Transcript Highlights:

• it's dangerous for an Englishman to try and use an American football analogy, but if I can use the NIL
• 13:33.279> the football analogy, but if I can use the football analogy, but if I can use the NIL
• <00:13:34.079> an<00:13:34.480> NIL<00:13:35.519> analogy,<00:13:36.880> they
• <00:13:37.120> are<00:13:37.360> offering NIL an NIL analogy, they are offering NIL
• an NIL analogy, they are offering them<00:13:38.240> money.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 20 January, 2026; 2:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: Mississippi State University officials testified in support of the university’s separately funded agricultural, forestry, and veterinary units, emphasizing their economic impact, research output, and need for continued state support. Keith Cobalt, vice president for the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, said the division generates a $1.7 billion impact on Mississippi, but warned that state and local funding has not kept pace with federal dollars or inflation. He argued that global competition, especially from China and Brazil, is hurting row crop and forestry producers, and highlighted a Vision 2030 study finding about $10 billion in agricultural and forestry value leaves the state through value-added processing. He also raised concerns about rural depopulation and proposed rural innovation hubs to help retain population and jobs. Nick Frank, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, said state appropriations make up about 25% of the college’s operating budget and are needed to support salaries, staffing, and service capacity. He described the college’s education, diagnostic, and clinical missions, including disease surveillance and responses to threats such as avian influenza, screwworm, and equine herpes virus. Frank said the college is expanding facilities with $18 million in 2024 state funding for a new farm animal hospital and cattle handling facility, but still needs additional support for equine and small animal renovations. He also requested support for rural veterinary scholarships and said inflation and salary competition from other schools and private practice are making retention difficult. In response to committee questions, Frank said the college enrolls about 118 to 119 students per class, with roughly 54 to 55 in-state students and tuition of about $29,900 for in-state and $53,000 for out-of-state students. He clarified that the “vet assistants” program is a four-year bachelor’s degree in veterinary medical technology, not a certificate. He also explained that staffing growth has largely been in the hospitals to address clinical shortages and improve care. Dr. Westberger, dean of the College of Forest Resources and director of the Forest and Wildlife Research Center, said Mississippi’s forests support a $19 billion economic impact, 84,000 jobs, and a $4.5 billion payroll, while also providing environmental benefits. He said the college and research center are nationally recognized, including an NSF ranking placing Mississippi State 10th in natural resource conservation research expenditures for a small university. Westberger highlighted research on forest management, pest detection, mass timber, wildlife disease surveillance, and value-added bioproducts, including efforts to attract mills and manufacturing. He said Mississippi has added 10 mills or mill expansions in five years with more than $1.5 billion in investment and over 1,000 high-paying jobs, and noted the college is planning a new mass-timber annex to address capacity and showcase the material. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• But what's happening now with NIL and all these different types of issues, I would say we need to tread
• here seven years ago as the House sponsor of the... ...seven years ago as the House sponsor of the NIL

Summary: The Education and Employment Committee heard and voted on several education-related bills. HB 129 on Florida Virtual School was presented as a cleanup bill responding to audit-related statutory updates; it would remove priority language, allow all Florida students and eligible overseas military dependents access, clarify teacher employment/retirement status, permit local schools to administer required exams, and authorize direct support organizations. The bill drew support from Seminole State College and Florida Virtual School and was reported favorably 15-0. HB 423 on student elopement, sponsored by Reps. Eskamani and Tramont, would require schools to establish safety teams and procedures to prevent and respond to elopement by students with autism or similar needs. Testimony from the Autism Society of Greater Orlando and a student advocate emphasized safety risks and the need for clear school protocols. Members spoke strongly in support, and the bill passed unanimously 16-0. CS for CS for HB 753 on school counselors removed two certification barriers, kept the master’s degree requirement, and aligned evaluations with Florida school counseling standards; school counselor groups and several members argued it would help address counselor shortages and workload issues. It also passed unanimously 16-0. The committee also approved CS for CS for HB 1253, which would let school-employed coaches use up to $15,000 per team per year of personal funds to support student-athletes with items like food, transportation, therapy, and rehabilitation, with an amendment requiring written parental consent. Several members raised concerns about liability, fairness, and guardrails, but the bill passed 17-0. PCS for CS for HB 833 on private school facilities would allow small private schools of 150 students or fewer to locate in commercial or mixed-use zoning without rezoning and to use certain existing buildings if fire and life-safety standards are met; members discussed traffic, school zones, and proximity to dispensaries, and it passed 15-0. PCS for CS for HB 1325 on the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund clarified matching contributions, allowed use of funds for expansion or modernization of existing space, and permitted two-year awards; it passed 16-0. Finally, CS for HB 1437 on conversion charter schools created dispute-resolution options over facility maintenance and, via amendment, allowed capital outlay funding if the charter assumes full maintenance responsibility; despite some opposition, it passed 13-3. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chances of that happening before fiscal session would be what, nil to none?
• Chances of that happening before fiscal session would be what, nil to none, or is it a 50-50?

