Education continues to be a hot topic this session…
The biggest news of the week is that the Joint Appropriations gutted the external cost adjustment (ECA). Previously, relevant committees and the State Superintendent recommended a one-time ECA of $66.3 million to cover increased expenses for professional and non-professional staff, utilities, and materials. The new Joint Appropriations Committee, headed by Freedom Caucus Representative John Bear, slashed the ECA to a one-time $46.2 million appropriation for professional salaries only, eliminating all other aspects.
HB248 – School Foundation Program Interim Budget Authority and HB271 – Common School Account Spending Policy Amount signal an intent to cut education over the long term. The complex interaction among various other bills will create a significant problem for education funding. The last time the state faced such a structural deficit, proposals of cutting education by up to $300 million were on the table. This deficit would have devastating long-term consequences for education as well as state and local economies.
HB199 – also known as the Universal Vouchers bill, passed unanimously out of the House Education Committee. Rep. Lawley attempted to amend the bill to include recommendations for accountability in testing and in certification of providers; however, these amendments failed. The bill is expected to pass the house floor, though considerations for guard rails will be a significant debate.
HB172 – Repeal Gun Free Zones moved through the House Judiciary Committee. There were a number of attempts at amending the bill to allow for the current local control policy, which all failed. The bill should pass the third reading on the House floor, sending it to the Senate where additional amendments are expected. WEA opposes this bill.
SF21 – Ban on Cell Phone Use in Schools passed out of the Senate Education Committee with amendments that allow for more local control. However, it failed significantly in the Senate Committee of the Whole.
SF69 – Homeowner Property Tax Exemption, one of the many property tax relief bills, provided a backfill and incorporated a sunset date to reduce the cut to education funding these would produce. Even with the backfill, the bill would create a $60.2 million shortfall in local revenue. Adopted amendments removed the backfill and a sunset date, leaving a massive $89.5 million shortfall for education funding that would be permanent.
SF34 – School Finance-Routine Major Maintenance Calculations was amended in Senate Appropriations to have the $38 million for routine and major maintenance calculations apply for only one year. Similarly, capital construction has seen significant cuts including the elimination of the Gillette school and a much-needed bus barn.
HB94 – Charter School Authorizations Amendments lifts the cap on the number of charters schools allowed to be authorized using the new charter school authorizing board. WEA and the Wyoming Association of School Administrators warned the committee that the single largest contributor to the increase in cost in education was the three new charter schools that were recently authorized. This was an overall increase of roughly $14 million in required spending. Any additional authorizations will inevitably have the same effect.
HB80 – Stop ESG-State Funds Fiduciary Duty Act took on some serious amendments to remove the penalty provision and attorney general enforcement. As the bill is now, it is no longer a risk to the state pension nor the state’s investment strategies and returns. The bill passed the house and is now headed to the Senate for consideration. However, keep in mind that the Senate can easily make or remove those amendments, and there is a chance for a conference committee if changes are made.
HB100 – K-12 Uncertified Personnel, the bill that would allow 18-year-olds with a high school diploma who pass a background check to become teachers and administrators, still has not yet been introduced.
Bills that are expected to be heard in committee next week:
- HB194 – Obscenity Amendments. This removes the exemptions for educators and opens them up to criminal prosecution under the obscenity statutes.
- HB200 – Parent Rights Amendments. This brings back the requirement that all classroom teachers provide all of their materials, paper, digital, classroom presenters, etc., to the district ahead of instruction for review and for posting on the district’s website.
- HB270 – Permanent Mineral Trust Fund Spending Policy. This would result in a $25 million cut to education annually.
- HB271 – Common School Account Spending Policy Amount. This is another bill that would cut $25 million to education annually.
For more details about these and other education-related bills, visit our WEA Bill Tracker.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Through collective action, we can defeat these dangerous bills. Please write, call, text or email your senator and representative to tell them to VOTE NO on these and other anti-public education bills. Also, there are numerous opportunities to lobby your specific legislators at the Capitol. If this is something you, your students, parents, friends or family are interested in doing, email WEA Government Relations Director Tate Mullen.
The power to save our state’s amazing public education system is in your hands, and in solidarity we can all advocate for ourselves, our fellow educators, our communities, and the incredible students across Wyoming!