Committee reopens HB 2420 and removes civil‑penalty provision before passing it as amended

The Committee on Education reopened consideration of House Bill 2420 and approved an amendment removing the bill’s civil‑penalty provision before passing the bill as amended. The committee chair moved to reconsider HB 2420, Representative Steele offered an amendment to strike section c (a civil penalty for violation), and the amendment passed on a voice vote. The chair then moved to pass the bill as amended, Representative Steele seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote.

Why it matters: The amendment removes a legal penalty tied to the parental‑consent measure, a change proponents said makes the bill more acceptable and responsive to concerns raised during floor referrals. Committee members offered no additional debate on the amendment or the final motion during the session.

Details and procedure: The motion to reconsider was made by the presiding chair and seconded; Representative Steele introduced the amendment to remove the civil‑penalty subsection and Representative Hubert seconded that amendment. Both the amendment and the final passage were decided by voice votes; the record shows no roll‑call tally. The committee chair described the change as an important improvement and the motion carried.

Next steps: The committee carried the bill as amended forward; the committee did not record a roll‑call vote during today’s session. The committee then moved on to other agenda items.