Transcript Highlights:

• , the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Institute of
• The institutions that are going to be impacted by these cuts, if they're not already impacted, do touch
• These institutions underpin the entire apparatus for arts and culture in the country, which is a $1.2
• These institutions—NEA, NEH, IMLS—are essential.
• How are you, is there resources being shared across institutions that provide similar work?

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on how recent federal actions are affecting arts, culture, humanities, libraries, museums, and the creative economy in California. Chair Ben Allen and Vice Chair Chris Ward opened by describing the hearing as a response to proposed and ongoing federal cuts to the NEA, NEH, IMLS, and public broadcasting, as well as grant terminations and leadership changes at cultural institutions. Several members emphasized the economic and civic importance of the arts, while one Republican member argued for greater ideological diversity in the arts and noted the loss of music programs in small schools. Testimony from Aaron Harky of Americans for the Arts and Jolie Fisher of SAG-AFTRA described the impact of federal policy on grants, jobs, and production. Harky said executive orders and the FY 2026 budget proposal threaten arts agencies and arts education, and that rescinded grants are causing hiring freezes, shutdowns, and losses for small organizations, especially in rural and underserved communities. Fisher focused on runaway film and television production, outdated tax rules, and the need for federal incentives, intellectual property protections, and action on AI and digital replicas. Members also discussed bipartisan support, the role of business and tourism partners, and the need to include more diverse voices in arts advocacy. The second panel featured Rick Noguchi of California Humanities, Greg Lucas of the State Library, and Danielle Purcell of the California Arts Council. Noguchi said NEH funding was cut immediately, putting California Humanities’ grantmaking and documentary programs at risk and prompting consideration of litigation and possible state support. Lucas reported that IMLS funding for California libraries was briefly canceled but partly restored, though a budget gap remains. Purcell said the California Arts Council is still awaiting federal award language for state partnership funds, but NEA grant terminations and the proposed elimination of federal cultural agencies create major uncertainty; she also said the council is assessing the damage and tracking impacts on grantees. Members asked about measuring outcomes, AI’s threat to creative work, documentary funding losses, and possible state and national strategies to protect cultural institutions and jobs.

Transcript Highlights:

• The International Institute received 1.1 million from the general fund. Thank you so much.
• </c> I'm just so proud of uh The Institute I'm just so proud of uh The Institute I'm<00:03:02.720><c>
• </c> their lives forward the institute their lives forward the institute medical<00:04:16.519><c> career
• </c><00:07:08.000><c> graduates</c> employed also The Institute graduates employed also The Institute
• We have a long history of collaboration with the International Institute.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll start off with 190 so we can let the Law Institute leave. Okay. HB 190. We'll have Ms.
• We'll start off with 190 so we can let the Law Institute leave. Okay. H.B. 190. We'll have Ms.
• I do want to thank the Law Institute.
• ...for the Torts and Insurance Committee of the Louisiana State Law Institute.
• Yeah, I'll introduce myself: Nick Cuncle, staff attorney at the Law Institute, as Rep.

Bills: HB78 , HB112 , HB190 , HB292 , HB410 , HB427 , HB437

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Keywords: jurisdiction, city court, Bogalusa, civil law, court limit, Louisiana, child relocation, custody, mileage measurement, co-parenting, Louisiana law, software, computer programs, standard of care, liability, design, development, manufacture, sale, security deposit

Transcript Highlights:

• private institutions.
• private institutions.
• We wanted to have some distinction between our two-year institutions and four-year institutions in Minnesota
• </c> institutions available to students. institutions available to students.
• or the institution of a high school or the institution of a college,<01:03:56.840><c> but</c><01:03:

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm reintroducing this bill this session to assist our institutions of higher education to take advantage
• and universities are not only compliant with federal law, but are also able to work through an institutional
• Higher education institutions found noncompliant with accreditation would Higher education institutions
• Senate Bill 1322 proposes a significant reform to the accreditation process for public institutions of
• Institutions must, And reported to state leadership every even-numbered year.

Bills: SB1998 , SB646 , SB2786 , SB2076 , SB2615 , SB1961 , SB1418 , SB2647 , SB1322 , SB2788

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 heard several bills and took no final votes, leaving each measure pending. The first major item, SB 1322 by Senator Hagenbuch, would create a Texas Higher Education Accrediting Commission to evaluate and approve accrediting agencies for public colleges and universities using outcome-based metrics such as retention, graduation, employment, debt, and repayment. Supporters, including Kate Byerley of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, argued the bill would add competition and align accreditation with Texas workforce needs; Senator Menendez questioned the need for a new bureaucracy and noted the $3.6 million fiscal note, suggesting existing reporting and oversight structures could serve the same purpose. The committee then heard SB 1998, which would establish a pediatric subspecialty preceptorship program to encourage medical students to enter pediatric subspecialties. Dr. Lauren Gamble testified in strong support, saying the program would help address shortages and improve access for children, especially in rural and underserved areas. SB 2788, authored by Senator Menendez, would add the PSAT as an accepted assessment for dual credit and Texas Success Initiative purposes; Priscilla Camacho of Alamo Colleges supported the bill, citing strong student outcomes and widespread use of the PSAT as a readiness indicator. Senator Creighton laid out SB 2076, which would remove or modify certain Capitol view corridor restrictions affecting the UT Austin Academic Medical Center project, including the planned specialty hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center expansion. He said the existing corridors are outdated and limit development. The committee also heard SB 1418, a cleanup bill replacing outdated references to ACT Plan with Pre-ACT and removing obsolete SAT subject test language. After brief testimony and no opposition on the later bills, the committee closed public testimony and left SB 1322, SB 1998, SB 2788, SB 2076, and SB 1418 pending before recessing for the floor session.

Transcript Highlights:

• This deferment would apply only to the students' first term with the institution.
• This deferment would apply only to the students' first term with the institution.
• Sabrina Means on behalf of the Institute for College Access and Success in support.
• No single organization or institution can close these achievement gaps alone.
• under-serving institutions, also known as AANAPISIs.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• that run the gamut from tiny, you know, religiously affiliated institutions to for-profit institutions
• And this is focused on the academic institution.
• A lot of institutions now want to have institutional neutrality, which is considered something worth
• ...” “...with institutions of higher education across the Commonwealth.
• That’s a recurrent theme, and I want to thank all those institutions.

Summary: The commission held its 16th and final meeting to review and vote on revisions to its draft report on combating antisemitism. After roll call, members approved the prior meeting minutes, adopted a procedure for handling substantive and technical edits, and authorized limited technical corrections after the meeting. Senator John Velis’s letter was read into the record noting his military deployment and support for the final report, and the commission discussed the scope of the report, including its 118 findings and recommendations and the large volume of testimony received over the year. Members then worked through a series of amendments to the report. The chair’s prefatory statement was revised to restore language and data about Massachusetts Jews’ relationship to Israel and the impact on the commission’s work. Commissioner Liken’s proposal called for DESE guidance and teacher training to support intellectually diverse K-12 classrooms; members debated how to ensure it could not be used to justify biased or false material, and the amendment passed with discussion about existing guardrails. Commissioner Hay’s technical edits were adopted, and commissioners also discussed whether DESE’s new reporting system should anonymize data; the language was revised to specify anonymized data and approved. Additional amendments were adopted on public safety and higher education, including clarifying support for nonprofit security grants and personnel grants, refining language on academic boycotts, and adding references to Zionist identity and presumed Zionist identity as possible bases for antisemitic treatment. Commissioner Kipnis’s revisions to the prefatory statement were also considered, with some members objecting to the removal of language about minimization and traumatic invalidation and others supporting a more concise, fact-driven tone. The commission also approved language strengthening recommendations by changing several “should” statements to “must.” Treasurer Deborah Goldberg then delivered closing remarks praising the commission’s work and sharing personal family history to illustrate the persistence of antisemitism in Massachusetts. She said the report offers a practical roadmap, including bias reporting in schools, security coordination, and broader anti-discrimination training, and emphasized that the recommendations will help all communities. Commissioners thanked her for her leadership and testimony. The meeting continued with further amendments, including one on law enforcement security grants and another on higher education findings and recommendations, and the commission repeatedly voted by roll call, generally approving the revisions unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 5202 by Bonnen relates to the governance of public institutions of higher education and is referred
• HB 5202 by Bonnen relates to the governance of public institutions of higher education and is referred
• HB 5202 by Bonnen relates to the governance of public institutions of higher education and is referred
• HB 5202 by Bonnen relates to the governance of public institutions of higher education and is referred
• HB5631 by Wilson relates to public institutions of IRJ.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 304 by Senator Edmonds, public post-secondary education institutions governing boards.
• Senate Bill 304 by Senator Edmonds, public post-secondary education institutions governing boards.
• House Concurrent Resolution by Representative Owen to authorize and direct the Law Institute to study
• House Concurrent Resolution by Representative Owen to authorize and direct the Law Institute to study
• Expenditures for the Law Institute did increase $27,376, and that is the only change from last year's

Bills: HR159 , HR160 , HR161 , HR162 , HR163 , HR164 , HCR60 , HCR61 , HCR62 , HCR63 , HCR64 , HR153 , HR154 , HR155 , HR156 , HR157 , HR158 , HCR57 , HCR58 , HCR59 , SB124 , SB399 , SB441 , SB447 , SB460 , HCR4 , HCR47 , HB59 , HB74 , HB159 , HB175 , HB330 , HB364 , HB414 , HB458 , HB525 , HB568 , HB628 , HB786 , HB909 , HB1008 , HB1033 , HB1034 , HB1041 , HB1052 , HB1062 , HB1070 , HB1079 , HB1112 , HB1118 , HB1139 , HB1151 , HB1154 , HB1176 , HB1182 , HB1196 , HB1214 , HB1231 , HB1241 , SB244 , HB1 , HB2 , HB3 , HB312 , HB313 , HB383 , HB314 , HCR3 , HB983 , HB1126 , HR1 , HR17 , HCR5 , HB27 , HB71 , HB214 , HB225 , HB241 , HB244 , HB306 , HB345 , HB366 , HB446 , HB511 , HB514 , HB655 , HB730 , HB743 , HB1027 , HB1037 , HB1043 , HB1082 , HB1091 , HB1096 , HB1103 , HB1167 , HB1174 , HB1175 , HB1230 , HB1237 , HB1238 , HB55 , HB385 , HB394 , HB396 , HB406 , HB608 , HB622 , HB676 , HB772 , HB897 , HB1030 , HB1035 , HB1038 , HB1045 , HB1049 , HB1056 , HB1058 , HB1059 , HB1092 , HB1100 , HB1117 , HB1160 , HB1161 , HB1162 , HB1177 , HB1180 , HB1189 , HB1216 , HB1239 , HB1240 , SB162 , SB349 , SB350 , SB382 , SB383 , SB127 , HB51 , HB58 , HB140 , HB750 , HB911 , HB982 , HB1010 , HB151 , HB180 , HB192 , HB193 , HB310 , HB635 , HB690 , HB961 , HB1003 , HB1146 , HB864 , HB977 , HB181 , HB31 , HB664 , HB615 , HB901 , HR20 , HR74 , HB9 , HB284 , HB393 , HB459 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB682 , HB733 , HB773 , HB996 , HB1113 , HB1234 , HB1236

Keywords: occupational therapy, healthcare, medical professionals, recognition, professional day, property transfer, public records doctrine, bad faith, Louisiana State Law Institute, real estate law, Black Maternal Health Week, maternal health, racial disparities, healthcare access, culturally competent care, Louisiana, community health, motorcycle safety, awareness month, motorcyclists education

Transcript Highlights:

• With some private institutions Charging between $250,000 and $400,000 for a four-year degree, we are
• With some private institution, a reckoning. Is college worth it?
• What do we hear from our public institutions? They need more financial support.
• Yet we have our own public institutions that will not comply with this.
• For capital improvements to our public higher educational institutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Three in two separate institutions, one private and one ISD covered up.
• Take you beyond the institution in all ways to the protection of the students.
• All of these institutions you must be referring to, they're all must be private institutions.
• I also find that in the public institutions where the boards are corrupt.
• state or of certain programs offered by those institutions.

Bills: SB604 , SB843 , SB1636 , SB2395 , SB571 , SB1224 , SB1832 , SB2392 , SB747 , SB2623 , SB2624 , SB2185

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• . institution of higher education.
• Members, this bill relates to expressive activities at public institutions of higher education.
• Members, this bill restricts remote work by employees of public institutions of higher education.
• We worked with the institution. on this added substitute language. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• We're supposed to leave that up to the institutions.

Bills: SB1224 , SB2972 , SB2615 , SB735 , SB800 , SB2986 , SB2310 , SB2055 , SB1049 , SB784

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• It is very institution-specific.
• But many of our institutions are, you know, skilled in drawing down those funds as well.
• Do you know how many Missouri institutions would qualify for the workforce Pell framework?
• That is something that institutions can track relatively easily. Right.
• That is something that institutions can track relatively easily. Right.

Committee: House Higher Education and Workforce Development

Transcript Highlights:

• And there's also state funds already going to religious institutions.
• Our launch program goes to religious institutions. So we're already hitting that gray area.
• And there's also state funds already going to religious institutions.
• Our launch program goes to religious institutions. So we're already hitting that gray area.
• And there's also state funds already going to religious institutions.

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Scholarships to admission requirements and institutional changes.
• The difference is if you attend a private institution, your data is protected.
• If you attend a public institution, certain amounts If you attend a private institution, your data is
• We published ...six institutions, demonstrates this impact.
• In FY24, Massachusetts public institutions saved students In FY24, Massachusetts public institutions

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education heard testimony on a broad set of bills focused on making public higher education more affordable and accessible, protecting student information, and changing social work licensure rules. Chair Rogers and Senator Comerford opened by emphasizing the committee’s focus on financial aid, tuition and fee waivers, scholarships, admissions, and institutional changes, and they reminded witnesses about the three-minute testimony limit. No votes were taken during the hearing. A large portion of the hearing centered on the “Super Act” (H. 1423/S. 218), which would eliminate the master’s-level social work licensing exam and create grant support for social work internships. Supporters—including students, practitioners, educators, and advocates—argued that unpaid internships and the exam create financial barriers, worsen workforce shortages, and disproportionately affect Black, brown, older, ESL, and other marginalized candidates. Opponents from the Association of Social Work Boards argued the exam is a necessary public-protection standard, helps maintain uniform licensure, and is important to the social work licensure compact; they said workforce shortages should be addressed through pay, working conditions, and caseloads instead. Committee members asked detailed questions about compact participation, exam accommodations, and how other states such as Rhode Island and Connecticut have handled similar changes. The committee also heard extensive testimony in favor of debt-free public higher education bills (H. 1436/S. 929). Witnesses, including students, faculty, advocates, and Senator Eldridge, said Massachusetts should expand on free community college by covering tuition and mandatory fees at public colleges and universities, with additional aid for living costs for lower-income students. Supporters said student debt delays homeownership, family formation, and career entry, and that the state should use Fair Share revenue to invest in public higher education. Some committee members voiced support but also raised concerns about prioritizing K-12 funding and the cost of expanding free college further. Several witnesses also supported bills to extend tuition and fee waivers to young adults raised by grandparents or other kinship guardians outside the DCF system, arguing that these students face the same trauma and financial barriers as foster youth but do not receive the same benefits. Representative Donato, Joseph O’Leary, Shauna Manning, Sandra Vecchio, Karen Gardner, Judy Walter, Elaine Arsenault, and others described the financial strain on grandparents raising grandchildren and urged parity with DCF-related waivers. In addition, Senator Jake Oliveira testified for a bill to protect public higher education student directory information from data mining and unauthorized sharing, and Deirdre Cummings testified for an open educational resources bill to reduce textbook costs. The hearing concluded with continued testimony on kinship care and college access, with committee members thanking witnesses and indicating follow-up on some bill language issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• Every institution has documents to shred.
• Every institution has documents to shred.
• positions, medical institution positions only.
• , whereas at a low-volume institution you may be dealing with half that.
• I'm with Grip Training Institute.

Transcript Highlights:

• My youngest started in an Ivy League institution.
• And then he's currently employed at Yale University, another Ivy League institution.
• And that institution sits right in the middle, geographically. It's located perfectly.
• With my help, UWF adopted an institutional neutrality policy.
• With my help, UWF adopted an institutional neutrality policy.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• institutions without great human beings.
• As you can see, our institutions or non-profit organizations.
• All of our major institutions—we have seven institutions represented.
• These are our institutions, and we meet together once a month.
• But it's difficult, especially at large institutions, to send that message.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO BECOMING A R1 INSTITUTION. >> Chair Harrell: WE ARE GOING TO RUN OUT OF TIME, IF
• IN OUR POST SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS IT IS NOT ONLY IN, OR LOW INCOME THAT IS AN OBSTACLE FOR THEM.
• IT'S WHAT'S CALLED THE MAJORITY MINORITY INSTITUTION.
• AND NEITHER INSTITUTION WOULD BE ETHNIC RACIAL MINORITY BE CONSIDERED THE MINORITY.
• SO EVEN CURRENT STATUTE OR THEY CONSIDER THE MINORITY IN THAT INSTITUTION.

Transcript Highlights:

• Another notable development— the Dornsife Institute of Armenian Studies.
• For most of those founders, we were the very first institutional check.
• For most of those founders, we were the very first institutional check.
• For most of those founders, we were the very first institutional check.
• Institutions like that are so critical, and we're not doing that.