Transcript Highlights:

• evaluate student performance. ...for those students to better measure and evaluate student performance
• And I would note, too, the goal is not to not promote students. It's not to retain students, right?
• But today, since I have high school students, my kids are high school students, I wanted to speak on
• And what we miss is the actual student. We miss the student that's sitting in that test.
• That's troubling for me for those students that want to go to the military, those students...

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 296, as amended by strike-all, on middle and high school start times. Senator Bradley explained that the amendment would repeal the statewide mandate for later start times and return scheduling decisions to local school boards, while still requiring districts to inform the community about the health, safety, and academic effects of sleep deprivation and to consider later start times when setting transportation schedules. Testimony and debate were largely in support, with several school district and education group representatives waiving in support, and members citing transportation, staffing, family logistics, and cost concerns under the existing mandate. The strike-all was adopted, and SB 296 was reported favorably by roll call vote, with Senators Berman, Osgood, and Chair Calatayud voting yes and Senator Gaetz voting no; other members were absent or not recorded in the excerpt. The committee then heard Senate Bill 356, which would designate January 27 as Holocaust Remembrance Day in Florida. Senator Berman said the date matches the UN’s Holocaust Remembrance Day and would require the governor to annually proclaim it, while allowing public observance and instruction about the Holocaust’s harms and its impact on the Jewish community and humanity. There was no substantive opposition in the excerpt, and the bill was reported favorably by roll call vote with yes votes from Senators Berman, Gaetz, and Chair Calatayud. Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 166 on administrative efficiency in public schools. Senator Simon described a broad deregulation package affecting student assessments, grade promotion, teacher evaluations, contracts and certification, school board operations, instructional materials timelines, internal audits, facilities planning, cost-per-student-station limits, emergency make-up days, federal fund timing, and VPK oversight. Testimony was mixed: school district and education organization representatives generally supported the flexibility, while some groups opposed or urged changes to the grade 4 promotion and graduation-related provisions, arguing they could weaken academic standards. After debate focused especially on third-grade promotion and testing requirements, the bill was reported favorably by roll call vote. At the end of the meeting, members recorded their votes on SB 296 and SB 356, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have multiple ways that students can transfer.
• We have the parameters we have on ensuring that education is the first priority for students and not

Bills: HJR1101, SB1319, SB1264, HB4237, SB1277, SB2069, HB3066, HB2115, HB2153, HB2268, HB2961, SB1679, SB2018, HB4294, SB2095, HB4113, SB1894, SB1810, HB4268, HB1752, HB3413, SB625, HB3644, HB3940, HJR1096, HJR1100, HJR1099, HB2992, SB1636, HB4302, SB1613, SB1443, HB1409, HB1675, HB1225, HB1381, HB4359, SB1503

Keywords: SB1319, Corporation Commission, Oklahoma, remediation, environmental emergency, brine contamination, oil contamination, oilfield pollution, residential property, home buyout, property acquisition, fair market value, revolving fund, remediation fund, state plugging funds, well plugging, abandoned well, natural breakout, Department of Environmental Quality, DEQ

Transcript Highlights:

• The end of the year is when students miss more school, families start to go on vacation, plan events,

Bills: HJR1101, SB1319, SB1264, HB4237, SB1277, SB2069, HB3066, HB2115, HB2153, HB2268, HB2961, SB1679, SB2018, HB4294, SB2095, HB4113, SB1894, SB1810, HB4268, HB1752, HB3413, SB625, HB3644, HB3940, HJR1096, HJR1100, HJR1099, HB2992, SB1636, HB4302, SB1613, SB1443, HB1409, HB1675, HB1225, HB1381, HB4359, SB1503

Keywords: SB1319, Corporation Commission, Oklahoma, remediation, environmental emergency, brine contamination, oil contamination, oilfield pollution, residential property, home buyout, property acquisition, fair market value, revolving fund, remediation fund, state plugging funds, well plugging, abandoned well, natural breakout, Department of Environmental Quality, DEQ

