Transcript Highlights:

• It does note on the school exemption form when you register your kid for school that vaccines are required
• So there is a recent closure of schools because of influenza.
• They simply shut down the school for a couple of days to get the school fully cleaned.
• So there is a recent closure of schools because of influenza.
• They simply shut down the school for a couple of days to get the school fully cleaned.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They are in Global Connections from CUNA High School.
• After high school, he went to After high school, Frank met the love of his life, Sharon Smith, through
• taught at the Coeur d'Alene Tribal School.
• taught at the Coeur d'Alene Tribal School.
• It is in the Boise School District.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• history major with a poli-sci minor, and he hopes to continue his studies after college to go to law school
• James High School, Merrimack College, with a B.A. in early education, and a master's degree in education
• James High School, Merrimack College, with a B.A. in early education, and a master's degree in education
• A beloved teacher in the Peabody Public School District for 40 years, Helen spent most of her years at
• the Carroll School in Peabody, alongside exceptional teachers, many of whom became lifelong friends.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The second thing that this bill does is liberate our schools from needless reporting.
• The second thing that this bill does is liberate our schools from needless reporting.
• And so what would happen in lines 31 through 36 is that schools would need to adopt a procedure for the
• And one was this piece, K through 3, and then one was another piece that wanted the school districts
• senior, thank goodness he's not—but let's say he's a high school senior and I want to opt him into a

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Charlotte, who is the Vermont Poetry Out Loud 2026 finalist and a student at Champlain Valley Union High School
• Um, I'm a sophomore at Champlain Valley Union High School.
• Madam Speaker, Theo Novak is a sophomore at Champlain Valley Union High School and represented the school
• The vote in our School of Public Health.
• </c><00:54:56.640><c> School</c><00:54:56.960><c> Association,</c> Vermont Independent School Association

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:30:04.840><c> If</c><00:30:05.040><c> you</c> school or college or something.
• If you school or college or something.
• </c><00:36:23.160><c> You,</c><00:36:23.480><c> should</c> school, yeah, I get it.
• You, should school, yeah, I get it.
• </c><00:43:22.680><c> and</c> sending you a to a trade school and sending you a to a trade school and

Committee: Senate Labor

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and your schools and your schools.
• and your schools and your schools. lump sum money that we give to the colleges and tech centers and
• It allows us to actually work with school districts directly.
• We have John Williams, the director of the Okaloosa Technical School.
• When she got to high school, she started expressing this desire to go to college.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The committee held its first meeting of the session and received an overview of the Higher Education Appropriations budget from staff director Tim Elwell. He explained the committee’s broad jurisdiction over universities, state colleges, district workforce programs, vocational rehabilitation, blind services, student financial aid, private colleges, and the Board of Governors, and reviewed key budget concepts such as local funds, funds per FTE, performance funding, and the distinction between the total appropriation and the recurring base budget. He noted that higher education is funded largely through state and local sources, with substantial flexibility compared with other state budgets, and that the base budget is heavily weighted toward lump-sum allocations to the public systems. The committee then heard a presentation from the University of South Florida’s Florida Center for Cybersecurity (Cyber Florida), led by retired Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie and USF representative Mark Walsh. They described Cyber Florida as a statewide cybersecurity platform created by the Legislature in 2014 to support education, research, workforce development, public policy, and community engagement. McKenzie emphasized the growing cyber threat environment, Florida’s leadership role, and several funded initiatives, including K-12 outreach, workforce training, a cyber range for county governments, critical infrastructure assessments, grant development, and public conferences and outreach. Members asked about public cyber awareness, the lack of a national cyber defense strategy, school district participation in Cyber Launch, and which counties are most at risk; McKenzie said smaller counties with limited cybersecurity staffing are generally more vulnerable and offered to provide follow-up information. Finally, the committee heard from the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities at the University of Central Florida, led by Dr. Drew Andrews, along with program and parent representatives from participating institutions. Andrews explained the center’s role in coordinating Florida’s postsecondary comprehensive transition programs for students with intellectual disabilities, supporting program development, distributing grants and scholarships, and monitoring outcomes. He reported that the state now has 33 approved programs at 35 institutions, including universities, state colleges, and technical colleges, and that scholarship and grant funding has grown significantly. He said student retention is about 88 percent, many graduates are employed, and median hourly earnings have increased over time. A representative from Southeastern University described how the center’s support helped build and sustain SEU Link, including a new third-year employment-focused option for students.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> requirements on going to school. requirements on going to school.
• </c> library or a school. library or a school.
• </c> any other high school team. any other high school team.
• School. School.
• school.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Verer Elementary School in Tuscaloosa. Verer Elementary School in Tuscaloosa.
• Um, but I've always been a school.
• you went to school systems or not. after you went to school systems or not.
• Because of the school year? Because now school starts back again in the fall.
• </c><03:05:32.960><c> If</c> with it with all of our schools. If with it with all of our schools.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They are joined today by our friends from Dole Middle School, home of Senator Kim's district.
• We'd like to welcome the middle school students as well as the folks who help with the YMCA in keeping
• friends from are joined today by our friends from Dole<00:02:28.560><c> Middle</c><00:02:28.879><c> School
• home of Senator Kim's Dole Middle School home of Senator Kim's District<00:02:32.239><c> uh</c><00:02
• 34.200><c> as</c><00:02:34.360><c> well</c><00:02:34.680><c> as</c><00:02:34.920><c> the</c> middle school

