Transcript Highlights:

• Higher education in and of itself.
• Members, House Bill 3379 is the Higher Education Workforce Development and Fa admissions Act.
• Degree study is allowable, and this bill gives people with a criminal record a fair shot at higher education
• House Bill 3132 is seeking to address the accreditation for curriculum and higher education.
• This is House Bill 2950, which is a bill that relates to Oklahoma's Promise as well as higher education

Bills: HB3700, HB3315, HB3242, HB3379, HB3129, HB3132, HB2950

Keywords: education policy, grading system, student assessment, academic integrity, state funding, opinion conduct, higher education, bachelor's degree, feasibility study, Oklahoma State Regents, accreditation, credit hours, emergency declaration, gender, privacy, public schools, sleeping quarters, restrooms, criminal history, admissions process

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, House Bill 3379 is the Higher Education, Workforce Development, and Fair Admissions Act.
• And this bill gives people with a criminal record a fair shot at higher education and careers in Oklahoma
• And this bill gives people with a criminal record a fair shot at higher education and careers in Oklahoma
• Members, House Bill 3315 was to direct a targeted feasibility study by the State Regents for Higher Education
• education admissions.

Bills: HB3700, HB3315, HB3242, HB3379, HB3129, HB3132, HB2950

Keywords: education policy, grading system, student assessment, academic integrity, state funding, opinion conduct, higher education, bachelor's degree, feasibility study, Oklahoma State Regents, accreditation, credit hours, emergency declaration, gender, privacy, public schools, sleeping quarters, restrooms, criminal history, admissions process

Summary: The House Postsecondary Education Committee met and considered several higher education bills. HB 3700, by Rep. Chad Caldwell, would require public college grades to be based only on academic criteria, including attendance, and not on students’ opinions, beliefs, or conduct outside the classroom. Supporters said it formalizes an existing expectation and protects free speech; opponents raised concerns about local control and whether it was a response to a specific incident. The bill passed 6-2. The committee also passed HB 3379, a “ban-the-box” style bill by Rep. Ranson that would bar colleges from asking about felony history before admission, with exceptions for sex-related felonies and post-admission follow-up on housing, payment, and degree planning. Members questioned campus safety and whether violent offenses should be excluded, but the bill advanced 6-2. Rep. West’s HB 3129, prohibiting public institutions from charging security fees to student groups based on the content of their expression, passed 7-1 after discussion about whether schools could still assess security costs based on event size or risk. His HB 3132, which would limit the use of DEI-related practices in accreditation and require annual reporting on accreditors, also passed 6-3. Rep. Eves’ HB 3315, directing a feasibility study on three-year bachelor’s degrees, passed unanimously 9-0. Rep. Woolley’s HB 2950, as amended, would prevent extra admissions requirements for students from unaccredited backgrounds, address Oklahoma’s Promise requirements for homeschoolers, and allow OLAP applications up to age 18; it passed 7-2. Finally, Vice Chair Wolfley’s HB 3242, aimed at protecting women’s privacy in restrooms, locker rooms, showers, shelters, and correctional facilities, passed 6-2 after extensive questioning about how it would apply to transgender individuals and safety concerns for both women and trans people.

Transcript Highlights:

• Higher education is not generations.
• </c><01:25:43.199><c> education</c> consistency for a higher education consistency for a higher education
• c> getting</c> higher education and students getting higher education and students getting through<01
• is</c> through their higher education is through their higher education is critical<01:29:37.679><c>
• ><c> uh</c> on higher education institutions uh uh on higher education institutions uh uh already<01:

Bills: HF3432, HF3411

Keywords: resident tuition, employment, higher education, Minnesota, tuition rates, state universities, immigration status, immigration, postsecondary education, privacy, data access, federal officers, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We got light on some things and it works with their grow your own educator program.
• Would it surprise you to know that I have, in fact, polled education teachers...
• As a thing that has helped them in their programs to become educators in their education programs.
• So, I think there's a very clear statement to educators and education students across the state that
• And I just want to say this is my last education committee meeting after two fun years.

