Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:47:52.480><c> of</c> authorizes the State Superintendent of authorizes the State Superintendent
• school system, the State local school system, the State Superintendent<00:48:34.880><c> may</c><00:48
• </c> Superintendent of Schools. Superintendent of Schools.
• Uh the bill all local jurisdictions.
• This<00:58:41.280><c> local</c><00:58:41.800><c> bill</c> This local bill This local bill is is is uh

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe I saw Superintendent Hill here with the banking group.
• Thank you for being here, Superintendent; we appreciate you. Is that the correct title?
• So, uh, yeah, you Superintendent of the Board of Education in the Shelby County school system.
• I've spent 30 years with Local 91 Plumbers.
• I've spent 30 years with Local 91 Plumbers and Steam Fitters.

Committee: Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> units and making school superintendent units and making school superintendent jobs<00:25:56.760>
• Representative Pelli: I would expect that a local superintendent, as part of the employment background
• Representative Pelli: Yes, I would expect that a local superintendent, as part of the employment background
• Representative Pelli: Yes, I would expect that a local superintendent, as part of the employment background
• > want</c><04:00:34.279><c> to</c> local control so if locally they want to local control so if locally

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 695, relating to school districts and medically related grants. The sponsor argued the bill was vague and could undermine existing law, and another member said it would add an unnecessary mandate for school districts. The committee voted to recommend inexpedient to legislate, and the motion passed 18-0. Next, House Bill 765, which would consolidate school administrative units and make superintendent jobs elected positions, was also recommended inexpedient to legislate. Members said the bill raised too many questions, could duplicate other legislation, and would move away from local control. That motion likewise passed 18-0. House Bill 768, allowing public school districts to contract with approved private schools, drew more debate. Supporters described it as a language cleanup and an expansion of educational opportunity, while opponents raised concerns about the placement of the language and pending Supreme Court cases. The committee voted 10-8 to recommend ought to pass, and then 10-8 to recommend ought to pass as amended, with a minority report noted. The committee then considered House Bill 446, dealing with parental notice for non-academic surveys. An amendment was offered to make the Youth Risk Behavior Survey opt-in rather than opt-out. Supporters said parents should be informed and should choose whether their children participate, while opponents argued the survey is an important tool for mental health data, grants, and school programming, and that opt-in would reduce participation and data quality. The amendment passed 10-8, and the bill as amended also passed 10-8, with a minority report noted. Finally, the committee began House Bill 741, which would allow parents to send children to any school district they choose and expand open enrollment. The sponsor described it as broadening choice and keeping public funds in public schools, and an amendment was proposed to restore provisions for children of military personnel. Discussion on the amendment began, but the transcript cuts off before any vote on House Bill 741 or the amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have five signatures for any bills today on local and consent. Zero. Thank you, Mr.
• Members, we're ready to begin consideration of the local consent resolutions calendar.
• Well, we have local, state, and federal law enforcement on the border.
• Or our local entities, our cities, or the state representatives as well.
• And Local Consent Calendars: HCR 150 by Dyson, HR 1112 by Wilson, HR 1114 by Darby.

