Transcript Highlights:

• We've really ramped up our inspections as superintendent stated.
• Um, Superintendent is correct.
• and local law enforcement.
• Local permits can sometimes be a problem.
• Thank you, Superintendent, Mr. Stevens.

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• the efforts of Washington, the National Voter Registration Day, it will connect our students with local
• Washington has nine regionally based ESDs that provide cooperative services to local school districts
• I know I'm asking this because my local school district, we were talking about expenses and trying to
• In that course of seven years, they had two business managers, two superintendents.
• My name is Robert Maxwell, and I am the superintendent of Pullman Public Schools.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several education-related bills. Senate Bill 6130 would move public high schools’ voter registration events from Temperance and Good Citizenship Day in January to National Voter Registration Day in September, with schools offering Future Voter registration to eligible students in history or social studies classes. The sponsor, Sen. Krishnadasan, and supporters from King County Elections, Pierce County, OSPI, and the Legislative Youth Advisory Council said the change would better match student interest and improve youth civic engagement at no fiscal cost. A senator asked about community service opportunities, and the sponsor said that could potentially fit within existing community service recognition programs. Senate Bill 6247 would expand financial oversight and training for school districts, especially those in financial distress or binding conditions. It would require additional ESD involvement, add WASDA training on budgeting and financial health for school directors, and impose stronger consequences for knowing financial misconduct, including future employment bars and state reimbursement of certain unrecovered damages. Sen. Dozier said the bill responds to district financial problems, including Prescott School District. OSPI supported the bill, while the Association of Educational Service Districts, WSSDA, and WEA raised concerns about ESDs being placed in an oversight role, the need to align the bill with other pending training legislation, and whether some enforcement duties should instead rest with the state auditor. Senate Bill 6268 would require OSPI to keep an online record of final special education community complaint decisions for 20 years instead of the current five years on its website. OSPI supported the bill, saying it would improve transparency and help families, educators, and policymakers identify patterns and understand how complaints are resolved; the sponsor said the retention period may be amended. Advocates from Washington Autism Alliance, The Arc, and parent advocates testified in favor, saying the records help families avoid repeated disputes and reveal systemic issues. Senate Bill 6278 would change how PESB reviews teacher and principal preparation programs and adjust student-teaching field placement plan submission timing; the sponsor said the goal is to ensure educators are better prepared, and PESB testified neutral, saying many of the review elements already exist and the bill would add flexibility. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6260, a budget-savings bill affecting public education. It would lengthen school bus depreciation to 15 years, withhold up to 1.9% of MSOC funds to pay for the High School and Beyond Plan platform, and reduce Running Start funding from 1.4 to 1.2 FTE. OFM supported the bill as part of the governor’s budget approach, but many testifiers opposed it, arguing it would cut district resources, keep older buses on the road longer, shift costs to schools, and reduce access to Running Start—especially for low-income, rural, and technical-program students. School district, college, PTA, counselor, and student witnesses said the current 1.4 FTE model has expanded access and completion, while supporters of the bill emphasized state budget pressures and said the changes would preserve other priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• of local home rule and usurp local government powers to the state of Tallahassee.
• Do not continue to erode and usurp local home rule. Thank you. ...usurp local home rule. Thank you.
• Local programs make Floridians happy in the area where they live, and programs that local Floridians
• But the But this bill still goes too far on an internal local level by overreaching into local rule.
• officials, our local elected officials, or our local building officials and code officials.

