Bill

Bill > HF319


IA HF319

IA HF319
A bill for an act relating to public school funding by establishing the state percent of growth and the categorical state percent of growth for the budget year beginning July 1, 2025, modifying provisions relating to the property tax replacement payments and transportation equity payments, modifying provisions relating to the regular program state cost per pupil and funding for shared operational functions, establishing a school district funding supplement, making appropriations, and including e


summary

Introduced
02/10/2025
In Committee
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

91st General Assembly

Bill Summary

This bill relates to public school funding by establishing the state percent of growth and the categorical state percent of growth for the budget year beginning July 1, 2025, modifying provisions relating to the property tax replacement payment and transportation equity payments, modifying provisions relating to the regular program state cost per pupil, and establishing a school funding supplement. DIVISION I —— STATE AND CATEGORICAL PERCENT OF GROWTH AND PROPERTY TAX REPLACEMENT PAYMENTS. The bill establishes a state percent of growth of 2.25 percent for the budget year beginning July 1, 2025. The state percent of growth is used to calculate the amount of supplemental state aid for a budget year as part of the state school foundation program. The bill also establishes a categorical state percent of growth of 2.25 percent for the budget year beginning July 1, 2025. The categorical state percent of growth is generally used to calculate the amount of supplemental state aid for each of the categorical funding supplements. Code section 257.16B provides for school district property tax replacement payments. For each budget year beginning on or after July 1, 2024, the amount of each school district’s property tax replacement payment is the product of the school district’s weighted enrollment for the budget year multiplied by the per pupil property tax replacement amount for the budget year. The per pupil property tax replacement amount for budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2024, is equal to the sum of $153 plus the difference between the following: (1) the regular program state cost per pupil for the budget year beginning July 1, 2024, multiplied by 100 percent less the regular program foundation base per pupil percentage; and (2) the regular program state cost per pupil for the budget year beginning July 1, 2021, multiplied by 100 percent less the regular program foundation base per pupil percentage. The bill modifies the property tax replacement payment calculation for budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2025. For budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2025, the amount of each school district’s property tax replacement payment is the product of the school district’s weighted enrollment for the budget year multiplied by the per pupil property tax replacement amount for the budget year. The per pupil property tax replacement amount for budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2025, is equal to the sum of $153 plus the difference between the following: (1) the regular program state cost per pupil for the budget year beginning July 1, 2025, multiplied by 100 percent less the regular program foundation base per pupil percentage; and (2) the regular program state cost per pupil for the budget year beginning July 1, 2021, multiplied by 100 percent less the regular program foundation base per pupil percentage. The regular program foundation base per pupil percentage is 88.4 percent. The division takes effect upon enactment. DIVISION II —— STATE COST PER PUPIL. Under the bill, for the budget year beginning July 1, 2025, the regular program state cost per pupil is the regular program state cost per pupil for the base year plus the regular program supplemental state aid for the budget year, plus $10. Then with the budget year beginning July 1, 2026, and succeeding budget years, the regular program state cost per pupil will again be calculated as the regular program state cost per pupil for the base year plus the regular program supplemental state aid for the budget year. The division takes effect upon enactment. DIVISION III —— SUPPLEMENTARY WEIGHTING FOR SHARED OPERATIONAL FUNCTIONS. Current law provides that a school district that shares with a political subdivision one or more operational functions in certain specified areas for at least 20 percent of the school year shall be assigned a supplementary weighting for each shared operational function. Under current law, the maximum amount of additional weighting for which a school district is eligible in a budget year is 21 additional pupils. The bill increases the maximum amount of additional weighting for which a school district is eligible in a budget year from 21 additional pupils to 25 additional pupils, for budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2025. The division takes effect upon enactment. DIVISION IV —— TRANSPORTATION EQUITY PAYMENTS. For each fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2023, Code section 257.16C appropriates from the general fund of the state to the transportation equity fund the sum of the amount appropriated for the immediately preceding fiscal year plus the product of the amount appropriated for the immediately preceding fiscal year multiplied by the categorical percent of growth for the corresponding school budget year. The bill modifies the appropriation for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, such that the total appropriated is equal to the amount necessary to make all transportation equity aid payments. The division takes effect upon enactment. DIVISION V —— SCHOOL FUNDING SUPPLEMENT. The bill provides a school district funding supplement for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and appropriates from the general fund of the state to the department of education for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, $22,591,274 to make all school district funding supplement payments. Each school district’s funding supplement amount shall be equal to the portion of the $22,591,274 appropriation that is proportionate to the school district’s budget enrollment as a percentage of the statewide total budget enrollment for the budget year beginning July 1, 2025. Such funds received by a school district under the bill may be used for any school general fund purpose. School district funding supplement payments received by a school district shall be miscellaneous income for purposes of Code chapter 257 and shall not be included in district cost. The division takes effect upon enactment.

AI Summary

This bill addresses various aspects of public school funding in Iowa for the budget year beginning July 1, 2025, making several key changes to education finance. The bill establishes a state percent of growth and categorical state percent of growth of 2.25%, which are used to calculate supplemental state aid for schools. It modifies the property tax replacement payment calculation, increasing the per-pupil replacement amount by adding $153 and factoring in the difference between current and previous years' state cost per pupil. The legislation increases the regular program state cost per pupil for the 2025 budget year by adding $10, and increases the maximum supplementary weighting for school districts sharing operational functions from 21 to 25 additional pupils for budget years starting July 1, 2025. The bill also adjusts transportation equity payment appropriations and introduces a school district funding supplement of $22,591,274 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, which will be distributed proportionally based on each district's budget enrollment. These funds can be used for any school general fund purpose and will not be included in district cost calculations. The bill aims to provide additional financial support and flexibility to Iowa school districts while maintaining a structured approach to education funding.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance

Sponsors (0)

No sponsors listed

Other Sponsors (1)

Appropriations (House)

Last Action

Withdrawn. H.J. 330. (on 02/13/2025)

bill text


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