Transcript Highlights:

• for its first six years.
• <00:02:44.040> for launching and leading the program for launching and leading the program
• whereas the program has evolved over<00:02:54.640> the<00:02:54.800> years<00:02:55.319
• Whereas the Minnesota High School Page Program now enters its 50th year with gratitude, optimism, and
• page program now enters its 50th year page program now enters its 50th year with<00:04:54.960>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, the first-year writing program at San Jose State has integrated digital and creative literacy
• This co-curricular educational event is being held in collaboration with the first-year writing program
• In this year-long program, a faculty representative from each college serves as a strategic liaison and
• In this year-long program, a faculty representative from each college serves as a strategic liaison and
• Like, I've been teaching for almost 20 years, I'm still here to learn.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Higher Education and the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an oversight hearing on the California State University’s AI-empowered initiative, including the systemwide rollout of ChatGPT EDU and broader AI integration across CSU campuses. Opening remarks emphasized both the promise of AI for student success, workforce preparation, and access, and the need to address risks such as bias, privacy, misinformation, environmental impacts, and mental health harms. CSU representatives said the initiative grew out of Academic Senate recommendations and a systemwide generative AI committee, and that the goal was to provide equitable access, training, governance, and workforce alignment across the 23-campus system. CSU officials described systemwide contracts for AI tools, the AI Commons training hub, and faculty grant programs supporting AI-related curriculum innovation. They said more than 93,000 ChatGPT EDU accounts had been activated, over 4,300 faculty had taken voluntary training, and $3 million had been awarded to 63 faculty-led projects from more than 400 submissions. San Jose State University highlighted its own AI-focused programs, courses, orientation training, faculty fellows, student ambassadors, and interdisciplinary efforts to build AI literacy and responsible use into instruction and co-curricular programs. CSU also said it was tracking metrics on adoption, academic outcomes, workforce outcomes, and environmental impacts. Faculty, staff, and student representatives welcomed the educational potential of AI but raised concerns about the rollout, saying it had moved quickly and without enough consultation or consistent systemwide policy. They urged stronger protections for academic freedom, intellectual property, privacy, equity, and worker input, and warned about bias, surveillance, job displacement, and the environmental cost of AI. Legislators pressed CSU and OpenAI representatives on training requirements, data privacy, bias reporting, discipline for misuse, liability, sycophancy, and safeguards against harmful uses such as non-consensual imagery or self-harm-related interactions. CSU said interactions in the licensed tool are private, data are not used to train models, and campuses retain their own conduct processes; members also asked CSU to follow up on systemwide training, policy consistency, and additional safeguards.

Transcript Highlights:

• through digital learning.
• This bill enables flexible learning models. to promote promote work-based learning and apprenticeships
• AI in the last few years has taken over. We weren't talking about AI. years ago up here.
• Last year, but they did because they had the right learning environment to succeed. virtual education
• So three and a half years ago, I lost my son. He was 19 years old. Tragic car accident.

Bills: SB 10, SB 11

Keywords: human trafficking, trafficking victim, compelling prostitution, affirmative defense, criminal defense, coercion, force fraud or coercion, sexual exploitation, victim protection, Penal Code, Texas criminal law, prosecution, party liability, affirmative defense statute, survivor rights, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have learned a lot through this last year, just engaging, but as Assembly Member Lowenthal mentioned
• schools to offer work-based learning programs, and removing academic program references.
• Work-based learning programs, removing academic program references to work-based learning activities,
• The program to offer work-based learning activities.
• Four-year degree.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:31:52.080> is<00:31:52.159> to year the aim of the program is to year the aim of
• Last year, the legislature provided funding to extend the program for one more year.
• worked<01:13:46.679> through The Years our program has worked through The Years our program
• who Learning scholarship program and who Learning scholarship program and who also<01:20:32.719
• last year 40,000 through this program last year 40,000 youth<01:43:40.239> um<01:43:40.400>

Bills: HF2582, HF2266, HF2518, HF2039, HF1941

Keywords: child care, grants, appropriation, workforce development, families, YWCA Minneapolis, job training, child development, economic assistance, WomenVenture, economic development, entrepreneurship, women entrepreneurs, business training, financial support, youth programs, funding, employment, Minnesota, American Indian

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the opportunity to testify. $800,000 per year for FCI program $800,000 per year for FCI
• for 17 years with six keiki in the family child interaction learning program.
• for 17 years with six keiki in the family child interaction learning program.
• <00:16:22.319> how<00:16:22.399> to program she was able to learn how to program she
• <00:33:58.840> having Learning programs or we're even having Learning programs or we're even

