Committee approves bill requiring notice when districts relocate contained special-education classes

House Bill 143 (first substitute) would require local education agencies to provide advance notice to parents when a contained special-education classroom is moved to a different school for the provision of services. Representative Peterson said the bill is focused on ensuring families have timely information and the ability to prepare for transportation or other changes; the sponsor said the bill was drafted with the State Office of Education to comply with federal special-education law.

Committee members asked whether districts must obtain delivery confirmation (for example, certified mail) and whether email without confirmed receipt would meet the requirement. The sponsor replied that districts must be able to demonstrate they used one or more notification methods (email, mail, hand-delivery) but that the bill does not require proof the parent actually received a specific message; the statute requires demonstration that notification steps were taken.

Amanda Bollinger, vice chair of the State Board of Education, testified the board voted to support the bill and that the measure reflects best practice for parental engagement in special-education placements. The committee voted unanimously to forward the bill with a favorable recommendation.

Next steps: HB 143 will proceed to the Senate floor with a favorable recommendation; committee members flagged implementation details (documentation methods and local procedures) for follow-up.