Committee adopts amendment to require schools to offer voluntary daily Pledge of Allegiance

The House Education Committee on Wednesday amended House Bill 12‑22 to add a district‑level policy directing schools to offer students the voluntary opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance daily.

Representative Novak, sponsor of the amendment, said the language is intended to accommodate schools with staggered start times and other scheduling differences. "The board of a school district shall adopt a policy requiring each school… to offer all students the opportunity to voluntarily recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of each school day," Novak said while describing the amendment; he also emphasized that "a student may not be required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance."

The committee voted to adopt Amendment 01001 as presented by Representative Novak; the amendment passed on a roll call recorded as 14 yes, 0 no. After adopting the amendment, the committee voted 13 yes, 1 no to give the amended bill a due‑pass recommendation to the House floor.

Representative Jonas agreed to carry the bill to the floor on behalf of the sponsor.

During discussion, members and the sponsor said the amendment aims to avoid constitutional concerns by preserving voluntariness and to allow local school boards to set the implementation policy. No fiscal notes or statutory citations were offered during the recorded discussion.

The committee's action moves HB 12‑22, as amended, to the House floor with a committee recommendation for passage.