Transcript Highlights:

• We are removing HB 553, the timber Grading Act, from the consent calendar so that there can be discussion
• establishes consistent grading standards for timber products in New Mexico.
• if you establish any type of separate path for lumber grading, we believe it will lead to substantial
• Madam Chair and Senator, I think that New Mexicans are smart enough to grade timber. I really do.
• , and the moisture content of the timber at the time of grading.

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, districts and charters with a letter grade had more teachers Districts and charters with
• And then looking at letter grades, experience is actually highest in the B districts instead of A in
• More specifically, teachers can teach in a grade above or below the area or the grade that they were
• It's also highest in districts and decreases with lower letter grades.
• It was highest in the highest-rated districts and charters and decreased with lower letter grades.

Summary: The committee first approved the May 18 meeting minutes and then received a presentation from Legislative Audit on Arkansas Department of Education grant distributions. Auditors explained that the fiscal year 2025 report summarizes $4.6 billion in grants from state, federal, and miscellaneous sources, across school districts, charter schools, education cooperatives, and other entities, and that the report only shows amounts distributed, not how recipients ultimately used the money. Members asked about specific recipients and programs, including ClassWallet, Economics Arkansas, and CDC surveillance funding; department staff clarified that the Economics Arkansas grant is written into special language and that the CDC-related funding supports student surveys used by state agencies. Questions also focused on bonus and incentive programs such as master principal and National Board Certified teacher bonuses, with department staff saying the bonuses are generally tied to completion of the program or certification rather than classroom performance, though they would follow up on details. The committee then heard a Bureau of Legislative Research update on Consumer Price Index projections from Moody’s Analytics and S&P Global. Dr. Carlos Silva explained the difference between CPI-U and core CPI and said the estimates show inflation slowing over the forecast period, with some near-term variation between the two data providers. Members asked about the historical accuracy of prior projections, and he said the forecasts generally tend to move toward about 2 percent over time, though recent shocks have caused earlier estimates to understate actual inflation. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to the final adequacy report on teacher recruitment, retention, and salaries. BLR staff reviewed Arkansas teacher demographics, shortage areas, educator preparation pipelines, licensure exceptions, survey results from teachers and principals, and teacher support programs. They reported that Arkansas had about 32,800 teachers and 473,000 students in 2025, with an average of 11.9 years of experience and a slight increase in National Board Certified teachers. The report found shortages in multiple subject areas, especially special education, math, science, foreign language, and social studies, and identified 65 districts as high-need geographically. Survey results showed school leadership as the strongest positive factor in recruitment and retention, while workload and salary were the biggest negatives; 30 percent of responding teachers said they were considering leaving the profession. The committee also reviewed teacher salary data showing a statewide average salary of $60,254 in 2025, Arkansas ranking 45th nationally by NEA methodology, and a long-term inflation-adjusted decline in district salaries, though LEARNS Act increases improved the trend. Members asked for additional follow-up information on survey methodology, alternative licensure costs, coursework, incentives for ESL and special education endorsements, exit data, and how salary comparisons are calculated.

Transcript Highlights:

• from the last couple years<00:09:59.000><c> the</c><00:09:59.360><c> Shortline</c><00:09:59.959><c> Railroad
• ><00:10:00.519><c> and</c><00:10:00.760><c> that</c><00:10:01.440><c> uh</c> years the Shortline Railroad
• and that uh years the Shortline Railroad and that uh course<00:10:02.040><c> provides</c><00:10:02.440

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• I think I was in first grade.
• But will this be in conjunction with, or is this going to be completely separate?
• Witness: I don't know if they'll be separate or be in conjunction.
• that is accessible on the students in that grade level.
• So let’s say you pick second grade, which is pretty typical.

