Ways & Means committee finds Logan amendment to H.955 unfavorable in straw poll

The Ways & Means committee on Friday heard from Representative Kate Logan on an amendment to H.955 that would move forward the implementation date of language limiting tuition and mandatory school fees.

Representative Kate Logan, appearing by Zoom, said the amendment does not change the underlying policy but relocates existing language so the prohibition would take effect this year rather than in 2028. "This would move up the implementation date to this year instead of 2028," she said, adding that implementing sooner would "relieve some pressure on our education fund" and create "more equity" for families facing financial strain.

Committee members pressed Logan on practical impacts. One member asked how the change would affect ongoing, fundraised activities such as multiyear class trips; Logan replied that voluntary fundraising and out-of-pocket costs for trips were not considered mandatory school fees in her view and noted communities commonly supplement activities through fundraising and scholarships. The committee also discussed how legislative counsel might classify certain required payments; the chair reported legislative counsel would likely treat some required participation payments as fees that could be prohibited under the foundation formula when it takes effect.

Members raised statutory and budget questions. Representatives queried whether shifting the language would affect cross-references to sections on high school tuition (8-23 and 8-24) and whether accelerating the effective date could trigger excess-spending calculations for districts that currently collect tuition from parents. A committee member warned that, in some districts, parent-paid tuition has been substantial and that changes in the timing of the policy could alter which districts face penalties.

After discussion, the committee chair recommended finding the amendment unfavorable. The committee held a straw poll on that recommendation; the result was 10 in favor of finding the amendment unfavorable, 1 opposed and 0 abstentions. The chair said the committee will return H.955 to the floor and noted related issues may be taken up in the EAL bill later in the session.

The committee did not take a formal, binding roll-call vote on the amendment during this hearing; the straw poll records the members' sentiment at the close of discussion.