House passes HB253 to add district interventions before criminal penalties for truancy

Representative Eric Hutchings, sponsor of House Bill 253, explained floor amendments that change how the state treats truancy. Under current law parents can face a class B misdemeanor after five absences; Hutchings told the chamber the bill inserts a sequence of intermediary district-level interventions at five absences so educational officials can meet with families and pursue remediation before criminal penalties are considered.

Hutchings said the bill adds flexibility and due process: "When a child is absent 5 times instead of the parent being guilty of a class B misdemeanor, at that point the districts will step in, meet with the parents, find out what's going on in the child's life...and work with the parents," he said.

Members pressed the sponsor on specifics. Representative Fisher asked which parent would be held responsible in cases of divorced parents; Hutchings said responsibility attaches to the school of enrollment and therefore usually to the custodial parent, and that the bill allows exceptions and district processes to address complex family situations. Representative Lawrence asked whether the counting of absences was per day or per class; Hutchings pointed to a clarified definition: a failure to attend an assigned class or class period counts as one absence, and a full day of six periods counts as one absence.

Supporters argued the bill reduces criminalization of families and focuses on remediation and mediation; opponents raised limited concerns but the floor largely adopted the changes. The House voted 68 yes, 5 no, 2 absent; HB253 passed and was referred to the Senate for further consideration.

Ending: HB253 will proceed to the Senate; sponsors framed it as a shift from immediate criminal sanction toward district-led support and interventions.