Transcript Highlights:

• I actually serve as Executive Director of Catalysts for Systems Change.
• I support the change in the language.
• ABE programs may be approved for up to six years under this change.
• current language are unnecessary until data can be used to support changes.
• I'm concerned about this change.

Transcript Highlights:

• We want a good curriculum. I think we’re there.
• I don’t know what’s changed since then.
• In fact, the school district incorporated in its seventh-grade curriculum the history of the town of
• We can make changes to accommodate locker rooms, and that's an easy fix.
• What we can't change is the physical makeup of biological males and biological females.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met on May 5, 2026, and considered a series of bills, several of them brought up through motions for committee consideration. Chair Shelley Mayer said she would allow brief remarks but stated her opposition to those motioned bills, emphasizing her general practice of giving minority members’ bills consideration. The committee first took up S-16 (Jacob’s Law, on bullying and related school safety issues), which was moved out of committee on a majority vote, with Senators Jackson and Bynoe recorded without recommendation. The committee then debated S-717, a local bill by Senator Rose to exempt the Wantagh Union Free School District from the state’s indigenous mascots/logos restrictions. Senator Rose argued Wantagh’s mascot and name are tied to local history and not intended to denigrate anyone. The bill was moved, but the committee vote was not favorable enough to advance it, and it was referred onward to the Investigations Committee. S-4496, Senator White’s bill to protect women’s sports from what supporters described as unfair competition by biological males, drew strong support from the sponsor and strong opposition from Chair Mayer, who said she opposed it as mean-spirited and unnecessary; the bill did not advance. The committee also considered several school bus and transportation bills. S-4748, by Senator Borrello, would repeal the electric school bus mandate and replace it with a feasibility study; he cited safety, cost, and operational problems with early adopters. S-8847, by Senator White, similarly sought to remove electric bus mandates and leave decisions to local districts, and S-9667, by Senator Ryan, would delay the zero-emission school bus mandate by five years. The committee advanced some of these measures to other committees or the floor, while others did not move. In addition, the committee approved S-7788 on special education reserve funds, S-8288A on reasonable rates for public school room use, S-8368 on records retention for Education Department proceedings, S-8370 on temporary resident placement of children with disabilities, S-8370 on release of student records to juvenile detention facilities, and S-1049 on updating the Dignity for All Students Act’s cyberbullying definition to include AI-related harassment.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill proposes changes to the duties of the Medical Examiners Commission and the appointments of
• It also proposes changes to several sections of Chapter 943 to clarify the duties and responsibilities
• It amends various sections of Chapter 943 to clarify that curriculum is approved by the Criminal Justice
• This bill proposes changes to the duties of the Medical Examiners Commission and the appointments of
• It also proposes changes to several sections of Chapter 943 to clarify the duties and responsibilities

