Transcript Highlights:

• It's just a way to encompass all of them, but this only pertains to public schools.
• But however, since public schools, which are taxpayer funded, are part of this organization, I almost
• We had a public hearing a couple of weeks ago, and I really want to thank my committee for all the excellent
• Would local boards have control over how many hours a week students are out of school for religious instruction
• need to be afraid of that in the state of Alabama.

Bills: HB298, HB342, HB332, HB344

Keywords: athletic classification, public high schools, English language learners, state education policy, athletic associations, religious instruction, elective credit, released time, public education, school policy, educational intervention, State Superintendent, local boards of education, subpoena, accountability, state control, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the erosion of the practice of medicine by pharmacists is, of course, a question.
• I approach this issue not only as a legislator responsible for stewardship of public resources, but also
• hospital, how much money is that hospital in need of out of this total of $5 million so that we would
• The department did an outstanding job of providing public input into the process to the citizens of our
• This special session is yet another example of dedicated public servants who serve in this chamber.

Bills: HB1621, HB1624, HB1623, HB1622, HB1625, HB1626, HB1627, HCR3038

Keywords: presidential physical fitness test, physical education, fitness assessment, student fitness, school curriculum, graduation requirements, elementary school, middle school, high school, public schools, nonpublic schools, superintendent of public instruction, exceptions, disability accommodations, North Dakota studies, computer science, cybersecurity, health education, concept-based fitness class, school standards

Summary: The North Dakota House convened in special session with prayer, roll call, and a quorum present, then took up several rural health-related bills. Senate Bill 2401, as amended, required physicians to complete one hour of continuing education in nutrition and metabolic health each renewal cycle and also added language allowing criminal history background checks for the Board of Occupational Therapy Practice. Supporters emphasized the role of nutrition in reducing chronic disease, and the bill passed 92-0. The House then considered Senate Bill 2402, which expanded pharmacists’ limited prescriptive and therapeutic substitution authority for certain low-acuity conditions and clarified related lab-test and communication requirements. Members discussed examples such as motion sickness, cold sores, lice, hypoglycemia, COVID and flu testing, emergency access to medications and supplies, and limits excluding certain drug classes; the bill passed 91-1. Senate Bill 2403 created a temporary medical facility emergency operating loan option through the Bank of North Dakota for qualifying rural hospitals facing severe financial distress, with extensive debate over the targeted nature of the aid, anti-gifting concerns, repayment terms, and the hospital’s turnaround plan; it passed 80-12. Senate Bill 2404 appropriated funds for NDIT to address federal digital accessibility requirements and for the Public Service Commission’s litigation efforts related to transmission costs, with a backup loan authorization available if needed; it passed 92-0. At the close of the session, leaders thanked members and staff for their work on the rural health transformation package, a committee notified the Governor and the Senate that the House had completed its business, absent members were excused, and the House adjourned sine die.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House of Representatives for the Great State of North Dakota will come to order.
• of State.
• Speaker, without any objection, we will dispense with reading of the names of all the members of the
• Constitution of the State of North Dakota, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of representative
• Chairman of the committee.

Bills: HB1621, HB1624, HB1623, HB1622, HB1625, HB1626, HB1627, HCR3038

Keywords: presidential physical fitness test, physical education, fitness assessment, student fitness, school curriculum, graduation requirements, elementary school, middle school, high school, public schools, nonpublic schools, superintendent of public instruction, exceptions, disability accommodations, North Dakota studies, computer science, cybersecurity, health education, concept-based fitness class, school standards

Summary: The North Dakota House convened in special session with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the reading of communications from the Secretary of State and Governor Kelly Armstrong certifying the special session call. The governor’s executive order said the session was called to act on funding for the Rural Health Transformation Program so the state could accept and appropriate federal funds and avoid interruptions to government services. Three new members, Representatives McNally, Scraw, and Timmons, were sworn in, and the roll showed 91 members present, establishing a quorum. The main business was a Rules Committee report outlining temporary special-session rules. The changes were designed to speed up floor action, including allowing second reading the same day a bill is reported from committee, final passage one day after first reading, and immediate transmission to the other chamber unless reconsideration is noticed. The report also replaced the regular standing committee structure with two joint committees: Joint Appropriations and Joint Policy, allowed remote testimony and remote member participation with approval, and limited bill introduction to Legislative Management-approved bills or bills approved by a two-thirds vote. Several deadline changes for resolutions and bill filing were also described, with some provisions delayed until the special session ends. The House adopted the Rules Committee report after a motion by Representative Bosch and no opposition. During announcements, the clerk listed the membership of the Joint Appropriations and Joint Policy committees, and the Highway Patrol announced safety sessions for legislators in the Rough Rider Room at 11 a.m. that day and the next day. The House then recessed until the joint session scheduled for 10 a.m. the following day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, I want to call your attention to legislation adopted last year directed the superintendent of public
• As additional background, the Public Health Corps is the uniformed branch of the Public Health Service
• The underlying bill is subject to the approval of the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
• The underlying bill is subject to the approval of the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
• Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and I'm just concerned that limiting this transfer

