Video & Transcript : 'educational policy reform' :

Page 8 of 500
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

CAA Public Hearing - Wed Mar 18, 2026 @ 10:30 AM HST

Culture & Arts

Transcript Highlights:
  • My name is Robert Singleton, and I serve as the senior director of policy and public affairs for the
  • Policy, and even the U.S.
  • c> Bartlett Center for Public Policy and Bartlett Center for Public Policy and even<00:49:28.600><c>
  • ,</c> transaction records, refund policies, transaction records, refund policies, payment<00:49:46.360
  • There may be bills that are not laws that enact this policy.
Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 2603 SD1, which would designate the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as the state symphony orchestra, require annual reports to the legislature, and appropriate funds. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from the orchestra, the Hawaii Youth Symphony, the Hawaii Arts Alliance, business and arts groups, and many individuals. Supporters emphasized the orchestra’s cultural value, its role in inspiring youth and supporting arts education, and its broader community impact. No opposition or questions were raised, and the chair offered praise for the level of public engagement around the measure. The committee then took up SB 3007 SD2, relating to culture and the arts, which would create an Office of Community Culture and Innovation within the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, require annual reporting, appropriate funds, and establish a Community and Cultural Partnerships Program. The Attorney General’s office warned that section four, which separately funds preservation and relocation of artwork from Aloha Stadium, may be non-germane and should be moved to a separate bill; it also suggested the office would be more properly placed under DAGS rather than SFCA. SFCA Director Karen Ewald testified with concerns about added costs, staffing burdens, and the need for earlier communication, while also saying the agency could support the work if properly coordinated. Opposition testimony argued the bill was duplicative or unnecessary, while supporters, including Governor Abercrombie and Dean Sakamoto, said it would help communities, especially Chinatown, and could support planning and cultural revitalization. The chair noted roughly eight opposition testimonies and five in support, and questioned witnesses about coordination and the cost of relocating the Aloha Stadium artwork, which Ewald estimated could cost at least $1.2 million. The AG’s office said removing section four would substantially reduce legal risk. Finally, the committee heard SB 3019 SD2, a consumer protection measure that would cap ticket resale prices at no more than $3 above the original price for events in Hawaii and authorize DCCA to adopt enforcement rules and fines. The Office of Consumer Protection opposed the bill, arguing it would strain limited enforcement resources, push sales to less regulated channels, and likely eliminate the protections offered by established secondary platforms. Chamber of Progress also opposed the bill, saying price caps would encourage black-market sales, scams, and fraud, and that resale markets serve legitimate consumer needs. In support, the National Independent Venue Association backed the measure, though the remainder of its testimony was not fully captured in the transcript excerpt.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Feb 25th, 2026 at 02:30 pm

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • physical impact of 253,000, there will not be additional appropriations because the Department of Education
  • that the off-the-formula schools will continue to receive dollars and allow the state Department of Education
  • Senate Bill 1360 directs the State Department of Education to establish a three-year pilot program putting
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Feb 25th, 2026

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • fiscal impact of $253,000, there will not be additional appropriations because the Department of Education
  • the off-the-formula schools will continue to receive dollars and allows the State Department of Education
  • the off-the-formula schools will continue to receive dollars and allows the State Department of Education
  • Senate Bill 1360 directs the State Department of Education to establish a three-year pilot program, putting
Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee met with a quorum and considered a series of bills, most of them receiving unanimous or near-unanimous support. Senate Bill 169 would increase the annual longevity payment award for state employees by 50% across all service years and passed 17-1. Senate Bill 1991, described as a cleanup bill for the Ocamp Fund, passed 19-0. Senate Bill 1992, which defines “strategic financing partner” under the SIDE Act for Department of Commerce projects, passed 20-0. The committee also approved Senate Bill 1204, as amended, to provide Oklahoma teachers and school employees three days of bereavement leave after the death of a spouse or child, including a miscarriage; the amendment specified funding from the public school paid maternity leave revolving fund. Senate Bill 1339 passed to codify continued funding for off-the-formula schools and allow the State Department of Education to access funds to cover the 2023 teacher pay raise for those schools. Senate Bill 182 passed to allow certain CLEET-certified law enforcement officers and resident care specialists to join the OPERS hazardous duty retirement plan. Additional measures approved included Senate Bill 1847, allowing certain Advantage Waiver Medicaid recipients diagnosed with cognitive impairment to remain in assisted living and age in place; Senate Bill 1360, creating a three-year pilot program placing math instructional teams in the lowest-performing districts; and Senate Bill 1346, as amended, directing the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to establish a water and wastewater infrastructure investment program after removing an appropriation section. Several questions focused on funding sources, eligibility, and population-based allocation formulas, but no bills were rejected. Senate Bills 1427 and 1566 were laid over to go directly to the floor with no fiscal impact, and the committee adjourned after announcing it would meet again the following Wednesday.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Mar 19th, 2025

