Transcript Highlights:

• We connect public charter school stakeholders from the 17 Alabama public charter schools with policymakers
• charter schools.
• systems through the accountability act or conversion public charter schools.
• Charter schools were originally sold to the public as schools that would have flexibility with curriculum
• that charter schools receive funding comparable to traditional public schools with the funding... traditional

Bills: HB332, HB166, SB336, HB447, HB244

Keywords: computer science, K-12 education, public schools, graduation requirement, digital literacy, coding, programming, STEM, artificial intelligence, AI, computational thinking, technology education, computer literacy, high school credit, middle school, elementary school, teacher training, professional development, distance learning, virtual school

Transcript Highlights:

• districts, charter schools, private schools, and junior colleges with the discretion to decide whether
• It simply affords school districts, charter schools, private schools, and junior colleges the ability
• students are regularly placing public schools at harm.
• So our public schools are a reflection of our society.
• But this is not just a public school issue.

Bills: SB27, SB226, SB326, SB570, SB605, SB870, SB991, SB1871, SB1872, SB1873, SB1874, SB1924, SB1925

Keywords: residency, public schools, child safety placement, enrollment, education code, antisemitism, student conduct, education, disciplinary actions, Texas Education Code, truancy, attendance policy, chronic absenteeism, school attendance, student absence notifications, parent notification, home visit, attendance officer, truancy court, school district

Summary: The committee heard a series of school safety and discipline bills, beginning with SB 870, which would codify an attorney general opinion allowing local school boards to decide whether school marshals may openly carry, conceal carry, or store a firearm in a secure safe on campus. The bill was laid out with no public testimony and left pending. The chair then moved to a combined discussion of SB 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, and 1924, all focused on school discipline, teacher authority, and student safety. Senators Perry and Creighton described the package as a response to rising classroom disruptions, assaults on teachers, and concerns that districts lack effective tools to maintain order. SB 1871 would expand teacher removal authority, require return-to-class plans before a student removed for certain conduct can return, make some serious offenses mandatory for placement in juvenile justice settings, and provide telehealth mental health services through a consortium. SB 1872 would require expulsion to a JJAEP for assaults on teachers or school volunteers and extend certain expulsion-eligible conduct to off-campus offenses. SB 1873 would restore the prior understanding that in-school suspension is not subject to a three-day limit. SB 1874 would grant teachers immunity from disciplinary action for reporting discipline violations or acting in compliance with Chapter 37. SB 1924 would restore authority for local police and school district police to issue Class C citations for school offenses and require criminal referrals for students posing an imminent threat or assaulting a teacher, with a substitute clarifying referral rules when a citation has already been issued. The committee adopted the substitutes for the bills and moved them forward. Invited witnesses from teacher and administrator groups largely supported the overall goal of stronger discipline and safer classrooms, while asking for refinements. The Texas Classroom Teachers Association testified that teachers need more autonomy to remove disruptive or violent students and that classroom removals should not mean removal from learning. Superintendents from San Angelo, Grandview, and Wiley ISDs supported the bills’ emphasis on safety, expanded ISS flexibility, mandatory placement for serious offenses, and telehealth mental health services, but asked for more local control, flexibility for Districts of Innovation, more than one campus behavior coordinator in large districts, clearer timelines for return-to-class plans, and more precise definitions for disruptive conduct. Several witnesses stressed that teacher retention and student learning are being harmed by current discipline problems, while some members raised concerns about vague standards and the risk of overuse or public humiliation through citations and removals.

Transcript Highlights:

• But you passed Senate Bill 741 into law, which provided local school districts, charter schools, private
• It simply affords school districts and chartered. schools, private schools, and junior colleges the ability
• The common denominator is public schools.
• Classrooms have evolved in our public school settings.
• Our public schools are a reflection of our society, and what you're seeing in the public school really

Bills: SB27, SB226, SB326, SB570, SB605, SB870, SB991, SB1871, SB1872, SB1873, SB1874, SB1924, SB1925

Keywords: residency, public schools, child safety placement, enrollment, education code, antisemitism, student conduct, education, disciplinary actions, Texas Education Code, truancy, attendance policy, chronic absenteeism, school attendance, student absence notifications, parent notification, home visit, attendance officer, truancy court, school district

