Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Gaetz, you're ready. I was born or anyhow outstanding. All right.
• My husband and 4 sons all went through the public school systems in Okaloosa County, kindergarten through
• The jobs cause you to be the o'clock and different times and you have to show up and you have to be ready

Transcript Highlights:

• is none, so ordered. 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 Darby, you ready
• HB 123 by Dutton relating to the measures to support kindergarten readiness and early literacy and numeracy

Transcript Highlights:

• You may proceed when you're ready. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• in this committee, thus further distracting neither the legislature nor the community that stands ready
• You may proceed when you're ready. Thank you.
• You may proceed when you're ready. Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman.
• Do you have some idea that rural neighborhoods or homeowners associations are ready to put this in play

Committee: House Conservation and Natural Resources

Summary: The Committee on Conservation and Natural Resources heard House Bill 2202, sponsored by Rep. Don Mayhew, which would allow active-duty military personnel, 100% disabled veterans, and youth during youth hunt seasons to receive certain hunting permits at no cost. Mayhew argued the bill would help recruit younger hunters, support military members and disabled veterans, and would not threaten conservation funding because the conservation fund has maintained substantial balances. Committee members questioned the bill’s fiscal impact, possible constitutional issues, effects on Pittman-Robertson federal reimbursements, and whether the bill duplicated existing Missouri Department of Conservation exemptions. Some members supported the concept of honoring veterans but suggested other funding mechanisms or clarifying language, and MDC said it would revise the fiscal note after misreading some figures. Testimony on HB 2202 was mostly opposed or informational. An Army veteran testified against the bill, saying current MDC rules already provide significant exemptions for veterans, active-duty personnel, and seniors, and warning the bill could reduce revenue and federal matching funds. MDC Deputy Director Aaron Jeffreys said the department already offers numerous veteran and military exemptions and supports veteran hunts through partnerships with NGOs, but also explained the agency’s fund balance is being used for major capital projects and is expected to decline. Several members and the sponsor debated whether conservation revenues are being held in reserve unnecessarily or are needed for ongoing projects and future obligations. The committee then heard House Bill 1734, sponsored by Rep. Colin Wellenkamp, which would create a Soil Erosion Control Fund Act to help homeowners associations finance erosion mitigation projects through assessments, state fund allocations, and matching local or grant dollars. Wellenkamp and supporters said erosion and flooding are causing major property damage, especially in water-rich and river-adjacent areas, and that the bill would give communities a practical tool to address problems that are too expensive for cities or counties to solve alone. Members from affected districts described severe flooding and erosion impacts, and the sponsor said the bill includes safeguards such as HOA nonprofit status, homeowner approval, and repayment terms to protect taxpayers. HB 1734 drew broad support from witnesses including the Community Associations Institute, a stream restoration business, the Missouri Municipal League, the Sierra Club, the Nature Conservancy of Missouri, and a St. Charles County lobbyist. Supporters said the proposal would help stabilize land, protect homes and property values, improve habitat and water quality, and reduce long-term public costs. No witnesses testified in opposition, and the hearing on HB 1734 concluded with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• When you are ready, we will start as a subcommittee. Thank you, Madam Chair and committee members.
• amendments in the bill introduce new, far-reaching regulation of AI use in the classroom, from kindergarten
• And we also want them to help our kids grow and learn and be ready for the 21st century jobs they're
• Lowenthal, you are up when you are ready. Thank you. Well, thank you, Madam Chair and Members.
• Lowenthal, you are up when you were ready. Thank you.

