Transcript Highlights:

• And it's $200 every two weeks, but he's also got Social Security disability and state disability retirement
• security disability security disability and<00:50:05.200> state<00:50:05.839> disability
• That and state disability retirement.
• in the disabilities? Thank you. in the disabilities? Thank you.
• <01:32:31.120> and different uh disabilities and different uh disabilities and capabilities

Bills: HB0101, HB0062, HB0109

Keywords: guardianship, monitoring, ward protection, financial independence, case management, governmental claims, liability limits, inflation adjustment, public safety, local government insurance, property tax, tax exemption, homeowner, armed forces, residency requirement, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This clarifies that the definition of intellectual disability development of disabilities and adds qualifications
• That priority group number one encompasses students from families, students with disabilities, with disabilities
• Many of the kids have significant disabilities, and some don't, but the setting...
• Isn't it true that a private school may deny admission on the basis of a disability?
• A visual disability was removed from the program.

Bills: SB2, HB2, HB2000, HB2196, HB213, HB222, HB645, HB1458, HB 1022, HB141, HB502, HB643, HB3093, HB1700, HB 117, SB503, SB2, HB 120, HB20, HB150, HB6, HB 100, HB210, HB215, HB1393, HB 1151, HB 1268, HB142, HB451, HB 124, HB2, HB2000, HB2196, HB213, HB222, HB645, HB1458, HB 1022, HB141, HB502, HB643, HB3093, HB1700, HB 117

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, child grooming, sex offender registration, criminal justice, reportable conviction, law enforcement, virtual education, hybrid learning, school funding, average daily attendance

Transcript Highlights:

• Trust Fund to support the Disability Determinations Program.
• So how long does it take for DOH to process a disability application, starting from the time when the
• So how long does it take for DOH to process a disability application, starting from the time when the
• ...disability application, starting from the time when the office sends it to DOH until DOH makes the
• We experienced a reduction in the base budget for the Division of Disability Determinations.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Trust Fund to support the Disability Determinations Program.
• So how long does it take for DOH to process a disability application, starting from the time when the
• So how long does it take for DOH to process a disability application, starting from the time when the
• ...disability application, starting from the time when the office sends it to DOH until DOH makes the
• We experienced a reduction in the base budget for the Division of Disability Determinations.

Summary: The Legislative Budget Commission met to consider 21 budget amendments, beginning with the Department of Education’s request for $14.751 million in federal grant authority for the Preschool Development Grant. Members asked whether any funds would support VPK or provider payments; the department said the money is for birth-to-kindergarten early learning work, including IT modernization, workforce credentialing, training, and streamlining director certification. The amendment was adopted without objection. The commission then approved amendments for the Department of Veterans Affairs to shift $2.2 million within its trust fund to cover higher nursing home occupancy and reduce staffing agency use, and for the Department of Health to realign about $9.1 million for disability determinations amid a backlog of roughly 140,000 cases. The Agency for Health Care Administration presented multiple Medicaid-related amendments, including $766 million for indirect medical education, $1.9 million for managed care network adequacy audits, $209 million for the Rural Health Transformation Program, and several large supplemental payment programs for KidCare, hospitals, physicians, cancer hospitals, nursing IME, and public hospital payments. Members questioned network adequacy, rural access, and the KidCare surplus and expansion; the KidCare realignment drew debate, with some members objecting because the 2023 eligibility expansion has not been implemented, but the amendment passed on a roll call vote. Other amendments adopted included FDLE’s $16.3 million for counter-UAS detection and mitigation equipment, DJJ’s $1.6 million for Florida Scholars Academy and a Social Services Block Grant realignment, and emergency management pass-throughs for FIFA World Cup security and counter-drone funding to the Miami host committee. The Department of Commerce received $148.4 million for disaster recovery under the CDBG-DR program, with questions about the split between housing, infrastructure, and administrative costs. The Department of State also received $408,377 for arts and culture grant authority. Most amendments were adopted without objection, and the commission adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• It can support home-based care or care that specializes in children with disabilities, for example.
• I'm Steven Aleman from Disability Rights Tech.
• School districts spent money to provide health services to students with disabilities and were expecting
• It's time to reimburse these school districts for these services to students with disabilities.
• To go to school districts to help students with disabilities. Thank you. Mr.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is for disabled vets, both physically and mentally disabled, and for their families."
• And this is for disabled<00:04:37.280> vets<00:04:38.240> uh<00:04:38.400> both<
• 00:04:38.720> physically<00:04:39.120> and disabled vets uh both physically and disabled
• vets uh both physically and mentally<00:04:39.759> disabled<00:04:40.160> and<00:04:40.400
• > for<00:04:40.560> their mentally disabled and for their mentally disabled and for their

