Transcript Highlights:

• Niccolo DeLuca, on behalf of the Police Officers Association of Pacifica, in support.
• Police Officers Association of San Pablo, support.
• I just want to—do you guys involve the DA's office in this? Yes.
• I just want to, do you guys involve the DA's office in this? Yes.
• Are we bringing in the DA's office? The DA's office is notified.

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We haven't had a medical examiner's office in Northern Kentucky.
• One other item is on senior meals, uh, $9.1 million.
• </c><00:40:52.160><c> Uh,</c> one other item is on senior meals.
• </c> incput of state dollars into the senior incput of state dollars into the senior meals<00:41:09.280
• </c> know, that that where the state office know, that that where the state office building<00:46:29.520

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:11 Executive Budget 00:00:50, 958, all

Summary: The committee met to hear a presentation from Dr. Hicks on the governor’s recommended budget for the next biennium. He reviewed the revenue outlook, noting modest general fund growth, a large rainy day fund balance, and the impact of recent income tax reductions. He said the budget was built around recurring reductions, lower debt service and retirement contribution rates, and the use of excess restricted funds, while protecting K-12 education, Medicaid, postsecondary education, public safety, and pension obligations. Dr. Hicks outlined several major spending and reserve proposals, including $350 million from the Department of Insurance’s excess restricted funds to support Medicaid in the first year, $150 million for the affordable housing trust fund, $125 million for rural hospitals, $100 million to offset lost federal ACA premium tax credits, $75 million for utility assistance, and $50 million for food assistance. In education, the proposal included a phased pre-K for all plan funded by sports wagering tax revenue, a 3% annual salary increase for full-time school personnel, continued full funding of teacher pensions, a 2.5% annual increase in SEEK base funding, and additional support for career and technical education and school facilities. He also discussed Medicaid cost pressures, including higher managed care, pharmacy, behavioral health, and nursing facility costs, and explained the expected effects of federal HR1 changes on Kentucky’s Medicaid program. Those changes include work and community engagement requirements and more frequent eligibility redeterminations for expansion members, which the administration estimated would reduce enrollment by about 4,300 in the first year and 28,000 in the second year. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting, which was limited to the budget presentation and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I don't believe the $100 million will get spent to add more police officers.
• And I don't believe the $100 million will get spent to add more police officers.
• And I don't believe the $100 million will get spent to add more police officers.
• And I don't believe the $100 million will get spent to add more police officers.
• We couldn't move... ...police officers in our communities. None of that money is being used.

Bills: HB2289

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: appropriations, budget, fiscal matters, state spending, general fund, supplemental budget, biennial budget, substitute bill, public defense, civil legal aid, courts, judicial branch, homelessness, supportive housing, affordable housing, behavioral health, juvenile rehabilitation, youth services, child welfare, foster care

Transcript Highlights:

• Niccolo DeLuca, on behalf of the Police Officers Association of Pacifica, in support.
• Police Officers Association of San Pablo, support.
• I just want to—do you guys involve the DA's office in this? Yes.
• Are we bringing in the DA's office? The DA's office is notified.
• And then my office will respond for the...

