Transcript Highlights:

• </c> like reading particularly um or speech like reading particularly um or speech who<01:21:40.320><
• </c> they had spoken about how um the speech they had spoken about how um the speech and<01:51:47.119
• It was Lips and Wilson, but also, um, using, uh, speech-to-read versus text-to-speech is how she learns
• </c> skills fine motor skills and speech skills fine motor skills and speech hence<01:56:16.960><c> she
• </c> which are identifying numbers a speech which are identifying numbers a speech goal<02:08:08.639>

Summary: The House Education Policy and Administration Committee heard testimony on HB 222, which would repeal the requirement that a chartered public school and the resident school district sign a memorandum of understanding on how students with disabilities will receive special education services. The prime sponsor, Rep. Peggy Balboni, said the bill was requested by the New Hampshire Association of Special Education Administrators and the New Hampshire Alliance for Public Charter Schools. She argued that federal and state law already require districts to provide FAPE and that the MOU requirement has created extra work, legal costs, and delays without improving services. She said many MOUs remain unsigned, but students are still receiving services and complaint numbers have not changed. Rep. Mooney also supported repeal, calling the MOU duplicative and impractical because IEPs and 504 plans already govern services. Testimony from Jane B. Brulu of the special education administrators’ association and Beth McLure of the charter schools alliance echoed that view, saying the MOU has not helped students, has added hours of work and legal fees, and has mostly been a source of disputes over funding and service costs. McLure said her school has worked with more than 15 districts and has always been able to reach agreements, though the first year of the requirement took substantial time and money. Committee members asked about the original purpose of the law, unsigned MOUs, and whether disputes could be resolved without the requirement. A representative from the Department of Education said the MOU was originally proposed to address reports that some students were not getting services on time and to provide some oversight, but the department has no authority to order charter schools or districts to agree and no appeal process if they cannot. The department also said it does not currently audit charter school special education services because it lacks authority to monitor charter schools directly, and it urged the committee to consider some alternative oversight if the MOU requirement is repealed. The hearing on HB 222 was then closed, and the committee announced it would begin the hearing on HB 699 after a short break.

Transcript Highlights:

• and despite facing significant hearing loss as a toddler, he confidently leads debates, delivers speeches
• Senate Bill 416 by Senator Price, Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System, to provide relative to
• House Bill 398, bar representative Zerang, travel by governmental officials and employees of the state
• , provide for maximum for payments by the state for meals, incidental expenses. employees of the state
• Does this give exemptions or reduce rates to government employees? Does it do that?” “No.” “Okay.

Bills: HR195 , HR196 , HR197 , HR198 , HR199 , HR200 , HR201 , HR202 , HR203 , HR204 , HR205 , HR206 , HR207 , HR208 , HR209 , HCR87 , HCR88 , HCR89 , HCR90 , HR192 , HR193 , HR194 , HCR80 , HCR81 , HCR82 , HCR83 , HCR84 , HCR85 , SB235 , SB416 , SB425 , SB435 , SB439 , HCR15 , HCR41 , HCR76 , HCR77 , SCR3 , HB91 , HB167 , HB227 , HB243 , HB264 , HB321 , HB335 , HB398 , HB492 , HB623 , HB624 , HB660 , HB689 , HB708 , HB719 , HB802 , HB804 , HB884 , HB906 , HB926 , HB934 , HB940 , HB955 , HB968 , HB969 , HB978 , HB985 , HB1005 , HB1022 , HB1028 , HB1029 , HB1069 , HB1077 , HB1095 , HB1104 , HB1107 , HB1185 , HB1187 , HB1199 , HB1201 , HB1203 , HB1217 , HB1220 , SB66 , SB68 , SB76 , SB139 , SB336 , SB475 , HR1 , HR17 , HCR5 , HCR4 , HCR47 , HCR32 , HR38 , HR96 , HR160 , HCR31 , HCR61 , SCR19 , HB64 , HB68 , HB92 , HB12 , HB42 , HB205 , HB222 , HB267 , HB324 , HB325 , HB350 , HB478 , HB610 , HB617 , HB745 , HB749 , HB752 , HB797 , HB807 , HB821 , HB896 , HB979 , HB992 , HB1000 , HB1024 , HB1050 , HB1166 , HB1172 , HB1173 , HB1207 , HB1218 , HB1223 , HB316 , HB549 , HB578 , HB748 , HB798 , HB824 , HB988 , HB989 , HB1001 , HB1032 , HB1081 , HB1108 , HB1129 , HB1140 , HB1157 , HB1192 , HB1195 , HB1198 , HB1244 , SB73 , SB89 , SB128 , SB149 , SB191 , SB196 , SB238 , SB318 , SB340 , HB306 , HB366 , HB911 , HB1161 , HB1230 , HB59 , HB481 , HB772 , HB897 , HB1003 , HB1008 , HB1112 , HB1180 , HB1189 , HB525 , HB1058 , HB181 , HB1118 , HB1082 , HB901 , HR20 , HR74 , HB225 , HB284 , HB393 , HB458 , HB459 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB682 , HB733 , HB773 , HB864 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1113 , HB1234 , HB1240

