The Senate Education Committee released a committee substitute for its school finance plan this week and held a hearing on the bill Thursday. SB 4 incorporates the $5,000 pay raise that had already passed in SB 3, and adds a problematic merit pay proposal.

With about four weeks remaining in the session, legislators in the House are focused on bringing House bills to the floor for final votes, while Senators focus on clearing Senate bills. Then attention will shift to bills from the other chamber, with several key pieces of legislation to negotiate and approve before Sine Die on May 27.

This week, the House Pensions, Investments and Financial Services Committee reviewed some TRS-related bills of interest.

Next week, the House Public Education Committee is reviewing Senate bills, and the House Pensions Committee will hear an interesting proposal regarding school retirees and state employee health insurance.