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 627, which concerns Department of Education school safety funding and staffing. DOE said the bill would restore two positions and related funding that had been removed from the governor’s budget: a targeted violence prevention and threat assessment program manager and a security technology manager. DOE described ongoing work on school vulnerability assessments, fire suppression measures, security camera research, panic buttons, and active shooter prevention training. Testifiers from DOE, the Department of Law Enforcement, fire services, HSTA, and an individual witness all supported the bill, with the individual citing a past school shooting experience as a reason to increase school resource officers and safety measures. Members asked about the positions’ duties, how the request differed from existing security funding, and the status of active shooter training; DOE said it would provide more information on training statistics. The committee then took up HB 249, relating to Executive Office on Early Learning family child interaction learning programs. The Early Learning Board, EOEL, Commit to Kids, Early Childhood Action Strategies, Partners in Development Foundation, and others testified in support. EOEL said it currently spends about $800,000 annually on FCI program contracts and supports expanding state funding for FCIL programs, including infant and early childhood mental health, if the appropriation covers the broader scope. Testifiers emphasized that FCIL programs are trauma-informed, evidence-based, and help families and children, with one provider sharing a long-term example of a parent and child benefiting from the program. Members asked how many programs are supported, whether FCIL exists on all islands, and whether the request was in the governor’s budget; EOEL said the expansion was requested by the office but not included in the governor’s budget. HB 429, concerning pre-K expansion, drew broad support from the Lieutenant Governor, EOEL, HSTA, and community groups. Supporters said the Ready Keiki initiative has already opened more than 50 classrooms and would add another 50 over the next two years, including Hawaiian immersion classrooms. EOEL said it currently administers 72 public pre-K classrooms across 74 campuses and that the bill’s funding was included in the governor’s budget request. Testimony stressed kindergarten readiness, affordability for working families, equity across islands, and inclusion classrooms. Members asked about national quality benchmarks, with EOEL stating Hawaii meets 10 of 10 benchmarks and that only five states had done so at the time referenced. The Lieutenant Governor also described construction and delivery efforts, including refurbishing existing classrooms, modular options, possible use of state buildings, and even collaboration with libraries to expand child care access. Finally, the committee heard HB 439 on J-1 teacher licensure. DOE supported the bill, while the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board opposed it, arguing licensure standards are not place-based and should remain rigorous and uniform for all educators. The Attorney General’s office offered technical comments, including replacing “educators” with “teacher” and clarifying the bill’s language on issuance and renewal conditions. Several organizations and individuals testified in support, including school, cultural, business, and educator groups. One witness, a teacher from the Philippines, said J-1 educators are highly qualified and described the rigor of teacher preparation in the Philippines. No votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The JET Grant Program provides funding for equipment used in career and technical education programs.
• That was my district this year.
• barriers to early learning.
• After bouncing between six different early education programs, he finally reached the top of a two-year
• We are, for this current fiscal year, sitting at about a little over 5,000 educators a year.

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:

• YEAR AFTER YEAR WE WORK WITH OUR UNIVERSITY PARTNERS TO DESIGN AND TEST INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO FLORIDA'S
• A PAID INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.
• THE DESIGN OF OUR PROGRAM IS TWOFOLD.
• THE NEW HEALTHY LIVES PROGRAM ALSO OFFERS AND ENRICH AND MORE INTENSIVE SCIENCE LEARNING CORE WITH CAREER
• REALLY, THE ARTICULATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL INTO TWO-YEAR PROGRAMS AT OUR STATE COLLEGES THAT THEY DO FOR

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Research proves that including students in meaningful STEM co-curricular programs in elementary years
• Research proves that including students in meaningful STEM co-curricular programs in elementary years
• <01:04:34.039> where program over the past few years where program over the past few years
• This is our third year for this program.
• <06:07:47.798> 250<06:07:48.760> cases year for this program over 250 cases year for

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> It was eight last year, but that's just that was in the bill last year as well.
• being placed in the budget uh this year being placed in the budget uh this year or<00:06:57.360>
• things she never thought she had learned, and she left that program with confidence that this is something
• :22:09.200> that she had learned and she left that she had learned and she left that program<00
• the first semester um program where the first semester they're<00:22:37.760> learning<00:22:38.080

Bills: HB187, HB98, HB360, HB394, HB398, HB388, HB187, HB98, HB360, HB394, HB398, HB388

Keywords: school safety, emergency response, training, public safety, Alyssa's Law, law enforcement, scholarship, tuition assistance, dependent education, Alabama, blackout license plate, HB360, Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday, sales tax holiday, firearms, guns, ammunition, bullets, primers, gun accessories

Transcript Highlights:

• . programs and expect recurring funding for the programs for at least three years.
• To have three-year funding, we have not had consistent funding for either one of these programs.
• The learning that's happening then is different than at the end of the school year.
• In early childhood programs, we call them child care, but there's learning that's happening, right?
• For educational experiences and learning, again, from our infants all the way to our 12-year-olds.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the first time I ever even learned about that was during my Ph.D. program.
• I've taught for 55 years.
• I've been involved with a federally funded program for two, almost three years in South Texas involving
• J.A.E.P. programs.
• Yeah, 75,600 minutes per year in a JJAEP program now. The bill would reduce that to 43,200 minutes.

