Transcript Highlights:

• One, by moving the voluntary paraprofessional credential to MDE in alignment with their jurisdiction
• Paraprofessionals are among our most valued educators, yet they often lack consistent support.
• training to fund a paraprofessional specialist.
• training to fund a paraprofessional training to fund a paraprofessional<01:05:52.960> specialist.
• paraprofessional specialist. paraprofessional specialist.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I have three teachers, a paraprofessional, myself, and two and two halftime math teachers. those
• talk about CCBHCs and Part of the nice part of the team is we can use all different levels of qualifications

Summary: The committee held an interim study on how to educate and support students with severe violent or disruptive behavior while protecting classmates, teachers, and school staff. Members framed the issue as one involving students who have often experienced trauma and may be removed from class through suspension, expulsion, or juvenile placement, but who still need a meaningful path back to school. Several legislators shared personal experiences as former educators or administrators and emphasized that schools need clearer criteria for removal and return, along with stronger support for families and staff. Dr. Michelle Butler, an alternative education director, testified that Oklahoma’s current alternative education system is not designed to serve students removed for major discipline issues because placement is generally voluntary and programs are built around students who need a different learning environment, not punitive removal. She argued for early intervention, stronger attendance enforcement, trauma screening, teacher training, and a regional or cooperative model that would combine credentialed educators, social workers, therapists, and family counselors. She also described existing programs such as Trace Academy, Rogers County Youth Services diversion programs, and the limitations of virtual-only models and current funding, saying the system lacks sufficient resources and staffing. Representatives and senators asked about funding, staffing, credentials, and whether statutes should be changed to prevent alternative education dollars from going to programs that do not provide direct services. Other testimony came from Family and Children’s Services and Mid-Del Youth and Family Services, both of which described embedded school-based mental health, crisis response, intensive outpatient services, family engagement, and juvenile diversion programs. Witnesses stressed that wraparound services, school-community partnerships, and a bridge back to the home school are essential, and that many students and families need mandatory or strongly supported participation rather than purely voluntary help. The study concluded with members noting possible next steps, including expanding or supplementing alternative education, improving early intervention, and examining participation requirements and transition supports; no votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• participate in the jobs program unless... ...participate in the jobs program unless you meet a qualification
• A year or two ago, I talked to you about starting a paraprofessional class to help the Child Welfare

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• WE HAVE A SLIVER OF FUNDING THERE, 1.2 MILLION WHICH IS THE JUDICIAL QUALIFICATION COMMISSION AND THEY
• THE 15% VACANCY REFLECTS THE PARAPROFESSIONALS THAT FLVS IS FILLING SO EVERY TEACHER HAS TEACHERS IN

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• were informed by conversations that I've had with reading specialists, librarians, teachers, paraprofessionals
• in the Literacy Launch Fund that will allow us to expand the number of reading specialists, paraprofessionals
• What does it mean to be able to actually have enough reading specialists, librarians, and paraprofessionals
• It allows us to actually pull the data together Specialists, librarians, and paraprofessionals.

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.

Bills: HB3327, HB3711, HB4104, HJR1077, HB3329, SB2184, SB171

Keywords: State Board of Education, Oklahoma education board, board appointments, school governance, education reform, governor appointments, legislative appointments, speaker of the house, president pro tempore, senate confirmation, board vacancies, removal for cause, public education, state superintendent, school board training, board member qualifications, emergency clause, Oklahoma statutes 70 O.S. 3-101, school funding, transparency

Bills: HB3522, HB4300, HB4359, HB4363, HB3467, HB2987, HB3076, HB4427, HB3026, HB3288, HB3315, HB3711, HB3885

Keywords: alcoholic beverages, ABLE Commission, licensing, regulation, annual reporting, child care, criminal history, background checks, child safety, Oklahoma laws, advisory committees, statewide assessments, student testing, testing window, end-of-year testing, Oklahoma Academic Standards, Oklahoma School Testing Program, State Board of Education, grade 3-8, alternate assessment

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have great, talented paraprofessionals.
• This means that people participating in this pilot, even if their usual job is as a paraprofessional
• This means that people participating in this pilot, even if their usual job is as a paraprofessional
• This means that people participating in this pilot, even if their usual job is as a paraprofessional
• This means that people participating in this pilot, even if their usual job is as a paraprofessional

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ESPs include the paraprofessionals who ensure students with disabilities get the support they need and
• Teachers, paraprofessionals, custodians, and other school employees would all be eligible for the pool
• Um, next up, I believe we have another paraprofessional.
• dated count of paraprofessionals. dated count of paraprofessionals.
• Anyone who is an employee of a school, so, you know, bus drivers, teachers, paraprofessionals, people