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These are low-income children, low-income pregnant women, disabled people, frail elderly, and nursing
• For many households, especially those caring for elderly patients, individuals with disabilities, or
• For many households, especially those caring for elderly patients, individuals with disabilities, or
• Act federally over allowing pregnant women to get disabled parking passes.
• Obviously, we've had a situation where folks who are disabled can't find parking places, disabled parking

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized several introductions and memorials, including a resolution designating August 9, 2026, as Bob Graham Day and a moment of silence for firefighter Roger Timmy Miley. The chamber then moved through a long special-order calendar, with several bills substituted with House companions and adopted by voice vote or recorded vote. Early measures included a tax conformity bill tied to federal Internal Revenue Code changes, which passed 34-0, and a Medicaid/public assistance bill that drew extensive debate over work requirements, fraud reduction, behavioral health services, and SNAP/EBT reforms. Amendments offered by Senators Berman and Osgood to condition or soften the work and photo-ID provisions were rejected, and the underlying bill was placed on the third-reading calendar after lengthy questioning about implementation, exemptions, and eligibility effects. The Senate also passed bills on computer science education and AI instruction, a Parkinson’s disease registry public-records exemption and registry update, designation of the SS American Victory as Florida’s official state flagship, electronic payments for local governments, repeal of the legal-tender sunset for gold and silver, public-records protections for gold/silver custodians and stablecoin-related entities, a Florida stablecoin pilot program, and local government budget transparency/spending measures. Most of these measures were adopted after minor amendments or technical substitutions, with votes generally ranging from 31-3 to 34-0. The chamber also recognized the Florida Channel’s 30 years of legislative coverage. Later, the Senate approved a digital voyeurism bill expanding the reasonable-expectation-of-privacy definition to include private fenced yards, and an insurance customer representative licensing bill allowing high school students to complete insurance/personal finance coursework and later qualify for licensure. The final major item was a medical freedom bill that would expand parental vaccine information requirements, add a conscience-based exemption to immunization mandates, allow behind-the-counter ivermectin for adults, and repeal the sunset on the mRNA mandate prohibition; two amendments clarifying anti-kickback rules and requiring vaccine information to include risks, benefits, safety, and efficacy were adopted, while questions from Senators Smith and Massullo focused on public-health impacts and the content of the required materials. The transcript ends during discussion of that bill, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• So they require to call these ESSA students. children with disabilities and English learners.
• For English learner students with disabilities and long-term students, that percentage on track remained
• Both include those with a regular diploma, as well as those with significant cognitive disabilities who
• who have the most significant cognitive disabilities.
• Results from the Dynamic Learning Maps, the alternate assessment for students with disabilities, are