Bills: HB178, HB178, HB1551, HB1939, HB2040, HB2354, HB2674, HB3029, HB3460, HB3631, HB3662, HB5201, HB5381

Keywords: efficiency audit, political subdivision, tax rate, fiscal management, government accountability, Texas education, public schools, curriculum, social studies, high school graduation requirements, State Board of Education, Education Code, ethnic studies, world history, world geography, U.S. history, government, economics, personal financial literacy, free enterprise

Transcript Highlights:

• And last year together, we also did our best to keep the focus on our students and their learning environment
• And last year together, we also did our best to keep the focus on our students and their learning environment
• <00:09:54.959> Learning<00:09:55.279> to<00:09:55.519> communicate, years to
• Learning to communicate, years to reach.
• You know, the loss of after-school programming could seem small, but it is documented learning loss.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a program for boys, and we have learned that boys do learn differently from girls.
• This is a program for boys and we have<00:31:11.679> learned<00:31:12.480> uh<00:31:12.559
• uh that boys do learn have learned uh that boys do learn differently<00:31:14.000> from<00:31
• so we can just see like in your program so we can just see like in 10<00:36:24.320> years<00:
• <00:36:47.440> um next year will be the 10 10y year um next year will be the 10 10y year um

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the September meeting minutes, and heard presentations from Carter G. Woodson Academy in Lexington and related school programs in Fayette County Public Schools. School leaders described the academy as an all-male public school option focused on culture, belonging, and opportunity, with a mission to educate, empower, and equip young men academically, socially, and morally. They emphasized culturally responsive instruction, restorative practices, mentorship, brotherhood circles, and access to advanced coursework, dual enrollment, and career pathways. Student speakers highlighted school culture, leadership opportunities, and clubs such as SGA, Beta Club, FFA, and the Bow Tie Club, along with service and community engagement. Presenters said the academy began in 2012, is housed with Frederick Douglass High School, uses an application and lottery process, and can serve up to about 350 students but is intentionally kept near 300 because of space. They reported 302 enrolled students, about 38 seniors, a 100% graduation rate, 95% average attendance, 100% postsecondary success, and $1.8 million in scholarship offers last year. They also shared demographic and achievement data, noting growth in MAP scores, strengths in reading and writing, and math as an ongoing focus area. The school said 90% of high school scholars are taking at least one dual credit class this year, and some students have earned opportunities at selective programs such as Gatton Academy and Craft Academy. Committee members praised the school’s results and asked about enrollment, funding, and whether the model could be replicated statewide. School leaders said the program is fully funded through Fayette County Public Schools, could be replicated with committed staff and training, and that teachers receive preparation through the Gearing Institute to better understand how boys learn. They also noted that Fayette County has other specialized programs, including girls’ academies and other options for underrepresented students. Members expressed interest in long-term tracking of graduates, and the school said it is preparing to study outcomes as the first graduating class approaches its 10-year anniversary.

Transcript Highlights:

• making 65, 70 K a year, working in a clean room, that program it's the national model for semiconductor
• programs.
• Just to clarify, the $1 million a year is what you spend to run the apprenticeship program, correct?
• years.
• They have a one year program in daytime full, one year program at night full, and they are on one year

Transcript Highlights:

• So I remember my senior year, I was cutting across campus.
• He then continued that program on to middle school.
• And for most of those kids, like my own 16-year-old, that program continues into high school, where they
• why this program is as good as an evidence-based program or perhaps even better.
• , DESE may allow the district to engage in a pilot program to demonstrate why this program is as good

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:

• over the last several years.
• Before coming to Poulsbo eight years ago, I spent seven years with the city of Spokane, two years with
• Before coming to Poulsbo eight years ago, I spent seven years with the city of Spokane, two years with
• What's the current street program?
• What's the current street program?

