Transcript Highlights:

• eligible career and technical education programs, and it would clarify that such funds may also support
• for students and public institutions of higher education.
• On behalf of the thousands of officers and educators we represent, I respectfully urge you to support
• HB 2674 prohibits the Texas Education Agency, the State Board of Education, and any other state educational
• Thank you. to support it. Senator West.

Bills: HB126, HB121

Keywords: election laws, attorney general, prosecution, criminal offenses, voting integrity, education, property values, school districts, comptroller, funding formula

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 met to hear testimony on a full agenda of education-related bills. Several measures were laid out and left pending, including HB 322 to allow JET Grant funds to be used for subscription-based and ongoing technology costs for career and technical education; HB 3062 to require fentanyl and drug-poisoning prevention instruction for entering college students; HB 121 to update school safety laws, including TEA peace officer commissions, annual renewal of certain safety exceptions, new reporting requirements, and special education behavior threat assessment changes; HB 3627 to let the State Board of Education chair employ staff; HB 5515 to curb inflated shipping and handling charges on instructional materials; HB 2674 to prohibit new state regulation of homeschool programs; HB 2310 to require a statewide strategic plan for early learning and inclusion for young children with disabilities; HB 367 to standardize documentation for excused absences due to serious illness; HB 1178 to speed certification for out-of-state educators and military spouses; and HB 1481 to expand cell phone restrictions to the full school day. Testimony was generally supportive on most bills, with some concerns raised on HB 121 about school district police departments investigating misconduct and on HB 2674 about how it would interact with the new ESA program in SB 2. HB 5515 drew support from instructional materials coordinators who described extreme shipping invoices and argued the bill would restore transparency and fiscal responsibility. HB 2310 was supported by disability advocates and early learning groups, who said a coordinated state plan would improve access and inclusion for children with disabilities. HB 367 was presented as a simple clarification to reduce confusion for medically vulnerable students and families, and HB 1178 was described by TEA as a modest pathway that would help bring experienced out-of-state teachers into Texas schools more quickly. HB 126, updating Texas’ NIL law to align with the pending House settlement and allow direct payments and pre-enrollment NIL agreements, received extensive testimony from university counsel and committee questioning about the settlement, recruiting, and future college athletics rules. HB 1481, expanding school cell phone restrictions from instructional time to the entire school day, drew strong support from parents, students, educators, and advocates who linked phones to distraction, cyberbullying, and mental health harms; one teacher asked for flexibility so phones could still be used for limited academic tasks. No bills were voted out; each measure heard was left pending subject to the call of the chair, and the committee then recessed to attend the floor session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please support our goal of recruiting and retaining a well-educated, well-qualified diverse force by
• I ask you to support this bill and give all troopers equal opportunity to advance through education.
• By linking education to compensation, the program supported better decision-making, stronger communication
• When asked if a voter would support or oppose offering an education incentive to state troopers who pursue
• higher education, 77% indicated that they would support this initiative.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security held a public hearing on a wide range of bills affecting law enforcement, corrections, fire services, emergency management, telecommunicators, and sex offender policy. Testimony strongly focused on proposals to restore an education incentive for Massachusetts State Police troopers hired after the Quinn Bill was repealed, with State Police Association witnesses arguing the current system creates unfair pay disparities, hurts recruitment and retention, and leaves newer troopers earning less than some supervisors with the same or less education. They urged favorable reports on H. 2651, S. 1759, and S. 1783. A separate witness also supported H. 2627, a sheriff’s pay-parity bill, while suggesting amendments to avoid distinctions between correction officers and jail officers and warning that the proposal should not be viewed as a funding issue alone. The committee also heard testimony on public safety and oversight bills. A rape survivor testified in support of S. 1663, arguing that municipal fire or police personnel convicted of sex offenses should not remain in positions of public trust. Senator Miranda testified in support of S. 1723, S. 1724, and S. 1727, which would create correctional officer training/accountability standards, a correctional inspector general, and privileged communication with legislators for incarcerated people; he said the bills respond to misconduct and lack of independent oversight in the Department of Correction. In contrast, the Fire Chiefs Association and Professional Fire Fighters opposed H. 2572/S. 1668/S. 1740 on emergency management, saying the bill was developed without enough collaboration, lacked local-control safeguards, and could undermine incident command and local decision-making during disasters. Several panels supported other public safety measures. The Fire Chiefs Association and PFFM backed S. 1641 and S. 1744 to create a Massachusetts Public Safety Building Authority to help fund fire station and municipal public safety building projects, and supported S. 1647 to implement the Walsh-Kennedy Commission recommendations on hot works and welding safety, including tougher penalties and training requirements. Witnesses also supported H. 2664/S. 1736 to create a hoisting machinery regulations board, saying current licensing standards for heavy equipment are too minimal. Another panel backed H. 2663/S. 1761 to classify 911 telecommunicators as first responders, citing stress, burnout, and the expanding role of dispatchers. Finally, an attorney from CPCS testified in opposition to S. 1752, warning that expanded sex offender residency restrictions would likely increase homelessness, make supervision harder, and raise constitutional concerns based on prior court rulings.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that means we're borrowing from the general ed dollar which is supporting everything else in education
• Districts are encouraged to implement tiered systems of support within regular education that will mitigate
• Tiered systems of support can provide data for a special education referral, ensuring that decisions
• . education. education.
• One of those, uh, to support the cost of special ed eligible education freedom accounts, uh, EFA participants

