Transcript Highlights:

• I am calling this meeting of the House Higher Education Committee to order. Sorry I'm late.
• I was quoting from the Office of Higher Education. That was a report. That wasn't my quote.
• Or are you waiting for the— I do have a comment from the Office of Higher Education.
• I'm general counsel and director of compliance with the Office of Higher Education.
• </c><00:47:46.040><c> Higher</c><00:47:46.240><c> Education</c> that uh the Office of Higher Education

Bills: HF4698, HF4608

Keywords: higher education, identity verification, enrollment fraud, funding, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, postsecondary education, community college, university, developmental education, remedial education, remediation, corequisite, co-requisite, English composition, college readiness, adult basic education, ABE, student placement, credit-bearing courses, noncredit courses

Transcript Highlights:

• higher education.
• You look at the ombudsman's function; some of that was the responsibility of the Higher Education Coordinating
• The better that our institutions of higher education...
• Sarah Keaton of the Higher Education Coordination Board.
• higher education in Texas, in terms of curriculum requirements, the role of the governing boards, the

Bills: HB2476, HB2893, HB4848, HB5062, SB37, SB60, HB2860, HB4930, SB646, SB 37

Keywords: living expenses, higher education, student support, homeless students, financial aid, grant program, baccalaureate degrees, junior colleges, workforce development, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, competency-based education, baccalaureate degree, cost of attendance, dual credit, computer science, course credit, foreign language requirement, curriculum review, governing board, faculty council

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to this meeting of the Senate Committee on Education.
• The Education and Economic Fund is kind of different.
• For the record, Patricia Charlton, Chancellor, Nevada System of Higher Education.
• So it all depends on all those factors, and so that determination of what the cost of their education
• Certainly, for the record, Patricia Charlton, Chancellor, Nevada System of Higher Education, just really

Bills: AB328, AB397

Keywords: Juneteenth, education, economic commission, cultural affairs, racial healing, policy recommendations, African-American studies, higher education, fee waivers, Native American students, unaccompanied youth, academic progress, Nevada System of Higher Education, 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of Higher Education.
• of Higher Education.
• higher</c> secure the long-term stability of higher secure the long-term stability of higher education
• > a</c> of higher education will establish a of higher education will establish a working<00:18:36.840
• </c><00:18:57.120><c> higher</c> strengthen the future of higher strengthen the future of higher education

Bills: HF2090, HF982, HF2229

Keywords: higher education, scholarship, financial aid, state grant, tuition assistance, Pell grants, student retention, education equity, disabled veterans, veterans' dependents, dependent children, college affordability, books and fees, University of Minnesota, public colleges, Office of Higher Education, veterans benefits, military families, permanent disability, 100 percent disability

Transcript Highlights:

• aliens enrolled in institutions of higher education.
• Higher education out of financial reach for people with potential would not be a waste of time.
• begin my higher education journey, let alone to dream of becoming an attorney.
• I appreciate your availability on behalf of the Higher Education Coordinating Board.
• Workers access higher education in Texas, regardless of their documentation status.

Bills: SB1798, SB1835, SB1319, SB2942, SB2928, SB784, SB1049

Keywords: higher education, tuition rates, financial support, immigration status, Texas law, SB 1835, resident tuition, nonresident students, scholarship students, public higher education, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Education Code Section 54.213, tuition waiver, in-state tuition, out-of-state students, higher education finance, enrollment cap, capacity limit, workforce development area, nonimmigrant visa

Transcript Highlights:

• And the most of the case.
• I don't know how much of the people, and we can't know.
• I think it's very much of the people who are, you know, and I think of the people, and the people who
• are just so, you know, I think of the future, and I think of the people.
• It's a lot of people who are, the United States of the United States, and, you know, and I think of the

Bills: HB511, HB511, SB364

Keywords: Fayette County, revenue commissioner, tax assessor, tax collector, consolidation, salary adjustments, public convenience, education, Pledge of Allegiance, prayer in schools, K-12 education, constitutional amendment, violence prevention, conflict resolution, education policy, mediation, high school curriculum, 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> education</c><00:18:14.559><c> more</c><00:18:14.840><c> for</c> an offshoot of of egg education
• </c><00:19:20.840><c> EG</c> in a education because a lot of EG in a education because a lot of EG students
• of egg education and steadfast support of egg education and for<00:22:41.720><c> bringing</c><00:22:
• ><00:26:19.559><c> at</c><00:26:19.679><c> the</c> type of education does not occur at the type of education
• organizations and higher education.

