Bill Description: House Bill 657 (H657) would provide admission preference to families with at least one (1) parent or legal guardian on military active duty or active guard and reserve duty.
Rating: -1
Analyst Note: House Bill 657 is similar to House Bill 257 from the 2025 legislative session.
Does it violate the principle of equal protection under the law? Examples include laws that discriminate or differentiate based on age, gender, or religion or which apply laws, regulations, rules, or penalties differently based on such characteristics. Conversely, does it restore or protect the principle of equal protection under the law?
It is a fundamental principle of republican government that no individual is entitled to special privileges before the law, regardless of their title or position. This principle applies to members of our military just as it does to any other civil servant. As George Washington once wisely observed, “when we assumed the soldier, we did not lay aside the citizen.” It is also worth noting that the spirit of this legislation has no limiting principle. If the state provides special privileges to service members, why not also provide that privilege to police officers, firefighters, and first responders? House Bill 657 violates the principle of equal citizenship by granting special consideration to the children of military members for admission in a charter school, which is otherwise largely determined by lottery.
(-1)
