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Committee corrects parental-consent rule to allow public-event recordings of students; bill recommended unanimously
Summary
House Bill 32 to clarify where government entities may record children at public events was recommended do pass by the committee on a 98-0 vote; sponsors said the bill remedies an unintended restriction from a 2023 parental-rights law that constrained routine filming of school events.
The committee recommended House Bill 32 do pass on second reading, 98-0, adopting language that clarifies when a government entity may make audio or video recordings of children without parental consent.
Sponsor materials and committee discussion said the change responds to an unintended consequence of the 2023 parental-rights law (House Bill 676) that, as written, could prohibit game films of school sporting events, recording of band concerts and theater productions, and other routine public-event recordings without obtaining the approval of every parent of a participating student.
Representative Regier was listed as the bill introducer and explained the bill would permit a government entity to make audio or video recordings as part of an event that is open to the public. A committee question asked whether posting such videos on social media or other public platforms would be precluded; the sponsor responded that she did not see language in the bill that would preclude posting to public platforms.
The motion that the committee "recommend the same do pass" was moved by Representative Vergheer; the clerk recorded 98 ayes and zero no votes when the committee voted.
The bill will move forward to additional House consideration under the committee report. The record identifies the change on page 2, lines 13-14 of the bill's draft as the corrective language.
