Transcript Highlights:

• where they're learning. where they're learning.
• in an environment that is safe, to learn in an environment that is safe, secure, secure, secure, and
• <00:09:30.640> allows<00:09:31.040> them<00:09:31.200> to<00:09:31.360> learn
• <00:09:32.080> That's<00:09:32.320> what and allows them to learn.
• That's what and allows them to learn.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• as we know, you know, learning how to swim is very critical for children, especially babies.
• They can learn how to swim, and we can have a little time together.
• So learn to swim from my impression, the standard is, is typically 4.
• You said, learn to swim 4, and then after that, what's the ratio? At, at your facility. Um-hum.
• The bottles are meant to be drank and enjoyed by people who want to learn about this art form.

Bills: SB 28

Keywords: groundwater, groundwater conservation district, Water Code, Water Development Board, modeled available groundwater, aquifer, water permit, groundwater transfer, export groundwater, out-of-district transfer, management area, desired future conditions, well permit, retail public utility, potable water, emergency interconnect, subsidiary, controlled entity, aquifer management, water resources

Transcript Highlights:

• tour of the capital where they learned tour of the capital where they learned all<00:14:59.839><
• He tailors his lessons to meet diverse learning styles and uses tools like math podcasts and an online
• styles and uses meet diverse learning styles and uses tools<00:24:50.279> like<00:24:50.679><
• Miss Inamasu creates a classroom environment that encourages courageous learning, where students take
• Miss Kim maintains an inclusive classroom, creating a supportive and dynamic learning environment.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm learning a lot and I think I'm learning a lot and I think the<00:11:37.040> people<00:11:37.440
• <00:46:11.640> more giving me the opportunity to learn more giving me the opportunity to learn
• I can't wait to learn more. I have to qualify.
• the things that we can probably learn the things that we can probably learn from<00:57:57.400>
• And as I learned about the was at hand.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism heard several governor’s message nominations to the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s advisory board. The first nominee, Daniel O’Leary, received strong support from HTA leadership and Deputy Director James Kunane Tokioka, who praised his visitor-industry knowledge and work on brand marketing and tourism planning. O’Leary said he hoped to contribute his experience and strengthen the organization’s integrity. Joel Guy was also supported by HTA, Tokioka, and several community testifiers, who highlighted his long work in Hana, his film-industry background, and his role in community-focused tourism planning. During questioning, Guy said the advisory board should still have influence, especially on strategic planning and community concerns, even though its role is advisory rather than decision-making. The committee then considered Linda Wong’s nomination. HTA and Tokioka strongly supported her, citing her long community experience and familiarity with HTA work. Wong said the new advisory board was collaborative, had no conflicts so far, and was trying to balance resident concerns with attracting higher-value tourists. Senator Kim questioned her about the advisory structure, and Wong said she believed the Legislature had reduced HTA’s authority because of past conflicts but that the new board could help turn things around and possibly regain more authority in the future. The committee also heard testimony on Kimberly Algos and Terry Fisher. Algos was described by HTA and Tokioka as a strong leader and solid board member; Tokioka explained that she and another co-chair were selected because of their busy schedules and that the advisory board’s committees were created so members could contribute beyond the single statutory duty of selecting the chair, president, and CEO. Fisher was supported for his tour-operator experience and strategic planning work. In questioning, he endorsed performance-based contracting and accountability for contractors, while acknowledging that external events can affect results. He also said the convention center is critical infrastructure that should be repaired and used to help fill tourism lulls and attract major conferences. The hearing included supportive testimony from industry representatives, but no votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• here, and it would be really heartbreaking to learn like that.
• It's true, I was often asked, why are we learning this? Why do we need to learn this?
• and I work in the department of learning and I work in the department of learning for<01:32:17.400
• this why do we need to are we learning this why do we need to learn<01:32:45.000> this<01:32:
• Thank you. lives instead of learning about lives instead of learning about exponential<01:34:36.280><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They later learned that she had been groomed and sold into sex slavery, and she still is missing and
• No, there's nothing that replaces an actual engaged learning environment, and there are myriad other
• But the point is, we learn a lot from these hearings.
• Too many children have learned to go beyond preset limitations.
• That they cannot learn about their own body and the absolute horror that is puberty.

