Nevada Senate passes SB500 to fund K–12 education for the 2025–27 biennium after floor debate

The Nevada State Senate passed Senate Bill 500 on May 21, 2025, approving K–12 funding for the 2025–27 biennium by a 13–8 recorded vote and ordered the bill to the Assembly.

Senate Bill 500, introduced by the Senate Committee on Finance, provides statewide appropriations for K–12 public education for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Sponsors and supporters described per-pupil averages and targeted categorical funding; opponents focused their remarks on the exclusion of a stand-alone, recurring charter-teacher pay increase from the budget bill and sought assurances that separate legislation would address parity for charter teachers.

Senator Dondero Lupo, the bill sponsor on the floor, summarized the measure, saying the total support for school districts, charter schools and university schools for profoundly gifted students is estimated to average $13,889 per pupil in fiscal year 2026 and $13,963 per pupil in fiscal year 2027. He told the Senate the bill authorizes transfers and appropriations for food services and transportation and various categorical programs, and that most sections become effective July 1, 2025. The sponsor's floor statement referenced specific funding buckets and program appropriations but the bill draft and committee reports contain the detailed statutory language.

Several senators urged passage. Senator Cannizzaro argued passage was necessary to avoid defunding education, saying, "to take a no vote on senate bill 500 means that you are taking a vote to defund education. Period." Senator Donate also urged colleagues to support the bill, framing it as an investment in students and noting services for students with disabilities, English learners and rural districts.

Opponents said the bill omits a recurring, statutory charter-teacher pay increase and leaves the issue to separate bills. Senator Buck said, "All teachers ... deserve respect, support, and fair compensation," and announced she would vote no until charter teachers were included in a recurring pay-raise mechanism. Senator Hansen and Senator Titus also raised concerns that charter-teacher pay language had been placed in other bills and might not become permanent unless enacted separately.

Supporters and sponsors responded that charter-school raises had been moved to companion policy bills to attach accountability measures. Senator Cannizzaro stated there are two separate bills that include charter pay language, noting Senate Bill 460 and Assembly Bill 398 as vehicles for that change, and said the budget bill alone does not change policy on accountability or reporting.

The Senate recorded 13 ayes and 8 noes on the final roll call; the presiding officer declared the constitutional majority met and ordered SB 500 transmitted to the Assembly.

The bill text and committee reports provide the detailed fiscal figures for the pupil-centered funding plan account, categorical programs and specified transfers; those documents should be consulted for precise statutory language and exact appropriations.

SB 500 was considered alongside other biennial budget measures and procedural business; the Senate recessed for committee meetings after the floor session concluded.