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House Education

Thursday, March 12, 2026·4h 7m·▶ Watch / Listen

The House Education Committee killed HB 26-1291, a bill that would have shifted non-probationary teachers rated effective or highly effective from annual written evaluations to a three-year formal evaluation cycle, on a 3-10 vote followed by indefinite postponement. A procedural layover of HB 1282 was the only other business.

Key Actions

·HB 26-1291 – Educator Performance EvaluationsFailed

+ 1 more action

Controversies

Whether the bill contains enforceable requirements for non-evaluation years

Rep. Phillips argued 'I heard a long list of what can be done instead of an annual evaluation, but this bill doesn't have any requirements. In fact, section 10 that I kept being directed to says that line 17 and 18, it says, does not prohibit a board from doing.' Rep. Hamrick acknowledged 'Yeah, they're not required. But we're happy to talk about language with you.'

+ 5 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“Formally evaluating teachers each year has not moved the needle nationally or in our state. In fact, 29 states in our country have stopped evaluating teachers every year. 29 states have stopped evaluating teachers every year. This bill is not stopping evaluation. This is creating a continuous improvement model versus a compliance mechanism in which teachers start over every year.”

Rep. Hamrick — Closing argument by the bill sponsor defending the shift from annual to three-year evaluation cycles for non-probationary teachers rated effective or highly effective.

+ 3 more quotes

Votes

Motion to refer HB 26-1291 as amended to Committee on Appropriations with a favorable recommendationFailed
Yes (10)Jennifer Bacon, Mary Bradfield, Ava Flanell, Lori Garcia Sander, Lindsay Gilchrist, Anthony Hartsook, Dusty Johnson, Katie Stewart, Matthew Martinez, Meghan Lukens
No (3)Eliza Hamrick, Jacque Phillips, Tammy Story
Motion to postpone indefinitely HB 26-1291 by reverse roll call votePassed
Yes (10)Jennifer Bacon, Mary Bradfield, Ava Flanell, Lori Garcia Sander, Lindsay Gilchrist, Anthony Hartsook, Dusty Johnson, Katie Stewart, Matthew Martinez, Meghan Lukens
No (3)Eliza Hamrick, Jacque Phillips, Tammy Story
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TranscriptPreview
Representative Bacon. Excused. Bradfield. Here. Flinell. Here. Garcia. Sander. Present. Gilchrist. Here. Amrick. Here. Hartsuk. Excused. Johnson. Here. Phillips. Yes. Stuart Kay. Here. Story. Here. Martinez. Here. Madam Chair. Here. Okay, we are starting with House Bill 1282. Who would like to start? Rep. Phillips. I can't believe I missed that. Thank you, Madam Chair. Members, we would respectfully request to lay over House Bill 1282 until Wednesday. We're still working on some amendments and just finishing off that stakeholder phase on this bill. So if we could come back on Wednesday, we'll be super prepared and ready to go, and most everybody will be somewhat happy. Okay. For the sake of the calendar, I will be coming back to you all and asking for Thursday next week. But for now, the proper motion is just to Layover House Bill 1282 until a later date. I move House Bill 1282 to be laid over until a later date. Okay, perfect. We don't actually need a proper motion. We just had to say it on the mic. So just saying, whatever. Bill 1282 will be laid over until a later date. Thank you. Do it. Okay. We will now transition to…
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