Transcript Highlights:

• But only if you were a teacher that's registered in that class or the teacher.
• But only if you were a teacher that's registered in that class or the teacher.
• But only if you were a teacher that's registered in that class or the teacher.
• But only if you were a teacher that's registered in that class or the teacher.
• But only if you were a teacher that's registered in that class or the teacher.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• What happened to my math teacher? Where's my English teacher?
• a certified teacher of any stripe.
• It might not be a retired teacher. It could be a teacher that comes in from Mississippi.
• Or a certified teacher of any stripe. It might not be a retired teacher.
• Teachers and other school employees, particularly teachers, though, have leave requirements in state

Bills: HB17 , HB21 , HB24 , HB41 , HB42 , HB45 , HB1134 , HB1237

Committee: Senate Retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• The Orange County Classroom Teachers Association has 14,000 classroom teachers in its bargaining unit
• My goal is to make sure that that teachers union is representing all of the teachers and making sure
• They have 2,156 teachers.
• 41% of teachers participate, 883 teachers participate.
• So can any teacher, even if they're not a dues-paying teacher, show up to this PERC and vote on it?

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several guest introductions before moving into a long special-order calendar. The chamber first considered two claims bills: SB 6/HB 6507 for relief of L.E. through the Department of Children and Families, described as compensation for severe injuries after DCF returned the child to unsafe parents, and SB 26/HB 6509 for the estate of Mark Legata, involving catastrophic injuries tied to FDOT negligence. Both bills were substituted with their House companions and passed overwhelmingly. Members then approved several policy bills focused on child welfare, education, and professional regulation. CS/CS/SB 42/HB 47 required child protective investigators to consider certain medical diagnoses before proceeding in abuse cases; CS/SB 206/HB 851 expanded autism-related training and incentives for teacher preparation programs; SB 556/HB 453 allowed Special Olympics participation to satisfy PE requirements for students with disabilities and clarified marching band credit; SB 688 reestablished licensure and regulation for naturopathic doctors; SB 878/HB 1347 addressed clinical laboratory personnel shortages by aligning more closely with federal CLIA standards; and SB 914/HB 867 clarified that licensed occupational therapists may perform dry needling. Each of these measures passed, most by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The chamber also approved bills on court administration, public records, financial disclosure, and child welfare. SB 326/HB 131 modernized rules for curators of estates; SB 758/HB 625 updated the composition of the Justice Administrative Commission, with an amendment broadening the judicial member to a judge or senior judge; SB 830 created a public records exemption for certain local government executives and their families; SB 964/HB 6011 revised how gifts and honoraria are reported and, via amendment, restored a percentage-based reporting option for financial disclosures; and SB 1002 clarified that acute or chronic parental drug abuse can constitute harm or neglect and allow courts to order assessment and services. These bills all passed, with SB 830 drawing the most opposition among them. The most contentious debate centered on CS/CS/CS/SB 354, the Blue Ribbon Projects bill, which would create a framework for very large planned communities with substantial conservation set-asides. Supporters argued it would provide a new growth-management tool and economic opportunity, while opponents warned it was too broad, lacked specificity, weakened local control, and could be exploited by large developers. After extensive debate and an amendment limiting data centers in commercial areas, the bill was temporarily postponed rather than brought to a final vote. The Senate also passed SB 530 on lottery operations, SB 1632/HB 1471 on foreign law and domestic terrorist designations after a lengthy and divisive amendment debate over references to Sharia law, and SB 21/HB 218 on land-use regulations tied to hurricane recovery, which preserves SB 180 restrictions in storm-affected counties while lifting them later for unaffected counties.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the third area... ...is the teacher portion of it, where the teachers and the districts will
• Senate Bill 29... ...math requirements for teachers' licensure.
• In my own experience, I was an exemplary third grade teacher.
• So we want an assessment that's for teachers, students, and parents.
• I'm a teacher, a middle school teacher, proud middle school teacher at Polk Middle School.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard three measures: H.J.R. 5 on legislative compensation, Senate Bill 29 as amended on math instruction, and Senate Bill 37 on literacy instruction. H.J.R. 5 was presented as a constitutional amendment to create a paid legislature tied to New Mexico’s median household income, with supporters arguing it would broaden access to public service, reduce conflicts of interest, and better reflect the realities of modern legislative work. Public testimony was overwhelmingly in support, including from advocacy groups, civic organizations, faith groups, and veterans; one member raised concerns about fairness, attendance, and whether outside employment would still be allowed. The committee adopted an amendment to move the ballot question from 2028 to 2026, then approved H.J.R. 5 on a 5-1 vote. Senate Bill 29, endorsed by the Legislative Education Study Committee, would strengthen math instruction by improving teacher preparation, requiring PED to set up statewide math supports, and creating early screening and family engagement for students. Supporters, including educators, business groups, and education nonprofits, said New Mexico’s math outcomes are too low and that early intervention and better teacher preparation are needed. Members asked about teacher licensure requirements, parent support, standardized testing concerns, and district implementation. The committee heard that the bill’s screenings are intended to be developmental rather than high-stakes tests, and that parents would be supported through school-based guidance. The bill passed unanimously. Senate Bill 37 would codify a science-of-reading framework, require high-quality instructional materials, add literacy coaches and assessments, and expand support for bilingual and dual-language instruction. Supporters said the bill builds on recent gains in reading proficiency and strengthens teacher preparation and early intervention. Opponents, including tribal leaders, bilingual education scholars, and advocacy groups, argued the bill was too English-dominant, could conflict with existing bilingual and tribal language laws, and did not go far enough to protect indigenous languages and community-based approaches. Sponsors said amendments were being developed to clarify biliteracy, culturally responsive instruction, and protections for native language learning, and the committee advanced the bill on a vote with several members noting their support was contingent on those promised amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sarah Espinoza, transitional kindergarten teacher on behalf of the California Teachers Association, I
• Kevin Kung, chemistry teacher, Palisades Charter High School, member of the California Teachers Association
• Paul Amerigan, California Teachers Association, teacher, and Castro Valley, opposed.
• Kevin Cung, a member of the California Teachers Association, a teacher in Los Angeles, and I oppose.
• I'm Kevin Kung, CTA member, been a teacher for 28 years, chemistry teacher in Los Angeles at Palsley's

Summary: The committee heard Senate Bill 1277, which would create a California Cost of Living Tax Credit modeled on the 2022 middle-class tax refund to provide refundable relief to low- and middle-income Californians facing high housing, fuel, energy, and general living costs. Senator Grove and supporters, including the California Policy Center and some local government representatives, argued the bill would put direct relief into the hands of working families. Opposition came from the California Tax Reform Association and the California Teachers Association, which said California already has progressive tax credits and that the proposal would be costly to the General Fund and reduce money for schools and other services. After extended debate, the bill was not advanced; a roll call vote on a motion to pass it to Appropriations failed 1-4, and the bill was held/fails on the floor with a request for reconsideration noted. The committee then heard SB 1287, which would create a capped tax credit to encourage private investment in short-line railroad infrastructure. The author and rail industry witnesses said the measure would improve safety, reliability, emissions, and freight movement, especially for rural communities and agriculture, and that it was a public-private partnership rather than a handout. Opposition from CTA and the California Tax Reform Association argued a direct grant program would be preferable to a tax credit. The bill was accepted with committee amendments and placed on call without a final vote in the transcript. Members also considered SB 1407, which would fully exempt military retirement pay and surviving spouse benefits from state income tax, increasing the prior partial exemption. The author, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, and veterans’ groups said the change would help retain veterans in California, support local economies, and align California with most other states. CTA and CTRA opposed on General Fund grounds. The committee approved the bill on a due-pass-as-amended motion to the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, with the roll call showing support and the bill placed on call. Later, the committee heard SB 1349, directing the Legislative Analyst’s Office to review major tax expenditures and evaluate their goals, beneficiaries, and effects on revenues and Proposition 98 funding. CTA, CTRA, and several local government and labor supporters backed the bill as a way to improve accountability for roughly $94 billion in annual tax expenditures. The bill was accepted with committee amendments and placed on call. The committee also heard SB 1078, authorizing Santa Cruz County to ask voters for a temporary half-cent sales tax to help fund health care and safety-net services amid federal cuts; it was placed on call. SB 1120, extending the California Competes Tax Credit through 2035 and making it refundable for certain strategic industries, received strong support from business and manufacturing groups and was passed on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations. Finally, SB 1275, which would replace the state sales tax on vehicle purchases with a vehicle license fee structure intended to increase federal deductibility for Californians, was passed 4-0 as amended to the Committee on Transportation.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm an ethnic studies teacher.
• I'm a member of the Retired Teachers of California.
• I'm a retired school teacher.
• teacher from Los Angeles.
• First of all, we deeply value teachers.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:40:57.079><c> I</c> and Kelly Morris was the teacher I and Kelly Morris was the teacher I remember
• My dad is a public school teacher, and I still have relationships with teachers at elementary school
• </c> students don't learn a lesson a teacher students don't learn a lesson a teacher doesn't<00:53:31.520
• Thank you for the time. teacher can always remove a student from teacher can always remove a student
• </c><01:53:23.840><c> we're</c> talking about their teachers we're talking about their teachers we're

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• That's at the university level, the teacher prep programs that future teachers go through.
• take such as that the future teachers take such as the<00:11:00.480><c> AAP</c><00:11:01.680><c> the
• I remember when teachers took tests at one time in the state of Alabama.
• ><c> so</c><00:15:15.120><c> but</c> They're coaching our teachers, so but They're coaching our teachers
• </c><00:17:08.079><c> in</c> we tend we we evaluated teachers in we tend we we evaluated teachers in

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• pathway to the classroom because our kids deserve to be taught by certified teachers and have a teacher
• More recently, I heard five times, but I want to make clear that all of our newly certified teachers,
• I am an alternately certified teacher.
• To my knowledge, it would be whatever we deliver for any new teacher, regardless of the path.
• I did talk to some teachers that have gone through this process or do or teaching with teachers in Texas

Bills: HB4274 , HB3076 , HB4358 , HB3312 , HB3288 , HB3885

Committee: House Common Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Sarah Espinoza, transitional kindergarten teacher on behalf of the California Teachers Association, I
• Kevin Kung, chemistry teacher at Palisades Charter High School, member of the California Teachers Association
• Paul Amerigan, California Teachers Association, teacher, and Castro Valley, opposed.
• Kevin Cung, a member of the California Teachers Association, a teacher in Los Angeles, and I oppose.
• I'm Kevin Kung, a CTA member, and I've been a teacher for 28 years, a chemistry teacher in Los Angeles

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• So this could actually help teachers in that way. It also could help teachers.
• make a lot of money as teachers.
• make a lot of money as teachers.
• I always felt like I was more valuable than the music teacher or the PE teacher.
• It's just teacher jobs.

Committee: House Professional Registration and Licensing

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill seeks to strengthen employee screening for school teachers to help identify teachers with a
• Enrollment in teacher preparation programs A teacher shortage is an unfortunate, persistent reality.
• teachers and the reality that teachers are human and sometimes have unexpectedly take time off from
• At a point where, as teachers know better than I do, I'm not a teacher, you know, that relationship has
• started to take hold, at least temporarily, where between the teacher and the student and the teacher

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Because again, thinking back to my days as a teacher, it could be me teaching Algebra 1A and Teacher
• As far as the students are concerned, being an educator myself, once a teacher, always a teacher.
• That granted teacher unions the M.
• So when teacher unions negotiate raises for teachers with school districts...
• The first: teacher unions.

Summary: The Education Pre-K through 12 Committee heard a presentation from Florida High School Athletic Association Executive Director Craig Damon, joined by student athletes Sydney Daniel and Taylor White. The students spoke about the value of education-based athletics, leadership, and the need for safe, equitable opportunities. Damon then discussed FHSAA issues including rising sportsmanship problems, ejections, violent incidents, recruiting allegations, transfers, mental health pressures on student athletes, and the need for qualified coaches. He said the association tries to be proactive, work with schools on discipline, and emphasize that school changes should be for academic reasons rather than athletics. Senators asked about mental health, transfer rules, and a recent Jacksonville incident; Damon explained the current transfer exceptions and said the association lacked authority over the Jacksonville football game because the schools were not in FHSAA football. The committee then heard a panel on high school coaches’ compensation led by Florida Coaches Coalition Executive Director Dr. Andrew Ramgett, with Coach Mike Hickman, Coach Charlie Ward, and superintendents from Okaloosa and Walton counties. Ramgett argued that coaching supplements are outdated, have not kept pace with the expanding year-round demands of coaching, and amount to very low hourly pay in many sports. He also said Florida’s restrictions on booster club funding and minimal certification requirements contribute to turnover and difficulty retaining qualified coaches. Hickman and Ward described coaching as a demanding, year-round profession that affects students beyond athletics, including academics and mental health. The superintendents said they value coaches but must balance compensation against limited district funds and other staffing needs; one noted Walton County uses a dedicated administrative lane for football coaching and athletic administration. Senators discussed whether booster club funding should be allowed, whether compensation should be tied to performance, and whether any increase in base student allocation would actually reach coaches. Public commenters, including Florida Athletic Coaches Association Executive Director Shelton Cruz and former coach Tyrone McGriff, urged support for coaches and emphasized their broader impact on students’ lives and school safety. At the end of the meeting, the committee took up confirmation hearings for appointments on tabs 3 through 6 and, with no appearance forms filed, voted unanimously to recommend confirmation. Senator Burgess then moved to adjourn, and the committee concluded the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• teachers will also be cut.
• I am a math teacher.
• . instruction for teachers.
• </c> teacher salary. teacher salary.
• </c> teachers. So I I agree with it. teachers. So I I agree with it.

Bills: SF0059 , SF0053

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> teachers, and staff. teachers, and staff.
• So phase two teachers are those middle school and high school teachers who engage in English language
• </c> time periods where licensed teachers time periods where licensed teachers need<00:07:52.400><c>
• </c> from teachers. from teachers.
• Uh we have designed a teachers.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• like retirement paid on behalf of the teacher, correct?
• This will not bring back teachers from retirement.
• This will not bring back teachers who have left the profession.
• It won't help enough teachers, it won't help bring back enough teachers, so it won't help enough schools
• I think it's bad for teacher pay.

Bills: SB1475 , SB1447 , HB2288 , SB1521 , SB592 , SB1533 , HB1276 , SB201 , SB1477 , SB1232 , SB1255 , SB1327 , SB1525 , SB1721 , SB667 , SB1436 , SB1317 , SB604 , SB1325 , SB1496 , SB2007 , SB1567 , SB2112 , SB1980 , SB1735 , SB1558 , SB1491 , SB1287 , SB1378 , SB1369 , SB1441 , SB137 , SB483 , SB843 , SB1433 , SB1257 , SB1365 , SJR49 , HJR1090 , HJR1091 , HJR1092 , HJR1093 , HJR1095 , HJR1094

Summary: The House met in quorum call and then took up a long series of Senate bills, most of them passing with little or no debate. Early action included SB 1475, renaming the I-35 bridge at Indian Hills in Norman as the Toby Keith Memorial Interchange, which passed 77-5. SB 1447, modifying the RFP process for the state employees’ prescription drug plan, passed 87-0. The chamber also adopted Senate amendments to HB 2288 on the Teacher Retirement System, shortening the return-to-work waiting period for teachers from three years to six months, and both the bill and its emergency clause passed 90-0. Other education-related measures included SB 1521 on conversational AI child protections, SB 1276 making the “bell-to-bell, no-cell” school cellphone restriction permanent, SB 201 raising the minimum teacher salary schedule by $2,000, and SB 1721 extending and restructuring the Oklahoma Advisory Council on Indian Education; all advanced, with SB 201 drawing the most debate over teacher pay, local control, and whether the increase was enough. The House also passed bills on veterans, public safety, and state operations. SB 1533 would allow the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs to bury Oklahoma resident veterans who die out of state. SB 1232 updated penalties for copper theft, SB 1255 shifted medical pardon review from the DOC director to the medical director, SB 1327 restored more authority to the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission board, and SB 1525 authorized up to $75,000 for the state’s annual tourism conference; the tourism bill also received emergency passage. Additional measures included SB 667 clarifying chiropractic education language, SB 1436 requiring hospitals to provide information after fetal death, SB 1317 allowing career teacher status to transfer to a new district with approval, SB 604 resolving motor vehicle statutory conflicts, SB 1325 protecting domestic abuse victims, SB 1496 updating OSBI authority, SB 2007 requiring PBMs to honor appealed reimbursement rates going forward, SB 1567 clarifying nursing language, SB 2112 cleaning up open pasture road law, SB 1980 creating gift card protections, SB 1735 aligning career tech oversight, SB 1558 clarifying child-care licensing rules for certain group homes, SB 1491 clarifying replacement presidential electors’ oath requirements, SB 1287 allowing the Abstractors Board to deny licenses to people not legally working in the U.S., and SB 1378 creating an Olympics in Oklahoma revolving fund. Most of these passed by wide margins, and several emergency clauses were adopted. The chamber also rejected a motion to vacate the temporary presiding officer, and later voted to reject Senate amendments to HB 3403 and request further conference, while also requesting a second conference committee report on HB 1851. The session included multiple gallery introductions, including visitors, ag students, and a large page presentation. The House adjourned until Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> second grade teacher, Kelly Coloma. second grade teacher, Kelly Coloma.
• Kaiser Kalanianaole Complex Area Teacher of the Year, the 2026 Kapolei Waimea Complex Area Teacher of
• </c> Area Teacher of the Year. Area Teacher of the Year.
• Those are the hardest years to survive as a teacher, any teacher will tell you.
• will</c><00:39:28.520><c> tell</c> as a teacher, any any teacher will tell as a teacher, any any teacher

Bills: HR204 , SB2925 , SB2798 , SB2320 , SB2800 , SB1230 , SB2706 , SB3233 , SB2405 , SB3320 , SB2543 , SB3097 , SB3096 , SB3140 , SB2593 , SB2567 , SB2466 , SB2140 , SB2088 , SB3090 , SB608 , SB2795 , SB3294 , SB3263 , SB3001 , SB2907 , SB3251 , SB2074 , SB2360 , SB2354 , SB2908 , SB2353 , SB3045 , SB2047 , SB3254 , SB3246 , SB3133 , SB2425 , SB2671 , SB3229 , SB2969 , SB1166 , SB896 , SB2391 , SB2125 , SB3118 , SB3325 , SB2613 , SB2614 , SB494 , SB2376 , SB3326 , SB2001 , SB2599 , SB3048 , SB3169 , SB2002 , SB3247 , SB3253 , SB2155 , SB2192 , SB3187 , SB2190 , SB2398 , SB2424 , SB3028 , SB2338 , SB3219 , SB2981 , HCR14

Transcript Highlights:

• Sarah Espinoza, transitional kindergarten teacher on behalf of the California Teachers Association, I
• Kevin Kung, chemistry teacher at Palisades Charter High School, member of the California Teachers Association
• Paul Amerigan, California Teachers Association, teacher, and Castro Valley, opposed.
• Kevin Cung, a member of the California Teachers Association, a teacher in Los Angeles, and I oppose.
• I'm Kevin Kung, a CTA member, and I've been a teacher for 28 years, a chemistry teacher in Los Angeles

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Summary: The committee heard several tax and revenue measures. SB 1277, by Senator Grove, proposed a California Cost of Living Tax Credit modeled on the 2022 middle-class tax refund to provide direct relief to low- and middle-income Californians facing high housing, gas, energy, and general living costs. Supporters said it would help working families, farmworkers, teachers, and others; opponents, including the California Tax Reform Association and the California Teachers Association, argued California already has a progressive tax system, that refundable credits are costly and can be difficult to administer, and that the bill would reduce General Fund revenues and Proposition 98 funding. The bill was held on call after extensive debate and no motion was made at that time. The committee then heard SB 1287, which would create a targeted tax credit to encourage private investment in short-line railroad infrastructure. The author and rail industry witnesses said the credit would support safety, bridge and track upgrades, emissions reductions, freight efficiency, and rural and agricultural supply chains, while opponents argued a direct grant program would be preferable to a tax credit. The bill was accepted with committee amendments and placed on call after a motion to move it forward. SB 1407 would exempt military retirement pay and surviving spouse benefits from state income tax, with the author, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, and veterans’ groups arguing it would help retain veterans in California, support second careers, and keep federal retirement dollars in the state. The California Teachers Association and California Tax Reform Association opposed it as another tax expenditure that would reduce General Fund revenue. The committee approved the bill on a due pass as amended vote to the Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, with several members voting aye and others not voting, and the bill was placed on call. The committee also heard SB 1349, which directs the Legislative Analyst’s Office to review major tax expenditures and evaluate their costs, beneficiaries, and effectiveness. Supporters, including CTA, AFSCME, cities, counties, and many teachers, said the state needs more accountability for roughly $94 billion in annual tax expenditures and their impact on schools and the budget. The bill was moved with committee amendments and placed on call. Additional measures discussed included SB 1078, authorizing Santa Cruz County to seek voter approval for a temporary local sales tax increase to fund health care and safety-net services; SB 1120, extending the California Competes Tax Credit through 2035 and making it refundable for certain strategic industries; and SB 1275, which would convert the state sales tax on vehicle purchases into a deductible vehicle license fee to reduce Californians’ federal tax burden. SB 1120 and SB 1275 both received support from business and industry witnesses, with no opposition testimony noted, and were moved on call or with a due pass as amended vote as the committee continued through the file.

Transcript Highlights:

• towards... ...raising teacher pay.
• So, as a teacher, I knew I wasn't going to get rich, but I became a teacher.
• I am a public school teacher.
• So as a teacher, I knew I wasn't going to get rich, but I became a teacher.
• I am a public school teacher.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Transcript Highlights:

• And we had a teacher shortage then.
• And how much will it cost for that teacher? That teacher cost in...
• My teachers have gone a... whole nine weeks without any data to work with, which hinders my teachers'
• From last year's cohort of our new Teacher Academy, we have 100% of those teachers in our district, and
• That's just improving our teacher preparation, our student teacher, our resident...