Video & Transcript Research : 'flight testing'
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FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
February 19, 2025 - 09:30 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- And the last comparison by region is for our NCLEX PN test takers: the highest number of test takers
- We also don't tell the students what tests are coming. We give adaptive tests.
- And we can't mandate or schedule them to test when we would like them to test.
- they become test savvy.
- With tests, all different formats, a lot of adaptive tests, and they become test savvy.
Summary:
The subcommittee met to examine Florida’s nursing education pipeline and the state’s persistently low NCLEX passage rates. Chair Tuck opened by noting the projected nurse shortage and Florida’s ranking near the bottom nationally for first-time NCLEX pass rates. The Department of Health explained the Board of Nursing’s approval process for nursing programs, including application requirements, probation standards, and termination for programs that repeatedly fail passage-rate benchmarks. The Florida Center for Nursing then presented statewide data showing Florida has more test takers than most states, but still trails the national average; the gap has narrowed in recent years, though Florida remains below average. Members focused heavily on why the state continues to underperform, with discussion of faculty shortages, clinical placement constraints, accreditation, student preparedness, and the large share of newer private for-profit programs among those placed on probation.
Committee members asked about how probation works, what happens when programs improve, and whether the board requires corrective plans. They also questioned the relationship between program type and outcomes, the effect of Operation Nightingale, and how many students fail and retest. The Florida Center for Nursing said first-attempt pass rates are the standard measure and that students who fail are expected to remediate and retest, though costs vary. The center also said Florida’s data shows accredited programs outperform approved or probationary ones, and that the state’s nursing workforce challenges are tied to broader issues such as faculty vacancies, clinical site competition, and student demographics, including many students balancing work, family, and language barriers.
A panel of nursing school leaders from public, private nonprofit, and private for-profit institutions then described strategies used to improve outcomes. These included transparent recruitment, early orientation, tutoring, success coaching, stronger faculty development, curriculum mapping to NCLEX standards, higher course benchmarks, mandatory remediation, simulation labs, and commercial NCLEX prep tools such as ATI, Kaplan, and HESI. Several panelists said their programs had improved after probation or had very high passage rates, and they emphasized that student success depends on academic preparation, clinical experience, and support services. Members also asked about tuition, program length, translation into other languages, and faculty recruitment; panelists said costs vary widely, faculty hiring is difficult because hospitals pay more, and some schools are considering medical Spanish and immersion options rather than full curriculum translation.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Science, Technology and Telecommunications Sep 23rd, 2025
Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Test test. Test test. Test test. Test test. Test test. Test test. Test test. Test test. Test test.
- Test test. Test test. Test test. Test test. Test test. Test test. Test test. Test test.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection - 02/24/26
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- bottleneck of at at the testing labs. bottleneck of at at the testing labs.
- that are experiencing um at testing that are experiencing um at testing facilities.<00:05:07.680
- of analysis, which is the testing form. of analysis, which is the testing form.
- on our testing facility and we test them on our testing facility and we test them on the<00:15:34.000
- test is the actual method they're using. test is the actual method they're using.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Financial Services Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Financial Services
Transcript Highlights:
- they may have based on genetic testing.
- She said, secure life insurance now before you get tested.
- And it forces people to delay or avoid genetic testing.
- For families affected by ALS, genetic testing can be life-changing.
- Genetic testing is not a diagnosis. It identifies risk.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a fully virtual public hearing after a blizzard and state emergency closed the State House and created travel and cleanup concerns. Chairs Senator Paul Feeney and Representative James Murphy opened by thanking first responders and committee staff for making the hearing possible and noted that several members attended remotely. The committee heard testimony on three bills: H.5112, An Act Prohibiting Genetic Discrimination; H.4914, An Act Relative to the Massachusetts Uniform Commercial Code; and S.2921, An Act Relative to Travel Insurance. Most of the testimony focused on H.5112.
Representative Dave Rogers and his constituent Robin Biggs testified in support of H.5112, describing gaps in federal genetic nondiscrimination law that do not cover life, long-term care, or disability insurance. Biggs shared her experience as a BRCA2 mutation carrier and said genetic knowledge helped her take preventive steps, but that people fear testing because insurers may use results against them. Lindsay Jack of the ALS Association and Lisa Schlager of FORCE also supported the bill, arguing that it would encourage preventive care, research participation, and fairer underwriting without harming insurance markets. They said insurers could still use medical history and diagnoses, but not genetic test results alone.
