Transcript Highlights:

• He's a trust lawyer and he's also from my hometown. I watched him grow up.
• He's a trust lawyer and he's also from my hometown. I watched him grow up.
• He's a trust lawyer and he's also from my hometown. I watched him grow up.
• He's a trust lawyer and he's testified.
• He's a trust lawyer and he's also<00:18:39.919> from<00:18:40.160> my<00:18:40.400>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum, excused absent senators, and approved the journal from February 17, 2026. The House communicated passage of several bills and requested concurrence, and committee reports were received, including favorable reports on Senate Bills 70, 74, 80, 127, and 154. Senate Bill 191 was also reported and then recommitted to the Appropriations and Revenue Committee. Senate Bill 104 was passed over and retained its place on the calendar. The chamber then took up and passed Senate Bill 47, which provides line-of-duty death benefits for search and rescue volunteers, with supporters emphasizing the dangerous emergency work these teams perform and the need to treat them like other first responders. Senate Bill 159, concerning missing and unidentified persons and aligning Kentucky with federal “Billy’s Law” database requirements, also passed unanimously after testimony about its value in helping families and law enforcement. Senate Bill 85, allowing state retirement beneficiaries to establish special needs trusts, passed unanimously as well, with members describing it as a way to provide long-term security for dependents with special needs. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 78 honoring the CSX Santa Train and Senate Resolution 76 honoring Frank Ryard and the Ryard’s Scoreboard for its long-standing role in Kentucky high school athletics. Members spoke about the scoreboard’s importance to athletes, families, and sports coverage statewide. Later, new bills and a concurrent resolution were introduced, including measures on state government, duty-related disability benefits, arrest-related deaths, detainee fatality review, carbon dioxide sequestration, and a mental health alternative response task force. The Senate received notice that Senate Bill 172 had been delivered to the Governor, then recessed for committee meetings and adjourned until February 19, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• General Kane, I trust that you understand the fraught situation within which you have been nominated
• Public trust in the military is eroding, and I fear that the military's trust in civilian leadership
• I'm here today to earn your trust and the trust of the American people.
• those and restoring that trust back in the military that says, Hey, we got you.
• Well, Senator, it really starts with trusting and deep relationships.

Keywords: national security, military readiness, Kane nomination, defense budget, China threats, Russia, collaboration, modernization

Summary: The meeting centered on the nomination of retired Lieutenant General Dan Kane for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delving into various security concerns and the strategic environment facing the U.S. today. Testimonies highlighted the growing threats from adversaries such as China and Russia, with discussions around the necessity of maintaining and modernizing military capabilities to address these challenges. The need for agility in military operations and enhancing collaboration among various defense agencies was underscored. Further, concerns were raised regarding the defense budget and the importance of a strong national defense strategy were prevalent throughout the discussions. The committee members collectively emphasized the need for superior readiness and modernization to keep pace with global threats.

Transcript Highlights:

• Why would the people trust us?" Why would the people trust us?
• Hey, trust us. >> Just trust us.
• Why would they trust us?
• I trust them with that.
• You break trust.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, it's much broader under our constitution than just state trust lands.
• So, it's much broader under our constitution than just state trust lands.
• So, it's much broader under our constitution than just state trust lands.
• So, it's much broader under our constitution than just state trust lands.
• So, it's much broader under our constitution than just state trust lands.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in the permanent Wyoming mineral trust in the permanent Wyoming mineral trust fund<01:15:37.760>
• Was there any savings trust fund.
• rental trust fund? rental trust fund?
• per the trust the savings transfers. per the trust the savings transfers.
• There is um I mineral trust fun corpus.

Bills: SF0032, SF0010, SF0001, HB0001

Keywords: 911 services, emergency response, grant funding, next generation technology, government accountability, public safety, mental health, detention, competency evaluation, treatment, contractual agreements, Wyoming, budget, funding, education, wildfire prevention, healthcare, community colleges, grants, economic development

Transcript Highlights:

• into the trust to make it full again.
• into the trust to make it full again.
• Bill 694 and a second for adoption, so as to those two amounts, once the trust fund gets 100%, those
• into the trust to make it full again.
• No one's funding, and we're not even at 100% funding of the Health Trust Fund yet.

