Transcript Highlights:

• Student learning.
• Students cannot learn if they are hungry or unhoused.
• Students cannot learn if they are hungry or unhoused.
• But I also recently learned that our CSU-EU that they have not been engaged or consult. recently learned
• I've certainly learned from all of you.

Summary: The joint Assembly Higher Education and Budget Subcommittee hearing focused on the future of the California State University system, with opening remarks emphasizing CSU’s major role in California’s economy, workforce, and degree production. Chairs and members said the hearing was intended to inform 2026 budget decisions and to examine three main issues: declining enrollment at some campuses, cost controls and possible consolidation, and oversight of recent state investments at campuses such as Humboldt and Sonoma. The meeting was briefly delayed by microphone and sound problems before reconvening. The first panel featured CSU Academic Senate Chair Dr. Elizabeth Boyd and Cal State Student Association Vice President Katie Karam. Boyd urged the Legislature to protect academic freedom, strengthen faculty governance, provide stable ongoing funding, end unfunded mandates, support student food and housing security, fund flexible course schedules, improve transfer systems such as ASSIST, avoid over-centralizing academic programs, protect immigrant students, and expand intersegmental collaboration. Karam said students are feeling the effects of budget shortfalls through fewer course sections, reduced advising and services, longer time to degree, and tuition pressure, and she called for transparency, meaningful student involvement in budget decisions, and sustained state investment rather than cuts that harm the student experience. The second panel covered enrollment management and included CSU Chancellor’s Office and campus administrators from Chico State, Cal State L.A., and San Diego State. Dr. Delcy Perez said CSU Forward and the new systemwide enrollment plan are aimed at expanding access, aligning programs with workforce needs, and increasing resident enrollment; she reported systemwide enrollment gains and strong application numbers, including a direct-admissions pilot that expanded from Riverside to more campuses. Campus representatives described local recruitment and retention strategies, including early outreach to high school students, community college partnerships, guaranteed admission programs, and expanded advising and student support. San Diego State highlighted record enrollment and high demand, while Cal State L.A. described efforts to recover from impaction and rebuild enrollment. Members pressed CSU officials on the accuracy of enrollment data, the gap between funded targets and actual enrollment, and the system’s reallocation formula. CSU staff explained that campuses below target will see a 5% ongoing reallocation beginning in 2026-27, with one-time reserve funding also being directed to campuses that can grow, and that fiscal health reviews have been completed for 21 of 22 campuses. Legislators also asked about turnaround plans required by the budget act; CSU said those plans are being developed and will be shared in the spring after campus consultation. No formal votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our campuses are learning spaces. Our campuses are learning spaces. Absolutely. Absolutely.
• apprenticeships or workbased learning apprenticeships or workbased learning model.<01:01:43.520>
• So that's summer extended learning.
• So that's summer extended learning.
• Access distance learning.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not a teaching and learning. I'm not the office of teaching and learning.
• officers because they've got to learn officers because they've got to learn all<01:03:53.920>
• Not to dive into this, but this is the eight learning goals, but I really want to point out learning
• to point out learning goal number five. to point out learning goal number five.
• Kids need to learn skills.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The task force met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the August 20 meeting, and then heard testimony from Representative Steven Doan on House Bill 439, a school nutrition bill aimed at restricting certain ultra-processed foods in schools. Doan said the bill was inspired by his own health journey and his work in agriculture, and he described the measure as targeting specific chemical additives in foods served during the school day, not concession sales or after-hours activities. He said the bill would phase in later to give schools time to adjust and noted that the list of restricted additives was drawn from efforts in other states and advocacy groups. Members asked about the chemical abstract numbers, fiscal impact, summer meal programs, fundraisers, and whether the bill would affect parent-provided items; Doan said he had not done a fiscal note and explained that the bill was intended to apply only during instructional time on school property. Committee members generally reacted favorably, with some raising practical concerns about cost and implementation. One member asked about high fructose corn syrup, which Doan said was not included because it is too pervasive in the food system. Another member noted that schools already limit some homemade items and asked about the line between school-provided and parent-provided food. Doan also said the list was based in part on Turning Point USA materials and similar laws in other states, and he referenced federal efforts to define ultra-processed foods. The committee then heard from Kentucky Department of Education officials Matt Ross, Lauren Moore, and Katie Embry on school meals and nutrition programs. They outlined Kentucky’s school lunch, breakfast, summer meals, and other USDA child nutrition programs, including participation and reimbursement figures, and explained how community eligibility provision schools, meal patterns, offer-versus-serve, smart snacks, and local wellness policies work. They said USDA and FDA are currently seeking public input on a uniform definition of ultra-processed foods, that there are no current USDA requirements specifically on ultra-processed foods, and that schools already operate under federal and state rules governing competitive foods, including a state time restriction on smart snacks. They also discussed local purchasing, noting its benefits but also the procurement and staffing challenges schools face. No votes or final actions on the bill were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Through this initiative, students learn entrepreneurship, sales, leadership, communication, teamwork,
• It was boring our kids, and the key to learning is making reading exciting.
• Students learned how to guess, to memorize, but they didn't learn how to read.
• This evidence-based learning essentially is phonics, enhanced phonics... ...learning.
• We're going to make it equitable for all the kids so they have a chance to learn how to read the way

