Video & Transcript Research : 'scholarship accounts'

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FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Education Pre-K - 12 Feb 10th, 2026

Education Pre-K - 12

Transcript Highlights:
  • At this time, we're going to take up tab 2, SB 1318 on the Florida tax credit scholarship program by
  • Senate Bill 1318 makes a technical change to clarify that when an FTC scholarship account is closed,
  • This change is similar to a provision that was included in Senator Gaetz's scholarship bill.
  • Senate Bill 1690 updates Florida's child care laws while strengthening transparency and accountability
Bills: S0182, S1318, S1690
Summary: The Senate Education Pre-K through 12 Committee considered three bills and reported all of them favorably. SB 1318 by Senator Rodriguez made a technical clarification to the Florida tax credit scholarship program so that when a scholarship account is closed, any remaining funds revert but do not revert to the state. The bill was taken up without debate and passed on a favorable roll call vote. The committee then heard CS for SB 1690 by Senator Calatayud on child care and early learning services. The bill updates child care laws, improves transparency and accountability, clarifies terminology, and aims to avoid over-regulating before- and after-school programs. The committee adopted an amendment clarifying rulemaking authority, shifting it to the State Board of Education. Senator Berman questioned a provision related to information on leaving children in vehicles, and Senator Calatayud said she would follow up. The committee then voted the bill favorably. Finally, the committee considered CS for SB 182 by Senator Jones on school teacher training and mentoring programs. A strike-all amendment aligned the bill with the House companion, limited mentor placements to D- and F-rated schools, expanded participation to districts and charter schools, tightened mentor qualifications, authorized stipends up to $3,000, and allowed use of educational enrichment funds. The amendment was adopted, supportive appearance forms were waived in, and the bill was reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, members recognized committee staff and applauded Kathy Missouri for her last committee meeting, and senators later recorded additional affirmative votes before adjournment.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/11/2026 - House Appropriations

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • Department of Education to administer the Empowerment Scholarship Account Program, and with that I'm
  • Those who use the Empowerment Scholarship Account in Arkansas: 57th percentile in math, 59th percentile
  • Account.
  • school, a private school, and now with the Empowerment Scholarship account that is made possible.
  • Those who use the Appowerment Scholarship account in Arkansas, 57th percentile in math, 59th percentile
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

House Education Committee, February 20, 2026

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> lumpsum merit scholarship. lumpsum merit scholarship.
  • The Hathaway scholarship account has been growing significantly, so they believe the funds are there
  • Um, scholarship.
  • The account the<00:20:23.280><c> Hathaway</c><00:20:24.400><c> scholarship</c><00:20:25.200><c> account
  • </c><00:20:25.600><c> has</c> the Hathaway scholarship account has the Hathaway scholarship account has
Bills: SF0018, SF0036, SF0047
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Appropriations Feb 5th, 2026 at 10:30 am

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • account, the institutional impact account, the hydraulic project permit account, and the unemployment
  • longer named accounts, the COVID-19 unemployment account, the institutional impact account, the hydraulic
  • project permit account, and the unemployment insurance relief account are all eliminated.
  • of those accounts.
  • of those accounts.
Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills. HB 2675 would eliminate a number of dedicated state accounts, transfer the remaining balances from two accounts to the general fund, and redirect future revenues from the salary insurance contribution increase revolving account to the general fund; OFM testified in support and there was no public opposition. Substitute HB 1903 would create a statewide Department of Commerce energy assistance program for low-income households, funded by the general fund and Climate Commitment Act revenues, phased in by utility and fuel type with reporting and an advisory group; supporters said it would provide more reliable monthly bill help, while utilities and rural co-ops raised concerns about cost, utility burden, reporting requirements, and conflicts with existing utility regulation. Fiscal staff estimated significant startup costs for Commerce if funded at the illustrative level discussed. Substitute HB 2384 would require actuarial reviews for certain continuing care retirement communities offering life care contracts, with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner reviewing the analyses and DSHS posting results; residents and transparency advocates supported the measure, while providers opposed it mainly over cost and the likelihood that fees would be passed on to residents. Substitute HB 1982 would expand the ability to vacate convictions tied to treaty Indian rights from fishing-only cases to fishing, hunting, gathering, and pasturing, remove the pre-1975 limitation, add local ordinances, and authorize OPD representation; after an amendment removed a proposed tribal liaison position, OPD said the fiscal impact would be zero and tribal and public defense witnesses supported the bill. Substitute HB 2389 would change juvenile sentencing and review procedures by expanding eligibility for suspended dispositions and behavioral health alternatives, adding midpoint review hearings, reducing some robbery ranges, and addressing juvenile rehabilitation capacity; supporters argued it would reduce disparities and favor community-based rehabilitation, while prosecutors, sheriffs, counties, judges, cities, victim advocates, and some law enforcement and tribal representatives warned it would weaken accountability, increase local costs, and create public safety risks. Substitute HB 2439 would overhaul tobacco and vapor product regulation by raising license fees and penalties, creating a responsible vendor program, adding manufacturer certification and testing requirements, restricting certain products and pricing practices, and redirecting tobacco tax revenue to public health and prevention accounts; public health groups supported the bill, while retailers and industry representatives opposed the fee increases and new mandates. The committee also heard HB 2681, which would sharply increase cannabis license fees and add CPI indexing; OFM supported it as a fee alignment measure, while cannabis businesses opposed the size of the increase and the inflation adjustment. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Fiscal Policy Mar 2nd, 2026