Keywords: Meeting start 00:06:05 Roll Call 00:06:33 HB 152 Discussion 00:07:55 HB 152 PHS 2 Vote 00:10:12 HB 545 Discussion HB 545 PHS 1 Vote 00:13:47 HB 606 Discussion 00:15:15 HB 606 Vote 00:16:32 HJR 30 Discussion HJR Vote 00:19:07 HJR 32 Discussion 00:20:25 HJR 32 PHS 1 Vote 00:23:11 HJR 34 Discussion 00:25:04 HJR 34 PHS 1 Vote 00:28:50 HJR 46 Discussion 00:30:09 HJR 46 Vote 00:34:15 HJR 53 Discussion 00:35:40 HJR 53 Vote 00:38:55 HJR 54 Discussion 00:40:15 HJR 54 Vote 00:40:50 HB 546 Discussion 00:42:15 HB 546 PHS 1 Vote 00:46:15 HB 605 Discussion 00:47:38 HB 605 PHS 1 Vote 00:52:10 HB 694 Discussion 00:53:46 HB 694 Vote 01:07:47 HB 695 Discussion Only 01:10:20, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Appropriations and Revenue met on February 25 and considered a series of bills and joint resolutions, mostly involving appropriations, capital projects, and local infrastructure funding. The committee first adopted PHS 2 and passed House Bill 152, which creates a Medicaid supplemental payment program for public ground ambulance providers; the sponsor said the substitute ensures no state general fund dollars will be used and that local agencies must identify a funding source for any required match. HB 152 was reported favorably on a 20-0 vote. The committee also passed House Bill 545, the annual claims bill, after members confirmed all executive-branch claims were included; it was reported favorably on a 21-0 vote. House Bill 606, requiring reporting for general obligation bonds, also passed unanimously and was reported favorably. The committee then took up several joint resolutions tied to capital and infrastructure spending. House Joint Resolution 30, concerning water projects, was described as implementing ranked projects under the Waters program administered by KIA and was reported favorably on a 21-0 vote. House Joint Resolution 32, concerning school facilities construction, was amended by PHS 1 and advanced after discussion referencing the Auditor’s report and questions about a Johnson County Schools expenditure; it also passed 21-0. House Joint Resolution 34, relating to contingent appropriations for KCTCS, was amended by PHS 1 and advanced after testimony outlining three projects in Somerset, Jefferson Community and Technical College, and Glasgow; it passed 21-0. House Joint Resolution 46, for local road projects, was described as funding the highest-scoring local road requests from a larger pool of applications and passed 21-0. The committee also advanced House Joint Resolution 53, authorizing release of funds for KSU’s Health Sciences Center project, after KSU officials said the building is needed for nursing and allied health programs and promised a business plan report by November 1, 2025; it passed 21-0. House Joint Resolution 54, authorizing funds related to the State Fair Board, also passed unanimously. Later, the committee considered House Bill 546, which revises the local roads and streets program by adding a DOT-developed scoring system, monthly reporting, a match requirement, and a $500,000 project cap; members asked about the cap and were told larger projects should be handled through other mechanisms. HB 546 was reported favorably on a 21-0 vote. Finally, House Bill 605, a technical corrections and update bill for the local economic relief grant program, was amended by PHS 1 and discussed as expanding eligibility, including to the Delta Regional Authority and certain local-affiliated applicants; the transcript cuts off before the final vote on HB 605.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's trust-building. It's education. It's training. We need that for the state of California.
• So if I may start, if you think of just one thing: trust tribes.
• If you think of just one thing: trust tribes. Tribes know their community.
• Why not say, we trust the tribe to know how to build their judicial system?
• We have to trust tribes. So that's my big answer to your big question.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Issue number four is the Subsequent Injury Benefits Trust Fund.
• A lot of workers don't know who to go to, who to trust, or where to get these resources.
• We are trusted messengers.
• We are those trusted messengers.
• You know, I spoke to God this morning, and he said, 'In God we trust; all others pay cash.'

Summary: The subcommittee heard a series of budget and trailer bill presentations focused on labor and public employment programs. The first item covered EDD Next modernization, where EDD described progress on customer service improvements, fraud prevention, language access, and the Integrated Claims Management System. The LAO urged stronger legislative oversight as the project enters its most difficult phase, and members questioned the revised schedule, total cost, change orders, stress testing, SB 1090 implementation, and how race and ethnicity data will be protected. EDD said the overall project cost remains about $1.2 billion, that the work is being phased with disability insurance and paid family leave first, and that fraud has been greatly reduced since pandemic-era programs ended. Members also asked for follow-up information on SB 590 outreach and equity impacts. The committee then reviewed the California Workforce Development Board’s request to reduce staffing as one-time grant workloads wind down, along with trailer bill language to streamline reporting requirements. The board and Department of Finance said the staffing reductions reflect the end of surge funding and that the proposal would consolidate roughly 10 to 12 reports into one annual report, with additional reporting only if new funds are appropriated for certain programs. Senator Durazo questioned the policy direction of reducing workforce staffing, while the administration said the positions were tied to temporary grant programs and that current staffing is sufficient for ongoing duties. Members also asked about the board’s role in AI-related workforce planning and the rationale for using state funds for the High Road Construction Careers Program. A major portion of the hearing focused on the Subsequent Injury Benefits Trust Fund reforms and related staffing request at DIR. The administration and LAO described rapid growth in applications, backlog, and liabilities, saying the program’s eligibility has expanded beyond its original intent and that liabilities could reach about $30 billion by 2030 without reform. The trailer bill would tighten eligibility, apply the changes to open cases, and use the QME process and contemporaneous evidence to document preexisting disabilities. Members raised concerns about fairness to pending claimants, evaluator capacity, and the relationship to other SIBTF legislation, while the LAO said the proposal largely aligns with its prior recommendations. DIR also presented a request to eliminate vacant positions under a statewide vacancy sweep, which drew criticism from members who argued the cuts could weaken enforcement and backlog reduction efforts; the committee asked DIR to return with more detail on impacts and on its use of temporary-help authority. The final items addressed a request for additional Cal/OSHA investigative staff and a trailer bill to make permanent the revised Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board petition timeline. DIR said the BOI staffing would help investigate fatalities and serious injuries more quickly, while members emphasized the importance of family contact and timely investigations. For the WCAB item, the chair explained that the 2024 change to Labor Code section 5909, which starts the 60-day decision clock when a case is transmitted rather than when a petition is filed, has reduced pending cases and should be made permanent; the remaining backlog was reported at 460 cases, down from 637 before the change.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:41:05.440> resource uh land or public trust resource uh land or public trust resource
• in the public trust? in the public trust?
• , fiduciary to the public trust, fiduciary to the public trust, we'd<01:47:26.800> have<01
• preserving the public trust preserving the public trust resources<01:51:18.160> specifically<
• balancing that against the public trust balancing that against the public trust obligations<01:53

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee took up several gubernatorial nominations, beginning with GM 640 for Juanita Rio Colón to the Commission on Water Resource Management. Public testimony and the nominee’s remarks strongly emphasized her water-system management background, Native Hawaiian stewardship values, and representation for Molokai. Committee members praised her qualifications and neighbor-island perspective, and also discussed broader concerns about reforming the Water Commission, including a separate bill to create a more independent authority and reduce politics in water decisions. Colón said she supported the restructuring effort and would serve with integrity and attention to constitutional water rights and climate resilience. The committee then heard GM 639 for Moses Haia III to the same commission. DLNR and OHA testified, and Haia described his long legal career, prior work on the Waihole contested case, and experience with Native Hawaiian rights and water law. Members asked about his ability to serve impartially given his advocacy background; Haia acknowledged that some may perceive a conflict from his prior work but said he did not believe it was a reasonable conflict and would follow the law and balance competing interests. The discussion again returned to the proposed Water Commission restructuring, which Haia said he supported as a way to provide independence and balance. Next, the committee considered GM 649 for Gilbert Coloma to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. DLNR and other testifiers explained that this was a new interstate commission created under the 2024 act, with Hawaii joining six U.S. states to address fisheries issues across state boundaries. Coloma, a commercial fisher from Hilo, said he brought more than 40 years of industry, cultural, and traditional experience and would represent Hawaii’s fishing communities. Members asked about the commission’s structure, meeting rotation, and funding, and were told the state covers dues through special funds. The committee also briefly took up GM 692 for Riley Smith’s reappointment to the Board of Land and Natural Resources. The Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council supported him, while Sierra Club Hui raised concerns about prior decisions affecting Native Hawaiian rights and public trust resources. Smith said he supported more residential uses in East Kapolei if the necessary planning and environmental review changes were made, and he began responding to questions about prior BLNR litigation before the transcript cut off.

Transcript Highlights:

• trust doctrine. So, you have to leave. trust doctrine. So, you have to leave.
• <00:43:59.440> document land held under a public trust document land held under a public trust
• owned pursuant to the pro public trust owned pursuant to the pro public trust doctrine<00:46:16.800
• owned pursuant to the public trust owned pursuant to the public trust doctrine<00:46:52.079>
• Uh, speaking just for... lack of public trust in the court and lack of public trust in the court and

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Trustful City Schools.
• all five of our schools within Trustful City Schools.
• >> Any questions for Trustful City Schools or their Husky tag? Nope. Hearing none.
• <00:10:11.600> City<00:10:11.839> Schools >> any questions for Trustful City
• Schools >> any questions for Trustful City Schools or<00:10:12.480> their<00:10:13.040><

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And because of water being a federal trust resource, we have veto power.
• With trust and who we are as a people, Arizona was really seeking to find a tourist attraction.
• This one here: the federal trust land system and impact on capital access.
• And then we also have our trust lands held in federal trust by the government.
• Trust lands cannot be mortgaged or used as collateral versus federal leases and BIA approval for uses

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee began with a series of presentations highlighting tribal communities as part of rural economic development. Representative Mae Peshlakai described Legislative District 6, emphasizing its large geographic size, the eight tribal nations within it, and the cultural and scenic importance of the Navajo Nation and other tribes. Governor Stephen Roe Lewis then presented on the Gila River Indian Community, focusing on its history, Hohokam heritage, water rights, the MAR-5 aquifer recharge project, cultural traditions, and the importance of collaboration with state lawmakers. Members praised the presentations and noted the need for greater attention to tribal issues in the legislature. The committee then took up SB 1016, with a strike-everything amendment that moved the property-owner petition requirement earlier in the process for municipal improvement districts and allowed certain notice and protest requirements to be waived. Supporters, including the mayors of Camp Verde and Clarkdale, said the change would improve transparency, reduce financial risk for small towns, and help rural communities build needed infrastructure such as wastewater systems, water lines, and housing-related improvements. The committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and passed SB 1016 on a 5-0 vote, with one member present and one absent. Next, the committee considered SB 1401, the Workforce Housing Accelerator Act, using a strike-everything amendment that would allow municipalities to create expedited plan review and permitting for qualified workforce housing projects and exempt project proceeds from the state portion of the prime contracting sales tax. Habitat for Humanity representatives said the measure would lower carrying costs and help build more affordable homes, while one member noted the tax exemption would reduce general fund revenue but supported the bill as a targeted tradeoff to address housing shortages. The committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1401 by a 5-1 vote. The meeting concluded with Representative Myron Sosec’s presentation on barriers to economic development on the Navajo Nation and other tribal lands. He discussed lower workforce participation, higher unemployment and poverty, limited access to capital, trust-land financing barriers, dual taxation, infrastructure deficits, and delays caused by federal and tribal review processes. He also highlighted Navajo economic strategies such as loan guarantees, renewable energy development, and tourism investments, and urged state action on tax reform, matching funds, and annual tribal field hearings. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the Tribal Infrastructure Fund, we had the Colonias Fund, and we have the Water Trust Board,
• It is a very rigorous vetting process when NMFA looks at Water Trust Board grants.
• Water Trust Board—that's where the big money is. There's going to be $400 million this year.
• Fund money we have, as well as some left over money for... ...have and the Water Trust Fund money we
• We have the Tribal Infrastructure Fund, and then we have the Water Trust Board.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You mean put it into the trust law? I'm not an expert on trust law. I don't know where it goes.
• trust trust law<04:42:49.520> I'm<04:42:49.638> not<04:42:49.798> an<04:42:49.920
• > I law I'm not an expert on trust law I law I'm not an expert on trust law I don't<04:42:51.080
• <04:43:40.840> law trust law trust law and<04:43:42.638> uh<04:43:43.360> yeah<04
• Right now, self-settled asset protection trusts, or what they're called irrevocable spendthrift trusts

