Transcript Highlights:

• of our student population.
• You can see that our students made steady gains, with elementary students moving.
• Participation in these programs continues to grow, and with every season, our students show what it means
• We have members of those groups here today, our students, and we're student-focused.
• Students are rising.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> I posed a risk to students. I posed a risk to students.
• </c> condition of the state's participation. condition of the state's participation.
• students students some<03:22:27.279><c> students</c><03:22:27.600><c> are</c><03:22:27.760><c> going
• </c> being shared by teachers and students. being shared by teachers and students.
• </c> protect our vulnerable students. protect our vulnerable students.

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• I was a pick student, and I had a 16-year-old.
• I was not the traditional student and could not be that traditional student.
• I'm a professor where I teach doctoral students in I'm a professor where I teach doctoral students in
• They have student tuition recovery fund.
• Participating in today's hearing, and we are adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Whether it's for a hospital, teachers, or students.
• That is exciting because it shows that students want to be on campus.
• need for our students.
• We already have 294,000 students receiving this for this year.
• And I see that there are 457,000-plus participants in the program.

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• It prohibits athletes currently participating in sports for men, boys, or males from also participating
• Between 2017 and 2022, only 16 transgender student athletes requested participation consistent with their
• We can set fair standards for participation in We can set fair standards for participation in sports,
• or Latino students.
• If our public school students should be tested to prove that they are learning, then our ESA students

Summary: The Senate met, opened with prayer and the pledge, and then handled a series of messages and floor actions. The chamber transmitted a large group of Senate bills to the governor and Senate Concurrent Memorial 1004 to the Secretary of State. It also received House requests to return Senate Bills 1175 and 1198 for reconsideration, which were granted without objection. The Senate then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider several House concurrent resolutions. On H.C.R. 2001, a constitutional referral on election requirements, senators debated a Judiciary Committee amendment and a Hoffman floor amendment that would require voter ID, allow election-day tabulation of early ballots at polling places, and require legislative funding for implementation. Supporters said the measure would improve election security, voter confidence, and speed up results; opponents argued it was vague, could undermine mail voting, and lacked clear implementation details. The amendment was adopted, and after further debate the Committee of the Whole gave H.C.R. 2001 a do-pass recommendation by a 15-12 vote. Later, on third reading, the full Senate passed H.C.R. 2001 by a 16-12 vote and transmitted it to the House. The chamber also considered H.C.R. 2003, a referral on student athletics and biological sex. Senator Ortiz offered a floor amendment to replace the blanket ban approach with rules based on athletic ability and inclusion; supporters said it would preserve fairness while avoiding discrimination, while opponents said it would gut the measure and weaken protections for girls’ sports. The Ortiz amendment failed 11-16, and H.C.R. 2003 then received a do-pass recommendation in Committee of the Whole and later passed third reading. H.C.R. 2044, a referral on prohibiting preferential treatment and discrimination, also received a do-pass recommendation without recorded controversy. The Senate then adjourned after completing the remaining procedural motions and votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• To help our students learn at an early age how to interact with other students with disabilities by teaching
• Will the parents be involved in the development and approval of that student code?
• The amendment also clarifies that a student need not be enrolled separately to participate.
• The amendment also clarifies that a student need not be enrolled separately to participate in the Money
• school districts may require of students participating in the Money Back Guarantee Program cannot exceed

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Summary: The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee heard and advanced a series of education-related bills, beginning with SB 540, the Evan B. Hartzell Act, which would require age-appropriate disability history and awareness instruction across grade bands. The committee adopted a delete-all amendment, heard emotional testimony from Melissa Hartzell about her son Evan’s experience with disability and inclusion, and reported the bill favorably. The committee also passed SB 1296, creating a pilot study on school cellphone bans; SB 1590, creating a task force to review educator preparation, certification, and professional learning; SB 1702, a broad education bill with provisions on private school facilities, marching band credit, school readiness reimbursements, and charter school monitoring tools; SB 1150, exempting school social workers from certain certification testing requirements; SB 1708, revising School of Hope rules and adding a Miami-Dade co-location framework; SB 822, updating charter school governance and operations; SB 444, requiring annual human trafficking awareness training for school personnel; and SB 742, expanding workforce development and money-back guarantee programs. Most of these bills were amended before being reported favorably by committee vote. The committee also considered and reported favorably SB 8, a claims bill providing a $1.2 million settlement for Marcus Button and his family arising from a 2006 Pasco County school bus crash that caused severe lifelong injuries. Senator Gaetz opposed claims bills in general, arguing the sovereign immunity cap should be raised so such cases can be resolved locally. Several bills drew questions and debate over implementation details, including concerns about charter school dress and hair policies under SB 822, the scope of human trafficking training under SB 444, and the zoning implications of private school facility provisions in SB 1702. Sponsor responses generally emphasized that the bills were intended to clarify existing policy or improve student safety, access, or educational outcomes. The committee also took up confirmation appointments. It recommended confirmation of the slate of appointees on Tabs 12 and 14 through 21 by voice vote, and separately recommended confirmation of Daniel Fogunoli to the State Board of Education after debate in which Senator Davis and Senator Osgood opposed the appointment. The meeting concluded with members recording additional votes, including Senator Burgess’s affirmative vote on SB 1150, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the agency is not going to be participating in that.
• So schools are responsible for helping students grow and develop and learn.
• Students grow and develop and learn.
• My son has very much enjoyed participating in autism pride events.
• This does not move a single outcome of a single student.

Bills: HB3415 , HB2206 , HB3414 , HB3265 , HB3310 , HB3413 , HB4486 , HB1219

Committee: Senate Retirement and Government Resources

Summary: The Senate Committee on Retirement and Government Resources met with a quorum and first took up two executive nominations for Ben Lepak, one to serve as Secretary of State and one to serve in the governor’s cabinet. Lepak described the Secretary of State office’s work on business filings, recordkeeping, and initiative petitions, and said the office’s career staff handled those duties well. Senators asked about fairness in the initiative petition process and administrative rules; Lepak emphasized transparency and ministerial, nonpolitical administration. Both nominations advanced on 8-0 votes. The committee then considered several House bills tied largely to government transparency and purchasing oversight. House Bill 3415 would require state entities to report contracts and subcontractors, include performance metrics, publicly post contracts and assessments, and document consultant outcomes; it passed 8-0 despite concerns about a $2 million fiscal impact and added OMES workload. House Bill 3414 would require OMES to identify whether contracts are service-based and create a digital warehouse for intangible assets; it passed 6-0. House Bill 3310 would authorize OMES payment-procedure rules, require invoice legitimacy checks and a 60-day payment window, and create compliance reporting with possible budget recommendations for noncompliance; it passed 7-0 after questions about appeals and penalties. House Bill 3413, requiring agencies to include more detail on contractors and consultants in annual budget submissions, also passed 7-0. The committee also approved House Bill 2206, which moves new school resource officers into a law-enforcement retirement system rather than teacher retirement, with testimony that it would help recruit officers and would apply only to new hires; it passed 6-0. House Bill 3265, which expands who can make PTSD disability determinations for first responders to include psychologists and certain licensed mental health professionals, passed 7-0 after discussion of psychiatrist shortages and concerns about diagnostic standards. House Bill 4486, authorizing a Gold Star monument at the Capitol funded by private donations, passed 7-0. Finally, House Bill 1219, barring state agencies and schools from using state funds or resources to promote LGBTQ or Pride Month events or fly the Pride flag, generated extensive debate over its impact on outreach, public health, education, and LGBTQ Oklahomans; it passed 5-2 and the committee adjourned with notice of a larger agenda the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> simply a bill that puts students simply a bill that puts students teachers<00:04:41.479><c> and<
• And next we have Christine Hogan. and students safe it is the only system and students safe it is the
• </c> unfortunately leaves our students unfortunately leaves our students vulnerable<00:08:32.399><c>
• Same thing with students and staff.
• </c><01:28:16.719><c> 18</c><01:28:17.040><c> or</c> adult student if the student is 18 or adult student

