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Committee advances bills: SB 905, SB 953 move forward; SB 1098 cleared to floor after amendment
Summary
In a March 17 work session the Senate Committee on Education moved three bills forward: SB 905 (due pass to the floor), SB 953 (do pass to Ways and Means by prior reference) and SB 1098 (approved, including a Senate‑1 amendment; the committee recorded roll‑call votes).
The Senate Committee on Education held work sessions March 17 and acted on three bills.
SB 905: Vice Chair Weber moved Senate Bill 9‑05 to the Senate floor with a “do pass” recommendation. Committee members voted in favor on a roll call; Senator Gelser (Aye), Senator Robinson (Aye), Senator Solman (Aye), Vice Chair Weber (Aye) and Chair Frederick (Yes). The motion passed and SB 9‑05 will move to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation. Committee commentary briefly praised the bill’s effort to reduce redundancies in district processes.
SB 953: Vice Chair Weber moved Senate Bill 9‑53 with a “do pass” recommendation to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means by prior reference. The committee recorded roll‑call votes: Senator Gelser (Aye), Senator Robinson (No), Senator Solman (Aye), Vice Chair Weber (Aye) and Chair Frederick (Yes). The motion passed and SB 9‑53 will proceed to Ways and Means for budget consideration.
SB 1098: The committee considered Senate Bill 10‑98 and a Senate‑1 amendment. The dash‑1 amendment requires districts to adopt local library‑materials selection/removal policies, states that the district—not individuals—makes final decisions on adding or removing school library materials, and declares an emergency. The committee approved the amendment and then approved the bill to the floor with a “do pass” recommendation. Roll‑call voting on the final motion recorded: Senator Belzer Bullock (Aye), Senator Robinson (No), Senator Solman (Aye), Vice Chair Weber (No), and Chair Frederick (Yes). A notice of intention to file a minority report on the issue was entered.
Votes at a glance
- SB 9‑05 — Moved to floor with do‑pass recommendation. Roll call (reported): 5 yeas, 0 nays. - SB 9‑53 — Moved to Ways and Means (prior reference) with do‑pass recommendation. Roll call (reported): 4 yeas, 1 nay. - SB 10‑98 — Dash‑1 amendment approved; bill moved to floor with do‑pass recommendation. Roll call (reported): 3 yeas, 2 nays; minority report intent filed.
Committee statements and next steps: Committee members offered brief remarks when moving the measures. SB 9‑05 proponents described the bill as reducing redundancy in district processes. SB 9‑53 was advanced to Ways and Means for budget consideration; members acknowledged fiscal and policy concerns remain. SB 10‑98 prompted more extended debate about local control, library materials and the role of the state in setting policy; supporters said the amendment clarified that districts would retain final decisions and added an anti‑discrimination provision, while opponents urged deference to local boards and raised concerns about age‑appropriate materials and parental confidence.
The committee recorded formal roll‑call votes for the three actions and transmitted SB 9‑05 and SB 10‑98 to the floor and SB 9‑53 to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means by prior reference.
