Raylee’s Law has failed to pass the state legislature once again.
The proposal would have prevented parents from removing a child from school during an active or pending child abuse investigation. This year marked the fourth time the bill fell short.
In a last-minute push, state senators amended Raylee’s Law into House Bill 5537 and sent it back to the House on the final day of the legislative session. But lawmakers didn’t begin debating it until the final hour Saturday night.
Delegates raised concerns that the language could limit decisions for legitimate homeschooling families, and time quickly ran out as amendments were discussed.
The House ultimately voted 94–1 to pass the bill with changes, but the vote came just minutes before midnight—too late for it to advance before the session ended.
The bill will now have to be reintroduced in 2027.