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and welcomed several student and community guests, including ambassadors from Robinson Middle School in Lowell, visitors honoring the Gaudet family and Patricia Rappucci, Scottish visitors celebrating Scotland’s World Cup appearance, Top-Notch Scholars students from Lawrence, and the King Philip Regional High School baseball team after its first state championship. The chamber also adopted several routine resolutions and orders, including extending the reporting deadline for the Health Care Financing Committee and suspending Joint Rule 12 for a condominium-related petition. The House then rejected concurrence with the Senate on the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act and instead voted to appoint a committee of conference. The major policy action was on Senate Bill 3064, the Mass Ready Act, a large climate resilience and environmental bond bill. Members speaking in support emphasized flood protection, clean water, PFAS remediation, municipal vulnerability preparedness, coastal resilience, parks, trails, housing, and agricultural and food-system investments. The bill was described as authorizing roughly $3.8 billion in general obligation bonds, with discussion of specific funding for the Clean Water Trust, PFAS remediation, coastal infrastructure, biodiversity, healthy homes, and farmland preservation. A consolidated amendment was adopted, and after debate the House passed the bill to be engrossed by a roll call vote. The House also took up the conference report on H. 5511, the early literacy and teacher preparation bill. Supporters said the measure would require evidence-based reading instruction, move away from three-cueing approaches, support educator training and apprenticeships, and improve student literacy outcomes statewide. The conference report was accepted on a roll call vote of 152-0. Later, the House considered amendments to the Mass Ready Act, including one proposal to increase PFAS remediation funding that was ultimately withdrawn, and adopted another consolidated amendment before passing the bill to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 151-0. The House then adopted an order to meet the next day at 11 a.m. and adjourned to an informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:43:14.480> environments demolition and learning environments demolition and learning environments
• And lastly, we have the learning environments request.
• demolition and learning environments. demolition and learning environments.
• And lastly, we have the learning And lastly, we have the learning environments<00:48:25.040>
• I learned saying this was a good class.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our system continues to lead the state in online learning.
• These funds are critical to supporting academic and program activities that advance student learning
• I learned a lot there, so I appreciate y'all hosting that.
• In support of the state's mission to provide a learning experience that prepares students to excel in
• We believe in apprenticeships where our students can earn while they learn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our system continues to lead the state in online learning the students we serve have come from every
• These funds are critical to supporting academic and program activities that advance student learning.
• I learned a lot there. So I appreciate y'all hosting that.
• In support of the state's mission to provide a learning experience that prepares students to excel in
• Where our students can earn while they learn. Enrollment is growing.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, the learning curve is straight up. So, Mr.
• As a Fellow, I was allowed to learn and grow under the guidance of experienced mentor teachers while
• I've learned a lot; there's a lot of good information. But I'm looking at page 11, Mr.
• They have encouraged her to participate, learn, grow, and be an advocate for herself and others.
• Both of the students benefit from the colorful and diverse learning opportunities they have here.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It costs learning every time you have a teacher turnover; we lose about a half a year of student learning
• And<00:56:26.320> let<00:56:26.480> us<00:56:26.640> learn And let us learn And
• math class, they're not going to learn math class, they're not going to learn math.<01:13:48.720
• through another lens, but we've learned through another lens, but we've learned from<01:13:59.160
• better place because of our learning. better place because of our learning.

