House Passes K-12 Funding Bill

Many committees will begin meeting this month.

The Indiana House has unanimously passed a bill shoring up K-12 funding in response to an enrollment increase of 6,000 students in the state’s public schools. HB 1001 involves transferring up to $25 million from the state’s tuition reserve fund this year.

House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-88) called the bill the top priority for House Republicans. He says it ensures the state’s public schools will be fully-funded this year and next.

The bill, authored by Rep. Sally Siegrist (R-26), passed 96-0. Under the measure, the transfer limit from the state’s tuition reserve fund would increase to $50 million in 2019. She says the fund is designed to address situations like the one created by the unexpected enrollment increase.

A Senate version of the bill, SB 189, is being considered by that chamber. It was authored by Ryan Mishler (R-9) and Travis Holdman (R-19).