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The discussion focused on a cannabis legalization/regulation bill and whether it should be retained for further study or moved forward. Members debated the fiscal impact, with one side emphasizing that the bill would cost about $7.1 million in the first two years before generating revenue, while supporters argued the House should make a statement in favor of legalization despite likely opposition from the Senate and governor. There was also disagreement over strategy: some said retaining the bill until closer to the next election would give the issue more visibility, while others said delaying would only avoid sending a bill the Senate was unlikely to take up anyway. A major point of contention was whether cannabis should be regulated by a new cannabis commission or placed under the Liquor Commission. Supporters of the Liquor Commission argued it already has enforcement infrastructure, especially for age restrictions, and could handle cannabis more efficiently without creating a new bureaucracy. Opponents said cannabis is a different industry that would require specialized expertise, and they objected to expanding the Liquor Commission, which they described as unpopular and costly. The committee also discussed past versions of the bill, including concerns about limited licenses and the perception that the earlier approach favored large businesses. Members reviewed specific provisions such as licensing fees, THC limits, and cultivation categories. One member noted a $10,000 fee for retail cannabis stores and cannabis product manufacturers authorized to perform extractions, while a smaller tier-one cultivator fee was described as a lower-cost option for small growers. There was also discussion of whether the bill would allow sales through general retail outlets or only dedicated cannabis stores, and whether plants and seeds were covered. No final vote or action was clearly recorded in the excerpt, but the main procedural question was whether to retain the bill for more work or advance it as written.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think this is a way to, you know, re-instill trust in our public entities.
• fraudulent things they were doing to our consumers I don't think this is a way to you know reinstill trust
• Because an attorney and client have to have a relationship of trust... ...with their legal defense.
• Because an attorney and client have to have a relationship of trust and confidence.
• how to kill me and you're going to let me get away with it, like, that's not going to create that trust

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety and Law Enforcement met and first announced that HB 2691 would be held and not heard further that day. The chair also limited testimony to three speakers for and three against, with two minutes each unless extended by a minority leader. The committee then took up HB 2993, which would allow the Department of Public Safety to spend on legal services independent of the Attorney General and, as amended, redirect $5 million from the Consumer Protection Consumer Fraud Revolving Fund to the Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission Fund. Supporters argued the bill would give DPS outside counsel and shift money toward front-line public safety work; opponents said it was political retaliation that would weaken consumer protection enforcement and divert funds from Arizonans who benefit from AG actions. The committee adopted the chairman’s amendment and then approved HB 2993 on an 8-6 vote, with one absent. The committee next heard HB 2231, a clarifying bill updating the list of cancers covered under the occupational disease presumption for firefighters, peace officers, and fire investigators. The sponsor and firefighter testimony said the bill does not expand benefits but fixes a drafting problem, including a disputed comma that had been used by insurers to challenge claims; the Industrial Commission was listed as neutral if needed. Members discussed whether the presumption is rebuttable and how punctuation affected the statute’s meaning. During roll call, several members explained their votes in favor as a matter of grammar and statutory clarity, and the committee passed HB 2231 by a 14-0 vote with one absent. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• consideration by the House: the House bill authorizing the Provincetown Year-Round Market Rate Rental Housing Trust
• House No. 4186, relative to the affordable housing trust fund of the town of Edgartown, local approval
• An act authorizing the Provincetown Market Rate Rental Housing Trust to acquire year-round housing occupancy
• An act authorizing the Provincetown Market Rate Rental Housing Trust to acquire year-round housing opportunity
• An act relative to the affordable housing trust fund of the town of Eggertown, House No. 4186.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up a series of noncontroversial matters. The Committee on Rules recommended adoption of several congratulatory resolutions, including one marking the 65th anniversary of the U.S. Peace Corps and others honoring new Eagle Scouts; the House suspended the rules and adopted the resolutions. The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling then reported several local bills for House consideration, including measures affecting housing and local governance in Provincetown, Edgartown, Chatham, Wilbraham, Plymouth, and Falmouth. The House suspended Rule 7A to proceed with second readings of those local bills, which included authorizing the Provincetown Year-Round Market Rate Rental Housing Trust to acquire year-round occupancy restrictions, changes to the Edgartown affordable housing trust fund, a Chatham housing preference for commercial fishermen, Wilbraham town administrator appointment and removal authority, a Plymouth land acquisition special revenue account, and a Falmouth charter/town clerk bill. After second reading, the House ordered the bills to a third reading. The House then considered three bills released from the Committee on Bills in Third Reading: a bill designating a Pembroke intersection as the Levina A. Hatch Corner, a Newton bill raising the maximum age requirement for police officers, and a Haverhill bill allowing Jonathan Gagne to take the civil service exam for police officer despite the age limit. All three were passed to be engrossed. The House also adopted an order to adjourn and then adjourned to meet the following Monday at 11 a.m. in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• From what I'm told and what I'm trusting is that this provides another option for people to be able to
• 00:04:12.720> should is, but why it is and why we should is, but why it is and why we should trust
• 14.480> And<00:04:14.640> from<00:04:14.879> my<00:04:15.120> personal trust
• And from my personal trust this idea.
• From what I'm told and<00:05:22.800> what<00:05:22.960> I'm<00:05:23.120> trusting

