Transcript Highlights:

• the students pay $5,000 a semester to receive the additional comprehensive services in addition to tuition
• Tuition is such that 75% of that tuition comes back to the program to be able to create all of the important
• Obviously, the students pay tuition, depending on whether they are Arkansas students or out-of-state
• students, the regular tuition.
• What is the tuition? Our tuition for the entire three-year program is $27,135.

Summary: The committee heard presentations on three Arkansas programs serving students and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. University of Arkansas representatives described the Empower Program, a non-degree, four-year inclusive postsecondary program for young adults with mild intellectual disabilities, and the Autism Support Program, which provides intensive academic, peer, and career coaching for degree-seeking students with autism. They explained the programs’ person-centered planning, residential and employment supports, fee structure of $5,000 per semester for each program, and scholarship/fundraising efforts to offset costs. Members asked about dorm arrangements, mentoring, individualized plans, and how students move in and out of support services, and the presenters emphasized independence, integrated campus life, and transition planning. Pulaski Technical College staff then presented the 3D program, a three-year transition program in culinary, baking, and hospitality for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They outlined integrated classes, internships, job placement outcomes, and data showing strong completion and employment retention rates. Questions focused on how success is measured, tuition and financial aid, and the challenge of securing community partners for practicum and employment sites. The presenters said the program uses rubrics that include technical and professional skills, charges $5,700 per semester, and is pursuing accreditation through the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council. The final presentation was from SLS Community, a Fayetteville nonprofit serving neurodivergent adults through residential supports, supported employment, and community initiatives. Leaders described their vision for a future mixed-use “live-work-play” development at Cato Springs, current residential and vocational services, and community events such as a 5K and a neurodiversity health care conference. Family members testified about the need for adult services, trained direct support professionals, and better reimbursement and behavioral health supports after age 21. No formal votes were taken beyond approving the prior meeting minutes, and members also announced upcoming autism-related events and requested future discussion on task force appointments and ABA-related issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• What it does is expands allowable expenses beyond tuition and mandatory fees.
• What it does is expands allowable expenses beyond tuition and mandatory fees.
• and mandatory expenses beyond tuition and mandatory fees<00:17:06.079> that<00:17:06.480>
• tuition<00:17:06.799> and<00:17:07.039> mandatory<00:17:07.439> fees fees that
• tuition and mandatory fees fees that tuition and mandatory fees wased<00:17:08.000> legislative

Bills: SB79, HB379, SB253, HB278, HB438, HB233, SB79, HB379, SB253, HB278, HB438, HB233

Keywords: sex-based terminology, gender identity, male, female, man, woman, boy, girl, single-sex spaces, women's rights, privacy, safety, fairness, anti-discrimination, vital statistics, birth certificate, intersex, DSD, differences in sex development, transgender

Transcript Highlights:

• The extra $5 million is for the needs-based scholarships to get them up to 100% of tuition for those
• So what it would be, the funds would be used to help them with room and board, tuition and fees, books
• The funds would be used to help them with room and board, tuition and fees, books, educational supplies
• And then the last one, tuition increase limitation.
• Undergraduate tuition rate increases to 4% per year, allow an additional 1% per year for different tuition

Bills: SB2003

Keywords: higher education, student loans, scholarships, capital projects, workforce development, funding, North Dakota university system, 908, all

Summary: The committee met to work through the higher education budget, beginning with a conflict-of-interest request from Representative Martinson, who was excused from voting because of a partnership that leases office space to Bismarck State College. Members then reviewed the higher education institution budget sheets, covering ongoing and one-time funding items for campuses and system projects such as BSC housing, Lake Region roof repairs, UND’s STEM and National Security Crossroads projects, the UND allied health facility, NDSU projects including New Horizons, DSU deferred maintenance and campus security, Mayville’s Old Main, Minot projects, and the regional health institutes. Members also discussed student financial assistance, the professional student exchange program, IT security funding, and workforce/education innovation grants. Several amendments and policy questions were debated. The committee adopted an amendment to make workforce education innovation grants competitive rather than automatically distributed, and then voted to remove language prohibiting those funds from being used to duplicate academic programs. Members also removed similar anti-duplication language from the New Horizons section. They agreed to extend the UND hyperbaric chamber transfer authority to 2027 and clarified language around UND land-sale proceeds. A proposed amendment to add $5.6 million for the Wahpeton State School of Science building purchase failed for lack of a second, and a proposal to restore fetal alcohol spectrum disorder funding to UND was left for conference. The committee also discussed, but did not add, a tuition cap change, a study on the Praxis exam, and several governance-related provisions. The committee spent significant time on broader higher education policy items, including a $3 million enterprise resource planning request for the university system, a $2 million grant program for students who are pregnant, recently gave birth, or are caring for young children, and a $1.1 million request for library age-verification software tied to the Odin system. Members also discussed dual-credit authority for UND and NDSU, a goal for the UND medical school to increase North Dakota resident enrollment, and intent language regarding the commissioner/chancellor model and presidential search authority. At the end of the meeting, the committee approved the amendments and then gave the higher education budget a do-pass recommendation as amended, with Representative Sanford designated as the carrier. The Forest Service budget was also approved, including two additional FTEs, and the committee adjourned after noting it would continue with other budgets the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• that already exist in early childhood result in low, stagnant wages for staff and heightened cost of tuition
• 00:03:31.640> heightened<00:03:32.000> cost<00:03:32.280> of<00:03:32.519> tuition
• <00:03:33.040> that<00:03:33.319> ends and heightened cost of tuition that ends and
• heightened cost of tuition that ends up<00:03:33.680> being<00:03:33.840> shouldered<00
• We combine tuition dollars and what’s coming in for the cost there, but we also rely on about 14% of

