Transcript Highlights:

• The extension of light rail does require grade separation and Marine Drive so you don't have trucks and
• And then separately, there are costs that are unique to the I-5 Interstate Bridge.
• The investment-grade analysis says it'll be less than 130,000. So that's the first thing.
• The investment-grade analysis says it'll be less than 130,000. So that's the first thing.
• Done previous investment-grade analyses.

Committee: Joint Joint Oregon-Washington Legislative Action Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• That's above my pay grade.
• Fourth-grade test items are tougher than the third-grade items.
• Because you don't compare third grade to third grade to see how kids do.
• You compare third grade to fourth grade.
• grade or that third grade cohort moving into fourth grade.

Committees: Joint Education , Joint Education Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• That's above my pay grade.
• Fourth-grade test items are tougher than the third-grade items.
• Because you don't compare third grade to third grade to see how kids do.
• You compare third grade to fourth grade.
• grade or that third grade cohort moving into fourth grade.

Summary: The committee met to hear presentations on dual credit programs from North Dakota higher education leaders, a school superintendent, and teachers. Valley City State University described its dual credit model, emphasizing quality control through annual teacher training, syllabus and outcomes alignment, faculty qualification review, school visits, and pathways aimed at the College Studies Certificate. Members asked about teacher employment, course scheduling, revenue, scholarships, and whether a centralized model might improve efficiency; VCSU said most instructors are K-12 employees, online offerings are still small, and centralization could weaken local relationships and choice. Lake Region State College similarly stressed access and partnerships, noting about half of its headcount is still in high school, with both online and face-to-face dual credit options, district reimbursement arrangements, and support for rural schools. Lake Region also said dual credit helps students who might not otherwise see themselves as college-bound, but reduced tuition can still be a barrier for some families. Fargo Public Schools reported continued growth in dual credit, with 50 courses offered in partnership with several NDUS institutions and a 12.61% increase in participation. The superintendent highlighted a growing education pathway, including students completing Introduction to Education and field experience, and said the district is exploring a grow-your-own teacher pipeline. He also raised concerns about inconsistent institutional processes, teacher credentialing requirements, and transfer clarity, arguing for more aligned statewide systems. In response to questions, he said AP and dual credit can coexist, with AP often better for highly selective out-of-state colleges and dual credit better for students targeting North Dakota institutions, and he described some use of Arizona State online courses in earlier rural partnerships but said Fargo is focused on local institutions. Two teachers then testified on the classroom perspective. A West Fargo anatomy and physiology teacher said dual credit has expanded access, lowered costs, and prepared students well, but agreed that foundational science courses may be more effective when taken later in high school to reduce knowledge loss before college. A Drake-Anamoose English teacher, who has taught dual credit for more than 20 years, said the program has supported many students who went on to a wide range of careers and emphasized that small rural schools rely on dual credit to provide opportunities they otherwise could not offer. No formal votes or actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, there are other educational assessments which track students' progress from grade to grade.
• You know, there are other educational assessments which track students' progress from grade to grade.
• </c><00:22:56.000><c> school</c> that don't have a separate school that don't have a separate school
• </c><00:40:57.040><c> out</c> enrollment portion was separated out enrollment portion was separated out
• Gross. same grade level before you would same grade level before you would realize<00:53:12.480><c> any

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• My little sister's in eighth grade.
• meeting to vote on this separately?
• An A letter grade, the bill says that any student that gets an A letter grade in math has to be...
• An A letter grade, the bill says that any student that gets an A letter grade in math has to automatically
• That would mean that a student that gets an A in seventh grade math would be skipping eighth grade math

Committee: Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first considered the executive nomination of John Snyder to the State Board for Charter Schools. Snyder described his background in municipal finance, charter school financings, and prior service with Arizona charter school organizations, and said his finance experience would help the board evaluate school viability and oversight. The committee voted 6-0 with one not voting to recommend his confirmation to the full Senate. The committee then heard HB 2093, which would remove the statutory requirement that health education include mental health instruction and would repeal related consultation requirements over time. The sponsor argued schools should focus on academics and that social-emotional learning and mental health content belong with parents, while opponents, including students, a suicide-loss parent, and mental health advocates, said school-based instruction saves lives, helps students seek help, and preserves parental choice through opt-out provisions. After debate, the committee voted 4-3 to give HB 2093 a do pass recommendation. Members also considered HB 4043, requiring at least one campus employee trained in CPR, first aid, and AED use where applicable; HB 4005, requiring districts to teach ethical and educational uses of AI beginning in 2027-28; HB 2895, allowing Native American language proficiency to satisfy a world language graduation requirement; HB 2383, renaming trampoline court safety legislation as Ty’s Law; HB 4109, requiring school district public safety policies, notifications, and annual reporting after serious violence or weapon incidents; HB 2376, appropriating $40 million for the school safety program; and HB 2380, requiring public access to board meeting materials and tighter rules on out-of-state travel. HB 4043, HB 2895, and HB 2383 all received unanimous or near-unanimous do pass recommendations, while HB 4005, HB 4109, HB 2376, and HB 2380 each advanced on 4-3 votes, with some members citing concerns about unfunded mandates, criminal penalties, local control, or the scope and timing of required disclosures.

