Transcript Highlights:

• Further introductions, starting with the lady from Jefferson County. Proceed, lady.
• They started acting like we banned books. It was terrible.
• One student did, called 'Start Slavery Again.' And other people weighed in.
• They started acting like we banned books. It was terrible.
• petition, one student did, called Start Slavery again.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll start with Lissette.
• We'll start here and we'll move down the line.
• I started my optometry practice in Brenham in late 2023.
• When I started on the fire department, I knew of one.
• You start in the morning. Suit up. You have to start. You get the call.

Bills: HB 107 , HB742 , HB1639 , HB1700 , HB2071 , HB2187 , HB2402 , HB2516 , HB3211 , HB4529 , HB5342 , HB694 , HB923 , HB4655 , HB107

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a series of health and human services bills and left each one pending after public testimony. HB 4655 would expand financial literacy instruction for youth aging out of foster care to include credit scores, predatory lending, scams, banking, budgeting, and related consumer topics; the sponsor and Buckner International described the need to protect foster youth from financial pitfalls. HB 923 would add three public members and one physician to the Texas Medical Disclosure Panel; supporters said it would improve informed consent and patient voice, while a witness raised concerns about a House amendment requiring a physician majority for decisions and senators questioned scope-of-practice limits. HHSC said the panel is an independent body and the bill expressly bars it from changing scope of practice.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> math at grade level in this academic math at grade level in this academic crisis<00:11:23.320><c
• We started our journey in 2019.
• We need to address academic gaps.
• We need to address academic gaps.
• why start here why start at the place why start here why start at the place that<01:20:27.960><c> students

Bills: HF29 , HF921 , HF922 , HF1048 , HF1049

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> with strategic growth in Big 10 academic with strategic growth in Big 10 academic medical<00:15:
• </c> salaries, and supports the academic salaries, and supports the academic mission<00:26:26.480><c>
• </c> These agreements support the academic These agreements support the academic mission<00:29:11.279
• </c> sites for academic affiliation. sites for academic affiliation.
• </c> involved in this negotiation to start involved in this negotiation to start with<01:09:31.440><c

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I am now starting the process of personal bankruptcy.
• And that's, good evening, honored guest, where do I start?
• I wasn't here when you started laying out. Okay, sure.
• Not only do these groups provide a fresh. fresh perspective, they also are a tool to help support police
• You start to see the world through their eyes. through that lens.

Bills: SB693 , SB781 , SB836 , SB860 , SB906 , SB993 , SB1101 , SB1321 , SB1370 , SB1537 , SB1563 , SB1610 , SB1637

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: notary public, notaries, acknowledgment, jurat, personal appearance, remote notarization, online notarization, e-notary, electronic notarization, fraud prevention, identity verification, real estate fraud, property transfer, state jail felony, Class A misdemeanor, secretary of state, continuing education, record retention, notarial act, Texas Government Code

Summary: The committee heard a series of criminal justice bills focused on victim protections, law enforcement tools, notary/deed fraud, sexually violent predators, veterans in jail, tribal policing authority, and peace officer records. Several bills were laid out, heard, and left pending because the committee lacked a quorum for final action on those items. Testimony was generally supportive on bills addressing interpreter appointments, fuel theft investigations, deed fraud, survivor privacy, veteran jailer training, tribal peace officer authority, and officer-record confidentiality, though some bills drew concerns about due process, scope, or drafting. Senate Bill 1537 would clean up criminal procedure language on appointing interpreters and align it with Government Code standards requiring licensed or certified interpreters; it received no public opposition and was left pending. Senate Bill 993 would let Comptroller Criminal Investigative Division officers directly seek warrants for mobile tracking devices in fuel-theft and tax-fraud investigations; it also drew support and was left pending. Senate Bill 693, as substituted, would create a criminal offense for notarizing documents without the signer personally appearing, with a higher penalty when real property is involved, and would add notary continuing education; a Dallas County prosecutor testified that notary fraud is a major driver of deed theft, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1610, as substituted, would address safety, registration, and criminal penalties at the Texas Civil Commitment Office for sexually violent predators, including assaults on staff and sex-offender registration issues; agency witnesses described increased assaults and operational problems, while a public witness urged waiting for Sunset review and raised due-process concerns. Senate Bill 836 would add privacy protections for sexual assault survivors by limiting livestreaming of trials, expanding pseudonym use, and protecting forensic exam and invasive-recording evidence; survivors and advocates strongly supported it, and defense lawyers said they had no opposition to the substitute. Senate Bill 1563 would require county jailer training on interacting with veterans, with testimony from the Texas Veterans Commission and veterans’ advocates emphasizing suicide risk, PTSD, and the need for better identification and support in jails; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 906, which would authorize the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo tribal police to be commissioned as Texas peace officers like two other federally recognized tribes in Texas; tribal leaders said the change would improve response times and coordination, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 781, as substituted, would standardize confidentiality rules for peace officer personnel and departmental files statewide, mirroring Chapter 143 civil-service practices; law enforcement witnesses supported it as a way to protect personal information and create uniform records practices, but several senators raised concerns that the bill could blur existing disclosure rules or bury misconduct complaints, and public testimony included an opposition witness describing a police shooting involving her brother.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to start, we're going to start, but given how many bills we have today, with 30 seconds of
• So we're going to start at 30 seconds. We're going to start with Cassandra Urbens speaking against.
• So we're going to start at 30 seconds. We're going to start with Cassandra Urbens speaking against.
• The idea is that Florida's academic institutions won't contract with foreign academic institutions that
• The idea is that Florida's academic institutions won't contract with foreign academic institutions that

