Video & Transcript : 'academic freedom' :

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OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Apr 21st, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This project is complementary and part of the larger academic health complex expansion that includes
  • The hub will serve as a catalyst for innovation, connecting academic investigation, clinicians industry
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Apr 21st, 2026

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This project is complementary and part of the larger academic health complex expansion that includes
  • The hub will serve as a catalyst for innovation, connecting academic investigation, clinicians, industry
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered the daily prayer, and recognized a series of guests and special introductions, including Langston University Day, Moore Public Schools cheer and pom squads, a student shadow, former Senator Connie Johnson, Brazilian missionaries, and a long-serving mental health employee. The chamber also heard introductions from the day’s pages. The Senate adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 18, recognizing April 21, 2026, as National Lineman Appreciation Day, and House Concurrent Resolution 1024, designating Route 66 Day at the Capitol and honoring the highway’s centennial. Senators then advanced Senate Joint Resolution 49, which revokes a Wildlife Department rule requiring oil and gas companies to post a surety bond, after discussion clarified the measure was intended to eliminate duplicative regulation; the resolution advanced on a 42-3 vote. The Senate also passed House Bill 4486, authorizing the State Capitol Preservation Commission to arrange a privately funded Gold Star Family Monument near the Capitol Square Arch, and approved several appropriations measures tied to ARPA interest or excess funds. These included Senate Bill 1130 for the University of Oklahoma Hospital Trust Authority’s Child Behavioral Health Project, Senate Bill 1131 for the Office of Juvenile Affairs’ Youth Services Program, Senate Bill 1132 for the Rural Hospital Rebuild Program, Senate Bill 1133 for Griffin Memorial Hospital replacement capacity, Senate Bill 1134 for the Human Performance Project and Pharmaceutical Expansion Project, and Senate Bill 1142 for grants to the Boys & Girls Club and YWCA. Most of these bills were adopted with emergency clauses after roll-call votes, with some members changing votes before final emergency passage. The Senate then announced committee meetings and adjourned until the next scheduled session.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Feb 10th, 2026

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
Summary: The Senate convened, the clerk called the roll, and a quorum was declared present. The chamber opened with a prayer offered by Senator Peterson, followed by recognitions of the Nurse of the Day, Amanda Fisher, and the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Lee Schaffler, both introduced with brief biographical remarks and applause from members. The Senate also recognized the week’s pages, who introduced themselves and described their schools, assignments, and future plans. Several announcements were then made about upcoming committee and caucus meetings, including Local and County Government, Economic Development, Workforce, and Tourism, Judiciary, the first meeting of the Disability Caucus, and the start of devotion time the next morning. No legislation was debated or voted on during the session. The only formal action was adoption of a motion to adjourn, and the Senate stood adjourned until Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

March 19, 2025 - 10:30 AM

Transcript Highlights:
  • As faculty members, we are the academic heart of our institutions.
  • Will they defend academic freedom?
  • They are our strongest safeguards for institutional integrity and academic excellence. Thank you.
  • Maria Bernal, Professor of English for Academic Purposes. Waves in support. Robert Fuslow.
  • rates are still very high, even though there has been a decrease in academic performance.
Summary: The Education Administration Subcommittee heard and advanced a series of education bills focused on transparency, accountability, attendance, school start times, student well-being, and career planning. HB 1321, by Rep. Salsman, would remove public-records and public-meeting exemptions for university presidential searches, eliminate the Board of Governors from those searches, require Board of Governors members to file full financial disclosures and be Florida residents, and expand syllabus posting requirements; it passed 15-0. HB 1079, by Rep. Botana, as amended, broadened eligibility for dropout retrieval programs to include students who withdrew and did not reengage in education, and it also passed 15-0 after a strike-all amendment and supportive testimony from a program provider. The committee also approved PCS for HB 969, by Rep. Kassel, which shifts evaluation of school mental health services to the Department of Children and Families and requires more detailed outcome data, surveys, and reporting related to the Mental Health Assistance Allocation program; it passed 15-0. HB 1367, by Rep. Booth, creates a statewide attendance policy with uniform definitions and reporting requirements to address chronic absenteeism; it passed 15-1 after support from business and education groups and some concern about state control over district policy. PCS for HB 261, by Rep. Gerwig, revises the 2023 middle and high school start-time law by allowing districts to document compliance efforts and unintended consequences rather than fully meet the mandated later start times; it passed 16-0. The most debated bill was HB 1483, by Rep. Valdez, which would align Florida’s school grading scale with the familiar 90/80/70/60 letter-grade standard over a five-year transition and require school grades to appear on student report cards. Supporters argued the current scale is misleading and too lenient, while opponents warned it would sharply increase failing school labels, create costs and turnaround mandates, and confuse parents and students. Despite extensive testimony from school board members, teachers, students, and advocacy groups on both sides, the bill passed 12-4. The committee then quickly approved HB 1245, a one-year Hunger-Free Campus Pilot Program for three universities with the highest share of Pell-eligible students, and HB 571, which expands career planning, paid work experience, and credit-transfer review for students; both passed unanimously.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Education Policy Committee 3/10/26

Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, we are not in the space to mandate textbooks for higher education due to academic freedom, but we
  • c><00:35:37.119><c> support</c><00:35:37.440><c> them</c> academic freedom but we can support them academic
  • Well, it's a key predictor for students' future academic and workforce success.
  • This is not just about academic success.
  • We have researched the outcomes that MathCore students have beyond their academic performance.
Bills: HF3421
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Session (04/23/2026)

New Hampshire House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Because Susan her academic career.
  • Susan's love their academic excellence.
  • , academic ability, or athletic<02:18:04.639><c> talent.
  • </c><04:33:41.080><c> This</c> the right to freedom of speech. This the right to freedom of speech.
  • </c> amendment rights to freedom of speech. amendment rights to freedom of speech.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
SC

South Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Jun 25th, 2026

South Carolina Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is a deep dive from academics across the country talking about the ideas that coalesced together
  • Someone cited an academic paper on the ways in which the Senate contributed to the demise of the Roman
  • And so this academic paper examined the role of the Senate.
  • And the Freedom Train was touring around.
  • The Freedom Train came to Greenville out at Donaldson Center, and my grandparents took me out there.
Keywords: 977, all
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • That's special education eligibility and New Hampshire education freedom accounts.
  • And, as with many statutory references, there are also regulatory—the regulations. education freedom
  • accounts education freedom accounts &gt;&gt; that<00:54:18.160><c> goes</c><00:54:18.480><c> through<
  • there is academic versus medical?
  • How do we discern between academic and medical costs?
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The commission met to continue its study of the cost of special education, with the chair emphasizing that the group needs to narrow its focus over the coming year toward specific cost drivers, including the IEP process, Medicaid, charter schools, and EFAs. Members reviewed a draft first report due November 1 and agreed it would be a brief synopsis of prior meetings, with minutes attached. The September 30, 2025 minutes were amended to correct the number of federally funded department staff from 234 to 23, and to revise language about Senator Sullivan’s comments so they reflected concerns about IEP advocates and fees charged to families rather than support for the concept. The amended minutes were then approved unanimously, with abstentions noted for members who were absent. The main presentation focused on how special education costs are handled for students attending charter schools. The DOE representative said there are 804 students with disabilities in charter schools across 88 of the state’s 176 districts, and that the district of residence remains responsible for all services and costs. She explained that students must meet IDEA criteria through district evaluation and parent consent, and that services are determined through individual IEP meetings rather than by a blanket charter-school decision. Members asked how those costs are tracked, whether any students are merely “monitored,” and whether districts separately identify charter-school special education expenses; the answer was that most districts fold those costs into their overall special education budget, though some may break them out as a line item. The discussion then turned to transportation and mileage costs for staff providing services at charter schools. Testimony indicated that districts may use their own staff, contract staff, or contract with a charter school for certified services, and that travel costs are often either built into contracts or absorbed as part of staff time rather than separately reimbursed. Members questioned whether mileage is reimbursed when staff travel to distant charter schools and whether those costs can be isolated in district budgets; the response was that practices vary by district and are not usually broken out by special education function. Several members argued this makes it difficult to determine the true cost of delivering special education, especially given New Hampshire’s model in which the district of residence pays regardless of where the charter school is located. The chair noted the complexity of the system and compared it to the state’s separate tuition and transportation approach for career and technical education centers.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

Senate Session (05/07/2026)

New Hampshire Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Supreme Court has repeatedly described academic freedom as a special concern of the First Amendment.
  • That's the purview of academic freedom.
  • </c><01:07:05.760><c> freedom.
  • </c> That's the purview of academic freedom. That's the purview of academic freedom.
  • ,</c><01:08:34.640><c> but</c> epistles from a land of freedom, but epistles from a land of freedom,
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Jun 29th, 2026

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Lord God, the light of your presence leads all humankind to truth, justice, liberty, and freedom.
  • Colonists sought self-governance, independence, and freedom from rule by a distant king.
  • As President Ronald Reagan reminded us, freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction
  • Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
  • Freedom...
Keywords: 988, house, all
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Delivery of Government Efficiency Apr 30th, 2025