Transcript Highlights:

• It is unacceptable to punish students for an administrative oversight made by educators who are working
• Preventing students from attending due to an application error undermines that purpose of the program
• These students deserve the same opportunity to grow and learn that we had.' So.
• These students deserve the same opportunity to grow and learn that we had.
• majority of our colleagues would do the same to ensure that this opportunity is there for those students

Summary: House Management considered a series of House resolutions honoring individuals, teams, and organizations. Resolutions passed recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and commending CASA programs, the Mountain Home Bombers’ boys and girls cross-country championships, a corrected honor for a girls’ team roster, Mount St. Mary Academy’s state golf title, Central Arkansas Christian High School Choir, a local candy shop, Joe T. Robinson’s football and swim/dive state championships, Arkansas Tech University’s Golden Suns and their cross-country team, and North Little Rock’s girls basketball championship. One resolution honoring the Passion Play was pulled from the agenda and moved to regular session. Most of the honors were approved without opposition after brief presentations and no questions. The committee then took up House Resolution 1052, which drew extended discussion. Sponsors and several legislators argued that many Arkansas girls selected for Girls State were being denied participation because school counselors missed an application deadline, despite the students meeting requirements and similar deadline flexibility having been granted in prior years. They said the issue affected roughly 150 girls statewide, that the American Legion Auxiliary board had not been responsive to calls or requests for a meeting, and that the legislature was offering to help with space, funding, or volunteers if needed. Supporters framed the resolution as a matter of fairness, civic opportunity, and not punishing students for adult mistakes, especially since Boys State deadlines had been extended in some cases. Committee members asked about the impact on girls whose brothers were allowed to attend Boys State and whether the situation sent a negative message about equal opportunity. Sponsors said the girls were being treated unfairly and that the resolution was intended to urge the Auxiliary to allow participation. After discussion, the committee voted to pass the resolution. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I guess you've been around these students and so forth.
• I think I can encourage students to try and find their own career path.
• I think I can encourage students to try and find their own career path.
• Do we start with their students, with the parents getting more involved?
• It's like I remember when he was working at the beer league, so as a student.

Bills: HB9, HB177, HB181, HB202, HB225, HB398, HB459, HB540, HB906, HB1052, HB1057, HB1245

Keywords: HB 9, HB9, Act 527, Shreveport, Stuffed Shrimp Capital, state symbol, Louisiana symbols, municipal designation, honorary title, cultural designation, tourism, local pride, seafood, shrimp, stuffed shrimp, cuisine, city branding, Louisiana Revised Statutes 49:170.26, court reporter, official court reporter

Transcript Highlights:

• Our students are exceptional. They have medical school acceptance quality.
• While our students are in their training, they do every aspect of their training. of anesthesia with
• Christy Lee from Sacramento, student anesthesiologist assistant.
• I'm a first year student at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, in strong support.
• I respectfully ask that you help bring our students home and I urge an aye vote.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Travis Hendricks and Senator Mika Coleman for their recognition and for honoring our students
• <00:11:18.800> Uh our students in this fabulous way.
• Uh our students in this fabulous way.
• Chair, I'd like to suspend the rules for the Madison County legislative delegation to local committee
• to to local uh legislative delegation to to local committee<01:32:59.199> to<01:32:59.360>

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• training offering micro grid technology training for<00:38:34.079> both<00:38:34.320> students
• for both students and professionals. for both students and professionals.
• October of this last year, I was actually able to join some of our city leaders and the federal delegation
• <00:49:34.480> at leaders and the federal delegation at leaders and the federal delegation
• On an annual basis, over 400,000 students are touched by our programs and field trips.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So what would it be, especially with the DOE, for students to open up at a young age an ABLE savings
• So, I'm a student at the University of Hawaii at Hilo in the Doctor of Pharmacy program.
• So, I'm a student at the context.
• So, I'm a student at the University<00:27:50.480> of<00:27:50.720> Hawaii<00:27:51.360>
• So those should be done by a CNA under chapter 457, under nurses, and then using nurse delegation for