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• More importantly, many of these tuition agreements have a requirement that the sending school district
• contracts and tuition agreements.
• contracts and tuition agreements.
• contracts and tuition agreements.
• contracts and tuition agreements.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up HB 662, which would require discussion of abortion procedures and the viewing of certain videos in public school health education. Members argued the bill went too far by naming specific videos and involving the Attorney General in enforcement, and they said curriculum decisions should be left to educators. The committee voted ITL on HB 662 by a unanimous 18-0. The committee then considered HCR 6, a resolution calling for the removal of the superintendent of District 67. Members said the resolution targeted an individual and that the underlying dispute was already in court, so the matter should be left to the legal process. The motion to ITL passed 18-0. Next, HR 9, urging the Department of Education to emphasize STEM education, received broad support as a nonpartisan statement of priorities, and it also passed 18-0. HB 440, concerning educator licensing and shortages in Career and Technical Education, was amended to clarify that the bill applies to initial licensure only. After discussion about whether the amendment was necessary, the committee adopted Amendment 0188 unanimously and then voted OTPA on the bill as amended, 18-0. HB 222, which repealed the requirement for an MOU between charter schools and districts on services for students with disabilities, drew testimony that districts already provide substantial oversight through IEP processes and that the MOU requirement was burdensome and largely unenforced; the committee voted OTP 18-0. The committee then took up HB 719, which would repeal the right of first refusal for charter schools to purchase or lease unused district facilities. Supporters said the existing law had not generated complaints and could impede charter expansion, while opponents said the issue had not proven to be a problem and local control should be preserved. The committee voted ITL 17-1, with one member opposed and no minority report. The chair then postponed HB 184, a study committee bill on school start times, because it was scheduled for the next day, and the committee moved into a work session on bullying-related bills, discussing HB 108, HB 384, and HB 673 without taking final action in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what recourse exists if a company disagrees with that classification decision?
• . classification. classification.
• The MPCA would then classification.
• data while classification decisions are pending?
• <00:47:55.119> Medical classification decision? Medical classification decision?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It changes some classification of data within the Data Practices Act as it relates to the Attorney General's
• individuals so it private data on individuals so it changes<00:01:56.079> some<00:01:56.360> classification
• <00:01:57.079> of<00:01:57.280> data changes some classification of data changes some
• classification of data within<00:01:57.920> the<00:01:58.079> data<00:01:58.360> Practices

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• First on the agenda, we have SB 567 SD1, relating to the classification and compensation systems.
• system and all of our civil service classifications.
• 26.959> service<00:10:27.320> classifications.
• <00:10:28.320> We our civil service classifications.
• We our civil service classifications.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• push... ...to address illegal immigration centers around four policies: E-Verify, banning in-state tuition
• The second issue is banning in-state tuition for illegal aliens.
• They have been filed to end the... ...practice of granting in-state tuition for illegal aliens.
• . ...Unfortunately, it contains loopholes that will ensure that illegal aliens continue receiving tuition

Keywords: immigration, children's rights, E-Verify, social transitioning, election integrity, Texas GOP, legislative session, urgent legislation

Summary: The committee meeting was characterized by fervent discussions surrounding critical legislation, particularly regarding immigration, children's rights, and election integrity. Key bills such as HB2258, aiming to ban social transitioning for children, and E-Verify legislation were highlighted as urgent priorities. Several representatives expressed frustration over stalled bills and emphasized the necessity of decisive action to fulfill their commitments made during their campaigns. The urgency was marked by the approaching deadline for bill passage, with only days remaining in the legislative session. Members urged House leadership to prioritize these bills, warning that failure to act would undermine public trust in their capacity to fulfill the Republicans' campaign promises.

