Transcript Highlights:

• talent increases, many individuals with technical skills lack a clear path into stable, long-term careers
• credential that leads directly to full IT roles in state government, supporting both students and career

Bills: HB1240, HB2768, HB2788, HB3146, HB4850, HB5032, HCR90

Keywords: border region, infrastructure, economic development, government operations, education, HB 2768, Texas information technology apprenticeship, state IT credential, information resources workforce, junior college, technical institute, apprenticeship program, workforce development, state agency hiring, job classification, career ladder, bachelor's degree substitution, associate degree, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, state auditor classification officer

Transcript Highlights:

• talent increases, many individuals with technical skills lack a clear path into stable, long-term careers
• credential that leads directly to full-time IT roles in state government, supporting both students and career

Bills: HB1240, HB2768, HB2788, HB3146, HB4850, HB5032, HCR90

Keywords: border region, infrastructure, economic development, government operations, education, HB 2768, Texas information technology apprenticeship, state IT credential, information resources workforce, junior college, technical institute, apprenticeship program, workforce development, state agency hiring, job classification, career ladder, bachelor's degree substitution, associate degree, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, state auditor classification officer

Summary: The Senate Economic Development Committee met without a quorum, so no votes or formal actions were taken. The chair laid out several bills and resolutions for explanation and public testimony, with each item left pending subject to the call of the chair. Early items included House Bill 1240, a cleanup measure to create a single uniform definition of the Texas-Mexico border region across state law, and House Bill 2768, which would establish an IT apprenticeship credential through junior colleges and technical institutions to help fill state government technology jobs. The committee also heard House Concurrent Resolution 90, which would encourage establishing a Texas trade and investment office in Jerusalem. Testimony on the resolution was sharply divided: one witness opposed it on foreign policy and values grounds, while a Texas Association of Business representative strongly supported it, citing Israel’s innovation and trade potential. Another major item was House Bill 4187, a committee substitute for legislation affecting the Texas Historical Commission; the sponsor described changes expanding use of trust fund money for historic sites, allowing more affiliated nonprofits, clarifying retail operations, and creating a framework for training and consistent interpretation at historic sites. A Texas Historical Commission witness explained that the bill would shift responsibility for maintaining many state-owned historical markers and monuments, including markers on private land, to the commission. Additional measures included House Bill 2788, which would shield Texas Workforce Commission fraud-prevention methods from public information requests; House Bill 5032, directing state agencies to plan for public display of the Texas Declaration of Independence, Texas Constitution, and the Victory or Death letter at the Capitol Complex; House Bill 3146, which would eliminate outdated memoranda-of-understanding requirements for certain State Office of Administrative Hearings arrangements; and House Bill 4815, a cleanup bill modernizing economic development statutes, revising the Made in Texas standard to 51% Texas-origin content, repealing the Governor’s Broadband Development Council, and making other conforming changes. The committee ended by recessing, with members indicating they would likely vote on pending business later when a quorum was available.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> moving into a career. moving into a career.
• The students experience specific careers. They go deeper in specific career areas.
• The students experience specific careers. They go deeper in specific career areas.
• The students experience specific careers. They go deeper in specific career areas.
• exploration, career or levels. career exploration, career or meaningful<01:29:07.920><c> learning,</

Bills: HF3650, HF2238

Keywords: student career pathways, education framework, experiential learning, employer engagement, career technical education, HF2238, Minnesota, workforce development, construction trades, youth skills training, youth apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, construction training, career and technical education, CTE, child labor laws, minor labor, labor exemption, workforce pipeline, skilled trades

Bills: HF601, HF271, HF1101, HF979

Keywords: agriculture, depredation compensation, livestock, crop damage, elk, wolves, wildlife management, skills path program, career and technical education, CTE, dual credit, postsecondary options enrollment, apprenticeship, apprenticeship readiness, dual training, work-based learning, career pathways, skilled trades, workforce development, high school to career

Transcript Highlights:

• The subcommittee on Academic and Career-Oriented Education will come to order.
• Teachers and students pursuing career and technology education (CTE) certifications in Texas.

