Bills: HF249 , HF398 , HF532 , HF547 , HF544 , HF704 , HF805 , HF969 , HF954

Committee: Joint State Government

Keywords: fraud recovery, public assistance, benefits, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, debt collection, corrections, director, board of corrections, superintendents, rehabilitation programs, furloughs, real estate, violator facilities, dietitian, licensure compact, interstate practice, public access, healthcare, respiratory therapy

Bills: HSB217 , HSB218 , HSB219 , HSB220 , HSB147 , HF331 , HSB105 , HSB137 , HSB108 , HSB106 , HF149 , HF334 , HSB155 , HF284 , SF8 , SF265 , SSB1076 , SSB1092 , SSB1100 , SSB1135

Committee: Joint Education

Keywords: redundancy, school policy, teacher evaluation, employment termination, educational workforce, religious instruction, academic credit, absenteeism, compulsory education, civil action, mathematics education, advanced curriculum, algebra readiness, school enrollment, state education standards, concussion, brain injury, coaches training, athletic association, youth sports

Bills: HSB217 , HSB218 , HSB219 , HSB220 , HSB147 , HF331 , HSB105 , HSB137 , HSB108 , HSB106 , HF149 , HF334 , HSB155 , HF284 , SF8 , SF265 , SSB1076 , SSB1092 , SSB1100 , SSB1135

Committee: Joint Education

Keywords: redundancy, school policy, teacher evaluation, employment termination, educational workforce, religious instruction, academic credit, absenteeism, compulsory education, civil action, mathematics education, advanced curriculum, algebra readiness, school enrollment, state education standards, concussion, brain injury, coaches training, athletic association, youth sports

Transcript Highlights:

• and five associate superintendents by the Governor upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Public
• Superintendent of Education and senators, assembly members, governors' ideas, superintendent of public
• state superintendent, no big deal.
• Superintendent.
• Superintendent.

Summary: The joint Senate Education and Budget Committee hearing focused on the Governor’s proposed education governance overhaul, which would shift day-to-day management of the California Department of Education from the elected Superintendent of Public Instruction to a new appointed education commissioner, while giving the Superintendent new voting roles on the State Board of Education and the Community College Board of Governors. Chair Perez opened by stressing that the proposal raises major policy questions beyond the budget process and should be evaluated for its effect on students, local control, and accountability. Brooks Allen of the State Board of Education argued the change would unify policymaking and implementation, reduce fragmented authority, and create clearer accountability, citing decades of reports criticizing California’s “crazy quilt” governance structure and noting the proposal is timed for the 2026 transition. Amber Alexander of the Department of Finance outlined the fiscal and staffing transfers, describing the plan as largely cost-neutral and explaining how positions would shift between the State Board, the Department, and the new Superintendent’s office over 2026-27 and 2027-28. Sarah Cortez of the Legislative Analyst’s Office said the LAO supports shifting management to an appointed commissioner but recommended several refinements: preserving legislative oversight, requiring Senate confirmation of the commissioner, clearly defining the Superintendent’s duties as a public representative/advisor/evaluator, and refining the State Board’s role to focus on major policies requiring public input. She also said the fiscal plan should be cost-neutral and more fully specified. Senators raised concerns about the timing during an election year, the constitutional status of the Superintendent, whether the proposal should instead be a constitutional amendment, and whether governance changes actually improve student outcomes or simply rearrange the org chart. Some members questioned whether the proposal would confuse voters and undermine democratic accountability, while others said the current structure is already confusing and that the reform could improve clarity for districts and local boards. The discussion also covered how curriculum is set, with LAO explaining that the Legislature has broad authority but has delegated much curriculum work to the State Board and the Instructional Quality Commission. Members asked how the new structure would affect local districts, who they would call for guidance, and whether the commissioner would have authority over policy; the presenters said policy authority would remain with the State Board, while the commissioner would handle administration and implementation. No votes were taken during the panel discussion, and the hearing was organized to continue with additional panels and public comment later in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• and five associate superintendents by the Governor upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Public
• Along with the Superintendent, these positions will shift to the proposed office of the Superintendent
• If a superintendent position is not necessary— If a superintendent position is not necessary, through
• state superintendent, no big deal.
• Superintendent.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was superintendent, chief deputy superintendent with Tom Torlakson during his first term, which was
• I’m the superintendent. I’m supposed to superintendent...
• I’m the superintendent. I’m supposed to superintend the schools,” right?
• And perhaps most importantly, as Superintendent Thurmond has demonstrated repeatedly, the Superintendent
• Superintendent colleagues.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee first heard two bills. AB 1665 by Assemblymember Pacheco would require school sports coaches to complete approved mental health training. Supporters said coaches are trusted adults who are often first to notice student-athlete distress, and a witness described personal experience with body image and disordered eating pressures in athletics. There was no opposition, and the bill was moved out of committee on a due pass as amended motion to Appropriations, ultimately passing 9-0 after add-on votes. AB 2316 by Assemblymember Hoover would allow charter schools to apply for the same financial hardship relief in the state school facilities program that traditional districts can seek. Supporters argued this would improve parity and help smaller and low-income charter schools access permanent facilities; some initially opposed agencies said their concerns were addressed by amendments. The bill also passed unanimously, 9-0, to Appropriations. The committee then took up a consent calendar containing 12 additional measures, including bills on education funding, facilities, and other school-related matters, plus a resolution. Those items were approved on a 7-0 vote, with the roll left open for add-on votes. After the bill hearing portion was recessed and later reconvened, additional members added votes to AB 1665, AB 2316, and the consent calendar, bringing each to 9-0. The committee then held an informational hearing on state-level education governance, centered on Governor Newsom’s proposal to restructure the California Department of Education and the role of the elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, with AB 2117 serving as a policy vehicle carrying the same language and no action to be taken. Testimony came from the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Education Commission of the States, and former CDE chief deputy Richard Zager. Witnesses reviewed the history of California’s governance structure, compared it with other states, and discussed accountability, legislative oversight, and the role of the superintendent under the proposal. Committee members raised concerns about preserving checks and balances, the fiscal implementation plan, county-office relationships, and whether the superintendent’s role would be reduced too far; no vote was taken at the informational hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the superintendent. I'm supposed to superintendent.' you're never going to make it.
• I'm the superintendent. I'm supposed to superintend the schools, right?
• And perhaps most importantly, as Superintendent Thurmond has demonstrated repeatedly, the superintendent
• As the superintendent, the current superintendent stated, really it's the other direction: giving more
• Superintendent colleagues.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and this Superintendent. Thank you, Mr. Superintendent Reese, for your presentation.
• Superintendent, while traveling my district and talking to superintendents within my district, one big
• And that is: what's the difference between a successful superintendent and a failing superintendent?
• I never dreamed I would be a superintendent. And go into my job looking for a superintendency.
• I will echo Superintendent Chavez.

Transcript Highlights:

• Superintendent Boggs, hi. Thank you.
• , an assistant superintendent, or an associate superintendent only if the school district offers the
• I’m aware that superintendents have secondary employment; they coach other superintendents, they have
• Superintendent does a great job. Next year goes around, Mr. Superintendent does a great job.
• Is it going to be the interim superintendent? Is it going to be the new superintendent?

Committees: House Education , House House Education Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• who report to the superintendent.
• If that is the superintendent, him or herself, then I guess they would go to the superintendent, him
• an appointed superintendent?
• or an appointed superintendent.
• about the superintendent.

Summary: The Education Administration Subcommittee heard and advanced six bills. The first, PCS/HB 1073 by Rep. Koster, would give individual school board members timely, free access to district documents and budget information, require agendas and supporting materials to be kept as public records, and prohibit school districts from requiring or incentivizing nondisclosure agreements. Testimony from a Volusia County school board member and a former educator described difficulty obtaining records and concerns about NDAs; some members raised chain-of-command concerns, while others argued the bill was needed for transparency. The bill passed 15-3. The committee then approved HB 4049, a local bill for Jacksonville/Duval County that changes how the Duval County School Board’s attorney is selected, and OGSR/HB 7021, which extends and clarifies the public-records exemption for education examination and assessment instruments through 2031. HB 4049 passed 17-1 after debate over whether the board should use the city’s general counsel process; HB 7021 passed unanimously with no debate. Members also approved CS/HB 753 on school counselors, which removes certain certification barriers while keeping degree and counseling requirements in place and allows districts to choose whether to require the removed certificates. Supporters said the bill could help address counselor shortages and free counselors to focus on students; it passed 18-0. Finally, HB 157 created a School Teacher Training and Mentoring Program for D- and F-rated schools, using high-performing current or retired teachers as mentors with stipends funded from an existing allocation. Members discussed mentor limits, funding, and oversight, but the bill passed unanimously, 18-0. The meeting adjourned after committee members recognized visiting officials and students.

Transcript Highlights:

• to an appointed superintendent.
• superintendent.
• to an appointed elected superintendent to an appointed superintendent. superintendent. superintendent
• appointed superintendent to an appointed superintendent. superintendent. superintendent.
• , appointing a superintendent Thirdly, appointing a superintendent allows<00:11:32.399><c> us</c><00:

Bills: HB180

Committee: House Local Legislation

Keywords: education, county superintendent, appointed, elected officials, Conecuh County, local control

Transcript Highlights:

• And my apologies, Superintendent. Madam Chair, I didn't see Superintendent Tyler there.
• </c><00:05:27.039><c> If</c> superintendent, Dr. Michael Douglas. If superintendent, Dr.
• And my apologies, Superintendent. Madam Chair, I didn't see Superintendent Tyler there.
• I was elected Is everyone superintendent here? Then Is everyone superintendent here?
• </c> And my my my apologies, Superintendent. And my my my apologies, Superintendent.

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Rick Serency, who is Superintendent of Putnam County, and Robbie Edwards, Superintendent of the Fayette
• We work directly with our superintendents with superintendent training. They engage in workshops.
• Bobby Bennett from DeSoto County, Superintendent.
• The county I'm in, I'm the superintendent. I've got an assistant superintendent and four directors.
• The county I'm in, I'm the superintendent. I've got an assistant superintendent and four directors.

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Summary: The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee met to discuss the needs of rural school districts and the role of Florida’s three regional education consortia: the Panhandle Area Education Consortium, Northeast Florida Educational Consortium, and Heartland Educational Consortium. Executive directors and several rural superintendents described the consortia as member-led organizations that provide shared services, professional learning, leadership development, grant support, cooperative purchasing, risk management, IT/cybersecurity help, and back-office assistance that small districts could not afford to provide on their own. They emphasized that rural districts are often very small, have limited staff, and must still meet the same state reporting and compliance requirements as large urban systems. Testimony focused heavily on teacher recruitment and retention, alternative certification, and the difficulty of staffing specialized roles such as CFOs, MIS directors, IT staff, and content-area teachers. Superintendents said many new hires are career changers or alternatively certified teachers who need consortium-supported training, and several argued for more flexibility in funding so districts can raise salaries and compete with neighboring districts and nearby states. Members also asked about the impact of declining enrollment, homeschooling, and voucher-related school choice; superintendents said those trends are reducing FTE and creating budget instability, while also requiring districts to right-size staff and programs. Several speakers described the financial strain on rural districts, including rising insurance costs, transportation costs, and the challenge of forecasting budgets when enrollment changes after the school year begins. One superintendent recounted major hurricane damage and said consortium risk-management support was essential to recovery. Others said the consortia help districts pool resources for property and health insurance, payroll, student data systems, and procurement, and that this shared approach saves money and improves services. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bobby Bennett, DeSoto County Superintendent; and Mike Swindle, Hendry County Superintendent.
• Bobby Bennett, DeSoto County Superintendent; and Mike Swindle, Hendry County Superintendent.
• There are superintendents here.
• Superintendent Taylor.
• There's a superintendent and assistant superintendent. We have four directors.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met with a quorum and first heard a Department of Education program review on three district support programs: assistance to low-performing schools, the Florida Partnership program, and regional literacy teams (RAISE). Dr. Paul Burns described how the Bureau of School Improvement supports schools with D/F grades through regional teams, classroom observations, professional learning, and targeted funding, noting that 104 of 168 low-performing schools improved after 2022-23 and that the share of failing schools fell from 6% to 4%. He also outlined the Florida Partnership’s $4 million annual appropriation for advanced-course teacher training and student access, and the RAISE literacy program’s $5 million funding, universal/targeted/intensive supports, and progress monitoring results. Senators asked about rural participation, post-COVID reading data, parent support, and how long schools remain under monitoring after improving; Burns said rural districts can participate statewide, parents can access school and department support, and schools continue to receive monitoring after exiting low-performing status to prevent recidivism. The committee then received a presentation on the school district education foundation matching grants program from Suzanne Pridgen, who explained that the Consortium of the Florida Education Foundations administers the grants, which require private matching funds and support tutoring, literacy, STEM, career education, professional learning, books, and supplies. She said the program leverages about $1.44 in private support for every state dollar. The committee then moved to the regional education consortia, where representatives from PAEC, NEFEC, and Heartland, along with several rural superintendents, described the consortia as member-led organizations that provide economies of scale, professional learning, HR, risk management, purchasing, legal and operational support, crisis assistance, and leadership development for small and fiscally constrained districts. Superintendents from Lafayette, Holmes, Calhoun, Union, DeSoto, and Hendry counties testified that the consortia are essential because rural districts often have very small staffs, multiple-duty administrators, and limited in-house expertise. They cited support with insurance and hurricane recovery, training for new finance and HR staff, instructional coaching, CTE and leadership programs, and help with turnaround schools. Members emphasized that these districts can be high-performing despite limited resources, and several senators praised the consortia’s value. Senator Gaetz asked about additional back-office collaboration, possible regulatory relief, and FEFP issues tied to scholarship-related enrollment swings; rural superintendents responded that more local control would help. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was adopted without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• So good luck in that process, and we'd love to have the superintendent, the national superintendent of
• So good luck in that process, and we'd love to have the superintendent, the national superintendent of
• So good luck in that process, and we'd love to have the superintendent, the national superintendent of
• So good luck in that process, and we'd love to have the superintendent, the national superintendent of
• Thank you, Superintendent. Questions, comments from members for the superintendent?