Bills: HB186, HB201, HB229, HB796, HB1506, HB2702, HB2885, HB3225, HB3909, HB4285, HB5138

Keywords: social media, children, account verification, data privacy, parental control, financial crime, card fraud, motor fuel theft, law enforcement, criminal activity, skimmers, prevention, training, biological sex, government information, definitions, sex-based distinctions, public health, federal directives, state authority

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 186, which would require social media platforms to verify users are 18 or older before allowing account creation. Invited witnesses in support, including Mary Elizabeth Castle and David Dunmoyer, argued the bill would protect children from harmful algorithms, addictive design, bullying, sexual exploitation, and mental health harms, and emphasized parental rights and the idea that minors should not enter binding contracts with platforms. Committee members questioned them about how algorithms work, whether parents could realistically monitor content, and whether the bill would still allow educational use; the witnesses said the bill was narrowly aimed at harmful social media use and not educational content. Public testimony on HB 186 was largely in opposition, though several student witnesses said they supported the bill’s goals but wanted the age lowered to 16 or the bill amended to allow parental consent or joint accounts. Opponents argued the bill would be ineffective because teens could bypass age checks, would cut off access to educational tools, school communications, recruiting and NIL opportunities, and would burden free speech and privacy. Some witnesses also said social media helps teens with mental health, community, and creative or professional opportunities, while others warned the bill could disproportionately harm disabled and marginalized users. After public testimony closed, HB 186 was left pending. The committee then heard House Bill 5138, which Chairman Hughes said would respond to a court ruling limiting the Attorney General’s authority to prosecute election crimes unless invited by local prosecutors by changing the statute to require AG prosecution. Public testimony on HB 5138 was brief and opposed by at least one witness who argued it would further erode local control and expand state preemption. The bill was left pending after testimony. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 3225, a library bill aimed at keeping sexually explicit books and materials out of children’s sections in municipal libraries and requiring age verification for checkout, including digital access, with parental consent and other revisions added in the House. Supporters said the bill would protect children from explicit material and keep such content in adult sections, while opponents argued it would amount to censorship, be costly and difficult to implement, and could be used to target LGBTQ+ or other marginalized content. Library workers, parents, students, and advocates testified that existing library sections already separate age-appropriate materials and that the bill could reduce access to books, burden libraries, and infringe on parental choice and free expression.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will share some of the many skills that we learn at the youth farm.
• The way we learned this at the youth farm is by going into groups.
• It's great to learn about the work that you're doing in St. Pete.
• So the culinary, what we've learned is the most economic way to do that is through the, What we've learned
• It's helping you learn how to prepare it.

Bills: S0534, S7020

Keywords: food insecurity, hunger, college students, nutrition assistance, pilot program, open government, sunset review, aquaculture, public records, exemption

