Video & Transcript Research : 'food system literacy'

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WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Agriculture & Natural Resources Jan 21st, 2026 at 08:00 am

Agriculture & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is House Bill 2238, which adds food security coordination and food system performance monitoring
  • This is House Bill 2238, which adds food security coordination and food system performance monitoring
  • First, it takes a more holistic view of our food security system, and by looking at that holistic system
  • on food stamps or who are frequenting food banks.
  • , to sustain our food, and then distribute our food.
Bills: HB2275, HB2238
Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2275, which would create a Wildfire Prevention and Protection Fund and a 15-member council to administer it. Committee staff explained that investor-owned utilities would be required to participate, consumer-owned utilities could opt in, and utilities would pay annual contributions and potentially a one-time startup payment; the fund would compensate certain wildfire damage claims tied to utility negligence and support wildfire mitigation planning and related work. Representative Reeves, the prime sponsor, said the bill was intended to address wildfire liability, improve transparency for ratepayers, and create a more comprehensive statewide approach to wildfire prevention and response. Testimony was mixed. Supporters included the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Department of Natural Resources, wildfire survivors, and several advocates who said the bill could help victims recover, stabilize wildfire response funding, and support mitigation. Several witnesses described personal losses from the Gray Fire and said a dedicated fund could have helped with recovery. Opponents and those testifying “other” or “con” included utilities, utility associations, business groups, and ratepayer advocates, who raised concerns about retroactive liability dating back to July 1, 2021, unclear fund solvency, potential rate increases, equity among customer classes, and the risk that the fund could be swept for other state purposes. Some witnesses argued the bill should be paired with broader liability reform and stronger mitigation requirements, while others pointed to California’s wildfire fund as a model or cautionary example. After public testimony, the committee read the record of sign-ins as 30 pro, 774 con, and 2 other, and then concluded the hearing on HB 2275. The committee then moved to executive session on House Bill 2238, which directs the Department of Agriculture to develop a statewide food security strategy and adds food security coordination and food system performance monitoring duties. Staff briefed five amendments, four of which were adopted: one requiring consideration of regulatory cost metrics and periodic competitiveness reporting, one directing the department to recommend legislative actions to improve food affordability, one adding people with lived experience of food insecurity and BIPOC small farmers to consultation requirements and emphasizing root causes of hunger, and one adding fuel and labor cost metrics. A fifth amendment, which would have required a consultant study of agricultural labor collective bargaining legislation, failed on a 5-6 roll call vote. The committee then moved the substitute bill forward with a due pass recommendation.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Agriculture & Natural Resources Jan 20th, 2026 at 10:30 am

Agriculture & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • system players to ensure food access.
  • Department of Agriculture to our local food security system.
  • security across the system. states of resources relative to food security across the system.
  • Department of Agriculture to our local food security system.
  • The system is broken, okay? We based ourselves on a cheap food system where diesel is $5 a gallon.
Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2279, which would require the Department of Agriculture to establish a program and criteria to evaluate PFAS chemicals in fertilizers and pesticides. The prime sponsor argued PFAS are persistent “forever chemicals” that pose environmental and health risks and said Washington should begin acting now, while some members questioned whether the bill would duplicate federal EPA review and could disadvantage Washington agriculture. WSDA testified that the bill is implementable but would require rulemaking, ongoing staff resources, and likely a 12-month extension to complete stakeholder engagement; agricultural and pesticide industry witnesses opposed the bill as duplicative of federal oversight and warned of market impacts, while environmental groups supported it as a needed step to reduce PFAS exposure in food and agriculture. The committee took no action on the bill during the hearing. The committee also heard House Bill 2463, which would expand and rename the Washington Commodity Donation Program and create a farm-to-food pantry program to help hunger relief organizations buy Washington-grown food directly from farmers. The sponsor said the bill responds to reduced federal food security support and is intended to strengthen local food access and support farmers. Testimony was broadly supportive from food banks, hunger relief organizations, tribal farms, AARP, and several growers, who said the program helps move fresh produce, dairy, and protein to people in need and supports local agriculture. Several witnesses, however, raised concerns that language limiting participation to organizations that “solely” do this work could exclude many existing food hubs, distributors, and regional partners; others requested amendments to include tribally owned small-scale farms, food hubs, and broader distribution networks. No vote was taken on HB 2463. After the hearings, the committee recessed for caucus and then held executive session on House Bill 1941, which authorizes licensed cannabis producers to form agricultural associations and engage in collective processing, handling, and marketing. The sponsor and chair described it as a parity measure to help smaller cannabis producers organize and compete, while opponents argued it was premature given ongoing federal marijuana scheduling issues and that the bill’s scope was too broad. The committee approved the bill on a 6-5 vote and reported it out with a due pass recommendation. The chair also announced that executive action on House Bill 2238 would be deferred until the following day due to pending amendments.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Education Postsecondary Feb 4th, 2026

