Open Enrollment Moves Forward

January 20th, 2026

Today at the Statehouse:

The Senate Education Committee and House Education Funding Committee heard bills today, but one of the most notable developments came from the Senate Finance Committee. 

SB 101, which creates a statewide public school open enrollment policy, had been voted inexpedient to legislate by the Senate Education Committee in the fall, but lawmakers had a change of heart and voted ought to pass when the bill came to the floor earlier this month. In that floor session, Sen. Lang had planned to introduce an amendment, but he held off because of an error in the way the amendment had been drafted. 

Thursday’s committee hearing was focused exclusively on a new, non-germane amendment. The non-germane amendment creates an exemption to the parental consent requirement in the new parental bill of rights, making it easier for schools to film concerts and basketball games and to use video for instructional purposes. Public testimony Thursday favored this amendment. 

In executive session, Sen. Lang also alluded to the amendment he had intended to introduce on the floor. A copy of the amendment was not made available, but Sen. Lang said the amendment would change the funding mechanism described in SB 101, clarifying that sending districts would pay to a receiving district no less than 80% but no more than 100% of the sending district’s cost per pupil. Sen. Lang also indicated he planned to change the effective date from January 1, 2027 to July 1, 2026. 

All of the amendments received an ought to pass vote from the committee, and the bill as a whole was voted ought to pass as amended. The bill will still need to go through the House.

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