Transcript Highlights:

• What's the breakdown in the special ed by grade?
• So you're, you're wanting vacancies by, by grade, special ed vacancies, special ed vacancies by grade
• And 11th grade students are proficient or better at grade level, um, and.
• through 12th grade.
• to grade, and it happened every year.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fund to provide a minimum of $1,800 per pupil in 2026-27 and ongoing for LEAs with TK through 6th grade
• This to further grades, specifically beyond grades six and above.
• This is a teacher teaching, I believe it was 8th grade social studies.
• This is a teacher teaching, I believe it was 8th grade social studies.
• through sixth grade.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have each bill separated. First of all, I want to say thank you. Okay, thank you.
• I have each bill separated.
• This combination of things made first grade very difficult.
• . ...and social-emotional learning, especially in the early grades.
• The reality is Black students in grades pre-K through third grade are 4.6 times more likely to be suspended

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held its sixth public hearing and took testimony on a large slate of bills, with the chair moving H. 542/S. 341 on family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) child care to the top of the agenda so young constituents would not have to wait. Witnesses from labor, community organizations, and FFN providers strongly supported the bill, saying FFN care fills critical gaps for families working nonstandard hours, especially in low-income, immigrant, and BIPOC communities. Testimony emphasized that FFN providers are currently underpaid, often receive only about $24 per child per day, and should be guaranteed at least the state minimum wage. Witnesses also backed changes to the voucher system to allow families to combine formal and FFN care more flexibly, and they supported creating an FFN advisory council. Committee members asked about the difference between FFN and center-based care, registration requirements, fingerprinting/background checks, EEC’s ongoing study group, and the fiscal impact; witnesses said the current annual cost is about $1.8 million and could rise to about $6 million if all current FFN providers were paid minimum wage, still under 1% of the EEC budget. The committee then closed testimony on that bill. The committee next heard testimony on several preschool and universal pre-K bills, including H. 707 on public preschool facilities, H. 687/S. 339 on universal pre-K and mixed delivery, and related bills such as H. 606, H. 523, H. 618, H. 522, H. 510, and H. 615, many of which were later closed without additional witnesses. A Lowell school official testified that space and facilities funding are major barriers to expanding preschool and that the city has hundreds of children on voucher waitlists. Other witnesses and organizations, including the Early Care and Education Consortium and AFT Massachusetts, supported mixed-delivery universal pre-K and warned that public-school expansion should not undermine community-based providers, whose preschool tuition helps subsidize infant and toddler care. Several witnesses also urged stronger standards for preschool teachers, better staffing ratios, and more integrated special education and support services. The committee accepted written testimony on some bills and closed testimony on the others when no one else came forward. A major portion of the hearing focused on H. 541/S. 373, which would ban school exclusion in pre-K through third grade. Advocates from Massachusetts Advocates for Children, Mass Appleseed, Citizens for Juvenile Justice, AFT Massachusetts, and the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee argued that suspensions and expulsions at young ages harm learning, worsen inequities, and contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline. They cited data showing disproportionate impacts on Black and Latinx students, students with disabilities, and low-income children, and described personal stories of children whose behavior improved when schools kept them in class and addressed underlying needs. Committee members asked for updated data on the number of students and districts affected, and witnesses said they would provide more detailed written information. After testimony on this and a few other bills, including S. 372, S. 357, and H. 275/S. 133, the committee closed testimony and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• He's in the fifth grade, and he has a TikTok where he makes a lot of money from TikTok.
• So that is separate; that comes with revenue sharing.
• So you... fifth grade, your statement is our high...
• Fifth grade, your statement is our high schoolers are currently getting paid for... Okay.
• So from 7th to 12th grade, this would apply to you.

Bills: SB311 , SB322 , SB304 , SB313 , SB315 , SB316 , HB489 , SB90

Committees: House Tourism , House Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: electric transmission, public highways, permit processing, economic growth, infrastructure, rural development, condemnation actions, state regulations, community development district, CDD, annexation, municipal annexation, wet municipality, dry county, wet county, Sunday alcohol sales, ABC Board, alcohol licensing, on-premises consumption, golf course

Transcript Highlights:

• The city of Shakopee will be getting some funding for quiet railroad zones. Railroad quiet zones.

Transcript Highlights:

• And who can separate us from your love in the face of hardship and hatred, famine and fear?
• So, I think we should separate the hype from the science and the bold from fact.
• ><05:36:50.480><c> from</c><05:36:50.718><c> the</c> should separate the hype from the should separate
• </c><06:03:34.638><c> They're</c><06:03:34.798><c> not</c> they're below grade mines.
• They're not they're below grade mines. They're not pit<06:03:35.280><c> mines.

Transcript Highlights:

• business into Charles Anderson grew that business into Charles Anderson grew that business into four separate
• companies, Anderson Media, four separate companies, Anderson Media, four separate companies, Anderson
• Whereas he was also a champion of and a Whereas he was also a champion of and a charter investor for railroads
• , noting charter investor for railroads, noting charter investor for railroads, noting that Alabama had

Bills: SJR 12 , SCR 39 , SB 27 , SB 29 , SB 241 , SB 406 , SB 414 , SB 464 , SB 568 , SB 578 , SB 609 , SB 660 , SB 689 , SB 693 , SB 785 , SB 857 , SB 879 , SB 921 , SB 922 , SB 955 , SB 985 , SB 993 , SB 996 , SB 1008 , SB 1035 , SB 1036 , SB 1059 , SB 1098 , SB 1120 , SB 1122 , SB 1147 , SB 1188 , SB 1197 , SB 1209 , SB 1227 , SB 1245 , SB 1267 , SB 1307 , SB 1321 , SB 1332 , SB 1386 , SB 1396 , SB 1453 , SB 1484 , SB 1494 , SB 1536 , SB 1537 , SB 1596 , SB 1610 , SB 1664 , SB 1741 , SB 1814 , SB 1822 , SB 1841 , SB 1948 , SB 2065 , SB 2155 , SB 2188 , SB 2230 , SB 2406 , SB 2407 , SJR 36 , SJR 12 , SJR 81 , SJR 50 , SCR 22 , SCR 12 , SCR 39 , SB 406 , SB 689 , SB 765 , SB 62 , SB 666 , SB 888 , SB 687 , SB 847 , SB 1248 , SB 504 , SB 857 , SB 305 , SB 296 , SB 284 , SB 241 , SB 304 , SB 1023 , SB 204 , SB 609 , SB 670 , SB 850 , SB 854 , SB 413 , SB 1346 , SB 1033 , SB 1220 , SB 1073 , SB 810 , SB 1539 , SB 447 , SB 1119 , SB 1505 , SB 1215 , SB 1302 , SB 583 , SB 673 , SB 681 , SB 1172 , SB 955 , SB 957 , SB 1120 , SB 541 , SB 266 , SB 1415 , SB 53 , SB 1352 , SB 785 , SB 1450 , SB 1502 , SB 1566 , SB 414 , SB 1062 , SB 711 , SB 746 , SB 1404 , SB 1448 , SB 507 , SB 1026 , SB 1349 , SB 1355 , SB 1433 , SB 1434 , SB 1596 , SB 1403 , SB 667 , SB 1059 , SB 1567 , SB 310 , SB 311 , SB 505 , SB 1209 , SB 1210 , SB 1470 , SB 264 , SB 1029 , SB 1358 , SB 1364 , SB 1569 , SB 1376 , SB 1228 , SB 519 , SB 1350 , SB 462 , SB 827 , SB 1585 , SB 1396 , SB 1484 , SB 1273 , SB 1741 , SB 927 , SB 1227 , SB 1229 , SB 1353 , SB 1464 , SB 1709 , SB 1729 , SB 1733 , SB 1744 , SB 1772 , SB 1841 , SB 2188 , SB 1147 , SB 879 , SB 1008 , SB 1536 , SB 2016 , SB 1453 , SB 1173 , SB 1163 , SB 996 , SB 27 , SB 568 , SB 1370 , SB 1321 , SB 1101 , SB 860 , SB 993 , SB 693 , SB 1610 , SB 1537 , SB 1332 , SB 1307 , SB 963 , SB 493 , SB 922 , SB 984 , SB 619 , SB 1098 , SB 1122 , SB 455 , SB 522 , SB 1057 , SB 1239 , SB 1254 , SB 1255 , SB 1259 , SB 1341 , SB 1664 , SB 1877 , SB 464 , SB 1277 , SB 32 , SB 732 , SB 660 , SB 731 , SB 921 , SB 268 , SB 1822 , SB 1188 , SB 1589 , SB 397 , SB 2230 , SB 1058 , SB 1036 , SB 1267 , SB 2112 , SB 1930 , SB 532 , SB 1035 , SB 2155 , SB 508 , SB 29 , SB 292 , SB 291 , SB 901 , SB 1333 , SB 1436 , SB 1494 , SB 964 , SB 779 , SB 1378 , SB 2312 , SB 1719 , SB 1386 , SB 287 , SB 2143 , SB 1245 , SB 261 , SB 1247 , SB 1948 , SB 2406 , SB 2407 , SB 1882 , SB 1197 , SB 1814 , SB 618 , SB 38 , SB 393 , SB 2065 , SB 1371 , SB 1394 , SB 1365 , SB 2243 , SB 2226 , SB 2039 , SB 1919 , SB 1895 , SB 1598 , SB 1493 , SB 1810 , SB 1791 , SB 1706 , SB 1644 , SB 1238 , SB 783 , SB 458 , SB 22 , SB 651 , SB 897 , SB 1809 , SB 1080 , SB 745 , SB 826 , SB 989 , SB 1320 , SB 1437 , SB 2320 , SB 2289 , SB 1171 , SB 664 , SB 1637 , SB 27 , SB 29 , SB 857 , SB 879 , SB 922 , SB 1098 , SB 1453 , SB 1536 , SB 1741 , SB 2188 , SB 2230 , SB 406 , SB 689 , SJR 12 , SR 358 , SR 361 , SR 362 , SR 368 , SJR 74 , SJR 76 , SB 2408 , SB 2409 , SB 2461 , SB 2462 , SB 2463 , SB 2464 , SB 2465 , SB 2466 , SB 2467 , SB 2468 , SB 2469 , SB 2470 , SB 2471 , SB 2472 , SB 2473 , SB 2474 , SB 2475 , SB 2476 , SB 2477 , SB 2478 , SB 2479 , SB 2480 , SB 2481 , SB 2482 , SB 2483 , SB 2484 , SB 2485 , SB 2486 , SB 2487 , SB 2488 , SB 2489 , SB 2490 , SB 2491 , SB 2492 , SB 2493 , SB 2494 , SB 2495 , SB 2496 , SB 2497 , SB 2498 , SB 2499 , SB 2500 , SB 2501 , SB 2502 , SB 2503 , SB 2504 , SB 2505 , SB 2506 , SB 2507 , SB 2508 , SB 2509 , SB 2510 , SB 2511 , SB 2512 , SB 2513 , SB 2514 , SB 2515 , SB 2516 , SB 2517 , SB 2518 , SB 2519 , SB 2520 , SB 2521 , SB 2522 , SB 2523 , SB 2524 , SB 2525 , SB 2526 , SB 2527 , SB 2528 , SB 2529 , SB 2530 , SB 2531 , SB 2532 , SB 2533 , SB 2534 , SB 2535 , SB 2536 , SB 2537 , SB 2538 , SB 2539 , SB 2540 , SB 2541 , SB 2542 , SB 2543 , SB 2544 , SB 2545 , SB 2546 , SB 2547 , SB 2548 , SB 2549 , SB 2550 , SB 2551 , SB 2552 , SB 2553 , SB 2554 , SB 2555 , SB 2556 , SB 2557 , SB 2558 , SB 2560 , SB 2561 , SB 2562 , SB 2563 , SB 2565 , SB 2566 , SB 2567 , SB 2568 , SB 2569 , SB 2570 , SB 2571 , SB 2572 , SB 2573 , SB 2574 , SB 2575 , SB 2576 , SB 2577 , SB 2578 , SB 2579 , SB 2580 , SB 2581 , SB 2582 , SB 2583 , SB 2584 , SB 2585 , SB 2586 , SB 2587 , SB 2588 , SB 2589 , SB 2590 , SB 2591 , SB 2592 , SB 2593 , SB 2594 , SB 2595 , SB 2596 , SB 2597 , SB 2598 , SB 2599 , SB 2600 , SB 2601 , SB 2602 , SB 2603 , SB 2604 , SB 2605 , SB 2606 , SB 2607 , SB 2608 , SB 2609 , SB 2610 , SB 2611 , SB 2612 , SB 2613 , SB 2614 , SB 2615 , SB 2616 , SB 2617 , SB 2618 , SB 2619 , SB 2620 , SB 2621 , SB 2622 , SB 2625 , SB 2626 , SB 2627 , SB 2628 , SB 2629 , SB 2630 , SB 2631 , SB 2632 , SB 2633 , SB 2634 , SB 2635 , SB 2636 , SB 2637 , SB 2638 , SB 2639 , SB 2640 , SB 2641 , SB 2642 , SB 2643 , SB 2644 , SB 2645 , SB 2646 , SB 2647 , SB 2648 , SB 2649 , SB 2650 , SB 2651 , SB 2652 , SB 2653 , SB 2654 , SB 2655 , SB 2656 , SB 2657 , SB 2658 , SB 2659 , SB 2660 , SB 2661 , SB 2662 , SB 2663 , SB 2664 , SB 2665 , SB 2666 , SB 2667 , SB 2668 , SB 2669 , SB 2670 , SB 2671 , SB 2672 , SB 2673 , SB 2674 , SB 2675 , SB 2676 , SB 2677 , SB 2678 , SB 2679 , SB 2680 , SB 2681 , SB 2682 , SB 2683 , SB 2684 , SB 2685 , SB 2686 , SB 2687 , SB 2688 , SB 2689 , SB 2690 , SB 2691 , SB 2692 , SB 2693 , SB 2694 , SB 2695 , SB 2696 , SB 2697 , SB 2698 , SB 2699 , SB 2700 , SB 2701 , SB 2702 , SB 2703 , SB 2704 , SB 2705 , SB 2706 , SB 2707 , SB 2708 , SB 2709 , SB 2710 , SB 2711 , SB 2712 , SB 2713 , SB 2714 , SB 2715 , SB 2716 , SB 2717 , SB 2718 , SB 2719 , SB 2720 , SB 2721 , SB 2723 , SB 2724 , SB 2725 , SB 2726 , SB 2727 , SB 2728 , SB 2729 , SB 2730 , SB 2731 , SB 2732 , SB 2733 , SB 2734 , SB 2735 , SB 2736 , SB 2737 , SB 2738 , SB 2739 , SB 2740 , SB 2741 , SB 2742 , SB 2743 , SB 2744 , SB 2745 , SB 2746 , SB 2747 , SB 2748 , SB 2749 , SB 2750 , SB 2751 , SB 2752 , SB 2753 , SB 2754 , SB 2755 , SB 2756 , SB 2757 , SB 2758 , SB 2759 , SB 2760 , SB 2761 , SB 2762 , SB 2763 , SB 2764 , SB 2765 , SB 2766 , SB 2767 , SB 2768 , SB 2769 , SB 2770 , SB 2771 , SB 2772 , SB 2773 , SB 2774 , SB 2775 , SB 2776 , SB 2777 , SB 2778 , SB 2779 , SB 2780 , SB 2781 , SB 2782 , SB 2783 , SB 2784 , SB 2785 , SB 2786 , SB 2787 , SB 2788 , SB 2789 , SB 2790 , SB 2791 , SB 2792 , SB 2793 , SB 2794 , SB 2795 , SB 2796 , SB 2797 , SB 2798 , SB 2799 , SB 2800 , SB 2967 , SB 3034 , HJR 1 , HJR 4 , HB 9 , HB 13 , HB 22 , HB 135 , HB 143 , HB 195 , HB 908 , HB 1392 , SB 861 , SB 1013 , SJR 74 , SJR 76 , SB 2408 , SB 2409 , SB 2461 , SB 2462 , SB 2463 , SB 2464 , SB 2465 , SB 2466 , SB 2467 , SB 2468 , SB 2469 , SB 2470 , SB 2471 , SB 2472 , SB 2473 , SB 2474 , SB 2475 , SB 