Bills: HF4213, HF4198, HF3930, HF3585, HF3451

Keywords: education finance, school funding, K-12, prekindergarten, pre-K, early childhood education, general education aid, special education, literacy aid, school meals, free school meals, school breakfast, school lunch, charter school lease aid, charter schools, nonpublic pupil aid, private school aid, transportation aid, desegregation aid, integration aid

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a way for someone like me to learn about the culture and to learn about those important traditions
• Paul organization, and it was a free summer theater camp where kids could learn theater, learn how to
• They learned storytelling.
• potential Grant applicants can learn potential Grant applicants can learn about<01:13:49.480>
• sites provides an opportunity to learn sites provides an opportunity to learn more<01:21:52.000>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• By the time she could walk, she learned that books showed up in the mailbox and they were just for her
• By the time she could walk, she learned that books showed up in the mailbox and they were just for her
• But we were crushed when we learned that Imagination Library hadn't made it to Louisville yet and in
• But we were crushed when we learned that Imagination Library hadn't made it to Louisville yet and in
• how we could bring League, we learned how we could bring Imagination<00:04:24.639> Library<00

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: Senate Joint Resolution 54, sponsored by Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong, was heard in committee on expanding Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Kentucky. Testimony came from Libby Settles, Bill Shy, and Lindsay Westerfield, who described the program’s impact on early literacy and family reading habits, and outlined ways to increase enrollment. Proposed expansion ideas included automatic enrollment for children in foster care, outreach through WIC and health departments, and exploring enrollment through the birth certificate process. Witnesses also highlighted related efforts such as bilingual books, Braille Tales, and a prison-based reading space program tied to Imagination Library books. Supporters emphasized the program’s low cost and broad educational benefits, citing statewide coverage, 52% enrollment of eligible children ages birth to five, and a goal of reaching 65%. Members asked about sustaining local matching funds and handling children who move between counties. Witnesses said local partners use a five-year cost estimator, diversify funding through grants and foundations, and rely on postal change-of-address systems to transfer enrollments seamlessly. Senator Chambers Armstrong also noted that about 2,200 foster children eligible for the program were not enrolled and said the resolution would help address that gap while protecting confidentiality. The committee adopted a small oral amendment removing the word “is” from line 19 on page two, then approved the resolution as amended on a 10-0 vote with favorable expression. Members spoke in support of the measure, praising the program’s literacy benefits and bipartisan history, and the committee then voted to roll the amendment into the committee report. The resolution was reported favorably and was said to be expected to pass the Senate floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• I learned that from this morning.
• <00:04:06.720> that fire department knows I learned that fire department knows I learned that
• <00:09:50.880> I'm week from lessons learned from here.
• I'm week from lessons learned from here.
• c><00:10:19.519> as<00:10:19.680> a learned, collaboration, and, uh, as a learned, collaboration