Bills: SB5420, SB5877, SB5868, SB5109, SB5832, SB5922, SB5944, SB5988, SB6065, SB6103, SB6151

Keywords: veterans, military spouses, service members, uniformed services, National Guard, reservists, active duty, qualifying discharge, veterans preference, hiring preference, public employment, state benefits, license renewal, professional licensing, retirement service credit, pension, public retirement system, Washington RCW, military leave, reemployment rights

Transcript Highlights:

• So this idea came from a superintendent in my district from one of the superintendent meetings that I
• I have spoken with most, if not all, of the superintendents in our district, and they are in support
• instruction in phonics, fluency, vocabulary, all of those things that are very important that set up
• We are establishing clear guardrails for the use of AI in our public schools.
• A principal of a public school.

Bills: SB1632, SB1594, SB2045, SB1251, SB1884, SB1250, SB1630, SB1262, SB1374, SB1292, SB1432, SB1199, SB1790, SB1481, SB1614, SB1734, SB1437, SB1489, SB1718, SB1778

Keywords: career readiness, education reform, high school assessments, workplace skills, state education, credentialing, teacher certification, principal requirements, education administration, special education, Oklahoma education law, SB2045, Grow Your Own Educator Program, teacher recruitment, teacher retention, alternative certification, alternative teacher certification, teacher preparation, tuition reimbursement, course fee reimbursement

Transcript Highlights:

• It prohibits AI tools from being used in public districts for instruction or education purposes except
• You know, the cost of that would I guess be the cost of if they're wanting to use that platform or not
• I had the conversation with one of my Superintendents the other day, and I asked him, 'Is this book in
• So, they're doing a good job of Keeping track of this, so I think that list will just be submitted to
• the Department of Education.

Bills: SB1734, SB1630, SB1894, SB1975, SB1432, SB1437, SB1812, SB346, SB1250, SB710, SB1489, SB2045, SB1614

Keywords: artificial intelligence, AI, schools, public school districts, education technology, edtech, student privacy, FERPA, data privacy, data security, emerging technologies, machine learning, generative AI, classroom technology, instructional technology, teacher oversight, human-in-the-loop, student data, parental consent, opt-out

Transcript Highlights:

• It prohibits AI tools from being used in public districts for instruction or education purposes, except
• You know, the cost of that would I guess be the cost of if they're wanting to use that platform or not
• We're very hard on this amendment to try to clean up some of the language and remove the definition of
• No, this is more of, just to be candid, I had a conversation with one of my superintendents the other
• So they're doing a good job of keeping track of this.

Bills: SB1734, SB1630, SB1894, SB1975, SB1432, SB1437, SB1812, SB346, SB1250, SB710, SB1489, SB2045, SB1614

Keywords: artificial intelligence, AI, schools, public school districts, education technology, edtech, student privacy, FERPA, data privacy, data security, emerging technologies, machine learning, generative AI, classroom technology, instructional technology, teacher oversight, human-in-the-loop, student data, parental consent, opt-out

