Transcript Highlights:

• The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education will now come to order.
• SB 920, Mathematics Education, by Senator Gates, will be temporarily postponed.
• Florida's educator compensation statute in 1012.22 was rewritten more than a decade ago to emphasize
• It restores meaningful use of cost-of-living adjustments for educators with direct student contact.
• The Committee on Education Appropriations will come back to order.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met and first temporarily postponed SB 920, the mathematics education bill. The committee then took up SB 1216 on public school personnel compensation, with Senator Rodriguez explaining that the bill would give districts more flexibility in educator pay by restoring meaningful cost-of-living adjustments for teachers with direct student contact, allowing districts to recognize relevant advanced degrees, and removing rigid performance-pay caps. Several senators spoke in support, emphasizing teacher retention, compensation, and the need to invest more in education. The bill was reported favorably by a unanimous roll call vote. The committee next heard SB 1036 on school counselors, presented by Senator Calatayud, which aims to address counselor shortages by removing certification barriers tied to classroom teacher requirements and expanding the pool of eligible applicants. Testimony and discussion focused heavily on the shortage of counselors, high student-to-counselor ratios, and the impact on academic guidance and student mental health. Students and a veteran teacher described limited access to counselors, overburdened staff, and the need for more support personnel; Senator Osgood also noted the role of BRACE advisors and broader student support needs. The bill was reported favorably as CS for SB 1036 by unanimous vote. During the counselor bill discussion, senators also reflected on access and equity in college and career advising, with comments about the need for more efficient use of counselor time and better outreach from Florida colleges. The meeting ended after members recorded their votes on the two bills and, with no objection, adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• These students are here through CHESS, California Higher Education Student Summit, to meet directly with
• My support for this measure is rooted in my background as an educator.
• That is exactly what robotics education delivers.
• Organizations like First Robotics, along with our career technical education programs like my SB 1222
• in hands-on STEAM education for students of all ages.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I have been to these education conferences; in fact, my good friend, Representative Drummond, goes to
• ... and Virginia have done, educating students and parents about how to safely use social media is a
• I don't have a problem with diverting some of the money to education.
• So, I'm working with the Department of Education because they are... ...Department of Education because
• The focus on education and evidence-based resources is something we welcome as well.

Bills: HB235 , HB276 , HB285

Committee: House Children and Senior Advocacy

Keywords: social media, age verification, minors, under 16, children online safety, online privacy, platform regulation, deceptive trade practice, Attorney General, civil penalties, punitive damages, consumer protection, account creation, algorithmic feeds, internet safety, youth social media, minor safety, child online safety, teen accounts, parental controls

Transcript Highlights:

• I feel almost that we have neglected our duty as educators to educate our young people.
• We have neglected our duty as educators to educate our young people.
• I feel almost that we have neglected our duty as educators to educate our young people.
• We have neglected our duty as educators to educate our young people.
• I have a responsibility to educate our young people.

Bills: SB389 , SB525

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Keywords: athlete agent, registration, endorsement contracts, name image likeness, eligibility, unfair trade practices, student athletes, unclaimed property, abandoned property, escheat, state treasurer, administrator, claimant, purchase agreement, assignment, property recovery, owner verification, documentation requirements, fraud prevention, bankruptcy

Transcript Highlights:

• That come up regularly for folks working in our public education system.
• I'm the Manager of Professional Development for the Office of Special Education.
• Prior to that, I was an educator. For 22 years.
• The Public Education Department supports House Bill 120.
• Time out doesn't mean go sit in the corner for 10, Minutes in our educational system.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is about affirming our commitment to equity, to accountability, and to the educational success of
• Since 1974, Title VI of the Equal Educational Opportunities Act has ensured equal educational opportunities
• Educational opportunities for all students, including those with limited English proficiency.
• Doe ruled that states cannot deny public education to undocumented children.
• account for the challenges that English language learners and special education students face.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House met with several welcoming and ceremonial items at the start, including recognition of visiting school groups and a special order to escort Representative-elect Hannah L. Bowen to the Governor’s Office to be qualified. Members also observed moments of silence honoring former Senator Louis P. Bertinazzi and former Representative Evelyn B. Chesky, and the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s notice of the 6th Essex District special election results was placed on file, with congratulations extended to Representative Owen of Beverly. The main business was consideration of House 4150, a fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill totaling about $529.8 million. The House suspended rules, advanced the bill through second and third reading, and later passed it to be engrossed. A consolidated amendment was adopted by a vote of 149-1, and the bill itself passed to be engrossed by 149-1. The House also took up Senate 2508, establishing a sick leave bank for Andrew Cetra of the trial court, and ordered it to a third reading. Two floor amendments drew debate and were adopted by roll call. Amendment 61, offered by Representatives Peisch and Moran, codified protections and practices for English language learners and students with disabilities, including district responsibilities for identification, services, assessments, and nondiscrimination; it passed 148-1. Amendment 27, offered by Representative Rogers, clarified that post-certified law enforcement officers at private colleges and universities are included in firearms-related exemptions under the state’s firearms modernization law; it passed 151-0. The House then adopted an order to meet the next day at 11 a.m. and adjourned in memory of Representative Chesky.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's been ongoing for years, and we were all talking about education.
• I mean, our children, our grandkids, are there to be educated.
• I'm also an educator.
• People are up here worrying about education with BIA and public schools.
• All of the educational assistants are Zuni people.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think... higher education. higher education.
• Higher education was on it.
• continuing education that educational continuing education that they<01:44:53.360><c> consistently</
• </c> have their continue education credits. have their continue education credits.
• </c> their education even more invaluable. their education even more invaluable.

