Bills: SSB1031 , SSB1032 , SSB1039

Committee: Joint State Government

Keywords: SSB1031, SF 213, Iowa, Department of Administrative Services, DAS, state librarian, library services, public libraries, state agency libraries, Enrich Iowa, open access, interlibrary loan, library funding, performance measures, biennial report, unified plan of service, library standards, administrative reform, state aid to libraries, DIAL

Bills: SSB1035 , SSB1034 , SSB1033 , SSB1031

Committee: Joint State Government

Keywords: Iowa lottery, lottery, lotto, on-line lotto, self-service kiosk, instant tickets, pull-tab tickets, gaming regulation, Department of Revenue, lottery commission, lottery security, public records exemption, open records, Chapter 99G, general fund, lottery fund, revenue transfer, state revenue, gaming integrity, vendor restrictions

Transcript Highlights:

• Um Hawaii State Board &gt;&gt; Okay. Thank you. Um Hawaii State Board of<00:04:05.920><c> Education.
• But... in the state having that same feeling in the state having that same feeling and<00:20:50.640><
• Um and this could be state of Hawaii.
• </c> &gt;&gt; Mallerie Fujitani for the Hawaii State &gt;&gt; Mallerie Fujitani for the Hawaii State
• If not, thank you. of the board of ed and the state library of the board of ed and the state library

Bills: HB1559 , HB2012 , HB2297 , HB2122 , HB2345 , HB2398 , HB2534 , HB2621

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: telecommunication devices, student use, public schools, student engagement, educational outcomes, confiscation policy, mental health, statewide policy, community literacy, education, Title I funding, reading proficiency, underserved communities, family engagement, tutoring, literacy support, adult education, community education, literacy programs, workforce development

Transcript Highlights:

• This situation is even more stark with school librarians with a merely 4,300 serving the entire state
• . librarians are certified teachers.
• Does your bill state that this?
• Under the jurisdiction of the state.
• Licensed attorney in the state of Texas.

Bills: HB367 , HB497 , HB549 , HB983 , HB 1188 , HB 1290 , HB1368 , HB2243 , HB2310 , HB2849 , HB3099 , HB3546 , HB3629 , HB3627

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: education, absences, severe illness, life-threatening, school policy, verification, healthcare, insurance, affordability, coverage, patient rights, school health, respiratory distress, airway clearance devices, medication training, public health, HB 983, Texas Education Agency, TEA, educator privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Just like other state agencies, my bill would allow SBOE employees to receive state employment and retirement
• HB 3627 in my official capacity as Chairman of the State Board of Education.
• Like you, my priorities are the nearly 6 million public school students across the state.
• The two main areas of focus that this is looking at is state law.
• Probably gotta do it for federal, then we do it for state.

Bills: HB367 , HB497 , HB549 , HB983 , HB 1188 , HB 1290 , HB1368 , HB2243 , HB2310 , HB2849 , HB3099 , HB3546 , HB3629 , HB3627

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: education, absences, severe illness, life-threatening, school policy, verification, healthcare, insurance, affordability, coverage, patient rights, school health, respiratory distress, airway clearance devices, medication training, public health, HB 983, Texas Education Agency, TEA, educator privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> State for 5 minutes. State for 5 minutes.
• </c> state in the nation. He's from Texas. state in the nation. He's from Texas.
• </c> partner and ally of the United States. partner and ally of the United States.
• </c> proficiency declining in 47 states. proficiency declining in 47 states.
• We are the Sunshine State.

Bills: HB8428 , HB8466 , HB5248 , HB6338 , HB7668 , HB8665 , HB7037 , HB6230 , HB6297 , HB1744 , HB3429 , HB2505 , HB6028 , HR428 , HB8107 , HB8340 , HB8467 , HB6916 , HB8463

Keywords: fraud prevention, improper payments, anti-fraud training, government oversight, federal program administration, grants management, internal controls, waste and abuse, Treasury Department, Office of Management and Budget, Office of Personnel Management, GAO fraud framework, OMB Circular A-123, Do Not Pay, data analytics, payment integrity, state and local governments, tribal governments, federal grants, program integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• They're not reinvesting in our state. They're investing out of state.
• </c> of the state. of the state.
• </c> state. They're investing out of state. state. They're investing out of state.
• Thank you. the state and developers. So, with that the state and developers.
• Seeing none, moving on to HB 1595, HD1, relating to the State librarian.