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> told me that if I went to school, told me that if I went to school, studied<00:56:13.040><c> hard
• District and the headline said Richardson Independent School District to close five schools.
• The Richardson Independent School District is set to close four elementary schools starting next year
• The Richardson Independent School District is set to close four elementary schools starting next year
• </c> actualize here in Minnesota is school actualize here in Minnesota is school dis<01:02:59.359><c>

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> elementary and secondary school elementary and secondary school emergency<01:29:28.800><c> relief
• In my case, it's Hillsboro, Franklin, and the Tilton school districts, as well as the Tilton School.
• </c><01:38:44.280><c> and</c> get over a hundred of your schools and get over a hundred of your schools
• </c> families and of course the schools families and of course the schools themselves<01:39:37.480><c
• </c> Association um we represent School Association um we represent School leaders<01:42:48.800><c> from

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Maybe they like segregated schools. I don't like segregated schools.
• </c> they get the school. they get the school.
• </c><01:39:48.320><c> Like</c> not be allowed to open schools. Like not be allowed to open schools.
• </c><01:45:02.719><c> where</c> to like governmentr run schools where to like governmentr run schools
• </c> increased school costs. increased school costs.

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:35:39.440><c> schools</c><01:35:39.800><c> that</c> is that um so most schools schools that is
• c> would</c> when uh schools would some schools would when uh schools would some schools would try<01
• </c> children who are already off of school children who are already off of school and<01:36:10.560><
• </c><04:58:50.760><c> no</c> this to be taught in the schools no this to be taught in the schools no
• </c> says uh line nine it says the schools says uh line nine it says the schools are<05:21:33.040><c>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing opened on House Bill 192, which concerns the Joint Committee on Employee Classification process for state employee positions. Representative Peter Schmidt explained that the bill is a procedural step to send already-reviewed classifications to Korn Ferry and then into statute and the budget. Department of Corrections staff and Commissioner Helen Hanks testified that one Deputy Director of Medical Services position had been omitted from the bill by mistake even though it had already gone through the JCEC process, and they asked for an amendment to add it. Hanks clarified that the position is an existing classified job being converted to unclassified status, not a new position. The committee discussed how the amendment would work and the quorum requirements for the JCEC, then closed the hearing on HB 192 after no further testimony. The committee then heard House Bill 435, sponsored by Representative Don McFarland, which would clarify professional engineering licensure law. McFarland said the bill is intended to make clear that work in IT security, electronics, digital systems, computing, and software is not the practice of engineering requiring a professional engineer license, while preserving licensure requirements for fields such as civil, structural, and building-related engineering. He said he had consulted with the American Council of Engineering Companies and that the bill is meant to remove ambiguity and legal risk, not deregulate engineering. Several members with engineering backgrounds spoke in support, describing the distinction between licensed PE work and other technical fields, and one member noted that software development and regulated software work typically do not require a PE license. The committee voted ought to pass on HB 435 by a roll call of 16-0 and placed it on consent. Finally, the committee opened House Bill 210, which would create a commission to study the New Hampshire state flag. Representative Tom Corman argued that the current flag is a generic “state seal on a blue bedsheet” and does not meet common vexillological design principles such as simplicity, meaningful symbolism, limited colors, and distinctiveness. He said the proposed commission would include legislative members plus representatives of the New Hampshire Historical Society and the New England Vexillological Association, and would review the flag’s history and recommend whether to redesign it and how to do so. He also indicated he intended to add language to avoid costs, but the bill discussion was not completed in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Basically, there are some fraudulent schools out there. They’re giving credentials to nurses.
• , that it was an accredited school, and that they passed the exam.
• it was an needed to take in school it was an accredited<00:18:24.200><c> school</c><00:18:24.919><c>
• We are adding additional rescue medications to what a school can give.
• Last Friday, the Care Mobile Dental Vans came to our school.

