Transcript Highlights:

• As we prepare to close out another week, we humbly ask for you to order our steps.
• As<00:01:13.840><c> we</c><00:01:13.960><c> prepare</c><00:01:14.440><c> to</c><00:01:14.600><c> close
• </c><00:01:14.920><c> out</c><00:01:15.080><c> another</c><00:01:15.440><c> week,</c> As we prepare to
• close out another week, As we prepare to close out another week, we<00:01:16.560><c> humbly</c><00:01
• </c><00:25:16.600><c> Jason</c> today with their history teacher Jason today with their history teacher

Transcript Highlights:

• It impacts teachers. It impacts programs.
• This amendment requires the bureaucrats at OSPI to be prepared.
• That means less special ed teachers.
• It is a long-time conversation between administration and their teachers.
• The Speaker is prepared to rule on Amendment 2653.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6244 , SB6044 , SB5109 , SB5877 , SB6258

Summary: The House first took up Substitute Senate Bill 6225, a transportation bond measure. Supporters said it was needed to fund preservation and maintenance of Washington’s transportation system, including road upkeep and emergency repairs, while opponents argued the state had already addressed current needs through a recent unanimous budget and existing bond authority. The bill passed final passage 59-38, meeting the required three-fifths vote. The House then considered Gross Substitute Senate Bill 6260, an education budget-related bill with many floor amendments focused on transition to kindergarten, alternative learning experience (ALE) funding, local effort assistance (LEA), educational service district reserves, superintendent pay, MSOC funding, and collective bargaining limits. Most proposed amendments were rejected, though Amendment 2654 on TK priorities was adopted. After the committee amendment as amended was adopted, the bill advanced to third reading and then passed 50-47. Supporters described it as a necessary budget reduction and risk-management measure; opponents argued it cut K-12 funding too deeply, especially in rural and property-poor districts, and would worsen inequities and invite litigation. The House also concurred in Senate amendments and passed several other bills. House Bill 1796, about school construction financing and capital levy use, passed 95-2. Second Substitute House Bill 2105, dealing with immigrant worker protections, passed 58-38. Engrossed House Bill 2211, on food sourcing for a health-related program, passed unanimously. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2225, regulating companion chatbots and child safety, passed 74-21. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2247, related to animal care, passed unanimously. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2418, streamlining permitting timelines to support housing affordability, also passed unanimously. The House then moved on to additional Senate-concurred bills, beginning with Second Substitute House Bill 1906.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><01:01:00.400><c> the</c> experts on the ground, the teachers, the experts on the ground, the teachers
• </c><01:07:00.880><c> development</c> interventions, and teacher development interventions, and teacher
• That will mean less services, teachers.
• /c><01:26:17.679><c> the</c><01:26:17.840><c> next</c> teachers as they prepare for the next teachers
• </c> um we have current and retired teachers um we have current and retired teachers of<01:27:50.719>

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> current teachers. current teachers.
• </c> &gt;&gt; other than I know the part-time teacher &gt;&gt; other than I know the part-time teacher
• We need teachers. We need need doctors. We need teachers. We need social<02:06:38.560><c> workers.
• And that's what the workforce PEL program does. preparation. Um with respect to um preparation.
• </c> being shared by teachers and students. being shared by teachers and students.

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, thank you. to their teachers lure field the to their teachers lure field the master's<00
• My name is Stevie Middlebrook, and I'm a second grade teacher at Metro Deaf School.
• Minnesota has only one teacher preparation program for deaf and hard of hearing education.
• Minnesota has only one teacher preparation program for deaf and hard of hearing education.
• </c> Minnesota has only one teacher Minnesota has only one teacher preparation<01:02:01.000><c> program

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm with Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Schools, and I'm a multi-tiered systems of support teacher on special
• I'm with Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Schools, and I'm a multi-tiered systems of support teacher on special
• </c><00:19:22.960><c> data</c> bi-weekly meeting meetings prepares data bi-weekly meeting meetings prepares
• I was a teacher for 25 years, and you know, you got to know your kids.
• I was a teacher for 25 years, and you know, you got to know your kids.

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair is preparing to close the roll.
• Those wishing to vote or change your vote, the chair is preparing to close.
• The chair is preparing to close the roll.
• The chair is preparing to close. Okay. Close the vote.
• The chair is preparing to close. Close the roll. Close the roll.

