Transcript Highlights:

• So, the committee substitutes... ...for SB1224 adds private schools to the bill.
• So, Sparks, is that language for private schools? I'm sorry, where's the language?
• The private schools. Yeah, in the committee substitute. Yeah, where is it?
• Excused absences from public school for the purpose of attending a released time course.
• We've got a situation where our college district has a one-day work from home week.

Bills: SB1224, SB2972, SB2615, SB735, SB800, SB2986, SB2310, SB2055, SB1049, SB784

Keywords: educator misconduct, reporting requirements, local law enforcement, public and private schools, penalties for non-compliance, expressive activities, freedom of speech, public forum, higher education, protests, student rights, telework, public education, employee rights, emergency provisions, Holocaust education, Holocaust Remembrance Week, antisemitism, genocide education, public schools

Transcript Highlights:

• In the provision allowing school district employees who are not nurses and who have not agreed to include
• rather than only school districts, charter schools, and state tribal education compact schools.
• It requires school districts to maintain staff certificates of completion for training on preventing
• Authorizing school district boards of directors to adopt policies and procedures that limit possession
• It also provides that school district boards of directors, when considering the adoption of policies

Bills: SB6278

Keywords: teacher preparation, principal preparation, educator preparation, alternative route certification, teacher certification, principal certification, Washington Professional Educator Standards Board, PESB, field placement, student teacher, residency, mentoring, school district partnerships, K-12 education, preK-12, high-need schools, Title I, special education, English language learner, rural schools

Summary: The House Education Committee met in executive session to consider several education bills. On Substitute Senate Bill 5242 concerning anaphylaxis medication in schools, staff described changes to school epinephrine policies, and members discussed a striking amendment that clarified the bill to allow trained personnel to administer premeasured epinephrine, expand liability protections, and make related technical changes. A drafting error referencing albuterol was flagged and corrected through an amendment to the amendment. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill out with a do pass as amended recommendation. The committee also advanced Substitute Senate Bill 5346 on student use of mobile devices in public schools. The bill would require OSPI to report on school policies limiting mobile device use during instructional hours and post research and best practices. An amendment shortened reporting timelines, removed a distribution requirement, updated terminology, and encouraged school boards to review OSPI recommendations; members spoke in support of local flexibility, classroom focus, and reducing distractions. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill out with a do pass as amended recommendation. Substitute Senate Bill 5841, on high school and beyond plans and financial aid, was also amended and passed out of committee. The amendment added information about College Bound Scholarship enrollment, financial aid application completion, and required review of certain information before graduation and after financial aid applications are completed. Members emphasized helping students understand scholarship and college funding opportunities. The committee then reported Substitute Senate Bill 6268, requiring OSPI to maintain a 20-year online record of final special education complaint decisions, and Senate Bill 6278, codifying ongoing PESB review of teacher and principal preparation programs, both with do pass recommendations. All final votes were voice votes or standing committee report votes, and each bill passed with broad support, with one nay on the mobile devices bill and the rest unanimous or near-unanimous.

Transcript Highlights:

• education compact schools may adopt And procedure that school districts, charter schools, and state
• School District in Gig Harbor.
• School districts and private schools are also authorized to maintain school-supplied epinephrine under
• nurses or trained volunteers in a school district, but who might be not school district employees but
• nurses or trained volunteers in a school district but who might be not school district employees but

Bills: SB6278

Keywords: teacher preparation, principal preparation, educator preparation, alternative route certification, teacher certification, principal certification, Washington Professional Educator Standards Board, PESB, field placement, student teacher, residency, mentoring, school district partnerships, K-12 education, preK-12, high-need schools, Title I, special education, English language learner, rural schools