Committee: Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability

Summary: The committee first confirmed Heather L. Turnbull to the Florida Commission on Community Service, with the motion adopted and the confirmation recommended favorably. Members then took up SPB 7022, which sets Florida Retirement System employer contribution rates beginning July 1, 2025, updates rates to address unfunded actuarial liability, and allows certain elected officers to elect a DROP accumulation; a technical title amendment was adopted, the bill was submitted as a committee bill, and it was reported favorably as a committee bill. The committee then heard extensive debate and public testimony on SB 1710, which would restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion-related policies, trainings, and activities in state agencies, state-funded contractors and grantees, and medical institutions of higher education. Sponsor Senator DiCeglie said the bill is intended to prevent state agencies and contractors from using state funds for DEI programs and to limit state agencies from adopting DEI-related official positions; he also said the medical-school portion would likely be amended out later. Senator Polsky and others questioned the bill’s breadth and how it would affect health-related grants, public universities, historically Black institutions, recruitment, and contractor training. Public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed, with speakers arguing the bill would harm health care, education, access, and inclusion; a few supporters said DEI is ideological, can undermine merit, and should not be used by state agencies or publicly funded institutions. After debate, Senator Polsky argued the bill was confusing, overbroad, and harmful to serving diverse communities, while Senator Arrington said it was an overreach into private business and could have significant fiscal impacts. Chair Fine closed by saying DEI is political ideology and that the bill is meant to ensure government focuses on talent rather than identity. SB 1710 was then reported favorably on a roll call vote, with Senator Arrington voting no and the remaining members voting yes. The committee then began SB 1678, relating to entities that boycott Israel, and heard the sponsor’s explanation of a delete-all amendment that would expand and clarify state restrictions on dealings with entities engaged in boycotts of Israel, including certain nonprofits, foreign educational institutions, and grants; the amendment was adopted, and the sponsor and a witness began answering questions when the transcript cuts off.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any announcements to come before the committee before we start?
• </c> new version of the Kentucky academic new version of the Kentucky academic standards<00:19:03.600
• </c> updated version of the Kentucky academic updated version of the Kentucky academic standards<00:19
• So, I'll start out with questions.
• Um, with I'll start out with questions.

