Transcript Highlights:

• Dolphonso, who took time to work with me, an English language learner, creating opportunities for success
• and this country have allowed for the daughter of immigrants, first-generation college-bound, ESL learner

Summary: The Senate held a special ceremonial session to swear in Monique Limón as the 50th President Pro Tempore of the California State Senate and the first Latina to hold the position. The proceedings included a roll call establishing quorum, a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, a land acknowledgement, musical performances, and remarks from numerous senators and invited leaders. Speakers repeatedly highlighted the historic nature of the moment, Limón’s background as the daughter of immigrants and a former school board member and higher-education advocate, and her leadership on issues such as education, child care, labor, wildfire response, environmental protection, and immigrant rights. Several senators, including Mike McGuire, Caroline Menjivar, Sasha Renée Pérez, Steve Cabaldon, Catherine Blakespear, and Scott Wiener, praised Limón as a unifier, coalition-builder, and effective legislator. They emphasized her preparation, calm demeanor, and ability to work across differences, while also noting the broader significance of women’s leadership and gender parity in the Senate. Some remarks referenced current political and fiscal challenges facing California, including attacks on immigrants, reproductive freedom, health care, and the state budget. Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero administered the oath of office, after which Limón was formally introduced as the new pro tem. In her acceptance remarks, Limón thanked her predecessor, Governor Newsom, legislative leaders, her family, and the many guests in attendance. She spoke about her immigrant family, her Central Coast district, her work in education and higher education, and her commitment to protecting Californians, especially immigrants, children, working families, and communities facing economic and environmental hardship. The session concluded with an announcement that the Senate would recess and reconvene on January 8, 2026, after a reception in the Capitol Rotunda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Dolphonso, who took time to work with me, an English language learner, creating opportunities for success
• and this country have allowed for the daughter of immigrants, first-generation college-bound, ESL learner

Summary: The California State Senate held a special ceremonial session to swear in Monique Limón as the 50th President Pro Tempore, described throughout the event as the first Latina to hold the post and only the second woman to lead the chamber. The session opened with acknowledgments of statewide officials, tribal leaders, members of Congress, former legislative leaders, and other guests, followed by a quorum call, suspension of Senate Rule 55 to allow guests and media on the floor, a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a land acknowledgement honoring the Miwok, Nisenan, Patwin, and Southern Maidu peoples. The ceremony included musical performances by Mariachi Bonitas and the Sacramento Women’s Choir/Genesis Church, after which several senators delivered remarks praising Limón’s leadership, coalition-building, work on education, labor, child care, wildfire response, and her role as a trailblazer for women and Latinas in California politics. Speakers also referenced the state’s fiscal challenges, federal policy concerns, and the importance of inclusive leadership. Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero administered the oath of office, and Limón was formally introduced as President Pro Tempore. In her acceptance remarks, Limón thanked her predecessor Mike McGuire, Governor Gavin Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, and her colleagues, family, and supporters. She emphasized her immigrant family background, the importance of education, child care, consumer protection, labor rights, and support for working families, and said California must continue to protect immigrants and expand opportunity. The Senate then announced a reception in the Capitol Rotunda and adjourned/recessed until January 8, 2026 at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• teacher when I was a student in high school, whose passion for Teaching helped us become lifelong learners
• Beyond. his professional achievements, Chief Kester is a man of education and a lifelong learner.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• library and they should be located<01:30:36.639><c> in</c><01:30:36.760><c> the</c><01:30:36.960><c> adult
• section of a public located in the adult section of a public library<01:30:39.560><c> this</c><01:30
• We want to educate students to be lifelong learners, and they do have to be able to explore the universe
• It's probably an extremely appropriate book for high school-age students or even for adults.
• </c><02:37:38.279><c> I've</c> age students or even for adults I've age students or even for adults I've

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So really hoping that we can improve the outcomes of our young early learners by improving the... ...
• improve the outcomes of our young early learners by improving the outcomes of our adult early learning
• We have changed the sentencing guidelines for this offense in the adult range to lower than what this
• And so this is kind of right-sizes the grid to reflect the changes we've made in the adult sentence.
• We have changed the sentencing guidelines for this offense in the adult range to lower than what this