Summary: The committee considered several appropriation and transfer requests, beginning with a $273,000 temporary appropriation for the Department of Labor and Licensing to cover administrative costs for its enterprise licensing platform, funded by license and application fees. It then reviewed two large Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests: $280 million for the Department of Transportation for the final quarter of the fiscal year, and $195 million for the State Broadband Office to support the Arkansas BEAD broadband grant program, including an extra help position and grants to internet service providers. The broadband item drew extensive questions about awardees, contract amendments, accountability, build-out timelines, backup plans if providers default, the definition of broadband serviceable locations, and the cost per location. The State Broadband Director said no providers had requested amendments, the program would use milestone-based disbursements and a four-year build-out period, and the first tranche would serve 51,566 homes and businesses with $126.1 million in grants. Both Section B and Section C items were approved. In Section D, the committee approved a $458,000 transfer within the Department of Correction from the female work release program to the Tucker Unit water treatment plant, a $25 million transfer within the Department of Education to cover declining enrollment, teacher incentive, school recognition, and Easter Seals funding, and a $229,000 transfer for the Department of Shared Administrative Services to support two project management office positions. The education transfer prompted questions about how declining enrollment funding is calculated, how many districts receive it, and how long districts can continue to receive it; agency staff said 152 districts were on the preliminary list and the formula is based on the prior two-year average ADM compared with the previous year. The committee also gave favorable advice on a proposed $4.7 million loan for the Office of State Technology to implement ServiceNow and related IT modernization tools; agency officials said the loan would be repaid through cost recovery rates over five years and would replace an existing loan that is ending, with expected savings from consolidating applications but no precise savings estimate yet. The committee then reviewed cash fund and federal grant requests, including $200,000 for wage and hour claimant payments, $15 million for unclaimed property claims, $8,000 for a heritage program grant, and $1.1 million for a College and Career Coaches grant to expand services in rural districts. It also reviewed pay plan and budget manual items without objection. The most extensive report discussion focused on the Medicaid trust fund, where DHS and DFA officials said the balance has been declining and that the state may need to add capital back into the fund. Senators and representatives asked about the current balance, the projected year-end level, the role of the $100 million set-aside, the impact of outstanding Medicaid rules from the prior session, and whether future federal funding could help reduce long-term Medicaid costs. Officials said they are still working through more than 10 outstanding rules with CMS and do not yet have a final price tag for those changes. The meeting ended after the reports were reviewed and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I got a quick question regarding NIL.
• like ticket sales and all the sales of merchandise, are you guys allowed to use any of that money for NIL
• some funds and some of these revenue streams that are on this chart that could potentially be used for NIL

Summary: The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee met to hear an overview of State University System finances from the Board of Governors and detailed budget presentations from Florida State University, the University of Central Florida, and the University of North Florida. The witnesses explained how university budgets are organized into fund categories such as education and general, contracts and grants, auxiliaries, local/designated funds, capital projects, and component units such as direct support organizations. They also described carry forward funds, the statutory reserve and spending-plan requirements, the PICO/HECO capital outlay process, and how universities use investment accounts, audits, and board oversight to manage restricted and unspent funds. The universities emphasized that most operating dollars are restricted to specific uses and that state support helps keep tuition low. Members asked about differences in funding levels among institutions, especially why FSU receives more funding than UCF despite lower enrollment. Officials said preeminence funding, performance funding, and special legislative appropriations explain much of the difference, and the Board of Governors noted that Florida now has four preeminent universities, with UCF nearing that status. Questions also focused on what happens to unspent carry forward money, how it is invested, and whether the Board of Governors or Legislature can require funds to be returned; officials said the money is invested conservatively, subject to board and audit oversight, and can roll forward under a detailed spending plan, though the Legislature can change funding levels. The committee also discussed capital projects, with members asking about delays, inflation, and whether more projects should be phased or funded faster; witnesses said PICO funds remain with the state until needed and are reimbursed as construction proceeds. A substantial portion of the discussion covered athletics, research, student fees, and endowments. The universities said athletics is generally expected to be self-supporting, though limited use of auxiliary or carry forward funds may be allowed for projects benefiting the broader student body. They also described the financial pressures from name, image, and likeness changes and new NCAA-related costs, and said institutions are planning for those changes now. On research, the universities explained sponsored research funding, indirect cost recovery, compliance obligations, and tech transfer, but did not provide specific commercialization revenue figures and said they would follow up. Members also asked about student fee increases, student input, counseling and wellness funding, and how housing costs affect affordability; the universities said student committees and boards review fees, and aid packaging is intended to keep student debt low. Endowments were described as being held in separate foundations/DSOs with independent investment committees and used mainly for scholarships, faculty support, and research.

Transcript Highlights:

• position not because of your choice or the board's choice, but because this was a lawsuit settlement over NIL
• Have you done any calculations at all to see if the state income tax was put on the NIL money, what revenue
• Because I think that sometimes nobody likes to be in this position, and every time we ran an NIL bill

Summary: The committee first considered revisions to the JBC rules, which staff said were all prompted by acts passed in the 2025 legislative session. The rules were adopted without objection. Members then received a balanced budget presentation from DFA Secretary Jim Hudson on the governor’s FY27 proposal, which he said was built around three priorities: limiting state government growth, continuing investments in education, and advancing income tax cuts. He highlighted major additions for education funding, EFA growth, pay plan costs, higher education productivity funding, drug task forces, corrections medical costs, the governor’s 1033 initiative, SNAP error-rate reduction, and Medicaid sustainability, while also explaining a new A/B funding category structure intended to prioritize recurring costs and preserve room for tax cuts. Members questioned Hudson about the cost of income tax reductions, the constitutional balanced-budget requirement, education funding, the Educational Adequacy Fund, Medicaid trust fund balances, and the impact of federal changes on Medicaid and SNAP. Hudson said each tenth of a percent income tax cut would cost about $58 million, the budget remained balanced, public education would still receive historic increases, and the Medicaid trust fund would be monitored closely with additional set-asides proposed. He also said the FY27 SNAP administrative cost increase would be about $18 million. The committee then heard from the Division of Higher Education, which reported institutions were 2.61% more productive overall and that the budget recommendation followed the statutory productivity formula. Questions focused on why some institutions were receiving decreases or large increases, how the formula works, and how the new return-on-investment metric and committee composition would affect future funding. The committee approved several higher education-related actions, including personnel changes for nine institutions and special language for North Arkansas College’s move into the University of Arkansas system. Staff then walked members through the higher education appropriation summary, explaining large percentage increases at several institutions were tied to federal funds or corrected carry-forward issues, including the U of A School of Mathematical, Sciences and the Arts, South Arkansas College, SAU Tech, ASU Mountain Home, and ASU Newport. Members also discussed UAPB’s 1890 extension program and the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s land-grant matching funds; officials said UAPB’s recommendation was being aligned with actual spending and that the Division of Agriculture’s Smith-Lever and Hatch matches were included within its overall appropriation. The committee ultimately adopted the Higher Education Coordinating Board’s recommendations for all institutions and then moved on to the Department of Corrections section, with the chair outlining how the committee would proceed through those appropriations by section.

Transcript Highlights:

• position not because of your choice or the board's choice, but because this was a lawsuit settlement over NIL
• Have you done any calculations at all to see if the state income tax was put on the NIL money, what revenue
• Because I think that sometimes nobody likes to be in this position, and we have, every time we ran an NIL

Summary: The committee first adopted revised JBC rules, which staff said were updated to reflect legislation passed in the 2025 session. It then heard a presentation from DFA Secretary Jim Hudson on the governor’s proposed balanced budget for FY27, with no action taken. Hudson said the budget reflects three priorities: limiting state-government growth, continuing investments in education, and advancing income-tax cuts. He highlighted increases for education funding through EFAs, pay-plan costs for Corrections, DPS, and the Attorney General, higher education productivity funding, drug task forces, a Corrections medical contract, the governor’s 1033 initiative, SNAP error-rate reduction efforts, and an additional $100 million set aside for Medicaid sustainability. Committee members questioned the size of the tax cuts, the balance requirement, public education funding, Medicaid trust-fund levels, EFA funding, and the expected impact of new SNAP cost-sharing rules. The Division of Higher Education then presented its productivity-based funding recommendations. Officials said institutions were 2.61% more productive overall, with funding changes driven by a statutory formula that rewards degree production, underserved populations, and high-demand fields. Members asked about declines at UA Little Rock, the formula’s multipliers, the role of the Arkansas Access Act and a new return-on-investment metric, and how two-year colleges are adjusted for size. The committee also reviewed special items and approved two letters: one authorizing 17 net personnel changes across nine institutions, and another adding special language for North Arkansas College’s entry into the University of Arkansas system. The committee then adopted the Higher Education Coordinating Board’s recommendations for all institutions. A lengthy portion of the meeting focused on the University of Arkansas system, especially Fayetteville’s athletics funding and the broader impact of the House/NIL settlement. Chancellor Charles Robinson and system officials explained that the board had waived a longstanding campus transfer and directed the university to provide an additional $6 million to athletics, with some costs likely to be passed through to students but partially offset by existing budget growth. Members debated whether the university should prioritize academics or athletics, how the transfer originated, and whether the athletic changes would affect affordability. The committee also discussed the 1890 extension program at UAPB and the Division of Agriculture’s land-grant funding. UAPB officials said the state match is intended to be one-to-one, that the current recommendation aligns appropriation with actual spending, and that a $2 million set-aside remains available if needed. The Division of Agriculture later clarified that its Smith-Lever extension and Hatch research funds are part of the UA system’s separate budget and that the state matched about $6.2 million in federal extension funding last year. The committee then moved to the Department of Corrections. It approved G1, transferring 51 positions to the secretary’s office to activate a recidivism program, with an estimated cost of about $4 million. Staff then began walking through the department’s FY27 budget, noting an increase of about $8 million for administration and shared services, including a $170,000 sex-offender assessment appropriation moved under Act 723 of 2025 and roughly $6 million more for medical contracts. Questions on the Corrections budget had just begun when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• The response time is nil to none, how quickly they can get to people and help them with a crisis situation
• And the response time is nil to none, how quickly they can get to people and help them with a process

Summary: The House Health Services Subcommittee met to approve the October 7, 2024 minutes and then shifted to behavioral health as the main topic. Representatives Woodridge and Vaught described the work of the behavioral health working group, saying Arkansas needs a more proactive system that improves access, reduces red tape, and focuses on a few achievable policy changes for the 2027 session rather than many bills. Members discussed barriers such as low reimbursement, workforce shortages, licensing and credentialing hurdles, rural access problems, and the need to better use community providers, compacts, and step-down services. Director Paula Stone of DHS’s Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health gave a detailed overview of the behavioral health system. She said Medicaid pays for more than 75% of behavioral health services in Arkansas and explained that when people are jailed or admitted to the state hospital, Medicaid generally stops, leaving state general revenue to cover care. She described current efforts including family-centered treatment for children, community reintegration group homes, a new adolescent substance use disorder residential unit, expanded community mental health center contracts, a secured restoration unit to reduce state hospital backlogs, and an IMD waiver to allow Medicaid payment for certain residential services. She also said DHS is working on crisis services, forensic evaluations, and provider rebidding in areas previously served by ERISA. Members asked about reimbursement for jail services, the lack of a statewide behavioral health dashboard, civil commitment options, crisis stabilization units, and whether Arkansas should expand step-down or long-term facilities for people who cannot safely return to the community. Stone said the state hospital backlog remains significant, average stays are still about 14 months, and crisis stabilization units have had mixed success, with Fort Smith and Jonesboro performing better than Fayetteville and Little Rock. The meeting ended with a commitment to continue the work, with more substantive discussion planned for August.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, I'm a former coach, but I warned every one of you about NIL.
• Now, I'm a former coach, but I warned every one of you about the NIL and the transfer portal and what

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, I'm a former coach, but I warned every one of you about NIL.
• Now, I'm a former coach, but I warned every one of you about the NIL and the transfer portal and what

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum, granted several leaves, and received gubernatorial approval notices for multiple fiscal-session measures. The chamber then referred House Bill 1034 back to the Joint Budget Committee so pay raises could be stripped out and cybersecurity/bank-fee funding handled later. House Bill 1103, increasing the homestead property tax credit by $75, passed 94-0. Members then considered several budget amendments and appropriations. Amendments to House Bills 1007, 1022, 1036, and 1064 were adopted, and Senate Bill 76, a $2 million appropriation for county extension office capital improvements, passed 87-7. A batch of appropriation bills passed, but several individual bills failed, including House Bills 1023, 1035, 1053, and 1066. House Bills 1089 and 1090, supplemental appropriations for pregnancy crisis centers and waste tire cleanup, both passed. House Bill 1093, a corrections reappropriation bill that excluded use of funds in Franklin County, also passed 94-0. The most extensive debate centered on House Bill 1100 Amendment 1, which set out the RSA and one-time funding package. Supporters described major allocations for corrections, state police, LEARNS Freedom Accounts, Medicaid, vehicle purchases, and a proposed $300 million economic-development site-preparation and road package tied to a confidential project. Opponents criticized the secrecy, size, and policy approach of the incentive, while supporters argued it could bring jobs and broader economic benefits. The amendment passed 54-36-3. The House also passed Senate Bills 8, 16, 30, 63, 67, and 73, while Senate Bills 41 and 59 failed, and Senate Bill 10 passed after being briefly set aside for clarification. The chamber adjourned to 1 p.m. the next day, with committee meetings announced for budget and house management.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, members, this resolution came out of our NIL task force that we had in the offseason.
• Young, for your work, not only on this bill, but on the whole NIL task force and other bills that you

Bills: HCR97, HR168, SCR33, SB112, SB346, SB347, SB353, SB488, SB504, SB507, SB518

Keywords: hunting education, firearm safety, outdoor recreation, curriculum, youth education, conservation, collegiate athletics, funding, name image likeness, revenue sharing, NCAA compliance, student-athlete support, financial sustainability, work-based learning, task force, internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, cooperative education, co-op

Summary: The House Education Committee met on May 12, 2026, and first approved SB 518, which gives LSU a two-year pilot authority to buy and sell certain real estate within one mile of campus to support redevelopment and student needs. Senator Foyle and LSU representatives said the bill is intended to help the university act more quickly on deteriorating nearby properties and some Greek housing transactions, with safeguards such as appraisal and fair-market-value requirements. Members asked about whether the authority would affect mostly commercial property and whether the pilot could later be expanded to other universities; the bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee then reported SCR 33, creating a one-year Work-Based Learning Coordination Task Force to study and better coordinate internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, and related programs across state agencies and employers. Support testimony emphasized that Louisiana’s education and workforce systems are too siloed and that the task force would map existing efforts, identify gaps, and recommend a statewide structure. HR 168 also passed, directing the Board of Regents to study collegiate athletic program funding after concerns raised by athletic directors about deficits and accounting practices. Members next approved SB 488, a school safety drone response pilot program, after testimony described drones as a supplemental security tool that could respond faster than police and work with law enforcement; an amendment required coordination with the Department of Education, State Police, and the Sheriffs’ Association. HCR 97 was reported favorably to ask BESE and Wildlife and Fisheries to study age- and grade-appropriate hunting, conservation, and shooting sports education for grades 5-12. The committee also approved SB 112, allowing local school boards to adopt parental-consent release-time policies for religious instruction, with amendments on instructor qualifications, grade reporting, and constitutional safeguards; SB 504, expanding individual graduation plans to include vocational options and charter schools; SB 346 and SB 347, addressing harmful deepfakes involving K-12 and college students; and SB 353, authorizing postsecondary systems to digitize student IDs for LA Wallet, though members raised concerns about naming a specific vendor. The meeting adjourned after SB 353 was reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's concern that we might basically be creating like NIL for high school, that students will want
• be creating like NIL for high school.<01:12:32.200> That<01:12:32.400> students<01:12:
• And with the NIL that's now interjected into college athletics, could be very damaging to college sports
• :36:51.800> the<01:36:52.400> um And with the um And with the um the<01:36:53.680> NIL
• the NIL the NIL >> Mhm.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 7 January, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, heard an invocation from Reverend Chip Stevens of First Baptist Church in Jackson, and recited the pledge of allegiance. The body then dispensed with the reading of the journal, committee reports, and bill titles, and received several guest introductions, including the president of Mississippi University for Women, the physician of the day, and the session’s pages. The main item of business was Senate Bill 2004, the Mississippi PERS Stability Act. Senator Sparks explained that the bill would provide a $500 million infusion to the PERS accumulated employers account on July 1, 2026, followed by $50 million annually for 10 years, with backup funding from unobligated general funds if needed. He said the measure was intended to help address the system’s roughly $26 billion liability and to support both state employees and local government employers, noting that the state had already taken other steps to strengthen PERS. The bill was advanced to engrossed status, read for the third time, and placed on the calendar for final passage. Senator Norwood asked whether the funding would help local governments, and Senator Sparks said it would, because the liability is shared by all employers in the system and affects local balance sheets and bond ratings. Senator Bryan then spoke at length in opposition to the broader direction of retirement policy, criticizing the committee process, the fragmentation of retirement legislation, and what he described as incentives for privatization and unfair treatment of new hires. He said he would still vote for the bill because it sends money into the system, but argued that the state should focus retirement benefits on older retirees and avoid further benefit expansions. Senator Sparks responded that the bill was a necessary cash infusion to honor commitments to employees, stabilize the system, and avoid insolvency, and said more PERS legislation would follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Meredith Senator Higden hi Senator Meredith hi<00:19:59.960> Senator<00:20:00.320> nil
• hi<00:20:02.440> Senator<00:20:02.799> Rawlings<00:20:03.640> hi hi Senator nil
• hi Senator Rawlings hi hi Senator nil hi Senator Rawlings hi Senator<00:20:05.039> Reed<00:20
• c> Senator Higden Senator Higden Senator Meredith<01:53:50.440> Senator<01:53:50.800> nil
• I'd like to explain Meredith Senator nil I'd like to explain my<01:53:52.440> no<01:53:52.639

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:

• think we're gonna have some evolving law on that over time because with the way things go now with the NIL

Bills: HB3790, HB2941, HB2959, HB3087, HB3974, HB3500, HB3697, HB3262, HB3582, HB4226, HB3037, HB4139, HB4143, HB4144, HB2936, HB3322, HB4296, HB3278, HB4202, HB4176, HB3303, HB3648, HB4119

Keywords: home repairs, consumer protection, contracts, homeowner rights, rescission, fentanyl, overdose, first responders, drug reporting, immunity, controlled substances, penalties, school abuse reporting, child abuse, neglect, mandatory reporting, student safety, school employee misconduct, administrator reporting, superintendent

Transcript Highlights:

• We've seen proposals to not have them pay tax on this NIL money that they're getting.
• And for the record, I did vote for the NIL bill. That helps LSU, hopefully. Thank you. Next bill.