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission meeting focused on reviewing and correcting draft minutes and then working through a draft report on the cost of special education. Members made mostly clerical corrections, including clarifying references to Spalding, fixing acronyms such as LETRS, and cleaning up membership titles and appointee roles to match SB 57. The minutes were approved as amended, with some members abstaining because they were not present at the prior meeting. The chair also noted the commission’s deadline to complete findings and recommendations by July 1 and said the final report must be delivered to legislative leaders, the governor, the state librarian, and others. The main substantive discussion centered on the report’s findings about special education funding. Members agreed the report should emphasize that the commission was created to study the cost of special education and reduce reliance on local property taxes. One draft section described FY24 special education funding as coming from three primary state and federal sources totaling about $152 million, or roughly 15% of annual costs, with the remaining 85% paid by local school districts through property tax revenue, estimated at about $825 million. Members discussed adding historical or longitudinal data to show trends over time, and some suggested attaching charts or tables showing funding over the last 20 to 30 years. A second major topic was demographic data. The draft noted that statewide K-12 enrollment has declined since 2003 while the number and share of students with IEPs has increased. Members questioned whether the data compared like with like, especially given the growth of Education Freedom Accounts and charter school enrollment, and whether the figures included or excluded those students. Several members asked for clearer sourcing from the Department of Education and suggested keeping a list of unresolved questions, including the impact of the shift from ADMA to ADMR and the effect of the EFA program. The discussion ended with agreement to continue refining the report and to gather additional attachments and clarifications before finalizing recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our statewide education fund means we're all… Statewide education fund means we're all in this together
• And I can't support this yield bill. I can't support this yield bill.
• , of changing education governance, and changing education delivery, we're not going to get everything
• They need access to shared special education expertise, professional development, technical support,
• I'll use education reform as an example. I'll use education reform as an example.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Repeals a Hawaii early childhood education educator special fund.
• <00:02:54.879> education<00:02:55.720> educator<00:02:56.360> special childhood
• education educator special childhood education educator special fund<00:02:57.879> effective<00
• The board is supportive right now.
• Education.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• administer grant programs to support state and local educational agencies in providing special education
• administer grant programs to support state and local educational agencies in providing special education
• education and related services that, Free appropriate public education means special education and related
• , the Oregon Department of Education, and local educational agencies.
• , the Oregon Department of Education, and local educational agencies.

