K-12 Subcommittee advances teacher-evaluation study, absenteeism data access and school capital trust to full Education Committee

The K-12 Subcommittee voted to advance three education bills to the full Education Committee at its meeting. Members passed House Bill 1193 as rewritten by amendment, approved House Bill 61 to expand juvenile-judge access to absenteeism records, and approved House Bill 224 to authorize a voluntary capital projects trust for local education agencies (LEAs).

The measures address three separate areas of school policy: how teachers are evaluated, how juvenile courts may use attendance data, and how school districts may save and invest surplus funds for long-term capital projects. Committee sponsors and members described each bill and answered questions before the committee voted.

On House Bill 1193, the sponsor said the bill "requires the Department of Education to conduct a landscape analysis of teacher evaluation practices in this state and other states and have it back to us by Jan. 30, 2026." The committee adopted an amendment (drafting code 3650) that rewrote the bill; members then voted to send the amended bill to the full Education Committee. Committee clerks recorded seven ayes on the final vote.

House Bill 61, introduced by Representative Roper, would allow juvenile judges to review absenteeism records for the current school year and earlier years for students who attended public schools, rather than limiting judges to the single current year. Representative Roper said the change "identifies patterns of behavior in regards to absenteeism" and could help judges spot extended illness, neglect or other causes. Several members voiced support while also raising privacy and scope concerns. Representative McKenzie asked whether an unlimited look-back window could surface information from a child's early schooling that is no longer relevant; Representative Rayburn said judges should be trusted to weigh relevance in each case. The committee voted 7-0 to advance House Bill 61 to the full Education Committee.

House Bill 224, presented by Chairman Hasten, would establish statutory authority for LEAs to create a voluntary capital projects trust to invest surplus funds from annual budgets for future capital needs. The sponsor said the trust would be voluntary, subject to the state funding board's oversight and existing investment and legal standards, and would allow districts to earn interest on reserves for long-term projects. The committee adopted a technical amendment (drafting code 3638) that corrected wording in section 49-2903 and then voted to move the bill forward, 7-0.

Votes at a glance

- House Bill 1193 (as amended by drafting code 3650): Requires a Department of Education landscape analysis of teacher-evaluation practices; amendment rewrote the bill; committee vote — 7 ayes; outcome — advanced to full Education Committee.

- House Bill 61 (Representative Roper): Expands juvenile-judge access to student absenteeism records beyond the current school year; no amendment; committee vote — 7 ayes, 0 nos; outcome — advanced to full Education Committee.

- House Bill 224 (Chairman Hasten; technical amendment drafting code 3638): Establishes statutory authority for LEAs to create a voluntary capital projects trust; technical wording correction to section 49-2903; committee vote — 7 ayes, 0 nos; outcome — advanced to full Education Committee.

All three bills will next appear before the full Education Committee for further consideration.