Video & Transcript Research : 'structured literacy'

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FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

FL House Floor Session - 2026-05-29 (9:00AM Session)

Florida House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • University of Florida to support the implementation of various programs to improve student reading, literacy
  • I think the way that we have the budget structured here is that we are first going to be allocating some
  • I think the way that we have the budget structured here is that we are first going to be allocating some
  • And, I mean, that would take a lot of work in order to try to correct that and structure it in a way
  • funding programs, establishing new program standards and requirements, enhancing quality incentive structures
Keywords: 998, house, all
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII Feb 25th, 2025

Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Transcript Highlights:
  • The second issue outlines the modification of the agency's budget structure to create a new goal and
  • In terms of our funding structure, the Texas Medical Board operates without any reliance on the state's
  • And our current fee structure is set to about 90 to 95% of what we are statutorily authorized to charge
  • As far as the structure of the medical board, um, you have a board and then you have the executive folks
  • as limited, uh, mental health access, cultural stigma, and low lit or low health and technology literacy
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee 3/19/25

Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • consumers come into the Medicare market making complex decisions, and health care and insurance literacy
  • c> insurance decisions and health care and insurance decisions and health care and insurance literacy
  • <00:16:29.920> If<00:16:30.160> you're literacy are real concerns.
  • If you're literacy are real concerns.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Public Service Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Public Service

Transcript Highlights:
  • I moved to Massachusetts in the early '90s and since then I've served as a middle school literacy specialist
  • its institutions, including targeting and killing students, teachers, and staff, and educational structures
  • of the group, but rather to destroy the group's collective identity by undermining its biological structure
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held a hearing focused first on teacher retirement legislation, especially H. 2932 and S. 1884, which would give long-serving educators a one-time opportunity to enroll in Retirement Plus after the program’s 2001 rollout was described as confusing and inconsistently communicated. Legislators, union leaders, and many teachers testified that some educators missed the opt-in window because of faulty notices, leave status, transfers, or misinformation about payroll deductions, and that many have had to work several extra years as a result. Supporters said the bills would correct an unfair administrative error, provide a buyback option with interest, and could also save local school districts money by allowing earlier retirements. Representative Mark Sylvia also testified for H. 4234, a Fairhaven-specific bill to raise the age limit for special police officers from 65 to 70 and clarify appointing authority, citing experience and budget needs. The committee then heard testimony on several pension investment and divestment bills. Supporters of H. 2811 and related climate-risk measures argued that PRIM should assess, disclose, and address climate-related financial risk in the state pension fund, warning that fossil fuel investments could threaten long-term returns and public finances. Environmental advocates and financial experts said climate risk is systemic and urged transparency, divestment planning, and alignment with the Commonwealth’s climate goals. Another set of speakers supported H. 2984, which would divest pension investments from companies selling weapons to Israel; they argued the state should not be complicit in violence in Gaza and cited humanitarian and human rights concerns. Additional testimony supported H. 2900 and S. 1869 to divest from the firearm industry, with speakers saying pension investments should not undermine Massachusetts gun laws. No votes were taken during the hearing. The chairs repeatedly thanked speakers, limited testimony time, and noted that written testimony could be submitted later. The hearing concluded with the committee moving through the sign-up list and hearing extensive public testimony on the teacher retirement and divestment proposals.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
  • To remain responsive to the public, we need to continue to grow and evolve our processes and structure
  • To remain responsive to the public, we need to continue to grow and evolve our processes and structure
  • Sounds like you support financial literacy too. That's not all of it at all.
Keywords: 1182, all
Summary: The committee first heard the Arizona Auditor General’s sunset review of the Arizona Barbering and Cosmetology Board. The audit found some strengths, including timely licensing and complaint resolution in the sample reviewed and rules that matched statutory curriculum requirements, but it also identified a major finding that the board had imposed inconsistent discipline for similar violations and lacked documentation for deviations from its disciplinary guidelines. Other issues included missing reciprocity education requirements, weak application quality control, incomplete school and establishment oversight, and compliance concerns involving open meeting law, public records, and conflicts of interest. The report made 25 recommendations total, including two tied to the disciplinary finding and three suggested statutory changes on esthetics scope of practice, cease-and-desist authority, and eyelash technician training. The board’s executive director said the board agreed with the findings, had already implemented several recommendations, updated disciplinary policies and conflict-of-interest procedures, and was working on legislation and rule changes. After questions about enforcement consistency, licensing verification, cash handling, complaint volume, and conflict disclosures, the committee voted 7-0 to recommend the board be continued for six years, until July 1, 2032. The committee then took up the Arizona Department of Gaming, the Arizona Racing Commission, and the Arizona Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Commission together. The Auditor General reported that the department correctly distributed more than $158 million in tribal contributions in fiscal year 2024 and issued event wagering licenses to reviewed applicants, but found several problems: the department did not consistently obtain and review independent audit reports for event wagering and fantasy sports operators, did not fully comply with conflict-of-interest disclosure requirements, and lacked comprehensive complaint-handling processes. The review also found delays in distributing Compact Trust Fund payments to some tribes, gaps in IT security and horse-racing license checks, and incomplete fee-setting and public-records practices. The report made 36 recommendations to the department, six to the Racing Commission, and 13 to the Boxing and MMA Commission, and all three entities said they agreed and would implement them. In response, the Department of Gaming director said the agency was already making changes, including a historical look-back on operator audits, updated guidance to operators, a new constituent services unit and complaint-tracking process, and improved conflict-of-interest training and forms. She also explained the Compact Trust Fund dispute, saying the department administers the fund but the beneficiary tribes must agree on the revenue baseline formula, which has been complicated by COVID-era closures; no Category Three distributions had yet been made. Committee members asked about possible revenue losses, penalties, and the status of 2024-2025 audits, as well as prediction markets and whether they are legal under Arizona’s event wagering framework. The director said the department had issued cease-and-desist letters to unlicensed prediction-market operators, would review licensed operators for suitability if needed, and would continue to enforce Arizona law. The transcript ends while questioning on prediction markets is still underway, before any vote on the gaming-related reviews is shown.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Elections May 14th, 2026