Keywords: 907, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . support. support.
• >> Support, support right up here.
• First up on our list, we have the Department of Education offering testimony in support in person.
• We have the Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus offering testimony and support.
• HB 2127 Civics Education Grant Program. Jud uh Judicure Society in support.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1783, which would expand public-private partnership options for charter school facilities. The Department of Education offered comments, the Charter School Commission and SFA supported the bill, and Hawaii Technology Academy, Hawaii Kids, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, HGA, Aloha Project, and several individuals testified in support, while UPW opposed it. Supporters said charter schools need faster and more flexible ways to address severe facility shortages and high costs, and SFA described the bill as a pilot model that could leverage developer partnerships and state contributions, citing Maryland as an example. Members asked whether the bill was limited to charter schools; DOE said the language could be read to include other public school facilities, but if focused only on charter schools, DOE was less concerned. The Charter School Commission also described an existing public-private preschool model through Parkway Village Preschool and PACTED. The committee then took up HB 1778, which would establish a CIP database for school facilities. SFA supported the bill, saying it would create a more disciplined, transparent basis for funding decisions by documenting facility condition, needed repairs, classification, and timing. DOE initially said it rested on its comments, then responded to questions by saying it already maintains deferred maintenance lists, uses systems such as Maximo, CPT, GIS, and finance software, and sends legislators project-status letters twice a year. DOE said it is working on improving its outward-facing dashboard and integrating its systems, but questioned whether the bill would add value beyond existing tools. Members emphasized the need for a publicly accessible, real-time transparency tool, while DOE said it was still evaluating its current systems and was not yet seeking funding for a new IT program. For HB 2344, creating an Independent Public School Realignment and Closure Commission, DOE said it wants to remain part of any consolidation process to keep students and education central, while SFA said the bill is timely and framed it as a restructuring response to changing conditions and possible federal funding cuts. SFA compared the proposal to the federal BRAC process for military base closures and said Hawaii has the same enrollment as in 1961 but many more schools, arguing that the state needs a more deliberate approach to school closures and land reuse. The Attorney General’s office raised technical concerns about several sections, including unclear references to administrative support, a governor-approval sequence, a possible conflict with existing statutes governing closed-school disposition, and a missing section number. Testimony on HB 2345, which would establish a geographic CIP district, began with DOE in opposition; DOE said the bill would duplicate existing work, add confusion by creating two agencies doing the same thing, and spend money inefficiently because district project coordinators and project lists already exist.

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, I fully support the idea of school choice. We have it. We have home education.
• And again, I fully support the idea of school choice. We have it. We have home education.
• It trusts families, supports education.
• work in supporting education options and homeschooling.
• <02:17:14.440> of work in supporting of work in supporting of education<02:17:16.080> options

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Any witnesses in support or opposition, or anyone in the room in support or opposition?
• Any primary witnesses in support or other support? Any opposition of any variety?
• Joy Williams Brook, licensed physical therapist and physical therapy educator, in support of AB 2497.
• Tamara Phelan, licensed physical therapist and educator, and here in strong support of AB 2497, which
• Christian Smith, physical therapist and physical therapy educator, in support of AB 2497.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on May 6, 2026, with a quorum present and began by approving a large consent calendar of bills on two unanimous-support motions. The committee then heard a series of individual bills, with authors and sponsors generally describing low or absorbable state costs and asking for aye votes. Topics included AI/digital safety education for students (AB 1792), hepatitis C treatment access (AB 1843), rent-now-pay-later consumer protections (AB 2350), retirement information for community college faculty (AB 2417), cannabis regulation changes including tribal commerce, drive-through sales, and beverage labeling (AB 2506, AB 2697, AB 2532), emergency equipment training for law enforcement volunteers (AB 1913), cannery law modernization (AB 2706), child care planning in local governments (AB 1914), EV charger permitting fees (AB 1820), election-record notice requirements (AB 1664), nursing home discharge notices (AB 2135), a San Diego energization-delay pilot (AB 2518), mental health training for school coaches (AB 1665), and education governance and oversight changes (AB 2117). Several bills were described as committee or sponsor measures with technical or clarifying changes, including AB 2780, AB 2615, AB 2121, and AB 2771. Testimony was largely supportive, often from sponsor groups, industry representatives, labor, or advocacy organizations. Notable support included TechNet for AB 1792, the California State Sheriffs’ Association for AB 1913, California Dairies and food manufacturers for AB 2706, the Low Income Investment Fund for AB 1914, EV and environmental groups for AB 1820, the Attorney General’s Office for AB 1664, long-term care ombudsman advocates for AB 2135, and the California State Association of Psychiatrists for the cannabis and mental-health-related bills. Some bills drew limited opposition or “opposed unless amended” positions, including AB 2350, AB 1820, and AB 2506, while AB 2697 and AB 2532 were presented as efforts to support the legal cannabis market and consumer safety. The committee also heard a presentation-only item, AB 2541, creating a lowrider specialty license plate, which drew enthusiastic bipartisan comments and co-author requests from members. Most bills were reported out with due pass recommendations, many on roll call and several with specific members not voting or voting no. AB 1664 was reported out as due pass as amended and placed on call before later being moved out on a B roll call. AB 2350 and AB 1914 were also later reported out from call on B roll calls, with AB 1914 noted as passing despite some Republican no votes. The suspense calendar was then deemed approved without individual action, and the meeting concluded after a brief public comment period in which members of the public voiced positions on unrelated bills, including support for AB 2497, AB 1729, AB 2189, AB 1575, AB 2170, and opposition to AB 1603, AB 2447, AB 2411, AB 2492, and AB 1952.