Keywords: 00:00:00 Call to Order/Roll Call 00:01:37 Discussion of 25RS HB 392 00:03:10 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 392 00:04:20 Discussion of 25RS HB 580 00:13:28 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 580 00:14:54 Discussion of 25RS HB 688 00:18:40 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 688 00:21:40 Discussion of 25RS HB 16 01:19:44 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 16 01:27:32 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 392, sponsored by Representative Proctor, which would help the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities pay for emergency medical and psychiatric services provided to patients outside state facilities when those facilities cannot meet their needs. Proctor described it as a continuing improvement bill to address payment issues for services delivered at community-based facilities. The bill received no substantive opposition in the meeting and passed the committee with favorable expression by a vote of 15 yes, 0 no, and 1 pass. The committee then considered House Bill 580, presented by Representative Kim Moser and Elena Sweezy, which tightens oversight of peer support specialists. The bill was described as building on House Bill 505 from the prior year by reinstating supervision requirements, adding parameters around group sizes, creating a pathway for temporary peer support specialists to become fully registered after nine months, and addressing Medicaid reimbursement and accountability concerns. Members asked about reimbursement; the sponsor said Medicaid was okay with the bill and that commercial insurance coverage would be up to insurers. Representative Fleming emphasized the need for stronger financial oversight of the peer support code. The committee adopted a substitute and title amendment, then passed the bill with favorable expression. House Bill 688 was then heard, with Representative Bratcher explaining that it addresses two issues: preventing fraud in nurse licensure by giving the Kentucky Board of Nursing more discretion to review out-of-state credentials, and expanding school authority to administer certain emergency medications. He said the bill changes the board’s authority from “shall” to “may” so it can verify transcripts, curricula, accreditation, and exam passage. During discussion, Representative Sharp explained his yes vote by noting the bill also adds rescue medications such as glucagon and Solu-Cortef and allows prescribed emergency medications for known conditions in schools. The committee passed the bill with favorable expression. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 16, which would leave decisions about adding fluoride to drinking water to local governing bodies rather than maintaining a state mandate. Supporters, including Representative David Hale, Dr. Jack Call, and Cindy Batson, argued that fluoridation should be a local choice and raised concerns about cost, potential health risks, and the precautionary principle. Opponents, including Dr. Steve Robertson of the Kentucky Dental Association, defended fluoridation as beneficial for preventing tooth decay and warned that local removal decisions could increase Medicaid costs and may not reflect the broader public interest. The transcript provided does not show a final committee vote on House Bill 16 in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Public schools are threatened first.
• Public schools are threatened first.
• schools.
• Businesses close, schools consolidate. Businesses close, schools consolidate, kids move away.
• , lower taxes, better schools, lower taxes.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• school campuses.
• Schools have to be available. Seats would have to be available in the school.
• Schools have to be available. Seats would have to be available in the school.
• I believe Trinity Christian School is in the West Gallery.
• I believe Trinity Christian School is in the West Gallery. Please stand and be recognized.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, several introductions, and an announcement that there would be no weekend conference. The chamber then took up a long special-order calendar of bills, generally moving each measure through third reading and final passage, often by substituting House companion bills. Early measures included trust law modernization (SB 786/HB 895), military affairs changes and Guard retirement corrections (SB 474), rounding rules for cash transactions as pennies phase out (SB 1074), podiatric medicine regulation and informed-consent requirements (SB 1092), veterans court expansion (SB 50/HB 199), RV park special assessment clarification (SB 118), concurrent jurisdiction for juvenile offenses on military installations (SB 502/HB 351), alcoholic beverage loss deductions (SB 678/HB 1137), and bail bond/pretrial release revisions (SB 600). Most passed unanimously or near-unanimously; SB 600 passed 36-1 after questions about charitable bail bonds and an amendment aligning with the House version and prosecutors’ concerns. The Senate also considered bills on portable electronics and eyewear insurance (SB 772), the linking industry to nursing education fund and health science workforce programs (SB 1246), recovery residences and behavioral health licensing (SB 1030, with a technical amendment on background checks and probationary licenses), felony battery enhancements for repeat offenders and offenses against law enforcement (SB 436), and child welfare changes including foster-home visitor screening, a permanent statewide Step Into Success program, and a best-practices repository (SB 1718). These measures were explained by sponsors as efforts to streamline regulation, improve workforce and health-care training, strengthen public safety, and reduce administrative burdens while preserving safeguards. Votes on these bills were overwhelmingly favorable, with final tallies typically 36-0 or 37-0. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to a farewell tribute to Senator Lori Berman. Members from both parties praised her leadership, collegiality, policy work, and advocacy on issues including voting rights, women’s rights, Israel and antisemitism, school safety, breast cancer, and family law. Berman delivered a lengthy farewell reflecting on her 16 years in the Legislature, her caucus leadership, and the importance of dignity, respect, and public service. The Senate adopted a motion to spread her remarks upon the journal and then recessed before returning to continue the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• She is an 18-year-old who attends Deming High School as a senior.
• She's the executive president of Deming High School.
• They're arguably one of the best at the high school level. And, Mr.
• President, Jalen would like to be... ...in the high school level. And, Mr.
• I had a bill that was going to help all the school, cities, and counties.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayers and pledges, and several procedural announcements, including permission for cameras, a relaxed dress code for guests, and excusing a few senators. Members also recognized numerous guests and honorary lieutenant governors, and discussed a planned bolo tie contest tied to New Mexico tradition and state history. The chamber then moved to business, including the confirmation of Anna Silva as Secretary of the General Services Department. The confirmation drew broad support from senators on both sides, who praised Silva’s long career in state government, her management experience, and her work on major projects such as the executive office building, procurement reforms, and facilities management. After debate, the Senate voted unanimously to confirm her appointment. Silva’s family and guests were recognized from the floor after the vote. The Senate then took up House Bill 2 and 3, the state budget. Senator Muñoz presented the Senate Finance version as a balanced budget with about $11.1 billion in spending, 27% reserves, recurring investments in health care, early childhood, public safety, education, roads, housing, and economic development, and targeted nonrecurring spending for items such as water, universities, and innovation sectors. Supporters emphasized affordability, teacher health insurance parity, medical residency funding, rural and community investments, and public safety funding. Critics raised concerns about the size of the budget, the late availability and complexity of the bill, the removal of a proposed 1% pay raise for state employees, and whether spending priorities and education dollars were being allocated effectively. No final vote on the budget was shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• He was born in Tularesta and went to high school at Manzano High School.
• He went to high school at Manzano High School.
• who's doing it outside of school hours, potentially, or during school hours.
• I took mine after school in Moriarty, but either way, the rules will be developed. after school in Moriarty
• I took driver's ed after school at Moriarty High School. Thank you.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is a replacement cycle for school buses, and would something like that help?
• Chairman, what was that one on the school buses, electric school? Oh, yes.
• Chairman, what was that one on the school buses, electric school? Oh, yes.
• And that specific one is only available for school districts. Mr.
• and school districts.