Bills: HB 1061, HB2800

Keywords: education, teacher certification, cost subsidies, public school funding, career and technology education, reimbursement, subsidy, education funding, student subsidies, cost reimbursements, public school finance, public school, examination fees, apprenticeship, workforce development, career education, high school students, technical education, employment, 1184

Transcript Highlights:

• into every major step of middle and high school academic and career planning.
• Why are career coaches important for student outcomes?
• Career coaches can ensure that the student's IGP is grounded in informed career interests rather than
• Career coaches can ensure that the student's IGP is grounded in informed career interests rather than
• Career coaches can ensure that the student's IGP is grounded in informed career interests rather than

Bills: HB818, HB1063, SB28, SB64, SB142, SB234, SB482

Keywords: higher education, accountability, curriculum review, faculty governance, disciplinary procedures, SB 28, Act 233, associate educator program, associate teachers, teacher certification, alternative teacher pathway, education workforce, teacher shortage, minimum age, age requirement, Louisiana schools, Title 17, R.S. 17:7.8, educator pipeline, teacher recruitment

Transcript Highlights:

• Housing Solutions, and the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to create a housing ladder
• </c><00:13:23.560><c> program</c> create a housing ladder program create a housing ladder program to<
• and Housing Solutions, and Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to create a housing ladder
• <00:23:15.800><c> create</c><00:23:16.120><c> a</c><00:23:16.280><c> housing</c><00:23:16.840><c> ladder
• </c> Corporation to create a housing ladder Corporation to create a housing ladder program<00:23:18.440

Bills: SCR63, SCR8, SCR160, SCR90, SCR93

Keywords: disability, accessibility, healthcare communication, sign language interpreters, deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, auxiliary aids, building permits, seniors, health care, safety modifications, county regulations, expedited processing, housing ladder, move-up housing, subsidized housing, public housing, affordable housing, housing mobility

Summary: The House Committee on Human Services and Homelessness heard several resolutions focused on disability access, housing, and support for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries. SCR 63 SD1 would have the Disability and Communication Access Board study communication needs in health care settings for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind and revise provider guidance; testimony was strongly supportive, including from the board, a physician, and a family member who described harmful delays in care, and the committee later recommended passage as is. SCR 8 would require counties to act within 45 days on completed permit applications for home modifications needed for an older adult or person with a disability; testimony noted delays in permitting and financing, and the committee recommended passage as is. The committee also heard SCR 160, which urges state housing agencies to create a “housing ladder” program to help individuals and families move from subsidized to unsubsidized housing. Hawaii Public Housing Authority and other agencies supported the concept, and DHS described its family self-sufficiency program and said prior federal resident-services funding had declined over the past 20 years. The committee acknowledged the program may already exist in some form but still recommended adoption of the resolution as is. SCR 90 would ask county planning departments to establish kupuna-friendly building permit requirements for parking accessibility in private businesses. The committee moved it forward with an HD1 for technical amendments; a member raised concern that the measure did not specify the age threshold for “kupuna,” and said they would vote with reservations. Finally, SCR 93 would direct DHHL and the Statewide Office of Homelessness and Housing Solutions to develop a coordinated support and stabilization pathway for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries experiencing homelessness or very low income. DHHL said it is already operating a transitional housing effort called Ka Leo Opu Mama for about 18 beneficiaries using more than $6 million in federal Nah Ho Sa funds, with no dedicated state funding, and the committee recommended passage as is. The meeting ended with the chair thanking testifiers and members and adjourning the hearing.

Bills: HF751, HF3550, HF3764, HF1490

Keywords: parental notification, school safety, bullying, harassment, violence, prohibited conduct, student discipline, charter school, school district, data practices, student privacy, parent rights, guardian notification, school incident reporting, cyberbullying, restraint, reasonable force, anti-bullying policy, school administration, student conduct

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 1057 supports the recruitment and fair compensation of top talent in career and technology education
• Career and Technology Education, or CTE.