Summary: The House Education Committee heard several bills focused on special education records, AI and surveillance in schools, financial aid access, educator preparation, emergency epinephrine use, and student mobile phone use. Substitute Senate Bill 6268 would require OSPI to keep an online public record of final special education community complaint decisions for 20 years. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would improve transparency, help parents and districts understand legal precedents, and preserve decisions that are currently retained for only six years; no opposition testified, and the hearing closed after several pro sign-ins. Substitute Senate Bill 5956 would limit school use of automated decision systems, AI, surveillance tools, and facial recognition in student discipline and safety contexts. Supporters argued it would prevent harmful false positives and discriminatory impacts, while opponents warned it could interfere with school safety and emergency uses of facial recognition; the committee heard extensive testimony from students, advocates, and industry representatives, and the hearing closed with a large number of pro and con sign-ins. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5841, which would expand the High School and Beyond Plan platform to import financial aid application data and add the Washington Opportunity Scholarship Program to required financial aid information. The sponsor said the bill would simplify access to aid and create a more transparent, “dashboard”-style system, while a student advocate testified in support; there was also concern raised about data privacy for immigrant and DACA students, and the sponsor said participation would be opt-in. Senate Bill 6278 would codify and adjust Professional Educator Standards Board review of teacher and principal preparation programs, including more regular review of program standards, educator role standards, evidence, and P-12 partner input, and would allow field placement plans to be submitted on a less frequent schedule. PESB staff said the bill largely reflects current practice and provides flexibility, and the hearing closed with unanimous pro sign-ins. Substitute Senate Bill 5240 would broaden who may administer epinephrine in schools and under what circumstances, allowing trained staff to use any available epinephrine when a student with a prescription on file has an anaphylactic reaction, with reimbursement required if another student’s medication is used. School nurses and the School Nurse Organization of Washington raised concerns about using one student’s prescription for another, reimbursement logistics, and possible conflicts with nursing law, while supporters emphasized the need for faster response in emergencies. Finally, Substitute Senate Bill 5346 would direct OSPI to study school mobile-device restrictions and update digital citizenship resources, with reports due in 2026 and 2028 and a revised definition of digital citizenship. Supporters framed it as a student mental health issue and a measured approach to guidance, and student testimony backed clearer phone rules; the committee began public testimony but the transcript ends before any final action on this bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• each school district because I know.
• Texas school districts and open enrollment charter schools. Mr.
• or school district should they need to do so.
• TEKS are adequate for Texas school districts.
• districts. ...the name of the school district.

Bills: SB204, SB570, SB735, SB784, SB1207, SB1396, SB1447, SB2392, SB2540, SB747, SB875

Keywords: parental rights, education, school trustees, training, handbook, truancy, attendance policy, chronic absenteeism, school attendance, student absence notifications, parent notification, home visit, attendance officer, truancy court, school district, open-enrollment charter school, student support services, school counselor, principal, administrator

Transcript Highlights:

• any burdens on the school district.
• A district must consolidate with the closest school district and any common school district that is located
• districts and charter schools.
• district or charter school.
• I mean, there are several districts, school districts, public school districts that already offer this

Bills: SB1004, SB1424, SB1497, SB1507, SB1572, SB1684, SB1711, SB1741, SB1754, SB1763, SB1798, SCR1012, SCR1041, SCR1051

Keywords: sex offender registration, sex offender registry, A.R.S. 13-3821, sexual offenses, public safety, GPS monitoring, electronic monitoring, transient offender, homeless registrant, online identifiers, internet identifiers, sheriff notification, Department of Public Safety, DPS, DNA collection, juvenile adjudication, kidnapping of a minor, unlawful imprisonment of a minor, lifetime registration, community notification

Transcript Highlights:

• On August 14th of last year, a Houston Independent School District middle school.
• on school district matters.
• Within their school district.
• Senator West, and so if a school district—this is Senator Paxton—if a school district does not... ...
• No, Dallas Independent School District is not aligned with Plano Independent School District, then they

Bills: SB2920, SB2929, SB2398, SB865, SB401, SB2619, SB2927, SB1395, SB1972, SB2540, SB1635, SB1581, SB2008

Keywords: steroids, student athletes, athletic competition, University Interscholastic League, medical purpose, gender transition, school athletics, spectator conduct, referees, ejection policy, extracurricular activities, concussion, brain injury, school policy, academic accommodations, student welfare, cardiac arrest, emergency response, CPR training, automated external defibrillators

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the school board president for Gregory Portland Independent School District, and on behalf of Gregory
• It prohibits school districts from opening new campuses within 1,500 feet of a school.
• We're all very proud of our school districts, but there are also some districts that are struggling.
• other schools in that district.
• Every school district must openly post information about who's serving on its school board so parents

Bills: SB2920, SB2929, SB2398, SB865, SB401, SB2619, SB2927, SB1395, SB1972, SB2540, SB1635, SB1581, SB2008

Keywords: steroids, student athletes, athletic competition, University Interscholastic League, medical purpose, gender transition, school athletics, spectator conduct, referees, ejection policy, extracurricular activities, concussion, brain injury, school policy, academic accommodations, student welfare, cardiac arrest, emergency response, CPR training, automated external defibrillators

Transcript Highlights:

• These two bills, especially SB 23, combined with the 6.8 pennies of school district tax rate compression
• and focusing on helping people who really need the help and have been loyal to the state and the school
• The freeze values simply put were the taxable value of the home times the tax rate at the time for school
• What we've already done, we think, already got 45% of the seniors and disabled paying no school tax.
• the House and Senate budgets, and we feel like more money for tax cuts just leaves less money for schools