Summary: The committee took up a series of education-related Senate bills, first accepting untimely filed PCS amendments for SB 1614 and SB 1250 without objection. SB 1734, the Oklahoma Responsible Tech in Schools Act, would prohibit AI tools from being used for instruction in public districts except for educator-directed uses, and it passed 12-0. SB 1630 would allow a school district up to one day or six hours of virtual instruction when students are completing statewide assessments, and it also passed 12-0. SB 1894, using PCS language, caps teacher professional development requirements at 200 hours over five years for teachers with fewer than five years of experience and 150 hours for those with more experience; it passed 11-0. SB 1975 would expand access to AP testing locations and the state’s Horizons online learning platform, and it passed 11-0. SB 1432 removes pilot-program and sunset language from an alternative certification program, and SB 1437 creates the President’s Physical Fitness Act and directs districts to use student fitness results to improve health outcomes; both passed 11-0. SB 1812 requires districts to make K-8 benchmark assessment results available to parents and guardians, and SB 346 modifies the background check process for certain teachers moving to a new district; both passed 11-0. SB 710 would expand the Teach Forward education preparation program to additional providers if funds are available, and SB 1489 concerns special-needs students; both passed 10-0. The committee also approved SB 1614, which creates a teacher induction program for new and emergency-certified teachers, by an 11-0 vote. The committee then considered SB 2045, a recess-related bill that would provide 30 minutes of recess and prohibit recess from being used as punishment. Members asked about possible compromise language with other PE/recess proposals, and the bill passed 11-0. Finally, the committee debated SB 1250, which was described as addressing school library materials and, through amendment, removing the definition of obscene in favor of sexually explicit language. Supporters said it would give districts and superintendents clearer guidance and require local library collection lists to be submitted to the Department of Education; opponents questioned whether the bill was necessary, whether it would require additional staff or create fiscal impacts, and whether stronger repeated-violations language was needed. After discussion, SB 1250 passed 8-2, and the chair noted it was the committee’s last meeting for the year.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hours of instruction... Yes, local boards decide the exact number of hours.
• I had a conversation with one of my superintendents the other day, and he was opposed to the bill.
• But that's so I heard from one of my superintendents about the same thing.
• And that’s not support of our education system and our public education; it's actually putting those
• We celebrate the importance of public spaces as places where life unfolds and... ...spaces as places

Bills: SB278, HB459, HB61

Keywords: SB278, released time, religious instruction, elective credit, public schools, K-12 education, Alabama Released Time Credit Act, church-state separation, First Amendment, school choice, parental consent, elective course, off-campus instruction, private religious entity, State Board of Education, local board of education, attendance credit, core curriculum, religious education, Bible class

Transcript Highlights:

• of public libraries uh um about 15% of public libraries uh license<00:03:00.239><c> circulating</c><00
• We have these contracts that are costing us a lot of money, a lot of public dollars, a lot of taxpayer
• /c><00:43:24.720><c> public</c><00:43:25.040><c> dollars</c> money a lot of money of public dollars money
• a lot of money of public dollars of<00:43:25.760><c> taxpayer</c><00:43:26.400><c> dollars.
• Paul resident and alumna of St. Paul Public Schools.

Bills: HF3698, HF3067, HF3730

Keywords: libraries, electronic books, digital audiobooks, licensing agreements, public access, paraprofessional, paraprofessional qualifications, education support staff, teacher aide, teacher assistant, special education, Title I, federal personnel qualifications, Minnesota Department of Education, school district, charter school, cooperative unit, Read Act, reading instruction, math instruction

Transcript Highlights:

• you for your support of this bill.
• And on behalf of all of our children now and our future children's future wealth, health, thank you for
• your support of this bill.
• Department of Education and the State Board of Education to select those programs and those specific
• One of the things that came out of that was, I think, she correctly identified the problem of us naming

Bills: SB1432, SB1338, SB1437, SB1812

Keywords: teacher certification, pilot program, education, state board, alternative pathways, education grants, competitive grants, revolving fund, State Department of Education, State Board of Education, Strong Readers Act, literacy instruction, reading intervention, dyslexia, science of reading, structured literacy, multisensory instruction, school districts, public education funding, education innovation

Transcript Highlights:

• After we've had the public hearing, I've entertained and talked to a number of... ...of you folks, and
• Life Counts, the organization that I lead outside of the Alabama Department of Public Health, is the
• I'm the longest serving superintendent in the history of Dale County Schools.
• Public schools are not run by out-of-touch bureaucrats.
• We are Ryan Hollingsworth, executive director of the School Superintendent of Alabama, and we are opposed

Bills: SB166, HB365, HB272, HB232, HB234, SB278, SB277

Keywords: Ten Commandments, public education, displays, funding, Alabama law, STEM, science education, technology education, engineering education, math education, workforce development, career pathways, Alabama STEM Council, Department of Workforce, education policy, higher education, community colleges, K-12 education, teacher pipeline, STEM careers

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Education a copy of the employment contract for each school district superintendent or
• Last spring, we undertook a public records request in which we got the superintendent contracts of over
• One is that the top-paid superintendent in the state, the superintendent of the Talis and Union High
• Superintendent salaries are public in the Superintendent Annual Financial Report, which isn't true of
• the other types of schools that take public dollars.

