Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:18:32.160><c> to</c> training and continue education to training and continue education to enhance
• </c><01:28:34.960><c> but</c> to access not make money but to access not make money but to<01:28:36.800
• to have separate but equal?
• <04:25:41.600><c> to</c> making sure that people have access to making sure that people have access to
• </c> professionals to special education. professionals to special education.

Transcript Highlights:

• to trained professionals who can access injuries in common youth athletes like concussion, who can access
• and public and private investment is needed to ensure more young people have access to spaces to play
• address disparities in access to organized sports, particularly for marginalized youth, to ensure widespread
• Yet access to youth sports is not equal.
• So this resolution acknowledges the importance of providing access to all young people who choose to

Transcript Highlights:

• to trained professionals who can access injuries in common youth athletes like concussion, who can access
• and public and private investment is needed to ensure more young people have access to spaces to play
• address disparities in access to organized sports, particularly for marginalized youth, to ensure widespread
• Yet access to youth sports is not equal.
• So this resolution acknowledges the importance of providing access to all young people who choose to

Summary: The Senate convened with roll call, page introductions, the Pledge of Allegiance, and prayers offered by representatives of the Islamic Center of Olympia. The chamber then suspended Rule 46 so committees could meet during the pro forma session, approved the previous day’s journal, received a message from the Secretary of State certifying initiative I-26-001, and referred Substitute Senate Bill 5292 (Family Medical Rights) and Senate Bill 6301 (supervision of line) to the designated committees. The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 8674 recognizing the 77th Republic Day of India. Supportive remarks emphasized India’s constitution, democratic values, and the contributions of Indian Americans in Washington in business, public service, culture, and civic life. After adoption, the Senate welcomed the Consul General of India in Seattle and members of the Indian American community in the gallery. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 8664 recognizing youth sports. The resolution highlighted the benefits of organized athletics for youth well-being, academic engagement, and mental health, while noting disparities in access, the need for trained coaches and injury prevention, and the value of adaptive and emerging sports. Senator Nobles and others spoke in support, stressing inclusion, belonging, and the importance of investing in youth. The Senate then welcomed youth sports and equity groups in the gallery and adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to present SCA 5, the Education Equalization Act.
• begins to equalize educational opportunity, and allows the Prop 98 minimum guarantee to be maintained
• They deserve an equal opportunity to thrive because of their education.
• They show up in access to mental health services.
• At the same time, one of our challenges with the budget and protecting access to Medi-Cal to other public

Summary: The Senate Committee on Appropriations heard SCA 5, the Education Equalization Act, which would create an Equalization Reserve in the General Fund funded only in strong budget years with non-Prop 98 dollars. Senator Cortese and supporters argued it would provide a stable, ongoing stream of funding to reduce per-pupil disparities between basic-aid and non-basic-aid districts without reducing the Prop 98 minimum guarantee. Supporters included education foundation, school board, administrator, employee, and business representatives. Opponents, including the California Charter Schools Association, argued the measure unfairly excludes charter and county school students and could worsen inequities; some committee members also raised concerns about its fiscal effects and constitutional structure. The committee ultimately voted 4-0 to adopt SCA 5, with the measure kept on call for additional members. The committee then took up a series of Assembly bills, most of which were suspense-file candidates and were moved without objection after brief or waived presentations and no opposition testimony. AB 402, AB 708, AB 1080, AB 1126, AB 1235, AB 1555, AB 1641, ACA 7, AB 1672, AB 1943, AB 2565, and AB 2571 were all sent to suspense. AB 1204 drew testimony from school district leaders and coalition members who said it would worsen LCFF funding disparities by shifting future growth away from the base grant; the bill was opposed and moved to suspense. AB 1672 received support from CalPACE. The Department of Finance did not attend and had no comments on the measures. Finally, ACA 18 was presented as a constitutional amendment to double student voting seats on the UC Board of Regents, creating separate undergraduate and graduate student representation. The author and UC student witnesses said the change would strengthen student voice on issues such as tuition, housing, basic needs, and free speech, and would align UC with CSU and community college governance. There was no opposition testimony, but the committee treated ACA 18 as a suspense-file candidate and moved it to suspense without objection. The hearing then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• As an educator and an advocate who cares deeply about ensuring equal educational opportunities, I urge
• that everyone deserves to have equal access to facilities in alignment with their gender.
• Access to safe bathrooms and facilities helps so much, allowing her to take care of herself physically
• we are attempting to try to find equal and adequate access in an environment that really puts all students
• we are attempting to try to find equal and adequate access in an environment that really puts all students