Summary: The Department of Public Safety presented its FY27 budget request, emphasizing three priorities: improving community engagement through a redesigned website and outreach, expanding statewide data and intelligence integration through intelligence-led policing, and improving emergency response and officer safety through fleet replacement, a driving track, and a requested helicopter. DPS said much of its increase is driven by rising health care premiums, and it is also seeking special appropriations for fleet replacement, the website rebuild, and an Honor Guard program created after the 2022 helicopter crash that killed four public servants. Members asked about vacancies, fleet costs, cybersecurity compliance, the real-time crime center, EV fleet participation, and the Metro DPS facility. DPS said its vacancy rate is about 9%, its fleet replacement needs are driven by mileage and condition, it is compliant with federal CJIS standards even though DoIT has raised concerns, the real-time crime center would be built as a regional model to complement Albuquerque’s center, and the Metro facility is moving toward a January groundbreaking. Committee members also discussed several DPS-related capital and IT requests, including the intelligence-led policing data lake, recurring maintenance for critical systems, and a $5.6 million reauthorization for state crime lab DNA backlog work and a $900,000 reauthorization for fingerprinting equipment. DPS explained that the website request is high because the current site must be rebuilt from scratch to support missing-person alerts, memorial updates, ADA compliance, and better communication with law enforcement and the public. Members also raised concerns about speed enforcement, construction-zone cameras, and whether EVs are practical for patrol use; DPS said it is not pursuing speed cameras and is only partially participating in the state EV initiative because patrol needs make full electrification difficult. The committee then received an LFC quarterly update on non-recurring appropriations from the 2025 General Appropriation Act. LFC reported that of the $1.4 billion appropriated in Section 5, $164 million had been expended and $333 million encumbered, leaving $897.4 million unspent, which is a slower pace than the prior year. Staff highlighted a number of reauthorization requests and slow-moving projects across agencies, including AOC cybersecurity funding, DFA housing and public safety grants, DoIT cybersecurity and higher education funds, EDD economic development and energy programs, OSI mitigation and malpractice funds, EMNRD energy and geothermal grants, Health Care Authority behavioral health-related appropriations, DPS crime lab and fingerprinting funds, PED career technical education and special education initiatives, and higher education loan repayment and technology funds. Members questioned why some large appropriations had little or no spending, discussed the need to monitor reauthorizations more closely, and asked for follow-up on several specific line items and project balances.