House education committee adopts substitute to name campus liaisons for foster and McKinney‑Vento students

The Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education voted to adopt a House Committee Substitute for House Bill 27‑22 and reported the measure "do pass" by a vote of 13 yes to 2 no.

The committee’s chair moved the substitute and allowed the bill sponsor to explain major changes. The substitute requires each public higher‑education institution to identify an on‑campus liaison for foster care students, McKinney‑Vento students and unaccompanied youth and to house that liaison in the institution’s financial aid office. The institutions would also be required to maintain and publish a list of liaisons so students and agencies can be directed to the correct contact.

Sponsors and staff clarified an eligibility point in committee: the provision enabling in‑state tuition for homeless students in higher education remains subject to existing state law and would not extend in‑state tuition to non‑U.S. citizens. The chair read the statutory citation discussed during the hearing and the sponsor confirmed that the change was intended to leave the state’s citizenship rule intact.

Committee members asked about funding. Staff and the sponsor said the goal was a zero fiscal note and that any fiscal estimate would be finalized after the bill is officially reported out of committee.

By the committee’s roll call, the substitute was adopted and the HCS for HB 27‑22 was reported "do pass." The chair announced the tally at 13 yes and 2 no. The committee will include the bill in its upcoming actions as usual.

The committee then left executive session and moved on to other agenda items.