Senate subcommittee adopts two‑party education budget, rejects proposed UC/CSU cuts and preserves K–14 funding

Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Education held its closeout hearing and approved a two‑party budget framework that rejects proposed ongoing cuts to the University of California and California State University systems and preserves Proposition 98 protections for K–14 funding.

The subcommittee, chaired by Senator Laird, took public comment and then approved three grouped motions covering 165 individual items. The motions passed with recorded votes of 3–0, 2–1 and 2–0; the items will move to the full Senate for further negotiation with the administration toward a final, three‑party agreement.

Why it matters: The package maintains major state investments in K–12 schools while deferring or reshaping some higher education reductions proposed by the governor. The subcommittee’s actions affect financial aid, community college growth and cash flow, expanded learning programs, school meals and several targeted grants that education stakeholders urged the legislature to protect.

The subcommittee’s work and public comment Senator Laird opened by describing the hearing as the subcommittee’s closeout after seven prior hearings since the governor’s January budget and the May revision. He said the legislative budget “reflects what we were striving to do” and noted the package combines reductions, borrowing and other solutions.

Senator Ochoa Bogue warned that much of the package still relied on placeholder trailer‑bill language and said she wanted final language available before the budget bill is finalized. She said she would support many K–12 proposals but would abstain on one community college…