Bills: HB1057

Keywords: teacher salary, retirement benefits, career education, work experience credit, Texas Education Code

Summary: The Senate committee met, established a quorum, and took up House Bill 1057, sponsored in the Senate by Senator Adam Hinojosa. Hinojosa explained that the bill would expand the amount of prior industry experience that can count toward TRS and salary step credit for career and technology education teachers, increasing the cap from two years to five years. He said the change is intended to help recruit and fairly compensate skilled professionals such as electricians, nurses, welders, and programmers, and to address teacher shortages beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. No members asked questions, and no one signed up to testify. The committee then voted to report HB 1057 favorably to the full Senate. The motion passed unanimously, 13 ayes and 0 nays, and the chair announced the committee would stand recessed subject to call.

Transcript Highlights:

• both existing employees and prospective hires, ensuring that public service remains an attractive career
• strong technical and hands-on skills lack a clear pathway to transition into sustainable long-term careers
• agencies and private sector employers, offering a direct pathway for individuals, whether students or career
• It was a great way for those individuals to gain experience and get paid. and enter a career that they

Bills: HB149, HB252, HB643, HB1442, HB1500, HB1672, HB1851, HB1893, HB2028, HB2768, HB2818, HB149, HB252

Keywords: artificial intelligence, regulation, biometric data, ethical AI, consumer protection, AI governance, employment compensation, state agencies, salary payments, general appropriations, government efficiency, public works, contractors, payment bonds, government contracts, construction law, transparency, open meetings, government accountability, public access

Transcript Highlights:

• So, other things in there include things like affordability, achieving career goals, welcoming to all
• When youth can explore careers aligned with their talents and creativity, they are more engaged, confident
• When youth can explore careers<01:23:30.000><c> aligned</c><01:23:30.320><c> with</c><01:23:30.480><c
• > their</c><01:23:30.719><c> talents,</c> careers aligned with their talents, careers aligned with their
• And I do hope that the youth consider energy efficiency and building code careers in the future.

Bills: HF3004, HF3663

Keywords: workforce development, youth employment, internships, mentoring, job opportunities, digital platform, online portal, career pathways, youth workforce, employment and economic development, DEED, general fund appropriation, nonprofit grant, social media outreach, digital outreach, workforce opportunities, teen jobs, young adults, career exploration, Minnesota youth

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 1057 supports the recruitment and fair compensation of top talent in career and technology education

Bills: HB1057

Keywords: teacher salary, retirement benefits, career education, work experience credit, Texas Education Code, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The entire goal is to ensure that students across Oklahoma in both career tech and higher ed are getting
• House Bill 2210 modernizes the youth apprenticeship program by allowing students to start career pathways
• The bill places career tech in charge of the implementation and ROI reporting.

Bills: HB1937, HB2210, HB2398, HB3021, HB3129, HB3312, HB3557, HB4358

Keywords: HB1937, Oklahoma schools, student communications, electronic communication, digital communication, parent notification, legal guardian, school personnel, teachers, coaches, administrators, charter schools, public schools, administrative leave, corroborated report, investigation, employee file, discipline, termination, school board

Transcript Highlights:

• The entire goal is to ensure that students across Oklahoma in both career tech and higher ed are getting
• Members, House Bill 2210 modernizes the youth apprenticeship program by allowing students to start career

Bills: HB1937, HB2210, HB2398, HB3021, HB3129, HB3312, HB3557, HB4358

Keywords: HB1937, Oklahoma schools, student communications, electronic communication, digital communication, parent notification, legal guardian, school personnel, teachers, coaches, administrators, charter schools, public schools, administrative leave, corroborated report, investigation, employee file, discipline, termination, school board