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice heard and approved several bills. SB 504 and its related public records bill SB 506, both by Sen. Burgess, would allow local governments to authorize code enforcement officers to use body cameras under standardized policies and create a public records exemption for certain recordings; members raised questions about disclosure and when cameras may be used, and both bills were reported favorably. The committee also approved CS/SB 32 and SB 210 by Sen. Sharif, creating a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person and extending public records protections to petitions under that injunction category. Supporters included law enforcement, women’s advocacy groups, and justice organizations. The committee then favorably reported SB 676 by Sen. Arrington, which creates a graduated penalty structure for adults who involve minors in certain animal cruelty offenses and increases penalties related to fighting or baiting animals. SB 432 by Sen. Yarbrough was also approved; it adds certain concentrated 7-OH to Schedule I, exempts FDA-approved veterinary xylazine products, creates penalties for candy-like xylazine products, and establishes trafficking penalties for xylazine. Sen. Osgood spoke in support of the bill, emphasizing the dangers of adulterated street drugs for people with substance use disorder. Finally, the committee approved SB 524 by Sen. Simon, which makes a series of technical and administrative changes affecting the Medical Examiners Commission, district medical examiner appointments, the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, and notice procedures for administrative complaints. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement appeared in support. All measures were reported favorably, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• We can't change anybody's mind, but we can change perspectives.
• So what I'm offering here is a change of perspective: things are changing.
• We have to recognize that schools are changing, and we have to change how we are doing school, or kids
• We need to make changes.
• We have the power to change things.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are not leaving these policies to be temporary policy changes.
• spending changes over time with that as well.
• So if they were high risk for change in student—excuse me—change in student count, we do ensure that
• Okay, it’s not going to be a major change in things.
• As superintendent, I see this as a call for change.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee first heard the January 2026 follow-up to the special audit of the Arizona State Board of Chiropractic Examiners. The auditor’s contractor reported that the board had implemented or was in the process of implementing most of the 28 recommendations from the 2024 audit, but three remained unimplemented: resolving complaints within 180 days and two open meeting law recommendations. The follow-up also identified new concerns about outdated or incomplete public disciplinary records and the lack of a complete public records request log and response procedures. Committee members pressed the board on open meeting compliance, complaint delays, transparency, and lobbying activities, while the executive director said the board had adopted new policies, added staff and investigators, created an intake committee, improved complaint prioritization, and was transitioning to a new licensing platform. She also said the board had ended broad subpoenas, improved conflict-of-interest tracking, and was working to formalize its practices in rule. The committee did not take a vote or other formal action in the transcript provided. The committee then received the Arizona school district financial risk analysis for January 2026. The Auditor General’s office reported that the number of highest-risk districts increased from two to nine, and districts approaching the highest-risk category increased from seven to nine. The presentation explained the financial risk measures used, common risk patterns among the highest-risk districts, and the district action plans posted on the report website. Tucson Unified School District was used as an example of a highest-risk district, and Scottsdale Unified as an approaching-highest-risk district. Members asked about declining enrollment, reserve balances, negative fund balances, and the use of capital monies for operations. Sierra Vista Unified School District then presented its response to being identified as financially at risk. The superintendent said she had recently taken over and was implementing a turnaround plan that included a school closure, staffing reductions through attrition, spending freezes, tighter purchase controls, a three-year sustainable spending plan, and efforts to stabilize enrollment through outreach, customer-service changes, and alternative program offerings. She also said the district was redirecting some capital assistance to operations, renegotiating contracts, and improving communication with families and staff. Committee members questioned the district about declining enrollment, instructional spending, school safety, academic performance, and whether the action plan adequately addressed those issues. No formal vote or action was taken on the school district item in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we partnered with an organization who's distributed this curriculum in several other states, brought
• So we partnered with an organization who's distributed this curriculum in several other states, brought
• So we partnered with an organization who's distributed this curriculum in several other states, brought
• So we partnered with an organization who's distributed this curriculum in several other states, brought
• So we partnered with an organization who's distributed this curriculum in several other states, brought

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So, as a part of NMMI we have a leadership curriculum.
• It's a 5, core curriculum of 5 academic classes, leadership, physical education, and art.
• So these, there are very minor changes to only one of the rules, so this should be relatively brief,
• So this, there have been no changes between the proposal of this rule and the adoption of this rule,
• that sentiment and changing how we view New Mexico is very, very powerful to me.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:02:45.200> but through the high school curriculum, but through the high school curriculum
• And we had a a rather see changed.
• Um the changes the frequency of those.
• Uh so I'm going to I'm the changes.
• > something changing something changing something um<00:13:01.600> on<00:13:02.320>

Keywords: This meeting will take place upon Recess of the Senate Chambers. There is not an exact time for this meeting therefore a placeholder time for the live stream has been set for 12:30PM est., 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Education met with a quorum and took up several education bills near the end of session. House Bill 342, which would require a financial literacy course for Kentucky high school students, was presented by Rep. Michael Meredith and student advocate Patrick Reovi. Meredith explained that a committee substitute addressed Kentucky Department of Education concerns by making the course a required elective anywhere in high school rather than limiting it to junior or senior year, and by retaining flexibility on credit options. Reovi testified in support, arguing that many students lack basic financial knowledge and should graduate prepared to handle budgeting, credit, debt, and student loans. The substitute was adopted, and HB 342 passed the committee 10-0. The committee then heard House Bill 480, a teacher workload and bureaucracy reduction measure. Rep. Shane Baker described the bill as the product of a working group with educators and administrators and said it was intended to reduce redundant requirements and let teachers focus more on students. He said the bill would lengthen the evaluation cycle from every three years to every five, streamline professional development requirements, update continuous school improvement plan filing rules, and limit new reporting mandates. A committee substitute removed the CSIP provisions after discussion with KDE, and members noted concerns about implementation and federal funding implications for mentor training language. The substitute was adopted and HB 480 passed unanimously. House Bill 190, relating to advanced education opportunities, was presented by Rep. Robert Duvall. He said the bill would require districts to adopt policies on advanced coursework and accelerated learning for grades 4 through 12, with local flexibility. He also explained that the House committee substitute changed several provisions from mandatory to permissive, including automatic enrollment for students scoring distinguished and parent opt-out language. The bill passed unanimously. House Bill 430, on school bus safety training, was presented by Reps. Mike Clines and Emily Callaway, who said it would reduce regulations, improve bus safety, and fix regulatory issues arising from prior legislation allowing nine-passenger vans for school transportation. A committee substitute was adopted, the bill passed unanimously, and a title amendment was also adopted. Finally, the committee began hearing House Bill 208 on technology and public schools. Rep. Josh Bray, Rep. James Tipton, and Nick Spencer of the Family Foundation of Kentucky supported a policy requiring districts to prohibit student cell phone use during instructional time, with exceptions for disabilities, teacher-directed educational use, or incentives. They argued the bill would improve academic performance, reduce bullying and mental health problems, and limit social media access during school. The transcript cuts off during testimony on HB 208, before any committee action on the bill is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• , beyond the standard curriculum, beyond the standard curriculum, including<00:07:44.880> but<
• So if you changed nothing else with school except brought back books instead of screens, changed nothing
• So if you changed keywords basically.
• that changed. It's multiple things. that changed.
• <02:01:32.800> in they consider proposals to changes in they consider proposals to changes

