Committee approves bill requiring schools to give parents basic water-safety guidance; sponsor says it will save lives

The House Education Committee advanced House Bill 532 after a brief hearing and public testimony. The bill, presented by Representative Sanchez, would require public and charter schools to provide parents and caregivers with water-safety guidance at the start of each school year.

"Drowning is 100% preventable, and education is the key," said Casey McGovern, executive director of Every Child Is Swimmer, who testified by videoconference and described her organization’s free toolkit and parent-facing materials. McGovern told the committee she lost her daughter to drowning and urged lawmakers to adopt a low-cost public-education approach in schools. She said schools could provide information about local swim lessons, bathtub and yard safety, and risk factors that caregivers should know.

Representative Sanchez said the bill intentionally does not require districts to provide swim lessons or create new local programs; it requires a written or digital guidance packet and points parents to national resources such as the American Red Cross or other community providers. Committee members asked how the policy would serve rural districts without pools; McGovern and the sponsor said the guidance is designed for all settings and focuses on awareness and prevention even where there is no local access to formal swim instruction.

After public testimony the committee considered a motion to give the bill a do-pass recommendation. Representative Latta moved the do-pass motion, seconded by Representative Roybal Caballero. The chair asked if there was any objection; none was voiced and the committee recorded a do-pass recommendation on House Bill 532.

Next steps: The bill will move to the House floor with a committee recommendation to pass. Supporters told the committee the measure is low-cost because it relies on distributing information; Casey McGovern’s nonprofit and other national organizations offer ready-made toolkits and lesson plans that districts could adopt or circulate.

Supporters included local and national drowning-prevention advocates and at least one superintendent who told the committee that outreach and parent information are sensible early steps for preventing fatalities and nonfatal injuries.