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, so that would be separate from the Meals on Wheels.
• They do not have a separate line.
• So typically, eighth grade. Some school districts look at years of service.
• That budget is separate, and you will see that full bill once this session...
• Those would be the corresponding updated titles and grades in the current pay plan.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations and took executive recommendations on several Department of Human Services divisions, including Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services; Children and Family Services; County Operations; Developmental Disability Services; and Medical Services, with most divisions showing little or no significant change in total appropriations. Staff and agency witnesses repeatedly explained that many large appropriations are maintained for flexibility, federal matching requirements, or contingency needs, even when actual spending is much lower than the authorized amount. Members also raised concerns about staffing vacancies, long-vacant budgeted positions, and the use of excess appropriation authority across DHS. In Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health, members questioned federal funding levels for mental health and substance abuse grants, the status of senior centers and Meals on Wheels, the Medicaid tobacco settlement program, community alcohol safety grants, and the veterans mental health grant. Agency officials said federal block grants are largely committed, that senior center funding had been delayed by shutdown timing but was now back on track, that the tobacco settlement program had been moved internally within DHS, and that the veterans mental health appropriation remains unfunded. Senators also criticized the adequacy of support for seniors and asked for more detail on how transportation, meal services, and local contributions are funded. In Children and Family Services, members asked about rising appropriation levels, foster care and adoption subsidies, professional fees, the number of children in foster care, and the Children’s Trust Fund. DHS said increases reflect added flexibility for residential treatment, adoption subsidies, and prevention services, while the foster care population has remained fairly steady at about 3,400 children. The Children’s Trust Fund was described as supporting primary prevention programs such as Baby and Me and community schools, and members asked whether it could be administratively combined with other efforts. Questions also covered TANF subgrants, with DHS explaining that it had reduced outside subgrants after discovering over-obligation and was rebuilding reserves. In County Operations, members focused on the summer EBT program, SNAP employment and training, the farmer’s market program, and the state’s TANF reserve position. DHS said summer EBT is still being funded through temporary appropriations because it is a newer program, SNAP employment and training is largely federally funded and may expand under a pending policy change, and TANF reserves were drawn down after prior over-obligation but are now being stabilized. In Developmental Disability Services, members asked about vacancies, human development center staffing, facility construction funds, and the Booneville work program, and DHS said the program has reopened and staffing recruitment continues. In Medical Services, members asked about FMAP, the Our Kids B CHIP program, school-based Medicaid reimbursements, nursing home distress funds, and several large appropriation lines that far exceed actual spending; DHS said these are maintained for claims payment, nursing home receivership contingencies, and other flexibility needs. Each division reviewed was adopted by executive recommendation after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Separately from that, the school district must allow the School of Hope to go into the school that is
• Grade of B or higher in the most recent two school years.
• But as far as enrollment goes, which is something that is completely separate, it doesn't matter how
• If the School of Hope has three consecutive C or lower grades and they are now functioning under this
• language in the bill, Will the School of Hope have two more years to have C or lower grades, or will

Bills: HJR 138 , HB 42 , HB 104 , HB 129 , HB 677 , HB 426 , HB 668 , HB 1699 , HB 2017 , HB 2128 , HB 2038 , HB 3783 , HB 3717 , HB 2316 , HB 3686 , HB 2563 , HB 3883 , HB 4021 , HB 2788 , HB 2663 , HB 3305 , HB 3173 , HB 3474 , HB 1105 , HB 3531 , HB 3490 , HB 3597 , HB 1295 , HB 3512 , HB 3010 , HB 3112 , HB 4215 , HB 3223 , HB 3464 , HB 3120 , HB 4214 , HB 4511 , HB 3704 , HB 4081 , HB 4783 , HB 4063 , HB 2783 , HB 4937 , HB 5085 , HB 2510 , HB 3426 , HB 4361 , HB 1169 , HB 2516 , HB 2347 , HB 4034 , HB 4700 , HB 3560 , HB 5150 , HB 3860 , HB 3146 , HB 3924 , HCR 98 , HCR 92 , HB 1520 , HB 1545 , HB 5265 , HB 1887 , HB 1914 , HB 2402 , HB 2306 , HB 2350 , HB 3000 , HB 3237 , HB 3326 , HB 3211 , HB 1056 , HB 2081 , HB 2187 , HB 3092 , HB 3308 , HB 3526 , HB 3750 , HB 4219 , HB 4230 , HB 4290 , HB 5238 , HB 4804 , HB 4749 , HB 245 , HB 1465 , HB 294 , HB 793 , HB 809 , HB 3928 , HB 334 , HB 2037 , HB 1973 , HB 285 , HB 4341 , HB 1043 , HB 1234 , HB 1193 , HB 1729 , HB 2498 , HB 1314 , HB 1353 , HB 3960 , HB 3923 , HB 2221 , HB 2517 , HB 2518 , HB 2213 , HB 5092 , HB 3748 , HB 5246 , HB 4344 , HB 1482 , HB 4044 , HB 2702 , HB 4264 , HB 2807 , HB 2898 , HB 3181 , HB 3250 , HB 2091 , HB 2115 , HB 2542 , HB 2768 , HB 3349 , HB 4406 , HB 1593 , HB 1899 , HB 3133 , HB 3133 , HB 4960 , HB 3214 , HB 2145 , HB 1201 , HB 5061 , SB 29 , SB 879 , SB 65 , SB 1745 , SB 412 , SB 412 , SB 1746 , SB 1238 , SB 1341 , SB 522 , SB 1532 , SB 1378 , SB 1062 , SB 2066 , SB 1963 , SB 2204 , SB 1366 , SB 2077 , SB 1967 , SB 1151 , HB 1618 , HB 2156 , HB 2615 , HB 2615 , HB 2349 , HB 1926 , HB 569 , HB 1762 , HB 38 , HJR 138 , HB 42 , HB 104 , HB 104 , HB 129 , HB 677 , HB 426 , HB 668 , HB 1699 , HB 2017 , HB 2128 , HB 2038 , HB 3783 , HB 3717 , HB 2316 , HB 3686 , HB 2563 , HB 3883 , HB 4021 , HB 2788 , HB 2663 , HB 2663 , HB 3305 , HB 3173 , HB 3474 , HB 1105 , HB 3531 , HB 3531 , HB 3490 , HB 3490 , HB 3597 , HB 1295 , HB 3512 , HB 3010 , HB 3112 , HB 4215 , HB 3223 , HB 3223 , HB 3464 , HB 3120 , HB 4214 , HB 4511 , HB 3704 , HB 4081 , HB 4783 , HB 4063 , HB 2783 , HB 4937 , HB 5085 , HB 2510 , HB 3426 , HB 4361 , HB 1169 , HB 2516 , HB 2347 , HB 4034 , HB 4700 , HB 3560 , HB 5150 , HB 3860 , HB 3146 , HB 3924 , HCR 98 , HCR 92

