Committee moves bill directing HEC to set dual-credit standards in select CTE fields to the floor

The House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development opened a work session May 6 and voted to move Senate Bill 784 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. A staff summary said the bill "requires the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to develop statewide standards for dual credit programs in agriculture, forestry, and natural resource programs" and to develop standards to ensure quality and alignment for approved career-and-technical student organization programs.

Representative Fragle moved the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; Representative Fragle’s motion carried on a roll-call vote. Representative Baker McDonald recorded a "No" vote; Representatives Munoz, Wright, Juncker, Vice chair Fraglia, Vice chair Harvick and Chair Hudson recorded "Yes/Aye." After passage, Chair Hudson assigned Representative Bobby Levy as the bill’s floor carrier.

Discussion: Representative Finger McDonald said she would vote no, explaining she supports agriculture programs but is uncomfortable "calling out specific fields within the statute that already exists" and argued the bill does not address the main need, which she said is funding and faculty to run programs. "To build these programs, this bill isn't what we need," she said, and announced she would vote no.

Outcome: motion to forward SB 784 passed and the measure will move to the House floor with Representative Bobby Levy assigned as carrier.

Ending: The committee closed the SB 784 work session and proceeded to the next scheduled item.