Transcript Highlights:

• For example, the state of Iowa, you just have to get close to the border and you can bet on your mobile
• example, the state of Iowa, you just example, the state of Iowa, you just have<00:20:41.680><c> to</c

Transcript Highlights:

• The arena just happens to be next to the school, and we passed this in 2020, so those of you sitting
• and this actually is we passed school and this actually is we passed this<00:10:14.079><c> in</c><00
• Land adjacent to the school was purchased, and the facility was constructed in northern Minnesota, in
• It's the only large non-school venue capable of hosting a variety of events indoors, providing shelter
• This was required because it is within 1,500 feet of a school.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> um so that's for all the school um so that's for all the school districts<01:10:14.159><c> yes</
• Um, we, at least in my experience in education, there are what we call magnet schools, school districts
• Um, we, at least in my experience in education, there are what we call magnet schools, school districts
• schools school districts which have a schools school districts which have a wonderful<01:21:51.120><c
• </c> them does that include another school them does that include another school district<01:32:46.000

Summary: The work session focused on special education, especially the differentiated aid component and special education aid, which members noted is still often called “catastrophic aid.” The chair said the committee was trying to better understand how special education costs are growing, how districts are delivering services through SAUs or internally, and how reimbursement formulas affect local costs. Members also discussed the need for better data before making decisions on several education funding bills, and Representative Brown was tasked with capturing questions for follow-up information from the department or elsewhere. Testimony from the state special education director, Becky Fad, centered on why student counts in various disability categories have shifted over time. She said the categories themselves have not changed much, but autism has increased because of greater understanding and identification, developmental delay has grown because it applies to children under age 10 who may not yet have a clear diagnosis, and some students previously classified under speech/language or other health impairment are now identified in more specific categories such as autism. She emphasized that the IEP is based on a child’s individual needs, so a change in category would not necessarily change services, though it may help educators support the student differently. Members asked about whether the shifts reflect better diagnostic capability, whether the department should gather more data on the reasons for the changes, and whether autism-spectrum data could be broken down further. Fad said the department does not currently have data on the causes of the shifts or on where students fall within the autism spectrum, but that collecting and analyzing such data is on its list of priorities and a new data manager had recently been hired. She also explained that each child is counted only once on the chart by primary disability, that the IEP or eligibility team determines the primary category based on evaluations, and that any child can be referred for special education by a parent, teacher, or doctor, after which the district must meet within 15 days to decide whether to evaluate. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I go to school in Nampa at Skyview High School.
• I am super excited to be here and kind of share my plans after high school.
• I would just say I haven't seen, I haven't heard of the same issues with private school high school diplomas
• , but I'd certainly... ...of the private school high school diplomas, but I'm certainly happy to make
• By clarifying that a homeschool high school diploma is equivalent to a diploma from any other high school

Committee: Senate Commerce and Human Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• And along that way, whether it be in Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Arkansas, every single time I pay for
• Representative Mack, I had you at third, but we have a young lady that needs to get back to school, so
• Self-trained, because they don't do much in school. The board is clear.
• He is a student at Grambling State University, and he is on the right track to go to medical school.
• And we are expecting that either he will go to Morehouse School of Medicine or to Xavier Ochsner.