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint hearing opened with SB 1442, which would update the statute governing the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division and clarify its role as the state Medicaid provider of intensive mental health services for children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbance. The Department of Health testified in strong support, saying the current statute is outdated and warning against any unfunded mandate because the division relies on federal funding and faces uncertainty about future resources. Written testimony from several organizations also supported the bill. The committees took no immediate action and said they would hold decision-making until later. The hearing then moved to SB 479 on ABLE savings accounts. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Hawaii Disability Rights Center supported the measure, arguing that ABLE accounts help people with disabilities save money without losing benefits and that the state needs more outreach and staffing to expand participation. A testifier with a disability said the bill would help people keep Social Security and housing stability. The chair indicated an intention to move the bill forward, and asked about funding; the discussion settled on a requested appropriation of about $75,000 for incentives. Next, SB 1245 on reimbursement of pharmacists drew broad support from the Hawaii Pharmacists Association, rural pharmacies, the Hawaii Primary Care Association, and others, who said the bill would improve access to care, especially on neighbor islands and in rural communities, and help pharmacies participate in 340B-related services. The Insurance Division and HMSA raised concerns about bill language, saying it could be read to cover pharmacists outside an insurer’s network and that the scope of reimbursable services needed clarification; the pharmacists’ association said the bill is intended to apply only to in-network pharmacists and should continue to reference existing scope-of-practice law. The hearing also took up SB 1279, which would allow pharmacists to authorize medications via telehealth under certain circumstances. The State Board of Pharmacy opposed the bill, citing patient safety, a pilot project with reported errors, concerns about controlled substances and unregulated technicians, and the view that in-person pharmacist services are safer and already available on the affected islands. Several pharmacies and health care groups supported the measure as a way to preserve 340B access and improve service on Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi, while some local pharmacies said they already provide in-person service and opposed remote dispensing. No votes were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Everything from student aid. to university funding, to research funding, housing funding, Section 8 vouchers
• But in essence, having an emergency delegation to go to Washington, I know the governor is working. on
• We have been engaging both bipartisan members of our House delegation, as well as our senators, as well
• The students that are coming out of the engineering programs across California in this state, ensuring

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've had 89% acceptance from elementary and high school level students. So it's higher than beef.
• It’s for you to then delegate where you guys should go.
• It’s for you to then delegate where you guys should go.
• It’s for you to then delegate where you guys should go.
• where you guys you to then delegate where you guys should<00:26:58.240> go.

Bills: SB2350, SB2349, SB2407, SB3320

Keywords: agriculture, aquaculture, livestock, agribusiness, Department of Agriculture, regulatory functions, employee benefits, restorative practices, sustainability, environmental stewardship, local food systems, Native Hawaiian, workforce development, agricultural development, Hawaii Island, property manager, state employment, SB3320, Hawaii, Agribusiness Development Corporation

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SP 2350, which would transfer oversight of the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Development Division and the aquaculture and livestock support services branch to the Agribusiness Development Corporation. The Department of Agriculture and ADC both testified, with ADC opposing the bill as written while supporting the goal of strengthening agriculture. ADC said the transfer could create federal operational and coordination risks, jeopardize federal funding and program continuity, and was unnecessary because ADC is a business development entity, not a regulatory agency. The Hawaii Farmers Union also expressed concern that moving the programs could weaken the department’s ability to access federal resources, while the Hawaii Farm Bureau submitted written testimony and the Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association and H-Plan were noted as supporting the measure; the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council was noted as opposing it. Much of the discussion focused on aquaculture’s economic potential and the role of regulation, permitting, and funding. Committee members questioned why aquaculture had not grown faster, citing current gross revenues of about $66 million last year, a prior high of $82 million, and a possible long-term target of $500 million. Testimony identified permitting and feed costs as major barriers, along with market conditions and water quality issues affecting producers. ADC described ongoing efforts on feed development, permitting streamlining, coastal-state collaboration on seaweed and restorative aquaculture, and national advocacy for more parity in seafood import standards. Members also pressed the Department of Agriculture on its leadership and priorities, criticizing the lack of bills and resources dedicated to aquaculture and asking whether the department should have more authority to pursue land purchases and development opportunities. The department said it relies on divisions and industry feedback for bill ideas, noted it funds an annual aquaculture survey, and said it was pursuing congressional earmarks and other funding for aquaculture parks, research, and export/import issues. ADC said it would work with the department if the bill passed, but that its current statute does not give it regulatory authority and any such change would require a statutory amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also allows students to win awards and participate in service-based learning and more.
• But FFA is not just for students who want to be production farmers.
• to the education that the students are receiving doing to learn refers to the experiences that the students
• Our students earn some of the most rigorous industry certifications available.
• Okay, our students graduate college or are career ready.