Committee members asked questions about whether insurers currently request genetic testing and how such information is used in underwriting. Testifiers said the information is routinely asked for or found in medical records, but the bill would prohibit its use in coverage decisions and would prevent insurers from requiring testing. No votes were taken. After testimony concluded and no additional witnesses came forward, the chairs closed the hearing and adjourned the meeting by unanimous voice vote.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee (5-12-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- . test. test.
- and the ABOC test, the certification test.
- test, the certification test. test, the certification test.
- that testing currently? that testing currently?
- test. I have to do all this. test. I have to do all this.
Summary:
The subcommittee considered an emergency regulation from the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners, 201 KAR 5021E, along with a staff amendment to conform the text to KRS Chapter 13A. The regulation was described as implementing an Attorney General opinion and a review of optometrists licensed during the 2020–2023 period when alternative testing and waivers were used during the COVID-19 era. The board explained that the rule requires affected licensees to complete specified examinations or an alternative certification before renewing in 2027, and that it now removes the OEBC Canadian exam as a future pathway while preserving recognition of OEBC results submitted during the period when that option was in effect. The staff amendment was approved without objection.
Testimony was sharply divided. Board representatives and the Attorney General’s office said the regulation is needed to protect public health and to bring the licensure review into the formal administrative process. They said the NBEO Part 3 exam is the nationally recognized hands-on clinical licensure test, while the American Board of Optometry certification is a post-licensure credential for already licensed practitioners and is not a substitute for initial licensure testing. They also said no other state uses the ABOC certification for licensure, and that the board’s approach balances fairness, due process, and public protection.
Opponents argued the regulation would allow individuals who were improperly licensed to continue practicing without meeting the same standards as other Kentucky optometrists. A representative from the Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation described cases of alleged inadequate care and urged the committee to require full national board passage before independent practice. Representatives from ARBO and NBEO said the emergency regulation is not justified as an emergency, does not adequately address public safety or fiscal impacts, and exceeds the board’s authority by creating a renewal path for licensees whose initial licensure was challenged. They emphasized that NBEO Part 3 is a practical, hands-on exam and that the ABOC certification is not designed or validated for initial licensure. The committee asked several questions about the differences between the exams, and no final vote on the regulation itself was described in the transcript beyond approval of the staff amendment.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- So, those tests are being administered there.
- But you have norm reference tests, you have criterion reference tests, you have things that I believe
- been going through a certain type of testing, the testing that's required under this law.
- and state standard testing is.
- , standardized testing.
Bills:
SB683, SB1579, SB1389, SB1387, SB1390, SB1391, SB2063, SB1829, SB2060, SB1842, SB1398, SB1212, SB2158, SB102
Keywords:
education, tax credit, student support, private school, Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit, financial assistance, homeschooling, qualified expenses, property tax, valuation increase, taxpayer rights, homestead, protest process, school choice, tuition assistance, income limits, parental choice, accreditation, sales tax, motor vehicles
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
EDN Public Hearing - Tue Feb 17, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST
Transcript Highlights:
- to have to take another test. to have to take another test.
- is a good test taker.
- testing every year?
- testing homeschooling test homeschoolers testing every<01:50:25.520>
year? - test her for that.
Summary:
The committee on Education met on February 17 and announced it would limit public testimony to one minute because more than a thousand testimonies were expected on one measure. The first bill heard was HB 1934, relating to the Imagination Library of Hawaii. The state librarian and Friends of the Library supported the bill, saying the program is a proven, cost-effective way to improve early literacy and should be expanded statewide for children ages 0 to 5. Friends of the Library said the current 50/50 match requirement would be too difficult to meet immediately and asked for state funding for the first few years to help launch the expansion. Testimony included eight supporters and one opponent, and members asked whether the proposal was an expansion of an existing program; the state librarian said it would expand service beyond currently targeted communities.
The committee then heard HB 20004, which would extend the floating librarian pilot program. The state librarian, Department of Education, HSTA, and several individuals testified in support. Supporters said the program helps address staffing needs and improves student readiness, especially for college and information literacy. One retired community college librarian said school librarians help students prepare for college and are increasingly important in teaching critical evaluation of misinformation and AI-generated content. Members asked about implementation of the existing pilot, including recruitment of certified librarians for neighbor island and Oahu complex areas; DOE said those positions had been identified and recruitment was underway, and existing funds remained intact.
