Committee hears $24 million request to fund workforce education innovation; higher‑ed leaders urge competitive grants

The Appropriations — Education and Environment Division heard testimony on House Bill 1221, which would appropriate $24 million from state general funds to the State Board of Higher Education to create a Workforce Education Innovation Fund. Representative Heiner, the bill sponsor, told the committee the funding would support program design, equipment purchases, curriculum development and distribution across the university system, and that higher education officials estimate the fund could help serve up to 60,000 people through credits and credentials.

Proponents described the fund as seed money to help institutions pilot programs that are not yet revenue‑generating. Representative Cynthia Shriverbeck (bill backer) said the policy enacted in 2023 (House Bill 1241) authorized the Workforce Education Innovation Program but did not provide funding; HB1221 is intended to fund that…