Committee votes HB 711 do pass after sponsor says districts opt in annually; vote 16–7 recorded

The House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee voted House Bill 711 do pass after a roll-call vote the chair announced as "with your vote of 16 I and 7 no." Sponsor Representative Pollitt described the measure as an opt-in program for districts that would be applied "one year at a time," and she said students accepted during an opt-in year may remain in the receiving district even if that district later opts out.

Representative Pollitt told the committee the bill had drawn scrutiny since it was mentioned in the governor’s state-of-the-state address and that sponsors were continuing to meet with stakeholders on special-education language and other concerns. When asked, she confirmed that districts that opt in do so on a year-by-year basis; any student admitted while the district is opted in remains in place if the district later opts out.

The committee conducted a roll-call vote. The transcript records named votes: Chairman Lewis (aye), Vice Chairman Vanderman (pass earlier in roll), Representative Steinhoff (no), Representative Baker (aye), Representative Boykin (no), Representative Jacobs (no), Representative Kelly (aye), Representative Lobinger (aye), Representative Loy (aye), Representative Mackie (aye), Representative Martin (aye), Representative Myraff (aye), Representative Overcast (aye), Representative Pollitt (aye), Representative Schmidt (aye), Representative Smith (no), Representative Steinmetz (no), Representative Williams (aye), and others as recorded. The chair announced the final tally as 16 yes and 7 no.

Sponsor remarks emphasized continued negotiation on special-education provisions and that passage today would not foreclose further changes; sponsor asked the committee to "vote out the bill that we discussed and then give us an opportunity to continue to look to make it better." Committee members who questioned the bill focused on implementation rules, the effect on dropout counts and the foundation formula, and protections for students who switch to adult‑education programs. Committee members and witnesses clarified that the adult high-school programs are not funded through the K–12 foundation formula and that students who transfer are treated administratively as transfers rather than as dropouts.

Ending: The committee moved HB 711 forward with a do‑pass recommendation; sponsor and committee members said they would continue conversations on special education language and implementation details.