Summary: The committee began with a public hearing on Substitute House Bill 1592, which would change how state public defense funds are distributed and, in the substitute version, keep current law on state funding responsibility while revising the allocation formula. Staff explained the bill would shift county and city distributions to a pro rata, caseload-based model, allow very low-density counties to request OPD to provide some or all public defense services, require additional data collection and reporting, and direct OPD to study caseload reductions and retention. Representative Peterson said the bill is meant to create a better structure for future state support of indigent defense without the very large cost of the original proposal. Testimony from counties, cities, OPD, defenders, and local officials was strongly supportive, emphasizing a statewide public defense crisis, rising local costs, staffing shortages, and the need for a fairer funding model. The committee then heard Substitute House Bill 1742 on environmentally sustainable urban design and Substitute House Bill 1906 on water system regulation and water rates. HB 1742 would create a center in Ecology to promote sustainable urban design, fund design competitions and grants, and establish an advisory council; the sponsor said the bill reflects a desire to support a pilot project through alternative funding, and there was no public testimony. HB 1906 would require more planning and notice for Group A water systems, add customer notice and right-of-first-refusal provisions for some ownership changes, and direct the UTC to consider external funding sources, capital planning, and rate smoothing when setting water rates. Water utility and PUD witnesses supported the goal of improving transparency and consolidation of failing small systems, while noting the substitute reduced some fiscal concerns. The committee also heard HB 2248 on Secretary of State corporate and charity filings, HB 2438 creating the SEED scholarship for early childhood education students, and HB 2515 addressing emerging large energy use facilities such as data centers. HB 2248 would redirect part of annual filing fees to the Secretary of State revolving fund, require initial reports from nonprofits and LLPs, and change trademark certificate procedures; the fiscal note showed modest revenue losses, and the division supported restoring the fee split for operational funding. HB 2438 would transfer $10 million annually from the GET account to fund scholarships and wraparound services for early childhood education degree seekers, with testimony from early learning advocates and a student describing workforce shortages and personal financial barriers. HB 2515 drew extensive testimony both for and against: supporters said it would protect ratepayers, water resources, and grid reliability by requiring tariffs, reporting, clean-energy requirements, and a fee on large energy users; opponents argued it singled out data centers, could hurt investment and jobs, and included unrelated labor and procurement provisions. After public testimony, the committee moved into executive-session briefing on several bills and amendments, including HB 1903 on statewide low-income energy assistance, HB 1909 on a court unification task force, HB 1982 on vacating certain convictions tied to treaty Indian rights, HB 2034 on LEOFF Plan 1 retirement changes, HB 2105 on employer notice of federal I-9 audits, HB 2210 on ranked-choice voting, HB 2215 on Climate Commitment Act fuel supplier obligations, and HB 2271 on post-consumer recycled content requirements. Staff summarized proposed substitutes and amendments, with several changes aimed at reducing or shifting fiscal impacts, narrowing agency duties, or striking provisions entirely.

Transcript Highlights:

• I serve 720 middle school students, about half of whom are English language learners and many from immigrant
• 00:04:17.600><c> language</c> half of whom are English language half of whom are English language learners
• and many from immigrant learners and many from immigrant families.<00:04:21.040><c> Um,</c><00:04:21.440
• When every adult in the school feels that they are there to build a relationship with a student versus
• students where we do need that personal one-on-one, long-term, sustained relationship with a caring adult

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My students need adults in their lives that believe in and care about them, even on their toughest days
• Apprentices are thoughtfully paired with... world my students need adults in their world my students
• need adults in their lives<00:20:57.320><c> that</c><00:20:57.520><c> believe</c><00:20:57.840><c> in
• /c><00:23:23.000><c> a</c><00:23:23.200><c> ceiling</c> I think it's important to note that I'm an adult
• </c> way I teach uh the minoritized Learners way I teach uh the minoritized Learners in<01:42:23.199>

