Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1706, full-day kindergarten students ADM. ATT in education.
• SB 1812, luxury tax-ready-to-drink spirit alcohol. Finance.
• response plans in schools, workplaces, and public spaces can save lives and strengthen community readiness

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and several guest introductions recognizing Arizona Dental Hygienists Association visitors, deaf and hard of hearing advocacy groups, Arizona Society of Anesthesiologists members, the Doctor of the Day, tribal voting advocates, and other guests. Members also observed a moment of silence for two DPS officers killed earlier that morning. The chamber then received a long list of bills and resolutions for first reading and committee referral, covering elections, education, public safety, health, tribal affairs, housing, agriculture, and other topics. The main floor action was in Committee of the Whole on SB 1425, an elections bill dealing with the July primary and related election procedures. The bill was amended in committee, then further amended on the floor, and the Committee of the Whole recommended it do pass as amended. During third reading, members spoke in support of the measure as a bipartisan election fix that would move the primary up two weeks, improve ballot timing, and require observers in every county. Senator Hatathlie highlighted persistent tribal voting barriers such as mail ballot issues, dual-addressing problems, ID access, funding shortages, misinformation, and polling-place disruptions, while Senator Gonzalez voted no because of the emergency clause. The bill passed 27-1 with two not voting and was transmitted to the House. The Senate also adopted two proclamations: one naming September 4, 2026, as Taekwondo Day in Arizona and another declaring February 2026 as American Heart Month, encouraging CPR and AED awareness. After a recess, the Senate returned briefly to introduce additional bills, refer SB 1315 to Public Safety and SB 1090 to Finance, announce upcoming committee meetings, and then adjourn until Monday, February 9, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• learnings pro early Learning Programs Estimating Conference address is 2 programs, voluntary pre kindergarten
• and school readiness.
• here but also started looking at other conferences like the early learning conferences for school readiness

Transcript Highlights:

• Probably floating around outside, so we'll make the transition, and I'll go ensure that they are here and ready
• The kids who started this program in kindergarten moved with it in first grade, moved with it in second
• Waterford in every school district, based on the number of students rolled Across the state for kindergarten
• I think those are critical for our state to develop and have ready for kids.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was a discussion about aligning the kindergarten readiness assessment with the kindergarten report
• There was a discussion about aligning the kindergarten readiness assessment with the kindergarten report
• plan ready for individual readiness plan ready for their<02:47:49.920><c> student.
• </c><02:48:01.840><c> readiness</c><02:48:02.479><c> assessment</c> the kindergarten readiness assessment
• the kindergarten readiness assessment with<02:48:03.279><c> the</c><02:48:03.520><c> kindergarten</c

Transcript Highlights:

• I assume we've got the program ready where it's about ready to launch, correct, sir?
• I assume we've got the program ready where it's about ready to launch, correct, sir?
• So it was an objective review and scoring of what was shovel ready, what was ready, what was ready, So
• Okay, looks like we're ready to go. Proceed when you're ready, ma'am. All right.
• Okay, looks like we're ready to go. Proceed when you're ready, ma'am. All right. Mr.

Summary: The committee first heard the Office of State Treasurer’s FY27 budget presentation from Treasurer Vivek Malik. He highlighted record investment earnings, growth in MOBUCK$ linked deposits, record unclaimed property returns, expansion of the MOST 529 plan, and changes to the MoABLE disability savings program. Members then focused heavily on two budget requests: $750,000 for the Show Me My Retirement Savings program and additional spending authority for the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (MOST Scholars) program, along with a staffing request for compliance and communications positions. Much of the discussion centered on MOST Scholars’ rapid growth, how applications are prioritized, whether income is reverified, how funds flow through educational assistance organizations, and concerns about marketing, geographic distribution, and the use of public dollars for private schools. The treasurer also answered questions about the 529 plan, the pending lawsuit over the ESA general-revenue transfer, and whether funds should be swept back to general revenue when unused. Several members raised policy objections to MOST Scholars, including concerns about discrimination by participating private schools, the lack of annual income requalification, and whether the program shifts money away from public education. Other members defended the program as a parent-driven choice option and asked about expanding access, improving outreach, and ensuring the program is fully funded. The treasurer said the office was following the statute as written, that the program’s demand could exceed available resources, and that the office would continue to seek more funding and better outreach. The committee then concluded the treasurer’s budget hearing. The committee next began the FY27 budget hearing for the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. Commissioner Bennett Boggs introduced the department’s leadership team and gave a brief overview of the department’s role in aligning postsecondary education with workforce needs through its coordinating board and strategic planning. The hearing had just started when the transcript ended, and no votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 358 by PC relating to providing full day pre-kindergarten for certain children referred to the Committee
• Children of public school employees for free pre-kindergarten programs and public schools referred to

Transcript Highlights:

• We also invest $190 million for regionally equitable shovel-ready transportation improvements to roads
• We also invest $190 million for regionally equitable shovel-ready transportation improvements to roads
• Shovel-ready transportation projects that are much-needed improvements in our communities and across
• Shovel-ready transportation projects that are much needed improvements in our shovel-ready transportation
• We want to be ready.

