Video & Transcript Research : 'mandatory rounding'

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NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Committee on Housing (02/17/2026)

Housing

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:42:15.119> in-person currently mandatory in-person currently mandatory in-person condominium
  • Some owners are required to drive hours round trip to be able to attend the meetings.
  • It's not a mandatory that you have to do this.
  • <02:10:17.199> Um mandatory that you have to do this.
  • Um mandatory that you have to do this.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

89th Legislative Session May 1st, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • HB 2187 by Howard relating to hospital staffing report processes and to retaliation and mandatory overtime
  • With your amendment, would we switch from that mandatory language to language that would allow the state
  • With your amendment, would we switch from that mandatory language to language that would allow the state
  • Members, please help me congratulate Aidan Reed on winning the 3A shot put championship today with a big round
  • Members, please help me congratulate Aidan Reed on winning the 3A shot put championship today with a big round
Summary: The House convened with a quorum, heard the invocation and pledges, and then took up a series of memorial resolutions and recognitions. Members adopted memorial resolutions honoring former President Jimmy Carter and Dr. Alice Gail Hudgens, with remarks highlighting their public service and community impact, and adopted resolutions recognizing Victoria College’s 100th anniversary and May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month. The chamber also recognized Texas A&M system interns and later granted permission for several committees to meet while the House was in session. The House then moved through a long third-reading calendar, passing a number of bills on wide margins. Measures approved included SB 304 on municipal court jurisdiction over nuisance abatement ordinances, SB 608 on reporting evidence collection kits, SB 2312 creating a Texas Advisory Committee on Geopolitical Conflict, SB 494 creating a petroleum theft task force, SB 530 on postsecondary accreditation, HB 45 giving the Attorney General a role in prosecuting human trafficking cases, HB 35 on peer support for first responders, HB 47 and HB 3073 on sexual assault policy and prosecution, HB 318 and HB 3000 creating rural sheriff and ambulance grant programs, HB 554 on Juneteenth fireworks sales with county opt-in authority restored, HB 705 and HB 932 joining licensure compacts for cosmetology and occupational therapy, HB 849 allowing county park boards to meet by video conference, HB 1119 on mental health bed reporting, HB 3041 on students with nontraditional secondary education, HB 713 on maternal mortality review reporting, HB 3104 on Webb County bailiff appointments, HB 3970 on electricity planning for large loads, HB 4042 on Railroad Commission safety provisions for gas distribution pipelines, HB 4490 protecting next-of-kin information, HB 1731 on the physician assistant compact, HB 2607 on Walker County Hospital District governance, HB 3689 on Texas Windstorm Insurance Association funding, HB 1788 on continuing education for barbers and cosmetologists about abuse and trafficking, HB 1612 on hospital direct payments for uninsured patients, and HB 138 on health impact cost and coverage analysis. Several bills drew extended debate or amendments. HB 353, creating a trespass offense near schools and daycares, prompted questions about constitutional concerns and property rights before passing. HB 3211 on optometrists in managed care plans received a perfecting amendment and a Medicaid-related amendment setting a minimum payment level. HB 1056 on gold and silver specie and a state-based currency prompted detailed questioning about its mechanics and fees, followed by a point of order challenging the caption. The House also adopted or postponed a number of items, including postponing HB 2520 and HB 1359 until later in the calendar before later passing both, and laying several bills on the table subject to call. Many measures passed overwhelmingly, while a few, including HB 3326 on loan forgiveness for adjunct professors and HB 3237 on energy consumption goals, passed with narrower margins.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

