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House committee adopts amendment and advances pre‑K ‘promise’ account bill
Summary
The House Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment clarifying eligible beneficiaries of a new pre‑K promise account and voted to report substitute House Bill 2,159 out of committee with a due‑pass recommendation; the bill aims to expand early learning access by supporting children enrolled in ECAP.
The House Appropriations Committee on Jan. 30 adopted an amendment to House Bill 2,159 and voted to report the substitute bill out of committee with a due‑pass recommendation.
Jordan Clark briefed members that HB 2,159 would create a "pre‑K promise" account to be used for the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECAP). Amendment Clark 333, sponsored by Representative Bergquist, clarifies that expenditures from the pre‑K promise account may be used to support any children enrolled in ECAP rather than a narrower entitlement subgroup.
Vice Chair Gregersen moved that the amendment be incorporated into the substitute bill and that the substitute be reported out with a due‑pass recommendation. Representative Bergquist urged adoption, describing the change as technical and emphasizing the bill would provide "up to 10,000 additional early learning, preschool slots" for the state’s most vulnerable 3‑ and 4‑year‑olds. Representative Penner and other members expressed support.
The committee adopted amendment Clark 333 by voice vote, then approved the substitute and reported HB 2,159 out of committee. The clerk recorded 29 ayes and 2 members excused.
The committee’s action sends the bill, as amended, to the next legislative stage with a recommendation that the full House consider it. No additional fiscal details beyond the account’s expanded eligible population were provided during the briefing.
Next steps: the committee report accompanies the substitute bill as it moves toward floor consideration and any subsequent fiscal analyses by the legislature.