Summary: The Education Oversight committee heard and advanced several House bills, mostly with policy recommendations or amendments accepted and then due-pass votes. HB 4358, by Pro Tem Moore, would limit screen time for pre-K through fifth grade and shift online testing/remediation provisions to shorter, per-class-period limits; it was sent out due pass. HB 2398, by Rep. Hill, would recognize “credentials of value” for students in career tech and higher education based on workforce demand and other indicators, and it also passed due pass. HB 3557, by Rep. Williams, would keep 4-H fundraising money in the county where it was raised and prevent commingling with other funds; the committee agreed to strike the title and send it out due pass. The committee also advanced HB 3129, which would prevent colleges from charging security fees to students or student organizations based on public expression, and HB 3312, which would create K-12 firearms education curriculum developed with OSDE and CLEET, focused on safety, storage, and response, with no live firearms or ammunition. HB 2210 modernizes the youth apprenticeship program by allowing earlier entry into career pathways, expanding eligibility, and assigning CareerTech oversight and ROI reporting; it passed due pass. HB 1937, in a committee substitute, was discussed at length and would require corroborating evidence before school personnel are suspended over alleged improper communications with students, while still requiring action and reporting; it was also sent out due pass. Finally, HB 3021, a lengthy graduation-related cleanup bill, was explained as reconciling conflicting statutes and making several technical changes, including allowing tribal language to count as a non-English language for graduation purposes. After extensive stakeholder work and a late-filed committee substitute, the committee accepted the PCS and sent the bill out due pass. The meeting concluded after all House bills on the agenda were advanced.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's an act expanding career and technical education opportunities for Lynn students. ...to testify
• about H. 3895, that's an act expanding career and technical education opportunities for Lynn students
• in support of any CTE programs and expansion. ...to testify about H. 3895, that's an act expanding career

Bills: H3895, H5157

Keywords: career education, technical training, Lynn Vocational Technical Institute, pilot program, youth education, school safety, education, mental health, children, security measures, 1212, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a public hearing on two bills: H. 5171, an act relative to safer schools, focused on school resource officers (SROs), and H. 3895, an act expanding career and technical education opportunities for Lynn students. Committee chairs opened the hearing with standard instructions on testimony length, live streaming, and submitting written materials. Testimony on the safer schools bill was largely supportive and emphasized limiting SRO involvement in routine school discipline while preserving their role in serious criminal matters. Witnesses from the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee and the CPCS Ed Law Project argued that over-policing contributes to the school-to-prison pipeline, especially for students with disabilities and students of color, and said the bill would encourage de-escalation, anti-bias training, restorative justice, and other non-police safety models. One witness described a student being handcuffed after a minor hallway incident, while committee members raised concerns about school safety, gang activity, and the role of SROs in communities like Chelsea; the witness responded that the bill does not eliminate SROs but seeks to clarify their role and improve training. A third witness, Joey Ford of Parent Data Force, offered a more mixed view, saying school discipline problems often stem from district administration, restraint/seclusion practices, and inconsistent DESE standards, not only from SROs. He said some bill language was duplicative because SROs already cannot provide psychological services. On the Lynn CTE bill, Ford testified in strong support, saying career and technical education had been valuable in his own schooling and helped him stay engaged and gain useful skills. After testimony concluded and no further witnesses came forward, the committee closed testimony and adjourned without taking a vote on either bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman Ashby and committee members, for allowing me to lay out House Bill 1876, the Country Centennial Career
• industry-recognized skills, recognized certifications, practical work experience, and college and career
• House Bill 1876 seeks to establish a career and technical education reporting grant program administered
• We show you registered as Robin Pinovich on behalf of Career and Technical Assistance.
• They would get the career experience as credit. Okay, and so this would give them up to five years.

Bills: HB 1057, HB1876

Keywords: teacher salary, retirement benefits, career education, work experience credit, Texas Education Code, technical training, workforce development, grants, education funding, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• alignment that provides information related to educational and career opportunities.
• And I'm also the student member for the UL System on the Career Alignment Task Force.
• If I may, we're currently surveying our student body right now about career services.
• We're going to learn what they need, and that's why we've talked on the Career Service Task Force, the
• Career Alignment Task Force, this whole time, that we have to help our career service directors as well

Bills: HB624, HB1022, HB1203, SB82, SB206, SB305, SB376, SB441

Keywords: school safety, emergency operations plan, crisis management, active shooter, drills, training, classroom security, primary health services, behavioral health, school health providers, medical necessity, student health care, education, school week, instructional time, public schools, performance score, student athletes, cardiovascular health, sudden cardiac arrest

