Committee pauses vote to probe SIBF changes and capital needs at state schools for deaf and blind

The Committee on K‑12 Education Budget paused a scheduled vote and spent the meeting gathering data and hearing priorities for two state residential special schools, after staff warned the State Institutions Building Fund (SIBF) will shift funding mechanics under recent law.

Jennifer Light of the Legislative Research Department told the panel that Senate Bill 35 (2025) replaces the SIBF’s historic 0.5 mill levy with an annual transfer from the State General Fund of $25,000,000 beginning fiscal year 2027, with the transfer increasing by $500,000 each year. Light said, “there will be a transfer from of $25,000,000 from the SGF to the SIBF every year, and it will happen on July 1.” Committee members and staff discussed how the demand‑transfer structure and a 2% adjustment in subsequent years will affect the fund’s ability to support enhancement requests.

Light summarized the committee and governor differences for the two schools: the governor included a $718,000 SIBF item to replace the roof at the Edlund Dormitory and dining hall at…