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • And over the last 38 years, there's been some structural changes to how we conduct our elections.
  • Did literacy tests preserve the purity of the ballot?
  • Did literacy tests preserve the purity of the ballot box? No, absolutely not. What about poll?
  • It just seems that this is a structural issue and not necessarily a staffing issue.
  • It just seems that this is a structural issue and not necessarily a staffing issue.
Keywords: 1184, house, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session May 12th, 2025

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • These students participated in the Tax Literacy Ambassador Cohort through San Francisco County's United
  • to helping families file their taxes, these students helped empower their peers through financial literacy
Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and opened with an Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month ceremony. Members adopted House Resolution 35 recognizing May as AAPI Heritage Month, with extensive floor remarks from caucus leaders and members highlighting AAPI history, contributions, and solidarity with other communities. The chamber then honored 14 AAPI honorees from across the state, including public servants, advocates, artists, health professionals, and community leaders, before moving to the regular file. On the floor, the Assembly passed a series of bills on social media harms to minors, labor privilege, foster care family-finding, low-impact camping areas, student body association governance, drink-spiking prevention at music festivals, behavioral health access, greenhouse gas recapture, physical therapy access, housing enforcement, insurance licensing, density bonus clarification, water district proxy voting, park district updates, secured transactions, and property tax relief during emergencies. Most measures passed with broad or unanimous support; notable votes included AB 2 on social media platform accountability passing 59-0, AB 1109 on union communications privilege passing 45-4, AB 409 on student body association open meetings passing 55-6, AB 518 on low-impact camping passing 55-0, AB 668 on drink-spiking protections passing 72-0, AB 348 on behavioral health access passing 69-0, AB 663 on HFC recapture passing 71-0, AB 574 on physical therapy access passing 68-0, AB 712 on housing enforcement passing 57-1, AB 943 on insurance pre-licensing reform passing 63-0, AB 87 on density bonus law clarification passing 63-0, AB 523 on Metropolitan Water District proxy voting passing 62-1, AB 769 on park district code cleanup passing 68-0, AB 771 on secured transactions passing 69-0, and AB 1416 on property tax installment deferrals passing 66-0. The Assembly also took up AB 446, the Surveillance Pricing Protection Act, which would prohibit businesses from using personal data to charge different prices for the same product or service. Supporters described the practice as predatory and discriminatory, while noting ongoing concerns about preserving legitimate discounts and loyalty programs. The bill was presented as a consumer protection measure aimed at preventing hidden price discrimination and reducing cost-of-living pressures. The transcript ends amid repeated and partially duplicated readings of AB 446, without a final vote shown for that item.
US
Transcript Highlights:
  • AI literacy was one of the bills that I focused on and just the notion of being able to do things in
  • I'd also speak to digital literacy programs.
Summary: During the committee meeting, various issues surrounding state policy and governance were deliberated. Although the specifics of bills under discussion were not highlighted, comments from several committee members indicated a focus on improving legislative processes and addressing public concerns. The chairman facilitated discussions that included several points of critique as well as suggestions for enhancement of existing laws. The atmosphere remained constructive despite the complexity of the topics at hand.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
  • that's currently on the screen, the governor's proposal is fully balanced, both from a cash and a structural
  • assistance at $29 million, the opportunity weight at $37 million, and $2 million for foundational literacy
Keywords: 1182, all
Summary: The committee met to review the governor’s fiscal 2027 budget presentation, with the chair repeatedly asking members to keep questions brief and avoid speeches. The discussion focused first on the overall revenue and spending outlook, including concerns from members that the executive forecast was more optimistic than the JLBC baseline and that the budget appeared to front-load revenue and expenditure growth. The governor’s budget team said the forecast was close to JLBC’s, that the budget was structurally balanced, and that differences were roughly $100 million per year on ongoing revenue. Members asked for follow-up calculations in writing, including the total multi-year gap and the amount of revenue enhancements above base revenues. A major portion of the meeting centered on tax and fee proposals tied to data centers, water use, and sports betting. The governor’s team defended eliminating the existing data center tax incentive as the removal of a loophole rather than a new tax, arguing the incentive had already succeeded in attracting major investment. They also described a proposed Department of Water Resources fee-setting authority for data centers to support a new Colorado River Protection Fund, and said the proposal would apply to existing and future facilities without a grandfather clause. Members raised concerns about fairness, competitiveness, and whether the changes would require a supermajority vote. The team also discussed increased sports betting fees, saying the revenue forecast did not include dynamic behavioral effects. The committee then moved through major spending areas, including corrections, public safety, border security, cybersecurity, K-12 education, Medicaid, and developmental disabilities. The governor’s budget includes ongoing funding to prevent correctional officer pay cuts, money to comply with prison health care court orders, probation funding, body-worn cameras, law enforcement staffing, fentanyl task forces, and cyber readiness grants. Members questioned the lack of funding for a prison oversight committee and asked for corrections spending totals over the administration. On border security, the executive said it was seeking about $759.7 million in federal reimbursement for border-related costs and that the governor had met with federal officials, including Secretary Noem and Tom Homan, about the request. In education, the budget proposes renewing Prop. 123, adding K-12 base funding, and issuing $1.5 billion in school facilities bonds over three years; members debated whether the proposal was appropriate and whether Prop. 123 revenues could support the debt service. The meeting also covered AHCCCS cost growth and federal HR1 impacts, with the executive warning of major coverage losses and hospital funding reductions, and DDD funding, where the governor’s team said the budget fully funds services and includes about $120 million in supplemental needs. No votes were taken; the meeting was a presentation and question-and-answer session only.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 22nd, 2025

House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • Are we paying for a new literacy program?
  • We're going to look at how we evaluate and the structure with which we approach this really important
CO