Keywords: Louisiana Young Heroes Day, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, LPB, house resolution, ceremonial resolution, special observance, youth recognition, student achievement, community service, public service, high school students, youth leadership, disability advocacy, autism, diabetes, epilepsy, foster care, STEM, robotics, literacy

Transcript Highlights:

• institutions, our colleges and universities do not have a clear delineation between students and employees
• So which kind of faculty member or other employee of a university would sign up to be a guardian?
• Businesses can't hire or retain the employees they need.
• Businesses can't hire or retain the employees they need.
• I'm a speech pathologist who has been treating vaccine. members.

Summary: The committee first took up CS for SB 896 on school safety, which would expand the Guardian program to public postsecondary institutions, require active assailant response plans and threat management protocols, improve reporting and information sharing, and make it a felony to discharge a weapon within 1,000 feet of a campus. A late-file amendment by Senator Polsky was adopted to clarify that students who are also employees or faculty at a public postsecondary institution are not eligible for the Guardian program. The bill drew strong opposition from faculty, students, and gun-safety advocates who argued that more guns on campus would create confusion, weaken safety, and undermine campus police; supporters said trained guardians would improve deterrence and protection. After debate, the committee reported the bill favorably by a roll call vote. The committee then considered SB 1690 on child care and early learning services, which updates child care laws, reduces some regulatory burdens, and expands the Florida Education Foundation’s authority to fundraise for early learning from birth through VPK. Members discussed oversight of the related direct-support organization and the removal of certain notice requirements, while supporters from Moms Rising and other advocates said the bill would help families access affordable, high-quality child care and support home-based providers. One opponent argued the bill added more government regulation, but the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. Next, the committee passed CS for SB 118, a narrow bill on non-ad valorem special assessments for recreational vehicle parks, clarifying how assessments are calculated for RV spaces and campsites. The bill received supportive comments from RV advocates and was reported favorably without controversy. The committee then took up CS for SB 1220, the Department of Transportation package, which included provisions on seaports and airports, personal delivery devices, autonomous vehicles, broadband and utility permitting, and advanced air mobility. Amendments were adopted that revised research institute membership, limited some delivery-device provisions, and clarified cruiser light rules for law enforcement; after questions about utility preemption and PDD safety, the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1756 on medical freedom, which would require new vaccine educational materials, expand school-entry exemptions to include conscience-based objections, limit the Surgeon General’s emergency vaccination authority, and allow behind-the-counter ivermectin for adults with written information and liability protections. The bill drew extensive testimony from both supporters and opponents, with supporters emphasizing parental rights, informed consent, and vaccine injury concerns, and opponents warning about reduced immunization rates, public health risks, and the appropriateness of ivermectin provisions. The transcript ends during public testimony and debate on SB 1756, before final action on that bill is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• institutions, our colleges and universities do not have a clear delineation between students and employees
• So which kind of faculty member or other employee of a university would sign up to be a guardian?
• Businesses can't hire or retain the employees they need.
• Businesses can't hire or retain the employees they need.
• I'm a speech pathologist who has been treating vaccine. members.

