Bill > HB3014

This bill establishes the School District Facility Equity Fund to provide financial support for school districts and education service districts to address capital costs and facility needs. The Office of School Facilities within the Department of Education will administer two types of grants: hardship grants up to $500,000 and technical assistance grants up to $40,000 for specific purposes like facilities assessments and environmental hazard evaluations. Additionally, the bill authorizes the issuance of $100 million in lottery bonds to fund facility grants, with distributions split between two categories: one without matching fund requirements (up to $2.5 million per district) for facility replacement, repair, maintenance, and health and safety upgrades, and another with matching fund requirements (up to $10 million per district) for construction, remodeling, and renovations. The State Board of Education will establish eligibility criteria considering factors like financial need, previous bond attempts, and district resources. The bill also requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to convene a school facilities advisory group to review and recommend sustainable funding sources for the new fund, with a report due by June 30, 2026. The bill declares an emergency and will take effect on July 1, 2025, reflecting the urgent need to address school facility infrastructure challenges across Oregon.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB3014