Summary: The committee received a lengthy Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on Arkansas academic standards, accountability systems, and adequacy requirements. Staff reviewed how state curriculum and standards have evolved from the 1997 Public Education Act through the 2003 Quality Education Act and the 2017 Educational Support and Accountability Act, including required coursework, standards for accreditation, career and technical education, graduation requirements, and recent additions such as computer science, personal finance, firearm safety, and fetal growth and development instruction. Members asked for a chart comparing the major laws and repeals over time, and staff agreed to provide one. The presentation then turned to federal ESSA requirements and Arkansas’s state accountability system. Staff explained Arkansas’s long-term goals for proficiency, English learner progress, and graduation rates, and reported 2025 ATLAS proficiency results, which remained below the 80% goal across student groups. They also reviewed English learner progress, graduation rates, school support and improvement, and equitable access to educators. Data showed gaps by subgroup and by school poverty/minority concentration, with Title I and high-poverty schools more likely to have emergency/provisional teachers and less experienced staff. Members questioned the lack of recent data for some ESSA measures, including equity labs and school index calculations, and asked staff to follow up with the Department of Education. The committee also discussed NAEP results, ACT scores, and teacher quality measures under the state accountability act. Arkansas’s NAEP performance remained below national averages in fourth- and eighth-grade reading and math, and ACT composite scores and benchmark attainment were also reviewed. Members asked for additional information on historical highs and lows, the number of assessments students take by grade, dropout data, and comparisons with other states. No formal votes were taken; the main action was agreement to request additional information from DESE and to schedule department follow-up at a future meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And for military disabled veterans, we offer a 100% free day-use pass.
• And for disabled veterans, it's 100%. So that's very good. Mr.
• What level of disability is a current free pass? Mr.
• a 100% service-connected disability.
• Being 100% disabled is pretty rare, number one.

Bills: HB2015, HB2060, HB2129, HB2170, HB2210, HB2228, HB2352, HB2460, HB2533, SB1019, SB1045, SB1050, SB1078, SB1083, SB1167, SB1184, SCR1006

Keywords: budget procedures, late filing penalty, accounting standards, financial reporting, state appropriations, abortion, educational institutions, health education, state aid, public schools, municipal libraries, annual reporting, state legislation, transparency, government accountability, procurement, foreign adversary, China, state contracts, information technology

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1172 ensures that individuals with developmental disabilities receive quick, life-saving support from
• As you all know, I am a big advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities as it relates to
• Developmental disabilities need your vote too.
• Thank you. ...for individuals with developmental disabilities as it relates to AB 1172.
• Developmental disabilities need your vote too. Thank you. All right, thank you very much.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard a long agenda of bills focused largely on child welfare, foster care, child care, CalWORKs, mandated reporting, and public benefits. Early items included AB 890, which would ease county transfer rules for nonminor dependents in extended foster care; AB 461, which would replace punitive truancy-related penalties with supportive services for families; and AB 753, which would create an interim associate teacher pathway to help address the child care workforce shortage. Testimony on these bills emphasized barriers faced by foster youth, low-income families, and child care providers, and members expressed support for the general policy direction. The committee also heard AB 926 on foster care visitation, AB 563 on early childhood planning and reporting, AB 601 on standardized mandated reporter training, AB 1074 on CalWORKs reunification aid, AB 822 extending the Commission on the State of Hate, AB 970 creating a Los Angeles County mandated reporter pilot, AB 1161 protecting public benefits during disasters, AB 1172 allowing trained staff to administer emergency seizure medication in community care settings, and AB 363 expanding CalWORKs student supports and work-study. Witnesses generally supported these measures as ways to reduce trauma, improve reunification, modernize reporting and training, and expand access to services. County welfare and child welfare groups, advocacy organizations, and providers largely testified in support, while some bills drew concerns from county representatives about implementation or needed amendments. Several bills were voted out of committee, often unanimously and sometimes as amended, including AB 926, AB 563, AB 601, AB 1074, AB 822, AB 970, AB 1161, and AB 1172; AB 1172 was reported on call. The committee also took up consent items and later voted on subcommittee-held bills AB 461, AB 753, and AB 890, leaving them on call. At the end of the hearing, the committee heard AB 1211, which would protect CalFresh benefits from federal cuts and require a feasibility study on increasing benefits and eligibility; testimony stressed rising food insecurity and the economic importance of food assistance, but the transcript ends before a final vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an assault on every American family who has someone who is disabled and needs the IDEA program
• THIS IS AN ASSAULT ON EVERY AMERICAN FAMILY WHO HAS SOMEONE WHO IS DEPENDS ABLED -- DISABLED AND NEEDS
• You have over 115,000 people who get pensions from Social Security, 88,000 retirees, 10,000-plus disabled
• THOSE BLIND, DISABLED OR AGE 65 OR OVER WHEN BEING TESTED FOR FEDERAL MEANS-TESTED BENEFITS.
• That means visually impaired and disabled Alaska Natives and elders are forced to make an impossible

