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HB 5126

AN ACT CONCERNING A HOLD HARMLESS PROVISION FOR THE EDUCATION COST-SHARING GRANT FORMULA.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Brian Lanoue

Connecticut bill would protect school districts from education funding reductions by guaranteeing minimum funding levels under revised state grant formulas.

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Education
#educationequalization(educationcostsharing)
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Bill Summary · HB 5126

Legislative bill overview

HB 5126 proposes to add a "hold harmless" provision to Connecticut's Education Cost-Sharing (ECS) Grant Formula, which distributes state education funding to local school districts. A hold harmless provision typically prevents a district from receiving less funding in a given year than it received in the previous year, regardless of changes to the underlying formula. This protects districts from sudden funding cuts due to formula recalculations.

Why is this important

Connecticut's ECS formula attempts to equitably distribute state education dollars based on factors like student population and district wealth. However, formula changes can cause some districts to lose funding while others gain it. A hold harmless provision would shield districts from negative impacts during transition periods, but it also prevents reallocation of funds to potentially under-resourced districts, which has significant budget implications for the state.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal cost: Hold harmless provisions require the state to fund both protected districts AND any increases elsewhere, potentially increasing overall education spending significantly
  • Equity concerns: Districts that would benefit from a more equitable formula distribution are locked out of those gains while other districts are "held harmless"
  • Duration ambiguity: The bill's text doesn't specify how long the hold harmless applies, creating uncertainty about permanent vs. temporary protection

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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