Bills: SB2 , SB40 , SB50 , SB55 , SB69 , SB96 , SB101 , SB103 , SB104 , SB159 , SB160 , SB182

Committee: House Transportation, Highways & Public Works

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on March 11 with a quorum present and heard a series of specialty license plate bills. Committee members were reminded to turn off cell phones and testimony cards were explained. Several Department of Public Safety and Corrections/Office of Motor Vehicles amendments were adopted across the bills to require OMV to create plates only when statutory conditions are met and its electronic registration system is updated. HB 801 by Rep. Rhett Martinez created a classic black specialty license plate, with revenue directed to state police high-speed pursuit training. Members discussed the bill’s connection to a fatal high-speed chase in Martinez’s district and the need for better training and technology for law enforcement. The committee adopted amendments, including a change from “holding” to Zachary, and reported the bill favorably with amendments. HB 891 by Rep. Jacob Landry created wildlife/conservation specialty plates and adjusted revenue distribution to support Quail Forever, Ducks Unlimited, and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries conservation fund. Testimony from Ducks Unlimited and Quail Forever emphasized habitat work, fundraising leverage, and conservation partnerships; the bill was reported with amendments after some questioning about waterfowl management and habitat projects. HB 587 by Rep. Dickerson created a PANS/PANDAS specialty plate to raise awareness and return money to the general fund. The bill was supported by testimony from Caitlin Jafreda, who described her daughter’s sudden onset illness, the difficulty of diagnosis, and how insurance coverage for IVIG treatment had recently helped another family. The committee also heard HB 331 by Rep. Mack for a Louisiana GOP specialty plate, HB 629 by Rep. Lyons for the Crew of Athena, and HB 428 by Rep. Baham for an LSU baseball national champions plate recognizing the 2023 and 2025 College World Series teams. All were amended and reported favorably. Rep. Walters voluntarily deferred HB 129, HB 130, and HB 854, and the committee adjourned after Rep. Broussard moved to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you worked in a non-administrative position at a school, this was set to expire this year.
• This bill extends that exception for employment specifically in the Teachers' Retirement System, the School
• The School Employees' Retirement System serves, and then Public Employees' Retirement System, PERS, through
• It's places like Iowa and Michigan. It's all throughout the country. Also in 2024, the U.S.
• Before I start, this is Fred Yancey, and I'm talking today on behalf of school retirees and school administrators

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy

Summary: The Select Committee on Pension Policy opened its 2025 interim with roll call, approval of the prior minutes, and a brief administrative update on meeting procedures, new members, and a planned change to hold officer elections in June rather than immediately. Staff then presented a high-level recap of the 2025 legislative session, focusing on pension-related bills affecting Plans 1, 2, and 3, including the failed Plans 1 COLA and month-of-death bills, enacted changes on retire/rehire rules, state actuary appointments, service credit purchases, excess compensation, and a budget proviso directing study of proposed LEOFF 1 merger/termination concepts. Staff also highlighted ESSB 5357, which changes funding policy and the assumed rate of return, and noted that a deeper briefing on that complex bill may be needed. The committee then received an interim kickoff presentation explaining the SCPP’s role, membership, meeting structure, public participation, and the typical process for studying issues. Staff reviewed the draft interim work plan, which will be shaped by statutory studies, annual agency reports, legislative outcomes, stakeholder requests, and committee goals. Key upcoming work includes the mandated study of LEOFF 1 merger and termination concepts, the state actuary’s odd-year economic assumption recommendations, annual updates from DRS, OSA, the LEOFF 2 Board, and the State Investment Board, and other recurring reports such as the DRS benchmarking study and actuarial valuation materials. Members also discussed the importance of understanding asset smoothing and long-term funding impacts, and staff said updated contribution projections will be available later in the fall. During public comment, several speakers urged the committee and the State Investment Board to address climate-related financial risk and divest from fossil fuels, arguing that current coal, oil, and gas holdings are too large and that existing screening methods undercount exposure. One commenter also asked the committee to consider climate risk in the upcoming long-term economic assumptions study. Another public commenter, representing school retirees and administrators, urged continued study of COLA proposals and asked the committee to review the recently enacted funding bill and a separate bill related to COLA financing. The meeting concluded with a short break and adjournment of the full committee portion before the executive committee session.

Transcript Highlights:

• , but it in in in real from high school, but it in in in real terms,<00:09:34.040><c> it's</c><00:09:
• I’ve got Brody James here from Barron County, still in high school, started his own business when he
• I’ve got Brody James here from Barron County, still in high school, started his own business when he
• We have our LFPA programs that are federally funded, our farm-to-school programs.
• You know, you think Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas in that area.

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum and adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 28, which would create a framework for the $5 million in agricultural economic development funding included in the 2024 budget. Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell testified that the bill is intended to support agriculture-focused economic development, especially processing and further processing projects, by giving the Department of Agriculture tools to identify opportunities, convene partners, and offer incentives. He emphasized the role of the new economic development division in the department and said the effort is meant to complement, not replace, the work of the state Economic Development Cabinet. Shell and several senators described the bill as a rural development tool aimed at helping smaller communities attract projects that fit their scale. He cited examples such as poultry processing, grain and elevator operations, milling, and specialty crop ventures, arguing that local processing can create jobs, strengthen markets for farmers, and keep more value in Kentucky. Senators discussed the need for return-on-investment metrics and clawback provisions for unsuccessful projects, and Shell said the framework includes those concepts. He also said the department is working on opportunities in sustainable aviation fuel, biofuels, and other markets that could bring more acres into production. Members also raised questions about small-farm innovation, raw milk, and direct-to-consumer opportunities. Shell said raw milk testing and related consumer protection issues are more closely tied to the University of Kentucky and the department’s consumer/environmental protection functions than to the bill’s economic development focus, but he said the department can help expand small-farm programs such as Kentucky Proud, Buy Local, KOAP, CAP, food-as-medicine efforts, LFPA, and farm-to-school initiatives. The discussion also turned to beef processing and feedlot development, with Shell saying Kentucky wants a beef processor but first needs to prove it can feed cattle at scale; he said changing conditions in western states could create an opening for Kentucky if it can build the necessary supply chain.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> gymnastics coach for the public schools gymnastics coach for the public schools and<00:40:52.240
• 00:56:40.319><c> a</c> than 500 schools across Minnesota with a than 500 schools across Minnesota with
• </c> partnership with St Paul Public Schools partnership with St Paul Public Schools where<01:22:26.679
• </c> we still uh are able to offer the school we still uh are able to offer the school districts<01:29
• ><c> to</c><01:31:13.040><c> learn</c> even in the bigger schools is to learn even in the bigger schools

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

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Iowa is another, and I... States. Iowa is another.

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Transcript Highlights:

• Pennsylvania has initial and ongoing training for all providers the same way this bill is written, and Iowa
• Pennsylvania has initial and ongoing training for all providers the same way this bill is written, and Iowa

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 538, a Liquor Commission cleanup bill. Chair Joseph Mica and CFO Tina Deir explained that the bill updates outdated statutory titles and positions after the commission’s 2014 restructuring, deleting references to the former commissioner and COO roles, adding a director of administration and a director of finance and audit, and keeping the new positions at the same labor grade pending review by the Joint Committee on Employee Classification (JCEC). Members discussed the proper sequence for JCEC review, but generally treated the bill as housekeeping. The committee then voted ought to pass, and the roll call was unanimous, 16-0. The committee next took up House Bill 493, which would require continuing education related to child abuse/ACE recognition for physicians and other providers. Testimony and committee discussion focused on whether the bill was too vague, whether it improperly intruded on the Board of Medicine’s authority to set professional education requirements, and whether it would effectively mandate a narrow training course that is currently voluntary and free. Supporters argued the bill addressed a real problem and cited testimony about missed abuse cases, while opponents said the board should handle the issue through its own rules and that the bill was poorly drafted. A motion of inexpedient to legislate passed 9-7, and the committee noted a minority report would be needed. The meeting ended with procedural and scheduling announcements, including that the committee would be dealing with budget hearings the following week and had a large number of Senate bills scheduled for later in the month.

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:15:43.720><c> states</c><00:15:44.560><c> of</c><00:15:45.040><c> Minnesota</c><00:15:45.720><c> Iowa
• </c><00:15:46.319><c> North</c><00:15:46.560><c> Dakota</c> um states of Minnesota Iowa North Dakota
• um states of Minnesota Iowa North Dakota South<00:15:47.199><c> Dakota</c><00:15:47.959><c> Montana</
• </c><01:05:02.839><c> or</c> up whether it's in Minnesota or Iowa or up whether it's in Minnesota or
• Iowa or Wisconsin<01:05:04.000><c> or</c><01:05:04.200><c> wherever</c><01:05:04.799><c> the</c><01:05

Bills: HF75

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, I am a dirt bike school coach.
• </c> 8081 um again I am a dirt bike School 8081 um again I am a dirt bike School coach<00:16:42.800><
• I'm a resident of Oakdale, Minnesota, and a graduate of Tartan High School.
• </c><01:37:57.239><c> and</c> um to get to work to get to school and um to get to work to get to school
• </c><01:40:38.760><c> and</c> not an outlier at her high school and not an outlier at her high school

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Oana has done great things with the downtown streetscape and with the high school.
• </c> streetscape and with the high school streetscape and with the high school it's<00:21:33.360><c>
• Association, the Minnesota Association of School Administrators, the Association of Metropolitan School
• </c> record spending in school districts last record spending in school districts last year<01:20:22.239
• I just want to comment, if I could, on our county and school district employees.

Bills: HF1976

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm pleased to lead this bill with my colleague, Representative Feenstra, from Iowa.
• I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL IN 1957.
• She was at a charter school my kids go to.
• SHE WAS AT A CHARTER SCHOOL MY KIDS GO TO.
• From community organizer to school board member. School board member to county supervisor.

Bills: HR997 , HR517 , HR1152 , HB1491 , HR1155 , HR998 , HR1234

Keywords: House of Representatives, code of conduct, suspension of rules, time zone clocks, rules reform, legislative efficiency, hospital, healthcare, anniversary, Sisters of Mercy, community outreach, American cowboy, cattle trails, historical recognition, 250th anniversary, cultural heritage, economic impact, tourism, agriculture, disaster relief

Transcript Highlights:

• We are one of the NSECD schools, non-public school early childhood development schools.
• school.
• school.
• Schools can take any standardized tests, the ACT, IOWA, and report results into a single database.
• Schools can take any standardized tests, the ACT, IOWA, and report results into a single database.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• That includes public school, charter school, and private schools.
• That includes public<01:27:16.960><c> school,</c><01:27:17.280><c> charter</c><01:27:17.679><c> school
• ,</c><01:27:17.920><c> and</c> public school, charter school, and public school, charter school, and
• private<01:27:18.560><c> schools.
• As you know, with HR1, private schools.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• and before-school programs.
• before school programs.
• We're not saying get rid of public schools. Public schools are wonderful.
• schools during school hours.
• Within the school system?

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The committee heard SB 1067, which would require annual math screening for kindergarten through second grade students beginning in 2028-29 to identify early numeracy difficulties and connect students to evidence-based supports. Senator Weber and supporters, including EdVoice, UC Davis researcher Charles Wilkes, and several education and community advocates, argued that California’s math performance is too low and that early screening would help close gaps before they widen. Opponents, including the California Mathematics Council, county superintendents, and the CTA, said the bill could narrow instruction, overemphasize deficit-based measures, and should instead be paired with stronger investments in teacher training and implementation of the California Mathematics Framework. Committee members generally expressed support for the bill’s goals while discussing how the screener would work and what kinds of follow-up supports would be needed. The committee also heard SB 1110 on child care subsidy administration, which would restructure funding for alternative payment programs and core contracts as the state moves to enrollment-based funding. Supporters said the bill would stabilize child care providers, improve payment timelines, and better reflect the administrative work of enrolling families and managing services; there was no opposition testimony. SB 1374, supported by the CSU and UC systems, would allow public higher education institutions to seek temporary restraining orders when credible threats are directed at a campus rather than a specific person. Supporters described recent campus threats that created safety concerns but did not fit current restraining-order law; there was no opposition. Senator Nilo presented SB 1321, which would direct the State Auditor to review remedial course use and student preparedness at selected UC and CSU campuses after a UC San Diego report showed a sharp decline in incoming students’ math readiness. Supporters argued the audit would help identify gaps in college readiness and the effects of K-12 changes, while some members raised concerns about bypassing the usual legislative audit process; the bill was held on call. The committee then took up SB 1086 on microschools, which would define microschools and direct model ordinances for local land-use regulation. Supporters said it would create a clearer path for small, individualized learning communities, but several members questioned whether the concept was sufficiently defined and whether the state had enough information to draft model ordinances; the bill was also placed on call after a quorum was established. Finally, SB 1181 was presented as a limited pilot program in Central Valley counties to connect schools with regional threat assessment centers when credible safety concerns arise. The author and supporters, including the mother of a student killed in a shooting and several students, said it would improve early intervention and communication; committee members raised privacy and federal-sharing concerns but indicated support, and the bill was moved forward on a vote once quorum was present.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we think about Iowa, Iowa has a two-year statute of limitations.
• I wound up in law school because there's no math on the LSAT. This is math even lawyers can do.
• It's taking it off of an old-school lock-up sick call and moving it toward more of a... ...more of a
• I think it was until my kids at school. I've known you as Cindy Arons for a very long time.
• A parole system, if it's like the one we had before, everyone is eligible to go to school, everyone is

