Committee advances bill raising per‑student special education allocation, adding about $470,000 to FY27 request

Ken Alper, staff to Rep. Josephson, explained to the House Education Committee on March 2 that House Bill 246 would raise the per‑student multiplier used to fund the Special Education Service Agency (CISA) from $23.13 to $26.89. Using the prior fiscal year average daily membership (about 124,900 students), the change would add approximately $469,900 to the governor’s FY27 request for special education services.

Alper said the $2.9 million figure on the fiscal note reflects the current statutory formula and that HB 246’s increase would adjust the multiplier applied to average daily membership. Olivia Yancey, executive director of the Special Education Service Agency, was present online and offered to answer questions but made no substantive remarks at the hearing.

Rep. Himshoo moved HB 246 (version and control code read into the record) out of the House Education Committee with attached fiscal notes and individual recommendations. Co‑chair Story asked for objections; with none, the bill was advanced out of committee without a roll‑call vote.

What’s next: HB 246 was moved out of committee and will proceed with the attached fiscal note.