Transcript Highlights:

• 09.800> their what has gone at what goes on in their what has gone at what goes on in their classrooms
• 11.320> they<00:31:11.480> do<00:31:11.720> every<00:31:11.960> day classrooms
• and what they do every day classrooms and what they do every day for<00:31:12.480> our<00:31:

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, led the Pledge of Allegiance with visiting children from Creativity Challenge Community, and approved the journal as corrected. The day was marked by several recognitions and announcements, including Sportsman Day, Lineman Day, and a CEA Lobby Day, with members offering brief tributes to professional linemen, Colorado sportsmen and conservationists, and education retirees and children visiting the Capitol. Members also announced committee schedules for the day and the next day. Committees set to meet included Appropriations, Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources, Business Affairs and Labor, Finance, Energy and Environment, and Education, with specific bills listed for each committee. One committee, State Civic, Military, and Veterans Affairs, announced it would not meet that day. The only formal action beyond the journal approval was a motion by the Majority Leader to lay over the balance of the calendar until Friday, April 24, 2026, which was adopted without objection. The House then moved to recess until later that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• from a lot of parents who fought for years to make sure that their kids would not be pushed out of classrooms
• from a lot of parents who fought for years to make sure that their kids would not be pushed out of classrooms
• from a lot of parents who fought for years to make sure that their kids would not be pushed out of classrooms

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 957, with Representative Bakeberg presenting the bill on behalf of Representative Caw. The bill would give school districts funding flexibility through the 2028-2029 school year and allow them to stagger implementation of certain recently enacted education mandates to fit local needs, except where federal law requires otherwise. An A1 author’s amendment was adopted to clarify that any provision restricted or mandated by federal law would not be delayed. Representative Jordan questioned whether the proposal would let districts opt out of unemployment insurance for hourly workers, raised constitutional concerns about districts choosing which laws to follow, and asked whether opting out of a policy would also mean opting out of associated funding. Bakeberg responded that federal-law conflicts would remain in force, that districts already have substantial local control, and that public school funding generally follows a per-pupil formula, with grant programs remaining optional. He also said the bill is intended to help districts facing financial strain and budget reductions. Jordan argued that the so-called mandates are actually education policies developed through community input, including measures related to mental health support and student protections, and urged a no vote. Bakeberg closed by saying districts need more flexibility to avoid continued budget cuts. The committee then voted to re-refer House File 957, as amended, to the Education Finance Committee, and the motion prevailed.

Transcript Highlights:

• She's missed... ...initial entrance to the school, the classroom.
• order that some of these salaries can be raised for the teachers that have 20 years or more in the classroom
• between the community and the school district that would focus on that child's well-being in the classroom
• There's something special happening in your classroom, and that system is in place for the future so
• have to—I mean, well, we need to listen to the experts that are working with the students in the classrooms

