Citizen Portal
Sign In

Committee advances bill to make computer science a high-school graduation requirement, adds AI to definition

2712623 · March 20, 2025

Loading...

AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

The Education Policy Committee voted to give a favorable report to HB 332 as amended, which would put computer science into statute as a graduation requirement, allow it to count as a math or science credit, add artificial intelligence to the definition, and move required implementation earlier.

Representative Faulkner presented House Bill 332, a bill to update existing computer science requirements and make completion of a computer science course a graduation requirement. Faulkner said the change responds to workforce demand and builds on prior legislation that phased computer science offerings into elementary, middle and high schools.

Under the amendment adopted in committee, the bill would: move the statutory graduation requirement forward to the 202?–2031 school year (sponsor stated it moves the requirement to the 02/2031 school year), explicitly include artificial intelligence and other "emerging technologies" in the definition of computer science, allow a computer science course to satisfy one of the four math or science credits for the standard and advanced diplomas, and remove enumerated statutory definitions so the law will not become outdated as the field evolves. Representative Faulkner summarized: "we are making it a graduation requirement that you take 1 CS course."

Committee members expressed support and some questions about implementation. Representative Fincher asked at what grade the requirement would apply; the sponsor and chair clarified it is a high-school graduation requirement (to be taken between 9th and 12th grade). Representative Gray suggested including quantum computing in future updates; Faulkner responded the amendment's language on "emerging technologies" and AI was intended to cover future topics. The amendment was moved by Representative Baker and seconded by Representative Fincher and was adopted by voice vote. The committee then voted to give HB 332 as amended a favorable report.

The bill passed out of committee and will proceed to further legislative consideration. The committee and sponsor described next steps as coordination with the State Board of Education and curriculum partners (Code.org and others) to implement coursework and timelines.