House Education committee finds two amendments friendly in straw polls, moves to floor

The House Education committee met March 20 and conducted nonbinding straw polls on two amendments that were presented the previous day.

The chair told members the committee had not yet voted on the two amendments and said Representatives Brown and Rep. Brady had explored combining the proposals but ultimately left them as two separate amendments. The chair said testimony from people with lived experience had influenced the committee’s view and that staff had recommended the amendments be treated favorably.

The chair introduced Representative Chapin’s amendment and called a straw poll, saying members should raise their hands to indicate support. The chair emphasized there were no changes from the version reviewed the day before and described the poll as a way to preserve simplicity on the floor. After members raised hands, the chair said the result was "looking good." The committee then heard Representative Burrows’ amendment as the second item; the chair asked for a hand-raise poll on whether members considered that amendment friendly as well, and members again indicated support.

Neither amendment was the subject of a formal roll-call vote in the transcript; the recorded actions were nonbinding straw polls. After the informal votes, the chair closed business in the room and announced the committee would adjourn and proceed to the legislative floor.

The committee did not state the detailed text of either amendment on the transcript excerpt provided, nor were mover/second names or vote tallies recorded in the segments. The transcript indicates the amendments had been presented and discussed the prior day and that the committee intends to take them up on the floor following the committee's session.