Transcript Highlights:

• People were quitting in droves and becoming teachers.
• One request is for keeping Texas prepared.
• Finally, the UH System is grateful to the legislature for funding a Teacher Preparation Program last
• So we are preparing for it.
• So, in terms of enrollment, yes, we are preparing.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The Sergeant at Arms will prepare the chamber and bring in the absent members.
• Assembly Bill 833 by Assembly Member Alvarez and accolated teachers.
• We need to make sure that we have the teachers that are prepared to serve these students.
• paying our student teachers during their required clinical practice.
• This bill will establish the California Student Teacher Grant Program.

Summary: The Assembly met on May 23, 2025, established a quorum after a roll call, and proceeded through a long House of Origin floor session with prayers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and routine parliamentary actions. Early in the day, a motion by Assembly Member Gallagher to suspend the rules and take up AB 12 immediately failed on a 18-39 vote. The chamber then moved through the daily file, with many measures passing by wide margins, often with bipartisan support and little or no opposition. Among the notable bills discussed were measures on law enforcement oversight and records access (AB 847), CalFresh data-sharing exemptions (AB 593), campus-area housing for students and staff (AB 893), insurance and wildfire hardening updates (AB 1), missing middle housing code changes (AB 6), tribal peace officer status in a pilot program (AB 31), utility bill analysis before new mandates (AB 61), fairgrounds funding (AB 258), Diwali as a state holiday (AB 268), labor and worker organizing rights (AB 288), algorithmic price-fixing and antitrust enforcement (AB 325), elections and jail voter information (AB 331), protections for judges and court personnel (AB 343 and AB 352), school construction procurement (AB 361), school-zone speed limits (AB 382), transit worker protections (AB 394), blue carbon coastal mitigation (AB 399), K-9 standards for law enforcement (AB 400), livestock carcass composting (AB 411), translation of housing materials (AB 413), immigrant educational rights notices (AB 419), gun violence restraining order implementation (AB 451), special education and child care measures (AB 560 and AB 563), cannabis tax relief (AB 564), and disability access protections for businesses (AB 649). Several bills addressed housing, energy, public health, and public safety, and many authors emphasized affordability, transparency, and administrative efficiency. The session also included several ceremonial or recognition items, including ACR 73 declaring Italian American Heritage Month, which was adopted by voice vote after 65 coauthors were added. Most measures were approved overwhelmingly, though a few drew some dissent, including AB 421? no—AB 399 passed 42-30, AB 450 passed 49-6, AB 461 passed 49-8, and AB 621 passed 58-0. The transcript ends partway through AB 772, which was introduced as an educational equity bill addressing cyberbullying after school hours, but the remainder of that item is not included in the provided text.

Transcript Highlights:

• Actually, my teacher from high school is here today, Frau Wall, a French teacher in Brentwood.
• It's here today, Frau Wall, a French teacher in Brentwood over in St.
• As an elementary school teacher and a president of a local teachers union, we appreciate it.
• As an elementary school teacher and a president of a local teachers union, we appreciate it.
• So if you can hang tight, resolutions are being prepared. Thank you, everyone.

Transcript Highlights:

• to act as mentors to designated teachers. ...and retired classroom teachers to act as mentors to designated
• teacher no more than one mentee at a time.
• The union called teachers and students daily to make sure what the preparation for schools to begin.
• The teachers in Florida Virtual School are public school teachers, and they are...
• The teachers in Florida Virtual School are public school teachers, and they are in the Florida Retirement

