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Roundup: committee tables several bills, advances chaplain measure and pauses on higher‑education vaccine liability
Summary
The Senate Education Committee conducted executive action on several bills: SB 525 (school chaplains) passed out of committee 8–6; SB 526 (CHAP) failed and was tabled; SB 478 (higher‑education COVID‑19 vaccine liability) was moved but tabled; SB 521 was withdrawn and tabled in committee action.
The Senate Education Committee spent its late‑day session hearing multiple bills and completing executive action. After public testimony and questioning, committee members took recorded and voice votes that left several measures in different procedural statuses.
Key outcomes reported by the clerk:
• SB 525 (Manzella) — Passed out of committee in a recorded roll‑call vote, 8–6. The bill would permit districts and charter schools to adopt policies authorizing paid or volunteer school chaplains; committee members asked the sponsor to consider amendments clarifying certification and whether chaplains can be engaged "instead of or in addition to" licensed counselors.
• SB 526 (Wendy Boy) — Failed to pass the committee in a roll‑call vote and was tabled. The bill would have created a Community Health Aid Program and a state special revenue account to support training for DHAT, MHAT and BHAT positions; proponents argued it addresses tribal and rural workforce shortages, while some members wanted clearer funding and implementation detail.
• SB 478 (Manzella) — Sponsor described the bill as requiring certain institutions of higher education to pay medical costs related to required COVID‑19 vaccinations; the committee discussed the fiscal note and ultimately a motion to table was entered.
• SB 521 (Pope) — Sponsor asked to withdraw the bill due to overlap with other legislation; the committee agreed to table the matter and allow brief courtesy proponents to speak.
Committee members and witnesses frequently referenced Board of Public Education rules, parental consent provisions and the narrowness or breadth of proposed appropriations. Several senators requested or warned that substantive amendments would need to be offered on the floor if the bill is to meet transmittal deadlines.
The committee adjourned after completing executive action and recording the votes and motions summarized above. Several sponsors signaled openness to amended language on the floor to address concerns raised in committee.