89th Legislative Session May 9th, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • We're not gonna round up people based on the way they looked. We're not gonna do that.
  • Here before, you would make that mandatory for all three categories.
  • It makes it mandatory for the Legion of Valor and Purple Heart.
  • This would make it mandatory that our tolling authority exempt them from fees.
  • And so I want to make this mandatory, not permissive anymore. I'll move passage.
Bills: HJR175, HJR88, HB21, HB49, HB216, HB346, HB573, HB565, HB954, HB1953, HB2686, HB1441, HB2734, HB1650, HB3161, HB2876, HB3185, HB3388, HB2761, HB3233, HB 1186, HB1534, HB5506, HB5129, HB3619, HB778, HB2867, HB3221, HB3672, HB2434, HB4903, HB3687, HB3675, HB4609, HB4582, HB4921, HB3866, HB3901, HB4534, HB2446, HB3984, HB700, HB4012, HB4491, HB4088, HB229, HB4234, HB722, HB4136, HB4105, HB4413, HB170, HB551, HB2858, HB3053, HB3142, HB3180, HB3722, HB2200, HB1794, HB1784, HB1581, HB2530, HB4308, HB1896, HB2974, HB3359, HB4580, HB2458, HB2215, HB3332, HB2278, HB3015, HB3151, HB1368, HCR9, HCR40, HB5138, SB17, HB4944, HB2284, HB3421, SB1569, SB2420, SB1968, SB2351, SB2544, SB1490, SB1349, SB1568, SB2776, HB3531, HB2149, HB4327, HB3158, HB3717, HB4520, SB888, SB552, HB3138, HB3704, HB2921, HB4853, HB4506, HB3892, HJR161, HJR175, HJR88, HB1937, HB3334, HB5444, HB5137, HB361, HB321, HB5447, HB464, HB678, HB2294, HB4172, HB3225, HB1769, HB5394, HB1837, HB1787, HB2271, HB2440, HB5134, HB5149, HB2151, HB2073, HB2186, HB2025, HB1936, HB1777, HB1663, HB 1306, HB 1290, HB1527, HB4802, HB3462, HB2963, HB2462, HB2560, HB644, HB2725, HB2621, HB2588, HB1443, HB1403, HB3032, HB1557, HB1664, HB2811, HB2088, HB2598, HB3062, HB3134, HB3940, HB4027, HB4097, HB4862, HB4170, HB4157, HB4205, HB4279, HB4377, HB4838, HB5424, HB5294, HB4870, HB4763, HB5639, HB4112, HB2275, HB1677, HB5014, HB3848, HB3797, HB3727, HB3709, HB3177, HB3057, HB4176, HB4202, HB2180, HB3528, HB3658, HB21, HB49, HB216, HB346, HB573, HB565, HB954, HB1953, HB2686, HB1441, HB2734, HB1650, HB3161, HB2876, HB3185, HB3388, HB2761, HB3233, HB 1186, HB1534, HB5506, HB5129, HB3619, HB778, HB2867, HB3221, HB3672, HB2434, HB4903, HB3687, HB3675, HB4609, HB4582, HB4921, HB3866, HB3901, HB4534, HB2446, HB3984, HB700, HB4012, HB4491, HB4088, HB229, HB4234, HB722, HB4136, HB4105, HB4413, HB170, HB551, HB2858, HB3053, HB3142, HB3180, HB3722, HB2200, HB1794, HB1784, HB1581, HB2530, HB4308, HB1896, HB2974, HB3359, HB4580, HB2458, HB2215, HB3332, HB2278, HB3015, HB3151, HB1368, HCR76, HCR127, HCR9, HCR40
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • The January budget had both mandatory and discretionary deposits.
  • Mandatory deposits are reversed by lower revenues, and the Governor withdraws his proposal to make a
  • The January budget had both mandatory and discretionary deposits.
  • The January budget had both mandatory and discretionary deposits.
  • ...mandatory cost growth for this coming year that we must pay for on our campuses.
Summary: The committee heard the May Revision presentation for the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, with public comment focused heavily on K-12 priorities such as universal school meals, kitchen infrastructure, food service and custodial support, youth leadership grants, Special Olympics funding, English learner support, universal pre-K, literacy investments, and concerns about community college funding shifts. Speakers also urged support for expanded learning, teacher recruitment and training, and maintaining or increasing funding for community colleges and student support programs. Finance and the LAO then reviewed the Proposition 98 outlook. Finance said the May Revision lowers the 2025-26 Prop. 98 guarantee to $114.6 billion, about $4.3 billion below January, due mainly to lower revenue estimates, with smaller effects from attendance and property tax changes. The administration also described rebenching for universal transitional kindergarten and a one-time rebench tied to Los Angeles fire-related property tax losses, along with changes to the Public School System Stabilization Account, deferrals, and updated COLA assumptions. The LAO said the budget relies too much on deferrals and one-time funds, creates a structural shortfall, and should instead align ongoing spending with the guarantee and preserve a reserve buffer. Members questioned the TK rebench and the shift of funding from community colleges to K-12, asking why it was being applied retroactively and how colleges would be held harmless. Finance said the changes align funding with where TK costs are being incurred and that reappropriation funding and other adjustments would offset impacts on community colleges. The LAO argued the historical split formula is outdated and should be abandoned in favor of budgeting around current priorities rather than fixed percentages. Members also raised concerns about draining the rainy day reserve and using deferrals, while the LAO said preserving reserves would better protect against future volatility. The committee then moved to specific K-12 and education proposals. Finance outlined May Revision changes including state operations adjustments for the Department of Education, technical trailer bill changes, a $100 million student teacher stipend program administered by Kern County, and updates to the charter school facility grant program. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposed increases for expanded learning, literacy coaches, and the student teacher stipend as currently structured, while supporting the minimum grant increase for expanded learning. Members expressed support for teacher recruitment efforts but questioned whether one-time funding can sustain ongoing programs and whether the student teacher stipend should be targeted to shortage areas or low-income communities.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