Summary: The Agriculture Committee took up SB 806, the consumer and agricultural equipment right-to-repair bill by Senator Trumbull. Trumbull said the measure would expand repair options for portable wireless devices and farm equipment while protecting trade secrets. The committee adopted two amendments: one clarifying the bill does not apply to motor vehicles, and a technical staff amendment. Testimony was mixed: an Everglades Equipment representative opposed the bill, warning it could weaken local dealer support, reduce parts inventory, and increase downtime for farmers; the Consumer Technology Association also opposed the bill in its current form, citing concerns about a patchwork of state repair laws, private lawsuits, and inconsistent standards. The bill was reported favorably as CS for SB 806 by a roll call vote of 4-0, with Senator Rouson not voting. The committee then heard a presentation from Florida 4-H state officers Timmy Hawes, Summer Wayne, and Taylor Thigpin. They described 4-H as a youth development organization focused on citizenship and leadership, agriculture, STEM, and healthy living, serving more than 216,000 youth statewide. They highlighted personal stories about how 4-H built confidence, leadership, and entrepreneurship skills, and they outlined goals to grow participation to 300,000 youth and to invest in 4-H camps, especially Camp Cherry Lake and Camp Timpoochee, as year-round learning sites. Senators praised the program and asked questions about how youth get involved and what drives participation. Florida FFA state officers Hope Storder and Isabel Jenkins then presented on agricultural education and FFA. They explained FFA’s three-part model of classroom instruction, supervised agricultural experience, and leadership development, and noted that Florida now has more than 65,000 FFA members and that state funding has allowed all agricultural education students to participate at no cost. They emphasized agriculture’s role in feeding a growing population and discussed how technology, innovation, and urban agriculture can help meet future production needs. Senators commended the organization’s work and its role in preparing future leaders and agricultural professionals. At the end of the meeting, Senator Burton requested a group photo with the students, and the committee agreed.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Health trained 266 students.
• The MNERD Fire Services Training Program trained 2,747 students.
• These include the number of students trained in the training hours or their years; however, their student
• We do see a lot of our students; the majority of our students are at New Mexico schools for two reasons
• Summers delegated certain statutory responsibilities to Dr. Lee.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to manage those projects themselves, so we take that along, but under $250,000, we pretty easily delegate
• If they are, then we make the decision to delegate larger-value projects to those agencies.
• Every project in that program is delegated to the systems.
• Every project under the system, FPNC administers that program, but we delegate every project under that
• I certainly want to thank our federal delegation for raising the cap, but those are dollars that come