Bills: HCR1006 , SB1226 , SB1239 , SB1309 , SB2132 , SB1189 , SB1344 , SB1295 , SB1355 , SB1998 , SB1330 , SB1297 , SB1338 , SB1546 , SB1378 , SB1859 , SB1333 , SB1341 , SB1377 , SB1990

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer, and handled several floor introductions, including recognition of an intern, visiting FFA members, and later a Sand Springs state championship football team and Murray County visitors. The chamber also laid over Senate Bill 2067 and adopted a unanimous-consent request to bring HCR 1006 directly to calendar. HCR 1006, which calls on Congress to propose a constitutional amendment giving states more control over campaign and ballot-initiative money, passed by voice vote. Senate Bill 1226, expanding hit-and-run scene-retention requirements to include property damage, passed 47-0. Senate Bill 1239, dealing with transportation-related statutory cleanup and extending a sunset date for structurally deficient bridge funding from 2026 to 2031, was amended twice, advanced, and passed 44-2, then was approved as an emergency measure. Senate Bill 1309, adjusting the amount that may be reserved from the Roads Fund for debt service, advanced and passed 46-0 as an emergency measure. Later, Senate Bill 2132, increasing a justice surcharge on credit-card point-of-sale transactions from 2% to 3%, passed 28-17; Senator Hall recorded a personal-interest abstention. The Senate then confirmed Daniel LaFortune to the Oklahoma Tax Commission by a 44-1 roll call vote. The body concluded by moving to adjourn until Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. when the clerk’s desk is clear.

Transcript Highlights:

• Teachers are afraid as well.
• </c> more data coming out um that teachers more data coming out um that teachers are<00:12:53.200><c>
• </c> lot of this on the backs of our teachers lot of this on the backs of our teachers in<00:13:06.880
• </c><01:32:50.320><c> are</c> training and ensure our teachers are training and ensure our teachers are
• We have very good teachers.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Recent raises for teachers and stuff, a lot of our teachers were also at that metric.
• better prepared to teach math.
• better prepared to teach math.
• And what we've got to do is get every teacher to believe that he or she is a reading teacher.
• </c><01:40:21.679><c> and</c> teacher so if I'm a science teacher and teacher so if I'm a science teacher

Transcript Highlights:

• So, you guys look that over as you're preparing your CD1. We can combine it.
• We took out the preparation language and it does have a clean date.
• We took out the preparation a CD1.
• </c><00:16:15.800><c> Yes,</c> You want to prepare a CD for that?
• Yes, You want to prepare a CD for that?

Bills: SB2876 , SB3253 , SB2125 , SB2781 , HB549 , HB1768 , SB2053 , SB2494 , SB2851 , SB3073 , HB1678 , HB1721 , HB2475 , HB2246 , HB1667 , HB1516 , SB2532 , SB3131 , SB3154 , HB2297 , HB1737 , SB2143 , SB2398 , SB2623 , HB1740 , HB1920 , HB1682 , SB2153 , SB3140 , HB1515 , SB2835 , HB2282 , SB3083 , SB2031 , SB2519 , SB2667 , SB2140 , SB2544 , SB2069 , SB2697 , SB874 , SB2043 , SB888 , SB2721 , HB2152 , HB1334 , HB2385 , HB1643 , HB2314 , HB1688 , HB1692 , SB2568 , SB2983 , SB2108 , SB3136 , HB1959 , SB3156 , HB1511 , HB1753 , HB1824 , HB2137 , HB1810 , HB2279 , HB2309 , HB1548 , HB2078 , HB2293 , SB3262 , SB2169 , SB2607 , SB2964 , SB3255 , HB2576 , HB1481 , HB1864 , HB1550 , SB2818 , SB3067 , SB2061 , HB1728 , HB1881 , HB2361 , HB2395 , HB1823 , SB2050 , SB2397 , SB2175 , SB2852 , SB847 , SB3001

Transcript Highlights:

• I am very impressed by, it's obvious to me, to watch those meetings how much input and preparation goes
• Do you have an idea of what other states do in preparation for making sure that they have an accurate
• And so had we allocated this amount before 2020 to be able to get prepared... ...allocated this amount
• before 2020 to be able to get prepared, it looks like that there would have been about a, I think, well
• scholarshiping amount for students who are entering our teacher prep programs and colleges of ed or

Bills: SB1189 , SB1295 , SB1297 , SB1330 , SB1333 , SB1338 , SB1341 , SB1344 , SB1355 , SB1377 , SB1378 , SB1546 , SB1859 , SB1946 , SB1990 , SB1998

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Summary: The committee met in an appropriations setting and first laid over Senate Bill 1946. It then advanced Senate Bill 1344, creating an insulin access affordability program at the Health Department, on a 19-1 vote. Senate Bill 1295, establishing a Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board revolving fund and database, was amended to delete a section and then passed 21-0. Senate Bill 1355, creating a program for memorials and headstones for eligible National Guard veterans, also passed unanimously. Members then advanced several other measures, including Senate Bill 1998 to help smaller towns qualify for quality events incentives, Senate Bill 1330 raising Pardon and Parole Board salaries, Senate Bill 1297 creating a decennial census revolving fund to support outreach for the 2030 census, and Senate Bill 1189 extending the school security fund for three more years at $50 million annually. The committee also passed Senate Bill 1338 making the Heroes Literacy Instructional Team permanent, and Senate Bill 1546 increasing scholarship support for teacher preparation students. Additional bills passed included Senate Bill 1378 creating the Olympics and Oklahoma Revolving Fund, Senate Bill 1859 creating an OSBI cyber crime and fraud unit fund, Senate Bill 1341 creating a Career Counseling Revolving Fund, Senate Bill 1377 directing DHS to provide bags for foster children’s belongings, and Senate Bill 1990 broadening the Incentive Evaluation Commission’s comparative analysis of incentives. Several bills had appropriations stripped by amendment at the chair’s request before passage, and the committee repeatedly discussed fiscal impacts, local matching expectations, transparency, and whether programs should remain state-funded or rely on local or philanthropic support. The meeting ended with adjournment and notice of a meeting the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are teachers. Our children do teach us every day. There are teachers.
• Our children do teach us every day, and they are the real teachers.
• I prepare his meals. I take him to doctor's appointments.
• I prepare his meals. I take him to doctor's appointments.
• We know that when caregivers feel prepared, they stay on the job.

Bills: HB2337 , HB2311 , HB2088 , HB2148 , HB2132

Committee: House Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Keywords: training requirements, caregiving, family member, individual providers, home care, workforce education, investment accountability, administrative changes, oversight, education policy, nutritional health, dietetic professionals, licensure compact, interstate practice, healthcare regulation, education, pay it forward program, tuition, student loans, financial aid

Transcript Highlights:

• There are teachers. Our children do teach us every day. There are teachers.
• Our children do teach us every day, and they are the real teachers.
• I prepare his meals. I take him to doctor's appointments.
• I prepare his meals. I take him to doctor's appointments.
• We know that when caregivers feel prepared, they stay on the job.

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on HB 2337, which would repeal the planned 2027 requirement that certain family-member long-term care providers complete annual continuing education. Rep. Barnard said the bill was intended to reduce burdens on relatives caring for one loved one and to avoid forcing them into courses that are often not relevant to the person they support. Supportive testimony from family providers and disability advocates emphasized that family caregivers already receive individualized training from doctors and therapists, that the available course library is often geared toward aging-related care rather than developmental disabilities, and that mandatory CE could create compliance barriers and risk losing caregivers. Opponents, including SEIU 775 representatives and family caregivers who support the current system, argued that continuing education improves care quality, helps caregivers stay prepared as needs change, and should remain mandatory; they also said the state had already responded to prior concerns by expanding the course catalog and allowing repeat courses for credit. No action was taken on HB 2337. The committee then heard HB 2311, a technical bill making administrative changes to the Workforce Education Investment and Accountability and Oversight Board. The bill would extend co-chair terms, allow more than four meetings per year, shift consultation on workforce investment effectiveness to the Student Achievement Council, and eliminate the requirement for a public data dashboard. The bill sponsor and supporters from WASAC, Microsoft, and the United Faculty of Washington State said the changes would improve board operations and oversight, while also raising broader concerns that WEA funds have been used to supplant general fund support for higher education. Testimony noted the dashboard had not been funded and that WASAC already tracks related metrics through other tools. No vote was taken on HB 2311 during the hearing. The committee then moved to executive action on HB 2132, which limits disclosure and retention of personally identifying information in WASFA records. An amendment by Rep. Levitt was adopted to allow the Student Achievement Council to share applicant information with entities beyond higher education institutions under binding data-sharing agreements. The committee then adopted the amended substitute bill and voted it out of committee. The final roll call was 9-8 in favor, and Substitute HB 2132 was reported out with a do pass recommendation. The committee also announced that executive action on HB 288 and HB 2148 would be delayed and that no action would be taken on those bills that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are the teachers who can come to our location.
• And so teachers all throughout the Twin Cities, but we also have teachers who will drive down from Duluth
• Those are the teachers who can students.
• And so teachers come to our location.
• It's direct support to students and teachers, and we operate with a 95% efficiency ratio.

Bills: HF1972 , HF229 , HF1090 , HF1084 , HF1307 , HF1274 , HF1609 , HF2110 , HF211 , HF216 , HF222 , HF224 , HF225 , HF203 , HF206 , HF207 , HF208 , HF227 , HF246 , HF427 , HF466 , HF502 , HF680 , HF971

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• The Sergeant-at-Arms will prepare the chamber and bring in the absent members.
• The Sergeant-at-Arms will prepare the chamber and bring in the absent members.
• Jasmine Baines, as she prepares to leave the California State Assembly.
• Tom, as you prepare for this next chapter and as your family prepares for the wonderful milestone of
• She brings the perspective of a teacher to the work. She asks questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Restoring $15 million for teacher resource and computer training centers.
• As a former high school teacher, obviously, I'm concerned about education, and I think the possibilities
• AS A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER, OBVIOUSLY, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT EDUCATION, AND I THINK THE POSSIBILITIES
• Scores to go up, we want a great curriculum, good teachers, good administration, the facilities, school
• THESE SCHOOLS AND THE STAFF, THE TEACHERS, AND THE OTHER ADMINISTRATORS WHO PROVIDE SERVICES.

Summary: The Education Budget Conference Joint Committee met on March 18 to begin negotiations on the state education budget. Co-chairs Senator Shelley Mayer and Assembly Member Benedetto outlined their chambers’ priorities, with the Senate emphasizing Foundation Aid changes to better support students experiencing homelessness or foster care, English language learners, a minimum 2% increase for all districts, expanded universal pre-K, and continued support for special education programs and nonpublic schools. The Assembly highlighted its one-house proposal, including a $1.4 billion increase in Foundation Aid, a higher ELL and pupil needs weighting, a new weight for students in foster care or housing instability, removal of the pupil needs cap, $600 million for New York City class size reduction, additional community schools funding, and restorations or increases for libraries, teacher resource centers, 4201 schools, My Brother’s Keeper, and educational television and radio. Members from both chambers offered opening remarks stressing education as a top budget priority and expressing confidence that a compromise could be reached. Senator Tedisco focused on school safety and bullying, arguing that parents should be notified when their children are bullied and citing the need to protect students’ ability to learn. Assembly Member Vanel emphasized education as a tool for economic mobility and called for stronger financial literacy instruction. Assembly Member Carroll supported funding for libraries and evidence-based reading programs, while Assembly Member Smith said the Foundation Aid formula remains outdated and urged more support for English language learners, special education, and community schools. Assembly Member Chludzinski stressed local control, criticized the electric school bus mandate, and called for greater support for libraries and fiscal restraint. No votes were taken. The meeting was an opening conference session, with both sides stating their intent to continue negotiations and work toward an on-time budget that reflects shared priorities for students, schools, and libraries across New York State.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's part of a global education agreement with the Senate to increase teacher pay by $2,000 by increasing
• if we're struck with the tie to the Parental Choice Tax Credit, is the wording for only classroom teacher
• Chair's preparing to close. Hill, aye. Leader West, would you care to vote?
• Chair's preparing to close. Hill, aye. Ford and Munson, do you care to vote? Newton? Newton, aye.
• Chair's preparing to close the queue. Shriver, Caldwell, would you care to vote? Declare the vote.

