Youth Legislature approves school-lunch, driver-education and other measures in packed session; several items tabled

The YMCA Youth Legislature Senate approved a slate of bills and memorials on its final day, moving measures on school lunches, driver education, athletic trainers and curriculum requirements to passage while tabling or postponing several other items.

Savannah Newville (Harrison Prep) successfully sponsored an amendment requiring at least one gluten-free lunch option prepared in an FDA-approved gluten-free environment in public schools; proponents said the change would address the daily needs of students with celiac disease and could be implemented within existing lunch budgets. The chamber approved the measure on final vote.

Vincent Merathy introduced a bill to expand driver education and offer a lower-cost elective in high schools to reduce unlicensed driving and fatal crashes. Merathy said the program would be funded through district budgets and offered to students at a reduced price; the chamber passed the bill.

A memorial to encourage congressional funding for certified athletic trainers in schools was approved after proponents cited studies showing more concussions are diagnosed where trainers are present and argued trainers reduce long-term harm to student athletes.

Delegates also passed a measure adjusting high-school graduation curriculum to include critical race theory–related content, which proponents described as a tweak to history classes to ensure students learn about systemic racism and minority experiences. The chamber voted to approve the bill after debate on curriculum scope and teacher training.

Other measures acted on during the session included: a shark-protection measure intended to strengthen conservation protections during breeding seasons (passed), a minimum-wage clarification to require minimum wage for employees under 18 (passed), and routine docket motions to table or untable several bills. Several items were postponed indefinitely or tabled for later consideration.

Votes and formal actions were recorded on the floor for each item; where a division or supermajority was required the presiding officer announced counts on the chamber floor.