Chair presents $38.5 billion House budget, advancing large education and corrections investments

The chair presented the House's FY2027 budget proposal as a $38.5 billion plan and described a modest revenue estimate that increases state spending about 2% over the prior year.

The chair said the proposal "includes several new educational investments, particularly in the early grades," and highlighted full funding of the QBE formula at nearly $15 billion and a $60.8 million allocation tied to literacy initiatives. The presentation also flagged a roughly $101 million increase for the Department of Corrections, including $34.9 million to hire more correctional officers and added funding for inmate health and related services.

Why it matters: the budget sets the state's spending priorities for fiscal 2027 and steers funding to early-grade literacy, school supports, corrections workforce increases and capital projects. The House versions of line-item changes must still be reconciled with the Senate and the governor.

Key details: the chair said the House's revenue estimate is $38,500,000,000, a $738 million increase over FY2026. Among the education changes are $41.1 million for pupil transportation, $5 million to fund social worker grants for underserved districts, and $9.7 million to the Department of Early Care and Learning to expand extended-day programs and add pre-K classes. For corrections, the House added about $34.9 million to hire additional correctional officers and about $70 million for health, mental health and pharmaceutical needs for an increasing inmate population.

Votes at a glance: the hearing record shows multiple voice votes and motions carrying across subcommittees. Committee actions recorded in the transcript include a motion to approve committee changes to HB 974 (moved in committee and carried by voice vote), and separate subcommittee approvals for General Government, Higher Education, Human Resources, Health, Agriculture/economic development line-items, and Public Safety. The record reflects voice votes without roll-call tallies in most cases.

What happens next: House-approved line items will proceed toward reconciliation with the Senate and any required executive review. The transcript records that committee chairs and members moved and approved the House adjustments by voice vote, but it does not include final enacted figures or a formal roll-call tally.