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• constitutions instead of classroom norms.
• to where third graders are coming up to where third graders are coming up with<00:24:39.840> classroom
• /c><00:24:40.559> constitutions<00:24:41.360> instead<00:24:41.760> of with classroom
• constitutions instead of with classroom constitutions instead of classroom<00:24:42.480> norms.
• <00:24:44.240> It classroom norms. This can be done. It classroom norms.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint committees on Education and Higher Education first heard HCR 75 and HR 67, which ask the Department of Education and the University of Hawaiʻi to assess criteria for building an educational pipeline and curriculum for advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity. The Department of Education said it would stand on its written testimony, and UH supported the measure, noting existing community college and four-year programs related to the topic. Members asked how DOE promotes cybersecurity opportunities and whether it provides funding; DOE said schools usually connect with partners and its office works with them, but it does not have separate funding for such efforts. UH also explained that some advanced manufacturing concepts may overlap with 3D printing, material sciences, and entrepreneurship, and described P20 as a forum for aligning K-12 and higher education pathways. The committees then recessed the joint hearing and moved to the Education Committee agenda. The committee next heard HCR 46 and HR 39, which would make DOE recreational facilities available to the public during non-peak hours and non-school days. DOE said it already uses facilities agreements with insurance, liability waivers, indemnification, and certificates of insurance to protect schools. The Attorney General opposed the resolutions, warning that unrestricted public use without safeguards could create substantial liability and cost risks for the state. The measure’s introducer said the goal was to help underserved communities that lack access to public recreation spaces, and DOE said it would be open to joint-use arrangements with larger organizations but remained concerned about vandalism and liability. The committee also heard HCR 86 and HR 80 on creating an Aloha Civics working group, with DOE offering comments and Common Cause Hawaiʻi strongly supporting the idea. DOE described a civic learning and engagement task force that met with stakeholders, including UH and the PACE Commission, and produced recommendations such as building partnership inventories, integrating civic learning across grade levels, and aligning the work with DOE’s HA framework and learner outcomes. Common Cause said civic education can be implemented effectively and affordably, citing existing school projects such as ranked-choice voting and classroom constitutions. Later, the committee took up HCR 87 and HR 81, urging an annual Climate Week in public schools. DOE again stood on written comments, while the Climate Change and Health Working Group, Climate Future Forum, a student from Kaimuki High School, and other supporters argued that a dedicated week would ensure consistent climate education, build resilience, and connect climate issues to health, food security, and disaster preparedness. Supporters said existing climate-related opportunities are uneven across schools and that a formal Climate Week would create a more equitable approach. The committee then heard HCR 95 and HR 91 on informing students about changes to gun safety and storage laws; DOE asked for clarification on the measure’s intended outcome, and one individual testified in support. Finally, the committee heard HCR 104 and HR 100 on strengthening farm-to-school initiatives. DOE said it is already working to improve menus, emphasize local products, and meet with distributors to increase local procurement, while the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience offered food science, nutrition, and extension support. Climate Future Forum, the Hawaii Youth Food Council, and other supporters said farm-to-school efforts are important for student health, local farmers, and food sovereignty, noting that local food procurement in schools remains far below the state’s 30% by 2030 goal. DOE explained it is trying to provide distributors and farmers with more predictable demand and is meeting with distributors to set up next year’s supply chain.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to introduce House Bill 1511 relative to the membership of the Agriculture in the Classroom
• Agriculture in the Classroom Committee. Agriculture in the Classroom Committee.
• And you don't want the Ag in the Classroom room to be a watchdog committee for the commission.
• what agriculture in the classroom is. what agriculture in the classroom is.
• So where you've been asked to hold the egg in the classroom bill for the work?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The speaker said the way to start is by example and then take that into the classroom, teaching children
• Nutrition education takes place in the classroom, but not only in the classroom, right?
• classroom but not only in the classroom classroom but not only in the classroom right<01:40:36.719
• I talked a lot about nutrition education in the classroom, but it's also really holistic and integrated
• , but it's also really in the classroom, but it's also really holistic<01:50:48.560> and<01:50

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The task force met for its third meeting, approved the minutes, and heard testimony from Dr. Jack on behalf of the American Beverage Association and Kentucky Beverage Association. Dr. Jack argued that the “totality of the science” supports low- and no-calorie sweeteners as safe and useful tools for reducing sugar and calories, citing FDA and other domestic and international reviews, clinical trials, and the FDA’s recent healthy-label rule. He also described the industry’s transparency efforts, including a “Good to Know” database compiling ingredient and safety information, and said the beverage industry has voluntarily worked to offer more choices with less sugar. Members questioned him about whether beverage ingredients are restricted in other countries, possible health effects beyond weight and cancer, concerns about metabolic issues and gut microbiome effects, whether sweeteners are addictive, and why companies do not simply remove sweeteners. Dr. Jack responded that most ingredients are permitted in many jurisdictions, that broad food-safety reviews have looked at multiple endpoints and found the ingredients safe, that the gut microbiome is still being studied, and that recent clinical evidence does not show increased sweetness preference. He also said business decisions about formulations are up to companies and noted that cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup are metabolically similar. The committee also discussed consumer apps and ingredient-scoring tools; Dr. Jack said the industry’s website presents facts without interpretation and is based on food-safety agency assessments. At the end of his testimony, the chair accepted additional fact sheets for the committee. The meeting then moved on to introduce Dr. Gary Huber, who began testimony by emphasizing integrative medicine, metabolic syndrome, and the role of diet, exercise, sleep, and stress in health, but his full presentation was not included in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, daycare safety does not stop at the classroom doors.
• Um, daycare safety does not stop at the classroom doors.
• Um, daycare safety does not stop at the classroom doors.
• Um, daycare safety does not stop at the classroom doors.
• <00:46:05.839> for had been in this teacher's classroom for had been in this teacher's classroom

Bills: HF1027, HF2226, HF1916, HF1915, HF1567, HF1986

Keywords: mortgage foreclosure, redemption, foreclosure surplus, sheriff's sale, junior lienholder, mortgagor, homeowner protections, loss mitigation, dual tracking, foreclosure redemption period, certificate of redemption, certificate of sale, sheriff, county recorder, registrar of titles, homeownership center, lien priority, real property, foreclosure by advertisement, surplus funds

Transcript Highlights:

• Austin and a master's in education from SMU, where he studied classroom pedagogy and the school finance
• I think that we've been very diligent, from sitting in public school classrooms with teachers all over
• He followed the classroom rules and was overall a great kid.
• This is not for instructional classroom instruction. All right. Let me ask you another question.
• It was either a moment where it was a student cutting herself in the classroom.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 convened with a quorum, adopted its committee rules, and heard opening remarks from members introducing staff and outlining priorities for the session. Several senators emphasized support for public education, teacher pay and safety, parental choice, and the combined K-16 jurisdiction of the committee. The chair also reviewed hearing procedures, including public testimony registration and time limits. The main item was Senate Bill 2, the Texas Education Freedom Act, laid out by Chairman Creighton. He described the bill as an education savings account program intended to expand school choice, with a $200 million universal eligibility pool and an additional $800 million targeted to students with disabilities and lower-income families. He said the bill includes anti-fraud safeguards, criminal background checks for vendors, reporting requirements, data protections, and annual testing for participating students, while not imposing STAAR on private schools or homeschoolers. He also said the bill removes a prior hold-harmless provision for public schools and is separate from public school funding and teacher pay legislation. Members questioned the bill’s income threshold, lottery and priority structure, treatment of homeschoolers, microschools, charter schools, religious freedom protections, citizenship/lawful presence language, cybersecurity, open records, and disability-related issues, including whether 504 students and foster children should be included. Creighton said the bill is designed to prioritize former public school students with disabilities or lower incomes, while also allowing universal eligibility within the program’s first funding tier, and that the Comptroller would oversee vendor screening and cybersecurity rules. He said the bill does not direct curriculum or interfere with religious beliefs and that amendments may be offered later on citizenship and other issues. After member questions, the committee began invited testimony, starting with EdChoice representative Robert Inlow, who testified in support of SB 2 and cited national growth in school choice programs and studies he said show positive effects for students and public schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• That it allows those schools, those school districts, those classroom teachers to say, 'Hey, there's
• That it allows those schools, those school districts, those classroom teachers to say, 'Hey, there's
• In response to that, I want to change the way I do things in my' Classroom because I know I can get a
• program just puts everybody on notice that we need to be bringing our very best every day to the classroom

Bills: HB1675, HB3242, HB1739, HB3320, HB3047, HB4434, HJR1089, HB4432, HB3718, HB3705

Keywords: emergency management, severe weather, youth camp, summer camp, overnight camp, day camp, outdoor education, adventure camp, wilderness program, campground safety, tornado preparedness, flooding, flash flood, high winds, hail, lightning, extreme heat, extreme cold, wildfire smoke, evacuation plan

Transcript Highlights:

• And the bill also requires that, beginning not later than the 2028-29 school year, each K-5 classroom
• teacher providing literacy instruction be trained in the science of reading, and that classroom teachers
• successfully... ...teacher providing literacy instruction be trained in the science of reading, and the classroom
• bill also allows the Department of Education to provide accommodations for those counties whose classroom

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate considered and passed several measures, beginning with House Bill 4245, a Department of Revenue rules bundle covering 27 rules from six agencies. The Senate adopted an amendment changing two lottery rules and one tax rule related to pre-need cemetery companies, then passed the bill 30-1, adopted a title amendment, and made it effective from passage. The chamber also adopted a group of interim study resolutions, including studies on school finance transparency, divorce grounds, the Southern West Virginia water crisis, athletic trainer access in public secondary schools, the Eastern gray fox population, upland game bird stamps, and the PSC. Members then passed House Bill 5381, which reworked the Office of Energy’s role to develop a comprehensive energy development policy and grid stabilization plan, moved coalfield community development under that office, and expanded energy development planning authority. House Bill 5412, the Future Ready Education Act, was amended to require annual vocational and agricultural offerings unless not viable, and to require K-5 literacy teachers to complete science-of-reading training by the 2028-29 school year; it passed 33-0. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 845 on supplemental appropriations and the civil contingency fund, concurring in a House amendment that reappropriated funds and increased the fund from $15 million to $25 million, and made it effective from passage. A major floor debate centered on House Bill 4198, the E-Verify Safe Harbor Act. Senators discussed whether to require employers to use E-Verify, with one amendment narrowing the mandate to public employers and creating a permissive option for private employers, while preserving penalties for unauthorized hiring and recordkeeping violations. After debate over small-business impacts and federal-state law conflicts, the Senate adopted the amendment as amended, passed the bill 31-3, and amended the title. The chamber also passed House Bill 5453 to modify the school aid funding formula by adding weighted enrollment for certain special education students and adjusting staffing-related provisions, and House Bill 4004 creating the Recharge West Virginia training reimbursement program, which was passed and made effective from passage. Later, the Senate resolved several House amendment disputes by concurring in or receding from amendments on bills including House Bill 4009 on portable benefits, Senate Bill 587, Senate Bill 164 on long-term substitute teachers, House Bill 4606 on pretrial release for certain felonies, House Bill 4010, House Bill 5438, and House Bill 4765. Most of these measures passed with broad support, and several were made effective July 1, 2026 or from passage. The session concluded with the Senate adjourning sine die.