Colorado 2026 Regular Session

Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 105 Apr 29th, 2026

Colorado Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • dire need of additional funding for our K through three classrooms to ensure early intervention and literacy
  • 37.359> early<02:20:37.680> intervention<02:20:38.160> and<02:20:38.319> literacy
  • ensure early intervention and literacy ensure early intervention and literacy and<02:20:38.880><
  • If it's passed, it bypasses the structure entirely, forcing all 2,770 municipalities to take on verification
  • 47.439> is<02:27:47.840> who's<02:27:48.080> the If it's passed, it bypasses the structure
Keywords: 981, all
Summary: The Senate convened, approved the journal, and received a series of committee and conference committee reports. Committee reports advanced several bills, including House Bill 106 from Education; House Bills 1312 and 1322 from Judiciary; Senate Bill 172 from Transportation and Energy; and a large group of bills from Appropriations, many of which were sent to the Committee of the Whole, some placed on the consent calendar. The chamber also received a conference committee report on House Bill 1410, the state budget bill, which was later taken up for repassage. A special order consent calendar was then considered and adopted, advancing Senate Bills 154, 156, and 157. Those bills were described as dealing with Colorado Channel Authority Board appointments, State Workforce Development Council practices, and abandonment of a town with critical water infrastructure. The Committee of the Whole report on those bills was adopted, and they were ordered engrossed and placed on the calendar for third reading and final passage. The Senate also adopted the first conference committee report on House Bill 1411, which concerns health insurance benefits for certain low-income individuals who are ineligible for medical assistance due to immigration status and adjusts appropriations. The report was adopted 34-0, and the bill was repassed 32-2. House Bill 1410, the long bill, was then adopted from conference committee and repassed after extended debate on funding for the ID community and related developmental disability and transition funding; the final repassage vote was 23-11. During debate, senators discussed the difficulty of the budget decisions and the need to revisit the issue with better information in the interim. Later, the Senate considered Senate Bills 17, 45, and 91 in Committee of the Whole. SB 17, concerning out-of-network health care dispute resolution, received committee amendments and was adopted. SB 45, concerning workforce development opportunities in Colorado’s nuclear sector, was amended to include a one-year sunset if funding is not raised for the School of Mines program, then adopted. SB 91, concerning exclusion of certain printed news deliverers from employee definitions in labor and employment law, drew debate: supporters said it would help preserve local newspapers and independent contractor delivery models, while opponents argued it would weaken worker protections and favor large newspaper owners. The transcript cuts off before the final vote on SB 91.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Education Committee Mar 26th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • Some of those amendments are as follows: giving structure to the training schedule by requiring at least
  • The current structure limits sponsorship of Mexican and Spanish teachers exclusively to the California
  • This stark contrast does not reflect a lack of qualified educators in Mexico, but rather a structural
  • Despite the deep educational and cultural ties between California and Mexico, the current structure of
  • Despite the deep educational and cultural ties between California and Mexico, the current structure of
Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard several education bills, with AB 887 by Assemblymember Berman proposing that every school district and charter school adopt a plan so all high schools offer at least one computer science course by 2029-30. Supporters, including a teacher and student, argued California is falling behind other states and that computer science is essential for student opportunity and workforce readiness. ACSA opposed the bill, citing the shortage of qualified computer science teachers and administrative burden. The bill passed the committee on a 6-0 vote and was sent to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 1390 by Assemblymember Solache, which would allow local and county school boards to raise trustee compensation above long-standing statutory minimums that have not changed in decades. Supporters said the current stipends are too low to make board service accessible to working families and younger community members. There was no opposition testimony, and the bill passed with five votes, with the roll left open for additional members. AB 865 by Assemblymember Gonzalez would create a $5 million, three-year grant program for dual-language immersion instructional materials, split between high-demand languages and other languages. Supporters said districts often lack standards-aligned materials in languages beyond Spanish, forcing teachers to create their own. The bill passed 7-0 to Appropriations. AB 857 by Assemblymember Gibson, requiring annual cultural competency training for K-12 staff, also passed 5-1 after supporters linked it to the state reparations task force report and argued it would improve trust and student outcomes. The committee additionally approved AB 677 by Assemblymember Bryan, which would make it easier for unhoused students to access school-based vision and dental screenings by allowing directory information to be used for that purpose with an opt-out process; it passed 8-0. AB 903 by Assemblymember Avila Farias, directing the Department of Education to develop best practices on education technology and digital equity, passed after amendments and with some opponents indicating they would remove opposition once the amendments were in print. Finally, AB 917 by Assemblymember Avila Farias, extending permanent-status protections to certain educators in small districts and county programs, drew significant opposition from small districts and regional occupational programs over flexibility and funding concerns; the bill still passed 5-2 with the roll held open for additional votes.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on State and Local Government - 03/11/25

State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • and these people that are praying—I'm so, I'm sitting here thinking, um, we're requiring financial literacy
  • and these people that are praying—I'm so, I'm sitting here thinking, um, we're requiring financial literacy
  • 54.440> we're<00:26:54.640> requiring<00:26:55.200> financial<00:26:55.679> literacy
  • um we we're requiring financial literacy um we we're requiring financial literacy to<00:26:56.360
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Formal House Session 14 Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am