Bills: SB23, SJR85

Keywords: homestead exemption, elderly, disabled, ad valorem taxation, school district funding, Texas constitutional amendment, property tax relief, school district taxes, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, elderly homeowners, senior citizens, disabled homeowners, age 65 or older, school finance, tax exemption increase, local school taxes, property tax exemption, homestead tax relief, voter approval

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government heard testimony on Senate Bill 23 and its companion constitutional amendment, Senate Joint Resolution 85, both by Senator Bettencourt. The bills would increase the additional homestead exemption for elderly and disabled homeowners from $10,000 to $60,000, which proponents said would significantly reduce property taxes and help seniors and disabled Texans age in place. Bettencourt and supporters described the measure as part of a broader property tax relief package, estimating combined savings of about $950 for over-65 and disabled homeowners when paired with other recent homestead exemption changes. Witnesses largely supported the proposal. Testimony in favor came from a lawyer, a private citizen, Texas Realtors, the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature, and the Texas Association of Builders, all emphasizing relief for fixed-income seniors, housing stability, and the ability to remain in their homes. Several witnesses noted rising property taxes, medical costs, and the challenges seniors face in moving or affording home modifications. One witness from Every Texan said a flat homestead exemption is the most equitable way to cut property taxes, but argued against additional tax cuts generally, favoring a circuit-breaker approach and warning that permanent tax cuts could reduce funding for schools and other needs. The committee also discussed data showing many over-65 homeowners already pay no school property taxes in some counties and that the proposed changes would increase that share. After closing public testimony, the committee voted on the measures. Senate Bill 23 was reported favorably to the full Senate by a 7-0 vote, and S.J.R. 85 was also reported favorably by a 7-0 vote. The transcript also shows Senate Bill 898 being laid out and passed unanimously earlier in the meeting, with a recommendation for the local and uncontested calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, I, I have a question in terms of partnerships.
• Our district spans Bear, Wilson, Carnes, and Goliad Counties.
• I am rural Texas when I'm talking about House District 74.
• The utility districts.
• Um, Harris County Freshwater Supply District 61. I'm the general manager.

Bills: HB206

Keywords: HB206, school district bonds, bond election, voter approval, Education Code, Chapter 45, Section 45.003, Section 45.0034, Texas schools, school finance, local tax election, bond referendum, school construction, capital improvements, election frequency, five-year waiting period, district bonds, public school funding

Transcript Highlights:

• These two bills, and especially SB 23, combined with the 6.8 pennies, The school district tax rate compression

Bills: SB23, SJR85, SB 23

Keywords: homestead exemption, elderly, disabled, ad valorem taxation, school district funding, Texas constitutional amendment, property tax relief, school district taxes, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, elderly homeowners, senior citizens, disabled homeowners, age 65 or older, school finance, tax exemption increase, local school taxes, property tax exemption, homestead tax relief, voter approval

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:18.080><c> districts</c> helps ensure that stu school districts helps ensure that stu school
• ><c> $255</c><00:31:42.000><c> per</c> School districts have lost $255 per School districts have lost
• ,</c><00:36:39.200><c> school</c> I've got very rural districts, school I've got very rural districts
• district or the home school district.
• school district or the home<00:57:59.520><c> school</c><00:57:59.760><c> district.

Bills: HF3790, HF3654, HF3371, HF3470, HF1099

Keywords: education finance, lease levy authority, graduation ceremonies, school districts, Minnesota Statutes, local revenue, funding increase, education, state appropriation, local control, HF3371, local optional revenue, school finance, general education aid, school district funding, referendum revenue, referendum market value, equalization aid, state aid, property tax levy

Transcript Highlights:

• We're hoping that's something that we can build into more of a long-term partnership, but it's going
• or is in my district.
• or is in my district.
• or is in my district.
• or is in my district.

Bills: HF601, HF271, HF1101, HF979

Keywords: agriculture, depredation compensation, livestock, crop damage, elk, wolves, wildlife management, skills path program, career and technical education, CTE, dual credit, postsecondary options enrollment, apprenticeship, apprenticeship readiness, dual training, work-based learning, career pathways, skilled trades, workforce development, high school to career

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 875 prohibits school officials from using independent school district resources or property to invest
• If a member of the school board of superintendent Superintendent uses funds or independent school district
• So, school districts can't use public resources.
• I've not seen that happen at the school. school district level, but I have seen where somebody makes
• So the school district could offer the venue, but it could be that the school district didn't offer the

Bills: SB29, SB406, SB447, SB875, SB893, SB1033, SB1346, SB1362, SB1539, SCR22, SB 29

Keywords: business organization, internal management, corporate governance, partnerships, liability reduction, birth certificate, biological sex, gender identity, health and safety, sex assignment, SB 875, Texas, independent school district, ISD, school board trustee, superintendent, campus administrator, electioneering, political signs, early voting

Transcript Highlights:

• And school climate but actually provide specific input measures.
• I'm with the Association, Texas Association of School Boards.
• Um, the bill does two things in particular that we think are very important, and schools have been asking
• For one requires the agency to notify school districts when there will be changes to the accountability
• That's what you probably have been hearing from your school districts that they wanted when the last

Bills: HB8, HB26, HB192

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• The program for school district local accountability plans and actions challenging Texas Education Agency
• So we really need to make sure that we are making that message clear. to school district leaders and
• So recognizing that the school districts themselves place a great deal of consequence or stigma.
• And if you think about local school districts, there are many differences between how a student or a
• systems, what would have happened to those school districts that had serious problems because of it?