Summary: The committee met, called the roll, and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. It first considered the appointment of Melanie Ressler to the Florida Citrus Commission. No appearance forms were requested, and the committee voted unanimously to recommend her confirmation favorably. The committee then took up SPB 7020, which reenacts a public records exemption for certain aquaculture production records held by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Senator Trunow explained that the exemption protects shellfish and submerged land lease records, supports compliance with federal partners and statutory requirements, and helps protect marketplace competition. A representative from the Department appeared in support, and the bill was moved as a committee bill and reported favorably. Next, the committee heard SB 534, Senator Bernard’s hunger-free campus pilot program bill. He described a pilot within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to identify campuses with high numbers of Pell-eligible students, develop a survey with the Hunger Task Force, designate staff to help students enroll in SNAP, expand campus food access, and require reporting on outcomes and future funding. The bill had one appearance form in support and was reported favorably without debate. The committee also received a presentation from the St. Pete Youth Farm, led by Carla Bristol and youth ambassadors. They described the farm as a youth-led community project on city-owned land that addresses food insecurity while providing leadership, financial literacy, career readiness, mental wellness programming, composting, aquaponics, and community events. Senators praised the program, asked about possible expansion into a culinary kitchen and partnerships with schools, and the presenters said they hope to expand youth opportunities, food preparation training, and related programming. The meeting concluded with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• That was an alternative way of learning, looking at learning style versus teaching style and mathematics
• has to m match up with the learning has to m match up with the learning style<00:15:49.040> of
• I've learned. I have to apply it. And you learn the language of computers.
• Um and they said, "Well, learn those.
• <00:30:27.520> there's a different styles of learning. there's a different styles of learning

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for being here and for participating and learning.
• Since Learns in 2023, first of all, Learns put over $250 million into public schools, which is the largest
• Percent each year, which is still larger than the largest percentage increase pre-Learns.
• We made a raise in LEARNS for all the teachers to be at a certain minimum salary.
• And LEARNS for all the teachers to be at a certain minimum salary.

Summary: The Arkansas Legislative Council meeting began with approval of the December 2025 minutes and a presentation from the Bureau of Legislative Research on the December revenue report. Dr. Carlos Silva said gross collections were about $4.02 billion, up slightly from the prior year, and net available for distribution was also above last year but down modestly from the previous month because of higher-than-expected corporate income tax refunds. Members asked about corporate tax trends, tariffs, and inflation, and Silva said it was too early to call the corporate decline a trend and that tariff effects would likely show up mainly in sales tax collections. The council then adopted several subcommittee reports, including the Executive Committee Subcommittee, Administrative Rules, Hospital/Medicaid/Developmental Disabilities, Occupational Licensing Review, PEER, Review, State Insurance Program Oversight, and Personnel. The PEER report drew the most debate because of a Department of Agriculture grant tied to Perry County and Central Arkansas Water; members discussed whether removing the Perry County portion would affect the grant’s competitiveness, and the report was ultimately adopted with the item included. The Review Subcommittee also heard questions about a BDO contract for the rural health transformation program, with DFA explaining that the contractor would manage the program while state agencies would make funding decisions consistent with the state’s application. A major portion of the meeting focused on the Education Freedom Account appropriation tied to LEARNS. Senators and representatives debated whether the program helps families or diverts money from public schools, with supporters arguing it funds students and choice and opponents arguing it is costly, vulnerable to fraud, and harms public school funding. Department of Education officials said roughly 28,000 private school students and 17,500 homeschool students were participating, that EFA students must submit standardized tests annually, and that the requested $32 million was to cover existing participants. After multiple substitute motions and extended debate, the body rejected a motion to strip out the $32 million and then adopted the report and related motions. The meeting ended after routine approvals of additional agency items and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have learned that the crime of theft is unique from fraud and requires its own definition and its
• Minnesota, Groves Learning Organization, Hill-Murray, and Ornette Gillingham Specialists.
• We want all our students to be exposed to quality science learning, which includes developing science
• we learn how to read.
• We learn that through immersion. We don't do that with reading.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for, I'm learning a lot about Clam-a-Lot. Chair.
• Thank you for, I'm learning a lot about Clam-a-Lot. So this is really great.
• We had award-winning chefs coming down to Spring Creek to learn about our oysters.
• One of the lessons that we learned from Hurricane Michael that really paid off during Hurricane Helene
• Then, once they learn it, they have the opportunity to go forward with the cost share.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum present and heard three presentations focused on Florida aquaculture, agricultural nutrient reduction, and land preservation. First, clam farmer Tim Solano of Cedar Key described the economic and environmental importance of the state’s clam industry, noting Florida’s strong national production, the industry’s recovery role after the net ban, and the severe damage caused by recent hurricanes and red tide. He said the Dislocated Workers program helped farmers return to work and asked that existing state programs be written more broadly to include aquaculture. Oyster producer Canaan Greg of Pelican Oyster Company then discussed the growth of off-bottom oyster farming, the losses his industry suffered from Hurricane Michael and the pandemic, and the need for better access to recovery loans, student internships, local seed production, and waterfront protection. Members asked questions about leases, production, predators, and storm resilience, and the presenters emphasized that aquaculture is a sustainable, year-round industry that filters water and supports local economies. The committee next heard from UF/IFAS regional extension agent Dr. Bob Hockmouth on education, research, and extension efforts to reduce nitrogen in the Suwannee Valley Basin Management Action Plan area. He explained that the region’s agricultural load reduction target has increased from about 4.2 million to 5.8 million pounds of nitrogen, and that extension programs are helping farmers adopt practices such as precision fertilizer placement, soil moisture sensors, controlled-release fertilizer, petiole sap testing, and irrigation automation. He highlighted corn and watermelon as major examples, saying on-farm demonstrations and cost-share programs are essential because the equipment and technology are expensive. He reported substantial reductions from participating farms and said growers are generally cooperative when funding is available. Finally, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services presented an update on the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. The program acquires development rights through voluntary conservation easements to keep working agricultural lands in production, protect water resources and wildlife habitat, and preserve taxable land without transferring ownership. The presenter said the program has expanded rapidly in the last two years, with more acreage acquired, faster application review, and more properties in the Florida wildlife corridor. He noted new online application and monitoring tools, a shortened review timeline, and stronger partnerships with federal and defense-related programs. Committee members asked about long-term maintenance responsibilities and the Board of Trustees approval process, and the presentation closed with support for continued funding and efficiency improvements before the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then number two, how can we use those lessons learn to guide us through the community schools process
• Results from an impact study conducted by the Learning Policy Institute of cohort one, which I have and
• But the study itself by Learning Policy Institute only just looks at after year one.
• The study itself by Learning Policy Institute only just looks at after year one implementation, cohort
• Upon learning this, some rank-and-file members and community members have started to build a campaign