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How can we improve those teachers' abilities to meet the needs of those learners first instead of getting
• But that's where it starts because they need to come out ready to educate all learners, not just the
• </c><02:06:18.960><c> in</c><02:06:19.119><c> a</c> meet the needs of all learners in a meet the needs
• of all learners in a classroom<02:06:20.320><c> versus</c><02:06:20.880><c> having</c><02:06:21.280>
• , not just the average all learners, not just the average typical<02:09:08.719><c> kid.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee opened its second meeting on House Bill 742, which would require catastrophic special education aid to be drawn from the education trust fund, and discussed whether to also examine differentiated aid within the adequacy formula. The chair said the committee had previously heard from HHS/Medicaid officials and now wanted to hear from local special education directors about how the aid system works in practice, including billing, training, data collection, and whether districts handle claims consistently. Members also referenced Arkansas as a possible comparison state and said they hoped to develop ideas by November to address the current funding process. Committee members focused on the current special education aid thresholds and the impact of proration. The chair described the existing formula as requiring districts to absorb costs up to 3.5 times the state average per student, with the state paying 80% from 3.5 times through 10 times and paying above that, and said FY25 appropriated about $34 million while actual claims were about $50.1 million, leaving roughly a $16 million shortfall that caused proration. Members also raised the possibility of lowering the threshold to 2.5 times and asked how that would affect the number of eligible students and costs. Another member asked about how districts decide whether services are education-related or medical-related and how Medicaid or private insurance reimbursement affects later state aid claims. District representatives from Boothby Therapy Services, Bedford, and Guilford introduced themselves and described their roles. Guilford’s director said the district tracks students with paraprofessional support, nurses, transportation, or specialized programming, uses a data system to log every service touchpoint, and tries to maximize both Medicaid and special education aid; she said a lower threshold would likely capture all students with paras or nurses and that rising staffing and service costs would increase the number of students over the cap. Bedford’s assistant director said the district uses a different system, tracks roughly 60 to 80 students a year, and pursues Medicaid and special education aid simultaneously but does not pursue private insurance if it would affect FAPE; she said reducing the threshold to 2.5 times would likely double the number of qualifying students. Members asked follow-up questions about software, data entry, and how districts decide whether to bill Medicaid or seek state catastrophic aid, and the directors explained that their systems log services by staff type and student, with some districts using the same data for both Medicaid and state reimbursement claims.

Transcript Highlights:

• The amount for English language learner differentiated aid will jump to $849, and the amount for addressing
• jump to learner differentiated jump to $849<00:35:57.400><c> and</c><00:35:57.680><c> and</c><00:35:
• It's got the largest number of students that are English language learners.
• English language learners, and you can see how Manchester dwarfs all the other communities.
• Manchester's got 2,077 times the English language learner differentiated factor.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met in executive session on HB 563, which revises the adequacy education grant formula, including differentiated aid for free and reduced-price meals, English language learners, and special education, and also restores fiscal capacity disparity aid. Members explained that for FY 26 the formula largely stays the same with the usual 2% increases, while FY 27 would raise the base cost and several aid categories, including a substantial increase in special education differentiated aid. Supporters said the bill recognizes higher special education costs and separates fiscal capacity disparity from the extraordinary needs grant, which they argued better targets property-poor communities. A major point of discussion was the fiscal capacity disparity aid component. Some members asked for more detail on how the formula affected individual towns and how much money was being allocated. The sponsors said the spreadsheet showed the impacts and estimated the fiscal capacity disparity portion at about $13.3 million, benefiting roughly 40 communities, with Manchester the only municipality expected to receive less under the new approach. They also said the change partially rebalances money that had shifted heavily toward larger cities under the extraordinary needs grant and that the special education increase is new money, not taken from the hold harmless or extraordinary needs funds. Several members supported the amendment as a good-faith step and a bipartisan compromise, while others expressed frustration that they did not have enough time or information to review the spreadsheets in detail before voting. After extended debate, the committee recessed for lunch to allow the spreadsheet to be distributed and reviewed, with the understanding that the bill would continue later in the day and then move on to the other bills on the docket.

Transcript Highlights:

• whereas GoFar Louisiana aims to shape policies, advocate for change, and improve the outcomes of young learners
• Officer Abney was a man whose entire adult life was defined by service to his country, his state, and
• House Bill 555 by Representative Carver, Protection of Eligible Adults for Financial Exploitation, provides