Bills: HB2293 , HB2694 , HB2999 , HB3694 , HB3254 , HB4662 , HB5629 , HB5632 , HB5675 , HB5664 , HB5671 , HB5680 , HB5682 , HB5693 , HB4158 , HB5695 , HB4669 , HB5696 , HB5698 , HB5677 , HB5699 , HB5694 , HCR81 , HCR83 , HCR84 , HCR89 , HCR111 , HCR142 , HR868 , SB682 , SB1351 , SB1895 , SB1931 , SB2141 , SB3044 , SCR1 , SCR6 , SCR37 , SB458 , SB482 , SB927 , SB984 , SB651 , SB1620 , SB2124 , SB2448 , SB841 , SB843 , SB402 , SB2662 , SB2053 , SB2332 , SB2112 , SB745 , SB1247 , SB1789 , HB75 , HB5354 , HB4683 , HB4847 , HB1449 , HB3833 , HB265 , HB1845 , HB 108 , HB1960 , HB1955 , HB2512 , HB2581 , HB2803 , HB1738 , HB636 , HB2638 , HB2655 , HB871 , HB 1107 , HB1765 , HB1822 , HB3679 , HB4099 , HB3732 , HB3171 , HB3749 , HB2814 , HB3977 , HB4204 , HB4207 , HB4449 , HB1820 , HB1876 , HB1939 , HB1347 , HB2593 , HB2136 , HB2658 , HB2757 , HB2080 , HB3063 , HB3006 , HB2844 , HB3241 , HB3680 , HB3169 , HB2078 , HB2507 , HB4559 , HB3405 , HB475 , HB3463 , HB3441 , HB3520 , HB3178 , HB158 , HB2060 , HB4991 , HB1991 , HB5596 , HB2014 , HB2731 , HB2417 , HB2399 , HB2301 , HB3335 , HB3234 , HB3320 , HB4848 , HB4748 , HB4769 , HB4795 , HB2086 , HB2234 , HB4916 , HB5624 , HB4505 , HB5093 , HB5302 , HB5402 , HB5606 , HB4630 , HB4924 , HB3339 , HB3793 , HB3631 , HB4882 , HB5509 , HB5499 , HB5520 , SB1177 , SB1559 , SB746 , SB434 , SB1383 , SB1214 , SB1079 , SB3031 , SB2141 , SB2185 , SB1895 , SB1241 , SB901 , SB1883 , SB552 , HB 1249 , HJR218 , HB5623 , SB687 , SB1332 , SB458 , SB482 , SB927 , SB984 , SB651 , SB1620 , SB2124 , SB2448 , SB841 , SB843 , SB402 , SB2662 , SB2053 , SB2332 , SB2112 , SB745 , SB1247 , SB1789 , HCR76 , HCR127 , HCR9 , HCR40 , HCR118 , HR559 , HCR59 , HCR135 , HCR141 , HCR46 , HCR109 , HCR10 , SB3037

Keywords: Sweeny Hospital District, board of directors, local governance, elections, healthcare administration, Brazoria Drainage District, commissioners, vacancies, resignation, hydrogen vehicles, weight limitations, transportation, environmental impact, clean energy, deep fake, intimate depictions, consent, digital media, criminal penalties, State Board of Education

Transcript Highlights:

• your general thoughts on kind of local your general thoughts on kind of local local laws and and where
• Uh superintendent Hoover for a number of superintendent Hoover for a number of superintendent Hoover
• a clear disagreement with the local clear disagreement with the local clear disagreement with the local
• distributes local revenue to equitably distributes local revenue to equitably distributes local revenue
• It was handled locally agreement. It was handled locally agreement.

Bills: HB258 , HB324 , HB333 , SB270 , HB258 , HB324 , HB333 , SB270

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: primary election, election calendar, off-presidential year, May primary, second Tuesday in May, fourth Tuesday in May, runoff primary, special primary, presidential primary, election administration, candidate filing, ballot access, political parties, county election officials, state election law, Alabama elections, sheriffs, term of office, Alabama law, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• It changes instead of using city or county to that local Board of Education, because that's what it's
• It gives the State Superintendent witness and subpoena powers for records.
• adopt their own local policy?
• Would local boards determine if they award elective credit? Yes, that's optional.
• I do not think it should stop even with the superintendent or with the school board.

Bills: HB298 , HB342 , HB332 , HB344

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> they have a problem with their local they have a problem with their local school<00:53:13.760><c
• Since then, the local districts.
• </c> each local district moving forward. each local district moving forward.
• How on earth did the local school boards and principals and superintendents get it in their head that
• </c> have local people really push the issue. have local people really push the issue.

Committee: Joint Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Commerce to do the duties they need to do to comply with the census, including mainly the local
• So the local updated census address is still going to be administered by Commerce.
• The question relating to having conversations with area teachers, superintendents, etc., my question
• But in the real-world data that Superintendent Fields presented, we have seen...
• It’s a local control decision. The fact of the matter is this is just setting our standards.