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're funding programs for students... ...funds pre-K through 12th grade.
• And then how do we separate out startup, which really is kind of a pilot?
• Third-grade reading proficiency is moving up from 32.5 to 39.88.
• Third grade reading proficiency, moving up from 32.5 to 39.88.
• Third- and fourth-grade reading, yeah.

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm wondering if 10th grade uh, focus.
• And we don't stop there with 9th grade.
• And we don't stop there with 9th grade.
• And we don't stop there with nth<01:29:00.000><c> grade.
• Under the umbrella of the nth grade.

Bills: HF3650 , HF2238

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The unemployment insurance sections in 9 and 11 to 14 for the denial of service between terms separates
• The unemployment insurance sections in 9 and 11 to 14 for the denial of service between terms separates
• The unemployment insurance sections in 9 and 11 to 14 for the denial of service between terms separates
• The unemployment insurance sections in 9 and 11 to 14 for the denial of service between terms separates
• My child is dyslexic and autistic, and those are the years in fourth and fifth grade that they became

Bills: HF1388

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• They are done at the same time, roughly, but they are two separate steps.
• Somewhat grading our paper. It's not used for that purpose.
• There's no grade. or evaluation for what happens in my office, that would all be.
• It is separate for a reason and should remain separate.
• They're separate for a reason. And with respect to market value, if you're not...

Committee: House S/C on Property Tax Appraisals

Transcript Highlights:

• But the student made the grade. **Greg Owens.** Correct.
• But the student made the grade to pass the course in the community college?
• Is it a separate institution? Did they give that to everybody? Okay. It's this.
• Is it separate? So they gave that to everybody? Okay, it's this.
• Is it separate? So they gave that to everybody? Okay, it's this.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• , certification is not required for specially commissioned officers, including reserve officers, railroad
• Agencies must send CJTC a notice every time an officer separates for any reason, and on that form, they
• Agencies must send CJTC a notice every time an officer separates for any reason, and on that form, they
• One of the things is that when a person is separating employment, there's a box that the employer marks
• And so maybe that's the piece that comes over, but not every single person who has separated employment