Bills: HB2008, HB2075, HB2203, HB2395, HB2409

Keywords: school libraries, public school libraries, library funding, professional associations, library associations, librarians, information services, dues, membership fees, public monies, school governing body, county free library district, municipal library, library contracts, library services, books and programs, Arizona education, Title 15, Library Freedom Act, school district transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm also the wife of a seventh-grade public school math teacher and coach, and the former director of
• Ryan Hollingsworth, the executive director of the School Superintendents of Alabama.
• It would change from allowing this type of instruction to mandating it.
• One of my superintendents is the head... one of my superintendents is the head deacon at his Baptist
• There are a lot of superintendents that are in favor of this.

Bills: SB13, SB278, SB13

Keywords: education, national anthem, patriotism, school policy, constitutional amendment, SB278, released time, religious instruction, elective credit, public schools, K-12 education, Alabama Released Time Credit Act, church-state separation, First Amendment, school choice, parental consent, elective course, off-campus instruction, private religious entity, State Board of Education

Transcript Highlights:

• on the bottom of page 4 of 6.
• Okay, and Section 20 is adjustment for the salary of the superintendent, which is probably what was included
• The other part of that is the projections of how many people would take advantage of it really leaves
• I don't like the idea of putting a certain amount of money on it and then having no way of determining
• Bank of North Dakota, IT and yourself? Bank of North Dakota, yes. And Mr.

Bills: HB1540

Keywords: education savings account, ESA, school choice, private school vouchers, nonpublic school, tuition assistance, education tax credit, homeschool exclusion, Bank of North Dakota, Department of Public Instruction, public funding for private education, voucher program, student scholarships, special education, parental choice, curriculum funding, tutoring, online learning, state per-pupil payment, income-based eligibility

Summary: The committee first took up amended bill 10-13, a school funding and education appropriations measure. Senator Schaible walked through the final version, which included changes to foundation aid, transportation grants, free and reduced-price meals funding, paraprofessional and teacher support programs, Native American education items, library and school facility projects, and several one-time grants. Members discussed removing the science center grant funding, and Senator Meyer objected to that removal, arguing that Grand Forks had raised matching private and local funds and that other cities had received similar state support. The committee also agreed to adjust regional education association funding to reflect six centers rather than seven, reducing that line to $600,000. The committee then adopted the amendment to 10-13 unanimously and passed the bill as further amended on a unanimous roll call, with Senator Shively designated as carrier. After a brief recess, the committee turned to bill 1540, but no formal action was taken. Bank of North Dakota and OMB representatives raised concerns that the draft included policy changes and procurement/IT exemptions that needed further discussion. Members agreed the bill would be delayed until Monday so the Bank, OMB, and NDIT could confer and work through the mechanics and policy issues before the committee moved it forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, and members of the committee.
• As far as who gets chosen and whatnot, some of that will be left up to the availability of funds and
• instead of the Department of Commerce, and it allows the Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education
• That's the point of this bill.
• That's just kind of a run-of-the-mill happenstance gathering.

Bills: SB710, SB843, SB1317, SB1338, SB1410, SB1477, SB1489, SB1593, SB1614, SB1630, SB1632, SB1633, SB1670, SB1726, SB1734, SB1725, SB1735, SB1894, SB1975, SB346, SB2045

Keywords: teacher preparation, teacher education, teacher shortage, teacher workforce, educator pipeline, alternative certification, apprenticeship, residency program, paraprofessional pathway, high school to teacher pathway, nontraditional teacher candidates, Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, TeachForwardOK, higher education, public school districts, workforce development, grant program, technical assistance provider, mastery-based assessment, emergency clause

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to go out of order just a little bit here.
• Chairman, and members of the committee.
• As far as who gets chosen and whatnot, some of that will be left up to the availability of funds and
• instead of the Department of Commerce, and it allows the Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education
• That's just kind of a run-of-the-mill happenstance gathering.

