PODCAST: Williams Mullen's Gavels & Gowns - What’s Next in VA K-12 Education? An Interview with Scott Brabrand, Executive Director of VASS
The 2025 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly, which concluded on June 4, 2025, was not especially prolific in terms of the volume of labor-and employment-related bills passed. ...more
In its recently adjourned session, the General Assembly passed two major bills regarding special education. Although the Governor has not yet signed these bills, we wanted to provide a brief and non-exhaustive overview of the...more
On June 4, 2025, embedded in an omnibus bonding bill, the Connecticut General Assembly amended the Connecticut Paid Sick Leave Act as it applies to certain employees of municipalities and boards of education. While the...more
Republican lawmakers left the Senate chamber on Friday like victors heading for the locker room, collecting high fives and fist bumps from lobbyists in the hallway on their way to the ice baths. They had reason to...more
On Tuesday, February 4, Governor Josh Shapiro delivered his third annual Budget Address to a joint session of the General Assembly, where he unveiled his $51.47 billion FY26 Executive Budget — marking an approximately 7.5%...more
Governor Bill Lee announced on January 15th that he would call the 114th General Assembly into a special session to address his proposed Education Freedom Act, disaster relief legislative package relevant to Hurricane Helene,...more
In this episode of Gavels & Gowns, an Education Law podcast, co-hosts Hal Johnson and Micah Schwartz speak with Scott Brabrand, executive director of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents. Scott provides a...more
The 113th Tennessee General Assembly adjourned sine die on April 25, 2024. The session was dominated by debate over the size and scope of the $1.6 billion legislative fix to the state franchise tax that naturally dashed plans...more
Legislative Day 40 is a roller coaster, full of ups, downs, and zero gravity turns (also known as conference committee reports). One goes from celebrating a bill achieving final passage to lamenting a measure being gutted...more
Legislators considered dozens of policy bills this week in advance of the May 4 crossover deadline (the date by which policy bills must pass one chamber to remain eligible)....more
Gov. Roy Cooper this week sent his budget recommendations to the General Assembly and the Senate passed the health care bill that would expand Medicaid coverage. Governor’s Budget Proposal - Gov. Cooper unveiled his...more
During the 2022 Regular Session of the General Assembly of Georgia, the Legislature enacted twenty-one bills that impact education. A summary follows: Act 772 (H.B. 1292) prohibits students who participate in 4-H sponsored...more
After considering its provisions for 10 days as provided in the North Carolina Constitution, Gov. Roy Cooper signed the budget bill into law today. This is the second consecutive budget he has signed after vetoing prior...more
The Ohio House of Representatives’ Higher Education Committee recently rejected proposed language in Senate Bill 135 that would have amended Ohio’s version of the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act...more
The 2021 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly concluded on June 9, 2021, but the primary source of action on education law issues was a special session of the General Assembly and ensuing “budget implementer”...more
In addition to bills described in our last post, the General Assembly’s Education Committee approved and advanced out of committee the following funding-related and “omnibus” bills, including bills reaffirming the Committee’s...more
Just after midnight, the 2021 Legislative Session concluded with many legislative measures sneaking in under the wire—and many others lying dead on the House and Senate floors. The House and Senate compromise on the FY22...more
The House and Senate floors remain active as our Report comes online this evening. Legislators continue to work at a fever pitch shepherding their bills and resolutions through the final stages of the legislative gauntlet...more
As expected (and feared), March madness has engulfed the State Capitol as legislators press to pass measures on the penultimate day of the 2021 Legislative Session. From late-arriving Rules Committee substitutes and...more
As quickly as it appeared, the Senate version of the FY22 State Budget descended into the shadows of a conference committee today, entering the final (and most secretive) phase of negotiations before final passage. Leaders in...more
The General Assembly kicked off the penultimate week of the 2021 Legislative Session early this morning with a number of committee meetings preceding early afternoon convenings of both chambers. Perhaps the most watched of...more
Legislators and lobbyists braved an early morning downpour as action began early under the Gold Dome today. Committees began meeting at 7:30 a.m., and both chambers took to the floor at 10 a.m. The House completed their Rules...more
There was green aplenty under the Gold Dome today, but the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow remains to be seen as Senate budget writers still deliberate the final touches on their version of the FY 2022 Budget. The House...more
Seven legislative days remain in the 2021 Legislative Session, but you would not believe it based on House and Senate floor action today. Neither chamber held floor votes on any legislation, with the sole bill on the House...more
Legislators wrapped up a long Crossover week today with short floor sessions and a variety of committee meetings. Most notably, subcommittees of the Senate Appropriations Committee rushed to complete hearings on the FY22...more