Summary: The Assembly Local Government Committee heard a long agenda of local government, housing, transportation, and public safety bills. Early items included SB 762, which would give certain local governments a voter-approved path to seek additional local sales tax authority to address fiscal pressures; SB 1400, which would modernize Alameda Health System governance and give Alameda County more flexibility and oversight; and SB 1408, which would authorize Contra Costa County to place a renewal of its transportation sales tax on the ballot. Supporters for those bills included local officials, county representatives, labor groups, fire and police organizations, and transit advocates, while no organized opposition was presented on those measures in committee. The committee also heard SB 1272, which would give homeowners more time to correct certain inherited code violations and allow an affidavit process for buyers who did not know about the violation at purchase. The bill drew support from the California Apartment Association and opposition from code enforcement and county groups, who argued it would reduce local enforcement discretion and create health and safety risks. After questions about disclosure and enforcement, the committee approved SB 1272 as amended and re-referred it to Appropriations. SB 1055, dealing with procurement flexibility for Pajaro flood control and levee repairs, also passed as amended and was sent to Appropriations. Later, the committee approved SB 1379, which would separate the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner and create an independent medical examiner system. The author and supporters argued the change was needed for transparency and independence in in-custody death investigations, while opponents raised labor, cost, and governance concerns; some opposition was softened after the author agreed to employee-protection amendments. The committee also passed SB 1172, limiting consultant compensation and adding transparency rules for local tax-sharing agreements, and several housing bills from Senator Grayson: SB 1003 on pro-housing infrastructure financing districts, SB 1014 on early disclosure of infrastructure requirements for housing projects, and SB 1169 on extending tentative vesting map validity. The committee took votes on consent items and later add-ons, with most measures passing on bipartisan or unanimous votes and several being re-referred to Appropriations or Housing and Community Development as appropriate.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I am going to start with Sam Mathis, who is the senior policy officer for the Greater London Authority
• And this office that we are in, the 24-hour London office, it's this year turning 10 years old.
• The police know where you are.
• Our police officers, our first responders, all... ...policy and shown that this could work.
• Our police officers, our first responders, everyone who participates in this during what has been a very

Summary: The Select Committee on Downtown Recovery held a hearing titled “Revitalizing California’s Downtowns Through the Nightlife Economy,” focused on how nightlife, arts, entertainment, and late-night transportation can support downtown recovery after the pandemic. Chair Matt Haney framed nightlife as a major economic and cultural sector and said the committee hopes to produce policy, budget, and legislative proposals, building on last year’s downtown recovery bills. The hearing included three panels: nightlife policy experts and a venue owner; representatives from entertainment, tourism, and rideshare; and remote witnesses from London, Philadelphia, and New York discussing how other cities manage 24-hour economies. Witnesses on the first panel emphasized that nightlife is an ecosystem that includes workers, venues, transportation, and public safety. Michael Fishman described the growth of night managers and argued that zoning, licensing, and land costs can either support or choke off creative venues; he also said extending hours can reduce congestion and unsafe spillover if done in a regulated way. Ben Van Houten highlighted San Francisco’s entertainment zones, hospitality zone liquor licenses, Type 90 music venue licenses, and other local reforms, while urging more state coordination and possible tax and licensing changes. Darcy Drolinger of Oasis said independent venues are operating on thin margins, have faced repeated near-closures, and need tools such as extended alcohol service hours to remain viable and preserve community and LGBTQ+ cultural spaces. The second panel focused on tourism, major events, and transportation. Another Planet Entertainment’s Mary Condi said festivals and venues like Outside Lands, the Castro Theatre, and the Fox and Greek theaters draw large numbers of visitors, support hotels and restaurants, and require close coordination with city agencies; she also raised concerns about unexpected possessory interest tax bills and the burden of secondary ticketing and cannabis taxes. Amelia Zamani of Cal Travel said travel and tourism remain a major economic engine and argued that nightlife is central to attracting international visitors, conventions, and major events, especially if California wants to compete with cities that allow later alcohol service. Lyft’s Nicholas Johnson said late-night rides serve workers as well as patrons, reduce DUI risk, and are essential for safe access to downtowns and event venues. In the final panel, officials from London and Philadelphia described their nighttime governance models. London witnesses said the city created a 24-hour city strategy, a night czar, and a nightlife commission, and found that nightlife supports economic activity, workforce retention, and safer, more diverse districts when paired with flexible licensing and better transit. Philadelphia’s Rahim Manning said his city treats the nighttime economy as a major industry, with a $26.2 billion annual impact, and stressed that it includes manufacturing, logistics, health care, transportation, food service, arts, and sports—not just bars and clubs. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with committee members asking questions about extended hours, transportation, family-friendly programming, cannabis activation, ticketing, and how California can better support a safe and competitive nighttime economy.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank Office Lieutenant Governor's Office, TDI, all the folks that we've been working with
• They're not police officers, but we're doing a better job of training police officers.
• Some are just recruited off of an app, whatever the case may be, when they encounter a police officer
• A police officer needs to know how to gather pocket trash, dump cell phones, gather intel, report that
• It was documented 5 times by police officers in Texas. That's how the intel is supposed to work.