Education Postsecondary

Transcript Highlights:
  • general education core course that integrates technology include opportunities to improve digital literacy
  • tools to the course, and related instruction on software engineering, computer networks, database systems
  • artificial intelligence, but if a computer science course does... ...opportunities to improve digital literacy
  • tools to the course, and related instruction on software engineering, computer networks, database systems
  • like the courses that that institution has better, would there be more money that would be in the system
Bills: S7038, S1694
Summary: The Committee on Education Postsecondary heard and approved CS/SB 1694, which would revise general education core standards at public postsecondary institutions to incorporate technology-related instruction. The adopted amendment shifted the bill away from creating a sixth core course and instead required technology integration within existing core courses to include digital literacy, AI tool application, and related instruction in areas such as software engineering, networks, databases, and cybersecurity as applicable. For high school computer science courses, the amendment added guidance on critical evaluation of AI results, AI limitations, and ethical use of AI. The committee adopted the amendment and then voted the bill favorably. The committee also took up confirmation appointments on tabs 1 through 2 and, on one motion, recommended confirmation of all appointees favorably. In addition, it considered SPB 7038 on postsecondary education and workforce development, which addresses tuition and fee policies, consumer protections, career and technical education, student acceleration, and institutional operations. Members asked about dual enrollment expansion, CIE licensure exemptions, and the removal of the Classic Learning Test as a fee-waiver qualifier; staff said the dual enrollment change was intended to expand student options without necessarily increasing enrollment, the CLT removal was an error to be corrected, and a Florida Dental Association representative raised concern about preserving the long-standing exemption for dental assisting programs. The committee moved SPB 7038 as a committee bill and reported it favorably.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Education Policy Committee Feb 26th, 2025

Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • that in their purview, allowing them to regulate that and determine what is best for their school systems
  • All right, so what will happen is each member of a system that is a certified board member will take
Bills: SB92, HB9, HB9
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Education Policy Committee Feb 12th, 2025

Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • The primary goal of HB9 is to strengthen the implementation of the Literacy Act by addressing a common
  • with the State Department of Education, with input and in collaboration with the community college system
  • We have someone from the community college system here.
  • I serve as the Vice Chancellor for Student Success at the Alabama Community College System.
  • going to be a teacher who maybe is employed by that school... ...who maybe is employed by that school system
Bills: HB9, HB102, HB9
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 3/25/25

Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> Minnesota Food Share March campaign. Minnesota Food Share March campaign.
  • </c><00:42:29.600><c> food</c> fundraise and receive receive food fundraise and receive receive food
  • As you may know, food is more expensive now, and even the food banks can't get the food supplies, which
  • </c> get many of their day-to-day food. get many of their day-to-day food.
  • </c> entering our child welfare system. entering our child welfare system.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • Senate Bill 1338 just makes permanent the literacy teams. Be happy to answer any questions.
  • My only question is does it add more literacy coaches or it just takes away the pilot aspect of the program
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

