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 Halstead (seconder) handled the amendment process.

House Bill 13‑57 (student data/privacy) — Members accepted a reviewed amendment (noted in committee testimony as having been reviewed by the assistant attorney general and IT staff) and voted to advance House Bill 13‑57 as amended. The committee recorded a final vote of 12 yes, 0 no, 2 absent. Representative Hoke moved acceptance of the amendment; Representative Morton later moved a due pass as amended.

House Bill 11‑29 (absenteeism funding) — The committee approved a requested amendment that provides $1,000,000 for the program. The amendment and the bill as amended were carried and the bill was referred to Appropriations; final action in committee was recorded as 12 yes, 0 no, 2 absent. Representative Schreiber Beck’s amendment added the funding; Representative Jonas seconded the amendment.

House Bill 14‑98 (teacher bonuses) — The committee considered two amendments and an emergency clause and approved an amended version. One amendment added a CTE‑section reference (15‑20.207) and the committee accepted a package amendment on a roll call that recorded 11 yes, 1 no, 2 absent for the amendment itself; the final due‑pass vote for the bill as amended later recorded 12 yes, 0 no, 2 absent. Representative Longyear moved due pass as amended for the final bill action.

Several representatives asked clarifying questions during debate about program eligibility dates, how changes would interact with other grant programs (for example, the “best in class” program), and whether changes would automatically alter related grant rules. Committee members noted that some language changes came at the request of Health and Human Services and that the student‑data amendment had been reviewed by the assistant attorney general and IT staff.

Votes at a glance

- House Bill 14‑97 (pre‑K eligibility, as amended): due pass 8 yes, 4 no, 2 absent; emergency clause approved earlier in committee. Motion to advance moved by Representative Schreiber Beck; second by Representative Halstead.

- House Bill 13‑57 (student data/privacy, as amended): due pass 12 yes, 0 no, 2 absent. Amendment acceptance moved by Representative Hoke; due‑pass motion moved by Representative Morton; final carrier: Representative Mackey.

- House Bill 11‑29 (absenteeism funding, as amended): due pass 12 yes, 0 no, 2 absent; referred to Appropriations. Amendment adding $1,000,000 moved by Representative Schreiber Beck; seconded by Representative Jonas.

- House Bill 14‑98 (teacher bonuses, as amended): amendment carried 11 yes, 1 no, 2 absent; final due pass 12 yes, 0 no, 2 absent. Final due‑pass motion moved by Representative Longyear; bill carrier: Representative Hager.

What’s next

Committee members said several finance‑related bills (weighted daily average, school‑building assessments) remain on the agenda for later in the week and that some policy items tied to the funding formula will be addressed in separate bills or in Appropriations. The committee adjourned until 2:30 p.m.