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Committee advances school-funding fixes and lunch payment replacement after votes
Summary
The House Education committee approved technical changes to school funding (Senate Bill 37) and a program to replace reduced-price lunch co-payments (House Bill 551). SB 37 was moved and concurred; HB 551 passed on a roll-call vote of 12-3 and will go to the House floor.
The House Education committee on Thursday approved two measures affecting K‑12 funding and school meal payments.
Senate Bill 37, described by staff as a technical clarification that calculations for significant enrollment increases be made at the budget‑unit level, was opened for executive action and moved for due pass by Vice Chair Romano. Committee members signified assent by voice and proxy; staff advised a member would carry the bill to the floor.
House Bill 551, sponsored by Vice Chair Romano, would establish a state program to provide replacement funding for school districts that eliminate reduced‑price co‑payments for school lunch and breakfast. Romano said appropriations were already included in HB 2 and that the policy in HB 551 is intended to align with those appropriations. During discussion Representative Thane asked whether appropriations were in place; Romano replied, “I believe right now there is 300 for each year of the biennium. And, dollars 300,000.”
The committee took a roll‑call vote on HB 551. The clerk recorded members’ votes and proxies; Chair Rexton announced the final tally as 12 in favor and 3 opposed. Chair Rexton closed executive action on the bill and said it will proceed to the House floor.
Actions recorded in committee match the votes taken during executive session; both measures were advanced for further consideration on the House floor.
The committee closed its executive business and moved on to scheduled hearings on other education bills.