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it's freezing the minds of these children, whether they're in kindergarten like my daughter or
• And I had lived in a district where the kindergarteners are 80% nonwhite, so I'm not coming from rural
• </c><01:47:14.639><c> like</c><01:47:14.800><c> my</c> whether they're in kindergarten like my whether
• they're in kindergarten like my daughter<01:47:15.599><c> or</c><01:47:15.800><c> in</c><01:47:15.960
• </c><01:48:05.679><c> are</c><01:48:06.400><c> 80%</c> where the kindergarteners are 80% where the kindergarteners

Bills: HF957 , HF877

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to evaluate the kindergarten assessments, which I'm going to ask about as to where that went
• You're not going to be able to tell me about how effective this kindergarten assessments were, because
• We can definitely address that concern, Senator, and we can speak to the kindergarten assessment too,
• > assessment</c><00:23:55.400><c> too</c><00:23:55.600><c> if</c><00:23:55.720><c> you</c> the kindergarten
• assessment too if you the kindergarten assessment too if you if<00:23:56.120><c> You'</c><00:23:56.279

Transcript Highlights:

• to graduate or ready to enter school on track.
• reward and a signal to schools that we want them, we want kids to have that pathway, or military readiness
• If they're military ready and they want to go to the military and serve our country and the armed forces
• I am worried about saying 'military ready' because I don't know what that means.
• I think we should reward school districts if they have military-ready students.

Committee: House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard several appropriations and policy bills, beginning with HB 263, which would appropriate $1.5 million to fund the Independent Correctional Oversight Office. Representative Blackman argued the office is needed to address serious problems in the Department of Corrections, including lawsuits, staffing shortages, injuries, and safety concerns, and said he was open to shifting existing dollars to cover the cost. A supportive witness from Justice Action Network said the funding would make the oversight office operational and is a small investment compared with the department’s overall budget. The bill received a do-pass recommendation on a 17-1 vote. The committee then considered HB 2993, as amended, which would let the Department of Public Safety spend money on legal services independent of the Attorney General and move $5 million from the Consumer Protection/Consumer Fraud Revolving Fund to the Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission Fund. Speaker Montenegro said the bill was intended to support law enforcement and shift resources toward frontline public safety work. The amendment changed the destination of the $5 million from the Peace Officers Training Fund to GITEM, and the bill passed 11-7. HB 2271 followed, dealing with firefighter cancer insurance reimbursement and rate deviations for insurers. Witnesses described it as a technical, unfinished consensus measure meant to bring fire districts into the existing cancer reimbursement structure without changing claim handling for firefighters. Members repeatedly noted more work was needed, but the bill still received a do-pass recommendation on a 16-1-1 vote. HB 2416 appropriated $20 million to DPS for local border support, including law enforcement positions, prosecution and detention costs, and equipment. Sheriffs and the Arizona Sheriffs Association testified in support, saying the funding has been used for drug interdiction, fentanyl seizures, and joint task forces, while opponents argued the money should go elsewhere. The bill passed 11-6-1. HB 2692, a procurement bill, would create or revise rules for construction delivery methods, including one-step competition and progressive design-build for federally funded public infrastructure projects. Construction and procurement stakeholders said it was a long-negotiated consensus measure, while some members worried about taxpayer risk and wanted more information; it passed 10-7-1. The committee also amended and passed HB 2478, which creates the Arizona Commission on Student Outcomes and funds it with Classroom Site Fund dollars to study K-12 accountability, standards, graduation requirements, early childhood education, and a possible trade pathways diploma. Supporters said Arizona needs a broader conversation about student outcomes and school accountability, while opponents questioned the funding source and whether the work should instead be done by existing education agencies. The amended bill passed 11-7. Finally, HB 4044 was introduced to create a Public Safety Parity Fund for DPS and Corrections salaries using proceeds from forfeited digital assets and interest from the Budget Stabilization Fund; the sponsor and a troopers association witness said it would help address long-standing pay parity and vacancy problems, but the transcript cuts off before any vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• reliability and honesty and integrity. integrity, you know, and the fact that your organization is ready
• , you know, with just a little more time, they're ready to... to comply.
• I think it's way smaller and I think the main question here is, you know, when are we ready to protect
• readiness and early literacy and numeracy skills for public school students, including an early...
• This bill incorporates regular reading and math screening. interventions for students in kindergarten

Bills: HB367 , HB497 , HB549 , HB983 , HB 1188 , HB 1290 , HB1368 , HB2243 , HB2310 , HB2849 , HB3099 , HB3546 , HB3629 , HB3627

