Transcript Highlights:

• Health care and financial literacy. I don't know how many of you know this.
• He said, 'What do you think about financial literacy?'
• Financial literacy.
• important financial literacy was.
• I remember when you brought financial literacy.

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, accepted the prior day’s minutes, and read several committee reports and communications into the record. Members also observed moments of silence for two young people who had recently died, and the prayer and pledge were offered before the chamber moved into business. Consent calendar number 28, consisting of several resolutions, passed by voice vote. A large portion of the meeting was devoted to tributes and retirement remarks for Representative Jeff Holowski, who was praised by colleagues for his work on financial literacy, veterans’ issues, health care, diabetes policy, and constituent service, as well as for his military service and community involvement. Holowski thanked staff, colleagues, and his family, and said he was retiring to spend more time with his wife, children, and grandchildren. The chamber also recognized former Representative Harvey Kenton as a guest. The House then acted on several measures. Senate Bill 286, as amended by House Amendment 1, passed 40-0 and extends consumer protections and dealer equity standards to ATVs, side-by-sides, and vessels. Senate Bill 179, which updates the Delaware Sentencing Accountability Commission and its bench book/data analysis process, passed 27-14. Senate Substitute 2 for Senate Bill 23, the housing supply and affordability bill, was presented with extensive explanation and questions about local control, zoning, and implementation, but the transcript ends before a final vote on that measure. Senate Joint Resolution 18, designating August 31, 2026 as International Overdose Awareness Day and directing flags at half-staff, was also discussed in emotional remarks about overdose losses and the state’s ongoing response. The House later recessed for party caucuses.

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, the bill directs schools to implement a structured literacy program no later than the 2028-29
• The bill contains nine requirements for structured literacy programs, including that it incorporates
• Educator Standards Board must revise standards for teacher endorsements with reading and writing literacy
• I want to make it clear from the start that I strongly support literacy and numeracy programs.
• I want to make it clear from the start that I strongly support literacy and numeracy programs.

Summary: The committee heard Senate Bill 6192, which would expand structured literacy and numeracy requirements, add a third-grade math intervention process similar to the existing reading “gate,” create annual STAR teacher bonuses for selected math and ELA teachers, and require updated teacher endorsement standards. The sponsor, Sen. Braun, said the bill is meant to refocus districts on core academics and use research-based instruction while still allowing local flexibility, especially in math. OSPI said it supports the bill’s goals but raised concerns about the teacher award structure and access to student-level data. ESD representatives also flagged implementation issues with the award program. Testimony was split: some parents, students, and reading advocates opposed the bill as too prescriptive or too reliant on phonics and standardized testing, while others supported stronger academic intervention and accountability. No vote was taken. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6206, a pilot program to incentivize child care providers to serve children of first responders through grants administered by the Department of Commerce, with local matching funds and a report on recruitment and retention outcomes. Sen. Dhingra said the bill addresses a major barrier for police, firefighters, EMTs, and crisis workers, especially women leaving the field because of child care challenges. Testimony from law enforcement officers, union representatives, and a national law enforcement child care foundation strongly supported the bill, describing unpredictable schedules, last-minute overtime, and the need for nontraditional and sick-child care. Senator Wilson asked about existing non-standard-hours child care bonuses and whether the proposal should instead be housed at DCYF; staff explained the current subsidy program and that this bill would create a separate Commerce pilot. No vote was taken. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 5346 on student mobile device use in public schools. The bill would add mobile devices to digital citizenship instruction, direct OSPI to compile research and best practices, and require reports on school policies limiting phone use during instructional hours, with final recommendations due in 2028. Sen. Leas argued that phones are distracting, harm learning and mental health, and should be restricted in schools while still teaching responsible use. Testimony was largely supportive from students, parents, educators, and researchers who described improved engagement, fewer disruptions, and better school climate under phone restrictions; several urged a stronger bell-to-bell statewide policy. Opponents raised concerns about emergency communication, student safety, and local control. The hearing on the bill was closed without a vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Paper from the House: the House bill relative to teacher preparation and student literacy, House No.
• The House bill relative to teacher preparation and student literacy, House No. 4683, comes from the House
• share their testimony in support of a bill that I filed, Senate Bill 423, relating to financial literacy
• finance electives, these two students have shown tremendous initiative by advocating that financial literacy
• share their testimony in support of a bill that I filed, Senate Bill 423, relating to financial literacy

