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House Education Committee advances four bills to the floor; one member registers no
Summary
On March 31 the House Education Committee advanced four bills — HB 3037, HB 3038 (as amended), HB 3218 and HB 3449 — to the floor after staff summaries, brief discussion and recorded motions. Representative Harbeck recorded a no vote on two measures; Representative Ruiz was excused for several actions.
Salem — The House Education Committee on March 31 advanced four education bills to the House floor after work sessions and brief discussion.
The measures moved with due-pass recommendations and included the adoption of an amendment to House Bill 3,038. Representative Dobson and Vice Chair McIntyre made the principal motions; Representative Harbeck registered no votes on at least two measures, and Representative Ruiz was excused for several votes, the committee chair recorded for the minutes.
The bills: HB 3037, HB 3038 (as amended, dash 2), HB 3218 (as amended, dash 1) and HB 3449 (as amended, dash 1) were each summarized for the record by staff before the committee acted. Staff summaries described technical changes, program eligibility adjustments and limited fiscal effects for the measures.
Actions and outcomes
- House Bill 3,037: Vice Chair Dobson moved the bill with a due-pass recommendation and that it be referred to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means by prior reference. Representative Harbeck recorded a no vote; no other objections were registered and the bill passed and was referred to Ways and Means.
- House Bill 3,038 (dash 2 amendment adopted): Committee staff summarized the ODE omnibus measure, which included changes to the STEM Investment Council and school safety and admissions language for the Oregon School for the Deaf. The committee adopted the dash 2 amendment by no objection and then advanced the amended bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation and rescinded the subsequent referral to Ways and Means. Representative Harbeck cast a no vote on the final motion; Representative Ruiz was recorded as excused for the vote.
- House Bill 3,218 (dash 1 amendment adopted): The bill requires a study by ODE and the Commission on Indian Services of opportunities to expand the Bridging Attendance Promising Practices grant program, with a report due to the Legislature by Sept. 15, 2026. The dash 1 amendment (which clarified the lead agency for the study) was adopted with no objection, and the amended bill was moved to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; Representative Ruiz was excused for the vote.
- House Bill 3,449 (dash 1 amendment adopted): The measure modifies a foster-children pilot enacted in 2024 so grants are made to school districts rather than individual schools and limits the pilot to middle and high schools. The dash 1 amendment (which removed the Department of Human Services from the measure) was adopted, and the committee advanced the amended bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; Representative McLean was assigned as carrier. Representative Ruiz was excused for the recorded vote.
Why it matters
Each bill will now go to the full House floor for consideration. Several of the measures make technical or structural changes to programs administered by the Oregon Department of Education and related entities; HB 3,941 (community schools) and other measures discussed separately at the hearing stage will determine funding and program design in coming weeks.
Additional notes
Committee staff and agency representatives provided the summaries and clarified fiscal impacts where available; in several cases staff said the measures had minimal or no direct fiscal effects as drafted. The chair recorded virtual attendance for Representative Wynne and excused status for Representative Ruiz where applicable.
