2026 Regular Session
HB3240
Schools; requiring school districts and charter schools to adopt a policy providing a period of prayer or religious text reading for students and employees on each school day; effective date.
Legislative progress
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This summary includes only completed milestones supported by recorded actions. It does not predict the next step, and it preserves later committee reassignments, concurrence, conference, veto, and approval actions when they occur.
Partner positions
Likes
The boards of education of school districts and charter schools shall adopt a policy requiring every public school to provide students and employees with an opportunity to participate in a period of prayer and reading of the Bible OR OTHER RELIGIOUS TEXT on each school day.
WE support HB 3240 on policy grounds. However, the reaction to this bill exposes a striking double standard at the Capitol. The Hypocrisy can't be ignored. When the previous State Superintendent advanced similar ideas around religion in schools, legislators from both parties reacted with outrage, citing: constitutional concerns, separation of church and state, and warnings about government overreach. Now, with HB 3240: The policy is substantially similar in effect The mandate comes from the Legislature itself And there is little to no opposition, including from many of the same lawmakers who previously objected What changed? Not the policy—the messenger.
This legislation would provide allot time daily for a voluntary opportunity to pray and read scripture.
No public reasoning provided.
Recorded floor votes
4 roll calls are available for this bill. This record includes procedural and intermediate action as well as substantive final votes.
February 18, 2026 · House
House: Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee: DO PASS
Passed
6 yea–4 nay
March 3, 2026 · House
House: Appropriations and Budget Committee: DO PASS AS AMENDED BY CS
Passed
17 yea–10 nay
March 25, 2026 · House
House: TABLE AMENDMENT
Passed
69 yea–18 nay · 12 absent
March 25, 2026 · House
House: THIRD READING
Passed ⭐ Substantive final action
61 yea–30 nay · 8 absent
Committee referrals
April 1, 2026 · Senate
Rules
February 3, 2026 · House
Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee
February 3, 2026 · House
Appropriations and Budget
Instrument history
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This is the complete recorded action history in the current source package. Highlighted entries are marked as significant by the source. A roll-call link appears only when a vote-like action has one unambiguous same-day chamber vote.
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Senate Coauthored by Senator McIntosh
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Senate Coauthored by Senator Jett
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Senate Second Reading referred to Rules
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Senate First Reading
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House Engrossed, signed, to Senate
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House Referred for engrossment
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House Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 61 Nays: 30
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House General Order
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House Emergency removed
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House Title stricken
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House Authored by Senator Alvord (principal Senate author)
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House Coauthored by Representative(s) Olsen, Hill
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House CR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Appropriations and Budget Committee
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House Recommendation to the full committee; Do Pass Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee
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House Referred to Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee
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House Second Reading referred to Appropriations and Budget
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House Authored by Representative Hasenbeck
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House First Reading