Summary: The Senate took up several local bills out of the orders of the day and advanced them through third reading and engrossment. These included a bill for Arlington allowing a town ballot question to increase off-premises liquor licenses, a Brookfield land conveyance bill amended by a substitute draft, a Beckett bill authorizing alternative members for the Conservation Commission, and a Swampscott bill authorizing a fall annual town meeting. The Senate also ordered to a third reading and then engrossed a bill clarifying call firefighter rights, after accepting a third-reading committee report recommending a new draft. The chamber also acted on a House bill concerning teacher preparation and student literacy. After the House disagreed with a Senate amendment, the Senate insisted on its amendment and agreed to a conference committee, naming Senators DiDomenico, Lewis, and O'Connor as conferees. In addition, the Senate suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer several concurrent Senate petitions to committees, including a House petition on manufactured housing community accommodations in Attleboro, which was sent to the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government. The Senate adopted resolutions congratulating Owen Kirby and Jonathan Rothwell on attaining Eagle Scout rank. Later, the Senate gave final passage to two bills: the Agawam charter amendment striking a reference to the Board of Appeals, and the Arlington liquor-license bill. The session ended with adoption of an order to reconvene the following Thursday at 11 a.m. and to dispense with printing a calendar, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• exciting day for the Senate and the House coming together to announce that we have an agreement on the literacy
• with a compromise that we feel is a very strong bill that will enhance, protect, and strengthen our literacy
• As we all know, we filed this bill because we saw a glaring gap in our literacy curriculum, and we saw
• And we know that literacy is an important component to bridge that gap. So we filed the bill.
• The whole point of this bill is evidence-based literacy curriculum.

Summary: House and Senate leaders announced a compromise agreement on a literacy bill that both chambers had previously passed, saying the final version combines the strongest elements of each chamber’s proposal. The bill is framed as a response to persistent reading gaps, especially in third grade, and supporters said it is intended to strengthen literacy instruction for future students and address disparities affecting children of color and low-income students. The measure would require school districts to adopt K-3 reading curricula aligned with Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidelines and based on evidence-based literacy practices. It also provides free approved curriculum options for districts that need them, allows waivers for districts already using qualifying programs, adds student progress monitoring, supports dyslexia screening and public reporting of related data, and includes professional development and apprenticeship opportunities for teachers. Speakers said the bill effectively moves away from guessing-based reading instruction and toward phonics-based methods. Leaders thanked the House and Senate leadership, conferees, and staff for negotiating the compromise, and said the bill had already received unanimous votes in both chambers on the earlier versions. They said they expected unanimous support again when the conference report comes to the floor later in the week.

Transcript Highlights:

• Paper from the House: the House bill relative to teacher preparation and student literacy, House No.
• The House bill relative to teacher preparation and student literacy, House No. 4683, comes from the House
• share their testimony in support of a bill that I filed, Senate Bill 423, relating to financial literacy
• finance electives, these two students have shown tremendous initiative by advocating that financial literacy
• their testimony support of a bill that I filed, Senate Bill 423, which is relating to financial literacy