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: education, absences, severe illness, life-threatening, school policy, verification, healthcare, insurance, affordability, coverage, patient rights, school health, respiratory distress, airway clearance devices, medication training, public health, HB 983, Texas Education Agency, TEA, educator privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• current year is where we have most of it loaded up because that is what is nearest to us and we're ready
• current year is where we have most of it loaded up because that is what is nearest to us and we're ready
• Kindergarten through 12, post-secondary, educational school has to be properly marked.
• Zone, kindergarten through 12, post-secondary, educational school has to be properly marked.
• His hair isn't ready yet. House Bill 7. No, he wakes up with his hair ready. House Bill 776. Ms.

Bills: HR1 , HB96 , HB345 , HB360 , HB401 , HB592 , HB703 , HB723 , HB729 , HB776 , HB838 , HB844 , HB882 , HB885 , HB888 , HB966

Committee: House Transportation, Highways & Public Works

Summary: The committee first heard House Resolution 1, which approves the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s annual State Integrated Coastal Protection Plan for fiscal years 2026-2027. CPRA officials described the plan as about $1.54 billion, with roughly 93% directed to project implementation and construction, funded through state mineral revenue, GOMESA, BP spill dollars, surplus funds, and newly available coastal sediment funds. They outlined projects across the coast, including marsh creation, barrier island restoration, levees, pump stations, freshwater diversions, and nonstructural flood protection, and said the plan had been unanimously approved by the CPRA board after public hearings. Members asked about specific coastal and basin issues, including the Sabine River, the Chafalaya Basin, Bayou Sorrel, and tidal flooding in interior parishes. HR 1 was reported favorably without objection. The committee then considered House Bill 838, as substituted, dealing with vehicle inspection stickers and related OMV modernization. The substitute would repeal inspection requirements for assembled vehicles, keep periodic inspections for commercial and student transportation vehicles, address federal inspection requirements, allow out-of-state inspections in some cases, and create a Louisiana Vehicle Identification Program using QR codes. Members focused on privacy and enforcement questions, and OMV and state IT officials explained that the QR code would contain only the VIN and that the system would support police ticketing applications. The bill also ties implementation to the OMV modernization effort and takes effect January 1, 2027. HB 838 was reported by substitute. The committee next advanced House Bill 888 on temporary dealer plates, adopting a set of amendments that added security features, clarified timing for the new electronic issuance system, and adjusted rules for temporary tags and dealer plates. Testimony from the auto dealers’ association said the bill was intended to reduce fraud, resolve confusion over five-day versus 60-day tags, and extend certain temporary loaner tag periods from five to ten days. HB 888 was reported with amendments. The committee also heard House Bill 885 on electronic titles and lien recordation, which would allow electronic signatures, electronic lien notifications, and electronic titling/recordation for participating commercial entities, with civil immunity for good-faith actions and a severability clause. Members raised questions about fraud prevention and consumer participation, and supporters said the bill would modernize the process and align Louisiana with current industry practice. HB 885 was reported by substitute. Finally, the committee advanced House Bill 723, which allows certain two- and three-wheeled motorcycles and mopeds to proceed through a red light under specified circumstances when sensors fail to detect them. The sponsor said the measure is a safety fix for riders stuck at malfunctioning signals, and the bill was amended to clarify the vehicle types covered. The committee also considered House Bill 882 on outdoor advertising, which would increase billboard spacing on state highways from 150 feet to 1,000 feet and allow certain signs damaged by an act of God after January 1, 2010, to be rebuilt. Supporters said the bill would reduce billboard density and improve aesthetics, while opponents argued it would harm smaller operators and impose a one-size-fits-all rule. After testimony, HB 882 was amended and reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, while we await the February forecast, we'll be hearing presentations and bills in order to be ready
• Um, while we await the February forecast, we'll be hearing presentations and bills in order to be ready
• Kindergarteners, first community.
• Kindergarteners, first graders<01:03:20.400><c> coming</c><01:03:20.720><c> home</c><01:03:20.880><c>
• Parents wait at the bus stop right outside our house, ready to whisk their children away before they

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The first pieces of this project are already pretty much ready to go, even if the licensing standards
• It says Department of Education at the top: voluntary pre-kindergarten and School Readiness Plus statutory
• </c><01:15:35.320><c> and</c> top uh voluntary pre kindergarten and top uh voluntary pre kindergarten
• :15:37.639><c> program</c> School Readiness plus statutory program School Readiness plus statutory program
• for kindergarten.