Delivery of Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:
  • And so, his directives were not student friendly, were not academic focused.
  • This tool ranks districts by academic achievement, which is your raw scores, academic performance, which
  • We'll start with academic trends. I know you've, many of you have seen this.
  • If they're a high-performing district, give them some freedom to innovate.
  • We're capable of looking at the academic side, but we don't.
Bills: HB1540 , HB3837 , HB5571 , SB370 , SB2425
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Education Policy and Administration (01/30/2026)

Education Policy and Administration

Transcript Highlights:
  • We will open the hearing on HB 1334, removing the authority of the Education Freedom Accounts Scholarship
  • HB 1334 relates to the administration of the Education Freedom Account, or EFA, program. for the record
  • HB 1513 also relates to the administration of the Education Freedom Account Program, or EFAs.
  • the Education of Freedom Account Program or<00:47:22.560><c> EFAS.
  • </c><03:14:33.600><c> reference</c> I am a former academic reference I am a former academic reference
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee first heard HB 1334, which would remove the Education Freedom Account scholarship organization’s authority to approve “any other educational expense” under the EFA statute. The prime sponsor, Representative Porchelli, said the bill would narrow the law to the specifically listed qualifying expenses, avoid broad interpretation, and shift any questions to the Department of Education or the legislative oversight committee. In response to questions, she said she did not think the open-ended category had been needed and that the statute already clearly lists allowable expenses. A representative of the Children’s Scholarship Fund testified in opposition, saying the category is used rarely but is important for unusual cases, especially students with special needs, and that removing it could create unintended consequences. After testimony, the chair closed the hearing on HB 1334. The committee then heard HB 1513, which would move several EFA reporting and oversight requirements from administrative rules and the contract with the Children’s Scholarship Fund into statute. Representative Porchelli said the bill would consolidate existing requirements on timely responses to oversight requests, publication of expense reports by category and provider, and transmission of eligibility and enrollment data to the Department of Education. She described the bill as mostly a clarification and transparency measure rather than a substantive policy change. Members asked about the meaning of “timely access,” the 45-day deadline, whether the contract already covered these duties, and whether the scholarship organization had ever failed to comply. The Children’s Scholarship Fund said it had generally met the 45-day deadline, had not knowingly refused information requests, and that the quarterly reporting requirement could add cost; the sponsor said the DOE had provided guidance and was neutral. The hearing on HB 1513 was then closed. Finally, the committee heard HB 1256, which would repeal the state librarian’s authority to award scholarships for graduate library school attendance at American Library Association-accredited schools. Representative Drago said the law was unnecessary because the state does not currently have a state librarian, scholarships are not typically granted by statute, and he objected to the ALA accreditation requirement and what he described as the association’s political advocacy. In questions, he clarified that the bill targets the accreditation requirement rather than a specific school and said he did not think the state should direct taxpayer-funded scholarships toward ALA-accredited programs. A member raised First Amendment concerns, but the sponsor said the issue was not speech itself, only the use of taxpayer dollars and state law to support that direction. The transcript cuts off before any vote or final action on HB 1256.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/26/2026 - Senate Floor Session