Bills: HB3622 , HB3621 , HB3151 , HB3882 , HB3661 , HB4273 , HB3644 , HB3706 , HB3708 , HB2021 , HB3986 , HB3972

Committee: House Appropriations and Budget

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills, beginning with HB 3622 and HB 3621, both related to census and state data functions. HB 3622, as amended, removed direct appropriation language and would let Department of Commerce staff carry out census-related duties such as updating local census addresses and upgrading technology. HB 3621 would recreate the State Data Center at the Legislative Service Bureau to coordinate census-related programs across agencies such as Commerce, Tax, and others; both bills received unanimous or near-unanimous support and were reported out due pass. A lengthy portion of the meeting focused on HB 3151, which would redefine instructional days so that only time students are actually in the classroom counts toward the instructional minimum, excluding professional development and parent-teacher conference time. The author argued the bill would close Oklahoma’s instructional-time gap and improve outcomes, while members raised concerns about funding, teacher pay, contract negotiations, and how districts would absorb the change. After debate, the bill passed 19-7. The committee also advanced HB 3706, which sets minimum elementary math instruction standards and expands math screening requirements, and HB 3708, which would allow private schools to use scholarship-granting organization funds for capital improvements to increase instructional capacity; both drew questions about funding, scheduling, and the scope of the programs but were reported out due pass. Other measures approved included HB 3661, extending a sunset on a timber equipment tax provision; HB 3882, creating a revolving fund for ODOT’s lake access and industrial access grants; HB 4273, extending a tax credit to certain aerospace engineers at an ARM 1 higher education institution; HB 3644, tied to medical training and best practices after a fatal misdiagnosis; HB 2021, creating a DHS grant program for out-of-school programming, with discussion centered on whether it would effectively favor Boys and Girls Clubs and exclude other providers; HB 3986, extending a sunset; and HB 3972, cleanup language related to the Comanche County prison purchase. Most bills passed with strong support, and the meeting adjourned after the final votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• library board members with local library boards and local elected officials.
• </c> boards and local elected officials. boards and local elected officials.
• This need was our local counties.
• to local from local governments to local governments<01:34:39.640><c> and</c><01:34:39.760><c> schools
• </c> emergency, this measure enhances local emergency, this measure enhances local preparedness<01:43

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Leek: I do need to make clear to everyone our superintendent is a good superintendent.
• I think this is a government overreach as it prohibits local government to act in ways that reflect local
• We heard it from Common Cause, local legislators so far.
• also just local legislation in general.
• which is local and concentrated within Orange County.

Transcript Highlights:

• Local communities need real tools, flexibility, and resources for our rural conditions that we live in
• We are grateful that this bill really supports practical, locally driven solutions that will give our
• I know that's not the decision of this, but, possibly changes, but I like to listen to local leadership
• So putting in this quarterly meeting ensures that there is dialogue between the superintendents, the
• They have so many meetings with the districts, go to the superintendents, or go to the instructional

Bills: SB48 , SB64 , SB100 , HB2 , SB48 , SB64 , SB100

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: State Fairgrounds District, fairgrounds bonds, public financing, bond authorization, gross receipts tax, gaming tax, tax-backed bonds, infrastructure funding, Albuquerque fairgrounds, State Fair Tid, economic development, municipal bonds, revenue pledge, capital projects, New Mexico finance, special education, office of special education, deputy secretary, public education department, IEP

Transcript Highlights:

• Local educators have the... to succeed.
• Any other questions for Superintendent Jones?
• Um, I sit on a local Um, I sit on a local charter school board and I also substitute teach in the local
• I am currently on the superintendent emergency draft on the superintendent emergency draft rules for
• Um, superintendent.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration

Transcript Highlights:

• Our financial management to local LEAs, or local education agencies, which consist of our audits, our
• </c><01:03:59.119><c> control</c> but we are a very heavy local control but we are a very heavy local
• </c> boards and superintendent. boards and superintendent.
• </c> superintendent and school board members. superintendent and school board members.
• The superintendents of St.

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And I say this as a former superintendent are are living in a world where they sit down in April 2 budget
• The world in which we live right now is a world in which has one superintendent testified before this
• Here's often is your explicit knowledge of education being a former superintendent.
• And right now it's not the superintendents. Don't know how to add subtract, multiply divide.
• You more local, welcome mistakes to come and we could have that conversation.

