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JBC votes to end higher-education pilot evaluation, agrees to finish scholarships for students already enrolled
Summary
The Joint Budget Committee voted 6-0 to remove the evaluation study component of the fourth-year innovation pilot in higher education while retaining scholarship payments owed to students; staff recommended moving administrative FTE funding into an administration line and limiting lingering scholarship obligations.
JBC staff analyst Amanda Bickle returned with recommendations on the fourth-year innovation pilot program and asked the committee to finish promised scholarship payments to students but eliminate the program's continuing evaluation and ongoing incentives.
Bickle told members the program was intended as a pilot and that early evidence suggested uptake was limited (about 23% of eligible students claimed the scholarship in recent years). She recommended shifting administrative funding into a department administration line and restricting scholarship funding so unused dollars would revert.
Senators and representatives discussed whether to keep the small evaluation component. Vice Chair Bridges moved to adopt staff recommendations and eliminate the study; the motion passed on a 6-0 vote. Committee members said they wanted to honor scholarships already promised to students and supported statutory language tightening the window for students to begin postsecondary study (Bickle suggested requiring students who graduate in 2026 to begin by the fall semester rather than waiting 18 months).
Next steps: staff will send a bill draft to (a) end the Department of Education component earlier, (b) move the higher-education administration funds to an admin line, (c) limit the student start window so remaining scholarship obligations conclude sooner, and (d) remove the study requirement per the committee's motion.
