Votes at a glance: Committee advances pre‑K eligibility change, student‑data privacy bill, absenteeism funds and teacher bonus changes

The House Education Committee advanced multiple education bills after brief discussion and amendment on Wednesday. Major outcomes included moving forward a pre‑K eligibility bill with Health and Human Services language, advancing a student‑data privacy bill as amended, approving $1 million in funding for an absenteeism program, and approving changes to a teacher‑bonus bill that added a Career and Technical Education (CTE) provision and an emergency clause.

House Bill 14‑97 (pre‑K eligibility) — The committee accepted amendments that remove the superintendent of public instruction from specific pre‑K approval duties and instead reference the Department of Health and Human Services for screening instruments and program approval. The committee carried an amendment 12‑0‑2 and later approved the bill as amended on a due‑pass vote of 8 yes, 4 no, 2 absent. The committee also approved adding an emergency clause before advancing the bill. Representative Schreiber Beck (mover) and Representative…