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint meeting of the Senate committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs heard testimony on several resolutions focused on community safety, emergency preparedness, and commemorative actions. STR 16 and SR 30 sought permission for the City and County of Honolulu to use restricted vacant land on the Pearl City Peninsula for youth ball programs; Pearl City Neighborhood Board chair Larry Vere testified in support, describing a shortage of youth sports space and the availability of the former Navy fuel farm area. STR 22 asked Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to work with other agencies on outreach to help kūpuna prepare for emergencies; testimony from AARP Hawaii, neighborhood boards, and others emphasized lessons from the Lahaina wildfires and the need for statewide, community-based preparedness efforts. Testifiers also urged that disabled seniors be included, and committee members discussed coordination with neighborhood boards, area agencies on aging, and nonprofits. STR 112 and SR 93 proposed lighting City Hall purple on August 7 for National Purple Heart Day, and STR 84 and SR 67 addressed disaster preparedness and drills in Maui after the wildfires. STR 184 and SR 146 would direct county police to enforce registration rules for out-of-state vehicles, and STR 229 and SR 205 would call for explosion-detection technology to respond to illegal fireworks and gunfire; Larry Vere supported the latter as a way to speed law enforcement response, while one senator said she would vote no on the vehicle-registration measure pending more information about possible effects on the Nation/Kingdom of Hawaii community. In decision-making, both committees adopted recommendations to pass STR 16, STR 22, STR 84/SR 67, and STR 184/SR 146, with STR 112/SR 93 and STR 229/SR 205 passed with technical, nonsubstantive amendments. The committee report for STR 22 was also noted to include disabled seniors and to engage neighborhood boards and community groups already working on preparedness. For STR 184/SR 146, one senator recorded a no vote because of concerns about impacts on Native Hawaiian sovereignty-related communities. The meeting concluded after all listed measures were acted on and the joint committee hearings were adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They interfere with children's ability to learn.
• Students should be able to learn in a safe distraction free environment.
• Students cannot learn under the constant threat of deportation or family separation.
• It's vital for teens teens to learn in schools learn this in school for three reasons.
• Second, they need to learn this while in school because no one learns well in times of crisis, so it's

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's talk a little bit about the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, with the new Tier 1, Tier
• And then the last one, Credit for Prior Learning, there's two components to this: there's a one-time
• School districts are specifically relying on the ability to supplement that extended learning for the
• in order to provide people with a full day of learning. ...learning in order to provide people with
• the may revise reflects reducing the with the community colleges credit for prior learning.

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• . learning. learning.
• <00:36:21.720> model, set the learning model, set the learning model, choose<00:36:23.120>
• It removes them from learning.
• It removes them from learning.
• It removes them from learning.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of teaching attractiveness, the Learning of teaching attractiveness, the Learning Policy<00:40:02.760
• Students learn up to a student learning.
• learning for every one teacher turnover. learning for every one teacher turnover.
• Um I've heard a number learn from them?
• <01:13:53.560> Um we can learn. Um we can learn.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:44:18.960> there business skills that she learned there business skills that she learned
• <00:46:14.160> them<00:46:14.480> you're learn and once you do learn them you're learn
• /c><01:13:42.760> that<01:13:42.880> I<01:13:42.960> worked learn I learned every
• day that I worked learn I learned every day that I worked last<01:13:43.520> year<01:13:44.400
• even in the bigger schools is to learn even in the bigger schools is to learn trade<01:31:14.480

Bills: HF339, HF1272, HF2121, HF2122, HF1216, HF1003, HF2319

Keywords: HF339, Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board, nursing homes, long-term care, elder care, workforce standards, certified worker organizations, labor funding, general fund appropriation, worker grants, Minnesota labor law, nursing home staffing, caregiver workforce, section 181.214, HF1272, nursing home, boarding care home, nursing home workers, labor standards, Medicaid-certified facility

Transcript Highlights:

• make sure those kids are ready to learn make sure those kids are ready to learn it's<00:10:50.880
• <01:25:49.080> about limit students ability to learn about limit students ability to learn
• effect for example last week I learned effect for example last week I learned that<01:26:59.679>
• It's a good thing to do, and they can always go to the public library and learn and learn and learn.
• ...It's a good thing to do, and they can always go to the public library and learn and learn and learn

