Committee hears proposed K‑12 funding bill: statewide per‑pupil funding projected near $13,900

LCB fiscal staff presented BDRS 12‑32, the proposed 2025 K‑12 education funding bill, to the Senate Finance Committee. James Malone, Liliana Camacho Poco and Yuri Yarkolev walked members through the bill draft request and the funding assumptions used to calculate per‑pupil support and categorical transfers.

The draft sets per‑pupil measures at an estimated $13,889 (FY26, all‑in including federal/state/categorical funding divided by enrollment) and $13,963 in FY27. The People‑Centered Funding Plan components presented include a statewide base per‑pupil amount of $9,416 for FY26 (distance education base $9,416) and $9,486 in FY27, attendance area adjustments, and weighted funding for targeted pupil types. The bill specifies calculated weights of 0.45 for English learners, 0.35 for at‑risk pupils and 0.12 for gifted/talented, producing estimated weighted funding totals (FY26) of about $232.7 million for English learners, $165 million for at‑risk funding, and $9.9 million for gifted and talented funding.

The presentation included program‑level items and transfers: $599,800,000 transfer to support local special education costs in each year, transfers for food services and transportation, and targeted grants for career and technical education (totaling $13.5 million each year). The bill also directs transfers from the education stabilization account in FY25 and FY26 and authorizes balances in the education stabilization account tied to the pupil centered funding plan.

Senator Titus questioned details of the stabilization account balance and the mandated transfers in sections 19 and 20; staff clarified the sections would mandate transfers by controller if the bill is enacted and said stopping the transfers would require separate legislation. After the presentation, the committee introduced BDR 12‑32 as a committee bill (motion to introduce carried by voice vote).