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> if they have paid off their student if they have paid off their student loans<00:55:45.400><c> to
• </c><00:55:56.039><c> loan</c> off their student loan off their student loan try<00:55:57.640><c> to<
• </c> on line 12 and 13 it says their student on line 12 and 13 it says their student loan<00:56:12.319
• </c> most people if you stick with it student most people if you stick with it student loans<01:17:33.920
• <01:35:46.199><c> except</c><01:35:46.560><c> for</c> participating except for participating except for

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• I have had a mixed caseload of adults, students, and IPS, as well as, most recently, an all-student caseload
• </c><01:19:42.440><c> and</c> mixed case load of adults students and mixed case load of adults students
• </c><01:35:22.960><c> with</c><01:35:23.119><c> disability</c> with students with disability with students
• This would simplify the process for those participating.
• Grant funds for participating school districts.

Bills: HF1538 , HF1965 , HF2251 , HF2838

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

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> harm student harm to student registry. harm student harm to student registry.
• </c> student, my two children's education. student, my two children's education.
• </c><01:13:06.640><c> All</c> students. It's a cost that we pay. All students.
• </c> dyslexic students. Thank you. dyslexic students. Thank you.
• student is struggling.

Summary: The committee on Education met on February 17 and announced it would limit public testimony to one minute because more than a thousand testimonies were expected on one measure. The first bill heard was HB 1934, relating to the Imagination Library of Hawaii. The state librarian and Friends of the Library supported the bill, saying the program is a proven, cost-effective way to improve early literacy and should be expanded statewide for children ages 0 to 5. Friends of the Library said the current 50/50 match requirement would be too difficult to meet immediately and asked for state funding for the first few years to help launch the expansion. Testimony included eight supporters and one opponent, and members asked whether the proposal was an expansion of an existing program; the state librarian said it would expand service beyond currently targeted communities. The committee then heard HB 20004, which would extend the floating librarian pilot program. The state librarian, Department of Education, HSTA, and several individuals testified in support. Supporters said the program helps address staffing needs and improves student readiness, especially for college and information literacy. One retired community college librarian said school librarians help students prepare for college and are increasingly important in teaching critical evaluation of misinformation and AI-generated content. Members asked about implementation of the existing pilot, including recruitment of certified librarians for neighbor island and Oahu complex areas; DOE said those positions had been identified and recruitment was underway, and existing funds remained intact. The final major discussion was HB 2398, which clarifies the library system’s role in RNMSP-related projects and public library construction on or near school land. The state librarian and public library system supported the bill, while the Department of Education and Attorney General’s office raised concerns about vague language, especially the phrase “land controlled by the board,” and suggested amendments. In questioning, the state librarian explained that the bill was prompted by conflicts on shared or adjacent school/public library sites, including traffic, pickup and drop-off access, and other operational issues. DOE described significant disruption from one project’s traffic changes and said planning for such projects should involve early coordination and formal agreements. The state librarian responded that the new bill would clarify oversight and help avoid delays and disputes over property control and future renovations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Forty percent of the students.
• For non-resident online students, ensuring Florida’s taxpayers are not subsidizing out-of-state students
• It expands funding use to support marketing and outreach efforts to increase student participation for
• “Our Black students make up 83% of that population, that student body over there, where our White students
• students make up 4%.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education first took up a block of confirmation hearings for trustees and board members at several public universities and state colleges. Appointees from Florida A&M University, Florida International University, New College of Florida, Pasco-Hernando State College, South Florida State College, Valencia College, Florida Atlantic University, and the University of Florida described their backgrounds and emphasized themes such as governance, student success, workforce alignment, fiscal stewardship, research growth, and institutional reputation. Members asked a few questions, but most nominees received no substantive opposition. The committee then voted unanimously to recommend confirmation of the group of appointees on tabs 3 through 18 and forwarded them to Ethics and Elections. The committee next heard Senate Bill 114 by Senator Trumbull, which would create the Florida Center of Excellence in Insurance and Risk Management at Florida State University, move the public hurricane loss projection model from FIU to FSU, and provide funding for the effort. Trumbull said the bill is intended to strengthen the state’s insurance research capacity and broaden study of insurance lines beyond wind risk. Senators asked about the impact on FIU and the distinction between the new center and existing FIU work; Trumbull said FIU’s Wall of Wind would remain and that the state-owned model would simply be contracted to FSU instead of FIU. The committee reported the bill favorably. The committee then considered Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1624 by Senator Calatayud, a wide-ranging higher education bill addressing tuition, workforce programs, institutional operations, and naming changes. Amendments were adopted to create state college regional consortium service organizations for rural colleges, remove a proposed out-of-state fee change for nonresident online students, extend university master plan update cycles from five to 10 years, and rename Hillsborough Community College as Hillsborough College. The bill also changed several references from specific minority categories to “underrepresented,” revised aid and waiver provisions, adjusted adult education and career program rules, and made other technical changes. Senators Smith and Davis questioned the shift away from enumerated categories, arguing it could obscure disparities affecting groups such as Black students, women in STEM, and students with disabilities; Calatayud said the intent was to focus on socioeconomic access and flexibility for institutions. After debate, the committee voted 6-2 to report the bill favorably, with Senators Davis and Smith voting no, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• She is a poly-sci student and a future lawyer.
• At the same time, the number of young people participating in school sports is on the rise.
• Coaches also are trusted adults in students' lives.
• The bill will equip coaches who see and interact closely with student athletes to recognize when a student
• And this water district participates in the MET program, I believe.