Summary: The Senate took up several local bills and procedural matters out of order. It passed to be engrossed House No. 4815, authorizing Arlington to place a ballot question on increasing off-premises alcohol licenses, and later passed the same bill to be enacted. The chamber also advanced Senate No. 1915 on call firefighter rights, accepting a third-reading report that substituted a new draft (Senate No. 960), and passed the amended bill to be engrossed. Another local land-conveyance bill for Brookfield, Senate No. 2128, was amended by substitution of a new draft (Senate No. 2958) and then passed to be engrossed. Bills concerning Beckett’s Conservation Commission and Swampscott’s annual town meeting were also passed to be engrossed, with title changes noted by the third-reading committee. An Agawam charter amendment striking a reference to the Board of Appeals was later passed to be enacted. The Senate also handled a conference committee dispute on House No. 4683, the teacher preparation and student literacy bill. The House had rejected the Senate’s amendment and appointed conferees; the Senate insisted on its amendment and named Senators DiDomenico, Lewis, and O'Connor to the conference committee. In addition, a House petition concerning manufactured housing community accommodations in Attleboro was referred to the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government after suspension of Joint Rule 12. Several resolutions were adopted congratulating Owen Kirby and Jonathan Rothwell on attaining Eagle Scout rank. The Senate also suspended Joint Rule 12 for several petitions and adopted an order setting the next meeting for Thursday at 11 a.m. and dispensing with the printing of a calendar. The session included a brief recognition of two Situate High School students, William Hine and Izzy May Adams, who had advocated for financial literacy education.

Transcript Highlights:

• Paper from the House: The House bill relative to teacher preparation and student literacy, House No.
• The House bill relative to teacher preparation and student literacy, House No. 4683, comes from the House
• share their testimony in support of a bill that I filed, Senate Bill 423, relating to financial literacy
• finance electives, these two students have shown tremendous initiative by advocating that financial literacy
• their testimony support of a bill that I filed, Senate Bill 423, which is relating to financial literacy

Transcript Highlights:

• watch, we prosecuted parents, we prosecuted grandparents, we prosecuted ministers, we prosecuted coaches
• </c> ministers, we prosecuted coaches. ministers, we prosecuted coaches.
• and avoid bankruptcy a second literacy and avoid bankruptcy a second time.<03:56:26.800><c> Nationwide
• </c><05:47:33.040><c> and</c><05:47:33.360><c> lower</c> with declining female literacy and lower with
• declining female literacy and lower school<05:47:34.000><c> enrollment</c><05:47:34.718><c> rates</c

Bills: HB6504 , HB6500 , HB2683 , SB269 , HB6732 , HB6715 , HB6719 , SB3424 , HR909

Keywords: Haiti, duty-free imports, economic recovery, trade, Caribbean Basin, tariff, apparel, remote access, national security, export controls, cloud computing, foreign policy, international relations, improper payments, deceased, social security, federal coordination, state agencies, coercion, minors

Transcript Highlights:

• In all of those cases, they saw literacy improve for children as a result of these programs.
• Screening supports timely intervention, and states with strong literacy outcomes such as Mississippi
• Madam Chair, my question would be the literacy screener expert, when we use the word expert.
• Abby Ridley Kerr with EdVoice and the California Literacy Coalition.
• I want to align my comments with the Literacy Coalition on the delay in screening.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard the Governor’s proposals on dual enrollment, reading difficulty screeners, special education, school facilities, and Commission on Teacher Credentialing programs. For dual enrollment, the Department of Finance described a $100 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund proposal to expand the Dual Enrollment Opportunities Grant Program, add flexibility for regional occupational centers, support justice-involved youth, prioritize higher-need LEAs, and allow funds for teacher professional development, along with a reduction in required instructional minutes for some dual enrollment students. The LAO recommended rejecting the new funding, saying it did not address a clear implementation barrier, while CDE supported the proposal and suggested reserving $10 million for technical assistance. Members and public commenters largely supported the expansion, with some urging additional technical assistance and broader access, including adult dual enrollment. The committee then discussed the reading difficulty screener proposal, which includes $40 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund for implementation costs and statutory changes that would delay formal screening until the 91st day for kindergarten and the 46th day for grades 1-2. Finance said the timing was intended to reduce over-identification and align screening with sufficient exposure to instruction; the LAO recommended rejecting the funding and redirecting it to a discretionary block grant. CDE supported the investment but cautioned about the timing restrictions, and several members and public witnesses argued the proposed deadlines were too rigid and could delay early intervention, while others supported the structured timeline as a way to improve accuracy and reduce misidentification. On special education, Finance presented a proposal to increase the statewide base rate to $99 per ADA through a $509 million ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund augmentation, plus COLA and a negative growth adjustment. The LAO said the proposal should be adopted but estimated it could be achieved with less funding; CDE strongly supported the increase, citing rising enrollment and local cost pressures, and district and SELPA representatives described large local funding gaps and growing expenditures. The committee also reviewed school facilities funding under Proposition 2, with Finance and the Office of Public School Construction describing $1.5 billion in proposed bond spending, existing balances for new construction and modernization, and the use of bond authority for natural disaster recovery, including projects related to recent fires. For the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the committee heard about the Student Teacher Stipend Program, the Golden State Teacher Grant, state operations funding for misconduct investigations and SB 848 implementation, and a $250 million proposal to extend the Teacher Residency Grant Program; CTC supported the proposals and highlighted new data systems and technical assistance, while public testimony broadly backed the investments and urged continued or additional funding for teacher recruitment, literacy screening support, and special education.