Bills: SB27, SB226, SB326, SB570, SB605, SB870, SB991, SB1871, SB1872, SB1873, SB1874, SB1924, SB1925

Keywords: residency, public schools, child safety placement, enrollment, education code, antisemitism, student conduct, education, disciplinary actions, Texas Education Code, truancy, attendance policy, chronic absenteeism, school attendance, student absence notifications, parent notification, home visit, attendance officer, truancy court, school district

Bills: HB462, HB8, HB8

Keywords: emergency medical services, military training, licensure, public health, veterans, tobacco regulation, vaping, sales restrictions, youth protection, tobacco compliance, education programs, electronic nicotine delivery systems, campus chaplain, chaplain, school chaplain, volunteer, public K-12 schools, public schools, public charter schools, education policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Ed Noll, State Public Charter School Commission. Is Mr. Noll online?
• Requires the Department of Education and public charter schools to take certain steps to report incidents
• For<00:21:47.960><c> charter</c><00:21:48.240><c> schools?</c> For charter schools?
• in public schools.
• On House Bill 1893, House Draft 2, this clarifies that public charter school teachers are eligible for

Bills: HB1890, HB1888, HB1676

Keywords: teacher pay, teacher salaries, salary step increase, annual increment, longevity step, public school teachers, public charter school teachers, collective bargaining, Hawaii Department of Education, teacher retention, teacher recruitment, cost of living, educator compensation, public employee bargaining, appropriation, salary schedule, school staffing, teacher shortage, HB1888, Hawaii

Summary: The committees heard three measures, beginning with HB 1890 HD3, which would provide automatic step increases and a COVID-era retention bonus for teachers. Supporters included HSTA, the Democratic Party’s Education Caucus, and a student who said higher pay and predictable salary growth would help retain teachers in Hawaii. The Department of Education supported the intent but asked that the bill be expanded to cover all department employees. The Attorney General’s office said the draft needed clarification to avoid conflict with Chapter 89 and to make clear any funding was subject to legislative appropriation. The Office of the Public Defender and B&F testified in opposition, and committee members questioned whether the step increases were already in the current contract and whether the bill was needed. HSTA said the current contract includes automatic step increases subject to funding, but argued the bill was still needed because funding is not guaranteed and the measure would codify the policy. HSTA also said the COVID bonus would apply only to active teachers who worked during the pandemic and estimated the total cost at roughly $150 million to $200 million over four years. No vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee then took up HB 1888 HD3, which would require DOE and charter schools to report harassment incidents and strengthen penalties for harassment of educational workers from a petty misdemeanor to a misdemeanor. DOE supported the bill and suggested narrowing language about assisting workers with temporary restraining orders, saying that function would be better handled through the Attorney General’s pilot program. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing the harassment language was overly broad, vague, and potentially unconstitutional, and that existing assault and terroristic threatening statutes already protect educational workers. HSTA, the State Commission on the Status of Women, and several individual testifiers supported the measure, describing increased intimidation and harassment of teachers and other school staff, especially since COVID. The Special Education Advisory Council opposed the bill’s language on “disrupting and interfering” with school functions, saying it could chill parents of students with IEPs from advocating for their children. Testimony was split, with the chair noting 20 in support and 16 in opposition in the portion shown. A final witness, Michelle Pestana, testified in opposition based on her family’s experience with special education services, describing alleged seclusion and restraint of her daughter and expressing concern that DOE testimony in prior hearings had targeted special education parents. Her remarks were cut off as time expired. The transcript ends before any committee action or vote on HB 1888 was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the school chaplain's bill. A bill we had last year.
• And our constitution says each county has to have their own school system.
• </c><00:04:47.199><c> boards</c> cities to combine their school boards cities to combine their school
• </c><00:04:56.000><c> And</c><00:04:56.160><c> this</c> have their own school system.
• And this have their own school system.