Bills: S0092 , S0110 , S0192 , S0212 , S0260 , S0350 , S0394 , S0422 , S0434 , S0442 , S0484 , S0546 , S0556 , S0684 , S0696 , S0706 , S0748 , S0786 , S0820 , S0824 , S0838 , S0840 , S0848 , S0856 , S0962 , S1000 , S1014 , S1036 , S1050 , S1054 , S1080 , S1118 , S1134 , S1338 , S1480 , S1500 , S1506 , S1622 , S1724

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: employee protections, whistleblower, retaliation, public trust, ethics complaint, Commission on Ethics, Public Employees Relations Commission, public employee, local government attorney, public officer, adverse personnel action, protected disclosure, whistleblower retaliation, state agency, independent contractor, public employment, civil service, reinstatement, back pay, front pay

Transcript Highlights:

• I’m the superintendent of the Wilder School District. Good morning.
• So as the superintendent of a traditional school district...” Dr.
• I feel like it emphasizes local control.
• to be the discretion of the local school district.
• “It defines that to be the discretion of the local school district.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• That's strictly a local system for them to decide.
• I don't think—this group of superintendents we have here today are talking to them.
• Board of... ...from the local Board of Education.
• superintendent, and the local Board of Education, as well as the State Board of Education.
• Senator Stuts, um, I see Superintendent Macky out there.

Bills: SB92 , HB9 , HB9

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: K-12 education, wireless communication devices, digital safety, social media education, classroom distraction, three-cueing system, reading instruction, structured literacy, scientific strategies, elder abuse, elder exploitation, financial exploitation, elderly person, senior abuse, probate, inheritance forfeiture, slayer statute, intestate succession, will contest, joint tenancy

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> of</c> Consequently, each local board of Consequently, each local board of education<00:16:11.920
• So if a superintendent needs to waive, um, there is still the same process to do that.
• So if a superintendent needs to waive, um, there is still the same process to do that.
• So if a superintendent needs to waive, um, there is still the same process to do that.
• </c> for superintendent for superintendent and<00:26:54.559><c> um</c><00:26:54.720><c> to</c><00:26:

Committee: House Primary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• But school superintendents are, and I say this as a former superintendent, are living in a world where
• But the world in which we live right now is a world in which, as one superintendent testified before
• this committee, he's a superintendent of a very small school district, 1,800 students.
• I had one question on the education stabilization fund to address sort of the local districts who are
• And right now, it's not that superintendents don't know how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide.

Summary: The committee first heard the Pre-K-12 education budget proposal for fiscal year 2025-26 and voted to adopt it as the committee’s recommendation to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. The proposed $34.7 billion budget includes increases for the FEFP, Family Empowerment Scholarships, VPK, school safety, the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, school hardening, Jewish day school security, and an education enrollment stabilization fund. Members asked no questions on the budget before it was advanced, and staff was authorized to make technical corrections. The committee then passed CS/SB 1402, which expands eligibility for dropout retrieval services to any individual who has withdrawn from high school and clarifies how school grades are calculated for virtual instruction providers that offer only dropout retrieval services. An amendment to clarify the grading calculation was adopted without objection, and the bill was reported favorably after a roll call vote. The committee also took up SPB 7030, a comprehensive scholarship-program bill sponsored by Senator Gates, which would separate Family Empowerment Scholarship funding as its own categorical, expand the education stabilization fund, create fall and spring application windows, require a single scholarship application and more documentation, assign student IDs, change payments to a monthly schedule, require background checks for paid instructional providers, mandate annual FTE audits by the Auditor General, and standardize reimbursement and eligibility procedures. After extensive discussion and public testimony, the bill was adopted as a committee bill and reported favorably, with Senator Osgood voting no. Finally, the committee considered CS/SB 508, which requires private schools participating in the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program to disclose in writing what accommodations, modifications, and services they will provide for students with existing plans such as IEPs, 504 plans, or ELL plans. An amendment was adopted to require public schools to consult with private schools about equitable services, and the bill was reported favorably. Public testimony included support from parent-choice advocates and concerns from private-school representatives about administrative burden and the scope of the required disclosures. The meeting concluded after the final roll call votes and adjournment motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• They sued the superintendent because the superintendent was trying really, really hard to incentivize
• I have several family members who work for our local school board.
• I'm honored to serve as the superintendent of Brevard Public Schools.
• Thank you, Superintendent, for your service.
• Superintendent Gray, are you here? Okay. Okay. Here.

