Ways & Means reviews Draft 2.1 of H.955; debates pre-K funding, school construction aid and ballot language

The Ways & Means Committee met April 9 to review draft 2.1 of its committee amendments to H.955, taking up new language on prekindergarten funding, data collection and reporting, school transportation, Title 16 definitions, and proposals for state support of school construction.

Legislative counsel for the committee laid out the changes and new language, telling members that the draft opens with legislative intent "that reads it as the intent of the General Assembly to in the 2027 legislative session, establish a funding structure for pre kindergarten education" and that subsection (b) "requires the Agency of Education, Department for Children and Families, and Building Bright Futures to jointly monitor and evaluate pre k education programs" and report annually to the General Assembly in January. The counsel noted the language has moved among committees and that some sections were consolidated in draft 2.1.

Members discussed the federal preschool development grant that has funded initial build‑out work and questioned whether that grant is one‑time setup funding or a continuing obligation the state will need to assume. Committee members…