2476 , SB 2477 , SB 2478 , SB 2479 , SB 2480 , SB 2481 , SB 2482 , SB 2483 , SB 2484 , SB 2485 , SB 2486 , SB 2487 , SB 2488 , SB 2489 , SB 2490 , SB 2491 , SB 2492 , SB 2493 , SB 2494 , SB 2495 , SB 2496 , SB 2497 , SB 2498 , SB 2499 , SB 2500 , SB 2501 , SB 2502 , SB 2503 , SB 2504 , SB 2505 , SB 2506 , SB 2507 , SB 2508 , SB 2509 , SB 2510 , SB 2511 , SB 2512 , SB 2513 , SB 2514 , SB 2515 , SB 2516 , SB 2517 , SB 2518 , SB 2519 , SB 2520 , SB 2521 , SB 2522 , SB 2523 , SB 2524 , SB 2525 , SB 2526 , SB 2527 , SB 2528 , SB 2529 , SB 2530 , SB 2531 , SB 2532 , SB 2533 , SB 2534 , SB 2535 , SB 2536 , SB 2537 , SB 2538 , SB 2539 , SB 2540 , SB 2541 , SB 2542 , SB 2543 , SB 2544 , SB 2545 , SB 2546 , SB 2547 , SB 2548 , SB 2549 , SB 2550 , SB 2551 , SB 2552 , SB 2553 , SB 2554 , SB 2555 , SB 2556 , SB 2557 , SB 2558 , SB 2560 , SB 2561 , SB 2562 , SB 2563 , SB 2565 , SB 2566 , SB 2567 , SB 2568 , SB 2569 , SB 2570 , SB 2571 , SB 2572 , SB 2573 , SB 2574 , SB 2575 , SB 2576 , SB 2577 , SB 2578 , SB 2579 , SB 2580 , SB 2581 , SB 2582 , SB 2583 , SB 2584 , SB 2585 , SB 2586 , SB 2587 , SB 2588 , SB 2589 , SB 2590 , SB 2591 , SB 2592 , SB 2593 , SB 2594 , SB 2595 , SB 2596 , SB 2597 , SB 2598 , SB 2599 , SB 2600 , SB 2601 , SB 2602 , SB 2603 , SB 2604 , SB 2605 , SB 2606 , SB 2607 , SB 2608 , SB 2609 , SB 2610 , SB 2611 , SB 2612 , SB 2613 , SB 2614 , SB 2615 , SB 2616 , SB 2617 , SB 2618 , SB 2619 , SB 2620 , SB 2621 , SB 2622 , SB 2625 , SB 2626 , SB 2627 , SB 2628 , SB 2629 , SB 2630 , SB 2631 , SB 2632 , SB 2633 , SB 2634 , SB 2635 , SB 2636 , SB 2637 , SB 2638 , SB 2639 , SB 2640 , SB 2641 , SB 2642 , SB 2643 , SB 2644 , SB 2645 , SB 2646 , SB 2647 , SB 2648 , SB 2649 , SB 2650 , SB 2651 , SB 2652 , SB 2653 , SB 2654 , SB 2655 , SB 2656 , SB 2657 , SB 2658 , SB 2659 , SB 2660 , SB 2661 , SB 2662 , SB 2663 , SB 2664 , SB 2665 , SB 2666 , SB 2667 , SB 2668 , SB 2669 , SB 2670 , SB 2671 , SB 2672 , SB 2673 , SB 2674 , SB 2675 , SB 2676 , SB 2677 , SB 2678 , SB 2679 , SB 2680 , SB 2681 , SB 2682 , SB 2683 , SB 2684 , SB 2685 , SB 2686 , SB 2687 , SB 2688 , SB 2689 , SB 2690 , SB 2691 , SB 2692 , SB 2693 , SB 2694 , SB 2695 , SB 2696 , SB 2697 , SB 2698 , SB 2699 , SB 2700 , SB 2701 , SB 2702 , SB 2703 , SB 2704 , SB 2705 , SB 2706 , SB 2707 , SB 2708 , SB 2709 , SB 2710 , SB 2711 , SB 2712 , SB 2713 , SB 2714 , SB 2715 , SB 2716 , SB 2717 , SB 2718 , SB 2719 , SB 2720 , SB 2721 , SB 2723 , SB 2724 , SB 2725 , SB 2726 , SB 2727 , SB 2728 , SB 2729 , SB 2730 , SB 2731 , SB 2732 , SB 2733 , SB 2734 , SB 2735 , SB 2736 , SB 2737 , SB 2738 , SB 2739 , SB 2740 , SB 2741 , SB 2742 , SB 2743 , SB 2744 , SB 2745 , SB 2746 , SB 2747 , SB 2748 , SB 2749 , SB 2750 , SB 2751 , SB 2752 , SB 2753 , SB 2754 , SB 2755 , SB 2756 , SB 2757 , SB 2758 , SB 2759 , SB 2760 , SB 2761 , SB 2762 , SB 2763 , SB 2764 , SB 2765 , SB 2766 , SB 2767 , SB 2768 , SB 2769 , SB 2770 , SB 2771 , SB 2772 , SB 2773 , SB 2774 , SB 2775 , SB 2776 , SB 2777 , SB 2778 , SB 2779 , SB 2780 , SB 2781 , SB 2782 , SB 2783 , SB 2784 , SB 2785 , SB 2786 , SB 2787 , SB 2788 , SB 2789 , SB 2790 , SB 2791 , SB 2792 , SB 2793 , SB 2794 , SB 2795 , SB 2796 , SB 2797 , SB 2798 , SB 2799 , SB 2800 , SB 2967 , SB 3034 , HJR 1 , HJR 4 , HB 9 , HB 13 , HB 22 , HB 135 , HB 143 , HB 195 , HB 908 , HB 1392 , SB 861 , SB 1013

