Bills: SB 49, SB 60, SB 365, SB 685, SB 895, SB 1191, SB 1400, SB 1401, SB 1786

Keywords: junior college funding, performance tier, credentials, education, workforce development, Texas education law, performance tier funding, junior college, Texas education, student success, performance funding, education policy, state finance program, public junior colleges, educational outcomes, academic fresh start, higher education, student admissions, Texas Education Code, public university

Transcript Highlights:

• funding.
• It provides the first opportunity for statewide capital outlay funding for student life and housing projects
• Student life and housing projects are currently ineligible for funding from state capital outlay sources
• Projects Fund.
• student athlete.

Bills: SB234, SB210, SB243, SB244, SM16, HB8

Keywords: foster children, school transportation, education funding, public education, child welfare, New Mexico Highlands University, soccer field, women's sports, infrastructure improvement, funding allocation, student athletes, appropriation, New Mexico State University, nutrition, travel support, funding, education, university support, financial assistance, parenting students

Transcript Highlights:

• students, all of our students, while honoring New Mexico's students, our bilingual students, all of
• : students with dyslexia, students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and students who appear
• Students need more time to learn.
• Students need more time to learn.
• But I'm concerned over our students. I'm concerned over the over-identifying our students.

Bills: SB234, SB210, SB243, SB244, SM16, HB8

Keywords: foster children, school transportation, education funding, public education, child welfare, New Mexico Highlands University, soccer field, women's sports, infrastructure improvement, funding allocation, student athletes, appropriation, New Mexico State University, nutrition, travel support, funding, education, university support, financial assistance, parenting students

Transcript Highlights:

• National studies find that nearly all students use... ...National studies find that nearly all students
• therein, sometimes referred to as the McKinney-Vento students. ...students and vulnerable students therein
• be specific to that fund only.
• It's my understanding that the fund has been used for funding gaps in some cases.
• The fund has been used for funding gaps in some cases. So why isn't it being used for this? Mr.

Bills: SB23, SB73, SB210, SB234, SB243, SB244, SM16

Keywords: student use, wireless devices, public schools, policy implementation, education technology funding, driver education, driver's ed, driving school, motorcycle safety, traffic safety, vulnerable road users, pedestrian safety, bicycle safety, cyclist, bike lane, micromobility, scooter, moped, motorcycle training, DWI prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• , for those students, funding is going both to Gallup for last fiscal year, even though they no longer
• That is not the case, but I will remind you, they will generate funding for all those students next school
• So they will receive funding.
• We do have emergency funds.
• If you have a student, could you introduce a student today?

Bills: SB23, SB73, SB210, SB234, SB243, SB244, SM16

Keywords: student use, wireless devices, public schools, policy implementation, education technology funding, driver education, driver's ed, driving school, motorcycle safety, traffic safety, vulnerable road users, pedestrian safety, bicycle safety, cyclist, bike lane, micromobility, scooter, moped, motorcycle training, DWI prevention

Bills: SB49, SB60, SB365, SB685, SB895, SB1191, SB1400, SB1401, SB1786

Keywords: junior college funding, performance tier, credentials, education, workforce development, Texas education law, performance tier funding, junior college, Texas education, student success, performance funding, education policy, state finance program, public junior colleges, educational outcomes, SB 60, public junior college library, community college, library materials, book donation

Transcript Highlights:

• Western has had the lowest per-student funding mostly since 2021.
• Central had the lowest state per-student funding, but Central currently has the lowest total per-student
• We’re serving more students than ever with less state funding.
• cutting services to students in order to fully fund COLAs.
• There's two ways that funding There's two ways that funding per student goes.

Bills: HB2070, HB2671, HB2617, SB6258

Keywords: funding, education, higher education, Western Washington University, state funding parity, financial aid, state funding, student support, educational reform, university procedures, academic policy, student success, Washington Medical Commission, medical license, license relinquishment, voluntary surrender, nondisciplinary pathway, physician regulation, health professional licensing, disciplinary database