Bills: SB 36 , SB 2202

Committee: Senate Border Security

Keywords: homeland security, border security, critical infrastructure, Department of Public Safety, intelligence operations, public-private partnerships, SB 2202, firearm trafficking, gun trafficking, terrorism, foreign terrorist organization, Texas-Mexico border, United Mexican States, Mexico, DPS, second-degree felony, weapons transfer, illegal firearms transfer, arms smuggling, cross-border crime

Transcript Highlights:

• I plan on graduating next year as a senior with an associate's degree.
• I am a senior at Bethany High School.
• In speaking with the attorney general's office, Mr.
• This will free up police officers to do more law enforcement duties with That concludes the explanation
• Doesn't this change now make it a Capitol police force and it becomes its own police force essentially

Bills: SR44 , HCR1027 , SJR50 , SJR52 , SJR53 , HB1185 , HB1937 , HB2035 , HB2137 , HB2166 , HB3148 , HB3323 , HB3466 , HB3498 , HB3661 , HB3678 , HB3710 , HB3977 , HB3986 , HB4104 , HB4108 , HB4142 , HB4191 , HB4274 , HB4275 , HB4322 , HB4336 , HB4484 , HB3880 , HB1687 , HB3673 , HB1170 , HB2959 , HB3718 , HB3021 , HB3443 , HB3501 , HB4143 , HB4326 , HB2992 , HB3660 , SB171 , SB1325 , SB1980 , SB2045 , HB4422 , HB4423

Keywords: SR44, Senate Resolution 44, Teacher Appreciation Week, teachers, educators, Oklahoma educators, public schools, K-12 education, pre-K, school recognition, education resolution, appreciation week, National PTA, Eleanor Roosevelt, teacher recognition, school staff, classroom, Oklahoma Legislature, concurrent resolution, sine die adjournment

Transcript Highlights:

• Our office isn't here supporting or opposing the bill.
• Anderson, target Idaho senior citizens. The latest statistics, as Ms.
• Seniors especially don't want to admit when they've been targeted by fraud and lost money.
• Idaho seniors are a prime target because they have financial assets.
• We're talking about clinical use or in-office use for all these vitamins, minerals, or fluids.

Committee: House Business

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And he says they let officers be officers. And so we want to thank him for that.
• This is Officer Yvarn Bahay. She is a New Mexico State Police officer. Yvarn Bahay.
• She is a New Mexico State Police officer, a mother of two.
• In addition to that, state police have already tried to recruit her to be one of their officers.
• Is this office, and I know this may not be the time to ask this question, but is this office under the

Summary: The Senate convened for an Indian Day/Native American Day session featuring prayers, drum and color guard presentations, and extensive recognition of tribal leaders, students, royalty, and community advocates from across New Mexico and neighboring tribal nations. Senators used the morning to introduce guests and speak about Native sovereignty, language preservation, education, water access, economic development, and the importance of tribal-state relationships. Several speakers highlighted personal and family ties to Native communities, while others emphasized ongoing work on issues such as clean water for Navajo communities, Native youth leadership, and missing and murdered Indigenous women and relatives. A major non-ceremonial item was the reading of Senate Executive Messages from the governor authorizing consideration of Senate Bills 306, 309, 312, and 313. Those bills would, respectively, change licensure rules for certain institutions, alter lottery tuition fund deposit requirements, and repeal or revise provisions related to safety helmets and child restraint devices in negligence and damages law. The Senate also received committee reports advancing House Bill 34, Senate Bills 204, 241, 77, 152, 190, and 143, along with confirmations for Elaine Luna and Grace Margaret Herrera to the New Mexico Highlands University Board of Regents. The Rules Committee also reported on the governor’s appointment of Don Walters as child advocate for the Office of the Child Advocate. The chamber also adopted a Senate resolution recognizing February 6, 2026, as New Mexico Speech, Language, and Hearing Association Day, with Senator Pope speaking in support of audiologists and speech-language pathologists. Throughout the session, members repeatedly acknowledged the prior night’s Senate-House basketball game, which raised more than $26,000 for cancer, and used the occasion to thank participants and guests. No roll-call votes were recorded in the transcript beyond voice votes adopting the committee reports and the unanimous-consent actions on floor procedures and guest access.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:24:47.480><c> officers,</c><00:24:48.480><c> and</c><00:24:48.640><c> all</c> firemen, our police
• officers, and all firemen, our police officers, and all law<00:24:49.120><c> enforcement</c><00:24:50.279
• These individuals were convicted of killing police and military officers involved in deadly bank robberies
• This has been an effort to try to get a number of armed officers on a false report, a fake police call
• Five police officers died as a result. 140 violent criminals were convicted for their conduct that day

