Transcript Highlights:

• system for students seeking post-secondary education, providing students with statewide and national
• Students deserve representation.
• , as well as for all students.
• Our students will suffer.
• graduate college-ready compared to 70% of White students and 88% of Asian American students.

Bills: SB12, SB226, SB413, SB1049, SB1191, SB2398, SB571, SB2920, SB 12

Keywords: parental rights, education, social transitioning, diversity, equity, inclusion, school policy, student clubs, residency, public schools, child safety placement, enrollment, education code, school boards, transparency, public meetings, attendance, recording, released time, religious instruction

Transcript Highlights:

• If we start here and we cut off people who are some of our highest-achieving students on campus, the
• next highest-achieving students on campus are often student parents.
• students on campus, highest-achieving students on campus, the<00:25:41.760><c> next</c><00:25:42.080
• ><c> highest-achieving</c><00:25:42.760><c> students</c><00:25:43.120><c> on</c> the next highest-achieving
• students on the next highest-achieving students on campus<00:25:43.679><c> are</c><00:25:43.800><c>

Bills: HF1323, HF4266, HF4413, HF3101, HF4572, HF4698, HF3650, HF2634

Keywords: undocumented, financial aid, state policy, higher education, noncitizen eligibility, state grants, college affordability, Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State Grant, need analysis, expected family contribution, student aid, grant formula, living and miscellaneous expense allowance, dependent student, independent student, parental contribution, student contribution, surplus appropriation, biennium

Transcript Highlights:

• So this bill was brought to me by the Student Achievement Council, asking for just simply administrative
• And so I'm glad to bring it forward and work with the students.
• Achievement Council, or WASAC, here today testifying in support of Senate Bill 5931.
• financial aid programs are made available to eligible students.
• I'm Associate Director of Legislative and External Affairs at the Washington Student Achievement Council

Bills: SB5963

Keywords: SB 5963, passport to careers, Washington College Grant, financial aid, higher education, student aid, need-based aid, college affordability, postsecondary education, workforce development, apprenticeship, foster youth, homeless students, unaccompanied youth, low-income students, public assistance, state financial aid account, scholarships, Washington student grants, grant eligibility

Summary: The Postsecondary Education and Workforce Committee held public hearings on two bills. Substitute Senate Bill 5931, a companion to House Bill 2311, would make administrative changes to the Workforce Education Investment Accountability and Oversight Board, including extending co-chair terms from one to two years, allowing more than four meetings per year, requiring consultation with the Student Achievement Council when evaluating outcomes, and removing the requirement for a public data dashboard. Committee staff and Student Achievement Council testimony described the bill as technical, with no fiscal impact, and said the dashboard was never created and was later defunded. The bill’s sponsor, Senator Warnock, and the lone testifier supported it, and no opposition was presented in the hearing. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5963, the companion to House Bill 2586, which would change Passport to Careers and Washington College Grant rules so that students eligible for Passport to Careers—former foster youth and unaccompanied homeless youth—would automatically qualify as income-eligible for the Washington College Grant beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. Staff explained that the bill also aligns the financial need formula with the federal student aid index and directs Passport to Careers funds into the state financial aid account. Testimony from the Student Achievement Council, Washington Student Association, and Western Washington University strongly supported the bill, emphasizing the barriers faced by foster and homeless youth, the high rates at which these students already receive maximum grant awards, and the bill’s role in streamlining access to aid. Senator Nobles said the measure would not increase costs and urged support. At the close of the hearing, the chair said the committee intended to executive both bills on Tuesday if a majority of members wanted that, with amendment requests due by Monday at 10 a.m. and amendments approved by 6 p.m. Monday. The committee also announced it would not meet on Friday.

Transcript Highlights:

• If the student qualifies, we then look to develop the IEP to see what that student will need for their
• </c><00:10:02.480><c> And</c> FAPE to all of our students. And FAPE to all of our students.
• Vote yes to protect our students.
• Right now, that's $371 a student.
• </c> you care about student safety? you care about student safety?