Arizona Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is a freedom issue.
  • This is a freedom issue.
  • I submit to you that this is a freedom issue.
  • And with that, I vote aye for freedom.
  • I stand with the principles of freedom. And this bill would cause harm.
Keywords: 1182, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Finance Division II (03/28/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • We support maintaining the education freedom accounts, or the voucher accounts, at their current level
  • We support maintaining the education freedom accounts, or the voucher accounts, at their current level
  • We support maintaining the education freedom accounts, or the voucher accounts, at their current level
  • We support maintaining the education freedom accounts, or the voucher accounts, at their current level
  • </c> maintaining the education Freedom maintaining the education Freedom accounts<00:27:52.559><c> or
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee first considered an amendment to add a new “Lakes” license plate to HB 2, with proceeds directed to the cyanobacteria fund for lake cleanup. Representative McGuire said the bill had already passed on consent and asked that it be included in HB 2; members discussed that it had also gone to the Senate. The motion to adopt the amendment failed on a 7-8 vote. The committee then took up an amendment imposing a 5% administrative fee on certain dedicated funds, with several exemptions for funds that could not legally or appropriately be charged, such as those involving federal money or bequests. Supporters said it would make the treatment of dedicated funds more consistent and raise roughly $31 million over the biennium for the general fund, while opponents questioned the number of carve-outs and who currently pays the administrative costs. The amendment failed on a 4-5 vote. Next, the committee reconsidered and then adopted an amendment changing the distribution of business profits tax and business enterprise tax revenue, reducing the share going to the Education Trust Fund from 41% to 30% and increasing the General Fund share. Supporters argued the Senate had overfunded the Education Trust Fund and that the change would help balance the budget without changing education spending levels; opponents said they could not support taking money from the Education Trust Fund. The amendment passed 5-3. The committee also adopted, by the same 5-3 margin, an amendment incorporating HB 741 language on open enrollment and student attendance in public schools, with supporters calling it House policy and opponents noting it had been a close, partly partisan vote in the House. Finally, the committee considered a change to the University System of New Hampshire budget that would reduce general fund appropriations by $40 million per year, offset in part by $15 million in previously approved unique dollars for a net reduction of $25 million per year. Supporters said the cut was necessary to balance the budget and that other options had been exhausted; opponents called it harmful to the university system and argued the committee should instead look to other areas, including education freedom accounts, for savings. The discussion continued, but the transcript excerpt ends before a final vote on the UNH item.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • This is a meeting of the Education Freedom Account Oversight Committee.
  • clarification purposes. >> Okay, differentiates the Okay, differentiates the applications for the Education Freedom
  • Education, minimum standards for public school approval and the academic standards.
  • built to what have they learned over the course what have they learned over the course of a full academic
  • So, you know, a kindergartner's portfolio review, how much academic progress can a kindergartner or first
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The Education Freedom Account Oversight Committee met on March 27 and approved the agenda, adding a request for clarification on how the Children’s Scholarship Fund separates applications for the EFA program and the education tax credit program. The committee also approved minutes from December 30, 2025, and March 27, 2026, with a request that the March minutes include a link to the live stream. Members discussed the status of pending Legislative Budget Assistant audit reports on EFA and special education, noting the reports were still not released and would likely come later in the summer after review by the Department of Education and the Children’s Scholarship Fund. A major topic was the EFA program’s administrative fee, which statute allows up to 10% of deposits. Children’s Scholarship Fund representatives said current administrative costs were under 8%, that staffing had been reduced through the ScholarVia platform, and that any unused amount is reconciled and returned to students at year’s end. Members asked for historical administrative-cost data and a written explanation of how the withholding and reconciliation process works. The committee also reviewed the distinction between the EFA and education tax credit funding streams and was told the two programs use separate applications and separate funds, though both use the same platform. The committee spent substantial time on assessment and accountability. Department of Education staff explained that EFA students may satisfy annual assessment requirements through a portfolio, a norm-referenced test, or the statewide assessment; only about 10 EFA students took the statewide assessment, while most used portfolios or standardized tests such as the California Achievement Test and NWEA. Staff described how statewide assessment data are kept separate by student identifier and can be aggregated for EFA reporting, and members asked for breakdowns by grade, test type, and school district. The department also discussed linking assessments through Lexiles and Quantiles and said it could provide a list of commonly used formative assessments in New Hampshire districts. The committee additionally discussed a possible PSAT addition to the state contract and the costs of the statewide assessment program. Another major issue was special education eligibility and services within the EFA program. Members questioned the rule allowing a medical certification of disability from a licensed professional anywhere in the United States as an alternative to an IEP-based determination. Department staff said the current system allows either pathway, that about 1,000 EFA students are identified as special education students, and that the program does not track growth or service alignment on an individual basis. Members expressed concern that the medical-certification route may be too broad and asked for data on the disability categories used. The committee also discussed career and technical education access for EFA students, noting that Senate Bill 491 would provide guidance and that House Bill 1817 would address access and funding issues, but that current law still allows EFA funds to be used to pay CTE costs. The meeting ended with a request for future agenda items and a decision to leave the next meeting date open until fall, pending further information from the LBA audit process.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