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And so if the goal is to get lender- or capital-ready, I can help them prepare.
• And so when I talk to you, financial literacy starts in kindergarten.

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Summary: The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism heard several governor’s nominations for advisory and regulatory boards. The first group included William Smith, Michelle Ige, and Kayana Neman for the Community-Based Economic Development Advisory Council; Leland Park and Cynthia Hobson for the Small Business Regulatory Review Board; and Nicole Kacal for the Hawaiʻi Technology Development Corporation board. DBEDT and related witnesses testified in support of all nominees, and each nominee described experience in small business, finance, community engagement, or technology. Much of the discussion focused on strengthening Hawaiʻi’s economy through small business support, financial literacy, and better access to capital and grants. Committee members questioned nominees about priorities for Hawaiʻi Island and the state more broadly. Topics included agricultural infrastructure, value-added food production, shared processing facilities and commercial kitchens, workforce housing, and ways government and nonprofits can partner to help small businesses navigate permitting, licensing, and grant processes. Several nominees emphasized community impact, measurable outcomes, and practical regulatory reform. Nicole Kacal also discussed diversifying the economy beyond tourism, expanding technology and AI opportunities, and creating locally governed training and research pathways so workers can adapt to changing jobs. At the end of the hearing, the committee voted to recommend advice and consent for all nominees. The nominations for GM 608, GM 609, GM 612, and GM 613 were adopted by voice vote, with Senators Kim and Fevella excused. The committee then voted separately on GM 794 for Nicole Kacal, and that recommendation was also adopted. The hearing concluded with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Go ahead and start when you're ready. Go ahead and start when you're ready. Push the—oh.
• Those early years were more than preparation for kindergarten.
• Those early years were more than preparation for kindergarten.
• You guys better really be ready for it.
• You guys better really be ready for it.

Summary: The Select Committee on Native American Affairs held a historic hearing at Table Mountain Rancheria focused on tribal education, culture, resilience, leadership, and trust. Members and tribal leaders opened with a tribal welcome and prayer, then heard testimony from a first panel on Native students in the education system and a second panel on solutions and actions for Native students. The discussion centered on discrimination against Native students, the need for culturally grounded education, and the importance of tribal voices in state policymaking. Bella Garcia described a two-year fight with Clovis Unified over being allowed to wear tribal regalia at graduation, saying she faced racism, isolation, and repeated denials before ultimately graduating in full regalia with support from family, tribal leaders, advocates, and state officials. Morningstar Ghali spoke about her own experiences with school exclusion and her son’s mistreatment, arguing that Native students are pushed out by systems rooted in assimilation and calling for restorative justice, Native educators, culturally responsive curriculum, and stronger support services. Janet K. Bill described how tribal Head Start and later education helped her reach Stanford, law school, tribal council, and the Attorney General’s office, and emphasized that education, justice, and sovereignty are connected. Committee members asked about practical solutions, including how to build Native representation in schools and higher education, strengthen Title VI outreach, expand Native studies and restorative justice, and improve data collection. Tribal leaders urged more accountability for school districts, including consequences for educators who violate Native students’ rights, and called for stronger partnerships with tribes, better implementation of existing laws, and more Native people in decision-making roles. Several members highlighted the need to fill existing state positions, such as the Native seat on the San Joaquin River Conservancy board, and to create pipelines into teaching, leadership, and public service. No formal votes were taken; the hearing concluded with continued calls for collaboration, enforcement of existing protections, and future legislative action.