Bills: HF4893

Keywords: education finance, student support, aid allowances, appropriation, school funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:03.280><c> native</c> students native students native language.<00:03:05.200><c> Section</c><00
• </c><00:04:13.599><c> learning</c> evaluate and accelerate student learning evaluate and accelerate student
• </c> students experiences that allow students students experiences that allow students to<00:04:57.600
• > in</c><00:15:48.720><c> tribal</c> students and students enrolled in tribal students and students enrolled
• Uh that idea students with IEPs.

Bills: HF1306

Keywords: education, school policy, teacher training, student health, emergency response, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, like the senator said, it just provides some confidentiality for our student athletes and for student
• Well, like the senator said, it just provides some confidentiality for our student athletes and for student
• They're students. They're student-athletes. They're student-athletes.
• Any student under the age of 18, because by 18 a student can sign their consent themselves.
• First time in student education.

Bills: SR119, SCR65, HCR47, HB196, HB218, HB256, HB325, HB352, HB434, HB448, HB476, HB608, HB624, HB626, HB632, HB749, HB818, HB1059, HB1112, HB1242, HB1249

Keywords: SR119, Senate Resolution 119, D-D Breaux, Sara Breaux, LSU gymnastics, LSU Gymnastics Training Center, LSU Board of Supervisors, facility naming, honorary resolution, public buildings and grounds, women's athletics, Title IX, college gymnastics, SEC gymnastics, Louisiana State University, Tiger Athletic Foundation, women in sports, coach recognition, sports legend, campus naming

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met with four members present and took up a long agenda of education-related bills. Early items included SCR 65, which would create a K-12 student success task force to study statewide career and academic pathway advising; the committee adopted a substantive amendment adding designees and then reported the resolution favorably. The committee also reported favorably on SCR 119, honoring Coach D.D. Breaux, after brief remarks about her LSU gymnastics legacy and the request that LSU study naming its gymnastics training facility in her honor. Several bills affecting school operations and student support were heard and reported favorably, including HB 434 on probationary school bus driver employment and superintendent authority over dismissal; HB 484 expanding scholarship benefits for children and spouses of fallen or disabled firefighters and police officers; HB 749 and HB 1059 on savings accounts and TOPS math eligibility alignment; HB 218 adding food insecurity questions to student questionnaires, which was amended and reported favorably; HB 325 expanding TOPS Tech eligibility through dual enrollment and part-time use; HB 476 requiring Safe Haven law postings in middle and high school restrooms; HB 1249 clarifying access to school-based health centers, with an amendment adopted; HB 1242 allowing more than one early learning center license at the same location under certain circumstances; HB 632 improving data protections and functionality for LA First; and HB 352 on behavioral health services for public school students, which was amended to address IEP and dispute-process concerns before being reported favorably. Two bills drew extended debate over transparency, privacy, and school autonomy. HB 608 would create confidentiality for intercollegiate athletics revenue-sharing documents; LSU representatives argued the bill was needed to protect student-athletes and competitive information, while PAR and the Louisiana Press Association opposed it as an improper secrecy carve-out for state-generated revenue. Despite the opposition, the committee reported HB 608 favorably. HB 1112, which would exempt BESE-approved non-public pre-K programs from certain licensure and safety requirements and adjust related definitions, was amended and then heard with testimony from the Pelican Institute in support, arguing it corrects overreach from prior law and protects private school autonomy and parental choice.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:07:45.440><c> than</c><00:07:45.599><c> the</c> students and students of color than the students
• :07:52.560><c> students.
• </c><00:07:55.840><c> in</c> students, like every student in students, like every student in Minnesota
• </c><00:26:21.679><c> are</c> students feel safe, that students are students feel safe, that students
• </c><00:38:23.040><c> student</c> fraud, strengthening our student student fraud, strengthening our student

Bills: HF4362, HF4252, HF4440

Keywords: firearms, guns, gun rights, gun control, campus safety, public college, university, postsecondary institution, higher education, visitor carry, concealed carry, open carry, campus policy, Minnesota Statutes 624.714, petty misdemeanor, parking lot carry, firearm possession, public safety, college campus, student carry

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently students who achieve the top 10% rank are graded granted automatic admission into institutions
• a student on the top 10?
• Great student. Tell me what you mean when you say a great student.
• . students.
• There is a counselor dashboard, so they'll be able to see student by student.

