House votes to codify McKinney‑Vento protections for unhoused students
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Summary
Substitute House Bill 25 94, intended to ensure access to education for unhoused children and youth by codifying elements of the federal McKinney‑Vento Act, passed the House after emotional testimony from members with lived experience.
Substitute House Bill 25 94, aimed at ensuring school districts' obligations to unhoused students under the McKinney‑Vento Act are codified in state law, passed the House after members described the issue's personal and statewide importance.
Representative Reeves, who said he experienced homelessness as a teen, framed the bill as guaranteeing access to free, fair, public education for students facing housing instability. ‘‘The bill before you simply ensures that the McKinney Vento Act…gets codified in state law,’’ he said, describing both personal experience and district statistics on unhoused students.
Representative Estelick and others cited statewide numbers of youth experiencing homelessness and urged support for the bill. The House recorded 94 yays, 1 nay and 3 excused on final passage; the bill was declared passed.
What happens next: The bill moves forward for enrollment and any follow-up agency implementation steps in education agencies; districts will need to align local practices with the statutory language once enacted.