Bills: SB169 , SB201 , SB1290 , SB1377 , SB1991 , SB2060

Committee: House Appropriations and Budget

Summary: The committee took up several Senate bills and adopted multiple amendments, including a contested amendment process on Senate Bill 201. An objection was raised that an amendment had not been filed by the prior-day deadline under Rule 76C, but the chair ruled the objection not well taken, citing the chair’s authority to waive the timing requirement. The amendment to the amendment, offered by Speaker Hilbert, deleted Section 2 of the bill, removing statutory language that tied the teacher-pay measure to House Bill 3705 and the broader budget agreement. Members discussed that the underlying agreement still linked the measures politically, including a $25 million increase to the Parental Choice Tax Credit and a $2,000 increase to the minimum salary schedule for teachers. After clarification that the bill applied to certified personnel except for positions listed in the amendment, SB 201 passed the committee 29-0. The committee then approved Senate Bill 1290, which strengthens the 211 hotline system by clarifying oversight, improving coordination and service delivery, addressing access gaps, and supporting better funding and emergency responsiveness. Senate Bill 169 also passed after amendment; it increases longevity pay for state employees by 50% for designated years of service beginning in fiscal year 2027. Senate Bill 1377, which requires DHS to provide duffel bags to children in foster care as part of the budget, passed after members asked whether the bags would remain the child’s property and whether the bags would be standardized; the sponsor said the bags would belong to the child but did not know the procurement details. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 1991, described as an OMES/Oklahoma cleanup bill that consolidates existing functionality and revenues under a common umbrella without changing the substantive sources or purposes of the funds. After a question confirming it was only a cleanup measure, the bill passed 29-0. Senate Bill 2060 was laid over until the next day, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um when that happened um the teachers.
• And I actually prepared stop the bleed.
• But his teachers quickly started to realize how counterproductive that was.
• Teachers<01:21:49.520><c> face</c><01:21:49.760><c> more</c><01:21:50.000><c> classroom</c> Teachers
• And often I'm hearing teachers say that they see it's a big concern in indoor recess.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair is preparing to close. Chair is preparing to close. Close the roll.
• Chair is preparing to close. Chair is preparing to close. Close the roll.
• Chair is preparing to close. Chair is preparing to close. Close roll.
• Chair's preparing to close. Chair's preparing to close. Chair's preparing to close.
• Chair's preparing to close. Senator Nice. Chair's preparing to close.

Bills: SB1778 , SB1570 , SB134 , SB1966 , SB1636 , SB1725 , SB1726 , SB259 , SB504 , SB592 , SB2030 , SB1572 , SB843 , SB1242 , SB1255 , SB1262 , SB1264 , SB1286 , SB1581 , SB1290 , SB1316 , SB1319 , SB1369 , SB1379 , SB1381 , SB1400 , SB1427 , SB1436 , SB1461 , SB1496 , SB1509 , SB1534 , SB1553 , SB904 , SB1592 , SB1645 , SB1684 , SB1767 , SB1772 , SB1813 , SB1894 , SB1928 , SB1946 , SB1980 , SB2040 , SB2060 , SB2061

Summary: The Senate first handled several gallery introductions recognizing visiting groups, including Muskogee Day, domestic violence advocates, Wagner High School leadership students, the Bixby Chamber and football team, and the Heartland Home Educators co-op. The chamber also adopted a motion to suspend debate rules for the remainder of the day so third-reading bills could be debated under shortened time limits. Senate Bill 134, which shortens the waiting period for Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System retirees to return to public employment from one year to six months, drew questions about “double dipping,” actuarial impact, and workforce shortages. The author said the bill was requested by the Association of County Commissioners to help counties retain experienced workers, noted an actuarial estimate that the system would drop from 107% to 105% funded, and explained there were no special safeguards beyond existing limits. The bill advanced and then passed 47-0. Senate Bill 196, a measure naming multiple bridges, highways, and interchanges for veterans, law enforcement officers, and other honorees, was presented as a personal bill by the author, including a bridge named for his grandfather. After brief questions, it advanced and passed 47-0. Senate Bill 1636, which allows immediate family members or similar individuals to request OSBI review of cold homicide cases after a local law enforcement case-file review, also advanced after questions about eligibility, timing, and workload; supporters said it would give families a path to seek answers in long-unsolved cases. It passed 47-0. The chamber then considered Senate Bill 1725, which addresses expressive activity on higher-education campuses by allowing content-neutral security fees, limiting discipline to narrowly defined harassment, and requiring free speech training for first-year students. Debate centered on campus free speech, university accountability, and whether the bill would add costs or sufficient enforcement; it passed 40-17 and was advanced as an emergency measure. Senate Bill 1726, a companion bill requiring training for graduate assistants who teach, emphasizing classroom management, academic integrity, and viewpoint neutrality, passed 41-7 and was also advanced as an emergency measure. Finally, Senate Bill 259, a long-debated water bill requiring metering or approved measuring devices for groundwater use, drew extensive discussion over costs, property rights, regional differences, and regulation of irrigators; the bill was advanced to final passage after a 34-8 vote, with debate continuing at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• those beginning teachers' positions are from out of state.
• The woman is in the military, and the husband may be a science teacher or math teacher somewhere.
• And I think that’s a great signal to other teachers and other states.
• “And I think that’s a great signal to other teachers and other states.
• Well, that certified teacher is going to invest more into PSRS way more than the substitute teacher.