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're looking at the change between two months rather than one month.
• Of one month, so we're looking at the change between two months rather than one month.
• Doctor, on the corporate income tax, is that a result of the throwback rule changing?
• We'll continue to follow closely, and we also have some major changes coming in the beginning of this
• calendar year and in the middle of the fiscal year, which is going to be positive changes.

Summary: The Arkansas Legislative Council meeting began with approval of the December 2025 minutes and a presentation from the Bureau of Legislative Research on the December revenue report. Dr. Carlos Silva said gross collections were about $4.02 billion, up slightly from the prior year, and net available for distribution was also above last year but down modestly from the previous month because of higher-than-expected corporate income tax refunds. Members asked about corporate tax trends, tariffs, and inflation, and Silva said it was too early to call the corporate decline a trend and that tariff effects would likely show up mainly in sales tax collections. The council then adopted several subcommittee reports, including the Executive Committee Subcommittee, Administrative Rules, Hospital/Medicaid/Developmental Disabilities, Occupational Licensing Review, PEER, Review, State Insurance Program Oversight, and Personnel. The PEER report drew the most debate because of a Department of Agriculture grant tied to Perry County and Central Arkansas Water; members discussed whether removing the Perry County portion would affect the grant’s competitiveness, and the report was ultimately adopted with the item included. The Review Subcommittee also heard questions about a BDO contract for the rural health transformation program, with DFA explaining that the contractor would manage the program while state agencies would make funding decisions consistent with the state’s application. A major portion of the meeting focused on the Education Freedom Account appropriation tied to LEARNS. Senators and representatives debated whether the program helps families or diverts money from public schools, with supporters arguing it funds students and choice and opponents arguing it is costly, vulnerable to fraud, and harms public school funding. Department of Education officials said roughly 28,000 private school students and 17,500 homeschool students were participating, that EFA students must submit standardized tests annually, and that the requested $32 million was to cover existing participants. After multiple substitute motions and extended debate, the body rejected a motion to strip out the $32 million and then adopted the report and related motions. The meeting ended after routine approvals of additional agency items and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do we have your permission to change that in the record? Yes.
• We got to change it. OK. OK. It is changed. You have three. minutes. Okay, thank you so much.
• So this is serious to change the penal code. in my view.
• With that growth comes fluidity and a changing landscape. landscape.
• There are some possible changes that we are looking at.

Bills: HB14, HB 106, HB146, HB267, HB274, HB 1127, HB1359, HB1393, HB1584, HB1640, HB1710, HB2152, HCR101, HJR8, HR51

Keywords: nuclear energy, advanced reactors, energy security, grant programs, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, HB 106, oil and gas, Railroad Commission of Texas, overhead electrical lines, electrical distribution system, power line maintenance, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas lease, well operator, energy safety, utility infrastructure, regulatory compliance, cleanup fund, oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund

Transcript Highlights:

• curriculum? Do you know a number? I do. curriculum? Do you know a number? I do.
• It's a K-12 curriculum.
• It's a K-12 curriculum.
• that or or code doesn't doesn't change. that or or code doesn't doesn't change.
• So the number is changing.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We really went into this looking for<00:04:15.120> technical<00:04:15.599> changes<00:04
• :16.000> on<00:04:16.239> the<00:04:16.400> election for technical changes on the
• election for technical changes on the election side<00:04:17.600> correcting<00:04:18.079>
• I have refused this year because the Science Museum has developed a full curriculum and, uh, based on
• I have refused this year because the Science Museum has developed a full curriculum and, based on your