Bills: HF711, HF653

Keywords: agriculture, agricultural education, leadership development, Minnesota Agricultural Education and Leadership Council, MAELC, chapter 41D, grant funding, general fund appropriation, commissioner of agriculture, farm education, youth agriculture programs, ag literacy, workforce development, extension education, research funding, extension services, technology transfer, grant programs, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the first appropriation of the bill for the Office of Higher Education. It's a state grant.
• And that wraps up the Office of Higher Education.
• The Office of Higher Education is allocated $4.5 million.
• This is the University of Minnesota's share of the funding that was moved from the Office of Higher Education
• For the record, Dennis Olsen serves as the Commissioner in the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

Bills: HF2312

Keywords: higher education, college finance, student aid, financial aid, state grants, North Star Promise, scholarships, tuition relief, Minnesota State, University of Minnesota, Office of Higher Education, work-study, child care grants, Indian scholarships, tribal colleges, Hunger-Free Campus, student parents, pregnant students, parenting students, sexual misconduct

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:15.519><c> higher</c><00:10:15.760><c> education</c> changes for office of higher education
• the Office of Higher Education.
• > which is for the office of higher which is for the office of higher education.<00:14:39.600><c> And
• </c> Higher Education to retain up to 10% of Higher Education to retain up to 10% of an<00:32:27.039>
• For the record, Dennis Olsen serves as the commissioner of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

Bills: HF2312

Keywords: higher education, college finance, student aid, financial aid, state grants, North Star Promise, scholarships, tuition relief, Minnesota State, University of Minnesota, Office of Higher Education, work-study, child care grants, Indian scholarships, tribal colleges, Hunger-Free Campus, student parents, pregnant students, parenting students, sexual misconduct

Transcript Highlights:

• This scholarship program was created in 2009, with the vision of making Texas' version of the military
• I'm the president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business where the Texas State Chamber.
• This bill is one of the, in my opinion, one of the most important efforts we can do in the state of Texas
• And, yeah, well, we're going to have all of it on. We've thought that for a couple of years now.
• be taken care of.

Bills: HB102, HB300, SB2255

Keywords: military education, early registration, ROTC, corps of cadets, higher education, military academy, scholarship, military, Texas Armed Services, military spouses, occupational licensing, state agency, license requirements, reciprocity, training and education

Summary: The Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs heard three measures focused on military-connected students, service members, veterans, and their families. House Bill 102 would give eligible students in military-related university programs early registration privileges, similar to existing accommodations for expectant mothers and student athletes. House Bill 300 would modernize the Texas Armed Services Scholar program by increasing scholarship funding, clarifying the student employment agreement, and creating a scholarship coordinator at THECB to help students and families navigate the program. Senate Bill 2255 drew the most discussion and testimony. The bill would streamline occupational licensing for military members, spouses, and veterans by allowing Texas licensure based on an out-of-state license in good standing with a similar scope of practice, removing the Texas residency requirement, and shortening agency processing time from 30 days to 10 days in the committee substitute. Supporters from the Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations, the Texas Association of Business, the Institute for Justice, TDLR, and the VFW said the bill would reduce bureaucratic delays, improve employment opportunities, and help military families maintain income during relocations. TDLR also described current licensing confusion between state and federal rules and said the bill would improve alignment and data collection. No witnesses testified against any of the bills. After public testimony closed on each measure, HB 102, HB 300, and SB 2255 were left pending in committee. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• custody of DOC. ...years in the custody of DOC.
• Um, it's a division 10 of article 18 of chapter 2.
• Division 10 of article 18 of chapter 2 of title 43 allows the surviving spouse of a decedent who owns
• are outside of the state of Alabama.
• each of you or any of you that are To each of you or any of you that are out here can certainly speak

Bills: SB210, SB292, HB360, HB233, HB66, HB356, HB164, HB238, HB209, SB223, HB307, SB210, SB292, HB360, HB233, HB66, HB356, HB164, HB238, HB209, SB223, HB307

Keywords: hospital liens, medical billing, government healthcare, insurance claims, patient rights, education oversight, subpoena authority, investigation, State Superintendent, school misconduct, drug courts, accountability, veterans, mental health, substance abuse, rehabilitation, criminal justice, court intervention, elder abuse, financial exploitation

Transcript Highlights:

• I call this meeting of the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee to order.
• This bill also preserves the existing flexibility of the OHE, or Office of Higher Education, when the
• Higher Education.
• Paul campus's infrastructure match that caliber of its students, faculty, and the education that it provides
• Absolutely amazing, but our infrastructure does not meet that same quality of the education that we get

Bills: HF4266

Keywords: higher education, state grants, financial aid, college affordability, Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State Grant, need analysis, expected family contribution, student aid, grant formula, living and miscellaneous expense allowance, dependent student, independent student, parental contribution, student contribution, surplus appropriation, biennium, summer 2026, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I call this meeting of the Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee to order.
• And what we Office of Higher Education.
• I'm General Counsel of the Office of Higher Education. Uh and yes, please repeat the question.
• of Higher Education.
• </c> for the Office of Higher Education. for the Office of Higher Education.