Summary: The Assembly convened after initially lacking a quorum, then completed the prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, journal motions, and a long series of procedural actions, including suspending rules to move bills and approve a large Appropriations Committee hearing list. Members also made several guest introductions, including Shannon Lee, district staff from Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez’s office, and later guests tied to agritourism and education recognitions. The floor debate centered heavily on AJR 31, a resolution urging Congress to restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Supporters argued that recent Supreme Court decisions and redistricting efforts in other states were weakening Black and other minority representation and that California should take a clear stand for voting rights. Opponents argued the measure promoted racial division, conflicted with equal protection principles, and that districts should be drawn based on place or communities of interest rather than race. After a contentious debate with repeated parliamentary warnings over decorum, the Assembly suspended the rules to take up the resolution, added coauthors, and passed AJR 31 by a vote of 58-8. The Assembly then moved through a series of bills and resolutions, generally approving them with little or no opposition. These included AB 2341 clarifying emergency language translation rules for local agencies; AB 1816 extending court supervision for certain sex-offender rehabilitation programs; AB 2561 protecting consumer privacy settings on phones and digital devices; ACR 167 recognizing World Agritourism Day; ACR 190 recognizing California Day of the Teacher; AB 1581 improving identification of Native American students in public schools; AB 1586 requiring opioid overdose prevention training for school resource officers and safety planning; AB 1665 requiring mental health training for school coaches; AB 1693 streamlining retail tenant-improvement permitting; AB 1768 authorizing a local tax measure related to health funding; AB 1712 facilitating a water-system sale for Santa Fe Springs; AB 1792 addressing sexually exploitive AI imagery in health education; and AB 1822 prioritizing school projects that address extreme heat. Most measures passed overwhelmingly, several unanimously, and the resolution on agritourism and the teacher day were adopted by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Primarily, students who participate in these virtual education programs are full-time.
• that participate in a full-time virtual education program as a virtual education student, and to be
• You’ve had success in engaging, and so those students are able to participate in band.
• </c><03:28:57.680><c> in</c> students are able to participate in students are able to participate in
• /c><03:39:56.239><c> participating</c><03:39:56.880><c> in</c> And a student who is participating in

Committee: Joint Education

Transcript Highlights:

• I have participated in IEP ...to be flexible with how to provide services to students.
• Simply put, SSD is a lifeline for my students, one that has supported students and communities across
• Louis County, about 800 students.
• You don't see the students. Why are those students not here? Ask yourself that question.
• Louis County for students.