Bills: SR146, SCR12, HB221, HCR115, HCR116, HCR58, HB1, HB312, HB313, HB314, HB383, HB983, HB1126, HCR3, HB2, HB3, SCR3, SB56, SCR9, SCR58, SB35, SB65, SB215, SB246, SB249, SB269, SB282, SB296, SB323, SB363, SB369, SB474, SB490, SB492, SB500, SB514, HCR27, HCR28, HCR66, HCR67, HCR72, HCR5, HCR32, HCR49, HCR50, HCR53, HCR60, HCR62, HCR64, HCR68, HCR78, HCR81, HCR86, HCR97, HCR102, HCR31, HCR47, HB476, HB481, HB487, HB492, HB549, HB579, HB608, HB621, HB624, HB626, HB632, HB637, HB656, HB722, HB745, HB804, HB818, HB821, HB833, HB864, HB867, HB874, HB893, HB909, HB951, HB968, HB969, HB978, HB979, HB988, HB989, HB1001, HB1005, HB1007, HB1024, HB1032, HB1050, HB1051, HB1056, HB1059, HB1077, HB1080, HB1081, HB1086, HB1108, HB1112, HB1153, HB1172, HB1173, HB1175, HB1192, HB1193, HB1204, HB1218, HB1242, HB1244, HB1249, HB1252, HB1254, HB42, HB45, HB71, HB79, HB158, HB160, HB169, HB227, HB251, HB289, HB330, HB394, HB410, HB429, HB769, HB971, HB1017, HB1234, HB1235, HB9, HB177, HB181, HB202, HB223, HB225, HB387, HB398, HB457, HB459, HB540, HB591, HB616, HB766, HB775, HB783, HB895, HB906, HB950, HB975, HB1052, HB1057, HB1076, HB1100, HB1139, HB1155, HB1160, HB1182, HB1186, HB1220, HB1223, HB1224, HB1228, HB1231, HB1245, HB1256, HB17, HB27, HB36, HB41, HB47, HB73, HB126, HB133, HB140, HB159, HB166, HB205, HB211, HB226, HB259, HB271, HB308, HB310, HB324, HB337, HB351, HB399, HB403, HB571, HB712, HB723, HB726, HB740, HB750, HB759, HB812, HB844, HB966, HB1006, HB1009, HB1018, HB1036, HB1038, HB1107, SB29, SB42, SB78, SB208, SB217, SB274, SB300, SB341, SB379, SB382, SB387, SB401, SB441, SB449, SB487, HB74, HB134, HB258, HB359, HB468, HB956, HB1117, SB43, SB149

Keywords: SR146, Senate Resolution 146, Louis Thomas Nelson, Thomas Nelson, condolences, memorial resolution, tribute, obituary, public service, St. Martinville, Cade, St. Martin Parish, police juror, mayor, community center, water system, school bus driver, school board, Louisiana Senate, sympathy

Transcript Highlights:

• This resolution came out of our NIL task force that we had in the offseason.
• Young, for your work, not only on this bill, but on the whole NIL task force and other bills that you

Summary: The House Education Committee met on May 12, 2026, and first approved SB 518, which gives LSU limited authority to buy and sell certain real estate within one mile of campus as a two-year pilot program. Supporters said the bill would let LSU respond more quickly to deteriorating properties near campus and improve the student experience, while keeping protections such as appraisals and fair-market-value requirements. Members asked about whether the authority would affect residential property or be expanded to other universities, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee then advanced SCR 33, creating a one-year Work-Based Learning Coordination Task Force to study and better align apprenticeships, internships, job shadowing, and related programs across state agencies and employers. Testimony emphasized the need to reduce duplication and improve coordination so students and employers can more easily connect. HR 168 also passed, directing the Board of Regents to study collegiate athletic program funding after concerns raised by athletic directors about deficits and accounting practices. Members next approved SB 488, establishing a school safety drone response pilot program to supplement school crisis plans. The bill drew detailed testimony from a vendor describing drone deployment, response times, and coordination with law enforcement; an amendment was adopted to require coordination with the Department of Education, State Police, and the Sheriffs’ Association. The committee also favorably reported HCR 97, asking BESE and Wildlife and Fisheries to study adding age-appropriate hunting, conservation, and shooting sports education in grades 5-12, with members clarifying that no live firearms would be used on campus. Finally, the committee approved SB 112, allowing local school boards to adopt parental-consent release-time policies for religious instruction, with amendments adding instructor qualifications, reporting requirements, electronic delivery flexibility, and constitutional safeguards. It also reported SB 504, expanding individual graduation plans to include vocational options and apply to charter schools, with an amendment for standalone elementary charters. The committee then passed SB 346 and SB 347, both dealing with deepfakes—one prohibiting their use against K-12 students and the other adding unlawful deepfakes to campus power-based violence rules—and SB 353, authorizing postsecondary systems to digitize student IDs for use in LA Wallet. Several members raised concerns about naming LA Wallet specifically, but the bill was still reported favorably. The meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're shopping different markets to move it, and especially with NIL money in play, that puts us at
• They're shopping different markets to move it, and especially with NIL money in play, that puts us at
• move it and different markets to move it and especially<00:12:06.480> with<00:12:07.440> NIL
• <00:12:10.160> Uh especially with NIL money in play.
• Uh especially with NIL money in play.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard SB 2627, which would exempt Hawaii Tourism Authority contracts and agreements for sports projects, events, and related marketing from the state procurement code and other competitive bidding requirements. HTA, DBEDT, and the State Procurement Office testified in support or with comments, while one individual offered general support for sports tourism. Senators focused on narrowing the bill so the exemption would apply more specifically to sports-related projects and marketing, rather than broad marketing activities, and discussed whether the bill should require notice to the State Procurement Office or approval by the chief procurement officer. Procurement officials said a reporting requirement would be the most expeditious option, while still allowing post-event monitoring and public posting of exemptions. Members also discussed whether the exemption should be limited to situations involving sole-source sports entities, such as major leagues or international sports organizations, to better justify bypassing procurement rules. The committee did not take a final vote in the portion provided, but members and testifiers agreed to continue working on the language. The hearing then moved to SB 2074 relating to state facilities and naming rights for the Aloha Stadium and Hawaii Convention Center. The Stadium Authority, HTA, and DBEDT testified in support, while the Outdoor Circle and other organizations opposed the measure. Opponents argued the bill could create fiscal and legal risk, echoing concerns raised in prior legislation and by the attorney general, and warned it would mark a major shift by treating public facilities as commercial branding opportunities. Supporters said naming rights could generate significant revenue to help fund the stadium project and reduce the burden on the state and developers. Senators questioned how signage would be handled, especially whether it would be exterior-facing or limited to inward-facing signage, and the Stadium Authority said it was willing to work with the Outdoor Circle on language that would preserve community aesthetics while allowing revenue generation. A senator cited a prior study estimating naming rights could bring in about $1.5 million per year over 20 years, and asked what that revenue would buy for the public; the Stadium Authority responded that it would help advance the project toward a larger, improved stadium. No final action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've seen proposals to not have them pay tax on this NIL money that they're getting.
• And for the record, I did vote for the NIL bill. That helps LSU, hopefully. Thank you. Next bill.