Bills: HF1323, HF4266, HF4413, HF3101, HF4572, HF4698, HF3650, HF2634

Keywords: undocumented, financial aid, state policy, higher education, noncitizen eligibility, state grants, college affordability, Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State Grant, need analysis, expected family contribution, student aid, grant formula, living and miscellaneous expense allowance, dependent student, independent student, parental contribution, student contribution, surplus appropriation, biennium

Transcript Highlights:

• Similar programs offered by Texas institutions of higher education would enable the Texas Higher Education
• The bill requires the president of a public institution of higher education to investigate any allegation
• The bill promotes fairness, transparency, and trust in our institutions of higher education.
• at Texas public institutions of higher education, while also setting boundaries intended to prevent
• higher education.

Bills: SB2972, SB1909, SB2815, SB735, SB2233, SB800, SB1069, SB2683, SB2986, SB2058, SB2310, SB2055, SB1032

Keywords: expressive activities, freedom of speech, public forum, higher education, protests, student rights, antisemitism, public institutions, disciplinary policy, student organizations, compliance, institutional policy, disciplinary sanctions, diploma designation, institution merger, academic records, student options, Holocaust education, Holocaust Remembrance Week, genocide education

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas that are now classified by the Carnegie Institution of Higher Education as an R1 institution or
• private institutions. institution or of higher education.
• of higher. education in Texas.
• And free speech is especially important in the context of higher education.
• higher education.

Bills: SB2972, SB1909, SB2815, SB735, SB2233, SB800, SB1069, SB2683, SB2986, SB2058, SB2310, SB2055, SB1032

Keywords: expressive activities, freedom of speech, public forum, higher education, protests, student rights, antisemitism, public institutions, disciplinary policy, student organizations, compliance, institutional policy, disciplinary sanctions, diploma designation, institution merger, academic records, student options, Holocaust education, Holocaust Remembrance Week, genocide education

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Education amended federal rules to no longer require institutions of higher education to
• This bill relates to the governance of public institutions of higher education, including review of curriculum
• for members of the governing board, and the establishment of the Office of Excellence in Higher Education
• And I know the Deputy Commissioner of the Higher Education Coordinating Board, Sarah Keaton, is here
• of higher education in Texas.

Bills: SB530, SB757, SB769, SB1085, SB1241, SB1242, SB1409, SB1878, SB2138, SB2314, SB2231, SB2361, SB2431, SJR59

Keywords: accreditation, postsecondary education, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, baccalaureate degrees, junior colleges, program delivery, faculty recruitment, higher education, performance standards, student loan debt, degree programs, funding, students with disabilities, accessibility, enrollment, report, SB 1085, Sul Ross State University, Rio Grande College, Del Rio

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 met with a large agenda and repeatedly recessed for floor activity and other committee conflicts. The committee heard and left pending several higher education bills, including SB 2361 to transfer University of Houston-Victoria from the University of Houston System to the Texas A&M System and rename it Texas A&M University Victoria; testimony from university officials, local leaders, and industry representatives strongly supported the move as a way to better align degree programs with regional workforce needs in engineering, agriculture, and STEM. SB 530, which would align Texas accreditation statutes with federal rules allowing institutions to choose among nationally recognized accreditors, also received supportive testimony and was left pending. SB 1085, allowing Sul Ross satellite campuses to offer lower-division coursework toward bachelor’s degrees, was laid out and left pending as well. The committee also took up a series of education policy bills. SB 1241 would expand the standardized tests Texas public universities may accept for admission beyond the SAT and ACT, with supporters from the Classic Learning Test, homeschool advocates, and student-choice groups arguing it would increase access and competition; it was left pending. SB 769 would require a TEA/Higher Education Coordinating Board report on barriers faced by students with disabilities in higher education, and testimony from The Arc of Texas and others emphasized the need for better data and accessibility; the bill was left pending. SB 2231 would designate the second week of October as Free College Application Week, and SB 1878 would modernize terminology and support workforce-oriented programs at the Josie School; both were laid out and left pending. The committee reported several bills favorably after adopting committee substitutes. SB 605, concerning charter school expansion applications while under conservatorship or a management team, passed on a 9-0 vote. SB 1871, SB 1873, and SB 1874, all related to school discipline and teacher immunity/placement review provisions, were adopted and reported favorably, with members noting the need for further discussion on some language. SB 762, dealing with flag displays in public schools, passed on a 7-1 vote. SB 1962, relating to public school accountability and challenges to school system operations, passed 7-1 after a corrected vote. SB 1750, replacing a $60 million statewide charter facilities cap with an attendance-growth-based allotment, passed 7-1 with one member voting present not voting. SB 2252, supporting kindergarten readiness and early literacy/numeracy, SB 2253, concerning educator preparation and certification, SB 2365, on student use of wireless devices during instructional time, and SB 1924, restoring local peace officer citation authority for school offenses and adding reporting and parent-notification requirements, were also reported favorably. The committee additionally heard SB 37 on higher education governance and compliance oversight, which passed 7-1 after a substitute that refined curriculum review, governing board authority, faculty senate rules, and a new compliance office within the Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, members of the Senate Education Committee.
• Chair, it is part of their education mission, and students are part of running the station.
• Chair, members of the Senate Education Committee. I won't take up much of your time.
• And one of those was to go to a state secretary of education.
• Of the power of government within him and saw education as an area he didn't have.