Fiscal Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • The bill talks about the scholarship funds reverting back.
  • It's going back to the student on a closed account.
  • But at the end of the day, the union needs to be held accountable.
  • We all want accountability.
  • And then if they fail, the voters can hold them accountable, just like we're held accountable if we fail
Summary: The committee first took up CS for SB 42 on specific medical diagnosis and child protective investigations. A late-file strike-all amendment was adopted that made only stylistic changes to align with the House version. Supporters said the bill would help DCF and child protective teams better identify rare medical conditions and give parents a chance to defend against mistaken abuse findings. The bill was then reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 1570, which restores a prior program to help locate missing persons with special needs through voluntary tracking devices and coordination with sheriff’s offices and CARD centers, with nonrecurring funding included. Members then advanced several education, disability, and public services measures. CS for CSSB 182 created a teacher training and mentoring program for high-performing current and retired teachers to mentor teachers in D- and F-rated schools, and CS for CSSB 794 required background screening for employees in residential and day training programs for people with developmental disabilities while directing APD to study support coordination quality, workforce issues, and service gaps. Testimony on SB 794 strongly supported better training, lower caseloads, and more consistent support coordination. The committee also favorably reported CS for CS SB 1168 on background screenings, CS for CS SB 214 to allow rural special districts to pay verified invoices directly, CS for SB 1376 to create grants for genetic counseling education, and SB 1574 (Maddie’s Law) to add newborn screening for biliary atresia; the latter drew emotional support and testimony that early screening could save lives and reduce transplant costs. The committee heard and passed a number of other policy bills, including CS for CS for SB 1510, the DEP agency package, after environmental groups warned that one provision could delay basin management protections and allow more septic systems in impaired watersheds; the bill still passed favorably. Members also approved CS for CS for SB 598 on funeral and cemetery regulation, SB 688 to license naturopathic doctors, SB 1318 on scholarship account reversion rules, CS for CS for SB 682 on domestic violence injunctions and penalties, SB 130 on workforce training for current and former inmates, and SB 1548, the latest Live Local affordable housing update. Several bills were briefly postponed or taken up later in the meeting. In the latter portion of the meeting, the committee approved CS for C.S. for SB 536 on criminal gang membership criteria, CS for C.S. SB 762 on assigning conflict capital cases across regional counsel offices, SB 1332 on career offender registration requirements, CS for CS for SB 1742 creating a new offense for indecent exposure of sexual organs to a child, and CS for SB 1750 increasing penalties for serious sex offenses and child sexual abuse material crimes. The committee also debated CS for SB 1226 on Public Employee Relations Commission procedures and union certification rules, including a late-file amendment setting a 60% threshold and 25% quorum for recertification; the discussion focused heavily on constitutional concerns, union rights, and differences between first responders and other public employees. The transcript ends while that bill’s debate is still underway, with the committee having already taken numerous favorable votes throughout the meeting.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House State Government Finance and Policy Committee 3/4/25