Bills: SR146, SCR12, HB221, HCR115, HCR116, HCR58, HB1, HB312, HB313, HB314, HB383, HB983, HB1126, HCR3, HB2, HB3, SCR3, SB56, SCR9, SCR58, SB35, SB65, SB215, SB246, SB249, SB269, SB282, SB296, SB323, SB363, SB369, SB474, SB490, SB492, SB500, SB514, HCR27, HCR28, HCR66, HCR67, HCR72, HCR5, HCR32, HCR49, HCR50, HCR53, HCR60, HCR62, HCR64, HCR68, HCR78, HCR81, HCR86, HCR97, HCR102, HCR31, HCR47, HB476, HB481, HB487, HB492, HB549, HB579, HB608, HB621, HB624, HB626, HB632, HB637, HB656, HB722, HB745, HB804, HB818, HB821, HB833, HB864, HB867, HB874, HB893, HB909, HB951, HB968, HB969, HB978, HB979, HB988, HB989, HB1001, HB1005, HB1007, HB1024, HB1032, HB1050, HB1051, HB1056, HB1059, HB1077, HB1080, HB1081, HB1086, HB1108, HB1112, HB1153, HB1172, HB1173, HB1175, HB1192, HB1193, HB1204, HB1218, HB1242, HB1244, HB1249, HB1252, HB1254, HB42, HB45, HB71, HB79, HB158, HB160, HB169, HB227, HB251, HB289, HB330, HB394, HB410, HB429, HB769, HB971, HB1017, HB1234, HB1235, HB9, HB177, HB181, HB202, HB223, HB225, HB387, HB398, HB457, HB459, HB540, HB591, HB616, HB766, HB775, HB783, HB895, HB906, HB950, HB975, HB1052, HB1057, HB1076, HB1100, HB1139, HB1155, HB1160, HB1182, HB1186, HB1220, HB1223, HB1224, HB1228, HB1231, HB1245, HB1256, HB17, HB27, HB36, HB41, HB47, HB73, HB126, HB133, HB140, HB159, HB166, HB205, HB211, HB226, HB259, HB271, HB308, HB310, HB324, HB337, HB351, HB399, HB403, HB571, HB712, HB723, HB726, HB740, HB750, HB759, HB812, HB844, HB966, HB1006, HB1009, HB1018, HB1036, HB1038, HB1107, SB29, SB42, SB78, SB208, SB217, SB274, SB300, SB341, SB379, SB382, SB387, SB401, SB441, SB449, SB487, HB74, HB134, HB258, HB359, HB468, HB956, HB1117, SB43, SB149

Keywords: SR146, Senate Resolution 146, Louis Thomas Nelson, Thomas Nelson, condolences, memorial resolution, tribute, obituary, public service, St. Martinville, Cade, St. Martin Parish, police juror, mayor, community center, water system, school bus driver, school board, Louisiana Senate, sympathy