Massachusetts House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The House Bill, relative to teacher preparation and student literacy, House No. [questionable].
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The House first suspended Joint Rule 12 to allow consideration of a petition to designate the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court as the Judge Leslie E. Harris Courthouse. It then took up two election-related bills reported out of Ways and Means: House 5093, to protect against election misinformation, and House 5094, to enhance disclosure requirements for synthetic media and political advertising. Supporters described both measures as targeted responses to AI-generated deepfakes and deceptive election content, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and protecting voter trust rather than banning speech outright. House 5094 was debated first. An amendment was adopted to exempt certain broadcasters, cable/satellite operators, program producers, and streaming services when paid to broadcast deceptive election-related material. The bill then passed to be engrossed on a roll call of 156-0. House 5093 was then debated, with supporters saying it would prohibit deceptive AI use within 90 days of an election and address materially deceptive audio, visual, and election-related communications. Two amendments were offered and defeated: one to move the state primary earlier, and another to narrow the bill’s scope by striking part of the definition of materially deceptive media. The bill passed to be engrossed on a roll call of 153-3. Earlier in the session, the House also passed to be enacted several local bills, including measures affecting Rockland’s charter, Williamstown’s senior property tax exemption eligibility, and Rochester’s fire chief employment. Later, the House rejected concurrence with Senate amendments on a bill related to teacher preparation and student literacy and instead appointed a committee of conference. The chamber also observed a moment of silence for former Quincy public servant Arthur Tobin before adjourning to meet the next day at 11 a.m.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee Jul 31st, 2025

Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:
  • Finally, one of the last programs at issue was the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act funds.
CO