Transcript Highlights:

• major push to address illegal immigration centers around four policies E-Verify, banning in-state tuition
• Second issue, banning in-state tuition for illegal aliens. 7 bills have been filed in the Texas House
• They've been filed to, to, to end the practice of granting in-state tuition for illegal aliens, but the
• this issue unfortunately contains loopholes that will ensure that illegal aliens continue receiving tuition

Transcript Highlights:

• You go before the zoning commission and you request what zoning classification you would like it to be
• If that land is already zoned a certain classification, well, it may not be compatible with your new
• classification that you would like, right?
• So I was just curious: is multifamily the actual zoning classification? No.
• But would multifamily ever be the right classification for a cemetery? That I can't speak to.

Bills: HB447, HB897, HB993, HB2673, HB3671, HB3680, HB3897, HB4506, HB4753, HB4812, HB4894, HB5148, HB5437, HB5650, HB5652, HB5654, HB5656, HB5661, HB5665

Keywords: traffic impact studies, municipal utility district, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, HB 897, Texas land sale, state property, Austin real estate, Travis County, General Land Office, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state records facility, archives building, library funding, capital improvements, lease of state land, public land disposition

Summary: The committee heard testimony and took action on several land use, housing, municipal utility district, and cemetery-related bills. House Bill 447, dealing with transportation impact analysis requirements tied to MUD bond issuance, drew opposition from a witness who argued it would duplicate work, strain agency resources, and delay development; after the sponsor’s closing remarks, the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1202, on third-party review of home backup power installations, was substituted and reported favorably to the full House by a unanimous roll call. House Bill 2494, on disannexation for failure to provide municipal services, and House Bill 1835, removing barriers to HUD-code manufactured homes, were also substituted and reported favorably; HB 1835 passed on a 5-1 vote. Senate Bill 15, limiting lot size and density requirements in certain large municipalities, was substituted and reported favorably unanimously. The committee also heard House Bill 897, which would authorize the sale or long-term lease of two state-owned Austin properties used by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and HHSC. The sponsor said the properties are in poor condition and that proceeds would benefit the state; after questions, the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. Several template MUD bills were then laid out, including HB 5652, HB 5654, HB 5661, and HB 5656, each creating or authorizing municipal utility districts in Montgomery or Fort Bend counties for water, wastewater, drainage, road, and recreational improvements. These bills drew limited testimony in support and were left pending without objection. A major portion of the meeting focused on House Bill 2673, which would repeal last session’s change allowing new cemeteries within certain distances of municipalities and restore the prior rule limiting cemetery placement near growing urban areas. The sponsor and supporters argued the 2023 change created unintended consequences, removed valuable taxable land from future use, and complicated city planning; opponents, including a funeral service industry representative, argued the current law gives communities local control and helps address cemetery land shortages. After extensive testimony, the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4753, a bill allowing a property owner to use a municipal record showing a certificate of occupancy was issued when the original document is lost; it was left pending. Finally, HB 3680, a Cameron County-specific bill modifying subdivision/model rule procedures to reduce replatting burdens while preserving colonia protections, and HB 4812, clarifying that condominiums follow Chapter 82 of the Property Code rather than full subdivision platting, both received supportive testimony and were left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• <03:26:39.279> um heart um who in our classification um heart um who in our classification
• <03:27:45.720> system of our classification system of our classification system and<03:27:
• We do consult, so our Classification Branch will reach out to all the jurisdictions.
• right when it comes to classification right when it comes to classification and<03:34:45.199>
• <04:11:57.600> for 2024 for The Unique classifications for 2024 for The Unique classifications

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The appropriations for student tuition relief on line 110, sexual assault reporting policies on line
• And so even a significant tuition increase does still mean they're affordable.
• By increasing tuition.
• And so even a significant tuition increase does still mean they're affordable.
• pay tuition to non-public schools. pay tuition to non-public schools.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the tuition and fees, sales, and other revenue.
• When you were talking about the tuition and fees, it just reminded me of a question I've had the last
• degree programs um that's the tuition degree programs um that's the tuition and<01:30:16.239>
• when you were talking about the tuition when you were talking about the tuition and<01:31:24.400
• and fees and that impacting your tuition and fees and you<01:31:42.360> know<01:31:42.520>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Carlson, maybe the data classification and keeping it private.
• So, I just want to make sure that if we do a data classification, which seems specific to board member
• Carlson, maybe the data classification and keeping it private.
• So, I just want to make sure that if we do a data classification, which seems specific to board member
• would expand the private classification would expand the private classification uh<00:34:54.079> to