Bills: HB42, HB 125, HB 1233, HB2853, HB3148, HB3326, HB3701, HB4066, HB4361, HB4762, HB4909, HB4912, HB42, HB125

Keywords: higher education, funding, financial allocation, state budget, Texas A&M University, University of Houston, education funding, medical education, osteopathic medicine, healthcare workforce, Tarleton State University, industry-recognized credentials, workforce development, career opportunities, feasibility study, student fees, university funding, student union, education, UT El Paso

Transcript Highlights:

• Union East, with a student voter turnout which, funny enough, was the highest student engagement seen
• Students frequently gather in the union, whether it be for collaborative projects, student organization
• students.
• I think we have a 2,500 student presence online, and we have about 23,000 students that are in person
• Countries and our student body.

Bills: HB42, HB 125, HB 1233, HB2853, HB3148, HB3326, HB3701, HB4066, HB4361, HB4762, HB4909, HB4912, HB42, HB125

Keywords: higher education, funding, financial allocation, state budget, Texas A&M University, University of Houston, education funding, medical education, osteopathic medicine, healthcare workforce, Tarleton State University, industry-recognized credentials, workforce development, career opportunities, feasibility study, student fees, university funding, student union, education, UT El Paso

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> student, is no longer available today. student, is no longer available today.
• It saves students time and money on post-secondary education, and it also continues to close achievement
• My question was, uh, we had there should be more students on this there should be more students on this
• It have as many students as we could.
• 01:11:55.440><c> attendance</c><01:11:55.920><c> and</c> the student truency and attendance and the student

Bills: HF3714, HF4399, HF4176, HF2544, HF60, HF4231, HF4232

Keywords: foster care, child welfare, enrollment priority, education programs, child care assistance, education, school board, elections, local governance, school district, site-governed schools, education reform, local control, autonomy, interchange, bond issuance, transportation, infrastructure funding, Sherburne County, student eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• He clarified that this is for student athletes, but it will touch every student because all students
• and Gray answered, "Student athlete." you know whenever students go on u and you know whenever students
• > any</c><00:24:05.760><c> student</c><00:24:06.000><c> that</c> all students or any any student that
• Not all students. students. students. &gt;&gt; Student<00:24:29.360><c> athlete.
• </c> &gt;&gt; Student athlete. &gt;&gt; Student athlete.

Bills: HF3714, HF4399, HF4176, HF2544, HF60, HF4231, HF4232

Keywords: foster care, child welfare, enrollment priority, education programs, child care assistance, education, school board, elections, local governance, school district, site-governed schools, education reform, local control, autonomy, interchange, bond issuance, transportation, infrastructure funding, Sherburne County, student eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• And so this provides equal access to all students. access to every student.
• We ask for a time that works for each student.
• That's not specific to the student.
• So a student must be in attendance at least 90% of the time.
• Hour of the day the student leaves.

Bills: SB226, SB413, SB571, SB1049, SB2398, SB2920

Keywords: residency, public schools, child safety placement, enrollment, education code, school boards, transparency, public meetings, attendance, recording, misconduct, child abuse, educators, investigation, criminal offense, education law, suspension, reporting requirements, released time, religious instruction

Transcript Highlights:

• students.
• $851 for a tribal college student.
• Student debt, and many of us of that generation saw student debt become something that has really held
• As was said, the students graduate with low debt.
• We did levers we felt were the least harmful to students.

