Committee delays action on cardiac-response/AED bill, asks for more testimony

Members of the House Education Committee discussed H247, a cardiac-response bill that would strengthen school requirements around emergency cardiac response, training, annual drills and automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Committee members expressed broad support for the underlying safety goals but concluded the proposal requires more testimony and detail before it should be advanced this session.

A committee member said she was “reluctant given that there is a process in place already” to layer additional mandates onto schools without more evidence and testimony. Committee discussion focused on three areas advocates called central — mandatory training, annual drills, and AED availability — and on whether the bill should create specific requirements or allow districts to comply through existing processes. Members also asked how many schools already have AEDs and what training coverage exists across districts.

Because the session timeline is compressed and the committee wants a fuller record from AOE, advocates and the field, the panel agreed it was likely better to collect additional testimony and consider the measure in a future session rather than advance it immediately. Members noted that the Senate could still offer a vehicle or companion measure later in the session. The committee did not take a formal vote on H247 during the meeting.