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or their parent is they are disabled or their parent is disabled<03:35:32.720> or<03:35:33.040
• Now, some people are born with disabilities, but there are also people who acquire disabilities over
• believe that people with disabilities believe that people with disabilities will<04:19:30.479>
• discrimination against the disability discrimination against the disability community?
• the whole disabled uh developmentally disabled<04:34:37.039> community<04:34:37.920> and

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first considered House Bill 66, a right-to-know measure that would broaden access from “citizen” to “person,” including out-of-state requesters. Members also adopted an amendment removing the current no-filing-fee provision for appeals of unfavorable right-to-know ombudsman rulings, citing budget concerns. The bill was then reported ought to pass as amended on a 16-9 vote, with a minority report requested. House Bill 187, which would let a parent or guardian seek a protective order on behalf of a minor alleging abuse by someone outside the family or household, was described as a narrow fix with little fiscal impact. It passed unanimously, 25-0, and was placed on the consent calendar. House Bill 215, requiring landfill permit applicants to submit a report on potential harms and benefits, was retained because its policy had been folded into House Bill 2; the committee voted 25-0 to retain it. House Bill 219, dealing with renewable portfolio standard changes and lower renewable energy certificate values, drew opposition from members who said it would weaken renewable energy development and raise concerns about energy costs, but the motion to retain was adopted 14-11, allowing the bill to be moved into House Bill 2. The committee then retained House Bills 365, 552, 566, 572, 607, 611, and 624, all by unanimous or near-unanimous votes, generally because the relevant policy or funding had been incorporated into House Bill 2 or because the bills were viewed as technical or low-impact. HB 566 was described as a landfill leach-management bill with a fiscal note under $10,000 annually and was sent to consent. HB 572 and HB 607 were retained because their money components were moved into HB 2, though one member objected that HB 607 represented an unfunded mandate for the Hampton Beach Area Commission. House Bill 511, concerning ICE detainers and county detention practices, generated the most debate. Supporters said the amendment clarified how long counties may hold detainees without a federal contract and compared the detention period to existing bail rules; opponents argued the bill could sanction detention of people not charged with crimes and raised due-process concerns. The committee adopted the amendment 14-11 and then reported the bill ought to pass as amended on another 14-11 vote, with a minority report requested. House Bill 639, involving securities and digital currency issues, was also reported ought to pass after members noted unresolved concerns but said the Secretary of State’s Securities Division was willing to continue working on it in the other body; the vote was 16-10.

Transcript Highlights:

• family support and poverty alleviation to the Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities
• House No. 4311, local approval received, is the House bill regarding the disability pension for Christopher
• rate rental housing trust fund in the town of Provincetown, House No. 4311; an act regarding the disability
• An act regarding the disability pension of Christopher Taylor, House number, An act regarding the disability