Summary: The committee met for an informational hearing focused largely on the state capital outlay process and House Bill 2. Roger Husser and Matt Baker of the Division of Administration/Facility Planning and Control described how the office prepares and administers the capital outlay bill, said the bill has grown substantially over five years, and argued that recent changes in culture, staffing, project management, cash-flow analysis, and use of third-party support have more than doubled project expenditures and improved delivery. Members asked about the use and cost of third-party project managers, delegation of smaller projects to agencies, hiring difficulties, and whether the changes represented better interpretation of existing law versus statutory changes. Husser said some statutes were amended, some internal customs were removed, and the office would provide a list of those changes. He also explained that the office is trying to move away from overly rigid practices and toward faster project completion while still following public-bid and oversight rules. A major portion of the discussion centered on the size and structure of the capital outlay bill, especially the gap between Priority 1 cash capacity and the much larger Priority 5 backlog. Husser said the current annual Priority 1 limit is tied to construction inflation and is about $574 million, with additional surplus funds also available, but that the bill contains far more Priority 5 funding than can realistically move in a five-year plan. He and members discussed dormant projects, scope creep, legacy projects that have sat in the bill for years, and the problem of false expectations for non-state entities. Proposed solutions included limiting Priority 5 to five times Priority 1, requiring annual re-endorsement by members, setting district or project caps for non-state projects, requiring time limits and reporting for grant-like non-state projects, placing matches in escrow, requiring design readiness before submission, and consolidating the many existing reporting requirements into one clearer report. Members also discussed bundling multiple projects under one agency project, which the House had begun piloting for LSU, UL Lafayette, Southern, and DOTD, and which Husser said could improve flexibility, reduce overappropriation, and better reflect actual spending. Baker then explained cash-flow management and the commitment process, saying FPC now analyzes projects annually to estimate what can actually be spent in the next fiscal year and uses commitments to allow projects to proceed when future-year funding is expected. He said overappropriations can result from poor cash-flow estimates, delays, dormant projects, or projects coming in under budget, and that the office is already reworking cash-flow assumptions and reappropriating savings where possible. Members also raised concerns about change orders and low bids; staff said project managers review change orders closely, require concurrence on non-state projects, and sometimes reduce scope to keep projects within budget. After FPC’s presentation, the committee heard the beginning of Louisiana Economic Development’s capital outlay discussion, where LED explained that its projects generally fall into three categories, including the Economic Development Awards Program and Site Readiness Program, both used to support targeted economic development and job creation.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Range delegation scrambled and went into action about how we can support the men and women of labor
• I want to thank the Range delegation. We'll keep it at that so I don't forget any names.
• ve been moving very quickly with the members that came down from the Range today, as well as the delegation
• The Range delegation stands committed in standing with us and working together, and I hope that in the
• steel workers who have been laid off peace of mind, and every other miner, business owner, family, student