Bills: HB2459 , HB1616 , HB1799 , HB1604 , HB1732 , HB1736 , HB1931 , HB772 , HB2153 , HB2122 , HB2009 , HB2012 , HB1779 , HB2296 , HB2397 , HB2398 , HB1596 , HB2233 , HB1976 , HB1563 , HB815 , HB1655 , HB1851 , HB1941 , HB2037 , HB1635 , HB2201 , HB1943 , HB1163 , HB2452 , HB2429 , HB2148 , HB2306 , HB2007 , HB2049 , HB2616

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: food innovation, agribusiness, food safety, market access, branding, economic diversification, performance indicators, agriculture, aquaculture, commercial activity, swine production, Korean natural farming, housing development, commercial projects, county authority, public works, construction standards, exemption, zoning, housing

Transcript Highlights:

• They're also attacks on librarians.
• But the other state grants we get for the content have been through state funding.
• librarians or individual schools, with a healthy state-right framework.
• Newton is now infamous among librarians across the state because of the multiple ways our library was
• I love being a school librarian.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development

Summary: The hearing focused on several bills related to access to library materials, including measures addressing book bans and censorship in public and school libraries, as well as legislation on digital library collections and e-book licensing. Committee leaders said testimony would be limited to three minutes and encouraged written submissions. Early testimony from Chair Brian Murray highlighted H. 3595, which would address challenges facing public libraries and digital resource collections by limiting restrictive publisher-library contract terms, protecting patron confidentiality, and creating a special legislative commission to study the issue. A large number of legislators, librarians, authors, students, publishers, and advocacy groups testified in support of the free expression bills, including H. 3594 and S. 2328, arguing that book challenges in Massachusetts disproportionately target LGBTQ+ and BIPOC titles and that librarians and educators need protection from retaliation and harassment. Witnesses described local incidents of book removals, threats, and pressure campaigns, and several said the bills would create transparent challenge procedures, keep materials available during reviews, and ensure decisions are made by trained professionals rather than political actors. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s office also submitted support, and multiple speakers cited national trends and Massachusetts-specific censorship attempts. Testimony on the digital access bills emphasized that e-books and audiobooks are essential for readers with disabilities, homebound patrons, students, and others who rely on accessible formats, but that current licensing terms are far more expensive and restrictive than print purchasing. Library representatives said libraries spend millions on digital content, face long wait times for popular titles, and often must repeatedly re-rent the same materials. Legal and library experts supported the proposed commission as a practical step toward fairer licensing and stronger bargaining power for libraries. The hearing ended after extensive testimony; no votes or final committee action were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The rest of the state is at 39%, I think, is the state average.
• , period, in the state. ...highlighted, in fact, in an article recently, that there are very few librarians
• large state like ours.
• such a large state.
• The few librarians who do exist, there are multiple free options within this state for librarians to

Committees: House Education , House House Education Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• The rest of the state is at 39, I think, is the average, state average.
• , period, in the state.
• a large state.
• such a large state.
• The few librarians who do exist, there are multiple free options within this state for librarians to

Committee: House House Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first heard Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horn’s annual State of Education address, which focused on school safety, academic outcomes, school choice, teacher pay, and opposition to DEI/CRT in schools and teacher preparation. Horn said the department has expanded school police officers, promoted Project Momentum and tutoring, supported cell phone restrictions in classrooms, and pushed for more phonics-based reading instruction and stronger university teacher-prep programs. Members questioned him about DEI complaints, cell phone implementation, ESA oversight, school safety funding, reading proficiency, and teacher compensation; Horn said ESA spending is reviewed and recovered when inappropriate, and argued teacher raises should come directly to teachers, not through districts. No formal action was taken on his presentation. The committee then considered HB 2008, which would prohibit public school libraries from using public funds to pay dues to professional library associations. Sponsor Representative Cooper argued the bill would keep school libraries politically neutral and prevent taxpayer money from supporting ideological advocacy, while saying membership itself would still be allowed if paid privately. Opponents, including a former librarian, a school board member, and the ACLU of Arizona, said the bill would undermine professional development, local control, literacy support, and constitutional rights of association and petition. Supporters said associations promote ideological content and that free professional-development alternatives exist. After public testimony and debate, the committee voted to return HB 2008 with a do-pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your consideration. behalf of Dr Ed no state public charter behalf of Dr Ed no state public
• </c><00:10:32.480><c> supporting</c> and the future of our state supporting and the future of our state
• State your name. Aloha.
• </c><00:13:54.720><c> your</c> measure come forward please state your measure come forward please state
• Librarians across the state<00:47:02.960><c> and</c><00:47:03.079><c> the</c><00:47:03.200><c> rest<

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a librarian that was at the state, and we could utilize Campbell High School.
• just—the librarians that I seen you on the librarian across the state had a pay raise that nobody in
• It requires the state librarian to uphold the freedom to read and prohibits the state librarian from
• It requires the state librarian to uphold the freedom to read and prohibits the state librarian from
• It requires the state librarian to uphold the freedom to read and prohibits the state librarian from

