The House Education Committee voted to adopt an amendment to House Bill 12 22 that would require each school board to adopt a policy providing students the opportunity to voluntarily recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of each school day. The committee then recommended a due pass on the amended bill.

"The board of a school district shall adopt a policy requiring each school district or each school to offer all students the opportunity to voluntarily recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of each school day," Representative Novak said while describing the amendment. He emphasized that the amendment expressly bars requiring students to recite the pledge or salute the flag, and intends to avoid First Amendment challenges.

Representative Novak moved the amendment as presented (amendment 0.01001). The committee approved the amendment on a roll call announced in committee as 14 in favor. Representative Novak then moved for a due-pass recommendation on the amended bill; the committee approved a due-pass recommendation by roll call, recorded in committee as 13-1.

The amendment drew little debate in committee; supporters said the policy balances students’ rights with opportunities for voluntary participation, and said the policy was written to avoid constitutional problems. Representative Jonas agreed to carry the bill to the floor.

Next steps: the bill as amended will go to the full House for consideration with the committee’s due-pass recommendation.