Transcript Highlights:

• can find how this the public school is going to pay for a non-manifest hardship piece to a private academy
• , or approved charter school within the district, to a public school, public academy, or approved charter
• ,</c> another public school, public academy, another public school, public academy, or<01:20:55.920><
• <c> or</c><01:20:59.199><c> approved</c><01:20:59.520><c> charter</c><01:20:59.760><c> school</c> academy
• , or approved charter school academy, or approved charter school other<01:21:00.560><c> district.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 69, which would require local school boards to publicly vote on whether to accept or reject charitable gifts or donations, prompted by a case in which a church offered to pay off school lunch debt but the offer was refused and families were sued instead. Senator Keith Murphy said the bill is intended to force transparency and public accountability in similar situations, while acknowledging that boards may still reject gifts with strings attached or for ethical reasons. Members raised questions about anonymity, privacy, and whether school boards already have authority to address meal debt before litigation. Murphy said the bill was aimed at cases where money is refused and families are sued, and he said he would accept amendments to make the vote requirement apply to both accepted and rejected gifts. The hearing on the bill was then closed. The committee then took up Senate Bill 206, which requires public schools to adopt policies limiting student cell phone use during the school day. Trisha Milo, presenting for Senator Rashardi, said the bill is meant to improve focus, reduce distraction and cyberbullying, and create more consistent policies across districts, while still allowing exceptions for medical, disability, language support, and instructional needs. Committee members questioned whether districts would retain flexibility, whether the bill should apply to charter schools and other devices, and whether the annual policy-update requirement and enforcement language were too prescriptive. Milo said districts would still have flexibility in how they write their policies and that she would seek clarification from the senator on several drafting questions. Becky Wilson of the New Hampshire School Boards Association testified in support of the general concept of a cell phone policy, saying many districts already have some form of policy, though not all do, and that existing sample policies are outdated. She said the annual update requirement would likely be burdensome and that the enforcement language seemed intended to ensure administrative involvement rather than teacher discipline, but she suggested the wording may need revision. Members also discussed whether very small districts or districts without schools should be covered and whether the bill should better distinguish between classroom enforcement and student discipline. The chair closed the hearing on Senate Bill 206 after no further testimony, and the committee moved on to the next bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• And uh some outstanding young ladies from Mercy Academy here today participating in the process, and
• If not, anyway, I'd still like for all the Mercy Academy students to stand up and let us recognize you
• </c><00:01:34.799><c> here</c><00:01:35.040><c> today</c> from Mercy Academy here today from Mercy Academy
• c><00:01:48.880><c> students</c><00:01:49.360><c> to</c><00:01:49.840><c> stand</c> all the Mercy Academy
• students to stand all the Mercy Academy students to stand up<00:01:50.240><c> and</c><00:01:50.399><

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• So the State Fire Academy still operates on basically the budget that we had in 2016.
• So I just cut it, and so you got more people coming to the academy, and we train about 14,000 people
• a year through the academy.
• a year through the academy.
• I've been to your fire academy out there. I've seen the work you've done there.

Committee: Joint Government Structure

Transcript Highlights:

• Hello, Kelly McMillan on behalf of the American Academy of Pediatrics, California, in support.
• Opportunity, Heavy Metal Summer Experience with IBEW Local 11 and Southland Industries, Water Leaders Academy
• Replenishment District, and paid internships through the Child Mind Institute's Youth Mental Health Academy

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Yesterday, our team and I were able to visit the CHP Training Academy, learn the history of the CHP,
• He graduated from the Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad in 1947 and went on to study citrus production
• He remained active on his farm and gave back as an emeritus trustee of the Army and Navy Academy.