Transcript Highlights:

• :43.120><c> seniors</c><00:15:44.399><c> learn</c><00:15:44.800><c> digital</c><00:15:45.519><c> literacy
• Senate recognizes Audi Karnney for his kind ambition protecting seniors and championing digital literacy
• </c><00:17:17.199><c> for</c><00:17:17.520><c> older</c> supporting digital literacy for older supporting
• digital literacy for older adults<00:17:18.880><c> and</c><00:17:19.199><c> has</c><00:17:19.520><c>
• along with clean water digital literacy along with clean water solutions<00:17:45.039><c> and</c><00

Transcript Highlights:

• Amends and acts and repeals sections of Title 17 relative to literacy, to require that certain teacher
• Welcome again to Senate Education and Literacy. We're happy that we're making progress.
• It also clarifies that any outdated teaching practices for literacy that are already banned in statute
• This just carries on the literacy reforms that we've been doing that we're seeing incredible progress
• Danny Bosch, the Center for Literacy and Learning, in favor, not wishing to speak.

Bills: HCR26 , HB28 , HB195 , HB283 , HB316 , HB319 , HB363 , HB380 , HB386 , HB392 , HB406 , HB636 , HB738 , HB807 , HB905 , HB992 , HB1146

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The committee met with a large docket and adopted the April 29 minutes. Several bills were heard and advanced, mostly on education, workforce, literacy, early childhood, charter schools, and student mental health. Testimony was generally supportive, with many witnesses waiving in favor; a few bills drew questions about implementation, student awareness, and whether proposals were sufficiently broad or specific. House Bill 406, requiring the Department of Education to study the direction and regulation of interscholastic high school athletics and report back by March 1, 2027, was reported favorably after testimony from a retired principal who urged an open-minded study and discussion from the bill author about compliance and the bill’s purpose. House Bill 380, creating a pilot program between community and technical colleges and local school systems to expand awareness of CDL, entry-level driver training, and related programs, was also reported favorably. House Bill 807, creating a workforce and structure capacity investment program and fund to help industry partner with colleges to train instructors, was reported favorably after support from higher education and industry witnesses; senators raised interest in adding a stronger health care component and in reaching students earlier, but the author said he would work on amendments. The committee also advanced House Bill 316 on adolescent literacy and high-dose tutoring, with amendments clarifying teacher training timing, existing statutory bans on outdated literacy practices, and charter school participation; House Bill 1146, consolidating early childhood governance into a commission; House Bill 28, creating an appeal path for denied teacher certification applicants through BESE; and House Bill 992, assigning early childhood education identification numbers to support data collection on outcomes. House Concurrent Resolution 26, urging BESE to add the science of human growth and development to science and health standards and provide approved instructional resources, was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 386, allowing local districts to let locally authorized charter schools operate as their own LEA under district rules, was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 392, expanding suicide prevention information requirements on school websites, ID cards, handbooks, and signage, was reported favorably as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• So in Oklahoma City, we're in Eugene Field Elementary helping with literacy intervention.
• So in Oklahoma City, we're in Eugene Field Elementary helping with literacy intervention.
• So in Oklahoma City, we're in Eugene Field Elementary helping with literacy intervention.
• So in Oklahoma City, we're in Eugene Field Elementary helping with literacy intervention.
• So in Oklahoma City, we're in Eugene Field Elementary helping with literacy intervention.

