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JFAC advances State Board of Education budget, approves credit-mobility supplemental and workforce grant funding
Summary
Committee approved a $20,000 supplemental for a credit mobility grant, advanced a larger FY2026 package that includes $5 million for a public-private workforce capacity grant, and adopted language requesting reports on credit mobility and outcomes-based funding.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on March 11 approved multiple actions for the Office of the State Board of Education, including a $20,000 supplemental for a credit mobility grant and a FY2026 budget package that advances with a do-pass recommendation and includes funding for a public-private workforce capacity grant.
Representative Petzke moved a $20,000 supplemental for the credit mobility grant that covers a one-year period running January through December. Senator Woodward seconded the motion; the committee recorded a total vote of 17 ayes and 3 nays, and the motion received a do-pass recommendation.
Later in the hearing, Representative Petzke moved a separate FY2026 package that, as presented in the motion text, added one FTE and line items including $144,200 for a database engineer, cybersecurity and software support contracts, marketing, replacement vehicles and OITS hardware, and $5,000,000 ongoing general fund designated as trustee and benefit payments for a public-private workforce capacity grant. Petzke described the motion as a compromise from a working group and characterized it as curbing unchecked budget growth while funding priority items. The motion passed with a do-pass recommendation.
Senator Wintrow offered a substitute motion to increase the public-private workforce capacity grant to $15,000,000. That substitute motion failed on a recorded vote of 2 ayes and 18 nays; the committee then returned to and approved the original motion.
Committee members also approved language accompanying the FY2026 package that directs the State Board of Education to produce a report on credit and transcript mobility, contains provisions addressing outcome-based funding for colleges and community colleges, and sets conditions and limitations on reappropriations and use of funds. The language was adopted by roll call after debate and will be attached to the bill as it advances.
Doctor Campbell, appearing for the State Board of Education, summarized the agency's programs and the purpose of the credit mobility supplemental. Committee co-chairs said the language asks the board to develop policy recommendations rather than imposing policy from the committee.
Votes: the supplemental and the FY2026 package were approved by committee majorities. The substitute to increase the workforce capacity grant to $15,000,000 failed (2 ayes, 18 nays).