Transcript Highlights:

• And there's more education, just not even with higher education.
• Human OK Higher education plan for human papilloma education and prevention.
• Buckner was able to help Katie with stable housing, employment, and support for her educational journey
• support while they're getting their education and keep them from becoming homeless.
• To truly ensure educational equity, I urge you to support House Bill 1784 to require higher education

Bills: HB232

Keywords: disaster recovery, natural disaster, weather disaster, emergency relief, flood relief, hurricane relief, storm damage, wildfire, tornado, hail, windstorm, extreme heat, ice storm, snowstorm, property damage, personal injury, temporary housing, relocation assistance, lost wages, state emergency management

Transcript Highlights:

• And so if the school district isn't able to provide the educational support for my child that's not in
• We are forcing school districts and administrators and educators and staff to not support IEPs with this
• I support this because I support military families and I support educational stability.
• I am an educator and a lawmaker here with you. Many of you who are actually supporting...
• Military families absolutely deserve educational opportunities, stability, and meaningful support from

Summary: The House convened, completed roll call, approved the journal, and took up several Senate bills and one Senate concurrent resolution through motions to reconsider, return bills for reconsideration, and refer measures to additional Committee of the Whole sessions for further amendment. Early actions included returning SB 1175 and SB 1198 to the Senate for reconsideration, rescinding passage of SB 1336 so it could be reconsidered, and referring SB 1111 and SB 152 to an additional COW. The House also recognized Representative Travers for a personal privilege statement honoring National Women Veterans Recognition Day and recorded attendance. In Committee of the Whole, members adopted floor amendments and recommended passage for SB 1511, SB 1552, SB 1198, SB 1110, SB 1618, SB 1431, and SCR 1004, with some debate on SB 1110’s home-confinement/reentry program, SB 1618’s Military Affairs Commission changes, and SB 1431’s city and town authority over residential project standards and streetscapes. The House later adopted the COW reports and moved the measures to engrossing or third reading as appropriate. SB 1336 and SB 1519 were also advanced from committee, while SB 1004 was reconsidered and ultimately failed on reconsideration. On third or final reading, the House passed SB 1127, SB 1180, SB 1428, SB 1198, SB 1336, SB 1511, SCR 1004, SB 1552, HB 2104, HB 2105, HB 2114, HB 2311, HB 2729, and HB 4117. SB 1687, SB 1004, SB 1519, and SB 1502 failed. Members explained votes on several measures, including support for tax administration clarity in SB 1180, objections and support for the May primary proposal in SB 1687, concerns about sex offender monitoring in SB 1004, support for the Arizona Beef Council in SB 1198, and debate over the photo enforcement referral in SCR 1004. The session also included recesses for caucuses, lunch, and dinner, plus a brief technical outage of the live stream.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's been a lot of change in education, which is sort of the name of the game in education, but. the
• There's a huge need for special education services and supports beyond just teachers, but also behavioral
• They need support to do it.
• Special education, there's a need to be able to support some pretty severe needs. Thank you, Mr.
• providers, and support providers who are seeking a bilingual education.

