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:

• </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:

• 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:

• So those students who are participating in virtual learning programs would not be counted for next year's
• are participating in those programs, where those students live.
• So your per-student allocation is going to drop by about $37.40 per student.
• Some of the other pieces about just reporting about what students are participating in these programs
• those students.

Bills: HB2 , SB204 , SB241 , HB34

Committee: House House Education

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 253, as substituted, which would create a framework for full-time virtual/distance learning programs in New Mexico. Sponsors and agency witnesses said the bill is intended to preserve virtual options while adding approval, reporting, and compliance requirements, including definitions for distance learning programs, annual reporting, renewal every three to five years, and a pause on new programs while existing ones are grandfathered for a period. They also said the bill addresses budget concerns by limiting enrollment growth units and excluding distance-learning students from certain funding calculations, including rural population units, to prevent unexpected losses in the state equalization guarantee. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters included district superintendents and education officials who said the bill is needed to protect school funding, improve accountability, and gather basic data that the state currently lacks. Opponents included parents, students, teachers, charter-school representatives, and business and advocacy voices who argued virtual education has been lifesaving for medically fragile, bullied, rural, neurodivergent, and working students, and that the bill’s caps, geographic limits, and approval authority would reduce school choice and could eliminate some programs. Several witnesses stressed that virtual charter schools such as Pecos Cyber Academy and New Mexico Connections would not be affected, while others said the bill still reaches too broadly. Committee members raised extensive questions about the 10% enrollment cap, the adjacent-district requirement, the denial-and-appeal process, the treatment of charter schools versus district programs, and the effect on rural or small districts. Witnesses explained that the bill is meant to be temporary, with an interim study in 2026 to develop longer-term policy, but some members said they remained concerned about overreach and unintended consequences. No final vote or action on the bill was shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Student engagement, one of the number one indicators of student outcomes.
• Student engagement is a pivotal lever. How do we get student engagement? Engaging teaching.
• Nobody wants to participate.
• Whether it carries 1 student or it carries 30 students, the bus still costs the cost of a bus.
• And so if we have a student that comes in, that is, that is DD or a student that comes in that has some

Transcript Highlights:

• FFA IS NOT FOR STUDENTS WHO WANT TO BE PRODUCTION FARMERS.
• FFA'S MISSION IS TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF STUDENTS BY DEVELOPING THEIR POTENTIAL
• OUR STUDENTS EARN SOME OF THE MOST RIGOROUS INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS AVAILABLE.
• STUDENTS GRADUATE COLLEGE AND OUR CAREER READY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM ONE OF THE
• WE HAVE MORE STUDENTS THAN EVER PARTICIPATING IN COMPETITIVE EVENTS AND EXPERIENTIAL PROJECTS THAT WE

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:

• 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:

• 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

Keywords: teacher apprenticeship, registered apprenticeship, teacher licensure, teacher shortage, workforce development, education finance, K-12 education, higher education, Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, PELSB, Tier 3 license, teacher preparation, mentor teacher, school district, cooperative unit, teacher pipeline, alternative licensure, apprenticeship program, labor and industry, union representation

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:

• So I look forward to your leadership, your involvement, and that individuals participate and participate
• And interestingly, a lot of the students...
• Have a course that only 13 students sign up for here in California.
• And third, and most concerningly, students suffer.
• Today's students simply do not stay in one place.

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard a lengthy agenda of Senate bills, with most measures ultimately advancing on party-line or broad bipartisan votes after substantial testimony and several amendments. Early in the hearing, SB 418 by Sen. Menjivar was presented as a health access bill to codify ACA nondiscrimination protections in state law and require coverage for up to a 12-month supply of medically approved hormone therapy; supporters framed it as protecting continuity of care amid federal threats, while there was no opposition testimony. The committee later also took up SB 456, which would exempt muralists from contractor licensing requirements for commissioned fine art murals; supporters said recent enforcement had chilled mural projects and harmed artists and communities, and the bill passed unanimously to Appropriations. SB 641, part of the wildfire response package, and SB 774, a sunset review bill for the Department of Real Estate and Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers, also advanced with support and no opposition. SB 775 and SB 776, sunset extensions for the behavioral sciences, psychology, and optometry boards, passed after witnesses described technical changes and the need to keep the boards operating. SB 777, dealing with abandoned cemeteries, drew testimony from local governments, industry, and counties; after amendments removed a local takeover mandate and shifted the bill toward a stakeholder working group and study process, opposition softened or was withdrawn and the bill moved forward to Local Government. SB 790, on interstate reciprocity for online higher education, generated the most debate, with supporters arguing California students and institutions need stronger consumer protections and access to the national reciprocity framework, while opponents said the bill’s terms conflicted with the existing compact; it passed as amended to Appropriations after committee members emphasized continued work on student protections. The consent calendar, including SB 389 and SB 861, was also approved, and the committee adjourned after additional vote changes were recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've worked with hundreds of students who have applied and enrolled at TSC, and that same number participating
• for those students, and ensuring a resilient institution.
• They shape the character of students. They cultivate excellence.
• is improving our student success rate.
• The Slate program, where the parents of the students can actually monitor the students' success, which

