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Bill would require excused absences for 4‑H and FFA activities, sponsors say
Summary
Representatives Hall and Creech said House Bill 125 would require schools to excuse absences for verified 4‑H and FFA activities, allow make‑up work and bar excused days during state assessments or when a student is suspended or expelled.
Columbus — Sponsors of House Bill 125 told the House Education Committee the bill would require school districts to excuse student absences for verified 4‑H and FFA activities, with the opportunity to make up missed work and a prohibition on granting excused status during state assessments or while a student is suspended or expelled.
Representative Hall, joined by Representative Creech, said the proposal recognizes 4‑H and FFA as co‑curricular experiences that build lifelong skills and, where practical, help students compete for scholarships. Under the bill, a 4‑H or FFA educator must submit written documentation to a school principal or attendance officer as proof of student participation. "We're not asking for additional days," Hall said. "We're just asking for the absence that was done for 4‑H and FFA to be excused so they can make up their work."
Committee members raised concerns about administrative discretion and potential academic eligibility. Representative Miller asked whether districts could deny excused status for students with excessive unexcused absences; sponsors said the introduced language does not currently include an attendance‑threshold clause but they were open to working with committee members on such language. Representative Bridal suggested broadening the measure to include other youth activities; sponsors said they kept the bill focused on 4‑H and FFA at the request of constituents tied to agricultural programming but were open to future expansion.
Representatives discussed who may sign the verification. Representative Jones urged clarifying whether an "educator" should be described as an "educator or adviser"; sponsors agreed to tighten that phrasing. Representatives also noted that 4‑H participation may begin at different ages (cloverbuds at younger ages) and suggested clarifying minimum participation ages in the bill language.
No committee vote was taken; sponsors said they would work with members and LSC on technical clarifications.