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 3030 was taken up for discussion and amended with the A1 author’s amendment before moving forward. The bill was presented as an Iron Range package with three parts: a 26-week unemployment insurance extension for workers laid off by Cleveland-Cliffs, and two mining-related provisions dealing with safe storage of reactive mine waste and a site-specific sulfite standard. The authors said the bill was intended both to help laid-off workers immediately and to support the long-term future of mining jobs in the region. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive of the unemployment extension and the broader goal of preserving Iron Range jobs and communities. Representatives of affected workers, union leaders, a county commissioner, a tribal elder, and RAMS all described the layoffs as potentially long-term and warned of broader economic harm to families, local businesses, schools, and the region if mining jobs continue to decline. Several testifiers emphasized that mining is central to the Iron Range economy and argued that the bill would give workers time and hope while also helping keep people in the region. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency testified that it generally supported the bill’s intent but raised concerns about the environmental rulemaking language in Article 2, Section 2. MPCA said the provision would amount to a new major rulemaking, would require significant time and resources, and should be reviewed by the Environment, Natural Resources, Finance and Policy Committee. During member questions, one legislator said there was strong support for the UI extension in Article 1 but expressed concern about the environmental issues in Article 2 and asked why those provisions were not being reviewed by the environment committee. The meeting ended with public testimony closed and member questions beginning; no final vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And another speaking of holistic discussions here, we're in the final year of the Student Opportunity
• As it relates specifically to the Student Opportunity Act, our budget recommendation before you today
• For some of those communities that aren't as well benefited by the Student Opportunity Act.
• You have codified protections for immigrant students, English language learners, and students with disabilities
• In 2025, approximately 2,050 students registered for 135 OIG Academy classes.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The joint budget hearing opened the FY27 budget process with remarks from the Senate and House Ways and Means chairs, who described the fiscal outlook as challenging because of slow revenue growth, rising health care and other costs, and uncertainty from federal policy changes. Governor Healey and Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorzkowicz then presented House 2, a $62.8 billion budget that they said grows by about 1% and does not raise taxes or fees. They emphasized affordability, fiscal discipline, protection of core services, and continued investment in education, transportation, housing, child care, health care, and public safety. The administration also discussed a separate bill to delay and phase in certain federal tax-code changes from the so-called OB3 law, especially research and experimental expense provisions, to reduce immediate budget impacts and preserve competitiveness. A major portion of the hearing focused on education and municipal aid. The administration said House 2 provides about $7.6 billion for Chapter 70 aid, fully funds the final year of the Student Opportunity Act, increases special education circuit breaker funding, and raises rural school aid. Senators and representatives from both parties raised concerns that Chapter 70 and other aid formulas are not equitable for small, rural, and low-wealth communities and are not keeping pace with inflation, and several called for broader review of the formula and related funding streams. The governor and secretary said they are open to further discussion, pointed to additional support through rural aid, special education, transportation reimbursements, and minimum aid, and said total Student Opportunity Act investment would reach about $2.1 billion over the life of the law. Transportation, housing, and fair share spending were also central topics. The administration said fair share revenues are being used holistically, with education-heavy spending in the operating budget and transportation-heavy spending in the supplemental budget, and estimated the overall split to date at roughly 57% education and 43% transportation. They highlighted MBTA stabilization, regional transit authority support, microtransit, fare-free regional transit, and bridge and commuter rail investments, while noting the MBTA remains a major fiscal concern. On housing, the governor stressed production, permitting reform, ADUs, down-payment assistance, and support for public housing authorities, while lawmakers pressed for more funding for local housing authorities and for ways to address out-migration, energy costs, and affordability. The governor also said the administration will not withhold fire safety grants from communities over MBTA Communities Act noncompliance and will handle such issues case by case. No votes were taken at the hearing; it was an informational presentation and question-and-answer session.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's about meeting students where they are and giving them the tools to thrive.
• Their work ensures Texas schools have the resources. to give every student the chance to succeed.
• graduates to post high school education. opportunities, and had 41 students, members, 41 students named
• learning, student completion, gainful employment, parity, and affordability. ability.
• HB 213 by Gonzales of El Paso, relating to the inclusion of chronically absent students as students at

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The student athletes at West Virginia University have won the 2026 national rifle championship, giving
• The House delegates extended the credit to oil and gas and allowed the Secretary of the Department of
• Our children compete against those other students, and I think we should give them this opportunity for
• asking me, well, what will we do during all those other days when we're not in the classroom with our students