Bills: HB8, HB380, HB8, HB380

Keywords: tobacco regulation, vaping, sales restrictions, youth protection, tobacco compliance, public health, education programs, electronic nicotine delivery systems, human cloning, criminal penalties, embryo, genetic modification, bioethics, campus chaplain, chaplain, school chaplain, volunteer, public K-12 schools, public schools, public charter schools

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a bill that right now for charter schools, they cannot issue bonds. cannot issue bonds.
• There is an amendment that is being passed around at the request of the charter school commission regarding
• So this comes at the request of the charter school folks. request of the charter school folks.
• This is based on other states that have... is based on other states that have charter schools.
• Sessions, my question would be, this um, on the charter schools, would this cover cyber schools?

Bills: HB315, HB152, HB205, SB184, SB209, HB309, SB280, SB267

Keywords: sales tax, local exemption, Consumer Price Index, tax holiday, clothing tax exemption, school supplies, sales tax exemption, baby supplies, baby formula, maternity clothing, menstrual hygiene products, use tax, exemption, tax conformity, tangible personal property, Alabama Department of Revenue, retail tax, consumer use tax, nonresident, religious publications

Transcript Highlights:

• Without removing the outdated arbitrary cap on public charter schools... facilities funding, charter
• Whether they attend a public charter school or a traditional I.A.
• Good evening Bryce Adams with the Texas Public Charter School. Association.
• Charter schools are public schools. They're tuition free and they're highly accountable.
• Now, in 2017, public charter schools had $60 million to serve 340,000.

Bills: SB451, SB762, SB1490, SB1262, SB1459, SB1750, SB1962, SB2252, SB2253, SB2365

Keywords: instructional materials, public schools, Education Code, adoption, rejected materials, local funds, open educational resources, Texas Education Code, school districts, open enrollment charter schools, funding restrictions, environmental regulation, business compliance, local authority, economic development, state preemption, local control, open education resources, SB 762, Texas public schools

Transcript Highlights:

• Eighth grade we were in sports school which we called charter school which is a year ahead of public
• Whether they attend a public charter school or a traditional I.A.
• So, Thrive is a public charter school. school that specializes in serving students with autism.
• Good evening Bryce Adams with the Texas Public Charter School. Association.
• Charter schools are public schools.

Bills: SB451, SB762, SB1490, SB1262, SB1459, SB1750, SB1962, SB2252, SB2253, SB2365

Keywords: instructional materials, public schools, Education Code, adoption, rejected materials, local funds, open educational resources, Texas Education Code, school districts, open enrollment charter schools, funding restrictions, environmental regulation, business compliance, local authority, economic development, state preemption, local control, open education resources, SB 762, Texas public schools

Transcript Highlights:

• So, >> Carrie Klein with the Wyoming Public Charter School Association.
• Um and uh we have charter schools that are both uh those charter schools that are part of districts are
• Carrie Klein with the Wyoming Public Charter School Association.
• Um and uh we have charter schools that are both uh those charter schools that are part of districts are
• charter schools that are both uh we have charter schools that are both uh<00:25:41.600><c> those</c>

Bills: HB0023, HB0024, HB0025

Keywords: extracurricular activities, public school participation, enrollment, Wyoming, student access, charter schools, application process, authorizers, public hearing, community support, scholarship, education, eligibility, continuous enrollment, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So what we have here is just a direction that these public schools, if you go on page two and three,
• if</c><00:02:28.080><c> you</c><00:02:28.160><c> go</c> these public schools that any if you go these
• public schools that any if you go on<00:02:28.640><c> page</c><00:02:29.120><c> two</c><00:02:29.360
• a director of curriculum and instruction for a high-performing charter school in Denver.
• a director of curriculum and instruction for a high-performing charter school in Denver.

