Senate passes HB 6 after amendments to expand school discipline options and telehealth access

The Senate voted to pass the committee substitute for House Bill 6, which the sponsor said revises how public schools handle discipline and expands access to telehealth mental‑health services. The measure passed final reading 29 ayes to 2 nays after a series of floor amendments addressing charter schools, parental engagement, in‑school suspension reviews and special education threat assessments.

Senator Charles Perry, sponsor of the Senate amendment, said HB 6 “is intended to holistically review how we address school discipline in our public schools.” Perry told the chamber stakeholder input over multiple sessions shaped the bill and the floor amendments adopted on the Senate floor.

Why it matters: Supporters said the bill gives districts more flexibility to respond to disruptive or dangerous student behavior without defaulting to long out‑of‑school placements, and it removes a provision that would have allowed districts to seek court orders to compel parents to participate in discipline planning. Opponents raised procedural objections during floor action but the bill moved forward after amendments were adopted.

Key changes and debate

The Senate adopted multiple Perry floor amendments that sponsors described as technical fixes and policy clarifications. Floor amendment No. 1 restored charter‑school language so that charters may deny admission to students previously placed in DAEP (disciplinary alternative education programs) or expelled under public‑school rules. Perry described floor amendment No. 2 as…