Bills: SB706, SB1262, SB1272, SB1546

Keywords: school funding, general fund carryover, State Aid, educational finance, budget penalties, emergency clause, tuition waiver, human trafficking, education, higher learning access, victims' rights, Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant, higher education, financial aid, income eligibility, student grants, scholarships, capital improvements, teacher incentives, Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, Senate Education Committee will come to order.
• Would you believe that it's actually the opposite that for sex education or comprehensive health education
• 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:

• So we get a number from the Regents for Higher Education of what the estimate of cost will be, and it
• And so it just further codifies the administrative process higher education is already utilizing, but
• You have to start your eligibility upon entering your higher education institution.
• The vote will now occur and the clerk will call the roll. the administrative process, higher education
• 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.

Transcript Highlights:

• to higher education is based on talent and effort, not family income.
• We have a tax at every level on higher education across the board.
• We have a tax at every level on higher education across the board.
• Like when you are, you know, you're a higher education institution.
• They will have that funding and really that... higher education.

Bills: SB5826, SB5828, SB5909, SB5954

Keywords: medication abortion, public education, access, healthcare rights, postsecondary institutions, college grant, scholarships, higher education, private institutions, Washington State, undergraduate programs, enrollment, program review, public institutions, veterans, tuition waiver, education, survivors, eligibility, 904

Summary: The Workforce Development Committee heard public testimony on several higher education bills. SB 5954 would align Washington’s veteran survivor tuition waiver rules with federal survivor education benefit eligibility, extending age and time limits for children, spouses, and domestic partners in certain cases. Senator Wagner said the bill would help families who lost state eligibility while waiting for federal certification, and veteran advocates supported it as a way to expand educational opportunity for military families. The committee then heard SB 5826, which would require public colleges and universities to provide access to medication abortion through student health centers or referrals and online information by the 2027-28 academic year. Supporters, including students and reproductive health advocates, said the bill would reduce travel, wait times, stigma, and barriers to care for students. Opponents, including religious and anti-abortion witnesses, argued the bill would promote abortion, impose costs on campuses and taxpayers, and expose students to medical and moral harms. No vote was taken. Members also heard SB 5828, which would restore and adjust Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship awards for students attending private, not-for-profit four-year institutions so the amounts are tied to public four-year averages. Senator Nobles and supporters said the bill would preserve student choice and prevent aid cuts from disrupting students mid-degree, while public university faculty opposed shifting more aid to private schools during a tight budget year. The committee also heard SB 5909, which would require public baccalaureate institutions to review and report low-enrollment undergraduate programs and potentially discontinue them after repeated low enrollment, with teach-out plans and exceptions for workforce, equity, and accreditation needs. Supporters framed it as a transparency and efficiency measure; faculty and campus representatives opposed it as too blunt and likely to harm small, specialized, and underrepresented-student-serving programs. The hearing concluded without recorded votes or final action on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning and welcome to the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee meeting.
• Statute requires all Washington public institutions of higher education to award credit based on exam
• The 2024 audit by the state auditor found Washington public higher education institutions accepted the
• Higher education operates in a highly regulated environment, and as a for-profit institution, DigiPen
• , and a strong higher education ecosystem... ...and a strong higher education ecosystem requires diverse

Bills: SB6209, SB6217, SB6227, SB6235

Keywords: financial aid, higher education, private institutions, student awards, affordability, Washington college grant, postsecondary education, nondegree programs, educational access, data collection, parenting students, education, support services, academic performance, college athletics, private equity, sovereign wealth funds, student athletes, financial agreements, 904

Summary: The committee began with a work session on dual credit, hearing an overview from the Council of Presidents and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, followed by ERDC. Presenters described Washington’s six dual credit programs, noted that about 90% of the class of 2024 took some dual credit, and said dual credit students have higher postsecondary enrollment and credential attainment rates. They also highlighted growth in Running Start, College in the High School, and CTE dual credit, while flagging challenges around funding, advising, access, and consistent statewide policy. ERDC described its annual report, dashboard, research briefs, and future work on school characteristics, special topics, and a planned causal-effects study of dual credit outcomes. The committee then held public hearings on several bills. SB 6227, by Sen. Wilson, would direct WASAC to work with public institutions to formalize data collection on parenting students and convene a work group to recommend implementation; the sponsor and multiple student advocates testified that better data is needed to identify and support student parents. SB 6235, by Sen. Hohley, would prohibit public colleges from entering certain private equity or sovereign wealth fund agreements involving intercollegiate athletics; the sponsor argued it would protect institutional control, while UW and WSU testified in opposition, warning it could limit future financing options and create competitive disadvantages. SB 6217, by Sen. Boehnke, would extend the Washington College Grant to eligible non-degree credential programs; supporters from the community and technical college system, workforce groups, and employers said it would help students access short-term training tied to family-wage jobs. Finally, the committee heard extensive testimony on SB 6209, which would make students at private for-profit four-year institutions eligible for the Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship only if their programs meet a gainful-employment standard. Supporters from DigiPen and other private career schools said the bill would preserve access for low-income and underrepresented students in specialized programs, while some testifiers urged that certificate and two-year programs also be included. The hearing also included testimony from students and advocates supporting the bill’s focus on accountability and economic mobility.