Transcript Highlights:

• And whereas as the superintendent of Jefferson County superintendent of Jefferson County superintendent
• and interim superintendent and interim superintendent and interim superintendent.
• of the the local of the the local application.
• and state to local and state to local and state economies.
• tax or pending local have existing local tax or pending local have existing local tax or pending local

Bills: SB 1 , HB 500 , SB 1 , HB 1400 , HB 1094 , HB 365 , HB 1109 , HB 647 , HB 500

Transcript Highlights:

• Make no mistake, there is no savings when children are harmed by local control.
• When local voices are dismissed, marginalized, and silenced by school administrators and local leadership
• And local parentis, advocating is my responsibility. Thank you. Thank you very much.
• I’m the proud superintendent of Plymouth Public Schools.
• It is very difficult work to do on the local level, and yet we did it.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Summary: The committee opened a public hearing on 41 bills related to school climate and safety, with chairs Jason Lewis and Ken Gordon outlining procedures and noting more than 125 witnesses. The first major topic was the “Study Act” on cell phones in schools and related social media restrictions (House 666/Senate 335). Secretary of Education Pat Tutwiler and Attorney General Andrea Campbell testified in strong support, arguing that bell-to-bell phone-free policies would improve student focus, reduce anxiety and distraction, and support mental health. Several legislators also supported the approach, though Representative Jeff Turco and Senator John Keenan emphasized narrower bills focused only on school-day phone restrictions rather than broader social media regulation. Senator John Velis likewise backed a comprehensive school-hours restriction, citing student distraction and mental health concerns. Representative Tarsky described successful implementation of a Yondr pouch system in a school where he served as principal, saying it improved engagement and reduced bullying and discipline issues. The committee then heard testimony on a bill to prohibit Native American mascots in public schools (Senate 312/House 575). Senator Joe Comerford, Brittany Wally, and Rhonda Anderson all urged passage, saying Native mascots are dehumanizing, harmful to Native youth, and inconsistent with civil rights and educational values. They described support from tribal nations and noted that many Massachusetts schools have already changed mascots, but some still resist. The hearing also included testimony on school start times (House 647/Senate 360), where middle school students Caroline Duffy and Emery Jarvis described exhaustion and survey data showing widespread sleep deprivation. Former educator Telia Jacobs, former principal Rep. Tarsky, and others argued that later start times would improve health, learning, and student well-being, while acknowledging transportation and scheduling challenges. Zoriana Petrosian, who helped write one of the bills as a student, said the state already has enough research to act now. Additional bills drew testimony on related school issues. Dr. Raul Fernandez supported a bill promoting racially integrated schools (Senate 324), citing a recent advisory council report showing large disparities in segregated schools and urging DESE to develop a statewide integration strategy. On safe firearm storage education (House 548/Senate 397), multiple witnesses from Grassroots for Gun Violence Prevention and school communities supported annual school-based education about secure storage, saying it would help prevent child access to unsecured firearms and build on local resolutions already adopted in some districts. The committee also heard testimony on bills to expand career and academic plans (House 533/Senate 438), with speakers saying more structured planning would help students make informed college and career choices. Later, testimony on child sexual abuse prevention and survivor support bills described the prevalence of abuse, the need for training in schools and youth-serving organizations, and the importance of extending compensation and prevention measures. Throughout the hearing, chairs repeatedly closed bills with no witnesses and moved the agenda forward, but no votes were taken in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> like wouldn't we want them to have local like wouldn't we want them to have local control<04:12:
• </c> complexities deferring to local complexities deferring to local control<04:12:54.080><c> might</
• Who's local control?
• superintendent in Prospect Mountain superintendent in Prospect Mountain pointed<06:01:24.320><c> out<
• school</c> the local people the local school the local people the local school budgets<06:43:08.760>