Bills: HF2312

Keywords: higher education, college finance, student aid, financial aid, state grants, North Star Promise, scholarships, tuition relief, Minnesota State, University of Minnesota, Office of Higher Education, work-study, child care grants, Indian scholarships, tribal colleges, Hunger-Free Campus, student parents, pregnant students, parenting students, sexual misconduct

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 13 is the student in the bill.
• </c><00:07:40.080><c> student</c><00:07:40.400><c> loan</c> 32, which is the student student loan 32,
• which is the student student loan counseling<00:07:41.039><c> appropriation.
• Thank you. supporting 82 students. Of those, 20 do supporting 82 students.
• </c> student response will be to the program. student response will be to the program.

Bills: HF2312

Keywords: higher education, college finance, student aid, financial aid, state grants, North Star Promise, scholarships, tuition relief, Minnesota State, University of Minnesota, Office of Higher Education, work-study, child care grants, Indian scholarships, tribal colleges, Hunger-Free Campus, student parents, pregnant students, parenting students, sexual misconduct

Transcript Highlights:

• youth and adolescents from the opioid crisis by providing tools to proactively identify and help students
• youth and adolescents from the opioid crisis by providing tools to proactively identify and help students

Bills: HR144, HB4182, HC51, HR169, HB4178, HB4179

Keywords: commendation, sports, team achievement, high school, state championship, suffrage, restoration of voting rights, conviction, probation, law-abiding citizen, congressional term limits, constitutional amendments, Article V, state resolution, political reform, Jackson State University, Veterans Memorial Stadium, economic growth, property tax, multi-purpose facility

Transcript Highlights:

• > students.
• Um, you're creating stronger relationships, student achievement is going up, higher quality of instruction
• </c> their students. their students.
• </c> students, but with students. students, but with students. Thank<01:29:29.600><c> you.
• The Minnesota Youth Council is full of students with great academic success, achievement, and attendance

Bills: HF4213, HF4198, HF3930, HF3585, HF3451

Keywords: education finance, school funding, K-12, prekindergarten, pre-K, early childhood education, general education aid, special education, literacy aid, school meals, free school meals, school breakfast, school lunch, charter school lease aid, charter schools, nonpublic pupil aid, private school aid, transportation aid, desegregation aid, integration aid

Transcript Highlights:

• and student-to-student misconduct, including consideration of... ...teacher-to-student and student-to-student
• NDAs add nothing to student safety.
• students enrolled and over 8,200 employees strong.
• Protecting students must remain our top priority.
• It allows parents of exceptional student education students to request in writing to the school's principal

Bills: S0824, S1170, S1620, S1738, S7036

Keywords: school district, real property, inventory, land use, education, video monitoring, safety, special education, parental rights, public education, school board rights, transparency, employment conditions, nondisclosure agreements, educational facilities, student safety, teacher accountability, physical plant, school design, construction standards

Summary: The Education Pre-K-12 Committee considered several K-12 bills and resolutions. SJR 1104, by Senator Massullo, would place on the ballot a proposed constitutional amendment protecting voluntary religious expression in public schools; supporters said it simply codifies existing law and protects student and employee rights, while opponents warned it could entrench religious pressure and exclusion. The resolution was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 1738, by Senator Yarborough, on educational facilities; an amendment removed crime-prevention-through-environmental-design language and adjusted transparency/safe-space provisions, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. SB 824, by Senator Truenow, was amended into a transparency measure requiring districts to submit annual reports on unimproved land holdings to DOE, and it was reported favorably. Appointments in tabs 7 and 8 were recommended for confirmation. The committee then took up SPB 7036, a comprehensive education package by Chair Simon. The bill would expand educational emergency triggers, adjust Title I withholding uses, align charter school rules with school improvement processes, update safety and early learning provisions, expand literacy and math interventions, and revise educator pipeline policies. Members raised concerns about a provision that could allow the state to develop instructional materials; Simon said that section was still being considered and would need guardrails. The committee adopted a motion to submit the bill as a committee bill, and it was reported favorably. SB 1620, by Senator Leak, proposed a “school board members’ bill of rights” giving board members direct access to district documents and staff, limiting district attorneys’ dual representation, strengthening nepotism rules, and prohibiting nondisclosure agreements. Volusia County school board members and others testified both for and against the bill, with supporters citing transparency and accountability and opponents warning about confidentiality, staff pressure, and undermining the superintendent’s authority. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, SB 1170, by Senator Calatayud, as amended, would allow parents of students in self-contained ESE classrooms to request cameras, with district policies governing review, notice, timelines, and appeals. Parents, advocates, and educators testified strongly in support, while one witness opposed it as an unfunded mandate. The committee reported the bill favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Students engaged in extra or co-curricular activities, advanced opportunities for high achieving students
• a huge step forward. to a high-achieving Texas that is preparing our students for a great future.
• Texas students can achieve at the highest levels and Texas can lead the. nation in public education.
• Some schools eliminated algebra entirely for middle school. students, forcing high achieving students
• Muslim students, Hindu students.