Bills: HB1404

Keywords: HB 1404, North Dakota scholarship, scholarship eligibility, student aid, high school graduation, college readiness, career readiness, career and technical education, CTE, dual credit, advanced placement, AP exam, International Baccalaureate, IB exam, ACT, SAT, WorkKeys, ASVAB, JROTC, Civil Air Patrol

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met with six members present and first took up House Bill 1404, which would update North Dakota scholarship eligibility language by allowing the NDA Plus assessment to be used in place of ACT scores in certain pathways. The Department of Public Instruction explained that the bill does not eliminate the ACT entirely, but removes outdated references tied to ACT accountability testing that will no longer apply after this year’s seniors graduate. Members discussed how the change affects public and nonpublic schools, then voted 6-0 to give HB 1404 a do pass recommendation. The committee then returned to House Bill 1363, a bill dealing with school emergency response planning and automatic external defibrillators. Members adopted an amendment clarifying that the requirements apply to school-owned facilities and grounds, replacing language about school events and venues, and revising the planning language for school-based events not held on school-owned property. The committee also debated whether the bill should be mandatory or permissive; a motion to change “shall” to “may” failed, with members noting the bill’s liability protections. The committee then voted 5-1 to pass HB 1363 as amended, with Senator Gerhardt carrying the bill. Before recessing, the chair noted that House Bill 1533 would be taken up later in the day after additional information from DPI was received.

Transcript Highlights:

• new and expanding programs, and then $750,000 for, I always forget the name of this position, but career
• That is the line where we move adult farm management out of Career and Tech and under the Department
• And the 15th floor is where Career and Tech Ed is.
• So Career and Tech Ed is currently looking for new office space to rent. There’s...
• Section 4 is the funding from SIF for the virtual reality career exploration hardware.

Bills: SB2019, HB1369

Keywords: career education, funding, appropriation, technical training, workforce development, state aid, school funding, public improvement, construction loans, school district levies, boarding care costs, 908, all

Summary: The committee met to finalize and advance the Career and Technical Education budget in Engrossed Senate Bill 2019. Representative Richter walked through Amendment 2004, which included increases for salaries and wages, inflationary operating expenses, a $2.5 million federal grant increase, $12.7 million for secondary grant programs and related work-based learning support, a $100,000 increase for Marketplace for Kids, and removal of the STEM initiative and adult farm management from the CTE budget because that program funding was moved to the Department of Agriculture. The amendment also included $750,000 for workforce training branch office positions and set the total general fund appropriation at $64 million. Members also discussed a $1 million virtual reality career exploration item, which remained in the bill but was shifted to SIF one-time funding. A new $150,000 one-time general fund appropriation was added for CTE moving expenses because the agency must relocate after Legislative Council expands into its current space. Committee members noted that amount may need to be revisited in conference committee once more accurate relocation and rent costs are known. Levi from legislative staff explained that the exemption language in the bill applies to remaining coronavirus capital projects fund dollars for CTE center construction, allowing those federal funds to be spent before they expire. The committee adopted Amendment 2004 on a 5-0 roll call and then passed Engrossed Senate Bill 2019 as amended on a 5-0 roll call. Representative Richter was named the carrier, and the committee adjourned after noting that higher education and congressional budgets were the remaining items to resolve.

Transcript Highlights:

• Minneapolis Camden offers career technical and engineering classes.
• Minneapolis Camden<00:21:37.440><c> offers</c><00:21:37.919><c> career</c><00:21:38.320><c> technical
• </c><00:21:38.799><c> and</c> Camden offers career technical and Camden offers career technical and engineering
• Often, we don't get the chance to learn skills that directly support our career goals.
• Often, we don't get the chance to learn skills that directly support our career goals.

Bills: HF630, HF1435, HF1607

Keywords: short-call substitute, substitute teacher, substitute teaching license, pilot program, teacher shortage, education workforce, school district, charter school, Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, PELSB, background check, paraprofessional, education support personnel, temporary license, substitute training, retaliation, teacher pay, daily substitute pay, Minnesota education law, education innovation