Bills: SB710, SB843, SB1317, SB1338, SB1410, SB1477, SB1489, SB1593, SB1614, SB1630, SB1632, SB1633, SB1670, SB1726, SB1734, SB1725, SB1735, SB1894, SB1975, SB346, SB2045

Keywords: teacher preparation, teacher education, teacher shortage, teacher workforce, educator pipeline, alternative certification, apprenticeship, residency program, paraprofessional pathway, high school to teacher pathway, nontraditional teacher candidates, Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, TeachForwardOK, higher education, public school districts, workforce development, grant program, technical assistance provider, mastery-based assessment, emergency clause

Summary: The committee heard and advanced a long series of education-related bills, including measures on school board nepotism rules (SB 843), preserving the Ag in the Classroom program in statute (SB 1410), shifting oversight of technology centers to the State Board of Career and Technology Education (SB 1735), teacher certification and hiring transparency (SB 346), AP exam access (SB 1975), in-state tuition alignment with federal law after a consent judgment (SB 1633), teacher professional development caps (SB 1894), portability of career teacher status between districts (SB 1317), recess requirements and discipline limits (SB 2045), expanding the Teach Forward Program (SB 710), limiting concurrent enrollment to students 21 and under (SB 1477), special education training and parent-record review rights (SB 1489), a teacher induction program for new and emergency-certified teachers (SB 1614), graduate-level teacher training requirements (SB 1726), career assessment test selection and credit transfer authority (SB 1632), OSU-Tulsa governance changes (SB 1593), virtual days for certain high school students not taking the ACT (SB 1630), R&D rebate modernization (SB 1670), AI guardrails in schools (SB 1734), and security fees for student organizations that cannot be based on viewpoint or content (SB 1725). Several bills drew brief questions, especially SB 1633, SB 1489, SB 1477, SB 1614, SB 1726, and SB 1725, but no substantive opposition was recorded beyond a few nay votes on some measures. Most bills were moved by due pass motions and approved by voice or roll-call votes, often unanimously or near-unanimously. Notable recorded opposition included SB 1633 and SB 1725, each passing with a few nays, and SB 1726 passing 7-2. SB 1338 was laid over until Wednesday. The meeting concluded with notice of another committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday at 9 a.m., and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Instruction in general is most everything you think about running an institution of higher education
• It can be instruction in general. So it gives them a lot of freedom.
• I'm the 20th President and Superintendent of New Mexico Military Institute.
• That one is the one for public education to pay 80%—employers to pay 80% of insurance.
• That one is the one for public education to pay 80% employers to pay 80% of insurance.

Bills: SB37, SB29

Keywords: high-quality literacy instruction, science of reading, structured literacy, reading instruction, literacy assessment, dyslexia screening, phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, biliteracy, English language learner, ELL, bilingual education, dual language program, reading intervention, reading difficulty, reading improvement plan, literacy coach

Transcript Highlights:

• Are actually more of a driver of the concept of health than actual health care.
• Chair, Senator Padilla, if I may, I think from a public health perspective, there's a lot of uncertainty
• So there's a lot of uncertainty from a public health perspective.
• I think, you know, really the level of prevention that happens with public health is so important.
• We did... ...ease of use of reduction of payments.

Bills: SB37, SB29

Keywords: high-quality literacy instruction, science of reading, structured literacy, reading instruction, literacy assessment, dyslexia screening, phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, biliteracy, English language learner, ELL, bilingual education, dual language program, reading intervention, reading difficulty, reading improvement plan, literacy coach

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the executive director of curriculum instruction at the Public Education Department.
• Chair, members of the committee, Jamie Gonzalez, with Public Charter Schools of New Mexico.
• I'm the Deputy Superintendent of Leadership in Learning in Albuquerque Public Schools.
• I'm the Deputy Superintendent of Leadership in Learning in Albuquerque Public Schools.
• students where we lost days of instruction to testing.

Bills: SB29, SB37

Keywords: SB29, math requirements for teaching license, teacher licensure, teacher endorsement, mathematics methods, elementary education, secondary education, special education, early childhood education, reciprocity, Public Education Department, Mathematics and Science Education Act, mathematics instructional leadership framework, professional learning plan, K-3 screening, mathematics screening assessment, mathematics difficulty, support plan, multilevel support, intervention

Transcript Highlights:

• So, current law provides that exception for districts with ADM of 400 or fewer.
• It's a request bill from the Department of Agriculture and it simply places the program into statute
• The Department of Ag sees it's it's advantages. It's good that it's done for so many years.
• It's done a lot of good, so they'd like to have it in statute. Are there further questions?
• There's a but we will be back next week with a little bit bigger list of bills.

Bills: SB843, SB1410, SB1317, SB1338

Keywords: school boards, educational governance, conflict of interest, employee relations, Oklahoma statutes, SB1410, Oklahoma agriculture, Ag in the Classroom, agricultural education, K-12 curriculum, teacher incentives, rural schools, urban schools, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, State Department of Education, OSU Cooperative Extension Service, classroom grants, farm education, ag literacy, school outreach