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2070, which would create state funding parity for Western Washington University by tying future appropriations to a per-student funding comparison with peer regional universities and the state college. The sponsor and Western officials said Western has long received the lowest per-student state support, leading to budget cuts, reduced student services, and fewer course offerings. Students, faculty, and university leaders argued the bill would help restore parity and protect access, while a Central Washington University representative suggested any future parity approach should be broader and include all regional universities. No action was taken on the bill. The committee also heard House Bill 2671, which would expand eligibility for state financial aid to certain Washington branch campuses affiliated with nonprofit out-of-state institutions, if they meet specified accreditation, longevity, and authorization requirements. Representative Timmons said the bill is intended to help students at Northeastern University in Seattle access aid for an accelerated nursing program and support workforce needs in health care. Northeastern’s dean testified in support, saying the bill would align financial aid rules with prior regulatory changes and would not increase state spending. The hearing then moved to House Bill 2617, which would change the state’s higher-education “fund split” so the state gradually assumes more of the cost of employee compensation and central services, and would direct a study of essential student services. Testimony on HB 2617 came from university presidents, faculty, staff, unions, students, and community and technical college representatives, all largely in support. They said the current fund split shifts costs to tuition, creates instability, and has led to cuts in staffing, advising, tutoring, course offerings, and other student services; several speakers cited specific budget shortfalls and reductions at Western, UW, WSU, Evergreen, and community colleges. Supporters argued the bill would restore predictability, reduce pressure on tuition, and better reflect the state’s responsibility for collective bargaining costs. After closing the hearing on HB 2617, the committee took executive action on Senate Bill 6258, which gives the Washington Medical Commission rulemaking authority to create a non-disciplinary pathway for voluntary license relinquishment. The committee approved SB 6258 with a do-pass recommendation by a 14-0 vote, with three members excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• From my calculations, this would be about three or four million to increase funding for our student support
• That funding seems to coincide exactly with the student support personnel aid money that's already in
• That funding seems to coincide exactly with the student support personnel aid money that's already in
• It had funding that has been funding.
• That funding seems to coincide exactly with the student support personnel aid money that's already in

Bills: HF4893

Keywords: education finance, student support, aid allowances, appropriation, school funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:21.519><c> supports</c> training nursing students which supports training nursing students
• </c> of funding. of funding.
• >> So it requires funding.
• It's a matter of external funding, and some of that external funding, as we know, has left.
• </c> &gt;&gt; All students in DOE. &gt;&gt; All students in DOE.

Bills: SB3263, SB3261

Keywords: student-athletes, name image likeness, NIL, compensation, transparency, University of Hawaii, Title IX, funding, protections, athlete agents, student athletes, endorsement contracts, professional representation, registration requirements, sports law, 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Senate Committee on Education and Committee on Health and Human Services heard testimony on several bills related to student health and safety, University of Hawaii programs, and workforce development. For SB 2969, which would appropriate funds for the University of Hawaii to expand and sustain the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study and Maui Health Registry, testimony was overwhelmingly supportive. Witnesses described the ongoing physical and mental health impacts of the August 2023 Maui fires, said the study has identified serious untreated conditions and connected participants to care, and emphasized its role in serving survivors and training students. The committee also heard support from the Department of Health, the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Lung Association, Maui residents, and study staff. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee then heard SB 2657, which would establish an Alzheimer disease and related dementia research center at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine. University of Hawaii and Alzheimer’s Association representatives supported the bill, saying a local center would improve coordination of existing research, build state capacity, and help Hawaii compete for future NIH designation and federal funding. A family member affected by Alzheimer’s also testified in support, citing the disease’s impact in Hawaii. In response to questions, the university said the proposal would follow a five-year phased plan, with the first year funding used to recruit a senior neuroscientist and staff person, at an estimated cost of about $375,000, and that the effort would still strengthen Hawaii’s research infrastructure even if federal funding is not secured. For SB 2612, which clarifies immunity for Department of Education employees and agents who assist students with medication administration under certain conditions, the Department of Education said the bill is intended to protect volunteers and help ensure students can participate in school activities even when staffing is limited. The committee discussed how volunteers would be selected and whether every school would have someone available, and DOE said schools currently rely on health attendants, nurses, and trained volunteers. The committee also briefly discussed liability language and gross negligence exceptions. The hearing then moved to SB 2412, which would fund a bachelor’s degree program in sign language and sign language interpretation at UH Mānoa with a future master’s pathway. Testimony from interpreters, educators, and university officials emphasized the shortage of interpreters, the need to retain local talent, and the program’s role in building a pipeline; university representatives said the initial request would fund a faculty/staff position as a first step, with additional funding needed later. No final committee action or votes were announced in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• . students. students.
• That would be funding in addition to their weighted student formula funds that they already have for
• in addition to their um would be funding in addition to their um weighted<01:15:13.080><c> student</
• they</c> weighted student formula funds that they weighted student formula funds that they already<01
• student? student?

