Transcript Highlights:

• higher education education public higher education Enterprise<00:12:20.120><c> in</c><00:12:20.360><
• , regular education.
• , regular education.
• , regular education.
• </c><04:35:01.080><c> your</c><04:35:01.279><c> cost</c> educate educate inous um but your cost educate

Summary: The committee first discussed HB 443, which would change terms and vacancy language for members of a higher education commission. Members raised concerns that the bill was too narrow to address broader issues with commission membership, including expired appointments, attendance expectations, and whether the Department of Education could replace the commission’s role. Several members suggested the bill was not ready for action and favored holding it for further work, possibly through a subcommittee or work session. One member suggested that if attendance standards were added, no more than two unexcused absences should trigger removal, given the commission’s meeting schedule. The chair said he would defer action and form a small subcommittee to report back before the committee deadline. The committee then moved to HB 484, dealing with repurposing Career and Technical Education classroom space after 20 years of exclusive use. The chair explained that the bill was aimed at the Milford CTE project, where shared use of space could allow a school to repurpose part of a CTE facility while still using it for CTE-related instruction. Members discussed other possible situations around the state, including Claremont, North Conway, and Jaffrey/Rindge, and whether the bill should be limited to Milford or broadened to allow local districts more flexibility. Some members favored passing the bill now to help CTE projects move forward, while others argued for an amendment removing the requirement that the space be vacated specifically to expand the CTE program occupying it. Testimony and discussion emphasized that the Milford project had state approval but reduced funding, requiring a smaller scope and repurposing of existing space. Supporters said the bill could help preserve CTE programs while also benefiting general education space needs, and that local districts should have flexibility after 20 years. Opponents or cautious members noted that the language might not fit every district situation and asked for feedback from Director Beard and Steve Rothenberg before final action. The committee did not take a final vote in the portion provided, and instead discussed waiting for an amendment and additional input before acting.

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> educator</c> classroom to strengthen educator classroom to strengthen educator workforce.<00:10:30.000
• </c> educational leaders across the state. educational leaders across the state.
• </c> shaping the educational pathway. shaping the educational pathway.
• and elementary education.
• I appreciate the opportunity to elementary education. elementary education.

Bills: HF3650 , HF2238

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The Assembly Higher Education Committee is now called to order.
• that excel in educating and serving Latino students.
• Board of Education and affirmed the principle that access to educational opportunities should be available
• and the tools necessary to achieve their educational goals.
• . its intent to fund primary secondary education.

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee heard several Senate measures focused on community college procurement, higher education access, and student support. SB 1154 by Senator Reyes would allow community college districts to use best-value procurement for public works projects over $1 million. Supporters, including San Bernardino Valley College, the San Bernardino Community College District, labor groups, and several districts, said it would improve delivery of complex facilities and align community colleges with other education systems. Opponents, including the Associated General Contractors, argued the bill’s skilled-and-trained workforce requirements and labor-compliance scoring would narrow the bidder pool and raise costs. The committee passed the bill to the Assembly Floor on a due-pass vote, with some members voting no or not recorded. SB 1255, also by Senator Reyes, would create a California Hispanic-serving institution designation. Supporters from HACU, the CSU Chancellor’s Office, UC, community colleges, and other education organizations said the designation would recognize campuses that serve large numbers of Latino and low-income students and strengthen accountability and student success. The committee approved the bill as amended and re-referred it to Appropriations, with one no vote. SB 1328, presented on behalf of Senator Cervantes, would require LGBTQ+ points of contact at satellite or branch campuses of CSU and community colleges, either through designated staff or regular office hours. Testimony emphasized gaps in access at remote centers and the need for confidential support; one member raised concerns about staffing, costs, and whether existing systems could meet the need remotely. The bill was passed as amended and sent to Appropriations. The committee also considered SB 960 by Senator Cabaldon, which would expand the circumstances under which community colleges could offer bachelor’s degrees in response to unmet workforce needs, especially where CSU programs are impacted or not realistically accessible locally. Supporters said the bill would help meet workforce demand and expand access for place-bound and adult learners. CSU and faculty representatives opposed unless amended, urging stronger partnership requirements, clearer workforce-need standards, and safeguards around duplication and Prop 98 funding. Members discussed impaction, regional access, and the role of partnerships; the bill was passed as amended and re-referred to Appropriations. Finally, SB 632 by Senator Otagan would extend the California College Promise fee waiver to part-time community college students enrolled in nine units. Supporters said many students cannot attend full time because of work, caregiving, and living costs, and the bill would better reflect student realities; the transcript ends during testimony on this measure, before any vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• that excel in educating and serving Latino students.
• The HSI designation was first... ...educating and serving Latino students.
• Board of Education and affirmed the principle that access to educational opportunities should be available
• and the tools necessary to achieve their educational goals.
• . its intent to fund primary secondary education.