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Select Committee on the Status of Boys and Men of Color held its second hearing, focused on the cradle-to-college-and-career pipeline, with an emphasis on education, school discipline, community schools, and higher education pathways. Chair Isaac Bryan opened by noting that two bills from the first hearing had been introduced and were advancing through the Legislature. Members Mike Fong, Senator Gonzalez, and Corey Jackson offered remarks supporting bipartisan, cross-sector work to address inequities affecting boys and young men of color. The first panel discussed school discipline and safety. Dr. David Turner cited major declines in suspensions since state reforms such as SB 274, SB 419, and AB 420, but said disparities remain for Black and Native boys and that school policing and “ghost suspensions” still push students out of class. Brandy Bowen-Bremont and LaQuan Muhammad described hidden disciplinary practices, police referrals, and the need for restorative, culturally rooted, and care-first supports. Members asked about the causes of the suspension decline, statewide versus local data, and whether MTSS and restorative practices are being implemented with fidelity. The second panel focused on community schools. Witnesses from Californians for Justice, Reclaim Our Schools LA, M.I.L.P.A., and the Center at Sierra Health Foundation urged a $1 billion ongoing state investment in the California Community Schools Partnership Act. They argued community schools improve attendance, school climate, academic outcomes, and family engagement while reducing suspensions and chronic absenteeism. The third panel addressed college and career pathways, with speakers from the California Faculty Association, UC Student Association, Brotherhood Crusade, A.M.E.N., and Improve Your Tomorrow calling for more financial aid, dual enrollment, mentorship, and student support. They also criticized state spending priorities, compared prison and higher education budgets, and urged investment in programs that keep young men of color connected to school and work. Public commenters largely echoed support for community schools, youth justice, and broader investment in boys and men of color, including rural and urban perspectives. Chair Bryan closed by highlighting the importance of representation and the role of mentorship and second chances in his own life, then adjourned the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to recognize Kari Miller chancellor for the division of early Learning Department of Education
• We are the division are learning.
• They're required to line their program to our Florida early learning developmental standards with the
• Well, having education early learning education, you're recognized. Thank you.
• I will share and partnership with the just read Florida office and the Division for Learning.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're just learning about this right now.
• We're learning, we're getting better.
• We're learning, we're getting better.
• what we've learned and what we know.
• But we're also learning digital accessibility is not about, we're not doing it What we're also learning