Bills: HB8

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, there were obviously these lawsuits that several school districts were part of.
• And so I spoke to that; you know, that's probably one of the biggest concerns we have as school districts
• What the bill says is it allows for a school district or open enrollment charter school to submit students
• Their whole school district, like Houston ISD, almost has no kids doing that. idea.
• In the last month of school, our district came in and told us that they were going to be restaffed.

Bills: HB8

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• the public school accountability system, a grant program for school district local accountability plans
• So we really need to make sure that we are making that message clear to school and district leaders and
• And if you think about local school districts, there are many differences between how a student or a
• What would have happened to those school districts?
• If a school district is violating the education code, there's a whole host of mechanisms to 499 Yeah,

Bills: HB8

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Summary: The House Committee on Public Education met to hear House Bill 8, which would replace STAAR with a new assessment and accountability system beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The chair described the bill as reducing testing time, limiting benchmark tests, adding beginning-, middle-, and end-of-year assessments, requiring faster score turnaround, involving Texas teachers in test development, and tightening accountability timelines and transparency rules. Members also discussed provisions on A-F ratings, cut scores, CCMR, local accountability plans, and TEA reporting requirements. Committee members and invited witnesses split sharply on the bill’s approach. Supporters, including the chair, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath, and Ed Trust’s Nicholas Munyon Penny, argued the bill would reduce high-stakes pressure, provide quicker and more actionable data, limit over-testing, and better align assessments to Texas standards while preserving criterion-referenced accountability. They said the new system would help teachers and parents intervene sooner and would improve transparency, including parent access to student responses and automatic rescoring in some writing cases. Opponents, including Rep. Hinojosa and student witness Ella Moran, argued the bill still increases testing and replaces one high-stakes test with multiple TEA-created tests. Moran testified that STAAR creates anxiety, disrupts instruction, and does not reflect real learning, while Hinojosa said the House had previously passed a better bill based on a nationally norm-referenced model and criticized the new proposal as a concession to the Senate. Questions also focused on AI scoring of writing, rescoring rates, and whether the bill’s new accountability rules would be reliable and fair. The committee did not take a final vote during the portion provided, but the chair said a vote on HB 8 would be called after public testimony later in the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Since 2020, numerous school districts have adopted a four-day school week or a hybrid school schedule
• fewer, meaning rural, smaller school districts will be unaffected. and can maintain a four-day school
• Two, a school district with an enrollment of 8,000 or higher may adopt a four-day school week as long
• Three, if a school district has adopted a four-day school week and has one or more campuses rated as
• I will reference a school district in my region, Region 4, which has about 52 school districts across

Bills: HB 1209, HB4746

Keywords: school funding, instructional days, education, public schools, school performance, four-day school week, performance rating, school governance, school calendar, education funding, emergency closures, school district, school operations, Texas education, public school accountability, academic distinction designation, postsecondary readiness, career and technical education, CTE, P-TECH

Transcript Highlights:

• School districts will access across the state with an $8.5 billion investment.
• With this historic funding comes the expectation that school districts will use this money efficiently
• By creating this allowance for school districts, the bill opens additional avenues to prevent serious
• Importantly, this bill does not harm any other school district.
• Under House Bill 3, school districts also received a credit for early recapture payments.

Bills: HB123, HB5606, HB549, HB2757, HB4359, HB5381, HB1939, HB123

Keywords: HB 123, kindergarten readiness, early literacy, early numeracy, reading screening, math screening, foundational literacy, foundational numeracy, dyslexia screening, reading intervention, math intervention, teacher academy, literacy academy, mathematics academy, interventionist academy, K-3 assessments, school readiness, prekindergarten, tutoring grant, parent-directed tutoring

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm with the Texas Association of School Boards.
• The bill does a few things in particular that we think are very important and schools have been asking
• One is it requires... the agency to notify school districts when there will be changes to the accountability
• That's what you probably have been hearing from schools. school districts that they wanted when the last
• These are items that schools have been asking for with regard to assessments and accountability.

Bills: HB8, HB26, HB192

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround