tax exemption, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, business incentives, economic impact

Bills: HB299, HB533, HB299, HB533

Keywords: court costs, Choctaw County, jail funding, municipal court, criminal proceedings, education funding, student outcomes, K-12 education, RAISE Act, accountability, special education, English language learners, local education agency, respiratory therapy, respiratory therapist, respiratory care, licensure, licensing board, advanced practice provider, nurse practitioner

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, he's a student at Auburn University majoring in agricultural business and economics, minor in finance
• Uh, he's a student at Auburn University majoring in agricultural business and economics, minor in finance
• Uh, he's a student at Auburn University majoring in agricultural business and economics, minor in finance
• Uh, he's a student at Auburn University majoring in agricultural business and economics, minor in finance

Bills: HB87, HB96, HB28, HB87, HB96, HB28

Keywords: HB87, Marengo County, coroner, deputy coroner, county commission, expense allowance, mileage allowance, travel reimbursement, local act, local legislation, county general fund, public official compensation, county office, Section 45-46-60, Alabama Code, salary increase, allowance increase, National Signing Day, athletic scholarships, military enlistment

Transcript Highlights:

• I work with children in education, and it was my students in education who inspired me to go to law school
• They were undocumented at that time, but they may not be undocumented now.
• She was coming to seek medical care and her parents, I believe were undocumented and the entire family
• Representative Little suggested that the federal government would decide if the person was undocumented
• , but the definition in this bill isn't limited to undocumented people in the U.S.

Bills: HB36, HB75, HB76, HB166, HB799, HB 1135, HJR15, HJR16, HB36, HB75, HB76, HB166, HJR15, HJR16

Keywords: family violence, global positioning monitoring system, victim resources, electronic monitoring, protective orders, magistrate, criminal procedure, probable cause, written findings, law enforcement, bail bonds, bail fund, charitable bail fund, nonprofit bail organization, public funds, local government spending, political subdivision, county, city, taxpayer lawsuit

Transcript Highlights:

• First up, we have House Bill 1997, House Draft One, relating to students with disabilities.
• supports during emergency situations and evacuations in IEP, individualized education programs, for students
• the DOE for charter school students. the DOE for charter school students.
• <00:10:06.160> are um without a specific plan, students are um without a specific plan, students
• I'm in strong support of this bill because student safety with special needs is most important.

Bills: HB1997, HB2343, HB2566, HB2493

Keywords: students with disabilities, individualized education programs, emergency plans, evacuation procedures, support services, Hawaii education law, HB2343, Maui State Veterans Home, veterans home, veterans, long-term care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, hospice, Alzheimer's care, respite care, assimilate, transfer deadline, Act 99, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1997, which would require IEPs for students with disabilities to include individualized emergency accommodations and evacuation supports. The Attorney General’s office supported the intent but recommended amendments to explicitly include students with Section 504 plans and to change references from “department schools” to “public schools” so charter school students are covered. Testimony in support came from disability advocates and several individuals, including Peter Fritz, who said emergency evacuation planning should be made explicit because it is not clearly required by federal law, and Ka Swan, who emphasized student safety during emergencies. No vote or final action was taken on the bill in the transcript. The committee then took up House Bill 2343, relating to the Maui State Veterans Home. The measure would repeal a deadline for transferring the home to a state agency with a Maui affiliation and instead require the transfer to occur as soon as practicable. The Department of Defense, the Office of Veterans Services, HHSC Oahu Region, and several individuals testified in support. Committee members asked whether a more definite deadline should be used, but the department said the open-ended language was preferable because the Maui entity is not yet ready and Oahu is currently providing oversight. No vote or final action was recorded. House Bill 2566, authorizing special license plates for Hawaii Civil Air Patrol members, was also heard. The City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services testified in opposition, while Johnny Perry testified in support. The committee did not take a vote in the transcript. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2493 on wrongful imprisonment compensation procedures. The Attorney General’s office opposed the bill, arguing it would create an automatic payment mechanism without a sufficient finding of actual innocence, could trigger payments within five days of dismissal, and raised concerns about insufficient time for prosecution review and about funding and appropriation issues. Supporters, including people who said they had been wrongfully convicted and later found actually innocent, argued the bill would reduce delays and help released individuals survive while awaiting compensation. Judiciary staff requested technical amendments and said operational details still needed review. Members questioned the AG about the meaning of “actual innocence,” burden shifting, and whether the bill would better define the standard, but no vote or final action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've had the fortune to be a dean of students at a college, so I understand what you're trying to do
• You know, I think as we promote students being active and volunteering and making a difference in their
• As you know, during the COVID pandemic, the universities of Alabama forced this on their students—a very
• I mean it refers to students. testing. I mean it refers to students.