The final major discussion was HB 2398, which clarifies the library system’s role in RNMSP-related projects and public library construction on or near school land. The state librarian and public library system supported the bill, while the Department of Education and Attorney General’s office raised concerns about vague language, especially the phrase “land controlled by the board,” and suggested amendments. In questioning, the state librarian explained that the bill was prompted by conflicts on shared or adjacent school/public library sites, including traffic, pickup and drop-off access, and other operational issues. DOE described significant disruption from one project’s traffic changes and said planning for such projects should involve early coordination and formal agreements. The state librarian responded that the new bill would clarify oversight and help avoid delays and disputes over property control and future renovations.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee Apr 21st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- They are test reactors.
- We have the test beds. It's good, but look at the bottom one: we have the test beds.
- These test beds allow us to do that testing here in Idaho National Laboratory.
- would be tested.
- And ENRIC also has a LOTUS test bed, a laboratory for operation and testing in the United States.
Summary:
The meeting was an extended briefing from Idaho National Laboratory officials on the lab’s mission, its role in nuclear energy research, and the federal push to accelerate advanced reactor deployment. Speakers described INL’s size and capabilities, including test reactors, fuel and materials facilities, cybersecurity and critical infrastructure work, and partnerships with DOE, the NRC, the Department of Defense, and private companies. They emphasized that the lab is supporting both commercial nuclear development and national security work, while also training a large intern workforce.
A major theme was the current federal effort to streamline nuclear regulation and speed up licensing and demonstration. The speakers said recent executive orders and DOE/NRC coordination are reducing redundant requirements, shortening environmental review timelines, and aiming for three new nuclear systems to reach criticality by July 4, 2026. They argued that regulatory uncertainty has been a major driver of nuclear cost and that the administration’s actions, along with DOE’s pilot and demonstration programs, are intended to rebuild the domestic supply chain and industrial base.
The discussion also focused on advanced reactor types, including small modular reactors, microreactors, molten salt concepts, and liquid-metal designs. Officials said these technologies are being developed for data centers, military bases, remote communities, industrial heat, hydrogen production, and other nontraditional uses. They highlighted several projects and companies, including Oklo, Aalo, Radiant, X-energy, TerraPower, Kairos, and DOE’s MARVEL and Project Pele efforts, and said some reactors are expected to reach criticality or operation in the next few years. Questions from attendees covered safety, public health impacts, materials and heat management, waste or used fuel handling, costs, and whether nuclear could remain competitive against other energy sources; the speakers responded that advanced reactors are designed with passive safety features, that used fuel should be viewed as a resource, and that cost remains highly design- and supply-chain-dependent.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- These are tests from the 90s.
- So did you test for PFOS or anything like that? Did we test? Well, I guess...
- Then came the test results.
- Testing? As far as they, we haven't done our own testing.
- But you didn't test any samples?
Keywords:
hydrogen sulfide, public health, environmental regulation, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, ground level concentrations, emissions limit, emissions limits, ground-level concentrations, air quality, PFAS, agriculture, environmental protection, health risks, criminal offense, chemical regulation, preproduction plastic, water quality, pollution control, industrial waste, emissions
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- liquid testing.
- That test is known as the Declinolivine field test.
- Because of those things, the testing—I want to get to the testing real quick—GCS testing is why law enforcement
- That means he tested it. He tested that product.
- That means he tested it. He tested that product.
Summary:
The House Committee on Public Health heard House Bill 5, a proposal to ban THC products outside the Texas Compassionate Use Program while allowing non-intoxicating CBD and CBG products under tighter regulation. Chair Van Deaver gave a lengthy background on the 2018 federal Farm Bill and Texas’s 2019 hemp law, arguing that the lack of guardrails allowed a large, unregulated THC market to develop. HB 5 would impose licensing fees, product registration, testing and inspection requirements, and restrictions intended to keep products away from children.
Invited witnesses from law enforcement strongly supported the bill. Steve Dye of the Texas Police Chiefs Association and Brian Hawthorne of the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas argued that THC consumables are widely mislabeled, often far more potent than advertised, and linked to youth access, impaired driving, and organized crime. Both said regulation would be ineffective and would amount to legalization, while a ban would be easier for officers to enforce. They also emphasized support for the Texas Compassionate Use Program and said medical THC should remain available.
