WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

A 557

Requires the budget submitted by the governor to include an itemization, by each individual school district, of appropriations for the support of school districts

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Amy Paulin

The bill would require the governor’s annual budget to include a district-by-district itemization of state appropriations for all school districts.

REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 557

Summary of Bill A 557

Overview

Bill A 557, introduced January 8, 2025 and sponsored by primary author Assembly Member Amy Paulin, would require the governor’s annual budget to include a district-by-district itemization of appropriations for the support of school districts. The bill is currently referred to the Ways and Means committee, indicating it is in the budget-related stage of the legislative process.

Purpose and Intent

  • Increase transparency and accountability in the state budget by providing a clear, district-specific breakdown of funds earmarked for the support of school districts.
  • Allow lawmakers, districts, and the public to see exactly how much money is allocated to each school district within the state, beyond aggregated totals.

Key Provisions

  • The governor’s budget would must include an itemized listing for each individual school district.
  • The itemization would cover appropriations designated for the support of school districts (i.e., the funds the state allocates to districts for their operations and K-12 support).

Note: Specific subcategories, formatting requirements, or other detailed implementation rules are not provided in the available materials. The summary reflects the core stated requirement.

Affected Parties

  • State government and the Governor’s Budget Office: responsible for producing and presenting the district-by-district itemization.
  • Individual school districts: recipients of state operating and K-12 support funding would now be shown with explicit district-level appropriations in the budget.
  • General public and stakeholders: gain visibility into district-level funding, improving public understanding of state education allocations.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Status: Referred to Ways and Means (budget-related committee) as of January 8, 2025.
  • This indicates the bill is in the early stages of the legislative process and may undergo amendments, hearings, and further votes.
  • Related/companion legislation exists in both chambers, including Senate companion S 7035 and several prior-session Assembly bills (A 6964, A 2631, A 366, A 3955, A 1188), suggesting ongoing interest in district-level budget transparency.

Legislative Context

  • The bill aligns with ongoing efforts to improve transparency in state education funding.
  • If enacted, it would complement other budget transparency measures by providing granular, district-level visibility within the governor’s annual budget.

Potential Impact

  • Positive: Enhanced transparency and potential basis for equity analyses across districts; easier comparisons of per-district funding.
  • Administrative: Increased workload for the Budget Office to prepare and maintain district-level itemizations.
  • Policy discussions: Could influence budgeting decisions and discussions around disparities in state support for different districts.

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

Sign in to ask a question.