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, a quorum call, approval of the journal, and adoption of the special order calendar. The chamber then took up several Senate bills on special order, with members offering questions and debate before final votes. The first major measure, CS/SB 156, the Officer Jason Rayner Act, would reclassify certain offenses against law enforcement officers and add manslaughter of an officer to the life-sentence reclassification statute. Supporters said it honored Officer Rayner and clarified that resistance to officers with violence is unlawful; opponents argued it reduced judicial discretion and could sweep in unintended cases. The bill passed 100-8. The House next passed CS/SB 688 on naturopathic medicine, which creates a regulatory framework and licensure standards for naturopathic physicians, defines scope limits, and establishes a board under the Department of Health. Supporters framed it as a consumer protection and medical freedom bill, while opponents called it an expansion of scope and criticized the low penalty for unlicensed practice. It passed 85-22. The chamber also passed CS/CS/SB 1062 on speech and debate education, creating a Florida Speech and Debate Hall of Fame, a Speech and Debate Week, and a statewide debate initiative, by a unanimous 112-0 vote. Members then approved CS/CS/SB 1220, a broad transportation bill covering FDOT authority, airports and seaports, drone and delivery devices, autonomous vehicle crimes, tolls, and other transportation issues; an amendment added provisions on Space Florida, golf carts, automated license plate recognition, and related matters while removing digital driver’s license repeal language. The bill passed 87-23. SB 962 on affordable housing, which clarifies that Live Local Act zoning preemption does not unintentionally capture working farms and farm operations, passed 109-2. Finally, CS/CS/SB 1580 on aiding illegal gaming was introduced and discussed; it would strengthen penalties for illegal slot machines and unregulated gaming arcades, clarify reporting and enforcement, and preempt local regulation, with questions focused on VFWs, sweepstakes, fantasy sports, and online betting. The transcript then shifted into lengthy farewell remarks and recognitions, including tributes from members leaving the House and acknowledgments of guests in the galleries.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you're a certified teacher, you have learned about that in your teacher preparation course.
• If you're a certified teacher, you have learned about that in your teacher preparation course.
• ><c> your</c><01:42:01.239><c> teacher</c><01:42:01.599><c> preparation</c><01:42:02.520><c> course</
• c> that in your teacher preparation course that in your teacher preparation course you<01:42:03.320><
• So if a student has some special needs, the teacher who is in front of them has to be prepared to modify

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 362, which would give the Department of Education rulemaking authority over educator licensing and testing requirements, including professional education assessments. Representative Ladd argued the bill is meant to preserve New Hampshire’s higher standards for teacher preparation and to avoid lowering requirements for licensed educators, while also allowing flexibility for career and technical education (CTE) instructors who may have strong industry experience but not traditional classroom credentials. Members discussed whether the bill should preserve industry-recognized credentials and basic academic skills testing while exempting CTE teachers from content exams; DOE Director Steven Appy said an amendment would clarify that the bill applies to initial licenses, exempt CTE teachers from the content-testing requirement, and keep current administrative practice on basic skills and industry credentials in statute. The committee also noted that an executive session would be scheduled later, likely the following week, to act on the bills and amendment. The committee then took up House Bill 90, dealing with the definition of part-time teachers. Representative Ladd explained that the bill is intended to let university and community college faculty teach limited hours in high school concurrent enrollment settings, especially in subjects like math and STEM where some schools cannot find locally certified teachers with a master’s degree. He said the measure is designed to expand student access to college-level courses, not to replace fully certified teachers or reduce standards, and emphasized that the bill is limited to faculty employed or contracted by the University System of New Hampshire or the Community College System of New Hampshire, with criminal background checks and ethics/conduct rules still applying. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the discussion ended with the understanding that further action would come in executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now by law, every new teacher gets it.
• Out in the field, we prepared for this new mandate.
• That slows our ability to hire the person, the teacher that needs to be in that role, the correct teacher
• We have great subs, but it's not our student's permanent teacher.
• Bilingual programs, language development supports, and qualified bilingual teachers.