Bills: HB0023, HB0024, HB0025

Keywords: extracurricular activities, public school participation, enrollment, Wyoming, student access, charter schools, application process, authorizers, public hearing, community support, scholarship, education, eligibility, continuous enrollment, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In any school crisis, seconds can truly matter.
• The schools in my district use I Love You Guys as part of our safe school planning, but they both advocate
• It's called Blue in the School.
• So this bill will allow every school to have that opportunity.
• That's 2,000 public schools, 200 charter schools, our tribal schools as well, our intermediate districts

Bills: HF3220

Keywords: school safety, school security, emergency access, law enforcement access, master key box, secure key box, entry device, school grants, education finance, Department of Education, charter schools, school districts, cooperative units, appropriation cancellation, one-time appropriation, school safety plan, emergency preparedness, public safety, school building security

Transcript Highlights:

• That's 200 or 2,000 public schools, 200 charter schools, um, our tribal schools as well, our intermediate
• That's 200 or 2,000 public schools,<00:07:58.879><c> 200</c><00:07:59.360><c> charter</c><00:07:59.759
• ><c> schools,</c><00:08:00.879><c> um,</c><00:08:01.039><c> our</c> schools, 200 charter schools, um,
• our schools, 200 charter schools, um, our tribal<00:08:01.680><c> schools</c><00:08:02.080><c> as</c
• </c> because it is a public um a public asset because it is a public um a public asset we<00:25:27.120

Bills: HF3220

Keywords: school safety, school security, emergency access, law enforcement access, master key box, secure key box, entry device, school grants, education finance, Department of Education, charter schools, school districts, cooperative units, appropriation cancellation, one-time appropriation, school safety plan, emergency preparedness, public safety, school building security, 1183

Transcript Highlights:

• So the bill would allow a school board or governing body of a charter. To adopt a policy.
• Which would then require the schools in that district or the charter.
• schools and charter schools, um, of different religious faiths.
• In our public schools in this case out of Florida.
• chaplains in public schools.

Bills: SB 6, SB 11, SB 33

Keywords: electric power, interconnection, utilities, ERCOT, large load customers, water supply, sewer service, demand management, school prayer, Bible reading, religious text, public schools, Texas Education Code, student prayer, silent prayer, meditation, religious liberty, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, church and state

Transcript Highlights:

• open enrollment charter schools.
• My concerns about the bill are, you know, we have students in our public schools and charter schools.
• In our public schools, in this case out of Florida.
• Last session in favor of Senate Bill 763 to allow school chaplains in public schools.
• Prayer in the Bible in public schools is a relatively new concept.

Bills: SB6, SB11, SB33

Keywords: electric power, interconnection, utilities, ERCOT, large load customers, water supply, sewer service, demand management, school prayer, Bible reading, religious text, public schools, Texas Education Code, student prayer, silent prayer, meditation, religious liberty, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, church and state

Transcript Highlights:

• Barksdale English is here on behalf of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, and you are neutral on
• We believe you can do that by ensuring that The general public does not bear the bulk of the reliability
• You are testifying on behalf of the Texas Public Power Association, you're for the bill, is that correct
• Taylor Kilroy, Texas Public Power Association, in support.
• No, no, no, but if we get a committee substitute, Chairman, and the public gets to see it, you know,

Bills: SB6, SB11, SB33

Keywords: electric power, interconnection, utilities, ERCOT, large load customers, water supply, sewer service, demand management, school prayer, Bible reading, religious text, public schools, Texas Education Code, student prayer, silent prayer, meditation, religious liberty, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, church and state

Transcript Highlights:

• Declining enrollment has created educational challenges for two small regional school districts and one
• School budgets are our biggest budget line items.
• A moratorium gives towns time to catch up, develop thoughtful regulations, protect public safety, and
• A moratorium gives towns time to catch up, develop thoughtful regulations, protect public safety, and
• Within our only public water supply, and on a federally designated wild and scenic watershed.

Bills: H5171, H5261, H5294, H5317, S3026, S3033

Keywords: Holyoke, municipal governance, acting mayor, city council, local government, Oxford, town charter, municipal government, town manager, residency requirement, local approval, charter amendment, home rule, local governance, municipal administration, residence of officials, Worcester County, Worthington, solar, solar photovoltaic