Bills: SB3263, SB3261

Keywords: student-athletes, name image likeness, NIL, compensation, transparency, University of Hawaii, Title IX, funding, protections, athlete agents, student athletes, endorsement contracts, professional representation, registration requirements, sports law, 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on Senate Bill 3263, which would create a state-supported endowment for University of Hawaii athletics NIL (name, image, and likeness) funding. University of Hawaii Athletics Director Matt Eliott supported the bill, saying NIL requires both immediate funding and a longer-term sustainable solution. He asked for several changes: lowering the initial endowment target from $10 million to $2 million so the fund could start sooner, allowing NIL reporting by team rather than by individual student-athlete, and clarifying that athletes may choose whether to use an agent, while still allowing certified agents or a parent/guardian if desired. Committee members raised concerns about using taxpayer dollars for athlete compensation, the burden on a small-state budget, and whether the university could realistically raise the required matching funds. Several senators questioned whether the university had a concrete fundraising plan and whether the endowment would meaningfully help UH compete with larger programs. Eliott said UH is already fundraising privately for current NIL obligations, had raised more than $1.6 million toward a $3 million annual goal, and would continue fundraising for both short-term needs and the endowment match. He also said the university is not trying to compete with Power Five schools on the same scale, but to be successful at its own conference level. Members also discussed transparency and privacy, with some senators arguing that if state money is used, the public should know how it is spent, while Eliott said individual student-athlete NIL information should remain private and team-level reporting would be preferable. He confirmed international student-athletes are eligible for NIL and said about 60 to 70 UH athletes are currently participating, with more than 100 expected next year. The discussion also touched on UH’s Mountain West media rights and local TV rights, with Eliott explaining that the conference distribution is expected to remain around $3.5 million and that local TV rights would be negotiated separately. No vote or final action was taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Students in K12 schools.<00:21:07.760><c> Um,</c> schools.
• , all students, have an...
• Students—all students—have an opportunity to access public education.
• Madam Chairman, for Senate File 18, Attendance of Students in K-12 Schools, Senator Brennan. Aye.
• </c><00:26:23.360><c> Senator</c> students in K K12 schools. Senator students in K K12 schools.

Bills: SF0014, SF0018

Keywords: literacy, education, reading assessment, intervention program, public school funding, department of education, K-12 education, part-time attendance, public schools, student enrollment, education funding, 916, all

Bills: SF0014, SF0018

Keywords: literacy, education, reading assessment, intervention program, public school funding, department of education, K-12 education, part-time attendance, public schools, student enrollment, education funding, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, Senator Burgess, I just had a question, like on behalf of the students.
• The hair thing left me probably just after many of these students that are child students here, shortly
• We're down 3,000 students.
• We're down 3,000 students.
• population and in the count where the students are in the world of universal school choice.

Bills: S7036

Keywords: education, epinephrine, charter schools, voluntary prekindergarten, school funding, teacher incentives, student progress monitoring

Summary: The Senate Committee on Pre-K-12 Appropriations met with a quorum present and announced it would not be presenting its budget at this time, per a Senate memorandum. The sole bill on the agenda was SB 7036 by Senator Corey Simon, which was described as a broad education package strengthening school turnaround tools, early literacy supports, early learning policies, academic offerings, and educator pipeline provisions. Senator Simon explained that the bill addresses persistently low-performing schools, Title I use for STEM curricula, charter school renewal and dismissal rules, epinephrine device policies, VPK summer bridge eligibility, disability-aligned interventions, agriculture and Algebra 1 instruction, GATE access, and certification updates for teachers and computer science. An amendment was adopted that removed provisions on temporary door locks and DOE-developed instructional materials and added a GATE startup grant update. The committee heard numerous appearance forms, with many individuals and organizations waving against the bill, while one student, Ella Latimore, appeared and spoke briefly. Much of the exchange with her was lighthearted and unrelated to the bill, but Senator Simon used his closing to note that concerns from the prior stop had been addressed by removing the DOE materials and door-lock language, and he asked for favorable support. The committee then voted on the bill as amended, and CS for SB 7036 was reported favorably. After the vote, members made several informal statements, including remarks about a Valentine’s Day visit from students and appreciation for community member Misty Cash. Senator Osgood also raised a serious concern about declining immigrant student enrollment affecting district budgets, especially in Broward County, and urged the committee to address the issue proactively with school districts. The chair said staff were already working with districts on the matter and that more discussion would follow. The meeting then adjourned after additional light banter among members.