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Employees by the thousands.
• We encourage you to join us for live post-speech reaction from legislative leaders on the House website

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:15:55.279><c> the</c> into account the well-being of the into account the well-being of the employees
• that are providing these employees that are providing these services.<00:15:58.720><c> And</c><00:15
• So I hope to hear some really fiery speeches on the floor.
• </c><00:41:03.520><c> Um,</c> really fiery speeches on the floor.
• Um, really fiery speeches on the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it certainly is a give and take and a push and a pull with your state employees.
• And it certainly is a given, a take, and a push and a pull with your state employees.
• That could be. state employees.
• But a guardian is normally the employee of the school district.
• Your SRO is a joint employee mostly of your law enforcement agency.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met to hear the governor’s fiscal year 2026-27 budget recommendations for education from the Office of Policy and Budget and the Department of Education. Shelby Salmons and Commissioner Stasi Kamoutsis outlined the governor’s proposed $117.4 billion state budget, including about $32.5 billion for education, with major emphasis on public schools and early learning. The presentation highlighted a $30.6 billion K-12 budget, a $486 million VPK program, continued funding for VPK Summer Bridge, TEACH, HIPPY, and Help Me Grow, as well as increases for teacher pay, base student allocation, mental health, school safety, civics education, and school hardening initiatives. The commissioner also cited a 92.2% statewide graduation rate and Florida’s national rankings in education and education freedom. Senators used the question period to raise concerns about counselor staffing, mental health services, school closures, school choice oversight, the Guardian Program, data reporting, and school capacity. Senator Jones asked about counselor ratios, school closures in historically Black communities, and whether school choice schools are properly monitored for safety and instructional quality. Senator Osgood argued that mental health funding should support more clinical services on campuses, not just academic counselors, and Senator Bradley asked whether the centralized data repository includes scholarship students. Senator Gates praised the civics and debate funding and asked for more detail on the Guardian Program’s performance; the commissioner said 53 of 67 districts participate and described it as a successful safety option with sheriffs approving training. Senators Simon and Osgood also pressed for better use of the FISH report and more accurate space data to understand school capacity and right-sizing. During public testimony, Pinellas County School Board member Laura Hine said her district is an A-rated district with no D or F schools, but spends far more on safety and mental health than it receives in state categorical funding. She said Florida’s mental health staffing ratio is about one counselor per 2,203 students, compared with a recommended one per 1,106, and urged the committee to consider funding full-day VPK statewide, estimating it would cost about $375 million. Committee members followed up on her comments about local flexibility and whether districts can shift funds to meet needs. The meeting ended after members thanked DOE and executive branch staff for the presentation, and the committee adjourned without taking any substantive vote on legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a bill, SB 181, relating to school employee and volunteer misconduct.
• Employees and volunteers will be required to report known direct private communication, at which point
• c> this is a bill sp81 is relating to this is a bill sp81 is relating to school<00:01:31.159><c> employee
• and volunteer misconduct school employee and volunteer misconduct and<00:01:33.920><c> this</c><00:01
• </c><00:03:34.319><c> and</c> to contact their students employees and to contact their students employees

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Families and Children heard Senate Bill 181, which would require school districts to use only traceable forms of communication for staff, coaches, and volunteers when contacting students, require reporting of known private direct communication, notify parents, protect minors’ anonymity in EPSB investigations, and extend the investigation period for sexual misconduct cases to 120 days. Senator Lindsay Tichenor said the bill is meant to restore safeguards for children and families and address inappropriate private communications between school personnel and students. The committee also heard testimony from Stacy and Brad Brisco, who described allegations that an Anderson County guidance counselor had communicated privately with their daughter, encouraged her to pursue emancipation and CPS involvement, and used school channels to facilitate contact; they said the resulting abuse report was unsubstantiated and that the school system and EPSB had not acted promptly. Ashley Nation also testified in support as a survivor of educator sexual abuse, arguing that traceable communication policies are needed to prevent grooming and misconduct and that the bill does not stop communication, only makes it transparent and accountable. Members asked questions about what counts as traceable communication and whether schools already have policies. Tichenor said traceable communication could include paper notes, email, and apps such as ClassDojo or Google Classroom, and said the bill requires a trail parents can access. She also said some districts have ethical standards but they are not consistently followed, and that state-level action is needed. Senator Denine suggested the bill should allow districts more flexibility to choose among trackable platforms, noting that some systems already use tools like Dojo and Remind; Tichenor said a floor amendment would address that concern. Senators Williams, Meredith, Mills, Wise, and others voiced support, emphasizing child safety and the need for timely EPSB action. The committee then voted 9-0 to pass SB 181 with a favorable recommendation to the Senate floor. Afterward, the committee took up House Bill 242, sponsored by Representative Samara Heavrin, which would increase transparency in the child welfare system by making Kentucky child welfare data available to researchers while preserving privacy protections. With no questions, the committee approved HB 242 as well, also by a favorable vote, and members briefly noted support for the bill and the need for better data to inform child welfare policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you also paying health insurance for some of these employees?
• the cut that we're talking about, the only way to stay in business is to cut the salaries of your employees
• The only way to stay in business is to cut the salaries of your employees again?" "Ms. New?"
• I have learned skills such as Zumba, how to give a speech, create a calendar system, budget my money,

