Representative Abbott presented House Bill 424 to amend administrative details and definitions governing the School Activity Eligibility Commission. Abbott said the changes are primarily technical: clarifying two appointees’ eligibility, permitting the commission to form a quorum when one position is unfilled, giving flexibility on meeting scheduling, and clarifying that commission decisions last one school year and use a preponderance‑of‑the‑evidence standard.

Representative Miller asked whether the bill was intended to affect gender or participation policies tied to birth-certificate language. Abbott said the measure is not a substantive change but rather a consistency fix, explaining that use of the term “unamended birth certificate” aligns the statute with related areas of law and was intended to make the law clearer, not to change prior policy.

No public commenters appeared in the room or online. The committee chair made a motion to favorably recommend HB 424; the motion passed by voice vote with no opposition.

Why it matters: sponsor and supporters described HB 424 as a technical, clarifying package to reduce ambiguity in commission operations and evidence standards; committee members and the sponsor said it should make commission decisions more administrable.

Ending: The bill was advanced out of committee with a favorable recommendation to the House floor.