Senate repasses K‑12 funding bill that would send school‑finance change to voters

The Senate repassed Senate Bill 135 on May 12, 2026, a measure that would increase appropriations for K‑12 public education for 10 years, change the distribution formula, and submit a ballot question to registered voters. The bill is sponsored by Senators Bridges and Kip and by Representatives Bacon and Lucans.

Senator Bridges told colleagues the House amendments adjusted the distribution formula to send more funds more broadly to districts rather than accelerating implementation for a subset of districts. He said the changes also limit the use of funds above base allocations to programs that support children — naming child care and full‑day preschool — and that at least half the funds over the next decade will go directly to school districts.

The Senate repassed the bill on the floor. The transcript records a roll‑call result of 23 yes and 12 no votes on the repass. Senator Bridges moved the repass after describing the distribution adjustments and program priorities.

What’s next: With the repass on the Senate floor, the measure moves forward in the legislative process and, as described in the bill language, would be submitted to voters as a ballot question if enacted according to the bill’s text.