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted a congratulatory resolution honoring Oxford Fire Chief Laurent R. McDonald for 45 years of public service. Members also adopted an order creating a special joint committee on initiative petitions to review petitions transmitted by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. In addition, House Bill 862, providing for the recall of elected officers in the town of Sharon, was passed to be enacted. The House then acted on several procedural and scheduling matters. It suspended Joint Rule 12 to send three petitions to committee, and the Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling reported a group of local and special bills for consideration, including measures on home insurers and tree removal, housing for families with pets, public safety in Stoneham, community housing funds in Chatham, the Provincetown rental housing trust fund, a disability pension for Christopher Taylor, and a sick leave bank for Sonia Felix. These bills were ordered to a third reading. The House also welcomed visiting students from Four Rivers Charter Public School and the Medfield Girls Soccer State Champions. On third reading, the House passed to be engrossed four police-age waiver bills for Antonio Perez, Sherell Malas, Jonathan Telford, and Jose Ortiz, all directing the Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement. The chamber also observed a moment of silent tribute for the late Honorable Francis J. Larkin of Hopedale, recognizing his long career in public service, law, and education. Finally, the House adopted an order to meet again Monday at 11 a.m. and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We verify if someone is disabled.
• We check data sources like Social Security to see if they've been determined disabled by Social Security
• We also accept evidence that they turn in from a medical provider that says they are disabled or they
• Who's in school, who, you know, who is disabled, and all of those things.
• They may not be permanently disabled, but they're going through chemotherapy.

Summary: The subcommittee received a brief DHS update on the Living Choices Assisted Living Waiver reimbursement rate process, with Secretary Janet Mann reporting that the new cost reporting period began in January and that DHS has begun provider and contractor conference calls as the process moves forward. The bulk of the meeting focused on DHS’s overview of TANF and, especially, SNAP changes under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill. Mary Franklin explained new SNAP work requirements for adults ages 18 to 64 who are not otherwise exempt, including the three-month time limit in a 36-month period unless they meet an 80-hour monthly work, volunteer, education, or training requirement. She also reviewed exemptions, noted that some prior exemptions were removed while new tribal-related exemptions were added, and described SNAP Employment and Training providers, budgets, service areas, participant characteristics, and outcomes. Members asked about how mandatory referrals will work, whether funding and vendors are sufficient, how cross-program participation is tracked, how verification and recertification will be handled, and how error rates and sanctions will be managed. DHS said mandatory participants will be referred directly to providers, verification will occur at application and recertification, interviews can be by phone, and the department will return with more information on error-rate mitigation and other requested data. DHS then outlined upcoming Medicaid community engagement requirements for the ARHOME population under the same federal law, which must be implemented by January 1, 2027. The department said it is preparing policy, system changes, data matching, communications, and an outbound customer-service verification process, with a soft launch planned for July to help identify who would meet the requirement or need to provide more information. Members raised concerns about notice, local versus centralized decision-making, and how clients will document work, school, caregiving, or medical exemptions. The meeting concluded with broader discussion of the Alliance for Opportunity audit and a shared emphasis on using SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, and workforce programs together to improve outcomes, expand training options, and better connect Arkansans to education and employment opportunities. The committee also discussed extending the audit contract at a future meeting and adjourned without taking any formal vote in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hull's first task force on employment for people with disabilities.
• And today it is my great pleasure to announce for legislators that it's Disability Day at the Capitol
• Today we welcome the Arizona Disability Advocacy Coalition, AZDAC, to the Capitol.
• through advocacy, education, and policy engagement, as they have demonstrated today by hosting Disability
• through advocacy, education, and policy engagement, as they have demonstrated today, hosting Disability

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:53.200> and individuals with with disabilities and individuals with with disabilities
• <00:19:04.320> into or developmental disabilities into or developmental disabilities into
• support individuals with disabilities. support individuals with disabilities.
• 00:42:57.119> their developmental disabilities and their developmental disabilities and their
• <01:11:21.600> people exactly how ill or how disabled people exactly how ill or how disabled