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met with a quorum and first considered two concurrent resolutions. SCR 76, sponsored by Sen. Amanda Bledsoe, would create a Kentucky School for the Deaf Governance Task Force to examine the school’s future governance and its relationship with the Kentucky Department of Education. Bledsoe described the school’s long history and said the task force would give the small deaf-school community more voice. The committee adopted the resolution unanimously with favorable expression. The committee then took up SCR 131, sponsored by Sen. Max Wise, to continue the Efficient and Effective Districts Task Force from 2024. Wise said the prior task force met about 10 times and focused on student achievement and district policy, and the new version would continue that work as a legislature-only task force. The resolution passed unanimously with favorable expression. Members next considered HB 240 on primary school promotion. Rep. Truitt explained that the bill would require students who are not ready in kindergarten to repeat kindergarten, while a committee substitute softened the approach by allowing a school to hold a child back in kindergarten but requiring action in first grade. He said the bill aligns with existing reading-screening efforts and is intended to strengthen early literacy foundations. The committee adopted the substitute and passed the bill unanimously with favorable expression; Sen. Williams briefly explained his support as favoring performance-based advancement. The committee also approved HB 298, which would change the identification of schools for comprehensive support and improvement from every three years to annually, require KDE recommendations during management audits, add professional development in reading and math, and require effective instructional resources. The committee substitute also allowed districts with multiple CSI schools to contract for a turnaround vendor. The bill additionally carried employee-misconduct provisions from prior sessions, including disclosure requirements for applicants; the only change discussed was removing the word “investigation” from one disclosure section. HB 298 passed unanimously with favorable expression, and the committee also adopted a title amendment. Finally, the committee heard HB 424 on employment at public postsecondary institutions. Rep. Tipton said the bill would require performance and productivity reviews for faculty at least every four years, clarify appointment and removal authority for presidents at certain institutions, and expand “cause” for dismissal to include failure to meet performance and productivity requirements. Dr. Ray Horton, speaking for faculty groups, proposed a small substitute that would tie any performance measures to existing employment contracts to preserve academic integrity and avoid unintended changes to tenure processes. Members discussed how tenure works at Kentucky universities, and the committee was still in the middle of considering the proposed substitute when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so for me, that’s what I’ve learned so far, and I know I have a lot to learn as a commissioner.
• <00:10:29.880> so<00:10:30.079> far learned so far learned so far and<00:10:32.120>
• <00:10:33.279> as<00:10:33.399> a and I know I have a lot to learn as a and I know
• I have a lot to learn as a commissioner<00:10:33.959> and<00:10:34.120> we<00:10:34.279
• That's something that's not just academic; it's not something you learn on paper.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Hawaiian Affairs heard Governor’s Message 590, the nomination of Archie Kappa Kappa Kappa to the Hawaiian Homes Commission, and received extensive testimony in support from Department of Hawaiian Home Lands staff, labor representatives, and community members. Supporters emphasized his leadership during the Maui wildfire response, his cultural standing, his long community service, and his experience with the Polynesian Voyaging Society. In his own remarks, Kappa described his background as a lifelong Lahaina resident, former lifeguard supervisor, and community organizer, and said he would prioritize commission duties while balancing his voyaging commitments. Members questioned Kappa about attendance, his understanding of the Hawaiian Homes Commission’s responsibilities, and his views on commercialization and revenue generation. He said commission meetings would be his priority, acknowledged he could not guarantee attendance at every meeting, and explained that commercialization meant using commercial properties and leases to generate revenue for Hawaiian Homes communities. He also said he supported using land assets to reduce reliance on legislative appropriations. A senator raised Act 279 and the need to focus spending on reducing the waitlist; Kappa said the act was complex and that he did not yet know enough to speak confidently beyond what he had read. The committee did not vote on the nomination in the portion provided and said it would return to voting later. The committee then took up Governor’s Message 591, the nomination of Lawrence Luua to the Hawaiian Homes Commission. Testimony described his background in banking, military service, Maui County planning, and long involvement with Molokaʻi homestead matters. Luua told the committee he had lived the challenges of homestead life, including housing and road issues, and said he wanted to continue the work of Prince Kūhiō by helping Native Hawaiians return to and live on the land. In response to questions, he said he began attending DHHL meetings regularly in July 2024, discussed concerns about county road obligations versus homestead responsibilities, and said he had struggled with Act 279 because he was concerned about moving funds away from other projects even though he supported its goal of reducing the waitlist. The committee then moved on to the next governor’s message and testimony for another nominee, with a SHPD representative briefly introducing the background of that nominee, but no action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you know, the LEARNS bill that was passed in 2020.
• As you know, the LEARNS bill that was passed in 2023.
• a DNF school to LEARNS.
• "No, it should be merit funding LEARNS money.
• You know, you always learn lessons when you serve in the Senate. I just learned one.

Keywords: 1204, all