AEN Public Hearing 01-28-2026

Agriculture and Environment

Transcript Highlights:
  • Moving on to the next measure, SB 2097 relating to sustainable food systems.
  • SP 2097 relating to sustainable food<00:13:26.560><c> systems.
  • Establishes a climate food systems.
  • c> grant</c><00:13:29.519><c> program</c> resilient food systems grant program resilient food systems
  • Next is relating to sustainable food systems, establishing the climate resilient food systems grant program
Summary: The committee heard several agriculture-related bills. SB 874 on veterinary medicine would require veterinarians, upon a client’s request, to provide a written prescription for an animal patient in an existing veterinary client-patient relationship, allow Hawaii-licensed pharmacies to dispense those prescriptions, and authorize the Veterinary Medicine Board to set penalties. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with supporters citing lower costs and consumer choice; the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association said veterinarians already should be doing this and supported the bill if amended. One testifier in opposition argued the bill needed a conspicuous notice requirement so pet owners know they can request prescriptions. Committee members and the Department of Agriculture said they were not aware of widespread problems, and discussion focused on whether the measure was already consistent with current practice and whether amendments would address remaining concerns. The committee also heard SB 2097, which would create a climate-resilient food systems grant program in the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and appropriate funds. The department, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, and others supported the bill, saying it could help farmers and ranchers invest in resilience, infrastructure, and technology. Several testifiers asked for clearer definitions, especially for terms like “food hubs” and “resilience hubs,” and suggested adding technical assistance and clearer eligibility criteria. The department explained the program was intended for shovel-ready projects in the middle of the supply chain, with a focus on farmers in a certain revenue range, and said it was modeled on a USDA program. SB 2098 would establish a clean plant program to produce and distribute disease-free plant material to growers, nurseries, and other producers. Testimony was supportive, emphasizing biosecurity, nursery industry needs, and preventing invasive species and crop disease. The department described the program as using tested clean stock, tissue culture facilities, and data collection to support future planting decisions, and estimated a two-year ramp-up. Members questioned whether the program duplicated existing work at CTR/other partners and whether data collection should be centralized, but the department said the effort would build on existing varieties and partnerships rather than overlap them. Finally, SB 2126 would create a conventional farming grant program for small and midsize conventional farmers. Supporters from the department, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council said conventional agriculture deserves support and that the bill would help increase food production. Opposition and comments focused on the bill’s exclusion of organic farmers; one farmer said the measure was unfair unless amended to include organic producers, while a Farmers Union witness said the bill was too vague about the grant’s purpose and should be clearer about its goals. In response to questions, the department said the exclusion of organic farming was not intentional and that the bill was meant to support all agriculture, though no vote or final action was taken in the excerpt provided.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Education Jan 29th, 2026 at 08:00 am

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • system of instruction and services in reading and early literacy for students in kindergarten through
  • The literacy system must include annual use of screening assessments and other tools to identify students
  • system of instruction and services in reading and early literacy for students in kindergarten through
  • The literacy system must include annual use of screening assessments and other tools to identify students
  • comprehensive literacy program.
Summary: The committee first took up a motion from Ranking Member Root to promptly schedule public hearings on two citizens’ initiatives. Members argued over the constitutional role of initiatives and whether the committee should hear them, but the motion failed on a voice vote. The committee then began public hearings on several education bills, suspending and returning to some as time allowed. House Bill 1295, dealing with evidence-based literacy instruction for K-4 students, drew extensive briefing and testimony. The substitute bill would require evidence-aligned literacy curricula, update teacher endorsement standards, and require some literacy-related continuing education for certificate renewal. Supporters, including the sponsor, a parent advocate, a Puyallup district administrator, PESB staff, and a speech-language pathologist, said the bill would improve reading outcomes, align teacher preparation with the science of reading, and help districts adopt coherent literacy systems. Opponents and critics testified that alternative reading methods such as Read-Write have worked for them and warned against over-prescribing one approach. The hearing on HB 1295 was suspended and left open for additional testimony. House Bill 2262 would require a standalone high school civics course to include instruction on producing a legible, repeatable signature and how signatures are used in elections. The sponsor and supporters, including a county auditor, said the bill could reduce ballot rejections caused by signature mismatches, especially among younger voters, and improve civic participation. Questions focused on whether the bill should specify cursive or account for different writing systems and whether printed signatures are less unique; the auditor said uniqueness helps verification but that printed signatures can still be matched. The committee closed the hearing after hearing strong public support and a small amount of opposition. House Bill 2636 would create a new commission, staffed by JLARC, to review education mandates and funding over time to identify ineffective or underfunded requirements. The sponsor said the goal was to address unfunded mandates and reduce administrative burdens on districts. Testimony from a Seattle resident, a citizen, and a rural education leader supported the idea of reviewing mandates and funding, though one witness suggested narrowing the scope and moving the start date up. The public hearing closed with a large majority of sign-ins in opposition. The committee then began House Bill 2007, which would expand competency-based graduation pathway options. The sponsor and student witnesses said the bill would give students more flexible ways to demonstrate readiness and better align graduation requirements with student strengths. The State Board of Education testified neutrally, supporting competency-based opportunities but saying the bill would add work during its ongoing Future Ready graduation-requirements review and suggesting the legislature wait for those recommendations or name the assessment more specifically to simplify implementation.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Business Feb 3rd, 2026 at 10:30 am

