Appropriations committee advances budget substitute with targeted K–12, higher-ed, and pilot program funding

The Senate appropriations committee worked through the budget substitute (House Bill 238), reviewed line-item adjustments and approved the substitute for the Senate floor. The Chair distributed spreadsheets and explained changes made in collaboration with the House and agency chairs, noting small PHIP-related reductions in some agencies and a reorganization of several education-related pots into pilot, innovation and teacher-recruitment categories.

Members spent extended time on broadband funding and the interplay with federal dollars; one senator noted the committee did not add a large broadband appropriation in this substitute because substantial federal resources were already allocated, while other members urged the administration to move quickly to capture federal matching funds. The substitute preserves increases for specialty schools (ADM-based O&M), restores selected line items for child advocacy centers and disability services, and inserts funding to expand school-based social-work or mental-health services, a priority for some members.

After discussion, the committee adopted the substitute (recorded as 15 ayes, 1 abstention during substitution votes) and later gave the bill a favorable report as substituted ahead of floor consideration. Committee leaders urged members to review printed changes and to meet with staff before the next session day to finalize outstanding details.