Committee: House A&B Finance Subcommittee

Summary: The committee heard an interim study on expanding or simplifying sales tax exemptions for Oklahoma nonprofits. Representatives Stark and Schreiber said the issue has been filed repeatedly over several sessions and framed it as a bipartisan effort to keep more charitable dollars in service of communities rather than paying sales tax. Schreiber also suggested broader tax reform or an omnibus approach rather than continuing to add individual exemptions. Marnie Taylor of the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits gave an overview of the sector, describing nonprofits as a major part of the state economy and safety net, and argued that many organizations are highly regulated, under-resourced, and facing declining donations and funding. She said the current patchwork of exemptions is uneven and that a blanket or broader exemption would help organizations serving public needs. Committee members asked for sources behind some of the poverty, education, and health rankings cited in her presentation. Several nonprofit leaders testified about how sales tax affects their operations. RG Foods described the cost of opening neighborhood grocery markets in food deserts and said sales tax on a Tulsa project would divert about $85,000 from programming. Jubilee Partners, Skyline Urban Outreach, the Pencil Box, the Tulsa Police Foundation, Blue Rose Ranch, and Legacy Parenting Center each explained how exemption status or the lack of it affects food assistance, school supplies, public safety equipment, animal rescue, and diapers and family support. Members asked follow-up questions about food desert definitions, budgets, and how much sales tax savings would change operations. No vote was taken in the excerpt, but the study concluded with closing remarks emphasizing that the exemption would keep more money in direct services and support the nonprofit sector statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Rod, I know you mentioned the literacy. What was the rating, the number?
• The literacy saying has made no difference. Maybe that means every state. Better.
• The literacy saying has made no difference.
• The literacy saying has made no difference. Maybe that means every state. better.
• The literacy saying has made no difference.

Transcript Highlights:

• All of us care about literacy and about our kids reading, and it was so inspiring to be able to work
• Literacy is one of those bipartisan issues that got frustratingly partisan last time.
• I will tell you House members, literacy.
• I see literacy much like roads and bridges.
• I see literacy talked a lot about this.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I want to throw this out there: the coach in me came out, and at that point I don't want to lose
• I and I want to throw this out there and I and I want to throw this out there the<00:57:13.400><c> coach
• :14.480><c> and</c><00:57:14.680><c> and</c><00:57:15.039><c> at</c><00:57:15.200><c> that</c> the coach
• in me came out and and at that the coach in me came out and and at that point<00:57:16.160><c> I</c>
• I've done a little bit of work on early literacy in my time in the General Center.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several education bills and first received a presentation from Paige Cash of Kentucky FFA/Kentucky Association for Career and Technical Education. She described the reach of CTE in Kentucky, saying more than 143,000 secondary students are enrolled in CTE courses, and highlighted work-based learning, dual credit, industry certifications, and student organizations such as FFA, DECA, FCCLA, HOSA, TSA, and SkillsUSA. She said CTE funding has helped update lab equipment, support teacher training, fund field trips, and expand participation in career and technical student organizations. Representative Wilson presented House Bill 132, which would address home hospital instruction reimbursement in cases involving short stays, particularly mental health placements that are often under five days. He said schools continue providing instruction even when they are no longer reimbursed under current rules. The committee advanced the bill unanimously after a motion and second, with the measure passing with an expression of opinion that it should pass. The committee then heard House Bill 272 on dyslexia, sponsored by Representative Heavrin. The bill would require KDE to annually update the dyslexia toolkit, require local boards to adopt policies for identifying and assisting K-3 students with dyslexia, require KDE to report district implementation data to LRC, and require teacher preparation programs to include dyslexia instruction. Members discussed whether the bill would require teacher diagnoses, how it would interact with existing IEP/504 and RTI processes, and concerns about added reporting and district burden. Supporters said many students are falling through the cracks and that earlier identification is needed; Representative Willner noted a shortage of school psychologists. The committee passed HB 272 with a motion and second, though several members voted pass and explained concerns about reporting burdens, red tape, and district costs. Finally, the committee began hearing House Bill 193, a dual credit cleanup bill presented by Joe Carol Ellis of KHEAA. She said the bill would consolidate the statutes governing general education dual credit and CTE/work-ready dual credit scholarships to match current funding practice and reduce confusion for K-12 schools and postsecondary institutions. The presentation was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• So our coaches go in and help to coach, mentor, and support, whatever it may take, to be able to support
• </c><01:21:45.239><c> and</c> with a debrief with coaching and with a debrief with coaching and mentoring
• , an in-school coach.
• c><01:40:41.400><c> so</c><01:40:41.800><c> for</c><01:40:42.000><c> the</c> coach an in school coach
• so for the coach an in school coach so for the Department<01:40:42.440><c> of</c><01:40:42.520><c> Education

