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Committee restores community‑use provisions, repeals interstate teacher compact in bill clearing committee
Summary
Engrossed Senate Bill 5,235 was reported out of the House Education Committee with adopted amendments that restored permissive community‑use language and repealed the interstate teacher mobility compact.
The House Education Committee voted to report engrossed Senate Bill 5,235 out of committee with a due‑pass as amended recommendation after the committee adopted two amendments.
Committee staff Megan briefed the bill, saying it “allows funds for the past program awards to be used for developing and updating High School and Beyond Plans,” repeals a statute addressing various school‑code provisions and corrects internal references. Two amendments by Representative Santos were in the bill. The first (WAR 2 28) restores permissive provisions encouraging school districts to allow services and community uses — for example, after‑school tutoring, dental and health services, counseling, clothing and food banks — and preserves authorization for nonprofit meal programs for residents age 60 and older. The second amendment removed the interstate teacher mobility compact, Model legislation enacted in 2024.
During debate Vice Chair Shavers explained that restoring the permissive language would avoid uncertainty about whether hosting elderly meal programs or other community services would conflict with federal ESSA rules: the chair recommended restoring the language because the statute is permissive and “does no harm.” Representative Keaton opposed repealing the compact, arguing the compact supported teacher mobility and that removing it would hurt military families and districts that rely on out‑of‑state applicants. The chair and others countered that the compact had shortcomings and that state law already provides pathways to accept out‑of‑state credentials.
The committee adopted WAR 2 28 and then adopted H.1964.1 (the repeal of the interstate teacher mobility compact). On final passage in committee the clerk recorded 11 ayes and 8 nays; the committee asked that adopted amendments be incorporated into a striking amendment and reported the bill out with a due‑pass as amended recommendation.
The bill, as amended, will move to the House floor for further consideration.