Transcript Highlights:

• And whenever you're ready. Mr. Chair, this is Team 253, believe me, it's a team effort. So Mr.
• Ready for question? We're ready for questions, Mr. Chair. We're ready for questions, Mr. Chair.
• Those parents aren't able to get their kids in, but they have children that are in the grades, kindergarten
• Chair, Senator, once this bill is passed and signed into law, absolutely, we're ready to finalize the

Committee: Senate House Education

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 47, the school employee insurance “80-20” bill, which would require school districts and charter schools to pay 80% of employee health insurance premiums, bringing K-12 employees into parity with other public employees. Supporters from school superintendents, school boards, charter schools, teachers, AFT, NIA, and labor groups said the bill would improve recruitment and retention, reduce the burden of rising premiums, and increase take-home pay, especially in rural districts. One amendment proposed by Senator Ramos would have expanded the bill to require a cooperative purchasing process and more insurance options, but it was opposed as a structural change not vetted for this bill and was withdrawn. The committee then approved HB 47 on a roll-call vote and sent it to the Senate floor. The committee next took up House Bill 253, the public education changes bill, which focuses on full-time virtual education and related funding issues. The sponsor and education officials said the bill preserves virtual learning options, requires districts and charters to report virtual enrollment, creates an evaluation/certification process for full-time virtual programs, and includes a temporary funding fix to address budget shortfalls caused by virtual enrollment growth. Testimony from school leaders and boards supported the compromise, noting the need to avoid a statewide loss in unit value while also addressing the Gallup-McKinley situation and other funding distortions. Several senators raised concerns about impacts on small rural districts, out-of-state students, and the treatment of full-time virtual students in rural-unit calculations, but officials said emergency supplemental funding could address shortfalls and that a broader study would be done in the interim. The committee then passed HB 253 on a roll-call vote and advanced it to the Senate floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• When you are ready, we will start as a subcommittee. Thank you, Madam Chair and committee members.
• amendments in the bill introduce new, far-reaching regulation of AI use in the classroom, from kindergarten
• And we also want them to help our kids grow and learn and be ready for the 21st century jobs they're
• Lowenthal, you are up when you are ready. Thank you. Well, thank you, Madam Chair and Members.
• staff for their incredible work, especially over the holidays and making sure that this bill would be ready

Summary: The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee heard two bills. AB 1159 by Assemblymember Addis would update California student data privacy law to extend protections to college students, limit how ed tech companies can collect and use student information, and add restrictions around sensitive data and generative AI use. Supporters, including Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, CFT, labor, civil rights, and education groups, said students and educators need stronger safeguards against invasive data collection and misuse. Opponents, including College Board, TechNet, CalChamber, and ACT Education, argued the bill was overly broad, could interfere with legitimate educational services and AI development, and raised concerns about a private right of action and impacts on adult students and recruitment opportunities. AB 883 by Assemblymember Lowenthal would expedite deletion of personal information for elected and appointed officials under California’s data broker deletion system by having state agencies provide official lists to the privacy agency and requiring brokers to delete the information within five days. Supporters said the measure responds to rising threats, harassment, and violence against public officials and would help reduce exposure of their personal data. TechNet and TechC.A. opposed unless amended, citing concerns about exemptions for lawful data sharing, the five-day timeline, and litigation risk, while the author emphasized the bill does not create a new right but streamlines access to an existing deletion process. Both bills were advanced after committee discussion and roll calls. AB 1159 passed 11-2 and was sent to the Judiciary Committee. AB 883 passed 14-0 and was sent to the Appropriations Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Are you ready for the question? Are you ready for the question?
• </c> Are you ready for the question? Are you ready for the question?
• Are you ready for the question? 578. Are you ready for the question?
• Are<04:22:17.279><c> you</c><04:22:17.439><c> ready?</c> Are you ready? Are you ready?
• </c> Are you ready for the question? Are you ready for the question?

Transcript Highlights:

• We're here contributing and ready to serve.
• We're here contributing and ready to serve.
• We're here contributing and ready to serve.
• We're here contributing and ready to serve.
• We're here contributing and ready to serve.