Summary: The Senate took up Senate House No. 4010, a fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill funded largely by surplus Fair Share revenues. The Ways and Means chair described the bill as a $1.28 billion package, with major investments in education and transportation, including special education circuit breaker aid, higher education deferred maintenance, career technical education capital grants, school construction relief, high-dosage tutoring, English language learning grants, MBTA reserve replenishment and safety training, commuter rail maintenance, Chapter 90 local road aid, regional transit authority support, ferry and micro-transit funding, and a small World Cup transportation appropriation. Members from both parties generally praised the bill’s one-time, regionally balanced approach while emphasizing fiscal discipline and the limited, surplus-based funding source. The minority leader and others questioned the fund balances and the use of the education and transportation innovation and capital fund, the Student Opportunity Act trust fund, and the transitional escrow account; the chair said the bill would zero out the innovation and capital fund, leave about $430 million in the SOA trust, and about $200 million in the escrow account. Several members highlighted specific priorities. Senator Cronin and Senator Feeney strongly supported the $100 million career technical education investment, arguing it would expand vocational opportunities in comprehensive high schools and help meet workforce needs. Senator Feeney also emphasized MBTA funding, special education, local road repairs, English language learning tied to workforce needs, and World Cup preparations in Foxborough. Senator Comerford praised the bill’s regional equity, higher education maintenance funding, special education support, and transportation investments, while also noting the need for broader future work on Chapter 70 and school finance. Senator Tarr supported the bill but repeatedly stressed that the spending was a unique one-time opportunity and that the Commonwealth should preserve fiscal reserves and continue to address school funding inequities and MBTA finances more broadly. The chamber then considered numerous amendments. Amendment 1 on tariff pricing transparency was withdrawn after brief remarks, and Amendment 14, proposing a DESE study on educational outcomes for young men and boys, was rejected. Amendment 182, funding Worcester Regional Transit Authority capital expenses, was adopted. Amendment 228, adding $500,000 for Free Period to expand access to menstrual products in schools, was adopted. Amendment 257, funding Springfield Public Schools communication and safety systems, was also adopted. Other amendments, including Tarr amendments on supplemental district aid, MBTA reporting, and the Foundation Budget Review Commission, were rejected. Amendment 308 concerning MBTA Communities and Milton was withdrawn, after which Senator Driscoll began a presentation arguing Milton was being misclassified under the MBTA Communities Act and should be treated fairly under the law.

Transcript Highlights:

• You may proceed when ready. Thank you.
• You may proceed when ready. Awesome. I can't say good morning anymore.
• And you may proceed when ready. Thank you. Thank you very much.
• You may proceed when ready, and your witness has two minutes.
• And you may proceed when you're ready. Thank you. Madam Chair, I am ready. I hope you are ready.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• You have your teaching certificate and you’re ready to go. That’s not how it always works, though.
• My child is a kindergartener at Answer Charter School, and my husband and I chose Answer because of the
• Chair, are we ready for a motion? We're ready for whatever you want to do, sir.
• We are done with our work for the day. representative Nelson mr. chair are we ready for a motion we're
• ready for whatever you want to do sir I move to send 815 to the floor with a due pass please all right

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• And I attended several meetings last year about, as we're getting ready to redo our plan, our comp plan
• But this idea isn't ready, and I therefore withdraw the amendment.
• We offered some amendments that would have fixed funding for transition to kindergarten.
• We offered some amendments that would have fixed funding for transition to kindergarten.
• And so we're so excited that we are on time, on budget, ready to go.

Bills: SB6061 , SB6234 , SB6170 , SB6176 , SB6182 , SB6335 , SB5647 , SB6047 , HB2367 , HB2606 , SB5998 , SB6005 , SB6003 , SB6129 , SB6225 , SB6228 , SB6231

