House approves bill to tighten school background checks and reporting after amendment for students with disabilities

The House passed a committee substitute to House Bill 775 on Sept. 23, which mandates criminal background checks for school employees and tightens reporting and response requirements for assaults and certain threats directed at educators.

Representative Biggs, the bill sponsor, said the legislation was designed to ‘protect our teachers, protecting our students,’ and explained the bill requires reporting of assaults on educators to law enforcement and to the State Board of Education within specified timelines. Representative Hawkins offered an amendment to carve out exceptions and provide clearer guidance when students with disabilities (including certain IDEA‑defined categories) may exhibit behaviors that could be misinterpreted as threats; the House adopted that amendment by voice (recorded 106–0 on the amendment).

Several members supported the measure on safety grounds and gave examples of teachers assaulted on camera. Others, including Representative Von Haven and Representative Von Haven’s colleagues, expressed concern that newly added language—especially an undefined reference to “intentional infliction of emotional distress” and a mandatory reporting trigger for perceived threats—could be vague, lead to unnecessary criminalization of students (including students of color and students with disabilities), and be used unevenly by school administrators. Sponsors said the intent was to address serious, outrageous conduct and that the bill had been vetted with the State Board of Education and superintendents.

The House committee substitute passed its second and third readings (second‑reading recorded: 104–3) and will be sent to the Senate.