The July 2025 Flooding Events, General Investigating Apr 28th, 2026

The July 2025 Flooding Events, General Investigating

Transcript Highlights:
  • Y'all didn't even make it through to passing on the second round.
  • It's mandatory that they're here because they tragically lost a life.
  • They're alleging there's a mandatory arbitration clause in this?
  • I know they've been making the rounds because I talk to them.
  • Mandatory determination that public safety requires otherwise.
Keywords: 1184, house, all
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

2026 Legislative Session - Day Fifty Nine - Tuesday, April 28

Missouri House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Please give them a round of applause. Welcome to the House.
  • But I wanted to thank them for a job well done and hope the body would give them a warm round of applause
  • So if you can give them a big round of applause, I appreciate it. Welcome to the House.
  • If everyone gives them a warm round of applause, thanks for coming down, you guys.
  • pertains to the necessary amount of attendance that a child is required to have prior to someone, a mandatory
Summary: The House opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for the 58th day by roll call vote, 123-1. Members also introduced a number of special guests, including physicians, sheriffs, students, interns, and a police chief, before moving to third reading and perfection of bills. House Bill 1758, dealing with permanent daylight saving time in Missouri, was debated at length. Supporters said it would end the twice-yearly clock changes and argued it could benefit children, productivity, and quality of life. Opponents warned it would create darker morning commutes, safety concerns, and health issues tied to circadian rhythms. The bill passed third reading by a vote of 107-31 with two present. The chamber then perfected and printed House Bill 3329, which repeals expired or unused tax credits, and House Bill 3405, which clarifies that SALT/pass-through entity provisions are deductions rather than tax credits for Department of Revenue processing. Both bills were described as cleanup and efficiency measures, with supporters emphasizing accountability and reduced manual work at DOR; both moved forward without opposition in committee and were approved on the floor. Finally, House Bill 2426, a parental rights bill, drew extensive debate and an amendment. The bill would elevate parents’ rights in education, medical, privacy, and related decisions to a fundamental-rights standard and add provisions on school records, recordings, evaluations, and certain health-care decisions. Critics argued it was overly broad, could interfere with school operations and existing protections, and might create problems in areas such as IEPs, truancy, and medical consent; supporters said it simply codified and strengthened parental authority. House Amendment 1, focused on IEP procedures and requiring parental consent for major changes, was adopted 98-25 with six present, and debate on the underlying bill continued.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Finance Nov 17th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • It's more like a couple of mandatory workshops. That you have to go to if you're a SNAP recipient.
  • Chair, Vice Chair Dixon, an RFP is kind of a square peg for a round hole, so we do just a call for...
  • There's a third round of public comments and comments on the rules.
  • But what it's not is staffing or facilitation of the next round or the 300 additional megawatts of community
  • million for broadband deployment, and that is a lower amount than we initially estimated with our round
TX