Dr. Peter Stout of the Texas Association of Crime Lab Directors and Alice Amelot of Texas DPS testified as resource witnesses about forensic testing. They said current lab resources are already stretched thin, that quantitative testing for THC and related cannabinoids is expensive and time-consuming, and that a ban would simplify enforcement because labs could focus on presence/absence testing rather than concentration. Amelot said DPS labs are neutral on the bill but explained that mislabeled products and inaccurate certificates of analysis are common. Committee members asked about traffic safety, impairment, youth use, and the costs of enforcement and lab testing; witnesses repeatedly said the bill would reduce complexity for law enforcement but that any approach would still require more resources for labs.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- He just didn't have a way to test for it and didn't know to. way to test for it and didn't know to test
- Testing to me is you kill, you test every deer that's killed by hunters.
- But everywhere they've tested between 0.5 and 1% test tested between 0.5 and 1% test positive.
- Eight of them tested killed 100 deer. Eight of them tested positive. About 0.7% tested positive.
- Testing started in the west, and it started testing coming this way.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Transportation panel hears bill to fund expanded commercial truck driver training assistance 3/10/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:03:52.959>
commercial controll system of testing commercial controll system of testing - <00:04:20.079>
is conducting written and road tests is conducting written and road tests is - of Public Safety CDO Road testing of Public Safety CDO Road testing facilities<00:04:40.639>
- of trucking companies when a testing of trucking companies when a testing facility<00:04:50.919>
- location so now imagine if that testing location so now imagine if that testing slot<00:05:14.039
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Financial Services Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Joint Committee on Financial Services
Transcript Highlights:
- The science is there for this biomarker testing so that a patient, if they received this testing, which
- The science is there for this biomarker testing so that a patient, if they received this testing, which
- Ensuring equitable access to biomarker testing by improving coverage for and access to testing across
- Ensuring equitable access to biomarker testing by improving coverage for and access to testing across
- Despite the critical information received from biomarker testing, his insurer declined to cover the test
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a lengthy public hearing with testimony on a wide range of health insurance and access-to-care bills. Early testimony focused on prescription drug pricing and pharmacy reimbursement, with supporters of H. 1326 arguing that pharmacy benefit managers and MassHealth managed care arrangements reimburse independent pharmacies too little, contributing to pharmacy closures and “pharmacy deserts.” The committee also heard repeated support for H. 1151/S. 742 on cognitive rehabilitation for acquired brain injury, H. 1288/S. 716 on telehealth parity for nutrition counseling, H. 1309/S. 761 on full-spectrum pregnancy care without cost-sharing, H. 1312 on insurance coverage for doula services, H. 309 on prompt access to health care by removing deductibles for certain services, H. 809/H. 1227 on biomarker testing, H. 1162/S. 810 on reducing inequities in access to medical procedures by limiting insurer cuts tied to Modifier 25, and S. 726 on insurance coverage for mobile integrated health.
Testifiers included legislators, physicians, pharmacists, dietitians, emergency and rehabilitation clinicians, and patients and family members. Supporters of the brain injury bill said cognitive rehabilitation is medically necessary, improves long-term outcomes, and can reduce institutional care and public costs; they noted the bill has been heard repeatedly and has support from the Brain Injury Commission and prior favorable committee action. Supporters of the pregnancy care and doula bills described out-of-pocket costs as a barrier to maternal health and shared personal stories of high bills and unmet support needs. Biomarker testing advocates and cancer patients said coverage gaps deny patients access to precision treatment, can lead to avoidable suffering, and should be standardized across insurers; several speakers said insurers often deny claims despite clinical benefit. Dermatology witnesses said insurers’ use of Modifier 25 cuts reimbursement for same-day evaluation and procedure visits, forcing separate appointments and increasing patient burden. Mobile integrated health supporters described home-based care as a way to reduce emergency department use and hospital readmissions, especially for patients with transportation or mobility barriers. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing itself.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- That test is known as the dequanolavine field test.
- The testing is already required. We do full testing. Panel testing on every single product.
- Testing, and we have third-party testing done as well.
- The testing, I want to get to the testing real quick.
- That means he tested it. He tested that product.
Bills:
HB5
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee Apr 21st, 2026 at 08:25 am
Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- They are test reactors.
