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Committee Concurred in Bill Moving Designated Non‑Levy Revenues Into School Equalization Account
Summary
House Bill 18 would redirect certain non‑levy revenues (including Taylor Grazing Act and bentonite proceeds) into the 'sceptor' account so they flow directly to the school equalization formula; sponsor and fiscal witnesses said the net effect is zero on overall funding.
Representative Mark Thing described House Bill 18 as a technical but important change that moves statutorily designated non‑levy revenues into the 'sceptor' account (created by prior legislation) so they flow to the school equalization formula as intended. He cited Taylor Grazing Act receipts and bentonite‑mine proceeds as examples and told the committee "the net effect in terms of impact is $0" — the bill shifts accounting rather than changing the distribution of funds.
Dylan Cole (Department of Revenue) and Kurt Swimley (Legislative Fiscal Division) served as informational witnesses to answer technical questions. Representative Thing said the bill had passed prior reviews unanimously in the House and asked for concurrence. The committee concurred with House Bill 18 by voice vote and identified a carrier for the bill on the Senate side.
Why it matters: The bill clarifies the routing of statutorily designated revenues into the state account that funds school equalization; it does not change total funding available but affects the account used to disburse those funds.