Transcript Highlights:

• I rise today in strong support of House Bill 4670, an act relative to personal financial literacy education
• The financial curriculum supports young people throughout the continuum of education.
• The financial curriculum supports young people throughout the continuum of education, equipping students
• It ensures that financial literacy is a required component of public education and prioritizes that support
• education.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House took up several procedural orders early in the session, including extending the reporting deadline for the Housing Committee on H.4655 and suspending Joint Rule 12 for a petition seeking to rescind prior Article 5 constitutional convention applications. It then advanced three Ways and Means bills on education-related topics: personal financial literacy education (H.4670), expanded access to the state seal of biliteracy (H.4671), and teacher preparation and student literacy (H.4672), each moving through amendment adoption and third reading or engrossment procedures. A major portion of the meeting focused on H.4670, which would require personal financial literacy instruction in middle and high school and establish a financial literacy trust fund for curriculum and teacher training. Members spoke in support, emphasizing budgeting, credit, student loans, and long-term financial planning, and the bill passed to be engrossed by a 154-0 roll call. H.4671, which broadens access to the seal of biliteracy for students in public and private schools, also drew support and passed to be engrossed 155-0. The most extensive debate centered on H.4672, a literacy bill requiring evidence-based reading instruction, DESE-approved curricula or approved local alternatives, screening and progress monitoring, professional development, and related implementation measures. Members described concerns about declining reading scores and argued for a shift away from three-cueing toward phonics-based, science-of-reading approaches. Several amendments were considered: a proposal to change intervention language from “significantly” to “at risk of falling behind” failed, while amendments adding funding language, stakeholder collaboration, and other implementation details were adopted. One amendment clarifying that pictures may be used as a supplement in literacy curricula was also adopted, and the bill ultimately passed to be engrossed 155-0. The House also observed moments of silence for former Judge Leslie Harris, former Representative Mark Carron, and former Representative Dennis Rosa, and adjourned to meet the next day at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• the educational and and really support the educational and Workforce<00:25:33.000> needs<00:25
• the support for higher education.
• I am truly blessed to work at a place where higher education is valued and supported. Thank you.
• students with the financial support they need to pursue a higher education.
• Minnesota provides students with the financial support they need to pursue higher education.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is David Trumbull from the town of Aware, and I support this bill to fund adequate education
• Um, we're here today in support of Senate Bill 582, modifying the cost of an adequate education, base
• It doesn't look at the effort the state makes in its totality to support education in our local communities
• It doesn't look at the effort the state makes in its totality to support education in our local communities
• local to support education in our local to support education in our local communities. communities

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota Senate Education Finance Minnesota Senate Education Finance Committee<00:06:44.880> will
• But, um, and I support this one.
• um, and I support this one. Thank you. um, and I support this one. Thank you.
• American Indian education state aid. American Indian education state aid.
• equitable educational opportunities. equitable educational opportunities.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And there's... education just not even with higher education.
• We support HB 1784.
• Buckner was able to help Katie with stable housing employment and support for her educational journey
• support while they're getting their education and keep them from becoming homeless.
• To truly ensure educational equity, I urge you to support House Bill 1784. to require higher education

Bills: HB232

Keywords: disaster recovery, natural disaster, weather disaster, emergency relief, flood relief, hurricane relief, storm damage, wildfire, tornado, hail, windstorm, extreme heat, ice storm, snowstorm, property damage, personal injury, temporary housing, relocation assistance, lost wages, state emergency management

Transcript Highlights:

• educators um to bring them there. educators um to bring them there.
• , I come from a whole family of educators, a long line of educators.
• Um, 52% of Minnesota educators say that school climate, especially leadership support, drives their exit
• Um, 52% of Minnesota educators say that school climate, especially leadership support, drives their exit
• I fully<00:17:14.400> support<00:17:14.880> it. fully support it. fully support it.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Farm Bureau strongly supports the Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council and their work
• and steadfast support of egg education and steadfast support of egg education and for<00:22:41.720
• additional education and support on our additional education and support on our college<00:35:51.079
• for them to get further education and further support, and we've got an excellent feedback and we've
• further education and further support<01:36:21.480> um<01:36:21.600> and<01:36:21.719>

Bills: HF711, HF653

Keywords: agriculture, agricultural education, leadership development, Minnesota Agricultural Education and Leadership Council, MAELC, chapter 41D, grant funding, general fund appropriation, commissioner of agriculture, farm education, youth agriculture programs, ag literacy, workforce development, extension education, research funding, extension services, technology transfer, grant programs, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• That bucket supports the CTE pilot project, it supports student organizations, it supports work-based
• One for the Hispanic Education Act, the Black Education Act, and the Bilingual Multicultural Education
• Of 89 through 90. 93 I think I missed total support of the career technical education part of it.
• education.
• For other things in the Bilingual Education Act, the Indian Education Act, the Hispanic Education Act