Summary: The Senate met on February 23, 2026, opened with the usual roll call, pledge, prayer, and approval of the previous journal. Members then adopted Senate Resolution 8698 recognizing piano teachers, with several senators sharing personal remarks about their own teachers and the role of music education in families and communities. Guests from the Washington State Music Teachers Association and the National Guild of Piano Teachers were recognized in the gallery. The chamber then moved into budget debate, considering a series of amendments to the operating budget. Several proposals focused on housing costs, local planning, utility rates, and state spending restraint. Amendment 0772, which would have created a housing-related task force and increased funding, was rejected after debate over housing affordability and regulatory costs. Amendment 0785, restoring growth management planning funding for local governments, was also rejected. Amendment 0791, directing the Department of Commerce to study the effects of climate and clean energy laws on utility costs, and Amendment 0769, related to grid capacity and clean energy investments, were both adopted. Other amendments drew sharper partisan debate. Amendment 0798, which would have reduced the Supreme Court from nine justices to five and redirected savings to public defense, failed. Amendments 0794 and 0795, seeking funding for ballot measure costs tied to initiatives, also failed. Amendment 0799, intended to redirect Pacific Tower lease savings to developmental disability services, was rejected after discussion of the building’s current public uses. Amendment 0773, capping state spending growth and tying it to median wage growth, failed on a roll call vote, while Amendment 0777, addressing concurrent use of paid family and medical leave and sick leave by state employees, also failed after extended debate. Later, Amendment 0776 on tort liability reporting was adopted, as were Amendment 0758 creating a DSHS work group on community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and Amendment 0786 was introduced to reduce cash and food assistance work-related funding, with debate beginning before the transcript ends.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just yesterday, I was part of a very meaningful Kindergarten through 12th grade.
• I think we're ready to move on, and thank you very much. We've spent an hour...
• We are ready. If you'll identify yourself, please.
• We are ready to open.
• I'm ready to go. Nice to see you.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> I was getting ready to ask that. >> Yes. >> Getting ready to ask. Okay. Uh, Mr.
• for an audit not do the audit but ready for an audit not do the audit but to<01:16:01.360><c> keep</
• A committee member then said they were wondering what they were doing with kindergarteners in the area
• </c><01:56:37.920><c> in</c><01:56:38.080><c> the</c> doing with our kindergarteners in the doing with
• our kindergarteners in the area<01:56:38.400><c> of</c><01:56:38.639><c> social</c><01:56:38.960><c>

Summary: The committee first approved the April 13 minutes and then turned to a large agenda of contracts. Chairman Douglas said there were 52 contracts totaling about $369.3 million, and noted that most vendors were registered with the Secretary of State except for item 118 on the routine personal services green list and item 19 involving Morehead State University and Kentucky State University. The committee voted to defer item 118 to the June 26 meeting and later also deferred the Kentucky State University contract on the deferred list to the June 26 meeting. The main discussion centered on a deferred personal services contract for the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners, involving outside legal counsel. Senator Meredith raised concerns about KRS 320 and whether the board had authority to hire outside counsel when the statute says the Attorney General shall provide legal services to the board. Dr. Mary Beth Morris, the board president, and Christopher Thacker of the Attorney General’s office testified after being sworn in. Thacker explained that the statute and related law allow both Attorney General assistance and independent counsel, and argued that outside counsel is appropriate for day-to-day legal work because it avoids conflicts, especially on open records issues, regulatory advice, and disciplinary hearings. Senator Meredith said he agreed with approving the contract but questioned how the board had reached this point and whether the current statutes reflect modern practice. He raised concerns about transparency and accountability, referencing a prior advisory opinion involving the board’s handling of exam requirements during COVID and saying the board should have consulted the Attorney General before acting. Thacker responded that the Attorney General’s office serves the Commonwealth as a whole, not as counsel to one board, and that the board’s use of outside counsel is a reasonable and economical arrangement. The exchange ended with Meredith suggesting that broader legislative action may be needed to clarify reporting relationships and oversight for the board.

Transcript Highlights:

• Kindergarten students with formal early education and care experiences are more likely to succeed in
• get them ready for high-quality Chapter 74 programming.
• get them ready for high-quality Chapter 74 programming.
• Yep, we’re ready. Thank you so much.” “All right. Yep, we’re ready. Thank you so much. All right.
• I'm ready to go when they're ready to put me up there. So did Margaret Raymond Jerskel? Yes.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• And the Secretary of Education, welcome all, and whenever you're ready. You, Mr.
• Representative, ready for questions? We're ready for questions, Mr. Chair.
• But they have children that are in the grades kindergarten through fifth grade.
• Chair, Senator, once this bill is passed and signed into law, absolutely we're ready to finalize the

Committees: Senate Senate Education , Senate House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• to go, and we're ready to partner with you.
• to go, and we're ready to partner with you.
• </c> Minneapolis, and so we're ready to go.
• ><c> you</c> uh and we're ready to partner with you uh and we're ready to partner with you and<00:42:
• </c><01:26:43.040><c> or</c> younger students in kindergarten or younger students in kindergarten or