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> education the workforce of 330 billion. education the workforce of 330 billion.
• If nothing the education department.
• Pivoting now to education.
• Pivoting now to education. Children. Pivoting now to education.
• Department of Education?

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It has a long history of serving Minnesota with educational, cultural, and public affairs programming
• But our educational work reaches far beyond the home.
• But<00:05:16.840><c> our</c><00:05:17.200><c> educational</c><00:05:17.760><c> work</c><00:05:18.000>
• <c> reaches</c><00:05:18.280><c> far</c> But our educational work reaches far But our educational work
• We're doing legislative business and we're educating the children at the same time. Absolutely.

Bills: HF1458 , HF2063 , HF2164 , HF1377 , HF927 , HF1059 , HF1910 , HF2232

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: CPA, certified public accountant, public accounting, accountancy, licensure, license mobility, substantial equivalency, interstate practice, out-of-state accountant, NASBA, Uniform CPA Examination, board of accountancy, attest services, audit, tax preparation, financial advisory, consulting, accounting education, master's degree, bachelor's degree

Transcript Highlights:

• It changes the authority of veterans education appropriations to MDVA's Veterans Education and Occupational
• </c> references for veterans higher education references for veterans higher education programs<00:46
• </c><00:46:20.600><c> programs</c> to higher educational programs to higher educational programs since
• </c> assistance veterans education benefit. assistance veterans education benefit.
• It available state education benefit.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Minnesota Senate Subcommittee on Veterans met on March 4, 2026, and began with a moment of silence honoring Sergeant First Class Nicole Amore of White Bear Lake, who was killed while serving in Kuwait. The committee then took up Senate File 3956, an MDVA policy bill giving the commissioner clearer authority to direct staff time and other non-monetary resources toward partnerships with organizations serving veterans, especially on food insecurity, homelessness, suicide prevention, and related efforts. MDVA and Disabled American Veterans testified that the bill would help them work more quickly and clearly with outside partners, including food pantry and outreach efforts, while remaining focused on non-monetary support. Senator Howe offered an A1 amendment narrowing the bill to the three named priorities and removing the broader “other critical issues” language; the amendment was adopted after discussion about whether the reporting language also needed adjustment. SF 3956, as amended, was laid over for further consideration. The committee then heard Senate File 3955, which would create a new procedure for temporary closure of a Minnesota veterans home if an involuntary termination notice requires it, bringing state law into closer alignment with federal expectations. MDVA emphasized that it had no intention of permanently closing any veterans homes and that the bill was intended only to establish a temporary closure plan to satisfy survey requirements. Senator Howe offered an A1 amendment clarifying that any closure would be temporary unless the legislature approved a permanent closure; MDVA and the Department of Health indicated the change was acceptable. The committee adopted the amendment and then voted to recommend SF 3955, as amended, to pass and refer it to the full committee. Finally, the committee began Senate File 4072, an MDVA cleanup and conformity bill. After adopting a technical A3 amendment, MDVA explained that the bill would reclassify the Chief of Staff/Deputy Chief of Staff role as Deputy Commissioner for Administration to better reflect the scope of the position, and would also repeal outdated statutes related to environmental hazards assistance and a data-collection requirement that the department said it could not implement. The bill was still being presented when the transcript ended, and no final committee action on SF 4072 was shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> on where they pursue their education on where they pursue their education again<00:02:16.360><c>
• Historically, higher education was the largest recipient of state bond funding, where higher education
• </c> that were at public higher education that were at public higher education institutions<00:58:55.400
• </c> babysitting we provide educational babysitting we provide educational activities<01:20:20.639><c
• </c> pursue careers in the Arts education pursue careers in the Arts education technology<01:38:41.400

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When we think of education, we think of schools and colleges.
• . ...of having school librarians partner with educators in their schools.
• The next one is arts education programming for our students in pre-K through grade 12.
• The next one is arts education programming for our students in pre-K through grade 12.
• Those include teacher training and education... ...of over $135,000.