House of Representatives Apr 16th, 2026

Louisiana House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • prohibits retaliation against faculty members for disclosing certain alleged violations, exercising academic
  • freedom, or free speech, and provides for penalties, uniform policies, and remedies.
  • prohibits retaliation against faculty members for disclosing certain alleged violations, exercising academic
  • freedom, or free speech, and provides for penalties, uniform policies, and remedies.
  • Deposits from fiscal year 27 state general fund include $1 million into the Reading Enrichment Academic
Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and received Senate messages, including several Senate bills and resolutions that were referred or laid over. The chamber also adopted a series of House resolutions honoring local organizations, commemorations, and community events, and referred one resolution on climate action to Natural Resources. Several Senate bills were read and referred to the appropriate committees, including measures on peer review confidentiality, higher education research security, pre-K program standards, police civil service, and a memorial highway designation. The main floor business was the budget. The House considered House Bill 1, the general appropriations bill, in Committee of the Whole and reviewed major funding levels and committee changes across state government. The bill included significant funding for early childhood education, higher education, TOPS, health care, corrections, public safety, transportation, and other agencies, along with adjustments tied to LASERS debt payoff, Medicaid, MFP, and various one-time or recurring items. Members heard brief questions on higher education funding and DOTD road needs, but no amendments were offered on the floor during the schedule-by-schedule review. HB 1 was reported from Committee of the Whole with amendments and then finally passed by a vote of 104 yeas. The House then took up House Bills 2 and 3, the capital outlay bill and the omnibus bond authorization act, both of which were explained as the financing measures for the capital program. HB 2 emphasized limited member project funding, reallocation of dormant projects, and bundling of projects to move them forward more efficiently; HB 3 authorized the bond sales needed to fund HB 2. Both bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously. The chamber also passed supplemental and fiscal bills including HB 312, HB 313, HB 383, HB 314, HCR 3, HB 983, and HB 1126, covering supplemental appropriations, treasury fund transfers, ancillary funds, hospital assessments, judiciary funding, and legislative expenses. The meeting ended with personal privileges, staff recognition, announcements, and adjournment to Monday at 1:00 p.m.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Government, Elections And Indian Affairs Feb 7th, 2026 at 10:15 am

House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Chamber supports strong public schools, early academic intervention, and better preparation of students
  • I want to remind us about academic freedom in higher education, and when I see language such as corrective
  • I want to remind us about academic freedom in higher education, and when I see a language such as corrective
Keywords: 996, all
NM
Transcript Highlights:
  • The Chamber supports strong public schools, early academic intervention, and better preparation of students
  • I want to remind us about academic freedom in higher education, and when I see a language such as corrective
  • I want to remind us about academic freedom in higher education, and when I see a language such as corrective
Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard three measures: H.J.R. 5 on legislative compensation, Senate Bill 29 as amended on math instruction, and Senate Bill 37 on literacy instruction. H.J.R. 5 was presented as a constitutional amendment to create a paid legislature tied to New Mexico’s median household income, with supporters arguing it would broaden access to public service, reduce conflicts of interest, and better reflect the realities of modern legislative work. Public testimony was overwhelmingly in support, including from advocacy groups, civic organizations, faith groups, and veterans; one member raised concerns about fairness, attendance, and whether outside employment would still be allowed. The committee adopted an amendment to move the ballot question from 2028 to 2026, then approved H.J.R. 5 on a 5-1 vote. Senate Bill 29, endorsed by the Legislative Education Study Committee, would strengthen math instruction by improving teacher preparation, requiring PED to set up statewide math supports, and creating early screening and family engagement for students. Supporters, including educators, business groups, and education nonprofits, said New Mexico’s math outcomes are too low and that early intervention and better teacher preparation are needed. Members asked about teacher licensure requirements, parent support, standardized testing concerns, and district implementation. The committee heard that the bill’s screenings are intended to be developmental rather than high-stakes tests, and that parents would be supported through school-based guidance. The bill passed unanimously. Senate Bill 37 would codify a science-of-reading framework, require high-quality instructional materials, add literacy coaches and assessments, and expand support for bilingual and dual-language instruction. Supporters said the bill builds on recent gains in reading proficiency and strengthens teacher preparation and early intervention. Opponents, including tribal leaders, bilingual education scholars, and advocacy groups, argued the bill was too English-dominant, could conflict with existing bilingual and tribal language laws, and did not go far enough to protect indigenous languages and community-based approaches. Sponsors said amendments were being developed to clarify biliteracy, culturally responsive instruction, and protections for native language learning, and the committee advanced the bill on a vote with several members noting their support was contingent on those promised amendments.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/12/2026 - Senate Floor Session - Opening Day Ceremony

Arizona Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Since joining GCU, President Mueller has led a reinvention of the school's academic programs to align
  • H. has been recognized for her academic accomplishments as outstanding undergraduate at the inaugural
  • Well, I tell him, welcome to freedom. It came from Northern Cal.
  • who was an incredible staffer on Capitol Hill and has chosen to come back and support the Arizona Freedom
  • Her academic path reflects her commitment to service, and after graduating from Cuba High School, Cuba
Keywords: 1182, all