Colorado 2026 Regular Session

Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 021 Feb 4th, 2026

Colorado Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • supportive learning environments, advocating for students off track for graduation, and promoting literacy
  • that property, that land, that development then becomes wholly tax-exempt so long as that ownership structure
  • that property, that land, that development then becomes wholly tax-exempt so long as that ownership structure
  • that property, that land, that development then becomes wholly tax-exempt so long as that ownership structure
  • so long as that ownership structure exists. exists. exists.
Keywords: 981, all
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the February 2, 2026 journal, and received committee reports. The Education Committee recommended Senate Bill 19 be amended and sent to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation, and also recommended confirmation of several appointments, including James JB Holston as Executive Director of the Department of Higher Education and two members of the Private Occupational School Board. The Judiciary Committee recommended Senate Bill 5 be amended and referred to Appropriations with a favorable recommendation. The chamber then moved out of order for resolutions and took up Senate Joint Resolution 7, recognizing February 2026 as Black History Month. The resolution was read at length and included extensive findings on Black history nationally and in Colorado, highlighting figures such as Barney Ford, Clara Brown, early Black legislators, and more recent Black civic and legislative leaders. Senator Exum said there were no additional comments and noted that remarks would be made later in the House. The resolution was adopted on a 33-0 vote, and the current roll call was added as co-sponsors. The Senate also considered Senate Bill 10 on the third-reading consent calendar, a bill clarifying definitions used in agricultural property taxation. It passed unanimously, 33-0. The body then took up Senate Bill 4, which would expand who may petition for an extreme risk protection order. Senator Sullivan and supporters framed it as a public safety measure, while Senator Minority Leader and Senator Zamora Wilson opposed it, arguing it could create administrative burdens, unintended consequences, constitutional concerns, and costs. The debate continued with extended opposition remarks, but the transcript ends before a final vote on SB 4 is shown.
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, June 8, 2026)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • And so we've created a new structure, and this structure creates the old structure created an inconsistency
  • in governance, and the new structure helps us with certainty and accountability.
  • structure<03:45:11.040> creates<03:45:11.680> the structure and this structure
  • creates the structure and this structure creates the old<03:45:12.160> structure<03:45:12.479>
  • new structure in governance and the new structure helps<03:45:16.560> us<03:45:16.800> with
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Education Funding (01/21/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • building issues $100,000 is structural building issues $100,000 is not<00:35:16.599> sufficient
  • I believe it is in RSA 193, and in that statute we have written up the structure and the sequence of
  • statute we have written up the structure statute we have written up the structure and<01:23:11.360
  • <02:34:11.960> across must reduce our cost structure across must reduce our cost structure
  • My impression was that this was a serious test of your due process structure, and it survived.
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee held a hearing on HB 366, which would increase school building aid for eligible projects. Representative Cahill, the prime sponsor, said the bill would raise the annual minimum from $50 million to $60 million and help address a long backlog of school construction and renovation needs after years of a moratorium on applications. He argued that districts forced to build during the moratorium were left to shoulder costs through local property taxes, and he cited examples such as Londonderry, Claremont, and other communities with aging or inadequate facilities. He also said the current aid structure, including paying 80% upfront and 20% at completion, concentrates too much spending at once and limits how many projects can be funded. Several committee members asked about the fairness and structure of the program. Representative Maguire questioned whether aid should be distributed more broadly to all districts rather than only a few selected projects, and Representative Luneau noted that the committee would also be considering