Summary: The committee received several informational reports from NDIT and DPI. Justin Data reviewed the quarterly major IT project portfolio, noting the portfolio was slightly under budget and behind schedule overall, with three red schedule items: Bed Management System and Vital Records were essentially complete and being closed out, and the Roadway Capital Planning Project was delayed by vendor bug fixes after testing. He also summarized recent project startups and closeouts, including the Victim Notification System, Medicaid data exchange, Highway Patrol’s motor carrier permit system, and several completed HHS and RIMS projects. Members asked for follow-up on ADA compliance work, the public-facing RIO website, and the state’s mainframe retirement timeline, and staff agreed to provide updates later. Craig Falkley reported on coordination of services with political subdivisions and higher education, including StageNet, cybersecurity, radio/911 services, and PeopleSoft coordination. He also explained distributed ledger technology as a tool for transparency and fraud prevention, but said it is not widely used in state government and suggested the report be modernized to focus more broadly on emerging technologies such as AI and cybersecurity. The committee generally agreed that the topic should be updated. Chris Gurgan presented the mandatory cybersecurity incident reporting program created by HB 1314, explaining how agencies and political subdivisions report incidents through NDIT’s website or service desk. He said 77 incidents had been reported since 2021, 47 met the statutory definition, and most were phishing-related; most reported incidents were resolved, with one recent ransomware matter still open. He also reviewed notable incidents since the last report, including the PowerSchool compromise, a SimpleHelp intrusion at a school district, a court intrusion, a WSUS vulnerability, a business email compromise, and a recent ransomware incident involving a non-state critical infrastructure entity. Members asked about recovery of stolen funds, early warning signs, smishing, training, MFA, conditional access, and cybersecurity maturity assessments; Gurgan said the state uses MFA and conditional access, provides awareness training to state employees, and would return with more information on maturity assessments. Tony Ambrose then updated the committee on the K-12 student information system bridge project. He said district implementation of Infinite Campus had begun statewide, but the data migration vendor originally selected was terminated for poor performance and replaced by Aurora Educational Technology, which had experience with similar statewide migrations. He also said DPI is migrating special education data from Tynet into Infinite Campus, and that some SLDS-based tools such as e-transcripts and Choice Ready may not function exactly as they do now at July 1, requiring interim or alternative solutions. Members raised concerns about summer school disruptions, the timing of the cutover, and whether the new system would support existing reporting and transcript functions; DPI said it was working on identity, authentication, data-sharing agreements, and post-go-live integrations, and would continue to refine the plan beyond June 30.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we learn from those lessons from other states as we inform this legislation.
• So we've learned from that.
• So we've learned from that.
• Good news is we can learn from their mistakes and build.
• Those families, their children are engaged in learning in a different way.