Summary: The committee met on April 1, 2025, first adopting its rules and then taking up AB 89, a bill to require CIF to align girls’ high school sports with federal policy and restrict participation to biological females. The author and supporters argued the bill was needed to protect fairness, safety, privacy, and competitive opportunities for girls, citing individual student-athlete stories and examples of transgender participation. Opponents, including parents, athletes, advocates, and technical witnesses, argued the bill would stigmatize transgender youth, invite invasive scrutiny and harassment, and solve a problem they said was extremely rare or unsupported by data. After lengthy public testimony and debate, the committee rejected AB 89 on a 2-7 vote and sent it to the Committee on Education as a failed motion. The committee then heard AB 844, a related measure framed by the author as restoring competitive integrity, protecting student privacy, and bringing California into compliance with Title IX and federal directives. Supporters, including Matt Walsh and a student athlete who said she lost a varsity spot to a transgender student, argued that sex-based sports rules are necessary because biological males retain athletic advantages and that California risks federal funding if it does not change course. Opponents, including educators, parents, LGBTQ advocates, and trans youth, said the bill would increase bullying, harassment, and exclusion, and that existing policies have worked without evidence of harm from transgender athletes. Public comment was again heavily divided, with many speakers on both sides. The transcript ends during public testimony on AB 844, before any final committee vote or action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• And some of the things I think we need to do is education also with regard to young people, critical
• As I said before, we need to have both education and empowerment with regard to users and increase in
• So we need this kind of... ...access to data, which a lot of these companies are not doing.
• or content restrictions, particularly with regard to those sites where young people access.
• First, We'd like to ask the legislature to make safety funding fair and accessible.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our country has long fought for all students to have equal access to a public education.
• to Support Massachusetts higher education and K-12 institutions in their work to further equal access
• Access to affordable and high-quality care and early education opportunities.
• Early-Educers. access to affordable and high quality care and early education opportunities.
• Do you have access to early education and care?

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion

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:

• And some of the things I think we need to do is education also with regard to young people, critical
• As I said before, we need to have both education and empowerment with regard to users and increase in
• So we need this kind of access to data, which a lot of these companies are not doing.
• or content restrictions, particularly with regard to those sites where young people access.
• First, we'd like to ask the legislature to make safety funding fair and accessible.

Summary: The committee on Hate, Racism, and Xenophobia met to review California hate-crime trends and hear from state agencies and community organizations about current impacts and policy responses. The California Department of Justice reported that 2025 hate-crime events declined modestly from 2024 but remained historically elevated, with race and ethnicity still the largest category, anti-Black bias the most frequently reported, and notable increases in anti-Hispanic/Latino and citizenship/immigration-status bias. The California Commission on the State of Hate said its research and victimization studies show hate is broader than official crime data alone, with millions of Californians experiencing hate incidents and many victims needing services beyond law enforcement, including mental health care, legal help, and workplace protections. The commission also emphasized online radicalization, the need for better data infrastructure, and stronger training and support systems. Members then heard from the NAACP, LULAC, Jewish California, CHIRLA, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, CAIR California, and Equality California. Testimony described fear, underreporting, and the effects of rhetoric, federal policy changes, and online misinformation on Black, Latino, Jewish, immigrant, Asian American, Muslim, and LGBTQ+ communities. Witnesses urged sustained funding for Stop the Hate and nonprofit security grants, stronger language access, civic education, and community-based reporting and victim services. Several groups also called for specific legislation, including measures on racial profiling, immigration detention oversight, Jewish ethnicity recognition, safe worship zones, anti-Muslim hate prevention, and LGBTQ+ data privacy and health protections. Committee discussion focused on the conditions that fuel hate, especially political polarization, social media radicalization, and the role of public figures and institutions in normalizing dehumanizing language. Members and witnesses discussed the limits of current data, the need for long-term research and prevention strategies, and the importance of solidarity across communities. No formal votes or final committee actions were taken in the transcript, though members referenced existing and pending bills and ongoing efforts to expand training, funding, and anti-hate infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• access to campus jobs regardless of immigration status.
• To emphasize California's commitment to equality, however, the commission proposed draft legislation
• to gender equity and equal rights.
• We appreciate that AB 1940 now requires education to employees on their rights related to reasonable
• Reentry into foster care allows youth to regain access to housing, case management, behavioral health