Transcript Highlights:

• In all of those cases, they saw literacy improve for children as a result of these programs.
• Screening supports timely intervention, and states with strong literacy outcomes such as Mississippi
• Madam Chair, my question would be the literacy screener expert, when we use the word expert.
• Good afternoon, Abby Ridley Kerr with EdVoice and the California Literacy Coalition.
• I want to align my comments with the Literacy Coalition on the delay in screening.

Transcript Highlights:

• In all of those cases, they saw literacy improve for children as a result of these programs.
• Screening supports timely intervention, and states with strong literacy outcomes such as Mississippi
• Madam Chair, my question would be the literacy screener expert, when we use the word expert.
• Good afternoon, Abby Ridley Kerr with EdVoice and the California Literacy Coalition.
• I want to align my comments with the Literacy Coalition on the delay in screening.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard the Governor’s proposals on dual enrollment, reading difficulty screeners, special education, school facilities, and Commission on Teacher Credentialing programs. On dual enrollment, the Department of Finance described a $100 million one-time Proposition 98 investment to expand the Dual Enrollment Opportunities Grant Program, along with changes to make regional occupational centers eligible, add funding for justice-involved youth, prioritize higher-need LEAs, support teacher professional development, and reduce daily instructional minute requirements for some dual enrollment students. The LAO recommended rejecting the new funding as not clearly addressing implementation barriers, while CDE supported the proposal and suggested reserving $10 million for technical assistance. Committee members and public commenters generally supported the expansion, with some asking for technical assistance and broader access, including adult dual enrollment. The committee also reviewed a $40 million one-time Proposition 98 proposal for reading difficulty screener implementation and related trailer bill language that would require screening after 91 school days for kindergarten and 46 school days for grades 1-2. Finance said the timing was intended to reduce over-identification and align with evidence from preliminary data; the LAO recommended rejecting the funding and redirecting it to a discretionary block grant. CDE supported the funding and the general approach but acknowledged the need for local support and training. Several committee members and public witnesses raised concerns that the proposed timing restrictions were too rigid and could delay early intervention, while others supported the delay as a way to improve accuracy and avoid misidentification. For special education, Finance proposed ongoing Proposition 98 increases to adjust for COLA and enrollment changes and to raise the statewide special education base rate to $99 per ADA, equalizing rates across SELPAs. The LAO said the proposal should be adopted but estimated it could be funded for less than the Governor’s figure. CDE and multiple local education representatives strongly supported the increase, citing rising special education enrollment, cost pressures, and large local funding gaps. The committee also heard a brief overview of the school facilities proposal, which continues $1.5 billion in Proposition 2 bond funding for the School Facility Program; OPSC reported significant remaining bond authority but also substantial pending demand, and explained that natural disaster school rebuilding draws from the broader new construction and modernization pools. Finally, the committee reviewed Commission on Teacher Credentialing proposals, including the already-funded $300 million Student Teacher Stipend Program, new state operations resources for misconduct investigations and grant administration, and a $250 million one-time continuation of the Teacher Residency Grant Program. CTC said its grants management system is ready and that it expects better data tracking; public testimony broadly supported the educator workforce investments and urged continued funding for the Golden State Teacher Grant Program and additional support for rural and leadership pipeline programs. No votes were taken, and the hearing adjourned after public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Outstanding Coach of the Year.
• </c> also like like to recognize their coach also like like to recognize their coach Shane<02:08:52.800
• </c> prestigious title of outstanding Coach prestigious title of outstanding Coach of<02:08:56.119><c
• Carolina Coach Company.
• company sakes Evans Carolina Coach company sakes Evans Legacy<02:10:48.199><c> is</c><02:10:48.639><

