WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 5381

AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION EXCESS COST GRANT.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tim Ackert and 15 co-sponsors

HB 5381 would change how the Special Education Excess Cost Grant is funded, altering the state's funding mechanism for reimbursing districts' excess special education costs.

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Education
#educationequalization(educationcostsharing) #specialeducation
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 5381

Bill Summary — HB 5381

Title: AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION EXCESS COST GRANT
Bill No.: HB 5381
Subject: Special education funding / education equalization (Education Cost Sharing)
Introduced: March 14, 2025 (filed)
Related bill: SB 252 (companion)

Purpose / Intent

The bill’s stated focus (by title) is to change how the Special Education Excess Cost Grant is funded. That grant generally supports local school districts by reimbursing a portion of the “excess costs” of educating students with disabilities (costs above an ordinary per-pupil amount). HB 5381 therefore intends to alter the state’s funding approach for those reimbursements — the likely objectives are to revise the grant formula, adjust reimbursement levels, change eligibility or timing of payments, or modify state/local cost-sharing — although the bill text is not included here.

Key provisions (what is known and what is not)

  • The legislative summary provided does not include the bill text or specific dollar amounts, percentages, or formula changes.
  • From the title alone, the bill would make statutory changes affecting the funding mechanism for the Special Education Excess Cost Grant.
  • Because no substantive text is included, specific changes (for example: increases/decreases to reimbursement rates, new caps, modifications to qualifying costs, fiscal year applicability, or changes to the recipient calculation) cannot be stated here and must be confirmed by reviewing the bill language and fiscal note.

Who would be affected

  • Local boards of education and school districts (funding and budgeting for special education services).
  • Students with disabilities and the programs/services they receive (to the extent funding levels affect services).
  • The Connecticut State Department of Education (administration and distribution of grants).
  • State budget and taxpayers (changes in state aid or local share may affect overall state education spending and municipal budgets).

Legislative status and timeline (actions recorded)

  • Jan 17, 2025: Referred to Joint Committee on Education (per record).
  • Mar 14, 2025: Bill filed / introduced (per header).
  • Apr 7, 2025: Read first time; referred to Public Education.
  • Apr 22, 2025: Public hearing held; testimony/registrations recorded; left pending that day.
  • Apr 30, 2025: Committee substitute considered; reported favorably as substituted.
  • May 6–7, 2025: Committee report filed and distributed; sent to Calendars.
  • May 11–15, 2025: Considered on General State Calendar; House passage recorded — bill passed the originating chamber (record votes and statements of vote recorded). Reported engrossed and received by the other chamber.
  • May 27, 2025: Further public hearing/consideration and testimony in committee; committee voted and reported favorably without amendments; committee report printed.
  • May 28, 2025: Placed on intent calendar.

Status summary: The bill moved through committee (including a committee substitute), received public hearings, was reported favorably, passed one chamber (House), and proceeded toward consideration in the other chamber; it is associated with companion SB 252.

Next steps / where to find more detail

  • To evaluate the bill’s precise impact, review the bill text, any committee substitute language, and the fiscal note (which estimates state and municipal fiscal effects).
  • Official bill text, committee reports, fiscal notes, and testimony can be found on the Connecticut General Assembly website (search HB 5381 / SB 252) or by contacting the Joint Committee on Education staff.

Note: This summary is based on the bill title and the public legislative-action record provided. Because the substantive bill text and fiscal details were not included, readers should consult the full bill language to confirm specific funding changes.

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

Sign in to ask a question.