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Committee to Study Long-Term Managed Care met to approve prior minutes and outline its schedule, with meetings set for September 24 and September 29 ahead of an October 1 report deadline. The chair said the committee would use the first two meetings to digest testimony, likely ask follow-up questions of DHS, and then work toward conclusions and a report format. The minutes from the previous meeting were approved unanimously. The main testimony came from Sharon Alexander of Amera Health, who argued in favor of moving from fee-for-service Medicaid long-term services and supports to a managed LTSS model. She described managed LTSS as a capitated, quality-driven system used in about 26 states, and said it can improve care coordination, accountability, access to home- and community-based services, and budget predictability. She cited Amera Health’s experience in Pennsylvania and Delaware, including care coordination, housing and transportation support, caregiver programs, and quality benchmarks tied to state oversight. She also said nursing facilities would remain an important option for people who need that level of care. Committee members asked about how the programs are administered, how rates are set, how care managers work, and how quality is measured. Alexander said states contract with managed care organizations at actuarially sound capitated rates, with annual contracts, reporting, and oversight. She explained that care managers typically conduct quarterly assessments and follow up after trigger events such as hospitalization, and that housing coordinators may assist with transitions to the community. On quality, she said states use CMS-related and HCBS benchmark measures covering service timeliness, care planning, transitions, and other outcomes, and that New Hampshire could build on existing metrics rather than starting from scratch. She also noted that rural areas face workforce and transportation challenges, which managed care plans try to address through technology and self-direction options.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're seeing increased disability waiver spending growth, as we did in November.
• We're finding that the disability waiver rate system inflationary adjustments set to occur in 2026 and
• <00:05:53.880> or adults and people with disabilities or adults and people with disabilities
• waiver programs and in in the disability waiver programs and in this<00:09:56.240> forecast<00
• <00:10:01.200> waiver<00:10:01.480> rate<00:10:01.760> system the disability

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaking of kids with disabilities, many times these behaviors are due to their disabilities and working
• /c> are due to their disabilities and are due to their disabilities and working<03:38:21.560> with
• 6'8 with emotional Behavior disabilities 6'8 with emotional Behavior disabilities and<04:06:01.479
• anxiety asthma or learning disabilities anxiety asthma or learning disabilities were<04:31:40.279
• disability history is the United States disability history is interwoven<06:43:00.240> into<06