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• access to education.
• against all Christians and indeed members of any religious group that might wish to have equal access
• So Blaine is still being used as a legal club to try to block education choice.
• It's just about whether citizens who are religious would have equal access to public accommodation, including
• direction of education choice, access to public accommodation, including the direction of education

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to call this hearing of the Assembly Education Committee to order.
• provide access to all students.
• to education.
• They deserve an equal opportunity to thrive because of their education. Thank you Senator Cortese.
• so we're unable to access certain funding.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• talk about how we can expand access to arts education and instill the values of creativity and expression
• So by remaining committed to making arts education programs accessible... They have a place there.
• So by remaining committed to making arts education programs accessible to all of our students, we're
• advancing arts education policy and expanding access to arts education programs across the state.
• It's a statewide nonprofit that's devoted to advancing arts education policy and expanding access to

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through several guest introductions, including a Canadian diplomatic delegation visiting for Canada Day at the Capitol and the undefeated Under-11 San Juan Spirits soccer team. The chamber also recognized guests connected to later resolutions, including families and advocates tied to profound autism and farm worker issues, as well as arts education leaders. The Senate adopted SR 89, recognizing March 17, 2026 as Profound Autism Day, after remarks emphasizing the need for greater awareness, research inclusion, and lifelong services for people with profound autism and their caregivers. Members also adopted SCR 147, proclaiming March 26 as Arts Education Month, with support focused on the value of arts education for creativity, engagement, and student success. Both resolutions passed by unanimous or near-unanimous roll call votes. The chamber then took up AB 2156, an urgency measure renaming Cesar Chavez Day as Farm Worker Day and proclaiming March 31 as Farm Worker Day. Supporters from multiple caucuses and regions spoke about the history of farm labor, the contributions and sacrifices of farm workers, and the need to honor the broader movement and its diverse participants; some speakers also referenced recent allegations and the desire to center survivors and workers rather than one individual. The bill passed with 37 ayes and 0 noes, including the urgency clause. The Senate also adopted a consent calendar of several items without objection, then adjourned in memory of Caitlin Mardell Mallet and Roxanne Miller. The session concluded with announcements of a committee meeting and a one-week spring recess, with the next floor session scheduled for April 6, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• A cradle-to-career vision, aligning education, health, and social services to support key milestones
• education to impact them.
• 1993 Education Reform Act, to creating the Education Redesign Lab, I have been driven by a successful
• Access to health and mental health services as needed.
• From elevating the voices of early childhood educators to inform policy, to gathering testimony about

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses

Summary: The Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business held its final hearing of the session on H. 5187 and S. 3022, the Enough Act, which would create a grant program to support place-based, cradle-to-career anti-poverty initiatives in high-need communities. Chairs Andy Vargas and Sen. Adam Gómez opened the hearing by thanking committee members and stakeholders, and several lawmakers, including Sen. Sal DiDomenico, Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian, and Rep. Antonio Cabral, described the bill as a bottom-up approach that would let local organizations, schools, and community partners direct resources where they are most needed. They emphasized that poverty, housing instability, food insecurity, and chronic absenteeism are interconnected and that the bill is intended to build local “backbone” infrastructure rather than fund isolated programs. A series of educators, school leaders, and nonprofit advocates testified in support, including leaders from Chelsea Public Schools, Bunker Hill Community College, Strategies for Children, AFT Massachusetts, United Way, the Boston Foundation, the New Commonwealth Fund, Give Black Alliance, Eastern Bank Foundation, and the Greater Boston Food Bank. They argued that schools alone cannot overcome the effects of concentrated poverty and pointed to research showing that children arrive at school already affected by poverty-related gaps. Several witnesses described existing local efforts in Chelsea, Boston, New Bedford, Springfield, Haverhill, and Lowell, and said the Enough Act would help coordinate services, align data and goals, and strengthen community voice. Some also noted that the bill could leverage philanthropic and private investment and cited Maryland and Harlem Children’s Zone as models. The hearing also featured testimony from Harlem Children’s Zone CEO Kwame Owusu-Kesse and founder Jeffrey Canada, who said the model has shown that sustained, coordinated supports can reduce the role of luck in children’s outcomes and should be scaled in Massachusetts. Committee members asked about sustainability, funding, and how the bill would interact with existing efforts such as community schools, the Student Opportunity Act, and McKinney-Vento homelessness supports. Witnesses responded that the bill would complement those programs by creating a broader, community-led framework and that long-term sustainability would require public, philanthropic, and private support. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And when our constituents were asking for improvements to the experience, to access, and to safety, we
• The singular mission of our organization is to improve access to ABA services.
• They are not extra; they are often essential for many students to access their education.
• We’re not going to eliminate our local school boards, and we’re going to continue to provide education
• reference to the state level in order to make sure that the rules are followed and applied equally to