Committee: House General Laws

Transcript Highlights:

• , homeless students, and foster care students.
• Even here in Washington State, we see that Black students, students with different needs, LGBTQIA+ students
• It bans student risk scores.
• By doing so, we help create safer learning environments and prepare students to participate thoughtfully
• What I experienced as a student is not something I want for students in Washington.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 5901, which would change the school construction assistance program so that instructional space on military bases is excluded from a district’s available space inventory when calculating state construction aid. Staff explained the bill would also require state assistance to equal approved project cost minus federal funding received. Senator Christian said the measure is intended to prevent military-base facilities from unfairly reducing districts’ ability to modernize or build schools. Testimony in support came from OSPI, Clover Park School District, and Medical Lake School District, which said the current formula penalizes districts serving military families and can leave them unable to secure needed renovation funding. No opposition was heard, and the bill was later described as having an indeterminate fiscal impact. The committee then took up Senate Bill 5860 on school board compensation. The bill would raise director pay from $50 to $100 per day, increase the annual cap, allow child care expenses to be reimbursed, require OFM to periodically adjust compensation, and direct WASDA to develop finance training for school directors. Senator Cortez said the changes are needed to broaden who can serve on school boards and to help working families participate. Supporters from OSPI, WASDA, and South Sound superintendents said compensation could improve diversity and help recruit and retain board members, though WASDA noted concerns about diverting district funds and said its members do not have consensus on mandatory training. Opponents argued the bill would misuse levy funds and that child care and other expenses should not be paid from local education levies. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5956 on artificial intelligence, student discipline, and surveillance in schools, which would bar automated systems from being the sole basis for discipline decisions, prohibit risk scores and biometric surveillance, require OSPI guidance updates, and direct WASDA to create model policy. Senator Nobles and supporters said the bill is needed to protect students from discriminatory and inaccurate AI-driven decisions; no vote was taken in the hearing. Finally, the committee heard a proposed substitute for Senate Bill 5574, which would require districts to include instruction on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, Latino American, and Black American history in required social studies courses during the regular curriculum review cycle, with reporting beginning in 2030. Senator Nobles said the bill is meant to address exclusion and bias in history education and to help students see themselves reflected in the curriculum. Testifiers from education, student, parent, and community groups overwhelmingly supported the measure, saying it would improve belonging, reduce bullying, and build on existing curriculum resources without creating a new course or major new cost. The hearing ended without a vote or other formal action on SB 5956 or SB 5574.

Transcript Highlights:

• I’m Ross Colbrook, a law student with the Workers’ Rights Clinic at Seattle University.
• It authorizes commerce to enter into an agreement with participating, Self-attestation.
• Large energy users have long been expected to participate in grid stability.
• union and join their academic student employee counterparts.
• I'm Carlton Redpath, and I'm an academic student employee or a non-academic student employee at Western

Bills: HB2521 , HB2249 , HB1796

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: firearms, background check, gun control, public safety, legislation, HB 2249, Washington Technology Solutions, WaTech, civil service, classified service, exempt employees, state employment, state personnel, network security, cybersecurity, information technology, IT contracting, data center, systems integration, network engineering

Transcript Highlights:

• The number of students that we gained the first year was around 2,000 students who came online for the
• I told him he had to come on campus because he wasn't a UNM student yet and had to do new student orientation
• Again, not what our students need. Our focus should be closest to students.
• That is what most affects our students.
• law student.

Committee: Senate Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:52.159><c> no</c> makes sure that all of our students no makes sure that all of our students
• This bill, which seeks to bar transgender students from participating in sports consistent with their
• This bill, which seeks to bar transgender students from participating in sports consistent with their
• higher</c> students who participate have higher students who participate have higher grade<01:15:12.719
• Trans women participate in women's sports; trans girls participate in girls' sports.

Transcript Highlights:

• The number of students benefiting from reimbursable services and the number of schools participating
• They do have to optionally choose to participate.
• There's no mandate on the school districts to participate. But no, it won't be 100%.
• They do have to optionally choose to participate.
• We are asking for a one-time appropriation and students with mental health services.