Summary: The Assembly convened after an initial quorum call, then proceeded with prayer, the pledge, and routine motions. Members approved several procedural requests, including moving AB 362 to the inactive file and allowing the Natural Resources Committee to hear AB 34 on January 16. The chamber also recognized guests and paid tribute to retiring Republican caucus consultant Daryl Thomas, with remarks from multiple members praising his long service and legal analysis work. The main floor action centered on ACR 116, a resolution honoring Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Members from several caucuses and both parties spoke in support, emphasizing King’s legacy of civil rights, economic justice, nonviolence, and unfinished work. After opening the roll for coauthors, the resolution received 67 coauthors and was adopted by voice vote. The Assembly then took up ACR 118, recognizing Korean American Day; members highlighted Korean American history, community contributions, solidarity with other communities, and the significance of Koreatown and Korean American civic life. That resolution also received 67 coauthors and was adopted by voice vote. The consent calendar was then adopted on a 64-0 vote, including ACR 115 on National Blood Donor Month. The chamber also held an adjournment in memory for former legislator David Kelly, with a tribute to his military service, agricultural background, and legislative work on water conservation and sustainable agriculture. The Assembly announced the upcoming Martin Luther King Day recess and adjourned until Tuesday, January 20 at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• COLUMBUS YOUTH ACADEMY THAT HIS BOYS. MODERATE RISK. CAPACITY IS 50 UP TO THE AGE OF 19.
• I TOURED SAINT AUGUSTINE YOUTH ACADEMY NOT TOO LONG AGO AND EACH AHMAUD ARBERY WHICH IS WHERE THE KIDS
• YOU SEE THEM SUPERVISED BY 18 TO 19 YEAR OLD MALE OR FEMALE STRAIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL THROUGH THE ACADEMY

Transcript Highlights:

• You're </font> <font color="aaaaaa">Academy.
• So for </font> <font color="aaaaaa">Academy play.
• Just let the Naval </font> <font color="aaaaaa">Academy slide Of course, we </font> <font color="aaaaaa
• Just let the Naval </font> <font color="aaaaaa">Academy slide Of course, we </font> <font color="aaaaaa
• So this amendment adds </font> <font color="aaaaaa">Academy slide Of course, we </font> <font color="

Bills: HB1160 , HB1289 , HB1339 , HB1798 , HB1002 , HB1065 , HB1155 , HB1916 , HB2264 , HB1078 , HB1687 , HB1701 , HB1717 , HB1795 , HB1859 , HB2088 , HB2091 , HB2107 , HB2109 , HB2110 , HB2113 , HB2124 , HB2125 , HB2133 , HB2134 , HB2140 , HB2151 , HB2152 , HB2155 , HB2165 , HB2185 , HB2191 , HB2205 , HB2211 , HB2219 , HB2228 , HB2229 , HB2230 , HB2235 , HB2238 , HB2242 , HB2245 , HB2249 , HB2253 , HB2254 , HB2269 , HB2272 , HB2283 , HB2304 , HB2317 , HB2340 , HB2343 , HB2385 , HB2406 , HB2417 , HB2426 , HB2445 , HB2452 , HB2472 , HB2492 , HB2501 , HB2531 , HB2574 , HB2606 , HB2664 , HB1160 , HB1289 , HB1339 , HB1798 , HB1065 , HB1717 , HB1795 , HB1859 , HB2107 , HB2113 , HB2124 , HB2125 , HB2133 , HB2134 , HB2140 , HB2151 , HB2155 , HB2165 , HB2185 , HB2191 , HB2205 , HB2211 , HB2219 , HB2242 , HB2245 , HB2253 , HB2283 , HB2317 , HB2343 , HB2385 , HB2406 , HB2417 , HB2426 , HB2501 , HB2531 , HB2574 , HB2606 , HB1170 , HB1544 , HB1834 , HB2111 , HB2156 , HB2188 , HB2199 , HB2206 , HB2296 , HB2360 , HB2436 , HB2471 , HB2478 , HB2510 , HB2525 , HB2532 , HB2543 , HB2605 , HB2624 , HJM4012 , HB1759

Keywords: design review, local government, land use, zoning, project permits, housing density, middle housing, affordable housing, parking minimums, single-family zoning, infill development, growth management, comprehensive plan, permit streamlining, objective development regulations, architectural review, administrative review, transit-oriented development, accessory dwelling units, ADU