Transcript Highlights:

• They've consolidated, I think, four separate requests into one line item.
• I think we have them all the same amount, just separated out in different rows.
• And the LESC budget separating them out more clearly, I think, should help.
• Grades. And you've said this before, and this is not something you all don't already know.
• Chairman, the responsibilities for this would fall on K through third grade.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, they'll say, well, my child is in third grade, but they're doing fifth-grade work, so I'm fifth-grade
• You know, they'll say, well, my child is in third grade, but they're doing fifth-grade work, so I'm fifth-grade
• 25:07.680><c> cat</c> grade work so I'm fifth grade cat grade work so I'm fifth grade cat testing<04:
• Grade four, grade five, grade seven, until they get to ninth grade, so they're just taking this money
• Grade four, grade five, grade seven, until they get to ninth grade, so they're just taking this money

Summary: The Finance Division 2 work session first took up HB 506, a bill dealing with the return of seized firearms. Members discussed how the measure would shift background-check processing for firearm returns through the Department of Safety, while the physical firearms would still remain with local police unless State Police had taken custody. The department said the bill would change which cases come to it, and members clarified that the bill concerns the background-check decision rather than possession of the firearms. The committee then voted OTP on HB 506 FN by a 7-0 roll call. The committee next discussed HB 671, establishing a kindergarten literacy readiness program. Department of Education staff explained that the bill grew out of a COVID-era Waterford contract that provided home-based early literacy support for families using federal relief funds, at a cost of about $600,000 per year, but that the program ended when those funds expired. Members raised concerns that the bill’s $1 appropriation was not realistic, that the prior program lacked sufficient outcome data, and that the references to ESSA tier-one benchmarks were unclear. The department said it was conducting a broader literacy needs assessment and updating the state literacy plan, including data from the zero-to-five range, K-5, and dyslexia-related work. Waterford representatives described the program as an early-literacy, pre-K readiness service for children ages zero to five, originally designed to work in homes with computers and internet provided where needed, and later expanded in some settings such as daycares and pre-K classrooms. They said the program used assessments at the beginning and end, had served hundreds of children, and was intended to support family engagement and kindergarten readiness. Despite that testimony, members remained concerned about funding and the lack of clear results, and one member moved to retain the bill for more information. The discussion ended with the bill retained rather than advanced.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, we'll do separate motions, so.
• So that would be coming from grades 6, 7, 8, and the 11th grade. Okay. Mr. Chair, Senator Lin here.
• Let me ask you, how many students between 6th grade and 9th grade are dropping out of your charter school
• grade level.
• We don't have quite the numbers per grade level; we have around 40 to 55 students per grade level, so

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• Board of Education*, when they said separate is not equal, right? They alluded to *Arkansas v.
• At this time, Ian was finishing first grade.
• </c> to school if we provided a separate to school if we provided a separate adult<01:18:18.239><c> to
• /c> requirement results in every n9th grade requirement results in every n9th grade student<01:47:17.119
• </c><01:47:33.000><c> students</c> seventh eth and ninth grade students seventh eth and ninth grade students

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Providers must navigate state licensing, fire code, zoning, and local permitting separately and with
• So preschool through grade 14, grade 16, or 20.
• And the idea of P20 workforce was... ...grade 16 or 20.
• Our programs from early... in grade 16 or 20.
• or higher pathway requirement by earning high school credit with a C-plus grade or higher in AP, IB,