Bills: S0042 , S0688 , S0762 , S1168 , S1296 , S1298 , S1300 , S1318 , S1332 , S1376 , S1548 , S1570 , S1574 , S1632 , S1634 , S1750

Committee: Senate Fiscal Policy

Keywords: child protection, medical records, investigation, abuse, neglect, healthcare, Child Protection Team, diagnosis, criminal defense, legal representation, death penalty, indigent defense, regional counsel, conflict of interest, background screening, athletic coaches, youth sports, criminal history, expungement, Florida statutes

Transcript Highlights:

• You say, "Does this happen locally?" Yes, it happens in Montgomery.

Bills: SB174 , SB39 , SB40 , SB206 , SB200 , HB169 , HB345 , HB381 , HB25 , SB174 , SB39 , SB40 , SB206 , SB200 , HB169 , HB345 , HB381 , HB25

Committee: House State Government

Keywords: business taxes, annual reports, Alabama Tax Tribunal, tax appeals, local government, board governance, occupational licensing, Sunset Law, public accountability, training requirements, SB40, Houston/Hunter Act, firearm hold agreement, gun storage, temporary firearm storage, firearms dealer, federal firearms licensee, FFL, civil immunity, gun owner

Transcript Highlights:

• Derek Lennox with the California County Schools Superintendents.
• school, and for the local suppliers and farmers, keeping those.
• of schools on behalf of the California County Superintendents.
• County Superintendent of Schools.
• I'm here on behalf of the California County Superintendents Association that supports the 58 county superintendents

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Anything else, Director Superintendent. Yes, and Superintendent, thank you and your staff.
• Wonderful lunch, and I understand, and, uh, Senator Azel's not here, but that that was the locally sourced
• In this interim, we are bringing back a fan favorite of asking local superintendents whenever we're in
• Chair, members of the committee, uh, I've done this already this morning, Brian Lec superintendent of
• I'm on year 5 in the superintendent business here, so, uh, excited for you guys to be here and to answer

Transcript Highlights:

• Carlos Hroth, representing the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office.
• California and Derek Lennox representing the California County Superintendents.
• District and Superintendent-Principal Anni Larson of Dunham Elementary School.
• I'm superintendent of the San Mateo-Foster City School District.
• Good afternoon, Carlos Rojas, representing the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, in support.

Summary: The committee heard and acted on several education-related bills, beginning with AB 65 on paid pregnancy leave for public school employees. The bill drew strong support from teachers, school employees, unions, and education groups, who argued it would provide up to 14 weeks of paid leave, reduce financial penalties tied to sick leave use, and help recruit and retain educators. Some witnesses and members raised concerns about funding, district eligibility, and implementation, but the bill was advanced on a do-pass recommendation to the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee, with one member not voting and the bill placed on call for absent members. Members then heard AB 673 on an unaccompanied youth support grant program for homeless 16- and 17-year-olds, AB 1552 on reporting recommendations to strengthen civic engagement in higher education, AB 1572 on annual CIF review and qualification standards for sports officials, and AB 1586 on opioid overdose response training and naloxone access for school resource officers. AB 673 and AB 1552 received support from education, youth, and advocacy organizations; AB 673 also drew questions about overlap with existing homeless and foster-care-related programs, while supporters said the bill targets a vulnerable subpopulation that is often missed. AB 1552 and AB 1572 were broadly supported and advanced, and AB 1586 was backed by treatment providers, school nurses, and education groups as a practical student-safety measure; all were moved forward with do-pass recommendations and placed on call. The committee also considered AB 1721, which would create a work group to review and streamline school safety plans, and AB 2060, which would establish a mentor teacher grant program and stipend to strengthen the teacher pipeline. Both bills were supported by administrators, educators, and school-related organizations, and both advanced to the Senate Appropriations Committee. AB 2440, aimed at clarifying Proposition 28 arts and music education funding rules and allowing small districts to pool resources, also received broad support and moved to Appropriations. AB 1784, which would extend pregnancy-related protections to undergraduate students and prohibit discrimination based on pregnancy or related conditions, passed to the Senate Judiciary Committee after support from higher education and women’s advocacy groups. Finally, AB 2660, which would codify the CalBridge STEM pathway program and related efforts to diversify the STEM workforce, was supported by higher education and workforce advocates and advanced to Appropriations after questions about the related EnLACE program and its funding sources.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:26.600><c> and</c> you've listened to superintendents and you've listened to superintendents
• And as as a former superintendent, superintendent, superintendent, right<01:20:24.000><c> now,</c><01
• And I think denying a local board and a local district their local knowledge, I think that does a disservice
• And I think denying a local board and a local district their local knowledge, I think that does a disservice
• </c> respects for local control. respects for local control.

