House passes notification bill requiring schools to make 'reasonable efforts' to alert noncustodial parents

House members adopted an amendment and approved House Bill 1,001 on third reading, directing schools or family services to make "reasonable efforts" to notify noncustodial parents when their child is disciplined, removed, or in an emergency.

Representative Thompson said an amendment agreed in Health and Human Services replaces the term “attempt” with the legal phrasing “make reasonable efforts” on several lines of the bill to provide clearer legal standards for schools and staff. The House adopted that amendment by voice vote before debate continued.

Opponents, including Representative Cox, questioned why the requirement must be put into statute when school secretaries already commonly try to contact parents and warned that the mandate could create extra phone calls and place schools between disputing parents. Representative Becher recounted a personal custody example and said mandating notification risks complicating custody dynamics.

Supporters said the change is a practical child‑safety measure. Representative Holiday asked members to imagine a parent learning their child had been taken to a hospital without any effort to notify them; she described the bill as ensuring at least a reasonable effort to make contact. Representative Bennion and Representative Beck added that the notification serves both the child’s welfare and practical concerns such as insurance coverage.

Members called the previous question to end debate, Representative Pfeiffer waived summation, and the House closed voting. House Bill 1,001 passed this body with 68 yes votes and 3 no votes and will be referred to the Senate for further consideration.

Next steps: The bill will be sent to the Senate for consideration; no Senate action is recorded in this transcript.