Committee: House Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• That's how we do it here in the Joint Committee on Education.
• One size does not fit all in education.
• Education is one of the central pillars of the town's identity.
• education in the least restrictive environment.
• education in the least restrictive environment.

Bills: H4867 , H4927

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Transcript Highlights:

• As well as we move on to education and government, which was mentioned, we also need educational teachers
• We have our own Santa Ana College educational comprehensive educational plan.
• We have our own San Anna College educational, comprehensive educational plan.
• But educational centers can be career technical education and workforce training centers.
• But educational centers can be career technical education and workforce training center.

Summary: The Select Committee on Effective Postsecondary Career, Technical Education, and Workforce Development Programs met at Santa Ana College for its first hearing, with Chair Mike Fong opening by emphasizing the role of community colleges in college access, affordability, and workforce pathways. He highlighted AB 1098 creating the California Interagency Education Council and AB 323, which expanded Strong Workforce funds to support paid internships, and framed the hearing as a showcase of successful CTE, apprenticeship, and workforce models across the state. The first panel focused on statewide workforce funding, labor-market trends, and apprenticeship. California Community Colleges Vice Chancellor Anthony Cordova described the Strong Workforce Program, credit for prior learning, dual enrollment, and apprenticeship growth, and asked the Legislature to restore and increase Strong Workforce funding and expand applied baccalaureate degrees. LAEDC’s Josep Bilayo pointed to high-growth sectors such as health care, education, construction, bioscience, and clean energy, stressing data-driven planning, employer engagement, flexible funding, and wraparound supports. Andrew Gonzalez of the Los Angeles/Orange County Building and Construction Trades Council argued that registered apprenticeship must be paid, classroom-based, and tied to a portable credential, and described apprenticeship readiness programs, wraparound services, and community workforce agreements as effective tools for placing diverse, low-income, and justice-involved workers into union careers. Eric Morrison Smith of the Alliance for Boys and Men of Color discussed SB 191 and the California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship Grant Program, recommending stronger coordination, intermediary infrastructure, better tracking of youth apprenticeships, more resources for community-based organizations, and a bridge program to connect high school students and opportunity youth to apprenticeships. The committee then turned to firefighting academies and career training at Santa Ana College. President Annabelle Neri and Vice President Jeffrey Lamb described Santa Ana College as a major trainer of firefighters and first responders, with extensive noncredit workforce training, multiple bachelor’s degrees, and strong job placement in fire-related fields. They emphasized hands-on training, wellness services, mock interviews, sponsorships with fire agencies, and partnerships with local law enforcement and the U.S. Forest Service. Neri also urged changes to the state’s applied baccalaureate rules to remove the “duplication” restriction so more community colleges can offer workforce-focused bachelor’s degrees tied to living-wage jobs. The hearing ended with discussion of how regional and statewide planning should work together, how to reduce duplication and administrative barriers, and how to better align education, employers, and apprenticeship systems to meet California’s workforce needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then ag education—like if it's agriculture education, that's not core education, right?
• I ask that home education.
• educational benefit?
• educate our students.
• What item is a core educational expense and what item is not a core educational expense?

