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Subcommittee ITLs technical Higher Education Commission bill, adopts due-process amendment and debates civics requirement
Summary
The House education subcommittee recommended ITL for a technical appointments bill, adopted an amendment to a campus due-process bill, and carried forward debate on a proposed civics requirement for higher-education students.
The education subcommittee handled a block of higher-education items, recommending ITL on a technical appointments bill, adopting a definitions amendment for a campus-discipline bill and opening a broad debate on a civics requirement for college graduation.
Chairman Ladd recommended ITL on HB443 after the Department of Education reported the underlying appointment issues had been resolved. Representative Burton moved ITL and the subcommittee recorded a unanimous recommendation to the full committee (roll call recorded as unanimous in the hearing record).
On HB510, which addresses disciplinary procedures and due process at public institutions, members focused on a provision that would allow the accused or impacted party to confront and cross-examine witnesses. University-system counsel raised concerns that authorizing direct cross-examination by either party could chill reporting in Title IX cases. Representative Popovich moved to adopt an amendment that aligns the bill's definitions with existing statute; Representative Bridal seconded. The amendment (listed in the hearing as amendment 2025-3009h) was adopted unanimously. Catherine Provencher, representing the university system, said: "Typically parties have the right to an advisor of their choosing. If the party has opted not to exercise this right, the Title IX coordinator will appoint an advisor for the purpose of cross examination... So the same adviser would not serve on both sides." Committee members asked staff to gather additional legal and operational details before the subcommittee takes final action on the bill.
The committee also discussed a civics proposal (HB212) that would require incoming students to demonstrate familiarity with foundational American documents or complete a general-education course. University leadership cautioned that "legislating graduation requirements becomes a bit of a slippery slope," and recommended that civic learning be integrated into gen-ed curricula rather than mandated by statute. The subcommittee scheduled follow-up work and will reconvene to consider additional information from the university system and counsel.
