Conference committee delays final action on House Bill 1363 after debate over school AED requirements

A conference committee reviewing House Bill 1363 debated on whether to require schools to include automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in emergency plans, then agreed to reconvene after members proposed written changes.

The committee discussed several contested items in a Senate amendment: changing a mandate from "shall" to "may," limiting the requirement to school‑owned facilities and athletic venues, creating plans for school events held off campus, and language saying AED access must occur "when circumstances permit" rather than under a strict three‑minute retrieval requirement. Committee members did not adopt final language at the session and said they would reschedule the hearing to consider revisions.

Why this matters: the bill would affect how school districts prepare for life‑threatening cardiac events involving students and others at school activities. Lawmakers said they weighed student safety, the logistics of providing AED access at dispersed events such as cross‑country meets or golf courses, and potential liability for schools.

Committee members said the Senate amendment softened earlier draft language that required…