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Senate adjustments raise the education budget to cover pay raises, testing and ESA changes
Summary
Senator DeBarr said HB 1935 increases the general education budget by roughly $160.6 million over LBR to fund a $2,000 teacher pay raise, testing contracts, 13 new ELC coaches, school safety platform reductions and shifts from general fund to EEF; the committee approved the motion by voice vote.
Senator DeBarr presented House Bill 1935, the omnibus education budget, telling the committee the LBR for the general education program was $2,110,537,009 and "Senate action is a $160,618,547 over LBR." He itemized the Senate increases: vacancy funding, a $2,000 teacher pay raise, a $1,000 special education supplement, pay adjustments for school attendance officers and funding for additional hires, $5.1 million for a state testing contract increase, funding for 13 new ELC coaches and money for a financial literacy program previously passed by the session.
DeBarr also said updated enrollment numbers showed a net enrollment loss of 7,224 students (including 2,333 low‑income students), which produced a near‑$34 million decrease in the student funding formula relative to earlier estimates. He explained some funds were shifted from general fund support for Education Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) to EEF and noted an ESA increase line. After the explanation, he moved title sufficient, do pass (strike all) and the motion passed by voice vote.
"The student funding formula... has a net enrollment loss of 7,224 students," DeBarr said while summarizing the formula impact. The committee approved the bill for floor consideration.
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