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• officers and volunteer Zamroa police officers and volunteer firefighter<00:10:16.800><c> Gary</c><00
• Gary Jr. served the city of Zumbrota as a police officer for 18 years.
• Gary proudly served the people of Zumbrota as both a police officer and a volunteer firefighter.
• </c> both a police officer and a volunteer both a police officer and a volunteer firefighter.<00:14:11.519
• Police officers have been for this.

Bills: HF3676 , HF3593 , HF3785 , HF3774 , HF4111 , HF3513

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: Safe at Home, address confidentiality, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, victim privacy, survivor protection, confidential address, protected address, secret address, identity protection, residential confidentiality, program participant, nondiscrimination, court disclosure, protective order, service of process, driver's license, state ID

Transcript Highlights:

• And that was, we have to make sure that people in public office don't use their public office, thank
• Make sure that people in public office don't use their public office to benefit themselves or their family
• President's office before in President Pro Tempore Brodeur's office.
• And probably in an effort not to get stuck with one of those Sabatini offices when they redo the office
• the office matrix.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of member introductions recognizing interns, pages, and a retiring Senate employee. Leadership also announced that budget talks with the House were continuing and that senators should not plan to be in next week, with hopes of sharing more budget news soon. The chamber then moved to third reading and took up a major bill on citizen initiatives and constitutional amendments, with sponsors saying it was needed to address documented petition fraud and to protect the integrity of the process. That bill drew extensive debate. Supporters argued that recent investigations showed widespread fraud in petition gathering, that the measure would add reasonable guardrails, and that it would prevent taxpayer-funded government messaging from being used to influence ballot measures. Opponents said the bill would make it much harder for ordinary Floridians to place amendments on the ballot by adding costs, deadlines, registration requirements, fines, and felony exposure, and they warned it would chill grassroots participation and effectively favor wealthy or corporate-backed campaigns. After debate, the Senate passed the bill 28-10. The Senate then adopted several House amendments and concurred on a series of education and public-safety measures, including bills on stem cell therapy, student-athlete electrocardiograms, cardiac emergency planning in schools, school safety, Bright Futures and other education policy items, and educator preparation. Most of those measures passed unanimously or with overwhelming support, and the chamber also recognized additional interns and a long-serving education advocate before recessing and returning to continue with House messages.

Transcript Highlights:

• from the northern California town of Marysville, Police Officer Osmar Rodarte, a dedicated law enforcement
• Even last December, when teachers and firefighters and police officers were finally included, it was
• Even last December, when teachers and firefighters and police officers were finally included, it was
• </c> teachers and firefighters and police teachers and firefighters and police officers<00:56:40.799>
• </c><06:24:17.680><c> who</c><06:24:17.920><c> spent</c> police officer and as someone who spent police