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , state-paid tuitioning program and, you know, outside of the regular school environment.
• sort of a tuitioning state paid tuitioning<00:22:24.640> program<00:22:25.280> and<00:
• program and uh you know uh tuitioning program and uh you know uh outside<00:22:28.799> of<00:
• residential tuition if they're residential placement. placement. placement.
• <01:05:46.079> and I mean simply taking the tuition and I mean simply taking the tuition and

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The commission held an organizational meeting under SB 57 to study the cost of special education, with the meeting streamed publicly at the chair’s request. Members introduced themselves, and the chair explained that the bill creates two separate pieces, one dealing with SAU structure and the other with a commission on special education costing. He outlined his background in education and special education and said the commission’s work would focus on understanding and controlling special education costs. The commission reviewed its membership requirements and noted several vacancies or unfilled appointments, including the special education advocate, two governor-appointed parent advocates, and a Department of Health and Human Services representative. The members then elected Representative Rick Ladd as chair, Representative Dick Ames as vice chair, and Representative Megan Murray as clerk. Representative Ames briefly described his legal and policy background in disability and special education work in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The chair then walked through the commission’s study topics, including referral rates by IDEA category, reasons for increases in categories such as autism and other health impairment, post-COVID referral trends, pre-referral interventions, Medicaid and 504-related costs, out-of-district placements, dispute resolution, billing practices, privacy, reimbursement, legal services, graduation rates, attendance, and adult learning. Members discussed how special education costs are distributed, noting that the state spends about $977 million annually on special education, with only part covered by state aid and the remainder largely borne by local districts. Testimony also noted that out-of-district placement costs have risen sharply since rate-setting changes around 2018, and that some categories may reflect changes in identification practices, medical factors, or broader population shifts. The commission agreed to continue reviewing the data and formulas in future meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• families could well afford the tuition families could well afford the tuition at<02:06:18.639>
• look at the bottom, this is for tuition look at the bottom, this is for tuition and<02:10:27.920
• to make up the tuition to make up the tuition difference.<02:58:54.240> The<02:58:54.479>
• > the things besides tuition dollars in the things besides tuition dollars in the program.<03:18:
• of the secular schools that get tuition of the secular schools that get tuition have<03:18:30.479

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the lowest tuition of any state in the entire country, and third lowest of out-of-state tuition
• Florida National Guard tuition assistance at $7.2 million.
• As you may know, we have the third-lowest out-of-state tuition in the country.
• We're going to empower each university to set their own out-of-state tuition fees.
• until all federal, state, and institutional gift aid is applied to their tuition and fees.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met for Budget Day and heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, SPB 25-200, totaling $117.4 billion. Chair Hooper said the plan reduces overall spending from the prior year, keeps strong reserves, includes a 4% pay raise for state employees, maintains employee health care contributions, and makes major investments in water quality, transportation, and education infrastructure. Committee chairs then summarized their budget silos, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and agriculture/environment/general government. Members asked questions mainly about school funding, AP and dual enrollment support, voucher and scholarship impacts, and the My Safe Florida Home program. The committee adopted a large consent package of amendments and then approved three late-file amendments: funding virtual college tours for high school students, funding the FSU Sunshine Genetics program, and providing money for the Port of Fernandina customs facility. The committee then voted to report SPB 2500, the General Appropriations Bill, as a committee bill. It also favorably reported SPB 2502 (implementing bill), SPB 2504 (state employees placeholder), SB 7022 (Florida Retirement System contribution rates and DROP changes), CS/SB 1320 (recreating the Resilient Florida Trust Fund), SPB 2506 (gaming compact revenue distributions, including water projects and rural lands), SPB 2508 (29 new judgeships), SB 7014 (ending the court mediation and arbitration trust fund), SPB 2510 (K-12 conforming bill), SPB 2512 (higher education conforming bill), and SPB 2514 (health and human services conforming bill). The committee also took up several policy bills. It approved SB 7028 on cancer research, creating grant parameters, reporting requirements, a five-year pediatric cancer research incubator, and the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute VisionGen Initiative. It approved CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home quality, adding resident satisfaction surveys, medical director standards, safety culture reviews, electronic health record requirements, financial reporting penalties, and a study of best practices. It approved CS/CS/SB 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, which expands mental health diversion options, adds Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, expands grant uses, and creates a behavioral health data repository. It also approved SB 114 creating the Florida Center for Excellence in Insurance and Risk Management at FSU and moving the public hurricane loss model there. The committee then began considering SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response, including a late-file amendment, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• As the Governor emphasized in his presentation of the budget, the budget contains no tuition or fee increases
• And our students continue to praise the tuition at in-state levels.
• And so one of the things we've also done, and it was a Rick Scott statement, no tuition increases in
• And obviously we haven't had a tuition increase in... ...you know, and call you directly.
• And obviously we haven't had a tuition increase in 14 years, and we've still been putting out degrees