Bills: SB 2

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• student designed service learning student designed service learning opportunities.<00:04:40.479>
• > reported service learning projects reported service learning projects reported increased<00:
• to rehab, learned his new life, and learned to come to terms with what his future is.
• <00:45:49.520> to next three months where he learned to next three months where he learned
• Senator Abeler. learning. The issue of absenteeism learning.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And they're also learning about how the different foods affect their body from the nutrients and the
• the classroom, it's a relevant learning the classroom, it's a relevant learning experience<00:15
• experience to where a vibrant learning experience to where that<00:15:45.360> it<00:15:45.519
• > also<00:15:58.880> learning classroom.
• And they're also learning classroom.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 00:12 SB 5 Discussion: 03:10 SB 5 Roll Call Vote: 18:05 SB 73 Discussion: 22:00 SB 73 Roll Call Vote: 22:40, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Agriculture Committee met for the first meeting of the 2026 session, established a quorum, and opened with the pledge and a moment of silence honoring Gary Shell, the father of Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell. Committee members welcomed new senators to the panel and briefly noted a soybean association luncheon later in the day. The committee then took up two bills, both sponsored by Senator Jason Howell and presented with Commissioner Shell. Senate Bill 5 was the main item of discussion. Howell and Shell described it as a measure to reduce procurement barriers and expand the use of Kentucky-grown food in school nutrition programs, with a broader goal of connecting farmers, school districts, and the Department of Education through Kentucky Proud and related local sourcing efforts. Shell also discussed related agriculture-in-the-classroom efforts, including “All In for a Week,” and said the bill was part of a larger push to decentralize food sourcing and improve access for local producers. Several members asked questions and offered supportive comments, including a discussion of whether Kentucky Proud products would be included and a side conversation about possible future aquaculture legislation. The committee voted favorably on SB 5, and it passed with favorable expression. The committee then considered Senate Bill 73, which would allow beef tallow-based cosmetic products to be made at home under the state’s home-based industry rules by creating a specific statutory exclusion. After a brief explanation and no substantive debate, the committee voted on the bill and it passed with favorable expression and was recommended to be reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, it's important to listen and learn.
• Ultimately, it's not just enough to listen and learn. You have to show up with action.
• So we have a lot to learn from tribes. And while it is an honor to... ...of the landscape.
• So we have a lot to learn from tribes.
• He said they learned all those things the hard way.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But what then we learned, new information on Friday, that I think should cause us all to reconsider that
• That information was in a KARE 11 news article that I think we'll learn about some more in this discussion
• The information was in a KARE 11 news article that I think we'll learn about some more in this discussion
• , what I learned as the first<00:02:52.720> time<00:02:53.280> chair<00:02:54.560> of
• You learn a lot about how this works when you first sit in the chair for the first time.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House debated a motion to suspend the rules so House File 3843 could be recalled from committee and given second and third readings for final passage. The bill, carried by Representative Baker and supported by Representative Niska, would create a subcommittee of the governor’s workforce development board to vet nonprofit and other applicants for workforce development dollars, with the legislature retaining final authority. Supporters argued the proposal would add an extra layer of scrutiny, reduce fraud risk, and help prevent problems like those highlighted in recent reporting and past nonprofit funding scandals. Supporters repeatedly tied the bill to concerns about fraud in state grantmaking, citing the Feeding Our Future scandal and other nonprofit cases as examples of why more oversight is needed. Representative Baker said the committee process can be overwhelmed by many direct-appropriation requests at the end of session, and that a board-based vetting process would help identify red flags. Representative Enen and Representative Schultz also backed the motion, saying the bill would improve accountability and protect taxpayer dollars. Representative Pinto opposed the urgency motion, saying he supports moving toward more competitive grants but not adding another layer of bureaucracy without a fiscal note or fuller committee process. He argued the bill would not do what supporters claimed and that the legislature already makes funding decisions. After debate, the House took a roll call vote on the motion to suspend the rules. The motion failed by one vote, 67 yeas to 66 nays.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, I’d learned a lot from him. I appreciate him very much.
• And you start learning from how people do things around you.
• And so I learned that from Mike. There’s other things, too, that you’ll see.
• I’ve learned that along the way from Mike.
• And so one of the ways that I learned that was we served on Finance together.

Keywords: 994, senate, all