Summary: The joint Senate Education and Budget Committee hearing focused on the Governor’s proposed education governance overhaul, which would shift day-to-day management of the California Department of Education from the elected Superintendent of Public Instruction to a new appointed education commissioner, while giving the Superintendent new voting roles on the State Board of Education and the Community College Board of Governors. Chair Perez opened by stressing that the proposal raises major policy questions beyond the budget process and should be evaluated for its effect on students, local control, and accountability. Brooks Allen of the State Board of Education argued the change would unify policymaking and implementation, reduce fragmented authority, and create clearer accountability, citing decades of reports criticizing California’s “crazy quilt” governance structure and noting the proposal is timed for the 2026 transition. Amber Alexander of the Department of Finance outlined the fiscal and staffing transfers, describing the plan as largely cost-neutral and explaining how positions would shift between the State Board, the Department, and the new Superintendent’s office over 2026-27 and 2027-28. Sarah Cortez of the Legislative Analyst’s Office said the LAO supports shifting management to an appointed commissioner but recommended several refinements: preserving legislative oversight, requiring Senate confirmation of the commissioner, clearly defining the Superintendent’s duties as a public representative/advisor/evaluator, and refining the State Board’s role to focus on major policies requiring public input. She also said the fiscal plan should be cost-neutral and more fully specified. Senators raised concerns about the timing during an election year, the constitutional status of the Superintendent, whether the proposal should instead be a constitutional amendment, and whether governance changes actually improve student outcomes or simply rearrange the org chart. Some members questioned whether the proposal would confuse voters and undermine democratic accountability, while others said the current structure is already confusing and that the reform could improve clarity for districts and local boards. The discussion also covered how curriculum is set, with LAO explaining that the Legislature has broad authority but has delegated much curriculum work to the State Board and the Instructional Quality Commission. Members asked how the new structure would affect local districts, who they would call for guidance, and whether the commissioner would have authority over policy; the presenters said policy authority would remain with the State Board, while the commissioner would handle administration and implementation. No votes were taken during the panel discussion, and the hearing was organized to continue with additional panels and public comment later in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• administration support specialists, and forensic laboratory employees, and the monthly salaries for teachers
• this amendment would be to allow for a market pay enhancement for employees of the state police, teachers
• I will say that this chart was prepared by the Department of Education, and Mr.
• I'm happy on Cabell County side, but I'm... ...I've got schools shutting down in my county. 130 teachers
• Higher ed institutions preparing campus safety mapping data must consult and receive approval from the

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Based on its investigations and information gathered, the board must prepare a series of reports.
• I've been a child care teacher for about nine years. I support HB 1128.
• A couple of weeks ago, I worked while sick because another teacher was out, and I was the only teacher
• These are our children's first teachers, and they are our local economies.
• It doesn't recruit new teachers. It doesn't retain new teachers. It does not create new slots.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1347, which would streamline cannabis testing lab accreditation by requiring the Liquor and Cannabis Board to accept Department of Agriculture accreditation as the basis for initial certification under certain conditions and to reduce duplication between agencies. The prime sponsor and several industry witnesses said the bill is intended to clarify authority, improve efficiency, and preserve consumer safety, while LCB said it had no policy objection but wanted implementation concerns addressed. Several witnesses supported the concept but said an amendment was needed to clearly assign accreditation authority to WSDA and avoid overlapping requirements. The committee also heard and later took action on several bills. House Bill 2229 would update the Professional Engineers Registration Act by changing board membership rules, increasing pro tem members, and revising registration and exam provisions; the sponsor and board director said it modernizes qualifications without changing licensure standards. House Bill 2091 would require more complete employee contact information to be shared with exclusive bargaining representatives under the Personnel System Reform Act; union witnesses supported it and a policy witness opposed it as a privacy intrusion. Second Substitute House Bill 1128 would create a Child Care Workforce Standards Board to make recommendations on child care worker standards; supporters said it addresses workforce shortages and retention, while providers and associations argued it duplicates existing work and could lead to unfunded mandates. In executive action, the committee voted do pass on Substitute House Bills 2492, 2107, 2151, 2355, and Gross Substitute House Bill 2471, and sent them to Rules. It also voted do pass on Second Substitute House Bill 2105 and referred it to Ways and Means. Other bills heard included House Bill 1701 on shared liquor license premises, where a small business owner supported more flexible shared-space arrangements and LCB suggested amendments to prevent undue influence; House Bill 2264 on unemployment benefits for employer-initiated layoffs, which was supported as a clarification to protect workers who opt into reduction-in-force programs; Substitute House Bill 2472 on fire sprinkler work enforcement, supported by labor and industry witnesses; and Second Substitute House Bill 2345, which would adjust paid family and medical leave premium allocations to address IRS tax guidance, with broad support from labor, business, and the agency.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our community college system, I think, is prepared to ramp up some work around that.
• Do pilot programs prepare students for college and careers in specialized fields?
• So it's a great transition, and be prepared to get asked more specifics about that.
• with people from diverse backgrounds and recruit and prepare the future workforce: teachers, nurses,
• educator workforce tasked with strengthening the teacher pipeline.

