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Committee narrowly approves school spending-growth cap in HB 675 after heated debate
Summary
The committee adopted an amendment and reported HB 675 OTPA; the measure would cap school district spending growth based on a five-year average and other adjustments. The vote was 10–8 and the measure drew concern that it would lock in funding disparities and shift burdens related to special-education costs.
After extended debate the House Education Committee adopted an amendment to HB 675 that narrows the bill to a single major change: a cap on school-district spending growth tied to a five-year average appropriation adjusted for ADM and inflation smoothing.
Representative McGuire, who moved the amendment (the committee label 2025-0548H), framed the proposal as a response to rapidly rising local property taxes linked to school spending. “There’s very little correlation between performance and spending,” McGuire said while summarizing the amendment; he said the cap is intended to limit unchecked spending growth and thereby slow property-tax increases.
Opponents cautioned the amendment could freeze or perpetuate existing inequities. Representative Luno and several members said the proposal risks embedding disparities in per-pupil resource access because wealthier districts already spend far more per pupil than lower-spending districts; a 66% override requirement for local voters was discussed as an escape valve but several members said a supermajority is a high hurdle in practice. Representative Damon said the cap “perpetuates the existing very significant inequities between funding and districts now” and strongly opposed the bill.
Members also raised practical concerns: special-education costs are largely non-discretionary and can spike; a spending cap could force regular-education programs to absorb those costs in resource-poor districts. Representative Fellows noted formula features that rely on percentage changes in ADMR (average daily membership) may not make sense for personnel and fixed costs.
The committee adopted the amendment on a close recorded vote (10 yeas, 8 nays) and then voted OTPA on HB 675 with the amendment, also 10–8. Members on both sides said the question is substantive and contentious and will require further debate before floor consideration.
Votes at a glance: amendment (2025-0548H) passed (10-8); OTPA on HB 675 as amended passed (10-8).
