Senate committee advances School Finance Act after hours of debate over hold‑harmless, BEST cash shifts

Senate Education Committee members voted unanimously to send House Bill 13‑20 — the School Finance Act — to the Appropriations Committee after a lengthy hearing that included sponsors, school leaders and district finance officers.

Supporters said the bill implements the student‑centered funding formula passed last year while protecting districts from immediate cuts. “This bill…increases the statewide base per pupil funding for the 25‑26 budget year by $195.42 per student,” sponsor Senator Kerry Lundin said during opening remarks. The measure directs a $256 million increase in state funding in a year the state faces a roughly $1.2 billion budget shortfall.

The bill sets a new statewide base per pupil amount for 2025‑26 at $8,691.80 and sets total program funding at about $10,305,615,917.80, according to sponsors’ remarks. Supporters described the proposal as a phased implementation of the new funding formula passed last year (often referred to in testimony as the implementation of House Bill 1448), with a multi‑year phase‑in to limit fiscal shocks while directing more…