JFAC approves State Board of Education supplemental, funds workforce capacity grant and seeks reports on credit mobility and outcomes

The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on March 11 approved several actions affecting the State Board of Education, including a $20,000 supplemental for a credit mobility grant, a committee‑recommended FY2026 funding package that includes a public‑private workforce capacity grant, and committee language directing reports on credit and transcript mobility and on outcomes‑based funding for higher education.

The committee initially approved a $20,000 supplemental appropriation for a credit mobility grant, moved by Representative Petzke and seconded by Senator Woodward, to support work ensuring that academic credits are transferable between institutions; the motion passed on a roll call that the chair summarized as 17 ayes and 3 nays. Dr. Campbell, representing the State Board, described the supplemental as “a 1 year grant that runs from January of this year to December of this year, covering 2 fiscal years,” and said the board applied to support credit transfer work.

Separately, Representative Petzke moved a FY2026 program‑maintenance package that included one FTE, cybersecurity and software support line items, replacement vehicles, OITS hardware and a $5 million ongoing general‑fund trustee and benefit payment for a public‑private workforce capacity grant. Petzke described that motion as a “compromise” from the committee’s working group after debate over a larger governor’s initiative request. Senator Wintrow offered a substitute motion to increase the workforce capacity grant to $15 million. The substitute motion failed on a roll call (reported in committee as 2 ayes, 18 nays). The committee then approved the original motion, which the chair said will move forward as a bill with a do‑pass recommendation.

Committee language and reporting requirements Committee members also approved language shown on the screen that (1) sets criteria for use of the newly appropriated funds, (2) requires a report from the State Board of Education on credit and transcript mobility, (3) includes sections on outcomes‑based funding for colleges and community colleges, and (4) sets reappropriation authority and conditions. The committee voted to accept that language by roll call (reported as 14 ayes, 6 nays).

Why it matters: The actions provide modest one‑time and some ongoing funding to help with credit transfer and workforce capacity programs while directing the State Board of Education to develop and report policy options on credit mobility and outcomes‑based funding for higher education.

Speakers and viewpoints Dr. Campbell summarized the board’s programs and the credit mobility supplemental. Representative Petzke framed his FY2026 motion as a compromise that trims some requests while keeping targeted investments such as the public‑private workforce grant. Senator Ward Engelking and other members urged funding to build capacity at universities and community colleges, citing long wait lists for in‑demand programs such as nursing and engineering. Senator Wintrow, who moved the $15 million substitute, argued the larger amount addressed workforce shortages but the committee rejected that substitute.

Next steps The committee’s actions advance the budget items and the committee language forward with a do‑pass recommendation and require the State Board of Education to report back under the conditions and timelines set in the committee language.