Transcript Highlights:

• Each thing that doesn't happen at the system level or the college level ends up in the classroom.
• To work with Minnesota State, work with you all to maintain the integrity of our online classrooms.
• Entirely sure if that would include that classroom-level... Of screening. Welcome back.
• AND HINDERS THEM Second, classroom disruption: fraudsters sometimes enroll at scale, hundreds or thousands

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you walk into a math classroom, an English classroom, you're likely to see desks in rows, a pretty
• Uh, we actually do not have our building completed, so I won't even have all of my classrooms next year
• career in California in a program in which I was for many years, usually the only white person in my classroom

Transcript Highlights:

• extensive recognition is a true reflection of her commitment to fostering an inclusive, innovative classroom
• 17:03.240> Innovative fostering an inclusive Innovative fostering an inclusive Innovative classroom
• :05.120> please<00:17:05.360> join<00:17:05.600> me<00:17:05.760> in classroom
• environment please join me in classroom environment please join me in congratulating<00:17:06.640>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• boards to adopt a policy for the temporary were temporary removal of instructional personnel from the classroom
• Any instructional personnel from the classroom be shared on the disqualification list maintained by the
• Some kids come into our classrooms, carrying the world on their shoulders and it becomes our job to kind
• are facing challenges and supporting students with disabilities and ensure they remain in their classrooms

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• forth and especially the parents of special needs children being an educator at spent time in a classroom
• particularly important to me because my daughter, Gina, as placed on the wrong side of a locked classroom
• We have a welding classroom where the door inside of a locked perimeter should probably be open because
• would only be participating in the scholastic sports and we're not take up space in any class or classroom

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• said on Zoom, the problem is the funding is not going specifically to CTE; it's not getting to the classroom
• and they don't have rods to weld because they're not buying the supplies for it. ...for the CTE classrooms
• They're not getting to the classroom.
• They're not gonna come teach in the classroom for 55,000 a year.

Transcript Highlights:

• BELIEVE THE RIGHT TO STUDENT EDUCATION SHOULD NOT BE SUPERSEDED BY THE PRESENCE OF WEAPONS IN THE CLASSROOM
• THE CLASSROOMS NOW HAVE BETTER DOOR LOCKS AND PANIC BUTTONS. I LOVE MY SCHOOL.
• LISTEN WHEN I SAY THAT WHAT WE ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH IS THE PRESENCE OF DEADLY WEAPONS IN THE CLASSROOM

Transcript Highlights:

• saying they can go into the classroom saying they can go into the classroom and<01:10:25.440>
• <01:13:06.480> is<01:13:06.880> is >> and every child in that classroom is is
• >> and every child in that classroom is is different. different. different.
• When that person gets in that classroom and finds out that that's not what they really want to be when
• uh setting, or pep rally, a classroom uh setting, or whatever<01:23:24.800> that<01:23:25.040

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've converted two buildings into offices and classrooms.
• and classrooms we have three<00:24:22.000> programs<00:24:22.600> college<00:24:23.240
• <00:26:11.480> during<00:26:11.760> the is one of our main classrooms during the is
• <00:26:49.799> more you'll find another classroom more you'll find another classroom more
• <00:34:51.159> work Human Services through my classroom work Human Services through my classroom

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• move to the Senate's position on funding $200,000 for the display of patriotic portraits in the classroom
• move to the Senate's position on funding $200,000 for the display of patriotic portraits in the classroom

Summary: The House Pre-K through 12 Education Budget Conference convened and organized by naming Rep. Persons-Mulicka as chair and Sen. Burgess as vice chair, with both selections approved without objection. Members also agreed, without objection, that ties are not allowed in committee meetings. Opening remarks from both chairs emphasized working together to resolve outstanding budget issues for the 2026-27 Pre-K-12 education budget. The House then presented its first budget offer. The chair highlighted several points: additional non-recurring child care and development funding to help prevent any child from being disenrolled from the school readiness program in fiscal year 2026-27; agreement to the Senate’s position on $200,000 for patriotic portraits in classrooms; continued support for a $100 million teacher salary increase focused on veteran teachers; and an adjustment to the base student allocation increase to match the Senate’s $50 increase. The offer also included project funding, FEFP summary changes, and proviso/back-of-the-bill items aligned with the House budget offer. No public testimony was offered and no questions were raised on the House offer. The chair reminded attendees that the conference was operating on a one-hour meeting notice. The meeting then adjourned on a motion to rise, without objection.