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Kindergarten students with formal early education and care experiences are more likely to succeed in
• Some of these students are learning skills that I couldn't imagine, and they're going to be ready for
• get them ready for high-quality Chapter 74 programming.
• Yep, we're ready. Thank you so much. All right. Yep, we're ready. Thank you so much. All right.
• I'm ready to go when they're ready to put me up there. So did Margaret Raymond Jerskel? Yes.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a public hearing in Lawrence focused on the governor’s proposed FY27 budget for education and local aid. Opening remarks from Senator Pavel Payano, Representative Pat Duffy, and local leaders emphasized the importance of education funding for Lawrence and other Gateway Cities, with Acting Mayor Giovanni Rodriguez and Superintendent Ralph Carrero highlighting the city’s high-need student population, Chapter 70 and Student Opportunity Act funding, early college and career pathways, and the need for sustained support to close achievement gaps. The Education Secretariat testified in support of the budget, with Acting Secretary Amy Kershaw outlining investments in early literacy, universal pre-K, student mental health, school meals, high school redesign, higher education affordability, and early childhood systems. Commissioner Noi Ortega described higher education proposals including expanded free community college, continued free tuition at public four-year institutions, student success funding, early college and dual enrollment investments, and the Bright Act and Drive Act. Commissioner Pedro Martinez detailed K-12 proposals such as full Student Opportunity Act funding, increased Chapter 70 aid, special education circuit breaker funding, transportation aid, literacy initiatives, and a new Accelerating Achievement Initiative aimed at schools with the greatest needs. Commissioner Kershaw also described early education proposals including funding for C3, child care financial assistance, CPPI, workforce supports, and administrative funding restoration. Committee members questioned the administration about the pending local contribution formula study, the final year of Student Opportunity Act implementation, and the need to address health care and other cost drivers in school funding. Officials said the local contribution report is expected by the end of June and that a draft will be shared for public comment after data analysis is complete. Members also raised concerns about Chapter 70 disparities between districts and urged a broader review of the formula. In response, the commissioners said the Student Opportunity Act narrowed funding gaps but further work is needed, and they pointed to the new achievement initiative, literacy efforts, and early college expansion as ways to improve outcomes. No votes were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1706, full-day kindergarten students ADM.
• SB 1812, luxury tax; ready-to-drink spirits product. SB 1813, state hospital governing board.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a recorded roll call showing 30 members present. The journal was approved, no guests were introduced at first, and the Governor’s signed bill HB 2022 was reported. The President also announced temporary committee substitutions for the Rules Committee on February 9. Senator Shamp introduced licensed naturopathic physicians in the gallery and highlighted SB 1178, which would expand their authority to administer certain intravenous drugs, including antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals. The chamber then read a lengthy calendar of first- and second-reading bills and resolutions covering elections, education, health care, water, criminal justice, housing, taxation, and other topics, with no floor action taken on those measures during the reading. The Senate recessed to recognize law enforcement personnel involved in the rescue of an eight-year-old boy from a human trafficking situation. A proclamation commended Deputies Gregory Sanders and Jacob Montoya, along with Cochise County and Border Patrol personnel, for their courage and professionalism. After returning to order, members made personal privilege remarks urging the Joint Legislative Budget Committee to review $2.85 million in election-related funding for the Secretary of State, and another senator spoke about water security and the need for long-term planning. Additional announcements included caucus and committee meeting notices, an invitation to Arizona Aerospace Day, and a motion to adjourn until Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 1:15 p.m. The transcript ends as the chamber was considering adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Brass, I love this bill because it gives us another way of judging a student whether they're ready
• required to assign certain, these numbers, UIDs, to the children who are in any program below kindergarten
• Sarentha Strickland with Jefferson Ready Start Network and Tim Magner with Shreveport Chamber.
• I'm Sarintha Bira Strickland, the executive director for the Jefferson Ready Start Network.
• data, real data, to make decisions about programs that are working, programs that need adjusting, so Ready

Bills: HCR10 , HB195 , HB283 , HB319 , HB325 , HB407 , HB448 , HB482 , HB992

Committee: House Education

Keywords: sanctioned sports, athletics, youth sports, high school, LHSAA, self-defense, chemical spray, public safety, campus security, higher education, Teacher's Shield Act, student discipline, assault, battery, school employee protection, sick leave, expulsion procedures, Louisiana Commission on Civic Education, civic education, civic engagement

Transcript Highlights:

• The reason we have that form is we don't want to move forward with a bill that the sponsor is not ready
• that every day in every council meeting we had to be prepared for because he came in prepared and ready
• to support law... in prepared and ready to support law enforcement.
• is limited to the act of returning the firearm back to the individual when they feel like they're ready
• They were in kindergarten and then first grade when... ...kindergarten and then first grade when COVID

Transcript Highlights:

• hard decision when you're talking to families and students, saying, like, we don't think you're quite ready
• know, to jump to 11th... ...into families and students that saying, like, we don't think you're quite ready
• or superintendent or whatever to maybe hold a student back to try to give them another year to be ready
• kids are being, more kindergarten kids are being identified.
• And I'm, I guess, not ready to give up on those yet.

Committee: Joint Special Education Funding Committee