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And they created the election police.
• And that was, we have to make sure that people in public office don't use their public office, Thank
• President, in your office before, in Senate President pro tempore Brodeur's office.
• And probably in an effort not to get stuck with one of those Sabatini offices when they redo the office
• the office matrix.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of member introductions recognizing interns, pages, volunteers, and the retirement of Pastor Gary Austin from the sergeant’s office. Leadership also announced that budget talks with the House were continuing and that senators would not need to plan on being in next week, suggesting progress toward a budget framework. After routine floor business, the chamber took up a major third-reading measure on citizen initiatives and several education bills, followed later by returning messages from the House on health and school-safety measures. The most extensive debate centered on the citizen initiative bill, which sponsors said was intended to protect the constitutional amendment process from fraud and abuse based on election-crime investigations and a large state report on petition fraud. Supporters argued the bill would add reasonable guardrails, prevent misuse of public funds, and preserve integrity while still allowing grassroots participation. Opponents from both parties argued it would make citizen-led amendments much harder by adding costs, deadlines, criminal penalties, and administrative burdens that would chill participation and favor wealthy or corporate interests. After lengthy debate, the Senate voted 28-10 to pass the bill. The chamber then passed several education measures with little or no opposition, including bills tied to Bright Futures, dual enrollment, Florida ABLE, teacher preparation, and other education policy updates, all by 38-0. Later, the Senate concurred in House amendments on a stem cell therapy bill, an EKG requirement for student athletes, and a cardiac emergency bill, each passing 37-0. The House also sent back a school safety bill with amendments affecting child care facility partnerships with law enforcement, temporary door locks during active assailant incidents, supervision windows, and funding for panic alarm systems; the transcript ends as that bill is being explained.

Transcript Highlights:

• for police officer Domi Pamera.
• for police officer Domi Pamera.
• for police officers for Ryan Kazee.
• officers as special police officers within said city for paid detail assignments, House No. 4141.
• officers as special police officers within the city for paid detail assignments.

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted a resolution honoring Massachusetts veterinarian associations and advocates by recognizing May 2, 2026, as Veterinarian Youth Day in the Commonwealth. The Rules Committee also reported several local bills for consideration, including measures affecting Boxborough alcohol licenses, a housing trust fund in Chatham, expanded small property tax abatements in Auburn, a long-term lease authorization for property on South Street East, town meeting accessibility, and increased ordinance penalties in Newton. The House suspended the rules and ordered those local bills to a third reading. It also took up and passed to be enacted three Boston Police Department bills waiving minimum age requirements for specific officers, and later advanced a North Adams bill authorizing retired police officers to serve as special police officers for paid detail assignments. In addition, the House passed to be engrossed a Marblehead bill creating a means-tested senior citizens property tax exemption and a sick leave bank bill for Courtney Cochran of the Department of Children and Families. The chamber welcomed Cardinal Cushing students from Hanover, who had an Easter art exhibit on display. At the end of the session, the House adopted an order to meet again the following Thursday at 11 a.m., and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• FANITZI, REGIMENTAL TRAINING OFFICER, U.S.
• ARMY GARRISON, WEST POINT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER AND I WANT TO THANK THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE, THE FLOOR
• and Germany, he said there was a difference between officers from West Point and other officers.
• an officer in the Army Reserve.
• I note that he wants to be in the military police. The military police.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation by Major Brittany Wooten, then took up Senate Resolution No. 1749 designating March 19, 2026, as West Point Day in New York State. Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Senator Skoufis, Minority Leader Ortt, and several other senators spoke in support of West Point, its cadets, and the academy’s history and role in national service. Colonel Daniel R. Stuewe, commander of U.S. Army Garrison West Point, also addressed the chamber, emphasizing the long-standing partnership between West Point and New York and the academy’s mission to develop leaders of character. The resolution was adopted, and the West Point Day observance included recognition of cadets and academy staff. The Senate then moved through a calendar of bills, passing measures including amendments to the Public Health Law, Election Law, Executive Law, Penal Law, Elder Law, Real Property Tax Law, General Municipal Law, and Public Authorities Law. Several bills drew brief explanations of vote or debate. Senator Mayer spoke in support of a bill establishing Fred Korematsu Day, framing it as a reminder of the injustice of Japanese American internment and the need to defend civil rights. Senator Ryan supported a bill streamlining the senior citizen property tax exemption process, calling it a way to reduce burdens on older residents. Senator Helming opposed a local government planning mandate as an unfunded mandate, while Senators Walczyk and Martins criticized a housing-related reporting bill as burdensome and ineffective. The most debated item was Calendar 457, a housing-data and reporting bill sponsored by Senator May. Supporters argued it would improve transparency and help the state understand zoning and housing capacity, while opponents said it imposed new reporting burdens on municipalities and could penalize poorer communities by threatening CDBG funding. After debate, the bill was restored to the non-controversial calendar and ultimately passed by a vote of 37-23. The Senate then adjourned until the next legislative day.

