The Senate State Affairs Committee will meet beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 7, to hear testimony on several bills, including:
SB 11 Middleton – The bill proposes the introduction of a period for prayer and reading of religious texts in public schools, contingent on consent from participants and adherence to specific guidelines to ensure voluntary participation and compliance with constitutional provisions. The bill allows school districts to implement a daily period for prayer and reading of religious texts, provided it is voluntary and consent is obtained from participants. Participants must submit a signed consent form acknowledging their voluntary participation and waiving certain legal claims against the school. The prayer and reading period cannot replace instructional time, must not use public address systems, and must respect the rights of non-participants. The Attorney General is tasked with providing guidance, model consent forms, and legal defense for schools adopting the policy. The policy would be implemented starting with the 2025-26 school year, with a mandatory vote by school boards within six months of the bill’s enactment.