Committee: House Primary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> month at 4:30 and as the superintendent month at 4:30 and as the superintendent I<00:04:52.800><
• </c><00:04:56.000><c> anywhere</c> like any superintendent anywhere like any superintendent anywhere
• Most of them are federal or local, and by local I mean... kids and help um get their needs met kids and
• c><00:11:01.959><c> mean</c> Federal or local, and by local I mean funding that we receive from the Leech
• And thank you, Superintendent Dei.

Bills: HF630 , HF1435 , HF1607

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: short-call substitute, substitute teacher, substitute teaching license, pilot program, teacher shortage, education workforce, school district, charter school, Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, PELSB, background check, paraprofessional, education support personnel, temporary license, substitute training, retaliation, teacher pay, daily substitute pay, Minnesota education law, education innovation

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, glad to see Superintendent Clayton and Assistant Superintendent Johnson here.
• Uh, glad to see Superintendent Clayton and Assistant Superintendent Johnson here.
• Uh, glad to see Superintendent Clayton and Assistant Superintendent Johnson here.
• Uh, glad to see Superintendent Clayton and Assistant Superintendent Johnson here.
• Uh, glad to see Superintendent Clayton and Assistant Superintendent Johnson here.

Summary: The Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity met in September 2025, established a quorum, introduced new member Larry Forester, and approved the minutes from the August 26 meeting. The main presentation came from Warren County Public Schools Superintendent Rob Clayton and Assistant Superintendent Sarah Johnson, who discussed the district’s work serving English language learners and multilingual students, including immigrant and refugee families. They said Warren County now serves roughly 5,500 multilingual students out of about 19,000 total, representing about 92 languages and 90 countries, with 57 certified multilingual teachers, a GO Center, migrant and refugee advocates, and the state’s first international high school. The presenters emphasized that the district welcomes immigrant families and that students and parents generally value public education, but they described major challenges tied to accountability and funding. They explained that multilingual students are tested after one year in the system, even though many need more time to become proficient in English and grade-level standards, and they argued that current graduation-rate rules can unfairly penalize schools when transient students enroll briefly and then leave. They also said the cost of serving this population has risen sharply, with special revenue and especially general-fund spending increasing substantially over the past decade, prompting the district to reallocate resources from EL teacher assistants toward translation technology and additional certified staff. Committee members asked questions about how long-term multilingual students compare with the general student body and whether the district’s data show similar graduation outcomes. Clayton said he did not have the specific comparison data at hand but believed students who stay K-12 generally reach proficiency. He and Johnson asked legislators to consider giving students more time before accountability measures apply and to shift some graduation accountability from individual schools to the district level for highly transient populations, while still maintaining accountability. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• And furthermore, this bill respects the principle of local justice.
• The local sheriff coordinated with DOC to ensure that he did not have local infrastructure, other gang
• members readily accessible to him, because that would cause a disaster within the local jail.
• A lot of the local facilities do provide visitation, where there's once a month, once a quarter.
• It is a security issue for a lot of the sheriffs, a lot of the local facilities.

