Overview

• The Senate Education Committee is reviewing a substitute for House Bill 2, which maintains the $8 billion total but shifts funding priorities toward teacher pay raises.
• The Senate version limits the basic per-student funding increase to $55, compared to the House's proposed $395 hike, sparking concerns about inflationary pressures on school budgets.
• Experienced teachers in smaller districts would receive larger raises, with $10,000 increases for those with over five years of experience in districts under 5,000 students.
• The bill allocates $4.2 billion for teacher pay raises, $1.3 billion for special education, and additional funds for early learning, school safety, and rural districts.
• Lawmakers face a June 2 deadline to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions before the legislative session concludes.