Summary: The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a hybrid hearing on late-filed bills and formal petitions, with testimony taken on Senate Bill 3026 and House Bill 5294. For S.3026, speakers from the Six Town Regional Planning Board and local town boards supported the bill as a way to equalize voting access for residents in a proposed regional school district reorganization. They said the measure would give all six towns the same opportunity to vote throughout the day, rather than limiting some towns to a single voting window, and argued the decision is especially important given declining enrollment and financial pressures on the school districts and towns involved. The committee then heard testimony on H.5294, a Worthington home rule petition seeking a one-year moratorium on certain large-scale solar and battery storage projects. Worthington officials, residents, and public health and conservation advocates said the town needs time to develop zoning, safety, and emergency response rules before more projects move forward. They raised concerns about limited municipal staff, volunteer fire department capacity, water supply and watershed impacts, decommissioning responsibilities, and the cumulative effect of industrial-scale solar development on rural character and farmland. Several witnesses emphasized that their opposition was not to solar energy itself, but to the pace and siting of projects in small rural towns with limited resources. They argued that state siting and permitting processes do not adequately account for local conditions in western Massachusetts and that towns need time to evaluate legal, environmental, and public health issues. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the committee concluded testimony without further action announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• She has been a very stable force in Elgin public schools.
• Madam Chair, and if I could, the students from Arabby Elementary in Tulsa Union Public Schools are here
• schools and virtual charter schools.
• school board?
• If there's some reason that we want to move this to the charter school, I'd be happy to talk with you

Bills: SB514, SB346, SB1593, SB1782, SB1366, SB1497, SB366, SB1895, SB2048, SB2005, SB2006, SB710, SB1480

Keywords: SB514, school choice, charter school, virtual charter school, OSSAA, extracurricular activities, interscholastic activities, athletics, homeschool, other means of education, alternative education, student eligibility, student transfer, district policy, public school district, adjacent district, blended learning, virtual learning, school sports, academic eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• If the charter school can provide a specific service that the public school can't, or that the parents
• that charter, even though it's not a public school, but is within the boundaries of that school district
• that charter, even though it's not a public school?
• Currently in Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma City Public Schools already leases buildings to five charter
• for publicly teaching our children, whether it's with a charter or whether it's a public school.

Bills: SB514, SB346, SB1593, SB1782, SB1366, SB1497, SB366, SB1895, SB2048, SB2005, SB2006, SB710, SB1480

Keywords: SB514, school choice, charter school, virtual charter school, OSSAA, extracurricular activities, interscholastic activities, athletics, homeschool, other means of education, alternative education, student eligibility, student transfer, district policy, public school district, adjacent district, blended learning, virtual learning, school sports, academic eligibility

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met for deadline week and first recognized guests and updates, including a report from Senator Devers on the Elgin school bus crash and recognition of 2025 Teacher of the Year Melissa Yvonne and visiting students from UCO and Darnaby Elementary. The committee then took up a series of education bills, with several authors explaining that some measures were work in progress and striking title on those bills to continue negotiations. Among the measures advanced were SB 514, clarifying alternative education programming through charter and virtual charter schools; SB 346, expanding school-to-school notification requirements about allegations or investigations involving teachers; SB 1593, updating outdated statutory references for the OSU-Tulsa board; SB 1366, using the Teacher Empowerment Fund to reward top teachers; SB 1497, correcting graduation standards to comply with IDEA and clarify alternate diplomas; SB 366, creating a process for charter schools to be notified about district facilities and lease or purchase opportunities; SB 1895, requiring districts to report whether they participate in the Community Eligibility Provision and why not; SB 2048, allowing the statewide charter school board to pay travel-related expenses for conferences and training; SB 710, allowing multiple grants under the Teach Forward teacher-prep program; and SB 1480, creating a pilot youth apprenticeship program. Most of these bills passed on bipartisan votes, often after questions about implementation, fiscal impact, or scope. Two of the more debated measures were SB 1782, which would end new tenure plans for higher education employees and move new hires to five-year contracts, and SB 2005, which would restructure the OSSAA board. SB 1782 passed 6-4 after extended debate over constitutional authority, academic freedom, recruitment, and litigation risk, with supporters arguing it would increase flexibility and accountability and opponents warning about legal and retention concerns. SB 2005 failed 4-6 after members split over whether the legislature should intervene in OSSAA governance; supporters said the association was not responsive enough to member schools and families, while opponents argued the issue should be left to the organization and that the bill risked government overreach.