Education committee backs 'Right to Play' bill to clarify sports participation for McKinney‑Vento students

Senator Missy Irvin (District 24) presented House Bill 17 33, the Arkansas Right to Play Act, telling the committee the bill clarifies that students covered by the McKinney‑Vento federal law may participate in school sports and sets a clear statutory process for those students.

Irvin said the bill also incorporates language from Senator Davis to allow certain club‑soccer participation for high school players — a point Irvin described as "focused for soccer" — while explicitly exempting football, basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball at the request of stakeholders. She said the bill is an agreed‑to measure with athletic associations and athletic directors and that rule and penalty language was removed for further interim work.

After brief questions, the sponsor closed, a motion to pass was made and seconded, and the committee approved the do‑pass recommendation by voice vote. The committee said it will convert the bill into an interim study as needed and return with any further work.

Next steps: the bill advances from committee with a do‑pass recommendation.