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Education amended federal rules to no longer require institutions of higher education to
• Texas institutions of higher education to be accredited by their regional accreditor, the Southern Association
• In our higher education nationally, last March, THECB acted to bring Texas higher ed in line with the
• Department of Education. The U.S.
• With THECB's March decision, it's common sense, bipartisan, and it should help our higher education system

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

Transcript Highlights:

• It is imperative that as a state we work to make our institutions of higher education more accessible
• education accessibility.
• This bill is essential for. improving access to and success in higher education for students with disabilities
• and the Higher Education Coordinating Board would report barriers. to enrollment and the accessibility
• The state demonstrates a clear commitment to higher education accessibility. and affordability.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Education amended federal rules to no longer require institutions of higher education to
• Education. which will be a compliance office within the Higher Education Coordinating Board for state
• This bill is essential for improving access to and success in higher education for students with disabilities
• The Higher Education Coordinating Board is a highly regulated board and is based on higher education,
• education accessibility and affordability.

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.

Bills: HB 102, HB 126, HB 271, HB 290, HB 300, HB 538, HB 718, HB 1022, HB 1330, HB 2110, HJR 5

Keywords: military education, early registration, ROTC, corps of cadets, higher education, military academy, student athletes, name image likeness, compensation, intercollegiate athletics, representation, tuition assistance, military, Texas State Guard, education, mandatory fees, scholarship, Texas Armed Services, student access, academic records

Bills: HB 102, HB 126, HB 271, HB 290, HB 300, HB 538, HB 718, HB 1022, HB 1330, HB 2110, HJR 5

Keywords: military education, early registration, ROTC, corps of cadets, higher education, military academy, student athletes, name image likeness, compensation, intercollegiate athletics, representation, tuition assistance, military, Texas State Guard, education, mandatory fees, scholarship, Texas Armed Services, student access, academic records

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got great resource witnesses, including Sarah et al., the Interim Commissioner of Higher Education
• at Texas Higher Education.
• But it also helps at the higher education level. Like I said, 50% of...
• Standards is that we want to have a mix of higher education represented on that new TAA entity.
• Ultimately, though, it puts us in control of our own higher education destiny.

Bills: SB1998, SB646, SB2786, SB2076, SB2615, SB1961, SB1418, SB2647, SB1322, SB2788

Keywords: pediatrics, medical education, subsidiary, preceptorship, medical training, student programs, mental health, loan repayment, education funding, mental health professionals, healthcare access, Texas Success Initiative, exemption, public officers, employees, higher education, Capitol view, Austin, urban planning, construction

Transcript Highlights:

• to quality education. ...have access to outcome-based education pathways that encourage postgraduate
• SB 1322 supports Texas' higher education institutions by establishing a Texas Higher Education Accreditation
• The bill amends the Texas Education Code by establishing the Texas Higher Education Accrediting Commission
• We have the Higher Education Coordinating Board.
• Ultimately, though, it puts us in control of our own higher education destiny.

Bills: SB1998, SB646, SB2786, SB2076, SB2615, SB1961, SB1418, SB2647, SB1322, SB2788

Keywords: pediatrics, medical education, subsidiary, preceptorship, medical training, student programs, mental health, loan repayment, education funding, mental health professionals, healthcare access, Texas Success Initiative, exemption, public officers, employees, higher education, Capitol view, Austin, urban planning, construction

Transcript Highlights:

• How people operate and access higher education.
• With access to higher education, these students can contribute in-demand skills.
• higher education.
• higher education.
• 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:

• An institution of higher education that discontinues operations or that discontinues the educational
• I don’t want to speak for my public higher education colleagues.
• I’m here to talk to you about encampments on institutions of higher education.
• education—public institutions of higher education.
• Public institutions of higher education.