Bills: HB491, SB85

Keywords: HB491, public schools, K-12, school nutrition, school lunch, cafeteria, artificial dyes, food additives, food coloring, synthetic dyes, Red Dye No. 3, Red Dye No. 40, Yellow Dye No. 5, Yellow Dye No. 6, Blue Dye No. 1, Blue Dye No. 2, Green Dye No. 3, school fundraising, vending, snacks

Transcript Highlights:

• Kate Ram, as I said, is a student at Tier High School.
• This is a student film program, with $100,000 for the Jazz Hall of Fame for statewide student programs
• weighted... course how this is the student weighted funding.
• So, about $166 million will be going to student... about $166 million going to student needs.
• Now, as you know, we have created under our student need some created under our student need some special

Bills: SB113, SB114, SB305, SB111, HB600, SB112, SB150, SB109, SB122

Keywords: education funding, appropriations, local education boards, school safety, workforce development, Alabama, technology, higher education, career technology centers, public institutions, grants, local education agencies, RAISE Act, student outcomes, public schools, accountability, weighted allocations, special education, English language learners, gifted students

Transcript Highlights:

• I, too, have two students with me today: Jake Robinson, who is a fifth grader.
• I also have two students from the Montessori of the Rio Grande. And the first is Rosie Archuleta.
• I'd like to introduce my guests slash students slash future leaders of this state.
• I too have two incredible students in the fifth grade.
• real-world relevance, encouraging students to grow as scholars, leaders, and critical thinkers.

Bills: HM3, HM11, HM14, HM15, HM21

Keywords: nurses, health care workers, healthcare workers, frontline workers, hospital staff, clinicians, allied health professionals, support staff, public health, workforce shortage, nursing shortage, safe staffing, patient safety, rural health care, frontier communities, behavioral health, mental health, substance use disorder, substance abuse, health care memorial

Transcript Highlights:

• to the student?
• UTEP has student bodies. is about 70% fluently bilingual.
• But we see that students in the.
• That's college age students.
• Students experiencing homelessness face unique challenges that other students their age rarely have to

Bills: HB1784, HB2088, HB3062, HB3475, HB3741, HB4279, HB4763, HB5154, HB5294, HB5508, SB1401, HB232, HB232

Keywords: students, homeless, foster care, higher education, liaison officer, housing assistance, transition support, law school, Rio Grande Valley, legal education, public university, accreditation, fentanyl prevention, drug poisoning awareness, mental health resources, substance abuse education, El Paso, university system, funding, public education

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 4274 deals with military students and military school choice.
• made me think of just one follow-up, but what about districts that have virtual options for their students
• If you are a virtual student, obviously, you are learning on a computer, and so we're not going to limit
• So, students can opt out, but districts can't opt out, correct? Thank you for the question.
• were left for minutes told to calm down and sent back to the classroom, at which time the student just

Bills: HB4274, HB3076, HB4358, HB3312, HB3288, HB3885

Keywords: HB4274, Oklahoma schools, interdistrict transfer, open transfer, school enrollment, military families, active duty, National Guard, Reserve orders, military installation, residency requirements, district of choice, public school transfer, student transfer, special education, IEP, Section 504, military housing, base housing, electronic enrollment

Transcript Highlights:

• who make up one in four students in our public schools.
• It can create a rat race mentality amongst students.
• More than half of all our high school students are Black and do not report student rankings.
• That's all for the student who couldn't come in until four.
• First of all, in terms of students getting financial aid, sometimes students believe that they're getting

Bills: SB750, SB2995, SB1716, SB2430, SB203, SB1679, SB2683, SB1414

Keywords: tuition exemption, paramedics, higher education, public institutions, laboratory fees, education code, financial aid, education, student support, scholarships, nontraditional education, student enrollment, financial assistance, Texas students, foreign adversaries, trade secrets, research integrity, security measures, international agreements, student privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the result of our commission that we had regarding student-based funding and you.
• Regarding student-based funding, you all participated in that process, and the determination from this
• committee and the house committee was to pursue a hybrid type formula for student-based funding.
• And Formula for student-based funding.
• We start doing our Raise Act or our student weighted funding act steadily increasing each year out of

Bills: SB305, SB109, SB122, SB111, SB114, SB113, SB150, SB112, SB289, SB303

Keywords: education funding, RAISE Act, student outcomes, public schools, local education agencies, accountability, weighted allocations, special education, English language learners, gifted students, Tuskegee University, Alabama Education Trust Fund, appropriation, agricultural research, Southern Preparatory Academy, fiscal responsibility, financial reporting, Education Savings Accounts, RAISE Fund, CHOOSE Act Fund

Transcript Highlights:

• What this bill aims to do is to reach students who have dropped out of school.
• These students ought to go by that.
• I'm concerned about the student. This ain't a feel-good situation.
• The knowledge of them will benefit all students.
• Reintroducing the Commandments will positively impact students' lives.

Bills: HB266, SB85, SB166, HB266, SB85, SB166

Keywords: education, diploma, adult education, dropout prevention, nontraditional high school program, driver's license eligibility, vaccination exemption, religious exemption, medical exemption, vaccine mandate, testing requirement, public schools, K-12, students, parents, guardians, higher education, college enrollment, university attendance, public institutions of higher education

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 57 ensures that students students with disabilities have the necessary accommodations included in
• student receives service.
• We know DRT advocates for sending dispatched students. students out of state for residential placement
• Educational interpreters for students who are deaf are super critical. to make sure that students who
• If students with disabilities generated basic funding as full-time students.

Bills: SB568, SCR5, SB57, SB1447, SB27, SB24

Keywords: special education, funding, individualized education program, visual impairments, accessibility, support services, state education code, SCR 5, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5, Texas School for the Deaf, TSD, Robert Rives, gymnasium naming, building naming, honorary resolution, commemorative resolution, deaf education, hard of hearing, Gallaudet University, alumni hall of fame