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate began with recognitions and introductions, including visiting first sergeants, congratulations to the WVU rifle team for its national championship, and a virtual introduction from France. The chamber then took up a series of House messages and conference actions on multiple bills, with Senator Lewis repeatedly explaining amendments and moving concurrence, nonconcurrence, or tabling as appropriate. On Senate Bill 197, relating to sexual abuse of a child by a person in a position of trust, the Senate initially considered a House amendment but ultimately withdrew its own amendment and tabled the bill. The chamber then passed several measures after concurring in House amendments, including SB 243 on a disaster repair and recovery tax credit, SB 427 on loan forms, SB 506 on county-owned wireless towers, SB 558 on school bus safety violations, SB 622 extending the mine safety technology tax credit, SB 705 on theft by conversion, SB 772 on moral obligations claims, SB 826 and SB 828 on supplemental appropriations, SB 886 on prescribed fire control, SB 977 on duty-related partial disability benefits, and Senate Joint Resolution 9 on a citizenship requirement for voting. Most of these amendments were described as technical or clarifying, and the bills passed overwhelmingly, often 34-0. The Senate rejected concurrence in the House amendment to SB 691 on utility relocation reimbursements, with Senator Lewis saying the House version would require reimbursement in most cases regardless of timeliness. On SB 133, clarifying the Agriculture Commissioner’s authority over state-owned land, the Senate also refused to concur in the House amendment because it would have shifted funds to general revenue. SB 890, changing school calendar requirements from days or months to hours, drew the only notable floor debate; Senator from the 13th opposed it as reducing instructional time, but the bill passed 26-8 and was made effective July 1, 2027. The session ended with a recess announcement and committee meeting notice.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill requires that students shall be sent to JJEP if a student assaults a teacher or if a student
• Currently students are not automatically sent to JJEP for either of these crimes.
• The conference held between the teacher, administrator, parent, and student under Chapter 37.00.
• students, they must explicitly be named in... ...in order to be included in any new programming.
• This will equate to about 40 additional... high school students enrolled in the FAST program.

Keywords: legislation, Senate Joint Resolution 40, Senate Bill 871, constitutional amendment, emergency powers, governor authority, legislative oversight

Summary: The meeting focused on several crucial pieces of legislation, notably Senate Joint Resolution 40, which proposed a constitutional amendment to clarify the powers of the governor, the legislature, and the Supreme Court during emergencies. Senator Birdwell presented the resolution, emphasizing the need for legislative involvement during prolonged crises. It garnered broad support, passing with 29 votes in favor and only 1 against. Following this, Senate Bill 871, considered the enabling legislation, was also moved for discussion, with the aim of reinforcing the legislature's authority during emergencies while establishing clear guidelines for the governor's powers.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I guess you've been around these students and so forth.
• So I guess you've been around these students and so forth.
• I think I can encourage students to try and find their own career path.
• Do we start with their students, with the parents getting more involved?
• It's like I remember when he was working at the beer league, so as a student.

Summary: The Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee met on May 20, 2026, with a quorum present and no minutes available for approval. The committee first heard HB 181, which would let the legislative auditor review income tax data to verify eligibility for Medicaid and, at LDH’s request, SNAP. The auditor said the work would be limited to internal data testing under sharing agreements and not disclosed to third parties. After questions about privacy and duplication, the bill was reported favorably to the floor without objection. The committee then took up HB 906 on presidential preference primaries and party nominating petitions. The Secretary of State and bill author said the measure would let major parties decide whether unaffiliated voters may participate in their primaries, with 180 days’ notice to the state, and would keep party rules consistent within presidential years so elections can be programmed properly. Several senators raised concerns that the bill would disenfranchise no-party voters and give parties too much control, but supporters said both major parties had approved the approach. The committee voted 4-3 to report the bill favorably. Members also advanced HB 398, which would require the judiciary to use the federal GSA meal per diem rate instead of the current higher state judicial rate; HB 1052, which strengthens confidentiality protections for child abuse investigations handled by child advocacy centers and multidisciplinary teams; HB 1245, which protects witness criminal history records from unintended public release in clerk of court records; HB 202, which requires state civil service or hiring agencies to notify applicants when a vacancy is filled or they are rejected; HB 540, which requires disclosure of paid digital election advertising; HB 9, designating stuffed shrimp as a Louisiana specialty; HB 1057, extending the validity of absentee-by-mail applications for military voters from one year to two; HB 225, proposing a constitutional amendment to limit governors to two lifetime terms; HB 177, allowing retired court reporters to contract with former public employers; and HB 459, requiring disclosure when campaign materials use AI, with amendments adopted after discussion of First Amendment and campaign finance concerns. The committee also rejected an amendment to HB 1057 that would have expanded Sunday early voting in certain parishes. After the bills, the committee held confirmation hearings for James Kelly and Charles Wilkinson to the Board of Supervisors of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, both of whom described education and workforce development backgrounds and were favorably received.