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Bill would let students wear items of cultural significance at graduation
Summary
House Bill 13-93 would require public schools, charter schools and state tribal education compact schools to permit students to wear items or objects of cultural significance at commencements, while allowing schools to require items be befitting the ceremony and meet decorum rules. Committee staff said the bill has no fiscal impact.
House Bill 13-93 would require public school districts, charter schools and state tribal education compact schools to permit students to wear items of cultural significance with or attached to their gown at high school commencement ceremonies and other official graduation events.
The bill was presented to the committee by Elena Becker, committee staff, who said the proposal clarifies existing protections for Native American regalia and expands them to cover other items of cultural significance. "The bill before you is engrossed House Bill 13‑93 relating to providing public school students with opportunities for cultural expression at commencement ceremonies," Becker said. She told the committee that under current state law districts and schools may not prohibit federally recognized tribal members from wearing tribal regalia and that this bill requires districts to allow an item "that is befitting of the ceremony or event and adhere to the school's decorum requirements." Becker reported the fiscal note shows no fiscal impact.
Representative Joel McIntyre, who introduced the bill in the House, described a case that prompted the proposal: a student with immigrant parents who was told by a school administrator that she could not wear a traditional sash at graduation and that she would be removed and denied her diploma if she did. "I just think that it would be, it's a great balance between allowing the decorum and the uniformity that we want at the ceremony, but also allowing free expression," Representative Joel McIntyre said, describing the measure as a way to let graduates express pride in heritage during a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Committee members discussed scope and practical limits. One member noted the variety of personal cap decorations they had seen at other graduations and questioned whether the bill would require formal rules for what is allowed; Becker and members emphasized that the bill permits schools to enforce decorum requirements and that multiple items may be worn if traditionally used together.
No formal committee action or vote was recorded in the transcript. A witness who had signed up to testify on the bill did not appear on Zoom; another committee member repeated support for allowing students to express cultural identity at commencement.
The bill now moves forward in the committee process for further consideration.