Summary: The committee first took up HB 662, which would require discussion of abortion procedures and the viewing of certain videos in public school health education. Members argued the bill went too far by naming specific videos and involving the Attorney General in enforcement, and they said curriculum decisions should be left to educators. The committee voted ITL on HB 662 by a unanimous 18-0. The committee then considered HCR 6, a resolution calling for the removal of the superintendent of District 67. Members said the resolution targeted an individual and that the underlying dispute was already in court, so the matter should be left to the legal process. The motion to ITL passed 18-0. Next, HR 9, urging the Department of Education to emphasize STEM education, received broad support as a nonpartisan statement of priorities, and it also passed 18-0. HB 440, concerning educator licensing and shortages in Career and Technical Education, was amended to clarify that the bill applies to initial licensure only. After discussion about whether the amendment was necessary, the committee adopted Amendment 0188 unanimously and then voted OTPA on the bill as amended, 18-0. HB 222, which repealed the requirement for an MOU between charter schools and districts on services for students with disabilities, drew testimony that districts already provide substantial oversight through IEP processes and that the MOU requirement was burdensome and largely unenforced; the committee voted OTP 18-0. The committee then took up HB 719, which would repeal the right of first refusal for charter schools to purchase or lease unused district facilities. Supporters said the existing law had not generated complaints and could impede charter expansion, while opponents said the issue had not proven to be a problem and local control should be preserved. The committee voted ITL 17-1, with one member opposed and no minority report. The chair then postponed HB 184, a study committee bill on school start times, because it was scheduled for the next day, and the committee moved into a work session on bullying-related bills, discussing HB 108, HB 384, and HB 673 without taking final action in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to get as much training and support at that local level as possible.
• So right now, those coaches have been working with their local districts.
• It seems like we had a Superintendent, David Law from Minnetonka, come and challenge us.
• Superintendent Magus in Duluth.
• Well, why don't we allow them to negotiate locally by moving all of their funds?

Bills: HF2430 , HF2433

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Following the CPUC, we have also invited the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to speak about
• Joining us today is the Honorable Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
• And do you think that the complexity of becoming a party disadvantages local schools that might also
• We also wish to thank the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and Deputy Superintendent Mary Nicely
• We also wish to thank the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and Deputy Superintendent Mary Nicely

Summary: The Communications and Conveyance Committee held an oversight hearing on the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), focused on telecommunications, broadband deployment, resiliency, and the California Teleconnect Fund. Chair Tasha Boerner said the hearing was intended to examine structural issues at the CPUC, including whether telecommunications oversight should remain within the commission, while also reviewing major programs such as Last Mile, BEAD, carrier of last resort, and emergency preparedness. CPUC President John Reynolds and Deputy Executive Director Anna Maria Johnson described the commission’s work on public safety, universal service, broadband grants, Lifeline modernization, and network resiliency, including the 72-hour backup power requirement and merger review. Members questioned CPUC officials about the pace and metrics for Last Mile and BEAD projects, the relationship between middle-mile and last-mile buildout, and how the commission balances carrier obligations with the risk of driving providers out of high-cost areas. They also pressed the CPUC on the California Lifeline home broadband pilot, asking when enrollment would be available, which providers were participating, how much of the state would be covered, and what the surcharge impact would be. CPUC said 15 providers had been approved, one was already serving customers, and the rest were still onboarding, and it committed to provide follow-up information on timelines, coverage, and costs. A major portion of the hearing centered on the California Teleconnect Fund and proposed changes to how schools would access the program. Superintendent Tony Thurmond argued strongly against shifting administration from county offices of education and districts to individual schools, saying it would add burden, worsen inequities, and risk underuse of a valuable broadband subsidy. Committee members echoed concerns that smaller schools and districts may lack the staff to manage direct applications and reporting. In public comment, the Los Angeles County Office of Education supported the CDE’s position and urged changes that would align the program more closely with E-Rate and reduce administrative burdens. No formal vote was taken, and Chair Boerner closed by saying she remained committed to pursuing reforms to the CPUC and referenced her bills AB 2289 and ACA 9.

Transcript Highlights:

• The local government fiscal note also indicates that there may be indeterminate impacts to local revenue
• fee and annual local investment commitment fee to be distributed to local governments and tribes in
• or payment in lieu of taxes for the local community?
• or payment in lieu of taxes for the local community?
• Chair, and thank you, Superintendent Sprouse.

Bills: HB2747

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: budget sustainability, state finance, fiscal policy, economic growth, government spending