Summary: The committee held a work session on tort liability and parole, with the chair explaining that the topics were linked because criminal justice reform and state liability often intersect, especially in cases involving child welfare and corrections. Staff first outlined Washington’s tort liability framework, including the state’s broad waiver of sovereign immunity, statutes governing mandatory reporting and investigation of abuse, the childhood sexual abuse statute of limitations, and the lack of caps on non-economic damages. Staff and presenters also compared Washington to other states and noted that Washington remains among the broadest states for state liability and childhood sexual abuse claims. Presenters from the Attorney General’s office, Washington State Association for Justice, DCYF, DSHS, and DOC discussed how tort exposure has grown, especially in claims involving DCYF, historical child abuse, juvenile rehabilitation, vulnerable adults, employment discrimination, medical negligence, and negligent supervision. DCYF and AG staff said claims and payouts are rising, with many claims tied to older abuse and new theories of liability, while defense counsel emphasized the human harm behind the claims and argued that tort cases have historically driven accountability and reform. Agency witnesses said they face large volumes of old claims with limited records, rising verdicts and settlements, and staffing and systems challenges, and they highlighted efforts such as early resolution programs, electronic health records, medication-assisted treatment, and improved incident review processes. The committee then shifted to parole. Sentencing experts reviewed Washington’s move from indeterminate sentencing to the current determinate sentencing system under the Sentencing Reform Act, and explained how parole could be integrated with sentencing guidelines through different models used in other states. They also summarized Criminal Sentencing Task Force recommendations related to a determinate-plus approach for three-strikes and persistent offender laws and a second-chance review process, noting there was no consensus on those ideas. Judges from the Minority and Justice Commission and the Superior Court Judges Association said a parole system could support rehabilitation and reduce disparities if it includes data collection, fairness, transparency, due process, and meaningful judicial review; they also pointed to research suggesting parole and structured reentry can reduce recidivism and costs, while warning that access and outcomes can vary by geography and other factors.

Transcript Highlights:

• of financial resources leads to further consequences, such as children being able to reach their schools
• Remember, the infrastructure that we're talking about, where our school buses go, our regular citizens
• No emergency people, no school, no nothing would get there.
• California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana.
• When I woke up and got all cleaned up, I said, F this, I'm going to law school.

Bills: HB2034 , HB2436 , HB3010 , HB3033 , HB3138 , HB3177 , HB3426 , HB3686 , HB3858 , HB4176 , HB4257 , HB4264 , HB4804 , HCR98

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: groundwater, foreign ownership, national security, water permits, environmental health, deadly conduct, firearm, recklessness, peace officer, prosecution, Penal Code, Texas laws, disaster recovery, infrastructure, rural communities, grants, state funding, emergency management, HB 3033, Texas Department of Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> first and only public arts high school, first and only public arts high school, Shy<00:31:06.000
• As a graduate of the Eastern Area School District, Officer Schlag now serves in the same schools that
• School District for receiving the 2026 School District for receiving the 2026 National<01:02:32.160><
• National Association of School Resource National Association of School Resource Officers<01:02:35.119
• </c> graduate of the Eastern Area School graduate of the Eastern Area School District,<01:03:03.599><

Bills: HB6047 , HR1041 , HR1329

Keywords: veterans, disability compensation, dependency compensation, housing loans, benefits expansion, Sharri Briley, Eric Edmundson, government assistance, Scouting, youth development, Eagle Scouts, civic leadership, community service, American heritage, mental health, mental health awareness month, May 2026, suicide prevention, behavioral health, depression