Bills: SB194, SB200, SB203, SB204, SJR3

Keywords: appropriation, higher education, sports facilities, community college, Luna Community College, KANW, educational radio, rural news, public education, funding, education, documentary, historical figure, Padre Antonio Jose Martinez, cultural heritage, research funding, federal funding, New Mexico, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's a lot of situations.
• There's a lot of brain issues involved.
• As educators and school staff, we are increasingly concerned about the amount of screen time required
• accent, any sort of speech impediment, any sort of... and sometimes a soft voice they couldn't hear
• Now they do get a different perspective of, "I'm not just playing when I'm here; it is a lot of listening

Bills: SB194, SB200, SB203, SB204, SJR3

Keywords: appropriation, higher education, sports facilities, community college, Luna Community College, KANW, educational radio, rural news, public education, funding, education, documentary, historical figure, Padre Antonio Jose Martinez, cultural heritage, research funding, federal funding, New Mexico, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University

Transcript Highlights:

• It directs KLEA to consult with the Department of Education to develop that curriculum.
• Sex education, a lot of things that are out there, we do opt-out, not opt-in. Follow up.
• So, we get a number from the regions for higher education of what the estimate of cost will be.
• And so it just further codifies the administrative process higher educations already utilizing.
• You have to start your eligibility upon entering your higher education institution.

Bills: HB3312, HB3700, HB2981, HB2961, HB3016, HB4478, HB4326, HB3025, HB3710

Keywords: firearm safety, public schools, education policy, student safety, gun control, opt-out option, grading system, student assessment, academic integrity, state funding, opinion conduct, open meetings, school boards, transparency, public access, education governance, HB2961, TSgt Marshal Dakota Roberts Gold Star Survivor Act, Gold Star family, Gold Star recipient

Transcript Highlights:

• It directs CLEET, in consultation with the Department of Education, to develop that curriculum, and then
• So we get a number from the Regents for Higher Education of what the estimate of cost will be, and it
• goes in... ...for Higher Education of what the estimate of cost will be, and it goes into a trust fund
• You have to start your eligibility upon entering your higher education institution.
• You have to start your eligibility upon entering your higher education institution.

Bills: HB3312, HB3700, HB2981, HB2961, HB3016, HB4478, HB4326, HB3025, HB3710

Keywords: firearm safety, public schools, education policy, student safety, gun control, opt-out option, grading system, student assessment, academic integrity, state funding, opinion conduct, open meetings, school boards, transparency, public access, education governance, HB2961, TSgt Marshal Dakota Roberts Gold Star Survivor Act, Gold Star family, Gold Star recipient

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met and first recognized visiting students and staff from Putnam City North and Edmond Public Schools. The committee then took up several House bills, beginning with HB 3312, which would require annual age-appropriate firearm safety instruction in public schools starting in the 2026–2027 school year, with CLEET and the Department of Education developing the curriculum. The bill was advanced on a 9-2 vote after the author described it as a safety measure and cited a personal tragedy involving children and a firearm. The committee also passed HB 3700, requiring colleges and universities to adopt policies ensuring grades are based only on academic performance, and HB 2981, requiring school districts to post school board meeting minutes within two weeks of approval. HB 2961, creating the Tech Sergeant Marshall Dakota Roberts Gold Star Surviving Act to provide tuition, fees, and room and board for spouses and children of Gold Star recipients at state public universities or career tech schools, passed unanimously after discussion of a possible fiscal impact. HB 3016, establishing a two-year pilot vision screening program for about 12 schools to identify convergence insufficiency disorders linked to literacy, also passed. Later, HB 4478 passed to raise the daily deposit threshold for school districts and sites from $100 to $500 while still requiring weekly deposits. HB 4326, a cleanup bill related to Oklahoma’s Promise deadlines, certified teacher definitions, and a contingent T-SET-related provision, passed after debate about its unfinished status and funding concerns. HB 3025 passed with a change excluding donations from general fund collections for carryover balance purposes for one year, and HB 3710 passed to make a new higher education program cohort-based, requiring students to begin eligibility as freshmen. The chair closed by noting the committee had moved quickly, and announced upcoming executive nominee meetings and another committee meeting the following week.