Summary: The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee met with a quorum, approved the minutes, and then reviewed a series of agency regulations, most of which had staff-suggested amendments. The Board of Pharmacy regulation on remote prescription processing was amended to make grammatical and KRS Chapter 13A compliance corrections, and the Board of Social Work regulation on continuing education, telehealth training, waivers, and related fees was deferred at the agency’s request. The Occupational Therapy Compact rule update and the Professional Geologists fee increase regulation both received staff amendments and were approved, with the geologists’ board explaining the increases were driven by rising oversight costs and declining revenue. The committee also reviewed emergency regulations from the Board of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy, the Board of Emergency Medical Services, the Transportation Cabinet, and the Department of Workplace Standards. The EMS package covered licensing classifications, compliance audits, ambulance service rules, and electronic forms; the Transportation Cabinet’s emergency rule established procedures for street-legal special purpose vehicles; and Workplace Standards’ emergency rules updated Kentucky requirements to align with federal standards and House Bill 398, including shortening the discrimination complaint filing deadline from 120 days to 30 days and adjusting appeal procedures. Staff amendments were approved where offered, and members asked several clarifying questions about the rationale and effect of the workplace and EMS changes. The Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources explained rules on aircraft and drone use in taking wildlife and on reciprocal hunting and fishing agreements with neighboring states. The agency said the drone restriction was intended to align with federal law and address hunter complaints, while the reciprocal agreement rule was a cleanup of older agreements that had lapsed or been overlooked; the committee deferred the wildlife regulation 301 KAR 2:031 at the agency’s request. The Department of Education also presented multiple KHSAA-related and standards updates, including academic eligibility, sports timing, health and physical education standards, and career studies/financial literacy standards; staff amendments were approved, and members questioned the athletic forms and the designation of KHSAA as the state’s athletic agent. Finally, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services presented emergency regulations to support a pediatric teaching hospital expansion and related certificate-of-need changes, which the agency said were aimed at improving pediatric and neonatal access to care; staff amendments were approved, and the committee concluded by setting its next meeting for October 13 at 1:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• I didn't know her prior to when I started this a couple months ago.
• So they provide the funding, they start enrolling applicants.
• I guess they start getting a little bit trouble than that mixing.
• That's how you start the process of changing the culture.
• As I want to talk to you about a little bit why I kind of started looking into this when news media started

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• So this doesn't continue to happen and to start out.
• Foresight at the start of the you all feel incredible. Foresight at the start of the pandemic.
• But I do want you to see how here from academic year 20 to 23 to academic year. 23 to 24 rp and programs
• year 2022. 3, 2023 to academic year. 23 to 24 our ad.
• So let us start first. We'll start over here with Julie Merten.

Transcript Highlights:

• We’ve noticed that actual civic engagement should start at a younger age.
• For middle schools that start at sixth grade, is there flexibility in your proposal for them to start
• And then, secondly, on the voter registration, I started to bring that up.
• In academic life.
• It just starts to become too oppressive of a document.

Summary: The joint Senate and Assembly Education Committee hearing featured opening remarks from legislators welcoming students from the California Association of Student Councils and SABLE, with members emphasizing student voice and noting that several past student proposals had become law. The hearing then moved through multiple student panels presenting policy ideas, with members responding in a mix of support, technical questions, and cautions about cost, implementation, and tradeoffs in instructional time. The first panel proposed an annual civic engagement day for grades 7-12 to increase civic literacy and participation through flexible school-based activities. Members asked about costs, flexibility for sixth grade, voter registration, and how the proposal would fit within existing curriculum and standards. The second panel proposed amending Education Code Section 35012 to require at least one student board member in every unified and high school district, with added motioning rights and training on budgeting and LCAPs; members raised concerns about mandate costs, board size, and the scope of motioning authority. The third panel proposed middle school financial literacy instruction, potentially embedded in existing classes like math, with a 10-year phase-in for teacher training and curriculum updates; members questioned whether the state should wait for the already-approved high school financial literacy course to be implemented first. The fourth panel proposed expanding restorative justice by creating a CDE task force and authorizing PPS-certified staff to use restorative justice materials in discipline processes; members discussed prior legislation, confidentiality in expulsion hearings, and the likely cost of a state task force. The fifth panel proposed short, twice-a-semester mental health and life-skills sessions for grades 7-12, but members expressed skepticism that brief classroom sessions could meaningfully address mental health needs and suggested wellness centers or student-led awareness efforts instead. The hearing then began panel six on AI implementation in classrooms, with students arguing that districts need clearer guidance on AI use and that education must adapt rather than ignore the technology.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Chair: THANK YOU SABRINA AND BEFORE WE START THE MEETING I WOULD ASK EVERYONE TO SILENCE THEIR CELL
• STARTING WITH THE STATE OF NURSING EDUCATION IN FLORIDA LOOKS LIKE I WANTED TO SHOW YOU THE NUMBER OF
• HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES AROUND THE START OF AN ACADEMIC YEAR.
• ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT STARTING LET'S JUST SAY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL OR EVEN MIDDLE SCHOOL TO START
• THAT IS BASICALLY SECTION 1 THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH NOW ON THE BILL THAT STARTS ON PAGE 43.