Bills: HB2427, HB2458, HB2474, HB2540, HB2589

Keywords: ink of hope act, mental health, substance use, rehabilitation, community support, Washington college grant, postsecondary education, nondegree programs, student access, financial aid, consumer protections, school closures, educational programs, student rights, emergency medical services, EMT recertification, healthcare, first responders, public health, encampments

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several post-secondary and workforce-related bills. House Bill 2427 would require tattoo artists to complete annual human trafficking awareness training through the Department of Licensing. The prime sponsor and a trafficking survivor testified that tattoo artists may be in a position to notice branding or other signs of trafficking and connect victims to help. One opponent argued the bill would impose compelled speech and burdensome annual training requirements. The hearing closed without a vote. House Bill 2458 would expand Washington College Grant eligibility to approved non-degree credential programs. Supporters from community and technical colleges, workforce partners, and United Way said the bill would help students in short-term, job-aligned programs such as construction, CDL, IT, and other credentials that lead to family-wage jobs and better access to financial aid. House Bill 2474 would expand student consumer protections when a school or program closes, including required teach-outs or transfer options, refunds, and voiding certain student debt. The Student Achievement Council and student advocates supported the bill as a needed update, while independent private colleges raised concerns about financial penalties, program flexibility, and differences from existing accreditation standards. House Bill 2589 would regulate encampments on public higher education campuses by limiting them to registered student organizations or recognized bargaining units, requiring notice and institutional approval, and allowing removal of unauthorized encampments. The sponsor said it was a content-neutral campus safety measure that would not ban protest, while supporters cited recent campus encampments and safety concerns; opponents argued it could burden speech and should not apply to private nonprofit colleges. House Bill 2540 would extend EMT recertification intervals from three to six years for EMTs certified in Washington for at least 10 years, while keeping ongoing training requirements unchanged. Firefighter and EMS supporters said it would reduce administrative burden and costs. No bills were voted on during the meeting, and the chair reminded members of amendment request deadlines for the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:54.560><c> Senate</c> Education. Senator Mills. Senate Education. Senator Mills.
• </c><00:11:18.320><c> Professional</c> Mitchell to the Education Professional Mitchell to the Education
• </c> Nicholas Pace to the Education Nicholas Pace to the Education Professional<00:15:51.759><c> Standards
• I think the education. They're 50th."
• It gives more access and programs.

Bills: HB567, HB776, HB2, HB568, HB619

Keywords: open records, public access, transparency, government accountability, public agency, dental practice, licensing, administrative regulations, dental assistants, supervision, Medicaid, community engagement, healthcare, managed care, eligibility, public assistance, insurance, public adjuster, claim process, contract requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• They are required to meet a higher ACT test threshold to access the same scholarship their parents have
• At a higher level, because we don't trust your education path. That is not fairness.
• You don't have to endorse alternative education to oppose discrimination.
• education.
• When we talk about public education funding, we're saying that public education specifically needs to

Bills: HB3674, HB4326, HB4331, HB3029, HB2963, HB3551, HB2973, HB3019, HB3461, HB2961, HB3261, HB3759, HB3429, HB3069, HB3372, HB3705

Keywords: school resource officer, sexual assault training, law enforcement training, CLEET, school safety, mental health, continuing education, HB4326, Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, Oklahoma's Promise, scholarship, tuition assistance, higher education, State Regents for Higher Education, eligibility expansion, adopted students, foster care, DHS custody, child-placing agency, tribal custody

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1633 simply reconciles what higher education has already put into place and codifies it into
• It updates Oklahoma's higher education residency tuition law, which they've already been practicing for
• I have worked with higher education regents to develop this language.
• Again, for a lot of times, my wife was an educator.
• Parents can access these.

Bills: SB1726, SB1236, SB1633, SB1413, SB1317, SB1360, SB1342, SB1477, SB1189, SB1546, SB1524, SB1338, SB1193, SB1812, SB1617

Keywords: higher education, graduate instructors, training program, academic integrity, First Amendment rights, administrative reporting, education, consolidation, board, public schools, resident tuition, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, state scholarships, financial aid, immigration status, undocumented students, noncitizen students, lawfully present, postsecondary education benefits, college tuition