Transcript Highlights:

• College students often lack access to consistently accurate and transparent information regarding course
• requirements for completing their degrees, especially students who transfer from another institution
• Too often, Texas students, especially transfer students, face delays in completing their degrees due
• They're required to list the minimum requirements for transfer student admission on the institution's
• per student per program, and there's no fiscal note.

Bills: SB800, SB1534, SB2055, SB2310, SB2431, SB2786, SB3039, SB1242

Keywords: sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, higher education, student safety, orientation policies, health physics, workforce development, nuclear energy, radiological safety, scholarship, education, Texas Leadership Scholars Program, student funding, transparency, degree requirements, certificate programs, student transfer, foreign language

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:24.000><c> whose</c> communities, including students whose communities, including students
• ,</c> amendment stating that students, amendment stating that students, resident<00:05:06.320><c> students
• </c> running up more student loans for running up more student loans for longer.<00:11:51.519><c> And
• We started saving more in the permit fund.
• </c><00:26:18.559><c> we</c> know saving more in the permit fund we know saving more in the permit fund

Bills: SF0018, SF0036, SF0047

Keywords: K-12 education, part-time attendance, public schools, student enrollment, education funding, scholarship, Hathaway, academic eligibility, financial aid, Hathaway scholarship, education, state funding, college access, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• back side of that, there is currently in the bill $500,000 for the Minot State University Advancing Students
• It is the money for Minot State advancing students toward education and employment program.
• Representative Swantec, I would move that we go to the, for the Advancing Students Toward Education and
• Seeing none, clerk will take the roll for it to add a million dollars to the Advancing Students Toward

Bills: SB2003

Keywords: higher education, student loans, scholarships, capital projects, workforce development, funding, North Dakota university system, 908, all

Summary: The committee reconvened to act on Senate Bill 2003, the higher education budget. Members first replaced prior intent language related to the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences with new language stating it is the intent of the 69th Legislative Assembly that an Allied Health Facility expansion be completed, and that the 70th Legislative Assembly consider supporting completion of the project. The chair explained the change was meant to avoid binding the next legislature to a specific $50 million commitment while still helping UND with fundraising. The amendment was moved, seconded, and adopted unanimously. The committee then addressed funding for Minot State University’s “Advancing Students Toward Education and Employment” program. After some discussion about the amount already in the bill and what had been previously agreed to, the committee approved adding $1 million, bringing the total appropriation for that line to $1.5 million. Members referenced prior testimony in support of the program. That amendment also passed unanimously. After approving the amendments, the committee adopted a do-pass recommendation on Senate Bill 2003 as amended, with Representative Sanford designated as the bill carrier. The chair noted the bill would likely be taken up on the floor later in the week. The committee also said it would return to commerce-related work the next day and then adjourned for the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're in the ongoing funding changes.
• Okay, so that's general fund money. So when the Senate had a committee, they did not fund it.
• The ads funding for tourism.
• We added funding. Actually, we moved funding for the Native American Small Business Grant.
• And then Section 20 is just clarifying what sources of funding can be deposited into the UAS funds.

Bills: SB2003

Keywords: higher education, student loans, scholarships, capital projects, workforce development, funding, North Dakota university system, 908, all

Summary: The committee first reconsidered Senate Bill 2003 in the higher education budget and adopted several changes. It removed $3 million for enterprise resource planning, struck $2 million for a grant program for students who are pregnant or recently gave birth, and then added $3 million back into workforce education and innovative grants, restoring that line to $12 million. Members also discussed a possible purchase of the 19th Avenue building in Fargo for the State School of Science, but the motion was withdrawn for later consideration. Other higher ed items were briefly noted, including tribally controlled community colleges and a state magazine funding line, but no final action was taken on the building proposal during this segment. The committee then moved to Senate Bill 2018, the Commerce budget, and reviewed a long list of funding items. It restored a vacant workforce FTE, increased tourism marketing to $10 million and Find the Good Life to $5 million, raised Operation Intern by $1 million, removed a $100,000 infrastructure study, increased autonomous agriculture grants to $15 million, and set the Regional Workforce Impact Program at $10 million. It also kept or adjusted several other items, including the uncrewed aerial vehicle replacement program, the global talent office, tribally controlled community colleges, Native American small business grants, and technical skills training grants. A major new provision would transfer $50 million total, split between SIF and Bank of North Dakota profits, to the Theodore Roosevelt Library Museum Endowment Fund, matching a private fundraising challenge; members expressed both support and concern, and said they would revisit it later. The committee also discussed language to allow commercialization of Vantis and to permit the Turtle Mountain gaming compact proposal to move forward with required federal approvals, while clarifying that a previously discussed $100,000 study had been removed. Commerce officials said the workforce language was intended to centralize data and strategy, and they noted Operation Intern would need an emergency clause because applications begin in May. No final vote on the Commerce budget was taken in this segment, and the chair said the committee would return later to finish both budgets.