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And I recognize that trust and And I recognize that trust and safety can mean, you know, something different
• Those agencies also need to ensure that they work towards keeping that trust, because trust is at that
• foundation. ...keeping that trust, because trust is at the foundation of democracy, of our nation.
• And we need to work towards ensuring that trust stays.
• It's about trusting our courts to use their discretion and do what's right.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Mekia Griffin, and I serve as the CEO and president of Rondo Community Land Trust.
• My name is Mekia Griffin, and I serve as the CEO and president of Rondo Community Land Trust.
• It was the Rondo Land Trust, and I trust they will do a great job.
• , and I trust they will do a great job.
• :18:00.600> a Land Trust, and I trust they will do a Land Trust, and I trust they will do a great

Transcript Highlights:

• And how do you figure out which adults can be trusted?
• And how do you figure out which adults can be trusted?
• When you kick our youngest kids trusted?
• Um I was with students yesterday, and they brought this up, that it has become a very trusted source
• that it is it has become a very trusted that it is it has become a very trusted source<00:47:20.200

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard House File 3493, the Safe Schools Revenue Increase bill, and first adopted the DE amendment before moving the bill on for re-referral to Ways and Means. Representative Lawrence described the bill as a multi-layered school safety package for all students and schools, including public, nonpublic, charter, and tribal schools, with increased safety funding, mental health support, anonymous threat reporting, school safety plans, and student discipline changes. Several supporters emphasized the need for flexible safety funding and cited real-world safety concerns, including anonymous tip systems that had generated many reports, classroom evacuations, staff injuries, and the need for more resources for mental health and safety infrastructure. Some supporters, including charter school leaders and Catholic Conference testimony, argued the bill’s flexibility and broader safety approach were important, while others supported the K-3 suspension language as a needed tool in severe cases. Opponents focused heavily on the bill’s repeal of Minnesota’s K-3 suspension ban and non-exclusionary discipline requirements. Legal aid, disability advocates, and education groups argued that suspensions harm young children, worsen disparities, and disproportionately affect students of color and students with disabilities, and they urged the committee to keep restorative and non-exclusionary practices in place. Disability advocates also asked that any safety planning explicitly account for students with disabilities and that the bill remain aligned with IDEA protections and individualized education decisions. Several testifiers opposed using public funds for private schools, saying public money should stay in public programs. Other testimony came from school administrators and staff who supported restoring limited suspension discretion, describing serious elementary incidents, classroom evacuations, and injuries that they said required a short-term removal option to stabilize classrooms and plan for students’ return. Mental health and school support personnel witnesses stressed that safety and mental health funding should remain distinct and that more counselors, social workers, and related staff are needed to address student crises. No final vote on the bill itself was taken in the portion provided beyond adoption of the DE amendment and the motion to re-refer the bill.