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Summary: The committee met in Mill Creek and first heard an update on eviction proceedings from King County Superior Court Judge Michael Scott and then from the Office of Civil Legal Aid and Snohomish County Legal Services. Judge Scott said eviction filings are at historic highs statewide, with King County seeing a growing backlog after pandemic-era declines, though recent added judicial resources have reduced pending cases and brought average filing-to-disposition time down to about 60 days. He described county-by-county differences in how eviction calendars are handled and said courts are working with landlords, legal aid, and housing advocates to balance speed, due process, and access to counsel. Committee members asked about average timelines, tracking outcomes after eviction, and whether other counties offer useful models. Legal aid witnesses said Washington’s appointed counsel program has expanded access to representation statewide, except that King County still lacks enough resources for full representation in every case. They said the program has represented more than 30,000 tenants, often helps connect clients to social services, and has kept many people housed, but they warned of a funding shortfall that could eliminate about 17 attorneys and leave roughly 2,000 tenants without counsel. A Snohomish County provider said most of its cases now involve nonpayment of rent and emphasized the program’s role in preventing homelessness and helping clients secure benefits and housing stability. The second work session focused on theft and vandalism of critical infrastructure, especially copper and telecom cable theft. Committee staff outlined existing criminal and scrap-metal laws, including malicious mischief and theft statutes, plus licensing and recordkeeping rules for scrap metal businesses. Comcast, Mason PUD3, and the Recycled Materials Association testified that theft and damage to aerial cable and utility infrastructure have become a crisis, causing outages, public safety risks, and major costs. Witnesses described incidents affecting 911 service, schools, hospitals, home health monitoring, and electric reliability, and said thieves often cannot distinguish between copper, fiber, and other lines. Utility and recycling representatives urged stronger audits, tougher penalties for theft affecting critical infrastructure, better identification and payment rules, and more coordinated enforcement. Committee members asked about the motive for fiber damage, the role of out-of-state resale, and whether other states have useful approaches; witnesses said there is no easy fix and that best practices such as marking cable and improving interagency coordination could help. The final item was a briefing from the Criminal Justice Training Commission on standards for law enforcement certification and decertification. Executive Director Monica Alexander and Assistant Director Kimberly Bliss explained the difference between an agency commission and state certification, the training and background process for officers, and the grounds and procedures for mandatory and discretionary decertification. They said agencies conduct the background checks, CJTC reviews complaints and reports, and officers are entitled to administrative hearings and court review. Members asked about elected sheriffs, and CJTC clarified that sheriffs are not required to undergo the same pre-employment background check as other applicants, though many are already certified officers and remain subject to decertification rules; the commission said it has decertified a sheriff since 2021. No votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• one through six and then provide arts courses to higher grades, specifically for high school.
• Pre-Prop 28, only 11% of schools were offering all four disciplines in grades K through 6.
• And that was third grade of 34. The grade level that I was really interested in.
• And that was third grade. Third and fourth grade is my favorite level.
• I was preparing so much for that third grade class.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism and the Assembly Education Committee held a joint informational hearing on implementation of Proposition 28, the 2022 voter-approved arts education funding measure. Chairs emphasized the goal of understanding how the roughly $900 million to nearly $1.1 billion annual funding stream is being used, whether it is supplementing rather than supplanting existing arts programs, and what reporting or guidance improvements may be needed. The Legislative Analyst’s Office reviewed the basic structure of Prop 28: funds are distributed 70% by enrollment and 30% by low-income student counts, 80% must generally be spent on staffing, districts may use up to 1% for administration, and annual local reports and audits are required. Members pressed the LAO on waivers, spending timelines, and whether smaller or rural districts face different challenges; the LAO said some waivers have been issued and that districts have three years to spend each allocation, but statewide data remain limited. WestEd, Create California, and the California County Superintendents described early implementation findings and concerns. Their testimony said schools are using funds for arts materials, staffing, expanded instruction, and field trips, and that many respondents saw positive effects on student access and engagement. At the same time, they reported confusion about allowable uses, supplement-versus-supplant rules, and the 80/20 staffing requirement, along with shortages of credentialed arts teachers and uneven access across districts. Create California argued that Prop 28 has generated optimism but also uncertainty, especially for community arts organizations that have seen reduced contracts as districts bring services in-house. County superintendents and researchers called for clearer statutory guidance, stronger technical assistance, better statewide data, and more support for teacher credentialing pathways. District and county officials then described local implementation. Long Beach Unified said it moved quickly to full implementation, using Prop 28 to expand elementary and secondary arts offerings, hire 56 certificated staff and more than 120 classified coaches, and develop a five-year arts strategic plan tied to equity goals. Butte County and other rural representatives said Prop 28 has enabled restored or expanded programs, including arts teachers, theater, and music offerings, but rural districts still struggle to recruit credentialed staff and to make small allocations workable across large distances. The California Music Educators Association echoed those themes, saying members report both new positions and supplies as well as confusion, fear of audit findings, and inconsistent district guidance. Committee members asked about arts definitions, credentialing, rural pooling of funds, and out-of-state teacher credentials; witnesses said media arts are included, multiple credential pathways exist, and recent legislation has eased some out-of-state credential barriers. The hearing ended with public comment beginning after the panel discussions.