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Superintendent Boggs: Hi, thank you.
• , assistant superintendent, or associate superintendent only if the school district offers the benefit
• I'm aware that superintendents have secondary employment. They coach other superintendents.
• I'm aware that superintendents have secondary employment. They coach other superintendents.
• Most superintendents are very. other jobs potentially most superintendents are very well compensated

Committee: House House Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 2076, which would create a program and fund within ADE, in consultation with AZPOST, to reimburse eligible schools and employees for approved training, certification, and school safety equipment, and would allow schools to adopt policies permitting certain employees to carry concealed firearms on campus if they meet training, notification, and confidentiality requirements. The sponsor, Rep. Bliss, framed the bill as an optional, fiscally responsible medical-response measure focused on bleeding control and emergency preparedness, not a mandate to arm schools. Supporters said the bill adds guardrails, expands access to training, and could help staff respond in emergencies. Opponents, including Giffords, Arizona for Gun Safety, and the Arizona Education Association, argued it would normalize firearms in classrooms, create confidentiality and law-enforcement concerns, expose students and staff to new risks, and divert attention from prevention, mental health, and other school safety investments. After debate, the committee voted 6-5-1 to give HB 2076 a do-pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 2830, which directs the State Board of Education to adopt science standards requiring instruction on fetal and prenatal development and specifies that the content is not sex education. Supporters, including the sponsor, a school board president, and a biology teacher, said the bill is about age-appropriate, medically accurate science, parental rights, and clear statewide guidance. Opponents, including the AEA and Reproductive Freedom for All, said it fragments science instruction, politicizes the curriculum, and omits the broader reproductive and public health context students need. Members debated whether fetal development can be taught without discussing reproduction, and whether the bill is an education measure or an anti-abortion effort. The committee approved HB 2830 on an 8-4 vote. The transcript also included discussion of House Bill 2093, which would repeal required mental health instruction and social-emotional learning in schools; supporters argued it restores parental control and refocuses schools on academics, while opponents said school-based mental health education saves lives and helps students who may not have support at home.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think we have 15 superintendents each. Donna has 6.
• And I I think that when our superintendents talk, you'll And I I think that when our superintendents
• I'm joined today with Doctor Rick Surrency who superintendent of Putnam County and Robbie Everett superintendent
• We work directly with our superintendents with Superintendent training. They engage in workshops.
• Superintendent Brown, any questions for the executive directors or the superintendent. >> Senator Berman

Transcript Highlights:

• First of all, Superintendent for that.
• &gt;&gt; Deputy<00:08:37.279><c> Superintendent.</c> &gt;&gt; Deputy Superintendent.
• &gt;&gt; Deputy Superintendent.
• </c> act deputy super deputy superintendent act deputy super deputy superintendent Mueller<00:09:50.880
• Deputy &gt;&gt; Deputy Superintendent Deputy Superintendent<00:23:28.159><c> Mueller.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Superintendent.
• Thank you, Superintendent.
• Thank you, Superintendent.
• Thank you, Superintendent.
• Before I move to my last question, Superintendent Luck or Superintendent Rally, any burning thoughts

Transcript Highlights:

• Superintendent Kane, is that you? Can you hear us? Yeah, yeah. Superintendent, you're muted.
• Would you please, Superintendent?
• Yeah, are we losing the Superintendent, Shirley? Are we losing you, Superintendent, in time?
• Is that not right, Superintendent? Yes, Mr. Chair. Superintendent, you're absolutely correct.
• No other superintendents have tried. I understand that Superintendent Cain is trying.

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee