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Lawmakers advance record state school fund increase and debate new accountability framework
Summary
The Ways and Means committee reported a roughly $11.4 billion State School Fund budget out while separately advancing Senate Bill 141, a proposed accountability framework that drew sharply different views on local control, supports and potential state intervention.
The committee reported Senate Bill 5,516 — the State School Fund budget — out with the subcommittee’s dash-2 amendment. The subcommittee recommended $11.4 billion for the 2025–27 biennium for the State School Fund, an 11.4% increase over the prior approved budget; when combined with local revenues the biennial total was described as topping $16.7 billion.
Members broadly acknowledged the size of the appropriation but debated whether additional funding alone will improve outcomes. “Continuing to throw money at it has not worked,” Representative Ben Draisen said while voting to…
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