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The joint committees heard Senate Bill 659, which would exempt the Department of Education from the electronic procurement system for purchases of fresh local agricultural products and local value-added processed agricultural or food products up to $100,000, and require geographic preference guidelines for locally sourced products. The Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and State Procurement Office all testified in support or support of the intent. DOE said the bill would give it short-term flexibility to buy local items not currently on the vendor list, such as poi and limu, while procurement staff said they would provide written comments and a corrected version of their testimony. Committee members questioned why the bill was needed, why the threshold would rise from the current $24,999 small-purchase limit to $100,000, and whether the department should instead amend its vendor list or RFP process. Members raised concerns about efficiency, administrative burden, whether the bill was a temporary fix for procurement planning gaps, and whether purchases would remain compliant with federal USDA rules if federal school-lunch funds were used. DOE responded that the measure would help it expand local purchasing, support farmers, and allow purchases of products not currently available through existing distributors, and said it was working with partners on food-safety certification and federal compliance. The committees then voted to pass SB 659 with amendments. The Joint Committee on Education approved it 3-2, and the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Environment later approved the amended measure 4-0. The chair noted an amendment and a deferred effective date, and the motion was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• She's a SLEES librarian.
• in the state.
• </c> for every resident in the state. for every resident in the state.
• In Minnesota, a licensed librarian needs to complete purchases for a school library per state teacher
• </c> need another state to come on with us. need another state to come on with us.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> represent the future of our state. represent the future of our state.
• </c> Association of School Librarians Awards. Association of School Librarians Awards.
• She's also a two-time state finals.
• . >> [applause] Hawaii Association of School Librarians Hawaii Association of School Librarians Golden
• </c> of School Librarians from 2018 to 2020. of School Librarians from 2018 to 2020.

Bills: HB1166 , HB389 , HB644 , HB1509 , HB1692 , HB1842 , HB1878 , HB1926 , HB1949 , HB2116 , HB2581

Transcript Highlights:

• If the state agency, or the, not agency, the state association, because of its independence from the
• revoked administratively by the state, the state's agency, sorry, state associations...
• State, the state's agency, sorry, state associations, I'm trying to, because of the national standard
• in the state.
• And the most important thing is this librarian stated that she does not want to lose her middle school

Bills: HB256 , HCR19 , SB2101 , SB2334 , SB2633 , SB2637 , SB2713 , SB2781 , SB2782 , SB3059 , HB 1130

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The committee first reopened public testimony on Senate Bill 2713, which concerned protections for freedom of conscience in the context of Realtor association discipline. Texas Realtors representatives testified that their organization is a separate Texas legal entity but affiliated with the National Association of Realtors through a charter and code of ethics. They said Texas Realtors is neutral on SB 2713, that their ethics process is focused on fair housing and equal professional service, and that they have not suspended or terminated anyone in Texas for religious or political speech. Senators pressed them on whether national standards could override Texas law and on examples from other states; the witnesses said state and federal law control and that they would comply with Texas law if the bill passed. Public testimony then closed and SB 2713 was left pending. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1698 on e-cigarettes. Senator Parker explained a committee substitute that tightened enforcement, required distributor registration, expanded regulation to nicotine from any source, added restrictions on child-appealing packaging, authorized inspections and audits, and set compliance deadlines later in 2025 and 2026. After questions, the substitute was adopted and SB 1698, as substituted, was reported favorably to the full Senate on a 6-0 vote, with a recommendation for the local and uncontested calendar. Next, the committee considered Senate Bill 2487 on crisis and mental health facilities. Senator Parker described a substitute that renamed the program a crisis service model, allowed multiple county facilities, added local siting limits, expanded staffing options, shortened clinical timelines, required discharge referrals, directed law enforcement and EMS to transport people there first, and created local boards and expanded reporting. The substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably on a 6-0 vote, also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. Senate Bill 2819, dealing with political activities of county elections administrators, was then reported favorably on a 6-0 vote and likewise sent to the local and uncontested calendar. Senate Bill 2043 was withdrawn. The committee spent substantial time on Senate Bill 2101, which would require municipal public libraries to move sexually explicit materials out of minors’ sections and impose age-verification and review requirements. Supporters argued the bill would protect children from explicit material in public libraries and that libraries should not be left to self-regulate. Opponents, including librarians, parents, authors, and ACLU representatives, argued the definitions were vague, the bill would be costly and burdensome for small libraries, could function as a book ban, and would restrict teens’ access to classics, research materials, and other books. Several witnesses said parents should make those decisions, not the state. The bill’s author said the committee substitute was still being worked on and asked witnesses to review it; public testimony remained open in the portion provided, with no final action on SB 2101 shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• the importance of school librarians.
• , a white collar, or a state-issued ID badge.
• Trust the librarians... Trust the professionals.
• Trust the librarians and the teachers who know about books.
• Trust the librarians Trust the professionals.