Transcript Highlights:

• and then the second portion will be the available resources for individuals with IDD, and then for senior
• I focused on the older or senior age group and thought, I guess they're retired.
• And then it says available services for seniors.
• The available services for seniors in Arkansas are really the same as the services I mentioned earlier
• So we'll have someone from the Attorney General's office that will be here as well. Obviously, Ms.

Committee: All TASK FORCE ON AUTISM

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This one is run by the Department of Administration and Idaho State Police jointly for our Capitol Mall
• reason, senior boys like to date freshman girls a lot, so you literally can have a five-year gap.
• All right, and tell me the name of the person you want to testify from the AG’s office again?
• Our office is neutral in this case.
• I'm here on behalf of the Idaho Fraternal Order of Police. I am from Post Falls, Idaho.

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• with the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, at the invitation of Representative Salzman.
• If you're a cop, a correction officer, a military officer, in the military, you've been trained to be
• This law allows veterans, correction officers, and police officers under the age of 21 to purchase a
• gun. and police officers under the age of 21 to purchase a gun.
• Service members, police officers, correctional officers can be 18 and older when they purchase a firearm

Summary: The House convened for opening-day business, with prayer, a moment of silence for Captain Bill Guston, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum established. The Speaker outlined a budget message emphasizing reduced spending and a proposed permanent 0.75% sales tax cut, and the chamber then received the Governor’s veto message on portions of HB 5001. Members moved to reinstate several vetoed appropriations, including the Florida Senior Veterans and Crisis Fund, Rockledge Advanced Water Treatment Phase 1, the Department of Corrections automated staffing/time management system, and Baldwin sewer and water main work; each reinstatement passed unanimously. The House also adopted a special order calendar and special amendment procedures for the General Appropriations Act and related bills. On the special order calendar, several bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously, including Lucy’s Law on boating safety (CS/CS/CS/HB 289), HB 735 on water access facilities, HB 11 on municipal water and sewer utility rates, CS/CS/HB 85 on hazardous walking conditions, and CS/HB 157 on service of process. These measures focused on boating safety, water infrastructure, utility-rate fairness, school walking safety, and procedural civil-law updates. A major floor debate centered on HB 6017, which would repeal Florida’s “Free Kill Law” limiting wrongful-death damages in medical negligence cases. Supporters described the bill as a long-awaited justice measure for families who lost adult children or unmarried relatives to medical malpractice, while opponents were not recorded in the final vote tally; the bill passed 104-6 after extensive emotional testimony from sponsors and affected families. The chamber also heard a lengthy, highly divided debate on HB 759, which would lower the firearm purchase age from 21 to 18. Supporters argued the current law is inconsistent with adult rights and responsibilities and cited constitutional precedent, while opponents emphasized Parkland, youth gun violence, and public-safety concerns; the transcript ends during continued debate on that bill, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are creating strong partnerships with school resource officers and local police.
• </c> senior at Adina High School. senior at Adina High School.
• </c><01:09:02.880><c> officer</c><01:09:03.359><c> might</c> and the hope that a police officer might
• and the hope that a police officer might respond<01:09:04.480><c> and</c><01:09:04.799><c> might</c>
• </c> school resource officers. school resource officers.

Bills: HF3409 , HF3487 , HF3401

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: immigration status, undocumented students, immigrant rights, K-12 education, public school enrollment, Plyler v. Doe, school district, charter school, cooperative unit, law enforcement access, ICE, immigration enforcement, civil lawsuit, private right of action, injunctive relief, mandamus, student records, directory information, parental engagement, equal access to education