Federal law already guarantees every child access to a free public education regardless of immigration status. That protection is settled. HB 912 does not add new rights for students. Instead, it layers on new mandates, new training requirements, and a new civil cause of action that exposes school divisions to lawsuits for subjective, after-the-fact claims. The bill forces schools to police “actual or perceived” immigration status, a vague standard that invites confusion and litigation even when staff act in good faith. It also requires school administrators to manage law enforcement access decisions, placing educators in the middle of legal determinations they are not trained or equipped to make. Most concerning, HB 912 expands liability without improving instruction, safety, or student outcomes. It increases paperwork, compliance costs, and legal exposure while distracting schools from academics, discipline, and student achievement. Schools should not become enforcement bodies for social policy debates, nor should teachers and administrators operate under constant threat of lawsuits for actions unrelated to education. HB 912 solves no gap in the law, but it creates real operational and legal problems for local school boards. For those reasons, HB 912 should not advance.

HB478 This testimony is in favor of the enactment of a Fine Arts Seal of Excellence on high school diplomas. In considering the Fine Arts Seal of Excellence on a diploma, a lot is to be considered. Guidelines and criteria should reflect the dedication students have given to the Fine Arts Program of their school district to receive such an honor. This honor would be not only an encouragement to the dedication and participation of the programs that really compliment the educational experience students receive academically, This recognition would not only serve to encourage the students participating and dedicating themselves, but also be a lighthouse to beacon prospective students to participate in such programs. We have long known the value of such programs to improve academic improvement, aid in responsibility through punctuality and taking ownership of being a part of team effort. These skills are valuable and carry young people into adulthood and through the rest of their lives. To recognize their significant dedication to such programs for most of their formidable high school years will I believe shape stronger intellect and success in our future graduates. Please deeply consider the positive impact this will have on future graduates when approving this measure. Respectfully, Mrs. O’Neill