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, a prayer by campus pastor Anthony Brown, and the Pledge of Allegiance. After the journal was read, the chamber took up a series of resolutions and bills, beginning with measures directing studies on mineral servitudes, student non-enrollment determinations, autism services, school nurse orientation, declining school enrollment, behavioral health and homelessness, floodplain map updates, opioid treatment in correctional facilities, oversized vehicle permits, rural economic development, hunting education in schools, and fraud prevention for seniors. Several local and commemorative resolutions were also adopted, including Tangipahoa Parish Fair Day, recognition of Lane Frenchy Boudreau’s military service, and a memorial resolution honoring Bob Bowman. Personal privilege remarks also recognized festival royalty, the Westlake High School baseball team, Dr. E. Joseph Savoy, and 101-year-old Thelma Smith Williams. The Senate concurred in or adopted numerous House concurrent resolutions, often after brief explanations and, in some cases, amendments. These included measures on criminal history background checks for ambulance personnel, autism support services, school nurse orientation, acute care access for individuals with developmental disabilities, child abuse reporting training, physical therapy student loan eligibility, migratory waterfowl research, and a task force on senior fraud prevention. The chamber also adopted resolutions related to seafood competitiveness, bridge backup motors, I-12 improvements, and a Louisiana Energy Protection Act-style climate litigation measure, along with a resolution supporting Preeclampsia Day and a new Woman’s Hospital initiative. The Senate then moved through a long calendar of House bills on third reading and final passage. Bills passed included measures on Safe Haven Law postings in schools, official journal pricing, the Governor’s Task Force on Impaired Driving, the Bayou Growth Opportunity Workforce Program, sexual assault survivor rights, intercollegiate athletics revenue-sharing records, renewable energy recycling, school emergency operations plans, the Louisiana FIRST data system, oilfield site restoration fees, inmate programming, automatic reinstatement of suspended driver’s licenses, special vehicle permits, climate-change damages, the Louisiana Center for State Schools, the Sexual Assault Survivor Empowerment Task Force, fire limits, police chief appointment in Folsom, digitized credentials, Sewage and Water Board procurement, behavioral health crisis insurance coverage, the Louisiana Talent Accelerator Office, indigent defender fee thresholds, prestige license plates, public license tag agent fees, highway naming, public defender terminology cleanup, an improvement district in Orleans Parish, a Democratic Party license plate, DWI-related substance definitions, commercial driver’s license rules, and a Shreveport demolition/local property bill. Several measures drew debate, especially HB 608 on athletics revenue-sharing transparency, which passed 32-13 after concerns about public records and taxpayer transparency. The final bill mentioned, HB 1059 on TOPS math requirements, was introduced at the end of the transcript but its disposition was not shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know if you're familiar; I assume you're familiar with bills for NILS, the billing for non-independently
• Bills for NILS are supposed to be only hiring employees.

Transcript Highlights:

• some of you didn't agree with the budget, some of you didn't agree with the sports betting bill or NIL

Keywords: 970, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c> representative representative tooy yes representative representative tooy yes representative nil
• nil nil vano<00:25:16.000> representative vano representative vano representative walner<00:25

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Committee first took up a nongermane amendment to House Bill 71 that would require state vendors, through contract language, to comply with the New Hampshire Patient Bill of Rights. Representative Edwards said the amendment was revised after feedback from the hospital association and DHHS, applies only to new contracts or amendments, and includes a repeal date of November 30, 2026 so it would function only for the current budget cycle. John Williams of Legislative Affairs said the changes reflected work with DHHS procurement staff and with hospital stakeholders, including the removal of the term "addenda" in favor of "amendment" and clarification on prospective application. The committee did not vote on the amendment at that time, noting it would be attached later to HB 71. The committee then moved into executive session and acted on several bills. HB 67, which converts a pilot program for accessible voting machines in local elections into a permanent program, was amended to remove a $100,000 appropriation and adjust dates; the amendment and the bill as amended both passed unanimously, 25-0, and the bill was suggested for the consent calendar. HB 111, extending the Right-to-Know Ombudsman position, was retained and slated to be incorporated into HB 2 after a unanimous 25-0 vote, with the ombudsman noting the office could expire July 1 if the budget were delayed. HB 164, creating a process for a publicly accessible website for local records retention and access, was also retained for HB 2 by a 25-0 vote because it carries an appropriation. HB 216 was retained for further work because the committee could not get reliable cost information from the retirement system or the Labor Department; members said the fiscal note looked alarming, though the committee believed the actual cost might be near zero. HB 282, which raises the biennium cap on critical injury benefits for first responders from $500,000 to $1 million without increasing any individual benefit, was voted ought to pass 25-0 and will require a report. HB 619, dealing with solid waste issues and a possible self-funding accounting unit, was retained for HB 2 by a 25-0 vote. HB 650, an annual dedicated-funds cleanup bill that also caps a robotics fund at $1 million, passed ought to pass 25-0 and was placed on consent. Finally, HB 129, defining "evidence-based" in public education, was retained 25-0 while members continued working on language, and HB 133, concerning new resident driver’s license transfer requirements and DMV notices, drew a split policy discussion: the minority raised constitutional, administrative, and fiscal concerns, while the majority moved to retain it for HB 2 consideration.