Committee: House House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on the impact of recent federal policy and budget actions on Massachusetts libraries, humanities organizations, arts institutions, and tourism. Testimony from library leaders described the loss or jeopardy of Institute of Museum and Library Services funding, including statewide databases, local grants, staff positions, E-rate/hotspot support, and digital equity programs. Witnesses said the cuts have already forced reductions in services, canceled grants and workshops, and in some cases left schools, students, job seekers, and low-income patrons without access to key resources. Members of the committee asked for lists of affected communities and databases, and several witnesses said they would provide additional written detail. Arts and humanities witnesses said federal terminations from the NEA, NEH, and IMLS have hit organizations across the Commonwealth, including Mass Cultural Council, Mass Humanities, Mass MoCA, and local museums and historical societies. They described canceled or rescinded grants, layoffs, reduced programming, and a chilling effect on future applications and on artistic and scholarly work, especially where federal awards had already been matched with local or private funds. Several speakers also raised concerns about executive-branch DEI conditions attached to funding and about book challenges and book banning, saying these trends threaten intellectual freedom and public access to culture and history. Committee members emphasized the economic importance of the sector and the need to publicize the impacts. Tourism officials from Meet Boston and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism testified that federal cuts and broader geopolitical and tariff issues are hurting international visitation, especially from Canada and Western Europe, and could affect major upcoming events such as the 2026 World Cup and Sail Boston. They said reduced funding for Brand USA and Discover New England will weaken long-term marketing efforts and international partnerships, with downstream effects on hotel tax revenue, jobs, and workforce recruitment. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with members mainly asking questions and requesting follow-up written testimony and data.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that education, and particularly in high school and certainly at the higher education levels,
• And I think that's part of the educational process.
• It came through, of course, the Education Committee.
• This did come out of the Education Committee.
• This did come through the Committee on Education.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we're still looking... ...questions about for higher education institutions.
• This is $30 million for activities pursuant to the Indian Education Act.
• Higher education, and this goes kind of along what Mr. Chair, my Mr.
• Moving on to higher ed, you can see a total across both the higher education department and higher education
• In addition, the Public Education Department requested a transfer into the Public Education Reform Fund

Summary: The Department of Public Safety presented its FY27 budget request, emphasizing three priorities: improving community engagement through a redesigned website and outreach, expanding statewide data and intelligence integration through intelligence-led policing, and improving emergency response and officer safety through fleet replacement, a driving track, and a requested helicopter. DPS said much of its increase is driven by rising health care premiums, and it is also seeking special appropriations for fleet replacement, the website rebuild, and an Honor Guard program created after the 2022 helicopter crash that killed four public servants. Members asked about vacancies, fleet costs, cybersecurity compliance, the real-time crime center, EV fleet participation, and the Metro DPS facility. DPS said its vacancy rate is about 9%, its fleet replacement needs are driven by mileage and condition, it is compliant with federal CJIS standards even though DoIT has raised concerns, the real-time crime center would be built as a regional model to complement Albuquerque’s center, and the Metro facility is moving toward a January groundbreaking. Committee members also discussed several DPS-related capital and IT requests, including the intelligence-led policing data lake, recurring maintenance for critical systems, and a $5.6 million reauthorization for state crime lab DNA backlog work and a $900,000 reauthorization for fingerprinting equipment. DPS explained that the website request is high because the current site must be rebuilt from scratch to support missing-person alerts, memorial updates, ADA compliance, and better communication with law enforcement and the public. Members also raised concerns about speed enforcement, construction-zone cameras, and whether EVs are practical for patrol use; DPS said it is not pursuing speed cameras and is only partially participating in the state EV initiative because patrol needs make full electrification difficult. The committee then received an LFC quarterly update on non-recurring appropriations from the 2025 General Appropriation Act. LFC reported that of the $1.4 billion appropriated in Section 5, $164 million had been expended and $333 million encumbered, leaving $897.4 million unspent, which is a slower pace than the prior year. Staff highlighted a number of reauthorization requests and slow-moving projects across agencies, including AOC cybersecurity funding, DFA housing and public safety grants, DoIT cybersecurity and higher education funds, EDD economic development and energy programs, OSI mitigation and malpractice funds, EMNRD energy and geothermal grants, Health Care Authority behavioral health-related appropriations, DPS crime lab and fingerprinting funds, PED career technical education and special education initiatives, and higher education loan repayment and technology funds. Members questioned why some large appropriations had little or no spending, discussed the need to monitor reauthorizations more closely, and asked for follow-up on several specific line items and project balances.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of the nutrition educators have their bachelor's degree.
• And Representative Baca and I, we're both educators, and it is very important to us.
• within the Public Education Department.
• appropriations related to career technical education.
• I'm not the expert In education, but across the board, whether we're talking higher education, I need