State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • included in the training in the first place, and we'll hold those people, whoever was involved, accountable
  • </c> people whoever was involved accountable people whoever was involved accountable on<00:03:55.599>
  • </c><00:20:37.080><c> unit</c> financial reporting and accounting unit financial reporting and accounting
  • I lost my full-ride scholarship and scrambled to complete my Bachelor of Arts degree.
  • I lost my full-ride scholarship and scrambled to complete my Bachelor of Arts degree.
Bills: HF10
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee Apr 6th, 2026 at 10:30 am

A&B Education Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:
  • networks and digital payment networks to the ways that you can add money to your college savings account
  • Today, so I think we can account for that within.
NV
Transcript Highlights:
  • Data-driven enforcement improves transparency, accountability, and public safety.
  • Data-driven enforcement improves transparency, accountability, and public safety.
  • And we believe it provides stability, emotional strength, and accountability.
  • I mean, it provides stability, emotional strength, and accountability.
  • The inmate welfare account pays for the staffing that is still left and is not part of the general fund
Bills: SB60, SB85, SB323
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Education Apr 7th, 2025 at 10:00 am

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • And so for students that did the ACT as their accountability test, they could use the subscores from
  • And it specifically does say... ...for their school's accountability anymore.
  • And it specifically does say in that section of code, the ACT assessment used for accountability.
  • Do non-publics need an accountability measure?
  • And do they, can they use the ACT as an accountability measure? Mr.
Bills: HB1404
Summary: The Senate Education Committee met with six members present and first took up House Bill 1404, which would update North Dakota scholarship eligibility language by allowing the NDA Plus assessment to be used in place of ACT scores in certain pathways. The Department of Public Instruction explained that the bill does not eliminate the ACT entirely, but removes outdated references tied to ACT accountability testing that will no longer apply after this year’s seniors graduate. Members discussed how the change affects public and nonpublic schools, then voted 6-0 to give HB 1404 a do pass recommendation. The committee then returned to House Bill 1363, a bill dealing with school emergency response planning and automatic external defibrillators. Members adopted an amendment clarifying that the requirements apply to school-owned facilities and grounds, replacing language about school events and venues, and revising the planning language for school-based events not held on school-owned property. The committee also debated whether the bill should be mandatory or permissive; a motion to change “shall” to “may” failed, with members noting the bill’s liability protections. The committee then voted 5-1 to pass HB 1363 as amended, with Senator Gerhardt carrying the bill. Before recessing, the chair noted that House Bill 1533 would be taken up later in the day after additional information from DPI was received.
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

House Education Committee, February 25, 2026

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • actual accountability that's being provided<01:21:54.080><c> um</c><01:21:54.719><c> from</c><01:21:
  • Um, so we're looking for more accountability.
  • Um, and through that accountability, then it allows for more support from the state and more teacher
  • Um, and through that accountability.
  • Um, and through that accountability,<01:23:11.520><c> then</c><01:23:12.320><c> it</c><01:23:12.639><
Bills: HB0023, HB0024, HB0025
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Senate Education Committee, February 25, 2026

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • It repeals a scholarship eligibility.
  • </c> scholarship. Am I correct? scholarship. Am I correct?
  • And uh for scholarships and unmet need.
  • I mean, I know you're new, too, so I'm asking... the scholarships and so we're just in the scholarships
  • </c> spirit of of this scholarship. spirit of of this scholarship.
Bills: HB0023, HB0024, HB0025
NV
Transcript Highlights:
  • It becomes a question of accountability.
  • Deterrent and accountability, I feel, is part of the solution and an important part.
  • that we need such a robust package and services to provide when it comes to resources, training, accountability
  • He said he does not believe this bill will prevent anything, but that it is about accountability and
  • He concluded that we have to start holding these folks accountable more and more, and thanked the Senator
Bills: SB60, SB85, SB323, SB309, SB465
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Education Finance Committee 3/10/26

Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • The uses of scholarships are broad, and students in all school settings are eligible for these scholarships
  • The uses of scholarships are broad, and students in all school settings are eligible for these scholarships
  • Let's talk about if a scholarships.
  • This tax credit scholarship later.
  • </c> apply to us for your scholarship money. apply to us for your scholarship money.
Bills: HF3490, HF4040
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Veteran Affairs Apr 29th, 2025