related bills on catastrophic aid, special education aid, and the school foundation formula. Cahill responded that building aid has historically been targeted to property-poor communities and that the state should be a reliable partner in school construction. He also said the bill includes a small retroactive component for communities that built during the moratorium, which he described as a compromise. Testimony in support came from Representative Cluder, who described Claremont’s Stevens High School project as a case where a bond issue narrowly failed and the city later had to fund renovations without state aid, contributing to high property taxes. He said the bill would help property-poor communities and urged passage. Tony Weinstein of New Market also supported the bill, saying his community had serious facility and safety needs, had moved forward with scaled-back renovations during the moratorium, and still faced debt-service burdens without state participation. Robert Thompson, superintendent in Hampstead, testified that his district needs an addition for overcrowding, safety, and special education space, and said building aid would help reduce out-of-district placements and transportation costs. No vote was taken in the hearing.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • In this current political moment where free speech is under attack, literacy is at an all-time low, Attack
  • , literacy is at an all-time low, and fascism is rampant in America.
  • 00:34:43.840> of<00:34:43.919> poll Of course, it got rid of poll taxes, got rid of literacy
Keywords: 918, senate, all
Summary: The committee held a joint hearing recognizing the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and focusing on civic education, free speech, voting, and Minnesota’s America 250 commemorations. Opening remarks emphasized the importance of education, Indigenous land acknowledgement, and the idea that democracy depends on informed and engaged citizens. The chair then invited student debaters from the Minnesota High School League to testify about how debate, free speech, and evidence-based reasoning have shaped their education and civic participation. The students argued that debate teaches critical thinking, helps young people engage with difficult issues, and should be protected as part of a healthy democracy; one also urged lawmakers to move beyond empty promises and take action on issues such as eviction moratoriums, ICE collaboration, and protest protections. Commissioner Willie Jett of the Minnesota Department of Education testified that public education is where citizenship first becomes real, and that schools, libraries, and educators help students learn to listen, question, debate respectfully, and understand both the ideals and failures of American history. He said democracy is something each generation must learn and strengthen, and thanked the committee for convening the hearing. Former students Sarah Griffin and Charlie Crocker then offered tributes to Senator Swedzinski, describing how his teaching encouraged civic engagement, disagreement, and action, and how his classroom shaped their lives and public service. Their remarks emphasized that democracy is not a spectator sport and that ordinary people build it through small, courageous acts. Secretary of State Steve Simon followed with testimony on Minnesota’s civic culture and voter participation. He said Minnesota has long ranked near the top nationally in voter turnout, including youth turnout, and attributed that to a combination of good election laws and a strong pro-voting culture. He highlighted school-based civic education efforts such as pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds and the Students Vote mock election program, and noted that Minnesota’s congressional delegation was unanimous in supporting the Voting Rights Act in 1965 as an example of the state coming together on major moral questions. The Minnesota Historical Society then began its presentation on America 250, with Kent Whitworth describing the organization’s role, the new edition of the Northern Lights curriculum, and broader commemorative activities; Dr. Bill Convery introduced historical context about how Americans have celebrated independence and how the semiquincentennial can leave a legacy for future generations.
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Day 50 (3-19-26)

Kentucky Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • the students get the experience of running those type of businesses, especially learning financial literacy
  • the students get the experience of running those type of businesses, especially learning financial literacy
  • the students get the experience of running those type of businesses, especially learning financial literacy
Keywords: 958, all