Committee: All ALC-ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:57.560><c> teaching</c> shortage and special education teaching shortage and special education
• </c><00:20:57.480><c> dollars</c> local funds special education dollars local funds special education
• </c> Bachelor's in special education Bachelor's in special education programming<00:25:55.960><c> it<
• our students in special education our students in special<00:27:57.720><c> education</c> special education
• Special education in particular.

Bills: HF846 , HF1538 , HF1959

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• She is the daughter of educators. She has siblings that are educators.
• It's important to the education community that a secretary is an educator.
• I come from a family of educators who have served across all sectors of education and communities throughout
• Educational challenges.
• I'm happy to know that the person who's leading public education is also a former educator.

Committee: Senate Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• The Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance and the Assembly Education Committee will
• Education.
• That of educators, that of students, and that of families.
• I don't think you can find an educator, and by educator I mean students, teachers, all the way to board
• educational equity within their communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Education is called to order. Will the secretary please call the roll?
• I think that something that would be a good idea is not only expanding education...
• That way, they're educating others that they can have even more educational opportunities.
• Chair Angus, members of the Senate Committee on Education, good afternoon.
• to the State Board of Private Post-Secondary Education.

Committee: Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met, approved the March 25, 2026 minutes, and considered two executive nominations. First, the committee heard testimony from Aidan Kane Vaux, nominated as a student regent for the Arizona Board of Regents. Vaux described his background as an ASU biomedical engineering graduate student and researcher, his teaching and mentoring experience, and his interest in representing students. Senators asked about how his engineering training would inform board service, student concerns about tuition and cost transparency, expanding STEM and health care education, mental health resources, and improving educational access in rural Arizona. Vaux said he would bring a problem-solving, data-driven perspective and emphasized affordability, student support, rural outreach, and broader access to research and health-related opportunities. The committee voted 6-0, with one member not voting, to recommend his confirmation to the full Senate. The committee then heard from Andrea Marasota Snow, nominated to the Arizona State Board for Private Post-Secondary Education. Snow said she serves as Chief Legal and Government Affairs Officer at Pima Medical Institute and would use her legal and regulatory experience to help the board with licensing, complaint review, compliance, and student protections. She emphasized balancing institutional growth with oversight and protecting students through the Student Tuition Recovery Fund and other safeguards. The committee voted 6-0, with one member not voting, to recommend her confirmation to the full Senate. Before adjourning, members thanked staff and nominees, and the chair noted Senator Diaz’s birthday. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Education Education um<00:14:09.399><c> good</c><00:14:09.560><c> afternoon</c><00:14:10.079><c> thank
• education.
• education.
• education.
• It automatically pays educators more per their years of service and per their education.