Texas 89th Regular

S/C on Property Tax Appraisals Mar 6th, 2025

S/C on Property Tax Appraisals

Transcript Highlights:
  • And then the fourth criteria, explain that a second, appraisal district past mandatory requirements of
  • The next slide gives some recommendations that that we've noticed across all of the first rounds of of
  • So I'm just going to do Collin County because that's my home. $854 million, I'm just kind of rounding
  • And we only became 100% consolidated back in 2015 when we had. at a Round Rock ISD school district had
  • And for the city of Round Rock, so those folks got two tax bills. I'm very interested in this.
Keywords: 1184, house, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Senate Finance (04/21/2025)

Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • entry-level corrections officers, we are currently relying on our law enforcement staff to work mandatory
  • c><00:08:45.279> staff<00:08:45.519> to<00:08:45.760> work<00:08:45.920> mandatory
  • law enforcement staff to work mandatory law enforcement staff to work mandatory overtime<00:08:46.959
  • significant increase in mandatory significant increase in mandatory overtime,<00:40:58.400> further
  • comprehensive, well-rounded decision. comprehensive, well-rounded decision. when<02:17:24.800>
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

Transcript Highlights:
  • It codifies HIP as a permanent, year-round statewide program.
  • It codifies HIP as a permanent, year-round statewide program.
  • Mandatory participation in the program can harm family dynamics by disrupting co-parenting arrangements
  • Families need to know that they can rely on HIP year-round, and farmers need to know that the sales will
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The House Committee on Children and Families held a hybrid hearing on a broad set of anti-hunger, family support, and basic-needs bills. Early testimony focused on SNAP and DTA operations: Rep. DeRosa and others urged passage of H. 196/S. 167 to require DTA to identify staffing, technology, funding, and operational needs to improve timeliness and customer service, warning that unanswered calls, delayed recertifications, and federal changes could sharply raise state costs through higher SNAP administrative burdens and payment-error penalties. Speakers from Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and Project Bread said DTA is under-resourced, caseloads have grown, and families are being denied or delayed due to phone and paperwork barriers. Another major SNAP-related bill, H. 254/S. 147, would require the Commonwealth to replace stolen EBT/SNAP benefits; testimony described more than $13 million stolen from about 27,000 households since June 2022 and argued families should not bear losses from organized theft rings. The committee also heard strong support for H. 207/S. 117, which would restore state-funded nutrition assistance for legally present immigrants excluded from federal SNAP under recent federal changes. Advocates from Project Bread, the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, local immigrant services, and public health groups said the federal cuts would leave thousands of residents, including refugees, asylum seekers, trafficking survivors, and children, without food support, and argued Massachusetts has a history of filling this gap. Testimony also supported H. 222/S. 104 to make the Healthy Incentives Program permanent and year-round; supporters said HIP improves nutrition, boosts local farms and regional economies, and had already served more than 212,000 households in FY25. A related child-support bill, H. 201/S. 110, would increase the amount of child support passed through to TAFDC families and expand good-cause exemptions; witnesses said the change would put more money directly in families’ hands, reduce poverty, and better protect survivors of domestic violence and families with complicated co-parenting situations. A large portion of the hearing was devoted to deep-poverty and diaper-related legislation. Supporters of H. 214/S. 118 said cash assistance grants have lost value over time and should be raised annually until they reach half of the federal poverty level; advocates from Children’s HealthWatch, Hopewell, the Lift Our Kids Coalition, and parents described the links between deep poverty, poor child health, family stress, and child welfare involvement. They argued that higher grants would help families meet basic needs, reduce hospitalizations and neglect reports, and provide stability amid federal cuts. Finally, multiple witnesses backed diaper legislation, including H. 220/S. 151 and related bills, to create a diaper benefits pilot and/or diaper allowance commission. Testimony from the National Diaper Bank Network, MassCAP, Children’s HealthWatch, local diaper banks, and parents said diaper need is widespread, affects parental employment and mental health, and can cause health problems for infants; a federally funded pilot in Massachusetts was cited as showing improved employment, financial stability, reduced stress, and fewer diaper rashes. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; the committee heard testimony and asked questions throughout.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Mar 25th, 2026 at 09:00 am