Committee: House Education

Summary: The House Education Committee met on March 25, 2026, with a quorum present and heard a series of education-related bills and one resolution. The committee first took up HB 636 on hazing at public post-secondary institutions. Representative LaFleur presented the bill as a response to Caleb Wilson’s death, and family members, former Rep. Jason Hughes, and other supporters urged stronger prevention, reporting, and penalties. The committee adopted amendments adding implementation details and a lifetime ban on re-chartering an organization if hazing results in death, then reported the bill as amended as the “Caleb Wilson Hazing Prevention Act.” The committee then heard HB 218 on food insecurity screenings in public schools. LaFleur said the bill would formalize a process to identify hungry students and connect families to resources, with amendments tying the screening to existing McKinney-Vento forms and adding food-insecurity questions. Support came from charter school representatives, the Department of Education, and others, while Dr. Will Hall suggested involving caregivers and faith-based groups. The bill was reported with amendments. The committee also approved HB 626, which would require colleges and universities to provide suicide-prevention information, hotline access, and aggregated non-identifiable reporting on suicide risk. Rep. Jordan described it as a response to an uptick in suicides among college-age students, and the Board of Regents said most institutions already use telehealth or 988 resources. The bill was reported favorably. Next, the committee heard HB 749 on the administration of START, START K-12, and ABLE savings accounts. Rep. Carver said the bill would modernize and secure the program by allowing a third-party manager and online platform, while Treasury and Board of Regents staff explained that oversight would remain in place and that ABLE accounts would not be charged fees. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered HB 352 on behavioral health services for public school students. Rep. Mack and advocates from the Arc and ABA providers said the bill would ensure medically necessary services can be delivered in classrooms or other school settings, while the Louisiana Federation of Teachers asked for clearer pre-conference expectations to avoid classroom disruption. After testimony from parents, providers, and school stakeholders, the bill was reported with amendments. Finally, the committee approved HB 201 creating a state seal of fine arts for high school graduates, and HB 738 revising student disciplinary proceedings at colleges and universities to ensure evidence and fairness in disciplinary actions. Both bills were reported favorably. The committee also began hearing HCR 14, which expresses support for federal efforts to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, but the transcript cuts off before any final action on the resolution is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• access to campus jobs regardless of immigration status.
• In California community colleges, equal access to campus jobs regardless of immigration status.
• But without access to secure on-campus employment, they were forced to seek underpaid, exploitative,
• To emphasize California's commitment to equality, however, the commission proposed draft legislation
• We appreciate that AB 1940 now requires education to employees on their rights related to reasonable

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met without a quorum and proceeded as a subcommittee while hearing a long consent calendar and several Assembly bills. Early testimony focused on AB 1744, which would prohibit sunscreen products marketed as “reef safe” or similar from containing chemical UV filters; the author and student supporters said the bill is a truth-in-labeling measure to protect marine ecosystems, and there was no opposition. Committee members praised the student witnesses and the author asked for an aye vote, but no vote was taken because of the lack of quorum. The committee then heard AB 713, which would allow undocumented students at UC, CSU, and community colleges to access campus jobs. Supporters, including a UCLA law professor and a large coalition of student, labor, immigrant-rights, and education groups, argued the bill would reduce exploitation and improve affordability and retention; opponents argued it would conflict with federal law. Members expressed strong support, and the author closed by emphasizing that students simply want the chance to work, but again no vote occurred due to the subcommittee status. The committee also heard AB 1359, allowing people age 80 and older to opt out of jury service without a doctor’s note, with support from the Alzheimer’s Association and LeadingAge California and no opposition. Additional measures included AB 2563, which would standardize California’s definition of sex discrimination across state codes to align with equal-rights principles; it drew strong support from women’s rights and labor groups and strong opposition from anti-trans advocates. AB 1705 would require websites to verify consent before hosting sexually explicit images of people, with supporters framing it as a response to nonconsensual pornography and opponents warning it could sweep in sites that prohibit such content. AB 1940 would explicitly name menopause in workplace protections, with supporters citing workforce equity and opponents saying existing accommodation law already covers it. The committee also heard AB 1824 and AB 2115 on Native American child welfare and a formal legislative apology for historic harms, both backed by tribal representatives and allies, as well as AB 2076 on nitrous oxide sales to minors and AB 2783 on court reporter licensing and remote reporting; all drew support and no recorded opposition. Several members praised the bills and indicated they would move them when a quorum was available.