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag, the United States of America.
• Thank you, and I urge an aye vote. librarians are more essential than ever.
• And it is our librarians who taught us as little children.
• But today, I want to honor two librarians: Dr.
• Stephen Choi, our state librarian here in the Legislature. Thank you. Thank you, Senator.

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through several gubernatorial confirmations. The chamber confirmed Irena Ortega to the Public Employment Relations Board, Monica Erickson as director of the Department of Human Services, Armin Mayor as senior deputy commissioner in the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, and Uca Dunkay to the California State Lottery Commission. All four appointments were approved overwhelmingly, with final confirmation votes taken after the calls were lifted. The main floor debate centered on SCR 152, designating April 10, 2026 as Dolores Huerta Day. Senators spoke at length about Huerta’s leadership in the farmworker movement, civil rights advocacy, nonviolent organizing, and ongoing influence, with several members sharing personal reflections and noting the role of Filipino farmworkers and Larry Itliong in the broader movement. The resolution passed unanimously. The Senate also adopted SR 91 recognizing Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week, SCR 149 marking World Autism Awareness Day, SCR 150 honoring National Librarian Day, and SR 98 designating Heat Pump Week in California. The chamber also passed SB 1078, an urgency tax measure giving Santa Cruz County voters the opportunity to approve a local tax above the 2% combined rate to help fund services, including medical services. The bill passed 29-9 on both the urgency and the bill itself. Later, the Senate approved the consent calendar and special consent calendar without objection, and members made committee announcements about upcoming budget subcommittee hearings. The session ended with an adjournment in memory of Deanna Mooney, a longtime San Francisco nurse, labor advocate, and community figure. The Senate announced it would reconvene on Monday, April 20, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• the importance of school librarians.
• This is in addition to their already stated First Amendment rights.
• State for the most bills paid for the, uh, for the, uh, for overdue books.
• And unfortunately, these issues are no longer confined to other states.
• Trust the librarians and the teachers who know about books.

Summary: The House first handled a series of routine actions from the Committee on Rules, including adoption of several congratulatory resolutions and suspension of Joint Rule 12 to allow petitions to proceed, including a Hingham land transfer petition and a veteran rental assistance bridge program petition. The Ways and Means Committee then reported out several bills, including a fiscal year 2026 supplemental appropriations bill, a bill on hot work/fire safety regulation, a free expression/library bill, a bill on ownership and maintenance of certain culverts and dams, a Walsh-Kennedy Commission implementation bill, and a Billerica land transfer for the Yankee Doodle Bike Path. Each was advanced through second or third reading, with the House adopting committee amendments and ordering the bills to third reading or engrossment as appropriate. The most extensive debate centered on S. 2726, an act regarding free expression, which would address book challenges in public and school libraries, require reporting of challenges, protect age-appropriate materials, and establish review procedures. Supporters argued the bill protects intellectual freedom, librarians’ professional judgment, and access to books amid rising censorship efforts; opponents raised concerns about parental rights, local control, and exposure of minors to explicit material. Several amendments were offered and voted on, including one to strike a criminal-law protection, one to streamline the school review process, one clarifying that challenged material is considered in its entirety, and one narrowing who may initiate complaints to parents or guardians; some were rejected and others adopted. The bill ultimately passed to be engrossed by a 151-3 vote. The House also took up H. 5491 implementing the Walsh-Kennedy Commission recommendations on hot work safety after the 2014 Beacon Street fire. Members emphasized firefighter safety, certification and training requirements, stronger penalties for violations, and public notification of violations; the bill passed to be engrossed unanimously. The supplemental fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill, H. 5493, covering snow and ice costs, no-cost calls, substance use services, homeless programs, and several outside sections, also passed after amendment votes. Finally, the House enacted two local bills on Holyoke City Council special meetings and the Reading town charter, and then adjourned to meet the next day in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Could librarians speak to that?
• But, but, but according to state law, I mean, according to state law, I mean.
• I have, on the state school board, I actually try to champion librarians in our schools and try to bring
• And our librarians and our volunteers and our part-time librarians are on the front line.
• And our librarians and our volunteers and our part-time librarians are on the front line.

Committee: Joint Education Interim Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
• Personally, I am a librarian.
• And it is our librarians who taught us as little children.
• But today, I want to honor two librarians: Dr.
• Stephen Choi, our state librarian here in the Legislature. Thank you. Thank you, Senator.