Rep. Mayberry's bill to allow volunteer chaplains in schools advances to Calendar and Rules

The Finance, Ways, and Means Committee on Jan. 20, 2026 voted to move House Bill 1250 to Calendar and Rules after a brief presentation and question-and-answer period. Chair opened the item, the sponsor described the bill, members asked a procedural question about student interaction, and the clerk recorded that "the ayes do have it."

Representative Mayberry, sponsor of the bill, summarized the proposal: "I bring House Bill 1250, which allows local school boards and charter schools to employ or accept a volunteer chaplain to support students, teachers, and facilities if they opt in." Representative Love asked whether the bill contains prohibitions on proselytizing by chaplains with students; Mayberry replied that any chaplain interacting with students would require parental permission and that the school board would set rules and a waiver form to permit interaction. The transcript does not include a roll-call tally; the clerk announced only that "the ayes do have it," and the chair announced that the bill "moves on to Calendar and Rules."

The measure, as described to the committee, would be opt-in at the local level and relies on school boards to set interaction rules and parental-permission processes. The sponsor said he "stands ready for questions," and the committee did not debate amendments on the floor before the vote. The next procedural step is consideration by Calendar and Rules. The transcript does not specify a mover or seconder for the motion to consider the bill.