Transcript Highlights:

• and athletics, arts, and academics.
• I'm sorry, I don't have the page; line 237 is start section 8.
• than academic governance.
• rather than academic governance.
• So I'd like to start with Rep. Tant, your comments about the Board of Dentistry.

Summary: The committee first took up PCS for HB 1503, which would require general education courses that use technology to provide students opportunities to build digital literacy, including instruction on applications of artificial intelligence and related topics such as software engineering, computer networks, database systems, and cybersecurity as applicable to the course. It would also require high school computer science courses offered by school districts to include instruction on AI. There was no public testimony or debate, and the bill was reported favorably on a unanimous roll call vote. The committee then considered PCS for HB 1279, an education bill that the sponsor said was intended to improve consistency, oversight, and transparency while putting Florida students first. The bill drew extensive questioning and opposition over provisions affecting university admissions and funding, including a 95% Florida-resident first-time-in-college enrollment target tied to preeminent funding, a cap on nonresident students from any one country, standardized GPA weighting, limits on institution-wide graduation requirements, and changes related to accreditation references and other education programs. The sponsor argued these changes would open more seats for Florida students, preserve academic rigor, and align statutes with existing regulations and court action, while opponents said the bill would harm university competitiveness, research, revenue, faculty recruitment, and access for international and nontraditional students. Public testimony on HB 1279 was largely opposed. Speakers included a student advocate, a dental hygiene representative concerned about dual regulation of expanded-function dental programs, and faculty representatives from FSU and FAMU who warned the bill would politicize admissions and curriculum, reduce competitiveness, and create negative fiscal impacts. During debate, supporters emphasized taxpayer investment in Florida students and the need to prioritize in-state applicants, while opponents argued the bill would weaken the state university system and undermine its national standing. The committee reported PCS for HB 1279 favorably by a 12-5 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm fresh off the campaign trail. I was sworn in March 24th.
• I'm fresh off the campaign trail. I was sworn in March 24th.
• And let me start. So I know the department has some concerns.
• Kansas is just now starting to use it.
• We started this in ’24.

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• We're getting started with the full agenda.
• So I just want to start off by being clear on that.
• There's been some pushback over that, like an academic grade... ...of an academic grade.
• There's been some pushback over that, like an academic grade should only measure academics.
• They just start hitting A because the kid's done. Yeah.

Committee: Joint Education Interim Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• It starts in the womb.
• It starts in the womb.
• It starts in the womb.
• It starts in the womb.
• It starts in the womb.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• OK, we'll get started. Don't see that we've got any new members joining us.
• So, our literacy model that we started in, in Roswell has, uh, we started in 2019, training teachers
• Um, we We also started a cult cohort certified academic language therapy cohort so that we would have
• , you can already start to see the gains.
• Surget, let's start with you. OK, Mr. Chair and Senator Azel.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to start with HCR 2015.
• Not there yet, but I'll start. We'll start with Scott Turner.
• It is a commitment to academic excellence through physical vitality.
• I agree academics are important.
• They participate in it, and they give it academic legitimacy.

Bills: HB2040 , HB2142 , HB2255 , HB2379 , HB2482 , HB2575 , HB2600 , HB2764 , HB4033 , HCR2015

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Keywords: public education, adoption, sex education, parental rights, student health information, school safety, resource officers, mental health, training, infrastructure improvements, Arizona Teachers Academy, teacher preparation, education funding, public schools, scholarships, teacher certification, community colleges, school district, governing board, training requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:36:19.359><c> but</c> I don't even know where to start but I don't even know where to start but
• </c><02:00:30.760><c> and</c><02:00:31.040><c> academic</c> local boards academic and academic local
• boards academic and academic experts<02:00:32.440><c> by</c><02:00:32.599><c> imposing</c><02:00:33.159
• My child has seen a measurable improvement in academic achievement.
• Soon they decide to start a family.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem, leaves of absence, guest introductions, and memorial remarks honoring former Representative Carolyn Gargas of Hollis, who was remembered for her long House service, work on child and family issues, and community involvement. The House then adopted a consent calendar and approved a motion to withdraw House Bill 431, which would have created a commission to review draft rules on minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards; the motion failed after a roll call vote, so the bill remained in play. The House next took up House Bill 109-FN, relative to false reports to law enforcement. The majority supported the bill as a way to add penalties for knowingly false reports about law enforcement officers, arguing officers deserve protection from false accusations and that the knowingly standard is a high bar. The minority opposed it as duplicative of existing law and warned it could chill legitimate complaints against police. After debate and a division vote, the majority committee report of ought to pass was adopted, 198-173. The House also considered House Bill 218-FN, which would provide victims of crime a free police report. The committee amendment changed the bill so victims would receive a written confirmation that a crime occurred rather than the initial police report, to avoid conflicts with right-to-know law and active-investigation confidentiality. Supporters said the change was a small but important clarification agreed to by law enforcement and domestic violence advocates, while opponents argued the original language was already workable and that the floor amendment was unnecessary. A division vote was requested on the amendment, and the transcript ends during that debate before the final outcome on HB 218 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Running Start.
• Running Start works because it trusts students to challenge themselves at a pace that fits their academic
• Running Start works because it trusts students to challenge themselves at a pace that fits their academic
• Running Start works because it trusts students to challenge themselves at a pace that fits their academic
• Running Start is a bridge.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several education-related bills. Senate Bill 6130 would move public high schools’ voter registration events from Temperance and Good Citizenship Day in January to National Voter Registration Day in September, with schools offering Future Voter registration to eligible students in history or social studies classes. The sponsor, Sen. Krishnadasan, and supporters from King County Elections, Pierce County, OSPI, and the Legislative Youth Advisory Council said the change would better match student interest and improve youth civic engagement at no fiscal cost. A senator asked about community service opportunities, and the sponsor said that could potentially fit within existing community service recognition programs. Senate Bill 6247 would expand financial oversight and training for school districts, especially those in financial distress or binding conditions. It would require additional ESD involvement, add WASDA training on budgeting and financial health for school directors, and impose stronger consequences for knowing financial misconduct, including future employment bars and state reimbursement of certain unrecovered damages. Sen. Dozier said the bill responds to district financial problems, including Prescott School District. OSPI supported the bill, while the Association of Educational Service Districts, WSSDA, and WEA raised concerns about ESDs being placed in an oversight role, the need to align the bill with other pending training legislation, and whether some enforcement duties should instead rest with the state auditor. Senate Bill 6268 would require OSPI to keep an online record of final special education community complaint decisions for 20 years instead of the current five years on its website. OSPI supported the bill, saying it would improve transparency and help families, educators, and policymakers identify patterns and understand how complaints are resolved; the sponsor said the retention period may be amended. Advocates from Washington Autism Alliance, The Arc, and parent advocates testified in favor, saying the records help families avoid repeated disputes and reveal systemic issues. Senate Bill 6278 would change how PESB reviews teacher and principal preparation programs and adjust student-teaching field placement plan submission timing; the sponsor said the goal is to ensure educators are better prepared, and PESB testified neutral, saying many of the review elements already exist and the bill would add flexibility. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6260, a budget-savings bill affecting public education. It would lengthen school bus depreciation to 15 years, withhold up to 1.9% of MSOC funds to pay for the High School and Beyond Plan platform, and reduce Running Start funding from 1.4 to 1.2 FTE. OFM supported the bill as part of the governor’s budget approach, but many testifiers opposed it, arguing it would cut district resources, keep older buses on the road longer, shift costs to schools, and reduce access to Running Start—especially for low-income, rural, and technical-program students. School district, college, PTA, counselor, and student witnesses said the current 1.4 FTE model has expanded access and completion, while supporters of the bill emphasized state budget pressures and said the changes would preserve other priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• WE WILL GO AHEAD AND START WITH TAB NUMBER ONE.
• THE SYSTEM WAS ALLOWED STARTING IN 2018. IT HAS NO LINER.
• WE WERE START WITH SENATOR HARRELL, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> Sen. Harrell: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
• IT TENDS TO BE YOUR LIMITING FACTOR IN FRESH WATERS.
• I WAS PART OF THE GROUP WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT NSF 245.