The House Education Committee voted to advance several education bills during a short session that included measures on state school-board agendas, college application questions, textbook vendor penalties, paraprofessional certification and clarifying due-process triggers for teacher-misconduct reporting.

The most immediate actions were votes to accept committee proposed substitute (PCS) language and to report multiple bills as "do pass." Representative Johns presented House Bill 1491, which would allow an agenda item to be added to the state school board agenda upon written request by at least two members; the committee accepted the PCS and voted to send the bill forward with a 9-0 tally on the recorded vote. Representative Ransom moved adoption of House Bill 1980, which removes the prior felony question for online college coursework; the committee recorded the measure as a do-pass. House Bill 1982, presented by Representative Ransom and described as setting timelines and penalties for textbook vendors to ensure educational materials are delivered on agreed dates, was also accepted and reported as do-pass. Representative Townley presented a PCS to House Bill 2089 to change requirements for paraprofessionals and alternative-education certification; the committee adopted the PCS and voted to report the bill as do-pass. The committee also advanced a bill labeled 1075 with PCS language clarifying due-process procedures and the triggers for reporting to the State Board of Education and the State Department of Education; the PCS language passed on a recorded 9-0 vote.

Why it matters: The package touches multiple stages of education governance and operations. HB1491 would change how items appear on the state school board agenda, creating a formal request pathway for at least two board members. HB1980 removes a previous felony-question on applications for online college coursework, which proponents said removes a barrier for people with prior convictions seeking further education. HB1982 aims to hold textbook vendors to delivery schedules and creates penalties for noncompliance, intended to protect school timelines and taxpayer funds. HB2089 reduces an education-hour requirement for individuals already holding education degrees who pursue alternative teaching certificates; Representative Townley said, "If they already have an education degree, they would not need to complete the 12 extra hours of education requirements to get an alternative teaching certificate." The PCS for the bill reportedly adds a 10-year component to the paraprofessional alternative-ed provision. The PCS to bill 1075 clarified that referrals to the state board or licensure actions are triggered when a teacher resigns under investigation or when conduct is substantiated as criminal; committee discussion repeatedly described those triggers as the standard for forwarding recommendations.

Key discussion and clarity provided in committee:
- HB1491: Representative Johns described the bill as permitting an agenda item to be heard on the state school board agenda by written request from at least two board members. Vice Chair Caldwell and other members said they had heard about the issue dating to prior administrations. Members asked whether the proposal conflicted with the Open Records Act; the presenter answered it did not.

- HB1980 (online coursework felony question): Representative Ransom said removing the prior felony question from online college applications "will allow post incarcerated individuals a fair chance at furthering their education." Members did not record extended debate; the committee reported the bill as do-pass.

- HB1982 (textbook vendors): The PCS was described as establishing clear timelines for replacements and support and providing penalties for vendors who fail to make educational materials available by agreed dates. The presenter said the bill drew on requirements used in surrounding states and was intended to protect taxpayer dollars and school access to resources on schedule.

- HB2089 (paraprofessional/alternative certification): Representative Townley said the friendly PCS would add 10 years to the paraprofessional alternative-ed provision and would eliminate a 12-hour education requirement for people who already hold an education degree. The presenter said the change targets individuals on paraprofessional or emergency certification tracks who already possess education degrees.

- Bill 1075 (teacher-misconduct reporting and due process): The PCS clarified due-process language in section 3 and clarified roles in section 2 for the State Board of Education (OSBE) and the State Department of Education (OSDE), including a requirement that OSDE notify school districts if a report of inappropriate conduct occurs and an investigation is imminent. Committee members asked and received confirmation that the triggers for forwarding recommendations to the state board include a teacher resigning under investigation or conduct substantiated as criminal.

Votes at a glance:
- HB1491 (state school board agenda requests): PCS accepted; committee recorded vote 9-0 to accept PCS and sent bill as do-pass.
- HB1980 (remove felony question on online college applications): Moved for adoption; reported as do-pass (vote recorded as do-pass in committee; exact roll-call tally not specified in transcript).
- HB1982 (textbook vendor delivery timelines & penalties): PCS accepted; reported as do-pass (roll-call tally not specified in transcript).
- HB2089 (paraprofessional/alternative-ed adjustments): PCS accepted (friendly); recorded vote reported as 9-0 on division vote and sent as do-pass.
- Bill 1075 (teacher-misconduct reporting/due process PCS): PCS accepted; recorded committee vote 9-0 to accept PCS and send forward.

What the committee did not decide here: The committee accepted PCS language and reported the bills to the next stage; the transcript does not record final floor action, amendment language beyond the PCS summaries, nor final statutory text. Several members asked clarifying questions; no formal amendments beyond the described PCS actions were adopted in committee debate recorded in the transcript.

Next steps noted in committee: Committee clerks announced the measures would be sent as do-pass (or "due pass" in the transcript) to the next legislative stage. The committee recessed after completing votes.

(Quotations are from committee members during debate as recorded in the committee transcript.)