Bills: HB4, HB54, SB 10, SB 24, HB4, HB54, HB775, HB850, HB 1122, HB 1249, HB1405, HB2336, HB2757, HB3372, HB3622, HB4442, HB4687, HB4893, HB5089, HB5515, HB5606, SB10, SB24, HB1573, HB3369

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, citizenship, U.S. citizen, non-citizen, public office, advisory board, task force, state government, local government, political subdivision, commission board, appointment eligibility, officeholder qualifications, public service, naturalization, Texas Government Code

Transcript Highlights:

• We have approximately 9,000 students.
• Students would still stay in their same theater patterns.
• So the detriment to the students was always student forward.
• There would not be a detriment to the students.
• This has created concerns for parents, students, and teachers.

Bills: HB4, HB54, HB775, HB850, HB 1122, HB 1249, HB1405, HB2336, HB2757, HB3372, HB3622, HB4442, HB4687, HB4893, HB5089, HB5515, HB5606, SB10, SB24, HB1573, HB3369, HB4, HB54, SB 10, SB 24

Keywords: non-human behaviors, education, Texas schools, policy, regulation, funding, teacher salaries, school districts, state budget, non-enrolled students, University Interscholastic League, participation, eligibility standards, school participation, academic standards, Texas education, interscholastic league, extracurricular activities, academic proficiency, AED

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, Senator Burgess, I just had a question, like on behalf of the students.
• The hair thing left me probably just after many of these students that are child students here, shortly
• We're down 3,000 students.
• We're down 3,000 students.
• population and in the count where the students are in the world of universal school choice.

Bills: S7036

Keywords: education, epinephrine, charter schools, voluntary prekindergarten, school funding, teacher incentives, student progress monitoring

Summary: The Senate Committee on Pre-K-12 Appropriations met with a quorum present and announced it would not be presenting its budget at this time, per a Senate memorandum. The sole bill on the agenda was SB 7036 by Senator Corey Simon, which was described as a broad education package strengthening school turnaround tools, early literacy supports, early learning policies, academic offerings, and educator pipeline provisions. Senator Simon explained that the bill addresses persistently low-performing schools, Title I use for STEM curricula, charter school renewal and dismissal rules, epinephrine device policies, VPK summer bridge eligibility, disability-aligned interventions, agriculture and Algebra 1 instruction, GATE access, and certification updates for teachers and computer science. An amendment was adopted that removed provisions on temporary door locks and DOE-developed instructional materials and added a GATE startup grant update. The committee heard numerous appearance forms, with many individuals and organizations waving against the bill, while one student, Ella Latimore, appeared and spoke briefly. Much of the exchange with her was lighthearted and unrelated to the bill, but Senator Simon used his closing to note that concerns from the prior stop had been addressed by removing the DOE materials and door-lock language, and he asked for favorable support. The committee then voted on the bill as amended, and CS for SB 7036 was reported favorably. After the vote, members made several informal statements, including remarks about a Valentine’s Day visit from students and appreciation for community member Misty Cash. Senator Osgood also raised a serious concern about declining immigrant student enrollment affecting district budgets, especially in Broward County, and urged the committee to address the issue proactively with school districts. The chair said staff were already working with districts on the matter and that more discussion would follow. The meeting then adjourned after additional light banter among members.