Bills: HF3119

Keywords: teacher compensation, educational staff, unlicensed staff, minimum wage, inflation adjustment, education finance, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul Public School staff members, most of whom are paraprofessionals working full time with students
• It is surrounded by supports for the apprentice, who is the paraprofessional, and has their local labor
• It is surrounded by supports for the apprentice, who is the paraprofessional, and has their local labor
• In our apprenticeship program, a cohort of 21 paraprofessionals engaged in a two-year program of job-embedded
• /c><01:44:58.000> in Val Bo continued: “In our apprenticeship program, a cohort of 21 paraprofessionals

Bills: HF1538, HF1965, HF2251, HF2838

Keywords: teacher apprenticeship, registered apprenticeship, teacher licensure, teacher shortage, workforce development, education finance, K-12 education, higher education, Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, PELSB, Tier 3 license, teacher preparation, mentor teacher, school district, cooperative unit, teacher pipeline, alternative licensure, apprenticeship program, labor and industry, union representation

Transcript Highlights:

• Prior to me being a teacher in the East Longmeadow Public School system, I was a paraprofessional at
• Those two years as a paraprofessional will add significantly to my retirement.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Public Service Committee heard testimony on a series of retirement, public safety, and personnel bills. House Bill 5054 would allow a public safety employee in Peabody to use an affidavit when pre-employment medical records are missing, so a firefighter’s disability/retirement application can proceed. Representative Tom Walsh, Mayor Ted Bettencourt, Fire Chief Thomas Griffin, Fire Chief Jay Dowling, and Senator Joan Lovely all supported the bill, describing it as a fix for an administrative gap that has delayed a 27-year firefighter’s retirement. No committee questions were raised. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 4698, which would authorize retirement benefits for Dale Kylie after a divorce altered the original beneficiary arrangement tied to his retirement option. Representative Donald Potham said the retirement board could not make the change without legislation. House Bill 3900 would raise the maximum age for Kingston special police officers to 70, with Representative Kathy LaNatra citing staffing shortages and unmanned details. House Bill 5159 would grant credible service to educator Sarah Shebelli for two years she worked as a paraprofessional at a charter school; she said the additional service would help her retire despite a degenerative eye disease. The committee then listed several other bills with no additional testimony, including measures involving continued employment or retirement issues for police officers in Pelham, New Bedford, Petersham, and Dayton, a retirement benefit transfer for a Massachusetts Maritime Academy professor, and a sick leave bank for a Department of Corrections employee. After confirming there was no further testimony, the committee voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've seen an increase in the needs of those students: more one-on-one need, more paraprofessionals are
• We cannot hire paraprofessionals that we need because we can't pay them.
• We're fighting right now for a dollar more an hour for our paraprofessionals that are engaged in physical
• We cannot hire paraprofessionals that we need because we can't pay them.
• We're fighting right now for a dollar more an hour for our paraprofessionals that are engaged in physical

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a hearing focused primarily on special education-related bills, with testimony centered on two major themes: transition planning for students aging out of school-based services at age 22, and the fiscal strain special education costs place on districts. Committee members explained hearing procedures, noted the House was in formal session, and periodically stepped out for votes while staff recorded testimony. A separate bill on special education due process was also taken up briefly, along with a bill on special education finance and another on equitable access/data reporting. On House Bill 752 and Senate Bill 313, witnesses from the Arc of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress, the Developmental Disabilities Council, families, self-advocates, and Senator Comerford described the “Turning 22” transition as a crisis point that often leaves families without adult placements, services, or clear communication. Testimony emphasized earlier planning, more accountability, better data collection, and a commission to improve coordination and residential placement. Several parents and advocates shared personal accounts of traumatic transitions, delayed placements, and the need for plans to begin at least a year before age 22. The committee later closed testimony on these bills after hearing from all signed-up speakers. House Bill 4217, on special education due process, drew support from Representative Sullivan-Almeida, parents, and advocates who argued that the burden of proof should shift from families to school districts. Testimony described costly legal battles, delays, and parents having to become experts in reading instruction or hire advocates and attorneys to secure services. Brody Dwyer, a 10-year-old student with dyslexia, and his mother described how evidence-based instruction helped him after years of struggle. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 546/Senate Bill 317, which would require DESE to publish cross-tabulated data on race, disability, gender, income, and other factors; advocates said this would better expose disparities and help address the school-to-prison pipeline. Finally, on House Bill 691/Senate Bill 430, school leaders, educators, and union representatives testified that special education costs are outpacing district budgets and that increasing circuit breaker reimbursement and creating a commission to study long-term sustainability would help prevent staffing cuts and service reductions. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee repeatedly closed testimony on individual bills as speakers finished and moved through the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• out are very... deciding as a package, but in this legislation for teacher incentive allotment, qualification
• SB 26 only address teachers and not counselors, nurses, librarians, other professionals, or paraprofessionals

Bills: SB26, SB 26

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, SB 26, Texas Property Code, colonia, colonias, Spanish translation, bilingual contract, real estate contract, executory contract, residential property, border county, international border, economically distressed area, consumer protection, language access, translator certified in Spanish

Transcript Highlights:

• In our LFT issues survey, 1,498 educators responded, including teachers, paraprofessionals, bus drivers
• In our LFT issues survey, 1,498 educators responded, including teachers, paraprofessionals, bus drivers
• No bus driver, paraprofessional, cafeteria worker, custodian, clerk, nurse, or teacher should be punished
• No bus driver, paraprofessional, cafeteria worker, custodian, clerk, nurse, or teacher should be punished

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met on May 26, 2026, and first took up Senate Bill 433, which would provide Medicaid coverage for certain weight-loss medications. After adopting a House amendment adding customary subject-to-appropriation language, the committee heard from LDH Secretary Bruce Greenstein, who said the state currently spends about $240 million a year on GLP-1 drugs for Medicaid patients with obesity and certain other conditions, and that the bill would let the department expand coverage gradually while controlling costs and negotiating better pricing. Members spoke in strong support, and SB 433 was reported favorable as amended. The committee then considered Senate Bill 157, which creates paid parental leave for eligible public K-12 educators and staff. An amendment was adopted to adjust fund language and make the bill proper for Appropriations. Senator Jenkins and supporters, including the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, described the bill as providing six weeks of paid leave for birth, adoption, fostering, and related family-building events, while members discussed whether medical leave should also be included and confirmed the leave applies to fathers as well. The bill drew broad support and was reported favorable as amended. Senate Bill 250, requiring the Office of Group Benefits to offer a comprehensive weight management plan with employees paying the full premium and medication costs, was briefly discussed and reported favorable without objection. The committee then spent considerable time on Senate Bill 237, a child welfare measure from Senator Barrow that would expand notification, access, and investigative procedures for the Child Ombudsman and DCFS, including child-on-child sexual abuse cases and multidisciplinary fatality reviews. Members and agency officials debated the fiscal note, with estimates ranging from about $525,000 to $3.2 million and disagreement over whether some costs were already covered or could be absorbed; after a roll call, the bill passed 10-9 and was reported favorable as amended. Finally, the committee began Senate Bill 155, which requires insurance coverage for medically necessary dental care tied to cancer treatment. Senator Talbot and medical and cancer advocacy witnesses said the bill would remove a barrier to timely chemotherapy or radiation and could prevent more expensive complications later. Members expressed support and discussed a relatively small fiscal note, but the transcript cuts off before final action on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS IS A GOOD BILL AND I'M HOPING WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PARAPROFESSIONALS SPECIFICALLY THOSE
• SPECIFICALLY SENATOR OSGOOD I LOVE TO WORK MORE WITH YOU ON THAT SUPPORT FOR PARAPROFESSIONALS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As paraprofessionals, there are a multitude of duties and positions we may be asked to fill.
• Retaining well-trained paraprofessionals is essential to having schools that work for our children.
• As paraprofessionals, there are a multitude of duties and positions we may be asked to fill.
• Retaining well-trained paraprofessionals is essential to having schools that work for our children.
• Retaining well-trained paraprofessionals is essential to having schools that work for our children.

Bills: HF1048, HF1049, HF745, HF2210

Keywords: charter schools, education funding, revenue calculation, general education revenue, special education, school library aid, education finance, school districts, funding eligibility, compensatory revenue, task force, free meals, school funding, education equity, HF2210, school unemployment aid, Minnesota Department of Education, general fund appropriation, unemployment insurance, unemployment claims

Transcript Highlights:

• Assembly Member Subur... ...by ensuring that teachers and paraprofessionals are involved in the evaluation
• Additionally, software and applications are used by administrators, paraprofessionals, and parents to
• communicate, send notices... ...administrators, paraprofessionals, and parents to communicate, send
• ... ...local education agencies to provide for substantial teacher and paraprofessional involvement and
• But we are trying to make sure that any application that students, teachers, paraprofessionals, and that

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard AB 84, a charter school accountability measure focused on non-classroom-based charter schools and fraud prevention. The author and supporters said the bill was intended to respond to the A3 charter fraud case and related scandals by strengthening audits, transparency, authorizer oversight, and funding determination rules, while ensuring public education dollars are used for public education. Supporters included FCMAT, CSEA, CTA, and CSBA, who argued the bill would improve oversight and protect taxpayers. Opponents, including the California Charter Schools Association, Green Dot, many charter parents, educators, and charter operators, said the bill was too broad, would impose major new costs and bureaucracy on all charter schools, and could reduce options for families, especially those using flexible, homeschool, or special-needs charter programs. After extensive testimony and committee discussion, the bill passed on a 5-1 vote and was sent to Appropriations, with the item left open for additional votes. The committee then approved a consent calendar of 11 education bills, including AB 542, AB 563, AB 731, AB 753, AB 784, AB 964, AB 988, AB 1034, AB 1233, AB 1255, and AB 1381, all moving to Appropriations. The consent calendar passed unanimously. Later, the committee heard AB 1454, a literacy and reading instruction bill authored by Assembly Members Rubio and Revis. The bill would require the state to create professional development resources for evidence-based literacy instruction, update English language arts and English language development instructional materials, and revise administrator preparation standards to include literacy training. The authors and a broad coalition of supporters, including CTA, EdVoice, Families in Schools, Decoding Dyslexia, school administrators, and parent advocates, described the measure as a compromise aimed at improving reading outcomes and addressing California’s literacy crisis. There was no opposition testimony at the hearing, and members voiced strong support for the bill and its collaborative approach.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are allowing paraprofessional support specialists at MDE.
• We um are allowing<00:51:07.400> paraprofessional<00:51:08.400> support allowing paraprofessional
• support allowing paraprofessional support specialists<00:51:09.440> at<00:51:09.600> MDE.
• Line 21 displays the additional costs for one FTE at the Department of Education to support paraprofessional
• <00:56:15.720> uh uh to support paraprofessional uh uh to support paraprofessional uh requirements

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I would suggest that the other thing we need to be thinking about is how we train paraprofessionals
• So, I do think this paraprofessional category actually has been a topic the last several years.
• But this limited scope paraprofessional idea for things that are, you know, sort of standard and almost
• cookie-cutter practice, we can and should be developing paraprofessionals who do that.
• who do that, and when they take on those responsibilities for, Developing paraprofessionals who do that

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We, as you, as those of you know, the triple L program was a licensed paraprofessional program that the
• Since that time, other states have adopted licensed paraprofessional programs.
• Since that time, other states have adopted licensed paraprofessional programs.
• dialogue with the court around whether something should change in our state's approach to licensing paraprofessionals

Summary: The work session began with a discussion of expanding opportunities in the legal profession, especially in response to shortages of lawyers in rural Washington and in public service roles. Washington State Bar Executive Director Tara Nevitt described a slowly growing but aging attorney population, noted that younger attorneys have declined, and outlined efforts such as supervised practice pathways to bar admission, reduced admission-by-motion experience requirements, expanded law clerk capacity, rural job fairs and grants, and a pilot program allowing innovative legal service delivery models. Members asked about bar passage score changes, loan repayment assistance, and the former Limited License Legal Technician program; Nevitt said the bar is monitoring other states and remains in dialogue with the court about paraprofessional licensing. Law school representatives from UW, Seattle University, and Gonzaga emphasized public service pipelines, financial barriers, and rural legal deserts, citing LRAPs, scholarships, stipends, clinics, and hybrid or regional programs designed to recruit and retain students in Washington. Seattle U highlighted its FlexJD and hybrid hub partnerships in underserved areas, while Gonzaga and UW reported substantial shares of graduates entering public service, though most still cluster in urban regions. The committee also heard from the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys and the Office of Public Defense, both of which described severe recruitment and retention problems in rural counties, with vacancies, low applicant pools, and the need for higher salaries, housing help, internships, and loan support. The Office of Public Defense said its internship and fellowship program, created by SB 5780, has already placed interns in rural counties and produced some commitments to return after graduation. The Washington State Bar’s law clerk program was also presented as a pathway that helps people train locally and remain in their communities, including by supporting succession for aging solo practitioners. The committee then shifted to family law and guardianship issues. On Title 26 guardian ad litem practice, presenters from Northwest Justice Project and private family law practice said GALs can play an important role but that training, oversight, and consistency remain major concerns, especially in domestic violence cases. They described problems such as inadequate training, bias, inconsistent recommendations, high fees, and lack of accountability, and suggested stronger, standardized training, more use of mental health professionals for custody evaluations, and better oversight mechanisms. Members asked about county practices, including rotation systems for GAL appointments and whether King County’s family court assessors provide a useful model. The discussion then moved to minor guardianships under the Uniform Guardianship Act. A Superior Court judge said the 2021 changes increased the need for court visitors and appointed counsel, but courts are struggling to find qualified attorneys and visitors, especially in rural areas. A former commissioner said most of the bill under discussion was technical cleanup to align prior amendments, though it would add some fiscal burdens. Administrative Office of the Courts staff reported that the statewide reimbursement program for UGA implementation has repeatedly run out of money earlier each year, with minor guardianship costs making up most of the expense. The Office of Public Guardianship then described rapid growth in demand for adult guardianship and less restrictive alternatives, noting that referrals and caseloads have risen sharply, but that the office is constrained by a shortage of certified professional guardians and low compensation levels. Finally, the committee began an update on Blake implementation from the Office of Civil Legal Aid, which funds civil legal services related to the decision, before the transcript cut off.