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • So it does create a mandatory retention, which is I think specifically what you're referring to, but
  • Do you know if this program will be a year-round program potentially for those students that are retained
  • And so my experience has been it's year-round, but it doesn't prescribe that in the bill.
  • If it is year-round, would the parents have access to a reading coach or a teacher during the summer
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

Appropriations Feb 24th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • We're not eliminating the mandatory requirement.
  • After her third round of vaccines, Lily began vomiting and had a fever.
  • After her third round of vaccines, Lily began vomiting and had a fever.
  • After her third round of vaccines, Lily began vomiting and had a fever. She stopped in her tracks.
Summary: The committee first took up CS for SB 896 on school safety, which would expand the Guardian program to public postsecondary institutions, require active assailant response plans and threat management protocols, improve reporting and information sharing, and make it a felony to discharge a weapon within 1,000 feet of a campus. A late-file amendment by Senator Polsky was adopted to clarify that students who are also employees or faculty at a public postsecondary institution are not eligible for the Guardian program. The bill drew strong opposition from faculty, students, and gun-safety advocates who argued that more guns on campus would create confusion, weaken safety, and undermine campus police; supporters said trained guardians would improve deterrence and protection. After debate, the committee reported the bill favorably by a roll call vote. The committee then considered SB 1690 on child care and early learning services, which updates child care laws, reduces some regulatory burdens, and expands the Florida Education Foundation’s authority to fundraise for early learning from birth through VPK. Members discussed oversight of the related direct-support organization and the removal of certain notice requirements, while supporters from Moms Rising and other advocates said the bill would help families access affordable, high-quality child care and support home-based providers. One opponent argued the bill added more government regulation, but the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. Next, the committee passed CS for SB 118, a narrow bill on non-ad valorem special assessments for recreational vehicle parks, clarifying how assessments are calculated for RV spaces and campsites. The bill received supportive comments from RV advocates and was reported favorably without controversy. The committee then took up CS for SB 1220, the Department of Transportation package, which included provisions on seaports and airports, personal delivery devices, autonomous vehicles, broadband and utility permitting, and advanced air mobility. Amendments were adopted that revised research institute membership, limited some delivery-device provisions, and clarified cruiser light rules for law enforcement; after questions about utility preemption and PDD safety, the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1756 on medical freedom, which would require new vaccine educational materials, expand school-entry exemptions to include conscience-based objections, limit the Surgeon General’s emergency vaccination authority, and allow behind-the-counter ivermectin for adults with written information and liability protections. The bill drew extensive testimony from both supporters and opponents, with supporters emphasizing parental rights, informed consent, and vaccine injury concerns, and opponents warning about reduced immunization rates, public health risks, and the appropriateness of ivermectin provisions. The transcript ends during public testimony and debate on SB 1756, before final action on that bill is shown.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Budget Committee Jun 25th, 2025

Budget

Transcript Highlights:
  • The bill also includes A mandatory single sales factor for financial institutions moves financial institutions
  • I want to thank our budget team for their constant round-the-clock work, as well as the Department of
  • Because the fiscal impact is delayed, you've got rounds of awards given out, and then those awards take
  • and ongoing leadership to maximize universal school meals and sunbucks to prevent child hunger year-round
Keywords: 988, house, all
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Tobacco Settlement Revenue Oversight Nov 14th, 2025

Tobacco Settlement Revenue Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is just kind of almost rounding. So I guess I wasn't very clear.
  • looks like they could adopt a retail license, whether or not they conduct annual enforcement or mandatory
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

Other - PSCOC Oct 8th, 2025

Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:
  • that to take In today's meeting, you would be hearing about the new applications submitted for this round
  • We actually have been cooking scratch meals before it was mandatory, and all of our buildings were combined
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education Mar 27th, 2025

S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • He's well rounded thanks to the virtual school in Conroy ID. So where do we land from here?
  • And when we use virtual learning as mandatory, that becomes a concern, especially when you have students
Bills: HB117
TX