Bills: S1694

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met with a quorum present and first took up CS for SB 1694, which would require technology-integrated postsecondary general education core courses to include digital literacy and competency instruction, including use of artificial intelligence tools, and encourage high school computer science courses with AI content to teach how AI systems use data, their benefits and limitations, and responsible use in academic and personal contexts. The bill drew support from several speakers who emphasized the need for students to understand AI’s capabilities, limitations, ethics, and risks, while one speaker raised concerns about overreliance on AI and the loss of skills. Senator Davis said the bill was a good step toward preparing the future workforce and suggested earlier instruction might be worth considering later. The bill was reported favorably, and Senator Leek asked to be recorded in the affirmative. The committee then heard a long series of confirmation presentations for trustees at multiple Florida colleges and universities, including Tallahassee State College, USF, UNF, Palm Beach State College, the College of the Florida Keys, Hillsborough College, Miami-Dade College, Florida A&M University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, New College of Florida, Florida Polytechnic University, and the University of Florida. The appointees generally emphasized student success, workforce alignment, fiscal responsibility, access and affordability, and institutional growth; several members and senators offered supportive comments, with some asking about specific issues such as Tallahassee State’s NCLEX passage rates and the need for continued improvement. One appointee’s attendance was delayed or skipped for later consideration, but the committee ultimately took a block vote and reported the confirmations favorably to the Ethics and Elections Committee. Finally, Chair Harrell gave a brief overview of the higher education budget, describing a total of $11.9 billion and highlighting increases for workforce education, Florida College System operating funds, workforce development capitalization, the Rural Incentive for Professional Educators program, the USF Center for Nursing, preeminent research universities, UCF’s community school grant program, UF’s Lassinger Center on Learning, the Florida Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, and campus security through a postsecondary guardian program. Senator Davis asked about a transfer related to the workforce development capitalization and incentive grant fund, and the chair explained it was a transfer of an existing program with new funds being added. There was no public comment on the budget, and the meeting adjourned after Senator Leek requested to be recorded in the affirmative on SB 1694.

Transcript Highlights:

• program, or being a student in school more than half time.
• program, or being a student in school more than. program, already participating in a work program, or
• being a student in school more than halftime.
• Through SNAP E&T, participants have access to program components such as supervised job search, Participants
• These individuals are known as mandatory work participants, and they must also work or participate in

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met to receive implementation briefings on House Bill 1267, which was enacted to address benefit cliffs and help public assistance recipients move toward economic self-sufficiency. The Department of Children and Families reviewed SNAP, Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), and Medicaid-related eligibility and work requirements, including who must participate in work activities, the role of Florida Commerce and CareerSource Florida, and the new standardized intake and exit surveys required by the law. Members also discussed the TCA program’s household-based structure, the 48-month adult limit, and how work requirements differ for SNAP and TCA participants. Florida Commerce and CareerSource Florida then reported on implementation of HB 1267, including the CLIFF financial forecasting tool, case management changes, and survey data collected from welfare transition participants. They said intake surveys showed common barriers such as child care, transportation, and flexible work schedules, while exit surveys showed many participants were employed or had gained credentials, though response rates were low because the surveys are voluntary. A local workforce board, CareerSource Tampa Bay, described using CLIFF in case management and shared a success story about a participant who completed training, earned certifications, and moved into employment. The committee also heard a separate DCF briefing on the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its impact on SNAP. DCF said the law expands able-bodied adult without dependents requirements, changes non-citizen eligibility, ends future SNAP-Ed funding, increases state administrative cost sharing, and may require states to share in benefit costs if payment error rates remain above federal thresholds. Members focused heavily on Florida’s SNAP payment error rate, which DCF said was 15.13% for federal fiscal year 2024 and 12.60% for 2023, with the state currently on a corrective action plan. DCF described steps to reduce errors, including more verification of rent and utility expenses, improved income matching, staff training, and system modernization. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after questions concluded.

