House Education Committee advances seven bills; debates albuterol in schools, OEO privacy and special‑education timelines

The House Education Committee met in an executive session and reported seven bills out of committee with due‑pass recommendations, moving measures on graduation pathways, school medication policy, local food procurement, surplus technology for students, ombuds privacy, military family enrollment and special‑education timelines to the next stage.

Committee staff opened with briefings on each measure. Megan, the committee staffer who briefed several bills, summarized House Bill 2,007 as a measure authorizing competency‑based assessments and specified graduation pathways and noted an amendment (WARG 268 by Representative Couture) that would add a budget contingency ("null and void" clause). Vice Chair Shavers moved HB 2,007 to be reported; after brief debate in support from Representative Stonier and others the committee adopted a recommendation to pass (19‑0).

A central debate focused on House Bill 2,360, which would authorize public and private schools to obtain, maintain and administer school‑supplied albuterol for individuals experiencing asthma or other respiratory symptoms under specified requirements. Megan explained staff and amendment language clarifying that the amendment WARG 279 by Representative Donaghy removes a requirement that the secretary of health issue a statewide standing order and instead relies on the secretary's existing authority to issue standing orders for biological products, devices or drugs. Donaghy said the amendment "leans instead of requiring the Department of Health to issue an order," and stressed…