Veteran Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • programs to encourage the brightest students in our state to join the armed services with a full scholarship
  • This scholarship program was created in 2009, with the vision of making Texas' version of the military
  • amount to cover a substantial cost of tuition and fees and clarify the scholarship employment process
  • and agreement by the student. ...to raise the scholarship amount to cover a substantial cost of tuition
  • and fees and clarify the scholarship employment process and agreement by the student, and create a scholarship
Bills: HB102, HB300, SB2255
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.
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

House Standing Committee on Appropriations and Revenue.(2-10-26)

Appropriations & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:
  • Moving on to the Auditor of Public Accounts. Thank you for coming in and sticking around with us.
  • I'm sorry, on to the auditor<00:36:58.160><c> of</c><00:36:58.320><c> public</c><00:36:58.640><c> accounts
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • Uh, that allows members to fund, including with pre-tax funds, an account that is available through many
  • Uh that allows members savings account.
  • that is available funds um an account that is available through<00:05:32.560><c> many</c><00:05:32.800
  • Chair, when you said the Yellow Book, I go to general accounting standards and such.
  • As a result, interestbearing accounts.
Summary: The committee first heard from Personnel Cabinet officials on House Bill 6, which required the Kentucky Employees Health Plan to offer a qualified high-deductible health plan by the 2026 plan year. Officials said the plan was already added for 2025, described it as the lowest-premium option with higher deductibles, and explained that federal rules prevent first-dollar coverage except for limited preventive services. They said 264 members had selected the plan out of about 142,000, and noted it also allows health savings accounts. Members asked about the plan’s benefits, what “catastrophic” meant, the deductible amounts, and whether employees were aware of the option; the cabinet said it would continue to highlight the plan in communications and that the deductible is above $8,000 for individuals and above $16,000 for families. The committee then received an update from the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs on the Bowling Green veterans center. Officials said the current target is to move into the building on October 28, with first admissions about two months later, pending final fixes and certification steps for Medicare, Medicaid, and the VA. They explained that about $7 million in FY25 appropriations lapsed because of construction delays, staffing ramp-up was postponed to avoid unnecessary spending, and the unspent funds should be considered in the next budget request. Members praised the project and asked about annual operating costs; officials said the current operating budget is about $15 million, though they do not expect to spend all of it this year. The commissioner also announced the fifth annual state commanders conference in Lexington, focused on veterans issues and featuring state, federal, and advocacy leaders. State Auditor Allison Ball then outlined her office’s budget priorities. She said the office is primarily a billing agency that charges audited entities for its work, and warned that some agencies are now signaling they may refuse to pay for audits related to kinship care and the medical cannabis application process. She said the office plans to continue requesting outlier credits for unusually burdensome county audit fees, funding for the ombudsman office’s transition and expanded in-office operations, and revenue replacement for local government audits and possibly state audits and special examinations. Ball also said the office conducts about 500 audits, reviews, and examinations a year and wants to restore performance audits with seed funding, as well as add investigators to the ombudsman office to focus more on child abuse and neglect cases. Members discussed the value of performance audits, the possibility of raising certain board thresholds to account for inflation, and the need for additional capacity to handle more audits.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • Senate Bill 25 was passed this previous session, providing $1.5 million for the Auditor of Public Accounts
  • the Auditor providing $1.5 million for the Auditor of<01:30:25.040><c> Public</c><01:30:25.280><c> Accounts
  • > to</c><01:30:26.320><c> audit</c><01:30:26.639><c> the</c><01:30:26.719><c> very</c> of Public Accounts
  • to audit the very of Public Accounts to audit the very issue<01:30:27.120><c> that</c><01:30:27.280>
Summary: The Information Technology Oversight Committee met to hear a presentation from Kentucky Department of Education officials David Couch and Mike Lingham on the history and current status of Kentucky’s K-12 internet network, including its relationship to KentuckyWired. They described the original KETS design from 1995, when KDE established district internet hubs and left local districts to connect to them, and said that model helped Kentucky become a national leader in school connectivity and cloud-based services. They also emphasized the importance of E-rate eligibility, saying it has saved the state substantial money and remains central to KDE’s network contracting. Couch and Lingham said the current “next generation Kentucky K-12 internet” contract with Education Networks of America is more reliable, offers more functionality, and costs less than the prior system, including lower bandwidth and firewall costs. They explained that the transition was complicated by build-out and provisioning issues, especially the need for more “type two” connections through local providers, which pushed some implementation past the June 30, 2024 E-rate deadline. As a result, 39 sites remain on type two connections, and KDE absorbed the loss of federal discount dollars for the portion of the transition that extended into July. The witnesses also discussed home internet access for students. They said KDE has tracked home access for about 20 years and estimates about 4.5% of students still lack adequate internet at home, with roughly 3% able to reach access nearby and 1.5% having no access. They said the biggest barrier is usually cost rather than lack of available lines, and noted that temporary hotspot support during COVID helped students continue schoolwork. Senator Williams asked about the costs of the transition, the current type two sites, and the potential cost of any future transition, but the transcript cuts off before a full answer was given.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Taxes Committee 3/3/26