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:

• NOT ONLY FOR THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS BUT ALSO FOR EVAN AND US.
• THE STUDENTS WHO INTERACTED WITH THE EVAN LEARNED VALUABLE LESSONS THAT PREPARE THEM FOR THEIR FUTURE
• THE AMENDMENT CLARIFIES STUDENTS NEED NOT ENROLL SEPARATELY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MONEYBACK GUARANTEE
• DISTRICTS MAY REQUIRE STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE MONEYBACK GUARANTEE PROGRAM CANNOT EXCEED THOSE
• WAS NOT OPEN-MINDED LISTENING TO THE PARENTS AND PERSPECTIVE OF THE STUDENTS.

Transcript Highlights:

• whether you're remote or in the room, please speak directly into the microphone so that other participants
• Please speak directly into the microphone so that other participants can hear you.
• Many participants in these plans serve long careers and build substantial pensions.
• And I participated in some of the analysis on the Kitsap bus driver issue as well.
• School bus drivers do an essential service providing safe transportation for students.

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee heard staff briefings and testimony on four bills. House Bill 2124, a Department of Retirement Systems request, would raise the minimum monthly pension benefit that can be paid as a lump sum from $50 to $250, with future inflation adjustments by the director; staff said it would cost about $11,000 in administrative changes and have no actuarial impact on the pension funds. House Bill 2125 would remove a biennial restriction on using pension fund interest earnings for certain administrative and compliance expenses that protect the funds; DRS said it would have no fiscal impact and would continue existing practice. Seth Miller of DRS supported both bills as efforts to reduce complexity and improve consistency across retirement systems. House Bill 2179 would create a retroactive exemption from PERS membership for certain port district employees who are instead covered by federal railroad retirement or union-sponsored defined benefit plans. Staff said audits found a small number of affected employees, with a one-time administrative cost of about $18,000, and noted possible legal concerns because retroactive changes can implicate vested retirement rights. Testimony from the Washington Public Ports Association and the Port of Ponderay supported the bill as a narrow clarification needed to avoid dual coverage and large retroactive liabilities; the Port of Vancouver also supported it as a fix for building trades workers covered by union plans. House Bill 2160 would change SEBB eligibility rules for school employees, creating a presumption of coverage on day one for returning employees who previously worked 630 hours in prior years, effectively shortening the lookback period and extending it across SEBB employers. Supporters, including substitute teachers, WEA, SEIU, and other school workers, said the bill would reduce disruptive gaps in coverage, help workers and families maintain continuous insurance, and improve recruitment and retention. Opponents, including school administrators, business officials, and school directors, argued it would be an unfunded mandate that could significantly increase district costs and administrative complexity, especially because districts would have to track hours and rebut presumptive eligibility. The Health Care Authority explained that eligibility is determined by local benefits administrators using worksheets and appeals, that the current two-year presumption was built from earlier benefit rules, and that the bill could increase costs and create issues for retirees who currently manage hours to stay below the 630-hour threshold. The committee took no votes and adjourned after public hearing.

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:

• An increase of $220 per student. will only provide teachers and schools minimal options for students
• I'm here to advocate for my fifth grade students. students who cannot advocate for themselves.
• our students need.
• This only hurts. our students.
• So the students in my district as well as the students across the state of Texas.

Bills: HB2 , HB2

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• and this removes the new exemption to disclosure under the PRA for records containing individual student
• and this removes the new exemption to disclosure under the PRA for records containing individual student
• on this student health survey that could be requested and accessed by the public.
• students are doing.
• And it's voluntary, so students who don't want to participate don't have to participate.

Bills: SB5000 , SB5325 , SB6044 , SB6313

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Keywords: state nickname, evergreen state, identity, cultural heritage, tourism, state cactus, symbolic designation, ecological significance, state symbols, SB 6044, Diwali, Bandi Chhor Divas, Washington state holidays, RCW 1.16.050, state holiday recognition, religious observance, Hindu holiday, Sikh holiday, cultural recognition, paid holiday

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and I put out an optional assignment for all my students, and uh everyone that participated, I gave
• and uh everyone that my students and uh everyone that participated.<00:05:07.759><c> I</c><00:05:07.919
• I gave them an opportunity participated.
• Representative McPherson. your students to include this on their your students to include this on their
• So, thank you all for your patience and thank you for your support of these students.

Committee: House Tourism & Outdoor Recreation