Transcript Highlights:

• Classmates noticed, teachers noticed.
• We were not prepared to learn online.
• Until 10:00 p.m. after school, school counselors, social workers, teachers, even the children of teachers
• ,</c><01:05:23.440><c> staff,</c> to our young students, teachers, staff, to our young students, teachers
• </c> when we heard from the uh 2025 teacher when we heard from the uh 2025 teacher of<01:10:19.120><c

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone indicated their presence?
• Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. If everyone voted. Cast up the ballot.
• Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
• Members, this is the appropriation for the Arkansas Teacher Retirement.
• Members, this is the appropriation for the Arkansas Teacher Retirement.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> offer free citizenship task preparation offer free citizenship task preparation classes<00:53:42.880
• </c><01:19:06.320><c> tutors</c> to contract credential teachers tutors to contract credential teachers
• </c> of our homes and rented spaces preparing of our homes and rented spaces preparing them<04:17:30.720
• </c><05:32:37.558><c> for</c> that our residents are prepared for that our residents are prepared for
• </c> opportunities and provide pre-prepared opportunities and provide pre-prepared meals<06:20:55.320

Transcript Highlights:

• Third reading of a bill: An act authorizing the preparation of bilingual ballots in English and Haitian
• Third reading of a bill: An act authorizing the preparation of bilingual ballots in English and Haitian
• An act authorizing the preparation of bilingual ballots in English and Haitian Creole in the city known
• The Committee on Ways and Means, to whom was referred the House bill relative to teacher preparation
• Senate Rule 7 or any other rules to the contrary, the House bill relative to teacher preparation and

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted a congratulatory resolution honoring Anna Karaz on her 100th birthday. It then took up and passed several local bills, including a measure authorizing bilingual ballots in English and Haitian Creole for the town of Randolph. The sponsor spoke in support, describing the bill as a home rule petition intended to improve access, civic participation, and voter turnout for Randolph’s growing Haitian Creole-speaking population. The bill was read a third time and passed to be engrossed. The Senate also passed a bill authorizing the Milford Select Board to appoint a highway surveyor. It received a Ways and Means report on House No. 4683, relative to teacher preparation and student literacy, recommending amendment by substitution of the text in Senate document No. 2924; the chamber suspended the rules to consider the order forthwith and adopted it. The Senate further suspended rules to process several Senate petitions and local matters, and then enacted bills amending the Provincetown charter, establishing the appointed town clerk position in Avon, and authorizing Westwood to reissue and grant certain alcohol licenses. Later, the Senate referred a House petition concerning retirement benefits for Valeria Dorazio to the Committee on Public Service after suspending Joint Rule 12. It then adopted an amendment substituting a new draft for a Plymouth bill, changing it to validate and confirm certain acts and proceedings of Plymouth officials, and passed the bill to be engrossed. The session also included remarks congratulating Sweet Paws Rescue on its 15th anniversary and upcoming facility move, followed by a motion to adjourn in memory of Gerard W. Moynihan, which was adopted after a moment of silence. The Senate adjourned to meet again the following Monday at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, they are preparing for regional competition in music, academics, and athletics.
• Additionally, they are preparing for regional competition in music, academics, and athletics.
• This son of a good Catholic family spent six years studying for the priesthood and preparing to serve
• After receiving her associate teacher degree, Dolores got to work as one of only three bilingual teachers
• Speaker, in another life a long, long time ago, I used to be a math teacher.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sergeant Arms will prepare the chamber and bring in the absent members. Clerk will call the roll.
• flexibility. for teachers who want to help their students.
• expand California's pool of teachers who can meet both general and special education needs.
• ensures that students with disabilities have greater access to fully prepared teachers.
• This is coming at the request of our teacher.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:18.000><c> Uh</c> teacher uh educators in our area. Uh teacher uh educators in our area.
• </c> there is a national parents as teacher there is a national parents as teacher parents<00:31:58.000
• ,</c> costs for infrastructure, for teachers, costs for infrastructure, for teachers, for<00:57:33.680
• > retirement</c> investments in teacher retirement investments in teacher retirement system. system.
• First is the teacher.