Summary: The Committee on Education met on January 30 and heard testimony on several bills, beginning with an announcement asking testifiers and members to keep remarks brief because of weather. The vice chair also explained that HB 440, relating to immigration issues in schools and state hospitals, was removed from the agenda because the proposal would not create meaningful legal protections and immigration policy is governed by federal law. The committee then moved through a series of education-related measures, with testimony largely from the Department of Education, the School Facilities Authority, the Attorney General’s office, unions, advocacy groups, and individual testifiers. On HB 330, concerning school impact fees, the School Facilities Authority supported the bill as aligning policy with implementation, while the Tax Foundation of Hawaii said the fee accounts have accumulated large balances, including more than $20 million in impact fee funds and nearly $9 million from predecessor fair-share contributions, and urged that collected money be used rather than left idle. DOE said it would follow up on the balance and why it was not being used. On HB 1188, dealing with workforce housing, DOE and the Charter School Commission offered comments or support, the Attorney General suggested clarifying the phrase “within commuting distance” by using a mileage standard and adding repayment language, and HSTA, HGEA, and others supported the bill, with HSTA saying teachers need housing to be able to live and work in Hawaii. On HB 624 and HB 625, both related to school psychologists, DOE said it would participate in a work group on the pathway bill and supported the incentive program bill; school psychologists and related groups supported the measures, while one testifier said DOE should not lead the work group alone because school psychologists may work in many education settings beyond DOE schools. The committee also heard HB 1314 on youth mental health in schools. DOE described its student support process, universal screening tools, and behavioral health services, saying schools already identify and respond to concerns and that staff are trained to report issues, while the Attorney General warned the bill could expose schools to liability and recommended a broad liability waiver. Testimony was mixed, with several supporters and one opponent. On HB 616, concerning school safety and harassment protections for educational workers, the Attorney General sought clarifying amendments on harassment definitions, temporary restraining order costs, and paid leave, while HSTA, HGEA, and individual teachers strongly supported the bill, describing harassment incidents and arguing for a standardized statewide response. DOE said it already has reporting pathways, visitor codes of conduct, trespass notices, and an ethics hotline, but acknowledged implementation varies by school and that staff can escalate concerns if needed. The committee also began hearing HB 88 on a three-year pilot program for athletic travel, but the transcript cuts off before that bill’s testimony is completed or any votes are taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• My experience in Houston, education, spans 30 years.
• TIA only currently serves 6% of educators.
• I too have been an educator.
• But I am a prodigy of public education.
• Incredible strides of this state in education, from the dedication of our educators to the gains of our

Bills: HB2 , HB2

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Invite the Department of Education to the table. Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.
• And then ag education—like if it's agriculture education, that's not core education, right?
• educate our students.
• instead cause educational limitations and stunt the educational growth of Arkansas students.
• What item is a core educational expense and what item is not a core educational expense?

Committee: All ALC-ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee reviewed a long agenda of agency rules, with most items approved without objection after brief presentations and no public comment. Early items included Department of Energy and Environment rules on landfill post-closure trust fund spending thresholds and liquefied petroleum gas standards, DFA’s electronic odometer disclosure rule, and several Department of Health rules covering ionizing radiation, mobile home and RV parks, lead-based paint, counseling board revisions, hearing instrument dispensers, athletic training, dental examiners, nursing, pharmacy, medical board, speech-language pathology and audiology, radiologic technology, massage therapy, community health workers, doula certification, and cosmetology/body art. Most of these changes were described as updates to match recent acts, federal standards, compact participation, fee adjustments, or cleanup/clarification, and the committee repeatedly approved them without objection. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on the Arkansas State Board of Nursing’s broad set of rule changes implementing multiple 2025 acts. Those changes included creating a dialysis patient care technician registry, updating contact information requirements, expanding APRN authority to delegate certain tasks, clarifying death certificate and pronouncement authority, allowing substitution of therapeutically equivalent medications, permitting purchase of compounded products, and updating certified medication assistant rules and training standards. Members asked detailed questions about the meaning of therapeutically equivalent substitutions, delegation limits, compounded products, and how often medication lists would be updated; the board said it would review rules annually and use future rulemaking as needed. The committee also approved new nursing rules for declaratory orders and the new dialysis registry. The Department of Education’s rules drew the most discussion, especially the Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program. The department said the revisions, based on Act 920 of 2025, were intended to add guardrails, clarify eligible expenses, and streamline approvals. Changes included defining core educational expenses, limiting sports-related spending, adding an intentional misuse standard, restricting certain technology purchases and requiring extra justification over $1,000, capping carryover funds at $8,500, and creating a reconsideration process for denied expenses. Members raised concerns about oversight, appeal timelines, sports equipment, provider credentialing, and whether the rules were too restrictive; department officials said the rules were meant to protect taxpayer funds while preserving flexibility, and they noted the program had received extensive public comment. The committee also approved Education rules for scholarships, residency classification, teacher programs, accelerated learning, and graduate medical education, as well as Labor and Licensing rules on wage and hour standards, boiler rules, motor vehicle commission requirements, professional wrestling regulation, appraiser qualifications, and military recruiting incentives.

