Committee sends EFA reporting bill to interim study after debate over scope and audit language
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Summary
HB1578, which would impose expanded reporting requirements on Education Freedom Accounts, was referred to interim study (ITL) after members split 10–8. Supporters of transparency urged more data; opponents said the bill’s language is overly broad and could conflict with LBA audit procedures.
The committee voted 10–8 to recommend ITL (inexpedient to legislate) on HB1578, legislation that would add definitions and reporting requirements for Education Freedom Accounts (EFA).
Representative Popovich, who moved ITL, argued the bill’s reporting provisions exceed what is required of public schools and contain broadly worded requests that would be difficult or impossible to administer. “Specific portions of the language are so broad as to be impossible to administer,” Popovich said, and he warned that embedding audit initiation through the legislative budget assistant in statute is inappropriate.
Representative Bridal and other members argued for public transparency and said organizations such as the Children’s Scholarship Foundation already endorse greater openness. Representative Pillsbury and others asked for narrower, more-defined reporting language and noted potential conflicts with established Legislative Budget Assistant (LBA) audit procedures.
After debate the roll call recorded ten yes votes and eight no votes and the motion for ITL passed. The committee noted an LBA performance audit of the EFA program is underway and is expected to report later in spring or summer, which members said bears on whether additional statutory reporting is needed.
The committee placed the ITL recommendation on the record and moved on to the next item.