Summary: The committee opened its sixth meeting of the 2025 Interim Joint Committee on Education, confirmed a quorum, recorded attendance votes, and approved the minutes. Chair Lewis reminded presenters to keep remarks brief because of the full agenda and limited time. The first presentation was from United Way of Southern Kentucky, with Anne Puckett, Craig Browning, and Warren County Schools Superintendent Rob Clayton introducing a regional early childhood initiative. The presenters argued that kindergarten readiness and early childhood support are critical to later academic and life outcomes. They cited research and statistics about brain development in the first five years, the effects of unprepared kindergarten entry, and links between low literacy, school discipline, dropout rates, and incarceration. They said their region’s readiness scores fell during COVID and after a tornado, and that the most effective response was in-home parent education to help families support children from birth to age five. They described the model as voluntary, community-based, and not requiring new buildings, and said similar programs have been successful in Missouri. The group said it had already raised more than $1 million in private donations and committed three years of funding for four additional staff, expanding service in Allen, Logan, and Warren counties. They requested $600,000 per year for the next two-year budget cycle to add 12 more educators, serve about 360 families and 660 additional children, and build evidence for a possible statewide model. Members generally expressed support for the concept, with Representative Tipton and Representative Jackson discussing a prior home-based preschool pilot and the importance of starting early. Representative Calloway questioned whether increased family chaos and government involvement justified the approach; presenters responded that the program uses community educators, not a government-run organization, and is aimed at helping overwhelmed families. Representative Stalker asked about eligibility and early intervention, and presenters said the program serves children from birth to age five and can help identify needs early enough to connect families with services such as First Steps.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've had legislation prepared in past years to I've had legislation prepared in past years to try and
• They never came to parent-teacher conferences.
• We'll be prepared to do that; the future legislature will be prepared to do that, so I'm not concerned
• Teachers purchase a wide array of items.
• And so, no teacher should be in that position, but we know that teachers love their students and they're

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2681 , SB5467 , SB5820 , SB5863 , SB5892 , SCR8406 , HB2487 , HB2711 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5995 , SB6278

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, approved the prior day’s minutes, and then moved through caucuses and a series of transportation, elections, energy, historical records, cannabis, abortion-access, and fiscal bills. Members repeatedly emphasized that several measures were supplemental or technical updates to existing law, while others involved larger policy disputes over taxes, fees, clean energy, election security, and reproductive health. The chamber also received Senate messages on other bills and briefly recessed for caucus during the day. The most prominent action was final passage of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6005, the supplemental transportation budget, after adopting a technical amendment and a larger striker amendment. Supporters highlighted preservation and maintenance funding, rail investments, ferry maintenance, road safety, and continued work on major projects statewide; opponents largely reserved comments or noted concerns about future needs. The House passed the bill 93-0 with five excused. The House also passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2711 on transportation resources, after adopting a technical amendment that removed the aircraft tax and delayed an RV-related tax change; supporters said it protected businesses and jobs, while opponents objected to trade-in treatment and other tax changes. That bill passed 83-10. On elections, the House considered Senate Bill 5892 to protect the voter registration database. An amendment to reduce penalties from a felony to a civil infraction and remove the emergency clause failed, while the committee amendment passed 50-34. Supporters said the bill was needed to safeguard sensitive voter data and clarify access; opponents argued it created conflicts with federal law and imposed excessive penalties on local election officials. The bill then passed 57-36. On energy, Substitute Senate Bill 5982 updating consumer-owned utility provisions drew debate over carbon capture, resource adequacy, data centers, and clean energy policy. Amendments on carbon capture and blackout-triggered termination failed, while an amendment preserving cogeneration exceptions passed; the bill then passed 57-37. The House also passed Senate Bill 5863 on preservation and inspection of state historical records, after rejecting an amendment to require longer retention but adopting the committee amendment; supporters stressed preserving the history of residential habilitation centers and the value to families seeking records. Substitute Senate Bill 5874, allowing the Employment Security Department to waive penalties for minor employer reporting errors, passed unanimously. Engrossed House Bill 2681, raising cannabis license fees while removing an escalator, passed 52-42. Finally, Substitute Senate Bill 5917 on access to abortion medications saw several failed amendments from opponents seeking to narrow, reframe, or add fiscal limits to the bill; supporters said it preserved flexibility to ensure access and avoid waste, and the bill passed 57-36.

