House Higher Education committee advances three bills to rules committee

The House Higher Education Committee on Wednesday moved three bills forward to the Rules Committee after brief presentations and voice votes.

Members advanced HB 419, a measure to place opioid (Naloxone/Narcan) dispensing units next to AEDs on university and technical‑college campuses. The bill’s sponsor said the dispensers would be paid for by community funds and donations and would relieve institutions of liability even if a unit were depleted. A committee member made a motion to pass, another seconded it, and the committee approved the action by voice vote.

The committee also approved HB 385, which would allow students who have unused HOPE scholarship credit hours to apply them toward graduate or professional tuition while paying the difference in rate; the sponsor provided estimated fiscal ranges tied to projected utilization (about $5.8 million at a 5% utilization estimate and roughly $28 million at 25%). After brief questions from members, the bill was moved to Rules with a do‑pass recommendation.

Finally, the committee moved HB 541, described by its sponsor as a narrow amendment to allow a tuition equalization grant for one private, brick‑and‑mortar nursing institution (Chamberlain College). The sponsor said the proposal is tightly circumscribed so it would not open a broad pathway for other institutions; the cited grant amounts were $367 per quarter or $550 per semester per eligible student. The committee approved sending the measure to Rules by voice vote.

None of the three measures received a roll‑call vote; committee action was by voice and the proceedings reflected typical committee housekeeping and initial votes to move bills forward. The committee announced it will reconvene next Wednesday.