- These test beds allow us to do those testing here in Idaho National Laboratory.
- would be tested.
- And INL also has a LOTUS Test Bed, a laboratory for operation and testing in the United States.
- And INL also has a LOTUS Test Bed, a laboratory for operation and testing in the United States.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Expanding accessibility by encouraging autonomous vehicle adoption in MN | Senator John Jasinski Apr 10th, 2026
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- They want to actually go to a test track.
- They want to actually go to a test track.
- Uh purchase of one to test that.
- They want to actually go to a test They want to actually go to a test track.<00:09:04.240>
So - So MDOT does have a test facility track.
Summary:
The discussion focused on Minnesota legislation for autonomous vehicles, with Sen. John Jasinski arguing the state should create a clear statewide regulatory framework that welcomes driverless ride-share services without imposing so many rules that companies avoid investing here. He said autonomous vehicles are already testing and mapping in the Twin Cities area, and that the main benefits would be improved accessibility and independence for people who cannot drive because of disabilities or medical conditions, as well as broader transportation options for work and travel.
Jasinski described his bill, Senate File 4010, as a public-safety framework that would rely on existing MnDOT and governor’s connected automated vehicle task force structures rather than creating a new, more restrictive process through DPS. He contrasted that approach with Sen. Dibble’s bill, which he said would be much more restrictive and could amount to "death by regulation." He also said he supports some guardrails, such as geomapping around downtown events, safe loading and unloading zones, and procedures for human takeover if a problem occurs, but wants to avoid a patchwork of city-by-city rules.
He said the legislature is considering several autonomous-vehicle bills this session and that the timing reflects years of study by the state task force. Jasinski also discussed his earlier bipartisan Senate File 75, which authorized MnDOT to research autonomous mower technology after he noticed traffic delays caused by ditch mowing along highways. He said that pilot is still in testing at an MDOT facility, but he sees potential for the technology to reduce traffic disruption, improve worker safety, and lower costs. No votes or formal committee actions were described in the interview.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
HRE-AEN, AEN, AEN DEFER Public Hearings 03-17-2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Who's testing that?
- Who's testing that? Lab who's now? Who's testing that?
- <00:15:52.079>
for testing center with respect to test for testing center with respect to - test for replacement.
- prioritized to be tested.
Summary:
The joint committees heard House Bill 643, House Draft 2, which would create short-term management initiatives and appropriate funds for the coconut rhinoceros beetle response program. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive. Committee discussion focused on biocontrol efforts, including fungus and virus-based treatments, the need for a biosecure facility, and the timeline for testing and range studies. Department of Agriculture officials said initial testing is underway at the University of Hawaii, but full testing requires a higher-biosafety facility that is not yet available on island. Members also discussed funding levels, the possibility of a mobile facility, and whether the work could be accelerated. The committees later voted to pass HB 643 unamended.
The committees also heard House Bill 736, House Draft 1, which would establish a three-year wastewater system and individual wastewater technology testing pilot program at the University of Hawaii Water Resources Research Center. Supporters said the bill could help certify new, lower-cost decentralized wastewater technologies and reduce the cost of cesspool upgrades while improving water quality. University of Hawaii witnesses explained that the center would test technologies, collect samples, analyze results, and provide reports to the Department of Health for certification. Members raised concerns about whether the program would help communities facing immediate wastewater issues, the length of the testing timeline, and whether technologies like the Genki ball could be included. The committee was told the pilot would likely test one technology at a time over about nine months each, though multiple tests could run in parallel later. The committees voted to pass HB 736 unamended.
After those measures, the joint committee moved to an AEN-only agenda and began hearing STR 111 / SR 92, which declares a public health emergency relating to climate change and calls for statewide coordination on cross-sector solutions. Testimony in support came from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Public Health Institute, and others. Supporters said climate change affects public health through heat, wildfire risk, invasive mosquitoes, and other impacts, and argued that the response should involve agriculture, planning, transportation, and emergency management, not just the Department of Health.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- prior tests.
- take the test When you do well, the tests adjust to you, or if you don't do as well.
- The purpose of testing is what? The purpose of testing kids is what?
- So the idea that the last test is just a norm-reference test... I think is incorrect.
- Because it violates the limit. test. Well, we no longer have the lemon test in place.