Transcript Highlights:

• priorities with educators.
• Texas to educate them will improve the our education system.
• on the House Public Education Committee, educate members of the. legislature regarding the spirit and
• It sends the wrong message to the. very educated, to the very educators we need most and contributes
• was introduced says that the Texas Education Agency will work with the Education Service Centers. to

Bills: HB 1178 , HB1411 , HB1441 , HB1773 , HB1813 , HB2107 , HB2598 , HB2911 , HB2967 , HB3672 , HB5263 , HB3797

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the things, I've been in nursing higher education for 15 years.
• So we are licensed by the Commission for Independent Education.
• So I would say about 20,000 a year to be able to get the education.
• So I would say about 20,000 a year to be able to get the education.
• they have been giving to the nursing higher education setting.

Summary: The subcommittee met to examine Florida’s nursing education pipeline and the state’s persistently low NCLEX passage rates. Chair Tuck opened by noting the projected nurse shortage and Florida’s ranking near the bottom nationally for first-time NCLEX pass rates. The Department of Health explained the Board of Nursing’s approval process for nursing programs, including application requirements, probation standards, and termination for programs that repeatedly fail passage-rate benchmarks. The Florida Center for Nursing then presented statewide data showing Florida has more test takers than most states, but still trails the national average; the gap has narrowed in recent years, though Florida remains below average. Members focused heavily on why the state continues to underperform, with discussion of faculty shortages, clinical placement constraints, accreditation, student preparedness, and the large share of newer private for-profit programs among those placed on probation. Committee members asked about how probation works, what happens when programs improve, and whether the board requires corrective plans. They also questioned the relationship between program type and outcomes, the effect of Operation Nightingale, and how many students fail and retest. The Florida Center for Nursing said first-attempt pass rates are the standard measure and that students who fail are expected to remediate and retest, though costs vary. The center also said Florida’s data shows accredited programs outperform approved or probationary ones, and that the state’s nursing workforce challenges are tied to broader issues such as faculty vacancies, clinical site competition, and student demographics, including many students balancing work, family, and language barriers. A panel of nursing school leaders from public, private nonprofit, and private for-profit institutions then described strategies used to improve outcomes. These included transparent recruitment, early orientation, tutoring, success coaching, stronger faculty development, curriculum mapping to NCLEX standards, higher course benchmarks, mandatory remediation, simulation labs, and commercial NCLEX prep tools such as ATI, Kaplan, and HESI. Several panelists said their programs had improved after probation or had very high passage rates, and they emphasized that student success depends on academic preparation, clinical experience, and support services. Members also asked about tuition, program length, translation into other languages, and faculty recruitment; panelists said costs vary widely, faculty hiring is difficult because hospitals pay more, and some schools are considering medical Spanish and immersion options rather than full curriculum translation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Senate Education Committee.
• and State Department of Education.
• Welcome to Senate Education. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• And so how much of our education, I guess my question, next question would be how much of our education
• the Institute of Education Sciences, which is the gold star for education research.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• And education funding.
• </c> Education. That is misplaced priorities. Education. That is misplaced priorities.
• for special education.
• </c> But, special education isn't optional. But, special education isn't optional.
• </c> K-12 education system. K-12 education system.

Bills: HF3493 , HF4114

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• There's also a pilot program for educators.
• They sit between the State Department of Education and our local education agencies, our school Intermediaries
• They sit between the State Department of Education and our local education agencies, our school districts
• So good to see you in Assembly Education.
• This bill is a top-down education bureaucratic nightmare that will not improve education in Nevada.

Committee: Assembly Education

Transcript Highlights:

• education education um<00:19:20.160><c> category.
• </c> of education. of education.
• </c> year in education. year in education.
• </c> through education. through education.
• </c> of great educators. of great educators.

Committee: Senate Education Policy