Taxes

Transcript Highlights:
  • About 2 weeks ago I learned from my accountant, I'm a lawyer, I'm in a limited liability partnership
  • ,<00:30:29.560><c> uh</c> accountants, uh accountants, uh anyone<00:30:31.080><c> who</c><00:30:31.240
  • and all the accountants that are dealing with this stuff.
  • And the spending that's done is accountable, transparent, and does what it's supposed to do.
  • </c> you mentioned, was brought uh in account you mentioned, was brought uh in account cuz<01:09:02.720
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • And I believe our auditor of public accounts, Ms.
  • And I believe our Auditor of Public Accounts, Ms.
  • Those settlement accounts are now yielding as much as $200,000 a month.
  • </c><00:22:45.600><c> those</c> management those accounts those management those accounts those settlement
  • </c><00:22:47.880><c> as</c> settlement accounts are now yielding as settlement accounts are now yielding
Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government met for its first meeting and heard budget-related presentations from the Auditor of Public Accounts and the Secretary of State, with the Treasurer beginning a presentation at the end of the transcript. Auditor Allison Ball reviewed her office’s 2024 and early 2025 work, including hundreds of county and state audits, several special examinations, and ongoing reviews such as the kinship care funding issue, the Kentucky Department of Education audit, and the Jefferson County Public Schools audit. She said her office is focused on waste, fraud, abuse, and legal compliance, and asked the committee to consider future budget changes, including aligning her appropriation with restricted funding and restoring a stronger performance-audit function. She also highlighted audits that exposed serious problems, including the Department of Juvenile Justice review, and said those reports are intended to serve as models for other entities to avoid similar failures. Secretary of State Michael Adams said his office is self-sustaining through fees and does not need tax dollars, but asked for greater access to its own revenues and more flexibility in using them. He highlighted the Safe at Home address confidentiality program, saying recent changes expanded protections for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, and that the program has grown rapidly while remaining funded by offender fines. Adams also urged lawmakers to again adjust county election funding for inflation, noting the current per-voter and per-precinct amounts were set decades ago. In questioning, Representative Hart asked whether the Safe at Home program was self-funding; Adams replied that it covers only about 10% of its operating cost and said the best solution would be to let the office use more of the revenue it already collects rather than rely on tax dollars. Treasurer Martin Medcafe, introduced with staff member Russell Weber, praised the General Assembly’s fiscal discipline and described the Treasury’s work in managing state funds. He reported strong results from the Unclaimed Property Fund, saying the office returned $35.5 million to Kentuckians in its first year and $3.8 million in the first month of the current year, and said the State Investments Commission generated $682 million in returns last year. He also highlighted financial literacy efforts through the Kentucky Financial Empowerment Commission and said the Treasury is helping manage opioid settlement funds, which are now earning up to $200,000 per month through investment. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/04/2026 - Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency

Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:
  • So it clearly defines the type of trust account that it has to go into, which is very similar to that
  • And that allows a discussion between the account holder and the individual in the videos.
  • So Madam Chair, Senator, with that situation, the funds would still have to go into an account of some
  • sort, so it ensures that it's a trust account.
  • So it'll go into a trust account where they can still have access or a trustee can access those monies