Bills: HB146 , HB333 , HB517 , HB828 , SB87 , SB93 , SB98 , SB118 , SB125 , SB199 , SB277 , SB294 , SB306

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Keywords: sports wagering, gambling, elections, local control, revenue generation, inmates, housing, corrections, Department of Public Safety, local jurisdiction, criminal justice, juvenile justice, jury trial, felony offenses, crime of violence, sex offenses, correctional facilities, in-custody deaths, medical oversight, independent investigations

Transcript Highlights:

• And how does that— ...concerns from anybody, any local governments.
• This bill will allow local Lafayette Parish.
• So in speaking with different committee members, just making it local.
• You need to talk to your local government like he did. Okay.
• We're letting inmates out of local jails into work release.

Bills: HB82 , HB143 , HB145 , HB160 , HB222 , HB430 , HB445 , HB490 , HB603 , HB619 , HB670 , HB672 , HB763 , HB773 , HB781 , HB810 , HB874 , HB981

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: DWI, driving under the influence, vehicular homicide, penalties, criminal justice, inmates, department of public safety, per diem, local correctional facilities, jail funding, firefighters, law enforcement, medical expenses, dental expenses, disability benefits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, battery of a dating partner, domestic abuse battery, strangulation

Transcript Highlights:

• The purpose of the fund is to develop a state and local database on domestic violence deaths within 24
• I think the local people will have the Maintenance responsibilities. Questions on the bill.
• I'm just I'm concerned I guess that you know the state continues to take on a local obligation.
• And so, as a piece of this, what I would like to see would be an intentional effort around what locally
• We certainly want the local communities to be doing their part as well.

Bills: SB1189 , SB1295 , SB1297 , SB1330 , SB1333 , SB1338 , SB1341 , SB1344 , SB1355 , SB1377 , SB1378 , SB1546 , SB1859 , SB1946 , SB1990 , SB1998

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Keywords: school security, funding, public schools, security enhancements, resource officers, domestic violence, fatality review, revolving fund, database, public safety, Oklahoma, census accuracy, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, federal census, grassroots outreach, marketing campaign, SB1330, Pardon and Parole Board, parole board, pardon board

Transcript Highlights:

• It exists to ensure that local governments can respond swiftly to genuine crises, such as natural disasters
• So she said this is a double standard between the legislature and local government.
• I will remind you that local government is—they are political subdivisions of the state, okay?
• The superintendent was indicted on 27 felony counts of public corruption with three co-conspirators.

Bills: HB2070 , HB2129 , HB2227 , HB2439 , HB2667 , HB2745 , HB2773 , HB2825 , HB2873 , HB2876 , HCR2005 , HCR2044 , SB1002 , SB1036 , SB1054 , SB1271 , SB1432 , SB1435 , SB1437 , SB1439 , SCR1022 , SCR1031 , SCR1033

Committees: Senate Government , Senate Senate Government Committee of Reference

Keywords: flood relief, Gila County, emergency funding, public safety, environmental cleanup, municipal libraries, annual reporting, state legislation, transparency, government accountability, chiropractic, chiropractor, chiropractic board, state board of chiropractic examiners, license discipline, unprofessional conduct, patient records, record retention, HIPAA, conflict of interest

Transcript Highlights:

• But still give flexibility for smart local planning. So in a rural commercial designation...
• These strip malls were home to our local legacy small businesses.
• Under current law, local jurisdictions have the authority to impose local sales and use taxes.
• It gives local jurisdictions the tools they need.
• This bill gives local governments the flexibility that we need.

Bills: SB6018 , SB6026 , SB6027 , SB6028 , SB5937 , SB5938

Committee: Senate Housing

Keywords: housing, finance, commission, state funding, affordable housing, residential development, zoning reform, mixed-use zoning, commercial zones, Growth Management Act, GMA, state preemption, local land use, development regulations, ground-floor retail, ground-floor commercial, permit waiver, waiver process, density, urban growth area