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened with House Bill 184, which would create a committee to study changing school start times. Members discussed Amendment 0394, which made the study committee’s duties more investigative and adjusted reporting recipients, including the Governor. Several members raised questions about whether the committee should review evidence-based studies, local district decisions, and existing district reports; supporters said the amendment would better allow the committee to gather information and recognize local control. The amendment passed 17-0, and the bill as amended also passed 17-0. Representative Litchfield noted that no one had testified in opposition and encouraged the future study committee to review an Oyster River School District report on school start times. The committee then took up House Bill 394, concerning cooperative school district budget committees and board member representatives. Amendment 0476 was adopted 17-0 after discussion that it clarified the bill’s language and reflected work with the School Boards Association. The committee then voted OTPA on the bill, which also passed 17-0. House Bill 738, requiring background checks for employees and volunteers at certain non-public schools or education service providers receiving public funds, was moved inexpedient to legislate. Supporters said the bill would create practical and legal problems for private citizens and homeschooling families, and the motion passed 15-2 with no minority report, placing the bill on consent. The committee next considered House Bill 235, which would amend the educator code of ethics and conduct to add responsibilities to parents. Supporters argued parents should be explicitly included in the code, while opponents said parents were already covered in existing ethics language and statute. The bill passed narrowly, 9-8. The committee then returned to House Bill 532 on alternate dispute resolution and individualized education plan team meeting facilitation. Amendment 0480H clarified that different rules would apply separately to neutral conference, mediation, and IEP facilitation; it passed 17-0, and the bill as amended also passed 17-0. Finally, the committee moved to House Bill 564, concerning adoption of school administrative unit budgets, and voted to retain the bill for further review because members said there was still confusion about how it would apply to single-district and multi-district SAUs.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not only about race or gender or class; it is about disability access, language equity, age, LGBTQ
• They are core to supporting meeting the needs of students with disabilities.
• Federally, Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities
• And a lot of those cases involve a hybrid, really, of racial discrimination and disability status as
• Black and brown, disabled, trans youth were facing that many more hurdles.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion held an informational hearing on diversity, equity, and inclusion in Massachusetts; no bills were heard or voted on. Chairs Bud Williams and Liz Miranda opened by framing the hearing as a response to recent federal actions they said threatened DEI efforts, funding, and civil rights protections in education and other sectors. They said the committee would hear from experts, agencies, advocates, and businesses about the legality and benefits of DEI and the impact of federal actions on the Commonwealth. Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler testified virtually that Massachusetts is pushing back against federal efforts to restrict DEI, including guidance and certification demands directed at schools. He highlighted state investments in early education, child care, early college, career and technical education, and educator diversity, arguing these efforts help close opportunity gaps for Black and brown students, students with disabilities, English learners, and other underserved groups. In response to member questions, he said federal education dollars are core to services for students and that the state is prepared to fight funding cuts while monitoring impacts across K-12, early education, and higher education. Elizabeth Matos of the Attorney General’s Office said DEIA programs remain legal under state and federal law and described AG guidance issued to help institutions navigate federal confusion. She reviewed litigation the office has joined or won, including efforts involving withheld school funds, museums and libraries, the Minority Business Development Agency, Head Start, AmeriCorps, and other federal actions. Members asked about immigration-related fear and profiling, and Matos pointed to existing Know Your Rights guidance, said complaints to the Civil Rights Division have increased, and noted the office is seeing issues involving housing discrimination, employment, public accommodations, and threats to call ICE. She also said the office is open to further legislative ideas but did not discuss specifics. Evelyn Carter, a social psychologist, testified that diversity, equity, and inclusion are often misunderstood and defined the terms plainly, emphasizing that diversity is a group characteristic, equity addresses unequal starting points, and inclusion is about belonging and access. She argued that DEI matters because it creates guardrails against bias, helps make environments accessible, and addresses ongoing inequities. In response to questions, she suggested practical strategies such as using clear criteria and written records in decision-making, broadening who is considered part of one’s in-group, and pairing bias awareness with concrete behavior-change tools. The hearing also included testimony from Meredith Tewitt of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, who spoke about the importance of DEI for women, veterans, and people who rely on federal institutions, and urged lawmakers to continue supporting inclusion and access.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2024, high school gaps in MCAS pass rates by race, income, disability, and language are largely the
• The older students in my school have been reading about Judy Human, the fight for disability rights,
• We paid for a private neuropsych evaluation and ultimately he was diagnosed with a disability.
• That's students who have a learning disability and are also considered highly gifted.
• The hardest part of Chloe's disability wasn't learning to walk again.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education heard testimony on several bills centered on school accountability, receivership, graduation requirements, charter school access, community schools, school libraries, and student voting rights. Much of the discussion focused on the Thrive Act, S. 374, which would end state receivership and change the state’s accountability approach. Supporters, including educators, parents, advocacy groups, and students, argued that receivership has not improved outcomes in districts such as Lawrence, Holyoke, Southbridge, Boston, and the Dever, and that local communities should have more control, with greater emphasis on community schools, wraparound services, and broader measures of school quality. They also supported related bills on community schools and school library standards, and several witnesses backed a bill to expand student representative voting rights on school committees. Opponents of S. 374, especially charter school leaders, parents, students, and some education advocates, focused on Section 4 of the bill, which would change the charter school net school spending cap in the lowest-performing districts. They argued that the provision would reduce access to charter seats in communities where families are seeking more options, and that schools such as Roxbury Prep, Excel Academy, Brook, Veritas Prep, and Libertas Academy have produced strong results for students, including students of color, low-income students, and students with special needs. Several witnesses said the section would force schools to shrink or close and would remove opportunities for families in districts with long waitlists. Committee members questioned witnesses on both the effectiveness of receivership and the charter school cap language. Chair Lewis and Chair Gordon emphasized the need for a better accountability system and noted concerns about whether current measures, including MCAS-based designations, accurately reflect school quality. Some witnesses said they had discussed the possibility of removing Section 4 from the Thrive Act and suggested it might be addressed in separate charter reform legislation. No votes were taken during the hearing; testimony was received and the committee later closed testimony on S. 374 and several related bills before moving on to the student voting rights bill, S. 367.