Transcript Highlights:

• As an educator and an advocate who cares deeply about ensuring each student has equal educational opportunities
• that everyone deserves to have equal access to facilities in alignment with their gender.
• Access to safe bathrooms and facilities help so much, allowing her to take care of herself physically
• we are doing more to provide funding and support for equitable access when it comes to girls' sports
• to find equal and adequate access in an environment that really puts all students, cisgender and transgender

Committee: House Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• We will continue to do as a department everything we can to expand access to higher education opportunities
• to education, Student, no matter their background, deserves not just access to education, but the freedom
• aid all erode the ability to deliver on a promise of equitable access to higher education.
• the ability to deliver a promise of equitable access to higher education.
• in Massachusetts and provide recommendations to promote access to higher education, particularly for

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion

Summary: The Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion held an informational hearing on “Protecting Equity in Higher Education” and emphasized that no bills were being heard. Members and witnesses focused on the effects of recent federal actions on DEI, admissions, financial aid, student loans, international students, and campus equity efforts in Massachusetts. Opening remarks from the co-chairs and the chair of Higher Education highlighted Massachusetts’ investments in free community college, expanded financial aid, and early college programs, while warning that federal policy changes could undermine those gains. Testimony from BU law professor Jonathan Feingold argued that many DEI practices remain legally defensible after Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, and that the decision did not end all race-conscious or equity-oriented efforts. He said the Trump administration’s anti-DEI actions and funding threats were legally suspect and had created confusion and a chilling effect. Bahar Akman-in-Boden of the Hildreth Institute testified that proposed federal cuts to TRIO, Gear Up, Pell Grants, SEOG, work-study, and student loan programs would disproportionately harm low-income, first-generation, Black, Latino, and other underserved students, and urged the state to prepare hold-harmless and advising supports using Fair Share revenue. Commissioner Noe Ortega described Massachusetts’ long history of equity in higher education and said the state has expanded aid, success programs, and early college, but still has work to do on attainment and completion. He said the state responded to SFFA by creating ACARE and continuing to defend equity practices, while also warning that federal disruptions and “dear colleague” letters have created uncertainty. In the second panel, state university leaders and campus officials said federal threats to Pell, DEI grants, Medicaid, and international student policies could affect access, campus operations, and the economy; they stressed that most state university graduates stay in Massachusetts and that institutions are continuing their equity practices despite federal pressure. Roxbury Community College’s president said RCC remains committed to open access and inclusion, noted enrollment growth, and said executive orders do not change existing law or the college’s obligations.

Transcript Highlights:

• We must never stop until women have their full equality to access the care that they...
• Equality to access the care that they deserve. Mr.
• Trans kids deserve to have access to the same ...opportunities as their peers.
• We're going to continue to fight to pass the Equality Act.
• Equality Caucus to the Congressional Equality Caucus to the teams of litigators who are fighting so

Transcript Highlights:

• So to expand access instead of restricting it and to prevent it to protect voters instead of policing
• They died over access to the ballot box.
• otherwise eligible voters losing access to the ballot is acceptable to you?
• Shouldn't we want more access to the ballot?
• get access to.

Transcript Highlights:

• education can continue to erity so education can continue to thrive<00:08:31.879><c> for</c><00:08:32.200
• to say yes to education.
• about making sure that our schools, um, are equal when it comes to the education we're providing our
• It's really about making sure that our schools are equal when it comes to the education we're providing
• </c><01:27:40.480><c> you</c><01:27:40.600><c> to</c> educational opportunities I urge you to educational

Committee: Senate Education Finance