Bills: HB1160 , HB1289 , HB1339 , HB1798 , HB1002 , HB1065 , HB1155 , HB1916 , HB2264 , HB1078 , HB1687 , HB1701 , HB1717 , HB1795 , HB1859 , HB2088 , HB2091 , HB2107 , HB2109 , HB2110 , HB2113 , HB2124 , HB2125 , HB2133 , HB2134 , HB2140 , HB2151 , HB2152 , HB2155 , HB2165 , HB2185 , HB2191 , HB2205 , HB2211 , HB2219 , HB2228 , HB2229 , HB2230 , HB2235 , HB2238 , HB2242 , HB2245 , HB2249 , HB2253 , HB2254 , HB2269 , HB2272 , HB2283 , HB2304 , HB2317 , HB2340 , HB2343 , HB2385 , HB2406 , HB2417 , HB2426 , HB2445 , HB2452 , HB2472 , HB2492 , HB2501 , HB2531 , HB2574 , HB2606 , HB2664 , HB1160 , HB1289 , HB1339 , HB1798 , HB1065 , HB1717 , HB1795 , HB1859 , HB2107 , HB2113 , HB2124 , HB2125 , HB2133 , HB2134 , HB2140 , HB2151 , HB2155 , HB2165 , HB2185 , HB2191 , HB2205 , HB2211 , HB2219 , HB2242 , HB2245 , HB2253 , HB2283 , HB2317 , HB2343 , HB2385 , HB2406 , HB2417 , HB2426 , HB2501 , HB2531 , HB2574 , HB2606 , HB1170 , HB1544 , HB1834 , HB2111 , HB2156 , HB2188 , HB2199 , HB2206 , HB2296 , HB2360 , HB2436 , HB2471 , HB2478 , HB2510 , HB2525 , HB2532 , HB2543 , HB2605 , HB2624 , HJM4012 , HB1759

Keywords: design review, local government, land use, zoning, project permits, housing density, middle housing, affordable housing, parking minimums, single-family zoning, infill development, growth management, comprehensive plan, permit streamlining, objective development regulations, architectural review, administrative review, transit-oriented development, accessory dwelling units, ADU

Transcript Highlights:

• Born and raised in Worcester, Mary graduated from Notre Dame Academy and Worcester State College.
• Born and raised in Worcester, Mary graduated from Notre Dame Academy and Worcester State College.

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted an order declaring the First Middlesex District seat vacant following the death of Edward J. Kennedy, with a precept issued for a special election on March 3, 2026. The chamber also adopted a resolution congratulating the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection on its 50th anniversary and observed a moment of silence in memory of Mary O'Connor Blancher, with remarks honoring her service as an educator and longtime Sturbridge public servant. The Senate then advanced several local and special legislation items, generally by unanimous consent and voice vote. These included bills on residency limits for Wells police and fire personnel, a Boston police age waiver for Antonio Perez, additional liquor licenses for Palmer, cemetery-related and treasurer-payment matters in Norton, increasing the Lanesborough select board, bond-related legislation, and a Quincy telecommunications revenue bonds bill that was amended with a new draft before being engrossed. The chamber also considered Massachusetts Water Resources Authority service bills for parcels in Sharon, adopting emergency preambles and passing them to engrossment, and a bill removing Hull from regional commissions on the status of women. The Rules Committee reported several matters for immediate consideration, including suspensions of rules and Joint Rule 12 for certain Senate petitions. The Senate also adopted a special order governing future consideration of House No. 4615, the fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill, setting deadlines and procedures for amendments and requiring immediate third reading and engrossment after amendment. The session closed with remarks recognizing Diwali and wishing the clerk a happy birthday, followed by adjournment to meet again on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. in formal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Interactive to collect online payments for two services, our conveyance program and fire emergency training academy
• Interactive to collect online payments for two services, our conveyance program and fire emergency training academy

Summary: The Senate Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs met on May 28, 2026, approved the May 19 minutes, and then considered three third-party convenience fee schedules for online payments. The first was for the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, presented by Rebecca Dupree with Louisiana Interactive; members confirmed the online payment option would be voluntary and approved the fee schedule without objection. The second was for the Department of Health’s Safe Drinking Water Program, presented by Karen Benjamin, and generated extended discussion about a $2.50 flat fee plus a 2.5% card-processing charge, especially whether that charge would violate recently passed Senate Bill 254 regarding debit card surcharges. Senators Mizell, Lambert, and Luneau questioned the structure, and department representatives said they believed the fee was not a surcharge and that ACH payments would avoid the percentage charge; the committee approved the fee schedule but urged the department to review it for compliance with SB 254. The third fee schedule was for the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal, presented by Lindsay Savoy and Garrett Lee, covering online payments for the conveyance program and the Fire Emergency Training Academy. Senators again raised concerns about the 2.5% card charge in light of SB 254, and the presenters said they intended to comply with the new law and would discuss the issue further. The committee approved this fee schedule as well, with a similar reminder to consider the bill’s impact going forward. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Megan Gerritson, and I own Young Scholars Academy and Young Scholars in Richmond.
• We're a five-star... ...and I own Young Scholars Academy and Young Scholars Enrichment.