Transcript Highlights:

• After my third son was born, I got a job working in a school as a preschool assistant teacher.
• After my third son was born, I got a job working in a school as a preschool assistant teacher.
• So I didn't have that much uni. in a school, like a preschool, as an assistant teacher.
• We have a handout prepared, which I know your staff has.
• I like everybody's prepared. Thank you. Good afternoon. Good afternoon.

Summary: The California State Assembly Select Committee on Child Care Costs held its second hearing focused first on disaster response, especially wildfires and flooding, and how they affect child care infrastructure. State agencies described their disaster preparedness and response work, including evacuation notifications, shelter coordination, emergency guidance, waivers, and support services. The Department of Education said wildfires have displaced tens of thousands of families and impacted thousands of preschool families, and recommended statutory changes to help rebuild programs, require early childhood programs to be included in local recovery plans, expand mental health supports, and review disaster, tax, and insurance policy gaps. Child care advocates and providers described major losses from the L.A. fires and San Diego flooding, including destroyed homes and businesses, lack of insurance, delayed permits, lost income, and the need for emergency grants, relocation help, and better disaster planning for child care programs. Several providers gave personal testimony about rebuilding after fires and floods, including one family child care provider from Pasadena/Altadena whose home and business were destroyed and who is still trying to reopen while paying rent, a mortgage, and permit costs. Another provider described flood damage, health impacts on children, and thousands of dollars in losses. Committee members emphasized that child care is often overlooked in disaster recovery and asked state officials what is being done to integrate child care into emergency planning and to improve coordination among state and local agencies. Officials said the statewide child care disaster plan exists and has been updated over time, but acknowledged more work is needed and that the hearing itself should inform future improvements. The second panel addressed immigration enforcement and its impact on the child care system. Advocates from the Children's Partnership, Every Child California, and CHIRLA said immigration raids and enforcement activity are causing families to keep children home, reducing attendance and enrollment, increasing fear and trauma, and destabilizing providers and the broader early learning workforce. They argued that child care settings are trusted spaces and that enforcement undermines continuity of care, child development, and program viability. They urged stronger privacy and safety protections, statewide training and technical assistance, trauma-informed guidance, legal support for families, transportation and subsidy protections, and emergency funding for providers. Speakers also highlighted recently enacted laws AB 49 and AB 495, but stressed that implementation will require funding and clear guidance. Committee members agreed that funding and implementation are critical and heard public testimony from providers describing fear, family separation, and the need to keep child care safe and stable for immigrant families.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are working with an expert teacher and they're getting on-the-job training.
• Less teachers will mean less services, less programs for kids.
• Go back to the teachers.
• Are going to be cutting teachers, cutting employees.
• as they prepare for the next biennium's cuts, if they're still there.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is teaching students who are preparing for careers in health and science fields.
• Let's prepare Lori Lane and Ron Dock Holiday for remote testimony. Shana, please proceed.
• Let's prepare Lori Lane and Ron Dock Holiday for remote testimony.
• Let's prepare Lori Lane and Ron Dock Holiday for remote testimony. Shana, please proceed.
• Before they go, let's prepare Philipot, who should be here in person. Please come up.

Committee: House Finance