Summary: The committee held a work session on form-based codes, child care facility siting, and street standards/frontage improvements. On form-based codes, Commerce’s Dave Anderson explained that these codes emphasize building form, orientation, and the public realm more than traditional use and density tables, and that they are typically applied in specific districts rather than citywide or statewide. Lacey’s Vanessa Dolby described the city’s Woodland District code, developed through community charrettes, fiscal and market analysis, and subdistrict-specific standards to create a walkable downtown. She said the approach has helped produce a more desirable built environment and more flexibility in permitted uses, but also noted it can be less user-friendly for applicants and still requires some use restrictions; both presenters said a hybrid approach is often best. The committee then heard from DCYF and multiple providers about barriers to opening child care facilities. DCYF officials said Washington has more than 6,500 licensed providers and that a new pre-licensing support team is helping applicants navigate licensing, but local zoning, building, fire, parking, utility, and occupancy requirements still create delays and confusion. Testifiers described long permitting timelines, inconsistent local interpretations, costly upgrades, and utility hookup delays; one Yakima provider said county requirements, a floodplain-related elevation certificate, and a private well issue stopped her in-home child care proposal, while others described traffic impact fees, parking mandates, and zoning barriers that made projects infeasible. Enterprise Community Partners highlighted examples of successful local reforms, including fee waivers, expedited permitting, and zoning changes in several cities, and DCYF said it is working toward a 2026 action plan and a resource guide for providers. In the final section, planners and developers discussed how street standards and frontage improvement requirements can undermine infill and middle housing. Poulsbo’s planning manager said current standards were designed for greenfield subdivisions and often force costly curb, gutter, sidewalk, stormwater, and utility upgrades on small infill sites, sometimes adding tens of thousands of dollars and causing projects to be abandoned. A Seattle-based developer made similar points about small middle-housing projects being burdened by frontage work, curb ramps, buried standards, and EV-ready parking requirements that can trigger expensive undergrounding. Committee members asked about possible state-level changes, including whether child care should be treated as an essential public facility and whether parking requirements had already been reduced; one senator noted that minimum parking requirements for child care facilities were eliminated in prior legislation, with implementation phased in over the next few years.

Transcript Highlights:

• We always had additional programs, and over the years I had the opportunity to work in areas of early
• We always had additional programs, and over the years I had the opportunity to work in areas of early
• programming.
• after year.
• A lot of adults give up year after year.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this year, we are continuing the idea of having a thematic panel in this year's program.
• And this year, we are continuing the idea of having a thematic panel in this year's program.
• If it's a four-year program, they might have four bumps, one at the end of every year.
• So all of our programs we like to say are earning while learning.
• For CNC operators, it's a one-year program, so that's why this is only just one level up.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities held its quarterly virtual/in-person meeting and approved the December minutes. The chair announced plans for the next “Meeting the Moment” community forum in Lowell on March 27, in partnership with MassAbility, focused on digital accessibility, education-to-employment transition, workforce supports, long-term services and supports, and health equity, along with a resource fair. The commission also began planning for its October National Disability Employment Awareness Month event and sought volunteers for a small planning group. The meeting featured an update from the Attorney General’s office on federal litigation affecting Massachusetts, including challenges to federal actions on higher education diversity data collection and DEI-related funding conditions, immigration/TPS for Haitians, NIH research grant disruptions, and the nonrenewal of mental health services grants for schools. The presenter said the state has helped protect more than $3 billion in federal funding and noted ongoing or pending appeals in several cases. Commissioners asked about possible impacts on disability-related DEI work and Medicaid; the AG’s office said guidance on DEIA/employment initiatives is available and that the state is closely monitoring federal Medicaid communications and coordinating with the governor’s office. Undersecretary of Labor Josh Cutler and apprenticeship liaison Amara Riemann presented on registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, emphasizing paid, employer-driven pathways with classroom instruction and wage progression. They highlighted growth in nontraditional fields such as human services, IT, early education, biotech, and banking, and described Bridgewater State University’s Excel program for neurodivergent people and people with disabilities as a model that can lead from pre-apprenticeship to apprenticeship. Commissioners discussed expanding similar models through community colleges and disability-focused workforce pipelines. Subcommittee reports covered disability employment, long-term services and supports, and health equity. The employment subcommittee heard from CED on state disability employment initiatives and planned future presentations from the Lawrence Partnership for Transition to Employment and Veterans Affairs. The long-term services and supports subcommittee discussed MassHealth budget pressures, anticipated federal Medicaid changes, the personal care attendant working group, and an upcoming discussion on crisis standards of care. In commissioner announcements, members highlighted recent honors for several commissioners, updates on municipal digital accessibility grants, a June Medicaid summit, and other commission activities. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The transmission inspection program is every year a visual inspection happens and then on wood pulls
• Our distribution inspection program is an 8 year cycle.
• And that 8 year cycle, the feeder hardening program continues heavily heavily investing in the remaining
• We've also got our distribution of vegetation management program that is a three-year cycle and feeders
• We learn the lessons learned after each event and at those into the following year, we do have a storm

Keywords: 999, senate, all