Bills: HR758 , HR856 , HR153 , HR872 , HB1515

Keywords: fencing, youth development, underserved communities, athletics, Peter Westbrook, scholarships, academic achievement, SNAP, nutrition assistance, contingency funds, government shutdown, hunger prevention, vulnerable populations, federal funding, condolences, aviation safety, transportation disaster, victims support, first responders, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Transcript Highlights:

• the stuff that's added, is referring to, I believe it's the chairwoman's bill, actually, about the literacy
• I understand this amendment is the Media Literacy and Critical Thinking Act.
• incredibly important in this day and age, especially in the age of AI, making sure that kids have media literacy
• The .02H, the Media Literacy and Critical Thinking Act, is now being added, and that is what we are voting
• The .02H, the Media Literacy and Critical Thinking Act, is now being added, and that is what we are voting

Committee: House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs

Summary: The Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs considered House Bill 3381 and Senate Bill 1351. For HB 3381, members adopted a committee amendment clarifying guidelines for forgiving late fees in unusual circumstances or situations beyond taxpayers’ control, then rolled it into a substitute and advanced the bill. The final roll call on the House Committee Substitute for HB 3381 was 12 ayes and 0 noes, and the bill was reported due pass. The committee then took up SB 1351, which was amended through a committee substitute that expanded the bill to include several education-related provisions. Members discussed additions including a literacy-related effort to develop a plan for incorporating cursive into standards, a driver safety framework, and other previously heard education items. One member raised concern about whether the bill sponsor supported the expanded scope and said they would not support the bill because of the process, though the chair said sponsor support had been discussed with the sponsor’s office. The committee also adopted a Media Literacy and Critical Thinking Act amendment, described as a pilot program and standards-development effort focused on student media literacy and critical thinking, especially in light of AI. After rolling the amendments into a new substitute, the House Committee Substitute for SB 1351 was advanced on a roll call vote of 11 ayes and 2 noes, with Representatives Smith and Wolfin voting no.

Transcript Highlights:

• Kids have been raised on whole language, three-queuing, balanced literacy. It's ineffective.
• So addressing dyslexia in our prisons is not just about literacy; it's about justice and public safety
• supports dyslexia-specific services. ...but also expands access to effective, early evidence-based literacy
• The science is clear: when instruction is grounded in structured literacy and delivered by properly trained
• policies and funding that strengthen higher education programs in reading science and structured literacy

Keywords: special education, funding gap, dyslexia, House Bill 2, Senate Bill 568, House Bill 3928, disability penalty

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on special education funding, with significant discussions around House Bill 2 (HB2), Senate Bill 568 (SB568), and House Bill 3928 (HB3928). Key speakers advocated for increased funding to close the estimated $1.7 billion annual gap that affects special education in Texas public schools. Several witnesses, including educators and students affected by dyslexia, provided personal testimonies about the impact of insufficient funding and the disability penalty, which penalizes schools financially for identifying students needing special education services. The committee demonstrated a strong commitment to advocate for changes that would improve special education resources and training for teachers, thereby ensuring that all Texas children receive the educational support they need to thrive.