Less Bureaucracy, Better Family Engagement Act
To ensure the Department of Health and Human Services will manage family engagement programs for elementary and secondary education, and for other purposes.
This bill, HB9608, proposes to shift the management of family engagement programs in elementary and secondary education to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The goal is to streamline the process and improve family involvement in education. This change aims to enhance communication and support between schools and families, ensuring that parents and guardians have more opportunities to engage in their children’s education.
The bill would primarily affect schools and educational programs, as well as families who are involved in the educational process. By transferring the responsibility to HHS, the bill seeks to leverage the department's resources and expertise to better support family engagement initiatives. This could lead to more effective and consistent support across different school districts.
As of the latest update on July 15, 2026, the bill has been introduced in the House and referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. It has passed a committee consideration and mark-up session, and was ordered to be reported (amended) with a vote of 20 to 15. The next steps will involve further deliberation and potential amendments before it can move forward for a full House vote.