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several education bills. SB 6078 would provide pre-licensing supports for prospective child care providers through DCYF, fire protection consultations, and a licensing resource guide; the sponsor, DCYF, and a community nonprofit all supported it, emphasizing that it would reduce fragmented permitting barriers and help expand child care access, while a senator raised the possibility of overlap with existing early learning facilities support. SB 6089 would create a public-private partnership account to support coordination across the P-20W system and fund a public-facing data dashboard; the sponsor and many advocates supported it as a way to align early learning through workforce systems and improve transparency, while some testifiers urged stronger public oversight, caution about private influence, and explicit inclusion of early learning. SB 5859 would expand competency-based assessments as graduation pathway options; supporters said it would better reflect how students learn and provide flexibility, while the State Board of Education and school principals urged caution and suggested waiting for the board’s broader Future Ready graduation review. SB 5861 would require more school board directors to be elected from director districts in larger districts; supporters said it would improve community representation, while some districts and WSSDA warned about local control, added costs, and governance disruption. SB 6065 would allow districts in binding conditions or under enhanced financial oversight to use transportation vehicle funds for temporary loans or transfers with OSPI approval; supporters said it could help districts recover financially without harming transportation needs. After the hearings, the committee moved into executive session and acted on two bills. It adopted a proposed substitute to SB 5956, which restricts certain automated decision systems, surveillance technologies, biometric data, and facial recognition uses in student discipline and school safety decisions, and then advanced the bill with a do-pass recommendation to Rules. It also adopted a proposed substitute to SB 5901, which concerns state funding for on-base school construction, and advanced that bill with a do-pass recommendation to Ways and Means. Both measures were reported out subject to signatures.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so those would be two separate things.
• So we were really looking at addressing two separate needs.
• are now at grade level or above.
• When I was in 8th grade, I attended math intervention at Cottonwood.
• , Andres, is currently in sixth grade.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is my experience and understanding that 11th grade is too young.
• And by allowing them in 11th grade or 16 years old to just take a high school equivalency program...
• Madam Chair, Leader de Los Santos, in current statute, you have to be in 12th grade.
• So under current statute, you have to be in the 12th grade.
• Leader: It's unconstitutional and violates the separation of powers.

Summary: The committee heard a long list of Senate bills, mostly on consent, covering appropriations, public records, workers’ compensation, state hiring, burial costs, military flags in HOAs, court-ordered treatment, mental health service of process, medical examiner authority, tribal MOUs for DCS, controlled substances scheduling, EMT privacy, mammography notices, assisted living referral disclosures, accommodation school GED eligibility, released-time religious instruction, school board and charter governance issues, firearm safety instruction, student eligibility for extracurriculars after criminal convictions, Celebrate Freedom Week, tax-credit scholarship administration, CPA and insurance licensing pathways, immigration-related arrest notifications, defamation standards, peace officer certification for veterans, mandatory child abuse reporting, attorney licensing, business emergency-call penalties, unlawful occupant removals, attorney discipline costs, fentanyl sentencing thresholds, concealed weapons on campuses, firearm muffling devices, utility-worker assault penalties, water planning, environmental review for power plants and SMRs, groundwater recovery, voter registration rules, campaign address privacy, and federal land acquisition notifications. Several bills were pulled from consent for further discussion, including SB 1078, SB 1435, SB 1567, SB 1665, SB 1184, SB 1586, SB 1741, SB 1424, SB 1475, SB 1572, SB 1142, SB 1055, SB 1099, SB 1107, SB 1148, SB 1068, and SB 1069. Members raised concerns about constitutional issues, due process, school funding, public safety, and whether some proposals were unnecessary or duplicative. Supportive comments were also made on a few measures, such as expanded pathways for students in accommodation schools, child welfare coordination with tribes, and alternative certification or licensing pathways. The discussion included notable debate on SB 1166, which would allow some 11th graders and students over 16 in accommodation schools to receive GED preparation; members split between concerns about encouraging students to leave high school early and support for youth in detention, emancipation, or unstable situations. SB 1127 on mandatory reporting was clarified to require direct reporting of known abuse or neglect to DCS rather than delegation to another person. SB 1188 on controlled substances drew questions about how federal rescheduling would be mirrored in state law. The meeting ended with announcements and an “Affordability Award” recognizing Rep. Stahl Hamilton, followed by a request for guests to leave for a closed caucus.

Transcript Highlights:

• They will not catch up if they continue to pass from grade level to grade level without those interventions
• level because as they move from grade level to the next grade level, they're not at proficiency.
• Is it 9th grade? Is it 8th grade?
• We've now trained 2nd and 3rd grade teachers in a year, 4th and 5th grade teachers just last year, I
• That's a separate fund.