Texas 89th Regular

S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education Mar 27th, 2025

S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • He's well-rounded, thanks to the virtual school in Conroe. So where do we land from here?
  • take away that choice and use virtual learning as a punishment, and when we use virtual learning as mandatory
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • I would, I just want to make sure that I heard you say that you have mandatory yearly audits for cities
  • And then our units are rounded out by something that's not shown here, but that's our quality assurance
Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee met to receive annual overviews of its oversight responsibilities and the work of the Auditor General and OPAGA. Committee staff reviewed the committee’s authority over state and local governments, enforcement of audit-report filing requirements, repeated audit findings, Transparency Florida reporting, and lobbying compensation audits. Auditor General Cheryl Norman described her office’s independence, audit standards, quality control, and major audit areas, including the state’s annual financial and single audits, school district and university audits, operational and performance audits, and attestation work. She also noted staffing shortages, recruitment efforts, and a request for carry-forward funds to study salaries. Members asked about whether audits can quantify recoverable dollars, how school district spending comparisons are handled, and how to raise concerns about DCF-related audits or a local city audit that has been pending for years. Norman said her office can quantify findings when possible, sometimes compares costs across districts in operational audits, and that members can bring specific concerns to the appropriate deputy auditor general or the committee. She also explained that citizen or local-government audit requests may require payment of audit costs. OPAGA Coordinator Kara Collins-Gomez outlined OPAGA’s role as a legislative research unit that conducts studies directed by law, the presiding officers, or the committee, and described its policy areas, methodologies, contract monitoring, and recurring statutory reports. Deputy Auditor General Matthew Tracy explained how to read operational audit reports, including findings, criteria, condition, cause, effect, recommendations, and management responses. Deputy Auditor General Greg Senators explained financial audit reports, including audit opinions, required supplementary information, internal control and compliance findings, federal program compliance, and management letters. The meeting concluded with thanks to the presenters and a motion to adjourn, which passed without objection.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Resources, Recreation and Development (01/21/2026)

Resources, Recreation and Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • Can you make it mandatory that the dams have to go back to the municipals versus you having they have
  • Can you make it mandatory that the dams have to go back to the municipals versus you having they have
  • Can you make it mandatory that the dams have to go back to the municipalities versus you having they
  • Can you make it mandatory that the dams have to go back to the municipalities versus you having they
  • I don't know how to round out that list.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • As a result, the key provisions that we've worked on, like our anti-fraud provision, safeguards, mandatory
  • And after a couple of different rounds on the Senate floor, and a lot of encouragement by myself and
  • So I'm excited about, you know, being on the next round from Texas. No, thank you.
  • A lot of my drive to and from Hereford this past weekend, I drove over a thousand miles round trip to
  • We provide year-round continuous learning rather than shutting down learning for three months of summer
Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 convened with a quorum, adopted its committee rules, and heard opening remarks from members introducing staff and outlining priorities for the session. Several senators emphasized support for public education, teacher pay and safety, parental choice, and the combined K-16 jurisdiction of the committee. The chair also reviewed hearing procedures, including public testimony registration and time limits. The main item was Senate Bill 2, the Texas Education Freedom Act, laid out by Chairman Creighton. He described the bill as an education savings account program intended to expand school choice, with a $200 million universal eligibility pool and an additional $800 million targeted to students with disabilities and lower-income families. He said the bill includes anti-fraud safeguards, criminal background checks for vendors, reporting requirements, data protections, and annual testing for participating students, while not imposing STAAR on private schools or homeschoolers. He also said the bill removes a prior hold-harmless provision for public schools and is separate from public school funding and teacher pay legislation. Members questioned the bill’s income threshold, lottery and priority structure, treatment of homeschoolers, microschools, charter schools, religious freedom protections, citizenship/lawful presence language, cybersecurity, open records, and disability-related issues, including whether 504 students and foster children should be included. Creighton said the bill is designed to prioritize former public school students with disabilities or lower incomes, while also allowing universal eligibility within the program’s first funding tier, and that the Comptroller would oversee vendor screening and cybersecurity rules. He said the bill does not direct curriculum or interfere with religious beliefs and that amendments may be offered later on citizenship and other issues. After member questions, the committee began invited testimony, starting with EdChoice representative Robert Inlow, who testified in support of SB 2 and cited national growth in school choice programs and studies he said show positive effects for students and public schools.