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• disciplinary history of. an applicant for undergraduate admissions to the public institutions of higher education
• for the Committee on Higher Education.
• HB 3460 by Dan Huberty relating to the bilingual education allotment under the public school finance
• system for the Committee on Public Education.
• on Public Education.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Education is called to order. Will the Secretary please note the roll?
• Senate Bill 1210 establishes a separate out-of-state registration process for private post-secondary education
• A person may not operate a private vocational program through online distance education to Arizona residents
• And having no further business before the body, the Senate Education Committee is adjourned. Mr.
• And having no further business before the body, the Senate Education Committee is adjourned.

Committee: Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The Senate Education Committee considered four bills. SB 1210 would create a separate out-of-state registration process for private post-secondary institutions outside Arizona that offer fully online programs to Arizona residents, require certain disclosures and financial protections, and extend student tuition recovery fund protections to those students. Supporters said it would close a regulatory loophole and protect Arizona students; the committee voted 7-0 for a due pass recommendation. SB 1370 would allow public school principals, during the first quarter of the school year, to let eligible patriotic youth groups address students and distribute materials, with limits on discrimination and access criteria. The sponsor’s representative said the bill would expand opportunities for youth groups beyond the long-standing federally recognized list. The committee voted 7-0 for a due pass recommendation. SB 1422 would continue the Credit Enhancement Eligibility Board through July 1, 2036, with termination tied to the retirement of any outstanding obligations. SB 1423 would continue the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education through July 1, 2036. Both bills were described as continuations of previously discussed measures, testimony was brief, and each received a 7-0 due pass recommendation. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Steve Appleby, Department of Education.
• The code of conduct has a definition for educator, and educator means any professional employee of any
• </c> conduct has a definition for educator. conduct has a definition for educator.
• ,</c><00:44:38.400><c> school</c> commission include educators, school commission include educators,
• </c> of Education. Those numbers are skewed. of Education. Those numbers are skewed.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of educators and future farmers.
• </c> education this type of quality educ education this type of quality educ education<00:53:39.400><
• We do need to focus on the education, the agriculture education, so we really support positions dedicated
• Online education has changed so much.
• </c><01:05:08.400><c> has</c> respects the online uh education has respects the online uh education has

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Committee on Higher Education and Agriculture heard Senate Bill 1158, which would authorize general obligation bonds and appropriations for a controlled environment agriculture research and demonstration facility at the Magoon Research and Teaching Site in Manoa. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive from the University of Hawaiʻi, Department of Agriculture, Farm Bureau, Maui County, MetroGrow Hawaiʻi, and other agricultural groups, who said the project would strengthen food resilience, support year-round production, create clean jobs, and provide a demonstration site for urban vertical farming. University representatives said the project would include demolition of an existing condemned building, a research and lab component, and a multistory vertical farm, with an estimated cost of $6 million and a projected two-year build time. Members questioned whether Manoa was the best location, whether the project fit the university’s broader strategy, and whether the request would displace other priorities. The University said the site is tied to SEAR activities, close to students and faculty, and intended to support hands-on training and commercial-scale production. In response to concerns about soil testing and stakeholder needs, the University said it would restart the soil testing lab using internal funds, though not as part of this bill, and would request additional staff for efficiency. The committee then recessed and later reconvened in decision-making, where the chairs recommended and the committee adopted amendments to SB 1158, including a name correction and deferral to July 31, 2050, and the bill passed with amendments. The committee then took up Senate Bill 663, relating to the University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and SEAR research and experiment stations. The University testified that the stations are important for locally relevant agricultural research but are short staffed, with 34 positions down since 2005, and that the bill requests eight new positions, including agricultural technicians and four county community coordinator positions, to improve station operations, community engagement, and workforce development. The Farm Bureau supported the measure, saying the positions are needed to revamp extension services and that Manoa is an appropriate urban location for the vertical farming component. Members questioned why vacant or existing positions could not be used instead of new ones, and the University explained that some listed vacancies reflected old federally funded positions or inaccurate counts, promised a written update, and said it was working to fill current openings. No final vote on SB 663 was reached in the portion provided.