Transcript Highlights:

• The one difference was the increased funding for student financial assistance grants we talked about,
• The funding adds a section to establish a grant program to support students who are currently pregnant
• I had a section requiring repayment of professional student exchange programs funding by students who
• So that's general fund? I'm sorry, with that general fund? So, Mr.
• it in general fund just to make it clear what the funding source was.

Bills: SB2003

Keywords: higher education, student loans, scholarships, capital projects, workforce development, funding, North Dakota university system, 908, all

Summary: The committee met to work through the higher education budget, beginning with a conflict-of-interest request from Representative Martinson, who was excused from voting because of a partnership that leases office space to Bismarck State College. Members then reviewed the higher education institution budget sheets, covering ongoing and one-time funding items for campuses and system projects such as BSC housing, Lake Region roof repairs, UND’s STEM and National Security Crossroads projects, the UND allied health facility, NDSU projects including New Horizons, DSU deferred maintenance and campus security, Mayville’s Old Main, Minot projects, and the regional health institutes. Members also discussed student financial assistance, the professional student exchange program, IT security funding, and workforce/education innovation grants. Several amendments and policy questions were debated. The committee adopted an amendment to make workforce education innovation grants competitive rather than automatically distributed, and then voted to remove language prohibiting those funds from being used to duplicate academic programs. Members also removed similar anti-duplication language from the New Horizons section. They agreed to extend the UND hyperbaric chamber transfer authority to 2027 and clarified language around UND land-sale proceeds. A proposed amendment to add $5.6 million for the Wahpeton State School of Science building purchase failed for lack of a second, and a proposal to restore fetal alcohol spectrum disorder funding to UND was left for conference. The committee also discussed, but did not add, a tuition cap change, a study on the Praxis exam, and several governance-related provisions. The committee spent significant time on broader higher education policy items, including a $3 million enterprise resource planning request for the university system, a $2 million grant program for students who are pregnant, recently gave birth, or are caring for young children, and a $1.1 million request for library age-verification software tied to the Odin system. Members also discussed dual-credit authority for UND and NDSU, a goal for the UND medical school to increase North Dakota resident enrollment, and intent language regarding the commissioner/chancellor model and presidential search authority. At the end of the meeting, the committee approved the amendments and then gave the higher education budget a do-pass recommendation as amended, with Representative Sanford designated as the carrier. The Forest Service budget was also approved, including two additional FTEs, and the committee adjourned after noting it would continue with other budgets the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• And while we created a funding stream for our student support staff when we set the 23-24 budget, there's
• to them about our work with the student support personnel and trying to increase that funding.
• in Minnesota are public school students. 90% of this funding would go to public schools who need that
• </c> their students. their students.
• </c> students, but with students. students, but with students. Thank<01:29:29.600><c> you.

Bills: HF4213, HF4198, HF3930, HF3585, HF3451

Keywords: education finance, school funding, K-12, prekindergarten, pre-K, early childhood education, general education aid, special education, literacy aid, school meals, free school meals, school breakfast, school lunch, charter school lease aid, charter schools, nonpublic pupil aid, private school aid, transportation aid, desegregation aid, integration aid

Transcript Highlights:

• . students. students.
• </c><00:36:47.880><c> that</c> funding or some public funding that funding or some public funding that
• students.
• class for students it's a hard student class for students to<00:42:55.280><c> pass.
• She was a student. So, so Minnesota. She was a student.

Bills: HF4698, HF4608

Keywords: higher education, identity verification, enrollment fraud, funding, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, postsecondary education, community college, university, developmental education, remedial education, remediation, corequisite, co-requisite, English composition, college readiness, adult basic education, ABE, student placement, credit-bearing courses, noncredit courses