Bills: HR58 , HR59 , HR60 , HR61 , HR62 , HR63 , HR64 , HCR32 , HB43 , HB447 , HB573 , HB1000 , HB1001 , HB1002 , HB1003 , HB1004 , HB1005 , HR46 , HR48 , HR50 , HR51 , HR52 , HR53 , HR54 , HR55 , HR56 , HR57 , HCR31 , HB20 , HB21 , HB166 , HB494 , HB710 , HB795 , HB985 , HB986 , HB987 , HB988 , HB989 , HB990 , HB991 , HB992 , HB993 , HB994 , HB995 , HB996 , HB997 , HB998 , SB128 , SB149 , SB174 , SB191 , SB205 , SB213 , SB218 , SB220 , SB229 , SB238 , SB243 , SB375 , SB379 , HB8 , HB9 , HB10 , HB15 , HB16 , HB17 , HB18 , HB19 , HB22 , HB33 , HB34 , HB35 , HB44 , HB46 , HB47 , HB48 , HB61 , HB101 , HB126 , HB135 , HB142 , HB164 , HB185 , HB215 , HB226 , HB232 , HB233 , HB242 , HB284 , HB292 , HB297 , HB301 , HB334 , HB436 , HB468 , HB548 , HB571 , HB582 , HB593 , HB594 , HB609 , HB613 , HB712 , HB722 , HB732 , HB746 , HB781 , HB827 , HB845 , HB848 , HB921 , HB923 , HB951 , HB953 , HB999 , HB129 , HB130 , HB287 , HB489 , HB545 , HB553 , HB555 , HB570 , HB854 , HB952 , HB28 , HB36 , HB50 , HB52 , HB56 , HB62 , HB68 , HB92 , HB110 , HB117 , HB119 , HB124 , HB140 , HB147 , HB171 , HB182 , HB193 , HB196 , HB203 , HB228 , HB234 , HB260 , HB268 , HB271 , HB285 , HB289 , HB351 , HB400 , HB413 , HB469 , HB534 , HB551 , HB552 , HB574 , HB576 , HB634 , HB649 , HB677 , HB735 , HB739 , HB779 , HB784 , HB796 , HB842 , HB850 , HB919 , HB149 , HB733 , HB875 , HB868 , HB901

Keywords: waterfowl conservation, wetlands preservation, Ducks Unlimited, environmental stewardship, Louisiana, tennis, athlete recognition, family legacy, sports achievements, coaching, student parents, higher education, academic support, family stability, workforce equity, Homeland Security, federal funding, public safety, emergency services, TSA

Transcript Highlights:

• , it would have taught me more about the voting process, and I would have been more prepared as an adult
• And it will only help them do well in school and in their future adult life.
• This is Student Academic Success for all learners in Florida. Thank you. Okay. Very well.

Summary: The subcommittee first heard HB 461, which would allow registered or preregistered students to volunteer at polling locations to earn community service hours, including on weekends. The sponsor and several supporters, including the Duval County Supervisor of Elections and League of Women Voters representatives, said the bill would promote civic education and give students firsthand experience with elections. After brief questions and overwhelmingly supportive testimony, the committee voted unanimously to report HB 461 favorably. The committee then took up HB 1071, an omnibus education bill described by the sponsor as reinforcing parental rights, student safety, early learning accountability, and oversight of scholarship and instructional programs. Members adopted eight amendments, including provisions on charter school discipline during improvement plans, child care and attendance accountability, medically accurate embryologic/fetal development materials, school space calculations, reading notifications, law enforcement access to campuses and canine units, lab school admissions criteria, and the composition of the FHSAA advisory council. Debate and testimony focused heavily on the bill’s provisions restricting DEI- and activism-related spending, the fetal development video requirement, and the law enforcement amendment; supporters framed the bill as promoting merit, safety, and parental rights, while opponents warned about vague definitions, censorship, and potential impacts on students and school programs. Public testimony on HB 1071 was extensive and sharply divided. Supporters included organizations such as Florida Voice for the Unborn, the Christian Family Coalition, and various individuals who backed the fetal development instruction and limits on DEI-related spending. Opponents included Planned Parenthood Florida Action, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Equality Florida, the ACLU of Florida, the Florida Education Association, teachers, parents, and students, who argued the bill was too broad, could chill instruction and student activities, and could introduce ideological content into health education. The transcript ends during closing debate on the amended bill, before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• A model that sees children as having defects to be treated rather than as valuable learners who should
• California where young people have the support and care they need to grow into healthy and vibrant adults
• The state has estimated the population of older adults will double over the next 10 years and we need

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As we were getting ready to open the show, my cast was being interrogated by two lawyers and an adult
• , I could have given to the adults.
• </c> interrogated by two lawyers and an adult interrogated by two lawyers and an adult that<01:15:39.679
• asking them questions about three adults asking them questions about me.<01:15:46.960><c> They</c><01
• </c> adults I could have given to the adult adults I could have given to the adult and<01:16:12.000><

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of students served and includes additional funding based on the enrollment of low-income, English learners
• That's a pretty flexible grant, but it is very targeted towards low-income students and English learners
• deserve and to strengthen California's commitment to access, opportunity, and progress for every learner
• Additionally, we hope to see more targeted investments toward English learners and high-need students