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• Guard their speech that they may reflect the truth revealed in your holy will.
• He represents our PNM retired public employees of New Mexico.
• He has 18 employees and is a service-connected disabled veteran.
• You are covered if you are an employee of the legislature during the session and times up here, but tomorrow

Transcript Highlights:

• Our agencies lost tens of employees.
• ><c> through</c><06:47:30.718><c> layoffs,</c> thousands of employees through layoffs, thousands of employees
• What they did was they tortured and they um went after our public employees.
• What they did was they tortured and they um went after our public employees.
• What they did was they tortured and they um went after our public employees.

Transcript Highlights:

• constitutional scrutiny, essentially saying that psychological torture of children is somehow free speech
• constitutional scrutiny, essentially saying that psychological torture of children is somehow free speech
• Strict employees. And I respectfully ask for your aye vote at the appropriate time. Thank you.
• Millions of public sector employees across California all operate under PERB.
• And when employees don't report, the state really can identify where those wage disparities lie.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The committee heard SB 934 by Senator Wiener, which would extend the statute of limitations for malpractice claims arising from conversion therapy and clarify how expert testimony and scientific evidence may be used in those cases. Supporters, including a survivor, a licensed therapist, and LGBTQ advocacy groups, described conversion therapy as harmful and argued survivors often cannot come forward within current filing deadlines. Opponents, including civil justice and conservative legal groups, argued the bill was a workaround to recent Supreme Court rulings and raised concerns about free speech, evidentiary standards, and whether the bill could chill legitimate therapy. Committee members largely focused on whether the bill was limited to conversion therapy malpractice claims and not broader gender-affirming care; the bill was moved on a 7-2-1 vote to Senate Appropriations and placed on call. The consent calendar was also adopted on a 6-0 vote and placed on call. The committee then heard SB 1092 by Senator Allen, a housing bill aimed at manufactured home parks. The bill would give residents or their designated representatives a right to make a competitive bid when a park owner intends to sell, lease, or transfer a park, with notice and response periods intended to give residents time to organize financing. Supporters said the measure would preserve naturally occurring affordable housing, especially for older and lower-income residents, and help resident-owned cooperatives or nonprofits buy parks before investor buyers do. Opponents from park owner and realtor groups argued the bill would burden private property rights, devalue parks, and create unconstitutional takings and litigation risk. Committee questions centered on the bill’s timelines, whether residents would have 120 days to express interest and another 120 days to close, and whether the purchase agreement would be binding if accepted. The author and supporters said the second period was needed for due diligence and financing, while opponents said the structure could still delay sales and reduce market value. Several members expressed support for the bill’s goal but asked for further clarification or possible tightening of the timing and good-faith provisions; no final vote on SB 1092 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the free speech clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution limits the ability
• The United States Supreme Court has held certain categories of unprotected speech, which...
• So the two people that we have doing that job are full-time employees without benefits.
• There's many hotel chains right now that have mandatory training as well for their employees.
• Those are just a few of the chains right now that mandate that their employees have it.

Committee: Joint Protection and Victim Services Committee

Summary: The committee first approved the December 16 minutes and then heard a presentation from Dr. Ramona Danielson on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their economic and public-system impacts. She explained that ACEs are population-level risk indicators, not individual diagnostic tools, and said higher ACE exposure is associated with more chronic illness, mental health challenges, child welfare and justice involvement, and lower workforce participation. She cautioned that precise dollar estimates are difficult because of the many interacting factors across the life course, but said the direction of the impact is clear and that evidence-based interventions and protective factors can reduce harm. Members asked about definitions of a “healthy family,” same-sex couples, divorce, substance abuse, trends in ACEs, and home visiting; she emphasized supportive relationships, protective factors, and the importance of positive childhood experiences. The committee then heard from Allison Mahoney and Missy Barranco, along with a recorded family story from Abby, about evidence-based home visiting programs in North Dakota. Abby described how Healthy Families North Dakota supported her family after a premature birth and NICU stay by providing weekly in-home coaching, developmental screenings, postpartum mental health check-ins, referrals, and parenting support. The presenters explained that home visiting is voluntary, relationship-based, and usually begins prenatally or shortly after birth, with referrals coming from hospitals, WIC, pregnancy navigators, human service zones, self-referrals, and other community partners. They said North Dakota currently has four main evidence-based models operating through 12 organizations, with Healthy Families available in all 53 counties, though only a fraction of eligible families are served. Funding was described as a patchwork of federal MIECHV/Title IV-E, Medicaid, state and tribal funds, philanthropy, charitable gaming, and other grants; members discussed whether the Legislature or agencies should expand support and how to improve outreach and sustainability. Finally, the committee received a memorandum on artificial intelligence and sexual exploitation, focusing on AI-generated child sexual abuse material, deepfakes, sextortion, and chatbot-related risks. The report summarized federal and state law, including North Dakota’s existing computer-generated image provisions, the federal PROTECT Act, the Take It Down Act, and recent federal executive orders on AI policy. Members discussed the need for child-safety protections, the limits of executive orders, and broader concerns about AI’s effect on critical thinking and misinformation. The committee then heard from BCI Special Agent Cassidy Halsef, who said AI is already driving a sharp rise in child exploitation cases in North Dakota, including AI-generated explicit images of real minors and school-based incidents involving mass-shared manipulated images. She said investigators are seeing more cyber tips, more difficult forensic work, and lasting harm to victims and families, and urged stronger legal penalties, specialized training, victim services, and prevention education in schools and communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that there are some really good career employees at the Secretary
• contribution for the employer is, but for officers currently it's 11% for the employer and then 8% for the employee
• I'm talking about state employees and county health officials seeking places where large groups of people
• I don't have a dollar amount on it, but if they're having to hire someone to post it, paying an employee
• it worth it Is it worth it to present bills like this that are purposely attempting to chill free speech

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

Committee: Senate Retirement and Government Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• organized group established by an employer of covered caregivers to provide peer support services to employees
• but then if boards have a more formal process in order to address help, we want to make sure that employees
• I'm a salaried employee, and I don't have any ownership in the company whatsoever.
• The purpose of this bill is to allow a patient who has received prior notification from the Public Employees
• licensure compact, the occupational licensing compact, the licensed professional counselor compact, speech-language

Committee: Senate Health and Human Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• And here, this is a pro-employee bill and every public employee in the state deserves to have their voice
• We shouldn't subject employees to a union unless a majority of public employees want them.
• So three employees voted to create a union and a union was created that now encompasses 202 employees
• So 276 employees voted for a union that now is bargaining on behalf of 4,282 employees.
• This bill is pro-public employee.

Transcript Highlights:

• How is the average person, let alone a public employee, supposed to know if something they say or do
• Two town employees are having a private conversation about the election in a municipal building.
• We should not be asking our public employees or our judges to guess what behavior is allowed and what
• ><c> a</c><05:32:10.638><c> private</c> town employees are having a private town employees are having
• Patrick is another employee who is just indispensable. had everything you needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• [No audible speech captured.] [No audible speech captured.] [No audible speech captured.]
• [No audible speech captured.] Got award kicking around if we've seen her.
• They employ approximately 1,500 employees and pay countless millions in state and local taxes.
• They employ approximately 1,500 employees and pay countless millions in state and local taxes.
• They employ approximately 1,500 employees and pay countless millions in state and local taxes.

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• Free societies do not fear free speech, even when that speech is hateful or the queens.
• </c> and hurtful, but it's speech and hurtful, but it's speech nonetheless.<00:30:29.840><c> It</c><00
• </c> constitution to guarantee free speech. constitution to guarantee free speech.
• </c> speech and freedom of assembly. speech and freedom of assembly.
• </c> we defend the speech we dislike. we defend the speech we dislike.

Transcript Highlights:

• when we already face shortages of medical examiners, this creates a lot of legal risk for public employees
• This creates a lot of legal risk for public employees simply for doing their jobs.
• to give me and everybody in this Senate floor the opportunity to speak their mind, the freedom of speech
• of association and prevent them from participating in activity that we do not prevent any other employee
• Of speech by being a member of this body.

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.