Transcript Highlights:

• To me, Madam Speaker, what separates education from other topics is that it deals with that thing that
• To me, Madam Speaker, what separates education from other topics is that it deals with that thing that
• To me, Madam Speaker, what separates education from other topics is that it deals with that thing that
• To me, Madam Speaker, what separates education from other topics is that it deals with that thing that
• </c><00:26:26.159><c> teacher</c> program coordinator first grade teacher program coordinator first grade

Transcript Highlights:

• Was it sixth-grade or fourth-grade level?
• I think we came up with sixth-grade level, but that would be accurate.
• I think we came up with sixth-grade level, but that would be accurate.
• As far as the sixth-grade reading level, we attempted that.
• Does this work at all in conjunction with that, or is this a completely separate program?

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 2265, which would provide the Fargo National Cemetery with up to a $3 million line of credit to help fund improvements such as indoor bathrooms, parking, a family gathering area, an office, a hearse garage, and a veterans gallery. Supporters said the cemetery has expanded rapidly since 2019, has already conducted about 1,000 burials, and needs better facilities for families and the Honor Guard; they also said the project would be subject to federal VA approval and, once completed, would be taken over by the VA. Members raised questions about the project’s cost, timing, funding sources, whether the bill should be a grant instead of a line of credit, and whether a chapel should be specifically included. No vote was taken on SB 2265 during the excerpt. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2230, which would have the Secretary of State mail active voters a guide on ballot measures at least 45 days before an election, with objective summaries, fiscal impacts, and arguments for and against each measure. Secretary of State Michael Howe said the office already receives many questions about ballot measures and would post the same information online and at polling places, while emphasizing the need to keep the material objective and consistent with election-law restrictions. Members generally supported the idea as a voter-education tool, and the committee adopted a due pass motion on SB 2230 by a 19-0 vote. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2256, which would provide one-time state support for the NDSU Research and Technology Park in Fargo to expand its role in commercialization, robotics, precision agriculture, and defense-related technology. Park CEO Brenda Weiland explained that the park is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit spun out of NDSU, governed by a board with both university and industry representation, and that the new model is intended to bridge the gap between research and market-ready products without competing directly with private industry. Members asked about ownership, intellectual property, the planned partnership with Carnegie Mellon’s robotics center, and how the park would use the funding; the discussion focused on contracts, licensing, and the park’s intent to build technical capacity and attract companies. The excerpt ends before any vote on SB 2256.

Transcript Highlights:

• You were saying that different grades and paying things like that, or did you say that that $119,000
• How do we separate that so that we're actually addressing those for whom special ed was intended?
• And so my mom went to teachers in the first grade and said, can Linda come to your class?
• My specialty is in an autism unit through grades, through kindergarten through first.
• You know, we're at 25 students in second and third grade right now.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• My comment is this nation was founded on a separation of church and state.
• challenge anyone on this committee to show me where it says in our founding documents there's a separation
• We have to be able to, in those early grades, it's not, look, we want you to use AI.
• Remember, critical thinking skills are based off of seventh grade math skills.
• Thank you. skills are based off of seventh grade math skills.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• This was the last, I think this was a third or fourth grade testing period.
• Introduce yourself and maybe what grade level you're in or what school.
• My name is Jaden Stetson, and I'm in 9th grade. I go to a school where I don't know my clan.
• I'm in 9th grade, and I'm going to Maya Mura. I'm going to be a junior at Wingate High School.
• I go to 9th grade and I'm in Miami. My name is Alani Yahtzee.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• I was a teacher, mostly elementary school, mostly first grade, for 33 years. Loved it.
• I was a teacher, mostly elementary school, mostly first grade, for 33 years. Loved it.
• for 33 years loved it kind first grade for 33 years loved it kind of<00:04:00.200><c> got</c><00:04:
• I think this is the only subject area where there's still separate policy and finance, but especially
• There's kindergarten through grade 12 programming as well as transitions programming.

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• You got to visit with the kids from kindergarten through sixth grade.
• the kids from kindergarten<00:04:03.960><c> through</c><00:04:04.320><c> sixth</c><00:04:04.680><c> grade
• </c> kindergarten through sixth grade. kindergarten through sixth grade.
• So they can be dual, but fire usually have their separate ones just because in case a key would go missing
• So this would probably, my understanding, be separate for law enforcement, that they can put in the rear