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education heard a presentation from the Governor’s Office on the proposed education budget, which totals $32.5 billion overall and includes no tuition or fee increases for Florida residents. Officials highlighted major funding for financial aid and scholarships, including Bright Futures, Benacquisto, veteran-related scholarships, EASE, Open Door, law enforcement/first responder programs, and workforce initiatives. They also emphasized increases for workforce education, Florida College System operations, nursing pipeline and line funds, and university operations, performance funding, and faculty recruitment and retention. Committee members asked questions about the Ocoee Scholarship, the proposed post-secondary Guardian program, and how university recruitment and retention funds would be used; officials said the Ocoee Scholarship remains funded at current levels, the Guardian program would offer flexible campus safety options, and the university funds would be distributed to institutions for faculty recruitment and retention without additional directives. The committee then heard from a series of appointees and reappointees to boards of trustees for state colleges and universities, who described their backgrounds and priorities. Testimony consistently focused on affordability, workforce alignment, nursing and allied health programs, dual enrollment, adult learners, and local economic needs. Several trustees highlighted strong nursing NCLEX pass rates, expansion of campuses or programs, and efforts to tailor education to regional workforce demands such as health care, construction, law enforcement, aviation, and hospitality. One appointee from Miami-Dade College emphasized helping adult students return and complete degrees by easing credit transfer and admissions barriers. After hearing from the appointees, the committee took up the full slate of confirmations as a block. A motion was made and the roll was called; the confirmations were approved favorably, with members voting yes and no opposition recorded. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill strengthens the Inspector General's office by giving it position classifications and contract
• my office has been slowed in its efforts to complete these reviews by a lack of access to job classifications
• .requirements and work-paper retention framework, AB 1608 would grant my office access to job classifications
• Absent AB 1608, my office can develop its own classifications through SBB and can seek a purchasing delegation

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on April 22, 2026, with a quorum present and first took up a large consent calendar. It moved a set of bills to the Assembly Floor consent calendar by unanimous vote, including AB 1773, 1785, 1828, 1873, 1918, 2001, 2085, 2173, 2412, 2536, 2644, and 2781, and separately approved another group of unanimous bills not eligible for floor consent, including AB 1544, 1555, 1614, 1621, 1637, 1704, 1816, 1933, 2529, 2559, 2663, and 2731. The committee then heard several individual bills, with each author describing the measure and witnesses generally testifying in support; no organized opposition was recorded on the bills discussed. Among the measures heard, AB 2393 would create fixed statutory damages for certain false imprisonment and arrest claims, while exempting peace officers, custodial officers, and public entities. AB 1697 would delay implementation of a recently enacted prohibition on employment contracts that require workers to repay employer debts if they leave a job, and AB 2534 would extend Domestic Violence Prevention Act restraining order protections to attempted forced marriages and survivors of forced marriages. AB 1608 would strengthen the High-Speed Rail Inspector General’s office by adding staffing and contracting authority, requiring public reports, and allowing limited temporary confidentiality for sensitive information; the bill drew questions from members about transparency and whether information could be withheld, but the author and Inspector General said the measure would increase accountability and only allow narrow, time-limited confidentiality. The committee also approved AB 1916, which would allow American Sign Language interpreters to participate in the same collective bargaining process as other certified court interpreters, and AB 1803, which would require anti-hate speech training as part of workplace harassment prevention training for employers with five or more employees. AB 1821 would change Public Records Act response timelines from calendar days to business days, with local government sponsors arguing it would better reflect actual processing time for broad and complex requests without reducing access. AB 1919 would establish election procedures to let voters decide the future of Santa Cruz Metro service funding after a one-time grant expires. Each of these bills was moved forward on due pass votes, with some members not voting on certain measures. The committee then approved a long suspense file, and the remaining suspense bills were deemed approved without further discussion.