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The kids we serve have a chronic illness or are neurodivergent learners, with autism, ADHD, and so forth
• She is also an ELL, English language learner, and she did not receive ELL support at APS.
• programs that meet all of their needs, whether it's a student with disabilities or an English language learner
• We do know that there's at least 8,970 full-time distance learners, 67 school districts and charter schools

Bills: HB2 , SB204 , SB241 , HB34

Committee: House House Education

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, higher education, research funding, federal funding, New Mexico, appropriation, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 253, as substituted, which would create a framework for full-time virtual/distance learning programs in New Mexico. Sponsors and agency witnesses said the bill is intended to preserve virtual options while adding approval, reporting, and compliance requirements, including definitions for distance learning programs, annual reporting, renewal every three to five years, and a pause on new programs while existing ones are grandfathered for a period. They also said the bill addresses budget concerns by limiting enrollment growth units and excluding distance-learning students from certain funding calculations, including rural population units, to prevent unexpected losses in the state equalization guarantee. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters included district superintendents and education officials who said the bill is needed to protect school funding, improve accountability, and gather basic data that the state currently lacks. Opponents included parents, students, teachers, charter-school representatives, and business and advocacy voices who argued virtual education has been lifesaving for medically fragile, bullied, rural, neurodivergent, and working students, and that the bill’s caps, geographic limits, and approval authority would reduce school choice and could eliminate some programs. Several witnesses stressed that virtual charter schools such as Pecos Cyber Academy and New Mexico Connections would not be affected, while others said the bill still reaches too broadly. Committee members raised extensive questions about the 10% enrollment cap, the adjacent-district requirement, the denial-and-appeal process, the treatment of charter schools versus district programs, and the effect on rural or small districts. Witnesses explained that the bill is meant to be temporary, with an interim study in 2026 to develop longer-term policy, but some members said they remained concerned about overreach and unintended consequences. No final vote or action on the bill was shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• So students who maybe are English language learners or who have disabilities may not perform as well
• c> So students who maybe are English So students who maybe are English language<00:13:33.760><c> learners
• </c><00:13:34.480><c> or</c><00:13:34.880><c> who</c><00:13:35.279><c> have</c> language learners or
• who have language learners or who have disabilities<00:13:38.160><c> may</c><00:13:38.480><c> not</c>

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , graduate from high school, and this one is new, added in 2024: prepare students to be lifelong learners
• 2024 prepare students<00:20:38.440><c> to</c><00:20:38.600><c> be</c><00:20:38.799><c> lifelong</c> Learners
• ><c> the</c><00:20:42.799><c> Department's</c><00:20:43.320><c> role</c><00:20:44.280><c> um</c> Learners
• so the Department's role um Learners so the Department's role um under<00:20:44.840><c> this</c><00:

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• spoke to our students specifically about having a learning disability, about being a multilingual learner
• disability, about being<01:35:17.200><c> a</c><01:35:17.280><c> multilingual</c><01:35:18.640><c> learner
• ,</c><01:35:19.240><c> about</c> being a multilingual learner, about being a multilingual learner, about
• reach Special Olympians, young kids, 5-year-olds all the way up to, you know, 15-, 20-year-olds, even adults

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so if you're a visual learner, this is a way to think about how regressive or pre-progressive our
• ><00:31:14.080><c> you're</c><00:31:14.200><c> a</c><00:31:14.240><c> visual</c><00:31:14.640><c> learner
• ,</c> Um, so uh if you're a visual learner, Um, so uh if you're a visual learner, this<00:31:15.320><
• Wild Rumpus Books is a specialty store dedicated to children and young adults and their families.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the<01:08:42.319><c> needs</c><01:08:42.640><c> of</c><01:08:42.799><c> the</c><01:08:43.040><c> learner
• </c><01:08:44.159><c> However,</c><01:08:44.640><c> the</c> the needs of the learner.
• However, the the needs of the learner.
• About 60% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, 25% are English learners, and about 17% are students
• It felt like there was not enough adults in the building to keep the students safe.

Bills: HF3790 , HF3654 , HF3371 , HF3470 , HF1099

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: education finance, lease levy authority, graduation ceremonies, school districts, Minnesota Statutes, local revenue, funding increase, education, state appropriation, local control, HF3371, local optional revenue, school finance, general education aid, school district funding, referendum revenue, referendum market value, equalization aid, state aid, property tax levy