Committee adopts substitute for House Bill 178; substitute limits scope to K‑12 and ties displays to donated funds

The committee removed a previously adopted substitute for House Bill 178 and adopted a new substitute before giving the bill a favorable report.

Sponsor Representative Gidley told the committee the substitute addresses questions raised in earlier debate and removes higher education from the bill’s scope so the measure applies only to K‑12 schools. The sponsor also pointed to language in the substitute saying school systems are not required to post the specified displays unless the state superintendent certifies that donated funds or donated displays are available.

Committee members first moved to withdraw the earlier substitute (motion by Representative Piermore, second by Representative Paschal). The committee then adopted the new substitute (motion by Representative DeBose, second by Representative Morris). Representative Parramore indicated he would move to give the bill a favorable report as substituted; Representative Woods seconded the favorable‑report motion. The committee approved the measure by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

The sponsor noted the bill had also passed a senate committee the same morning. Committee members asked questions about where the funding language appears in the substitute (the sponsor pointed to a line referenced as line 129 in the substitute). No additional funding sources or implementation details were specified in the committee discussion beyond the requirement for certification of donated funds or donated displays.