Bills:
HB4, HB54, SB 10, SB 24, HB4, HB54, HB775, HB850, HB 1122, HB 1249, HB1405, HB2336, HB2757, HB3372, HB3622, HB4442, HB4687, HB4893, HB5089, HB5515, HB5606, SB10, SB24, HB1573, HB3369
Keywords:
district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, citizenship, U.S. citizen, non-citizen, public office, advisory board, task force, state government, local government, political subdivision, commission board, appointment eligibility, officeholder qualifications, public service, naturalization, Texas Government Code
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Minnesota House agriculture panel lays over bill exempting elk from state's Cervidae importation ban Apr 8th, 2026
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- later tested positive for the disease. later tested positive for the disease.
- Uh, I got that screwed up, but we need a validated live test. Can't be fooled again.
- We've invested at least five, maybe 10, over the years in the live test.
- , in line with a blood test, in line with a blood test, and<00:09:26.880>
I'm <00:09:26.960 - , doing our own thing with live testing, doing our own thing with live testing, it's<00:10:49.480
Summary:
Representative Heintzeman presented House File 4508, which would allow the importation of elk from other states into Minnesota to help address challenges facing the state’s elk breeding industry and improve herd genetics. The Minnesota Elk Breeders Association supported the bill, arguing that recent CWD-related import restrictions have effectively cut off access to outside breeding stock, hurt breeder numbers, and limited options for maintaining healthy, profitable herds. The group said elk are relatively resistant to CWD and that importation could be allowed under Board of Animal Health oversight.
The Minnesota DNR opposed the bill, saying there is no validated live test for CWD that can ensure incoming animals are disease-free and pointing to recent cases in other states where imported elk later tested positive. The DNR also said federal herd certification programs have not prevented spread of the disease and warned that responding to a new captive cervid detection can cost more than $500,000. Members then discussed broader issues around CWD testing, including frustration that a live test developed at the University of Minnesota has not been federally validated and whether Minnesota should pursue state or third-party validation.
Representative Heintzeman said the bill was intended to start a broader conversation and noted that the current proposal does not address the testing issue directly. After testimony and discussion, no vote was taken and House File 4508 was laid over.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- In short, the end-of-year test will be an actual end of the school year test.
- test at the end of the year.
- test.
- A criterion-referenced test, like the STAAR test... ...is like getting your blood work back from your
- A norm-referenced test is not exactly the same type of diagnostic instrument as the STAAR test.
Keywords:
district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, fraudulent solicitation, disaster relief, nonprofit organizations, criminal penalties, consumer protection, fraud prevention, charitable donations
Summary:
The committee first took up House Bill 2853, which would allow the UT System Board of Regents to adjust the University of Texas at El Paso student union fee above the current statutory cap, subject to student approval, to help fund a new student union building. Senator Blanco explained the bill and the committee substitute, there were no questions or witnesses, public testimony was closed, and the committee adopted the substitute and left the bill pending subject to the call of the chair.
The committee then heard House Bill 610, which would limit severance payments for terminated independent school district superintendents to six months’ salary and benefits. Senator Paxton described large severance payouts and said the bill had passed the House overwhelmingly. There were no witnesses, public testimony was closed, and the bill was left pending.
A lengthy hearing followed on House Bill 4623, which would waive school district immunity in certain cases involving negligent hiring, supervision, or employment of professional school employees who commit abuse or related misconduct against students. Senator Paxton and several witnesses, including survivors and parents, argued the bill was needed to address cover-ups, delayed reporting, and repeated failures to remove dangerous employees; some members raised concerns about liability caps, litigation, and how the bill would interact with the Tort Claims Act. The committee also heard from TEA staff and employee-group witnesses who discussed possible injunctions and stronger no-hire protections. Public testimony was then closed and the bill was left pending.
Finally, the committee heard House Bill 4, an accountability and assessment bill that would restore A-F ratings, change the state testing system, and replace STAAR with shorter, more instructionally useful assessments. Senator Bettencourt explained the committee substitute, including annual ratings, limits on taxpayer-funded lawsuits, and a phased-in testing redesign with beginning, middle, and end-of-year assessments. Testimony was generally supportive from education and business groups, though some witnesses favored norm-referenced testing while others emphasized criterion-referenced, TEKS-aligned assessments; one witness noted social studies assessments were restored in the bill. The hearing concluded with additional invited testimony and no final vote reported in the transcript.