Business

Transcript Highlights:
  • So, I understand what you're saying about it's not a data collection system.
  • It's not a failsafe system. I mean, the system is not 100% perfect. No system is.
  • No, this system is not designed to handle 1099 subcontractors.
  • The system is designed for W-2 employees. Thank you.
  • Extinguishers in lieu of an automatic fire suppression system.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Business Feb 3rd, 2026

Business

Transcript Highlights:
  • It's not a fail-safe system. I mean, the system is not 100% perfect; no system is.
  • No, this system is not designed to... ...the system? Thank you for the question.
  • This system is designed for W-2 employees. Thank you.
  • This system is designed for W2 employees. Thank you.
  • You have before you House Bill 3369 dealing with food trucks and the fire code.
Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 3725, as amended by a PCS, which would require employers statewide to use E-Verify or a federal equivalent when hiring new employees. The author argued the bill would help reduce illegal immigration, protect wages and jobs for lawful workers, and impose only minimal costs because E-Verify is free and quick to use. Members raised concerns about burdens on small businesses, farms, and ranches; state versus federal authority; enforcement by the Department of Labor; identity theft and false positives; possible litigation; and what would happen if the federal system went offline or changed. The author said the bill includes good-faith protections, a trigger repeal if the federal program expands, and that he would file additional language to address shutdown-related disruptions. No motion was made, and the bill remained in committee. The committee then heard and passed several other measures without opposition. House Bill 3260 would add the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association as an approved provider for continuing education credits for funeral director license renewals, and it passed 9-0. House Bill 3660 would authorize natural organic reduction, described as transforming human remains into soil, and it also passed 9-0. House Bill 3369 would revise food truck fire code requirements by allowing portable fire extinguishers instead of an automatic suppression system and by allowing licensed plumbers, not just Oklahoma LP Gas, to inspect or install certain gas plumbing; members discussed possible conflicts with another LP gas fix and agreed to work together, and the bill passed 9-0. Finally, House Bill 3370 would extend the effective date of the food truck fire code to November 1, 2028, creating a sunset to allow more time for a broader solution. The author said he preferred another option but wanted this bill available if needed. After brief clarification, the committee passed HB 3370 9-0. The meeting ended with the chair noting there would be three meetings left in the session.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Education Feb 3rd, 2026 at 04:00 pm

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • It requires updated or purchased literacy curriculum and a comprehensive literacy program to be aligned
  • It removes the requirement that a comprehensive literacy program be systemic, sequential, and cumulative
  • other educators responsible for delivering literacy instruction.
  • Thank you. ...under a comprehensive literacy program during the prior school year.
  • Access to the educator literacy training program, professional development aligned to the literacy curriculum
Summary: The House Education Committee briefed and took executive action on several bills. House Bill 1295, relating to comprehensive literacy programs and educator literacy training, was revised through a proposed substitute and several amendments. The substitute updated literacy curriculum alignment requirements, changed educator recertification provisions, restored some prior literacy-related state duties, and added reporting and implementation timelines. After debate over whether the bill should create a mandate for districts, the committee adopted one amendment and then passed the bill 17-0. House Bill 2262 would require high school civics instruction to include cursive signature instruction and related election-signature content. Amendments were adopted to allow culturally or linguistically appropriate signature forms, add historical context about marginalized communities, remove the requirement that students produce a legible cursive signature as a graduation condition, and eliminate State Board monitoring of compliance. The committee passed the bill 14-0. House Bill 2551, allowing certain school districts to sell real property with superintendent authorization, was also passed after members debated whether it was a prudent response to district financial pressures; the final vote was 10-4. House Bill 2593, dealing with school district minimum fund balances and monthly financial reporting to OSPI, was amended to remove a provision allowing withholding of apportionment payments for reporting failures. The substitute shifted the bill toward formal financial monitoring, technical assistance, and reporting requirements, and the committee passed it 11-3. House Bill 2594, establishing state requirements to ensure homeless students have equal access to public education, was amended to remove duplicative OSPI provisions and clarify McKinney-Vento alignment; it passed 14-0. House Bill 2636, creating a JLARC-based review process for public education policy and funding, was amended to keep a null-and-void clause from advancing, and the committee passed the substitute 14-0. The committee then adjourned after announcing a future meeting date.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism REVISED Apr 21st, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism

Transcript Highlights:
  • So, I have a great interest in the state park system.
  • The plan totaled $191 million throughout our state park system, which includes 38 state parks, 6 lodges
  • Food trucks going to defer on any questions, Senator. Senator, apologize.
  • And the reason is because this is actually a request from specifically mobile food vendors who the current
  • fire suppression systems are very cost prohibitive and.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism REVISED Apr 21st, 2026

Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism

Transcript Highlights:
  • I live within 35 miles of four state parks, so I have a great interest in the state park system, and
  • That five-year plan totaled $191 million throughout our state park system, which includes 38 state parks
  • line 22, could you tell me what latitude that OPE Gas Board would have to make this better for the food
  • think it's an issue, and the reason is because this is actually a request from specifically mobile food
  • vendors who... ...specifically mobile food vendors, who the current fire suppression systems are very
Summary: The Senate Economic Development, Workforce, and Tourism Committee met for a work session focused largely on executive nominations and several House bills. The committee advanced nominations for Jared Lundry and Norville Ritter to the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission, Amy Blackburn as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation, and Jason Kays to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, with each nominee describing their background and priorities and receiving favorable roll-call votes. Members also considered and advanced a series of bills affecting housing, tourism, workforce, and related programs. HB 1823 would require the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency to provide advance notice of HOME program changes, limit retroactive rule changes, and give preference to nonprofit grant recipients; it passed 8-1. HB 4476 created a revolving fund related to a music industry rebate program and passed 7-2 after an amendment raising a threshold from 25,000 to 28,000. HB 3880 updated tourism advertising law to include digital media and allowed the Oklahoma Today magazine to move online, with an amendment making publication permissive rather than mandatory; it passed 8-1. HB 3031 created a revolving fund for workforce development tied to skilled trades and the North Point Workforce Development Initiative, and HB 3378 staggered terms on the Oklahoma Science and Technology Research and Development Board; both passed. The committee also passed HB 3369, which aligned LP gas and fire-suppression rules for mobile food vendors and required annual fire safety training, HB 3429, which authorized up to $50 million in bonds for CareerTech-related economic development projects, HB 3657, which clarified agricultural labor reporting and allowed OESC to share workforce data with the Workforce Commission, and HB 4215, which lowered the minimum spend threshold for Oklahoma film post-production incentives from $50,000 to $20,000. Finally, HB 3624, a controversial bill changing how county lines are determined along shifting waterways, drew extensive debate over taxation, property records, and rural impacts before passing 6-5. The chair noted the committee likely had one more meeting remaining and invited further suggested language on the county-line issue.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Education Jan 26th, 2026 at 08:32 am

Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • We had a really good discussion on the literacy bill, but it took up all of the time.
  • Math was actually a bigger concern than literacy was at the time.
  • We have to change the system, and SB 29 does just that.
  • So these monthly reports will be coming on their literacy process.
  • So these monthly reports will be coming on their literacy progress.
Bills: SB29, SB64
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Health Committee Meeting - 2025-04-07

Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • And we don't have a strong regulatory system in the U.S.
  • For over 125 years, the MGA has been a leading voice for Minnesota's food industry: retailers, food producers
  • or child welfare systems.
  • Family down here or support system. The Link gave me that.
  • Food stands.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Health Finance and Policy Committee 4/7/25

Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> one, maybe two health systems. one, maybe two health systems.
  • </c><00:04:00.799><c> These</c> financing of health systems. These financing of health systems.
  • </c><00:04:10.720><c> because</c> integrated health care systems because integrated health care systems
  • </c> our health care system. our health care system.
  • </c><01:12:58.400><c> supports</c> able to use our SNAP um food supports able to use our SNAP um food
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Education Mar 18th, 2026

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • We're working the literacy.
  • And so in the original K-3 literacy legislation, that was put into that early literacy statute.
  • Over the past few years, the Center for Literacy and Learning has partnered with school systems across
  • House Bill 316 makes literacy a system-wide priority by aligning instruction to the science of reading
  • House Bill 316 makes literacy a system-wide priority by aligning instruction to the science of reading
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Finance Feb 2nd, 2026 at 03:25 pm

Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • And so reported cases, the crime rates are down, and yet the number of cases coming into the system are
  • And next month in March, we will actually have our staff starting to test and work on the system.
  • And I'll actually take that as a compliment because We do have systems in place.
  • The inefficiencies that are in the system currently are things that we can work on to improve.
  • Rentals for vouchers and those kinds of things and builds the system as a whole.
Bills: SB48, SB64, SB100