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:
  • My name is Will Basher, and I'm testifying on behalf of Texans for Lawsuit Reform.
  • Andrew, I've got you on behalf of the Texas Public Policy Foundation registered for HDR.
  • I'm vice president of policy with the Texas Public Policy Foundation. and I oversee our work on child
  • and family policy.
  • And I'm also the legislative and policy director of the FAMI. Family Freedom Project.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Mar 19th, 2025

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:
  • But the real problem we have... that commission needs reform, and I'm speaking now personally about my
  • UT Health, Rice University Baker Institute. of Public Policy, the Michael E.
  • It burdens the educational system because survivors, again.
  • Thousands of perpetrators known and hidden because of NDAs and their policies of not reporting.
  • We don't want the state have to continue to increase funding and policy measures to help making sure
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Mar 3rd, 2026

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, received the day’s invocation, introduced the Doctor of the Day and a group of pages, and recognized several visitors in the gallery, including nursing students and Talakawa Day participants. The chamber then took up Senate Concurrent Resolution 16, which honors Oklahoma women and recognizes March as National Women’s History Month. The resolution highlighted figures such as Kate Barnard, Angie Debo, Clara Luper, and Shannon Lucid. It was moved directly to the calendar, read, adopted by voice vote, and the author offered brief closing remarks. The Senate then considered several bills. Senate Bill 1457, extending the sunset of the Construction Industries Board to 2031, passed 40-3 and was also approved as an emergency measure. Senate Bill 1732, which updates fees and licensing fees for the Construction Industries Board to support expanded responsibilities and staffing, passed 35-9. Senate Bill 1317, allowing local school boards to decide whether to recognize a teacher’s earned career status when moving districts, passed 43-0 and was likewise approved as an emergency measure after questions about safeguards for potential bad actors. Senate Bill 1533, a cleanup measure for the Dignity and Burial Act requiring the veteran to have been an Oklahoma resident, passed 43-0. At the end of the session, leaders announced upcoming committee meetings and a weekly devotional. The Senate then adjourned until Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

JDC Public Hearing 02-10-2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm a policy advocate at the ACLU of Hawaii. Uh, we are here in strong support of this bill.
  • Uh, the state is in desperate need of bail reform.
  • </c> policy committee for AAW of Hawaii. policy committee for AAW of Hawaii.
  • Uh, and for the Department of Education, the clear definition is don't discriminate.
  • Uh and for the Department<00:22:22.000><c> of</c><00:22:22.159><c> Education,</c><00:22:23.440><c> uh
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 2248 would expand financial disclosure requirements to certain gubernatorial nominees subject to Senate confirmation. The State Ethics Commission supported the measure, saying disclosures should be filed before confirmation so the public and interested parties can review them in advance. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support, with 22 supporters, no opposition, and one comment. SB 2530 would broaden Hawaii’s campaign contribution ban for state and county contractors to include officers and immediate family members, and would extend the ban to certain grantees and their officers and family members, with specified contract thresholds. The Campaign Spending Commission said the bill is its own proposal and would align the thresholds with procurement guidelines. Testimony was entirely favorable, with 30 in support, no opposition, and two comments. Members asked about conforming amendments and how the existing prohibition on soliciting contributions applies; CSC said the calendar-day language clarifies current practice and that the solicitation ban already applies to contractors, with the bill extending the same standard to officers and immediate family members. SB 2732 would require courts to consider a defendant’s ability to pay when setting bail, including excluding public benefits from income calculations and clarifying the 40-hour affordability benchmark for those above 150% of the federal poverty level. The Office of the Public Defender, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, and the ACLU of Hawaii supported the bill, arguing that unaffordable bail creates wealth-based disparities, contributes to jail overcrowding, and can cause severe collateral consequences for people not yet convicted. There was one opposition testimony and 18 supporters. Committee discussion focused on when the 40-hour period should begin, how income would be verified, and whether misrepresentation could affect bail; the Public Defender said the measure should be read to start from initial appearance and that judges could address false statements through existing remedies. SB 2871 would prohibit discrimination based on perceived characteristics, association with someone who has or is perceived to have protected characteristics, and intersectional combinations of characteristics. The Department of Education supported the intent but asked for clear definitions, while the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission said the bill does not add new protected classes and simply codifies the Lamb v. University of Hawaii decision on intersectional discrimination. LGBTQ+, civil rights, ACLU, and other advocacy groups testified in support, with one opposition testimony and a total of 27 in support, two opposed, and one comment. The committee then heard SB 2919, which appropriates funds for one full-time public deputy public defender position. The Public Defender’s Office said the position would provide statewide legal support and a centralized resource on constitutional, appellate, and immigration-related issues; several advocacy groups supported the measure, and committee questions focused on how the new position would complement existing training and keep staff updated on changing law.
US
Transcript Highlights:
  • The cause of these fires is rooted in misguided policies that go all the way back to the Forest Service's
  • 1930s so-called 10 a.m. policy, which requires all fires to be extinguished by 10 a.m. the day after
  • Let me start with permitting reform.
  • Bim, I have long supported permitting reform, as long as it is done in the right way.
  • I agree that there's opportunities for reform. I think that this bill has the seeds of that.
Bills: HB471
Summary: The meeting primarily focused on H.R. 471, the Fix Our Forests Act, which aims to address the ongoing crisis of wildfires exacerbated by climate change and the need for updated forest management practices. Various committee members voiced concerns about past federal management failures and emphasized the necessity for collaborative approaches involving local communities and stakeholders in forest management. As discussions unfolded, there were varying perspectives on the implications of certain provisions in the bill, particularly around regulatory changes and their likely impacts on public participation and environmental reviews.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