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House took up the conference committee report on Senate File 3045, an act relating to state government operations. The authors described the bill as a broad agreement on government operations that funds state functions, limits growth in government, and includes elections and campaign finance provisions that were characterized as common-sense and bipartisan. Members also noted the bill supports legislative staff and other government operations, and one speaker highlighted that the final product reflected technical changes and input from counties and other election stakeholders. During debate, several members praised the conference process and the bipartisan work between the House and Senate co-chairs. One member specifically emphasized that the elections portion was developed to address technical fixes and to respond to concerns from those involved in election administration. Another speaker, in a lighthearted aside, referenced a “giant beaver bill” and thanked a colleague for bringing it forward again, before urging members to vote green. The House adopted the conference committee report and then repassed Senate File 3045 as amended by conference. The final roll call was 116 ayes and 18 nays, and the bill’s title was agreed to.

Transcript Highlights:

• Notice I said I should start there because change starts with community.
• Notice I said I should start there because change starts with community.
• Notice I said I should start there because change starts with community.
• In July 2024, I joined the Change Starts With Community workforce program, and everything changed.
• in school in July 2024 I joined change in school in July 2024 I joined change star<01:13:45.440>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• around curriculum, student wellness, and an endless variety of constant changing issues in today's world
• easily change their mind I think. easily change their mind I think.
• How are we going to change that if it hasn't been changed in 12 years?
• kids changing.
• They change as a kids changing.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Obviously, things can change.
• We’ve also talked to them about potentially looking at upgrading the test and some of the curriculum.
• Yes, before you take the curriculum that the Natural Resources has? Yes. Thank you. Yep. All right.

Summary: The Occupational Licensing Review Subcommittee met to review two occupational licensing reports: the Arkansas State Board of Nursing and the State Board of Registration for Professional Soil Classifiers. For nursing, board officials described the board’s history, scope, and licensure categories, saying it regulates about 72,000 nurses across RN, LPN, advanced practice, medication assistant, and dialysis technician-related roles. Members asked about workforce shortages, complaint volume, and the board’s finances. The board said Arkansas has enough licensed nurses overall but faces vacancy and distribution issues, receives about 2,200 complaints annually, and most serious complaints involve criminal backgrounds, fraud or misrepresentation, misappropriation, drug abuse, and criminal investigations. Officials also said they are looking at ways to improve efficiency in case handling, including better documentation and added help positions, and noted outreach efforts through nursing associations and the Arkansas Center for Nursing. For professional soil classifiers, Agriculture Department officials explained that the occupation was created in 1975 and now is administered by the Natural Resources Commission after the former board was abolished in 2023. They said the profession is small and specialized, with about 29 registered soil classifiers in Arkansas, and requires a four-year degree plus coursework in biological, earth, and soil sciences. Members asked whether the current number is sufficient, what the work involves, and how the licensing fund is used. Officials said the current number appears adequate, though demand could change with more nutrient management or related work, and that soil classifiers commonly assist with septic system design, perk testing, wetland determinations, and other soil-related projects. They also noted the program has a small reserve and may look at training, curriculum, testing, and administrative budget adjustments. Both reports were reviewed without objection, and no votes were taken. The next meeting was announced for February 19 at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• WE HAVE TO SUBMIT IN A GIVEN FORMAT SO IT CAN BE CONSUMED ON THE OTHER SIDE SO UNTIL THAT FORMAT CHANGES
• I MEAN, I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A FORM SO THE NUMBERS FOLLOW THE
• SO WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A FORM? >> Chair Persons-Mulicka: MR.
• Overdorf: WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO COMMENT ON HOW LONG IT TAKES TO CHANGE A FORM?
• LET'S SAY I FORGOT THIS MONTH HAS THANKSGIVING, I WANT TO CHANGE THIS TO FOUR WEEKS, I CAN ENTER A NOTE

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a change that TEA wanted for clarification.
• Specifically, there are four major changes.
• Senator Paxton's explained the changes in the new substitute.
• Does this bill change that in any way or prohibit anything?
• All right, you know, I appreciate the changes you've made in terms of the.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to start the change items.
• If you're interested in the specifics about the change items, the change items are included in the totals
• If you're interested in the specifics about the change items, the change items are included in the totals
• If you're interested in the specifics about the change items, the change items are included in the totals
• If you're interested in the specifics about the change items, the change items are included in the totals

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Chair Anderson, would you like to uh change the motion?
• >> Well, there's uh some punctuation changes, but the main change would be on page four, line 12. think
• <00:04:46.160> would changes, but the the main change would changes, but the the main change
• So, again, I think we need to changed.
• curriculum basically certifies that. curriculum basically certifies that.

Keywords: 1183, house