Supporters say HB 669 would make statewide education tax constitutional and reduce local disparities; opponents caution about distribution and local impacts

Representative Mike Smith opened the public hearing on House Bill 669 by describing the measure as a simple, constitutionally‑oriented reform that would set a statewide education tax rate of $5 per $1,000 of equalized property valuation and remit proceeds directly to the Education Trust Fund.

Smith said a flat rate collected at the state level would address what he called inequitable local variations in school funding and eliminate the practice of districts retaining state tax “swept” revenue that currently reduces the state‑level component of school funding. He and other supporters said the rate would raise an estimated $1.62 billion in FY2026 (Smith cited an estimated $1.26 billion additional revenue above the current $363 million statewide amount) and that directing that revenue to the Education Trust Fund…