06/10/2026 - Joint Appropriations

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • We educate more Arizonans than any other education institution. 90% of our students stay in Arizona.
  • We educate more Arizonans than any other education institution. 90% of our students stay in Arizona.
  • We educate more Arizonans than any other education institution. 90% of our students stay in Arizona.
  • We educated 11,000 students, or we will educate 11,000 students this year.
  • These are policies that work.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Feb 24th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • She is a constituent of mine and she is the associate professor in early childhood education at the University
  • And I absolutely have always agreed we should be more efficient and reform.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Feb 24th, 2026

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • She is a constituent of mine and she is the Associate Professor in Early Childhood Education at the University
  • And I absolutely have always agreed we should be more efficient and reform, but I'm afraid what we're
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer, and recognized the nurse of the day, Michelle Bradshaw, along with several gallery guests and pages. The chamber then took up Senate Concurrent Resolution 15, recognizing February 24 as World Spay Day to highlight pet overpopulation and the importance of spay and neuter programs; the resolution was adopted without debate. The main floor debate centered on House Bill 2786, a supplemental appropriation of $19,660,770 for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to close out FY25 and cover statutory and contractual obligations, including Medicaid/Title 19-related payments. Senator Kurt raised repeated concerns that the supplemental did not restore funding for substance use providers, uncompensated care, or crisis services that had been cut or left unpaid, while Senator Rosino argued the bill only covered amounts the state was legally required to pay and reflected the department’s verified needs. The Joint Committee report was adopted, and HB 2786 passed 38-10 and was then passed as an emergency measure. The Senate also passed House Bill 2787, a supplemental for the State Department of Health tied to legacy contracts associated with “Choosing Childbirth,” despite criticism from Senator Kurt that the money could have gone to direct mental health services. The chamber then advanced and passed Senate Bill 1525, raising the threshold for the Tourism and Recreation Department to contract with private entities for a tourism conference from $25,000 to $75,000, and Senate Bill 2011, adding contracted employees of county detention facilities to a protected class list. Senate Bill 2159, designating wheat as the official state crop, also passed. The Senate adjourned until Wednesday, February 25 at 1:30 p.m.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/04/2026 - Senate Education

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Committee on Education is called to order. Will the Secretary please note the roll?
  • Senate Bill 1210 establishes a separate out-of-state registration process for private post-secondary education
  • A person may not operate a private vocational program through online distance education to Arizona residents
  • And having no further business before the body, the Senate Education Committee is adjourned. Mr.
  • And having no further business before the body, the Senate Education Committee is adjourned.
Bills: SB1210 , SB1370 , SB1422 , SB1423
Committee: Senate Education
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Administration of Criminal Justice May 12th, 2026

Administration of Criminal Justice

Transcript Highlights:
  • So that potato shed was reformed into a place for children to stay that were abused and neglected 50
  • My name is Sandra Shea Foster, and I am the Louisiana State Policy Director for the Southern Poverty
  • What we need is sentencing reform. If I may just say one more thing—you're on.</p><p>Very quickly.
  • But as long as that part of the statute is removed, I'm not in opposition to the idea of reforming.
  • </p> <p>I'm not in opposition to the idea of reforming. I'm just urging that what we need is more.
Bills: HB75 , SB134 , SB201 , SB258 , SB288 , SB313 , SB320 , SB321 , SB325 , SB339 , SB345 , SB393 , SB422 , SB440 , SB470 , SB487 , SB523
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Health Committee Apr 9th, 2025

Health

Transcript Highlights:
  • Uh, but the community colleges and the higher education partnerships, which is a number of the universities
  • Purcell, who is over the commission on higher education.
  • my eye because I don't think we have the authority as legislators to dictate programs in higher educational
  • understand what you're trying to do, but I'm still seeing what our restrictions are by our ed law and policy
Bills: HB441 , SB274
Committee: House Health