Bills: HB4 , HB206 , HB244 , HB270 , HB361 , HB459 , HB486 , HB540 , HB615 , HB627 , HB648 , HB813 , HB996

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Keywords: constitutional convention, Louisiana constitution, electoral process, government structure, delegate elections, legislative attendance, task force, executive meetings, public meetings, confirmation process, delegates, state election, ratification, Louisiana, absentee voting, incarcerated voters, voter registration, mail-in voting, election rights, felony conviction

Transcript Highlights:

• “With a repeat finding is Hope Academy of Northwest Arkansas, and I'll provide a summary of the finding
• My name is Doug Hess, and I'm the former Superintendent of Hope Academy of Northwest Arkansas.
• And so we were constantly putting money into Hope Academy of Northwest Arkansas.
• The next report is Garfield Scholars Academy.
• charter school as required by Arkansas Code, and that concludes the findings for Garfield Scholars Academy

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Summary: The committee met to review a large slate of education audit reports, with most of the discussion focused on the Blytheville School District. Legislative Audit summarized serious repeat findings in the FY24 and FY25 audits, including missing supporting documentation for payroll, receipts, disbursements, journal entries, and Title I spending; unreconciled bank balances; capital asset recordkeeping problems; missing performance bonds; and payroll errors. Audit staff said the lack of documentation led to qualified opinions on the financial statements, and the reports were referred to the prosecuting attorney and attorney general. Members questioned how the district had reached that point, what safeguards existed under state takeover, whether prior administrators had moved on to other districts, and how much money might need to be repaid. District and Department of Education representatives said Blytheville was under Level 5 intensive support, had a new superintendent, new finance staff, and a management contract with AMS, and that corrective action plans were underway. A motion to refer the matter to the Professional Licensure Standards Board was discussed, then withdrawn so the former superintendent, Dr. Veronica Perkins, could testify; she said the district had longstanding staffing and process problems, denied intentional wrongdoing, and described the changes now being made. The committee ultimately held the Blytheville report over until the September meeting and then filed it later in the meeting after further discussion. The committee then reviewed several other repeat-finding reports. KIPP Delta Public Charter School had multiple repeat issues involving missing documentation, improper use of Title I and federal funds, weak bank reconciliations, collateralization problems, capital asset recordkeeping, related-party transactions, and journal entry approval; that report had already been referred to the First Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney and the Attorney General. KIPP representatives said they had replaced personnel, improved oversight, and were working with outside support to correct long-standing finance problems, including a prior $3.6 million variance that they said had been reduced to zero. Hope Academy of Northwest Arkansas, which had voluntarily closed effective June 30, 2025, had repeat findings tied to financial statement errors, bank reconciliations, leave records, non-payroll expenditures, and journal entries; its former superintendent said the school closed without owing money to the state and that the organization had shifted its work into a new project serving students with behavioral needs. The committee also heard brief presentations on Brinkley, Lee County, and Marvel school districts. Brinkley’s repeat findings involved misclassified and unrecorded revenues and investments tied to bond and settlement accounts, plus bank reconciliation issues; the district said it had a new finance team, was working with outside support, and had reduced its variance to zero. Lee County’s repeat finding involved capital assets, including a bus that had been disposed of but remained on the asset list and several purchased items that were not added promptly; the superintendent said the district had improved overall and corrected the issue. Marvel’s repeat finding involved payroll errors, with one certified employee overpaid and another underpaid due to clerical mistakes. In each case, district representatives described corrective steps, and the committee voted without objection to file the reports that were ready for disposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• We started him on a GLP-1, which is standard clinical practice as recommended by the American Academy
• recommended<00:07:11.480><c> by</c><00:07:11.600><c> the</c><00:07:11.720><c> American</c><00:07:12.160><c> Academy
• </c><00:07:12.600><c> of</c> recommended by the American Academy of recommended by the American Academy
• So, a recent paper in the Journal of the American Academy of Cardiology used select clinical trial criteria

Transcript Highlights:

• The American Academy of Pediatrics released their vaccine schedule today, and they made no changes to
• I'm here today representing the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
• pediatric hospital medicine, and I serve as the president of the Florida chapter of the American Academy
• I'm a family physician in Jacksonville and the current president of the Florida Academy of Family Physicians
• I'm a family physician in Jacksonville and the current president of the Florida Academy of Families Positions

Summary: The committee heard several health-related bills. SB 1082 would let providers or insurers in state-regulated commercial plans opt into the federal independent dispute resolution process for emergency out-of-network claims, with a late-filed amendment clarifying access to the state program in certain circumstances. The bill sponsor and emergency physicians said the measure would reduce litigation and improve payment resolution; the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably as a committee substitute. SB 1168 would centralize background screening work for the care provider clearinghouse at the Agency for Health Care Administration and update related screening rules, including sealed and expunged records for qualified entities. The sponsor said the change would speed turnaround and reduce duplication; an amendment was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably as a committee substitute. SB 1156 would move ambulatory surgical center regulation out of Chapter 395 into a standalone section of law, and it was reported favorably without amendment. SB 1480, as amended by a strike-all, would grandfather certain temporary certificate holders practicing in areas of critical need if federal designations change, allowing them to continue seeing current patients and potentially new patients in their existing area subject to board oversight. The committee heard support from health system representatives and reported the bill favorably. The final and most debated measure, SB 1756 on medical freedom, would require vaccine education materials and alternative schedules, expand school immunization exemptions to conscience-based objections, clarify limits on emergency vaccination orders, and allow pharmacists to dispense ivermectin behind the counter with written information. The sponsor and supporters framed it as parental choice and access, while physicians, public health advocates, cancer advocates, and parents of immunocompromised children warned it would lower vaccination rates and increase disease risk. The committee adopted a liability-related amendment, rejected a substitute amendment that would have required consultation for exemptions, and continued hearing public testimony opposing the bill; the transcript ends before final action on SB 1756.

Transcript Highlights:

• What I learned in the fire academy did not prepare me for dealing with emergency management.
• It's a very high-level certification program, much different than a fire academy type program that you
• If, let's say for example, we have a fire academy, which I'm a master firefighter and instructor, and
• we have a fire academy in Mercedes, for example, and if we incorporated an incident...
• Command course that's part of that academy, would that suffice?

Bills: HB2 , HB1 , HB18 , HB19 , HB20 , HB1 , HB2 , HB18 , HB19 , HB20

Committee: House Disaster Preparedness & Flooding, Select

Transcript Highlights:

• at Amongo Academy or what happened<00:12:41.280><c> at</c><00:12:41.560><c> the</c><00:12:41.720><c>
• Um, you know, the outcomes for Colonna Academy, again, off the charts. a germane one.
• for Colonna Academy, again, off the<00:17:13.600><c> charts.
• Its legal name is Youth Leadership Academy.
• Youth Leadership Academy, Gar-Gar Family Services, has itself filed a number of lawsuits against the

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1910, appropriation, Fire Academy.
• House Bill 1911 appropriation, Academy.
• We also had two projects for capital expense in this academy. the Fire Academy retain in fire the Fire
• We did fund critical salaries for a new law enforcement academy class.
• We did fund critical salaries for a new law enforcement academy class.

Transcript Highlights:

• Academy and was certified as a peace officer in Wyoming.
• Academy and was certified as a peace officer in Wyoming.
• Academy and was certified as a peace officer in Wyoming.
• Academy and was certified as a peace officer in Wyoming.
• Academy and was certified as a peace officer in Wyoming.

Bills: HB0066 , HJ0005 , HB0010

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> partnered with Minnesota Virtual Academy partnered with Minnesota Virtual Academy to<01:21:09.520
• </c><01:23:13.880><c> and</c><01:23:14.040><c> again</c> with Minnesota Virtual Academy and again with
• Minnesota Virtual Academy and again an<01:23:14.440><c> in-person</c><01:23:14.840><c> uh</c><01:23:
• </c><01:23:41.239><c> we</c><01:23:41.400><c> always</c> Mary so the Virtual Academy we always Mary so
• the Virtual Academy we always ask<01:23:41.960><c> how</c><01:23:42.280><c> how</c><01:23:42.400><c>

Bills: HF339 , HF1272 , HF2121 , HF2122 , HF1216 , HF1003 , HF2319

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