Bills: HF1966 , HF54 , HF2043 , HF1171 , HF2741

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• So we look at these three readiness.
• </c> on strive high for post-secary readiness on strive high for post-secary readiness when<00:21:51.600
• </c><00:27:26.799><c> Kiki</c> partnering together with the Ready Kiki partnering together with the Ready
• The gains reflected on career readiness.
• That concludes my and ready to learn. That concludes my question. question. question.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please begin when you are ready. Please begin when you're ready. Thank you so much, Madam Chair.
• Please begin when you're ready. Thank you so much, Madam Chair.
• Some are age-appropriate all the way down to kindergarten, educating them.
• Please proceed when you're ready. Just make sure your mic's on.
• Please proceed when you're ready. Just make sure your mic's on.

Committee: House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2901 in executive session. After a brief explanation from the bill sponsor, the committee adopted a House Committee amendment ending in 0.07 that set a five-year expiration date and clarified where reports must be filed. The committee then rolled the amendment into a substitute and voted the House Committee substitute do pass by a roll call of 13 ayes and 0 noes. The committee then heard House Bill 3000, which would fix the signature threshold for petition-driven audits by tying the required number of signatures to the gubernatorial election in effect when the petition process begins, rather than when signatures are submitted. The sponsor and the State Auditor’s office said the change would prevent the required number from shifting during the petition period and provide consistency. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. House Bill 313 was then heard, a fentanyl-poisoning response bill that would require naloxone in public buildings, designate October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month, require fentanyl education for students in grades 6 through 12, and require training and investigation procedures for law enforcement in drug-related deaths. The sponsor and multiple family members who lost loved ones to fentanyl strongly supported the bill, emphasizing prevention, access to Narcan, and more thorough death investigations. Committee members generally expressed support, raised questions about the definition of public buildings, school implementation, and funding, and testimony suggested opioid settlement money as a possible source. No committee action was taken on HB 313 in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we're ready to close. I had a comment on the amendment. All right.
• Go ahead and let's get to the table and get you ready. I just lost the quorum. O'N.N. and Hodges.
• Go ahead and let's get to the table and I get you ready. Where's Representative Young?
• Go ahead and let's get to the table, and I'll get you ready. Thank you for your patience.
• We can't adopt the amendments; we still don't have the quorum, but at least we'll be ready.

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met to hear several education-related measures. It reported favorably, without objection, on House Bill 1215, which would transfer certain removed historical statues and monuments to the Office of State Parks, prohibit re-erection in the parish where they were removed, and require interpretive signage. The committee also advanced House Bill 682, which creates a school guardian program for honorably discharged veterans employed or contracted by local school systems or charter schools; testimony emphasized that guardians would be unarmed, trained, and used for mentoring and school safety. House Bill 1079, giving enrollment preferences in charter schools to children in early childhood programs, military families, foster children, and children in custody disputes, was also reported favorably, as was House Concurrent Resolution 81, directing the Department of Education to study options for districts facing declining enrollment. The committee then took up House Bill 1084, which would allow public postsecondary institutions to raise tuition and mandatory fees by up to 15 percent annually, with higher increases requiring Board of Supervisors approval. The bill drew extended debate over affordability, TOPS, student retention, and whether universities should have more autonomy to set prices. Members raised concerns about fee burdens on families and whether the state should first study the issue; supporters argued the bill would increase transparency and let institutions respond to funding needs and market conditions. Senator Mazzell offered an amendment lowering the cap from 15 percent to 10 percent, and the committee adopted the amendment before reporting the bill favorably as amended. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 342, which would shift the burden of proof in special education due process hearings from parents to local education agencies. The author and parents testified that the current system places an unfair burden on families of children with disabilities, who often lack access to records and legal resources, and that schools already control the documentation and should have to show compliance with IEP obligations. Jefferson Parish school officials opposed the bill, arguing it would increase legal costs, require more staff and attorney time, and potentially lead to more hearings; they also questioned the fiscal note. The Legislative Fiscal Office said the fiscal impact was indeterminable, and the committee continued hearing testimony from parents and school representatives as the transcript ended.