Bill S.283 proposes significant changes to the definition of education spending and the process for school construction aid in Vermont. Specifically, it seeks to exclude capital construction costs from the calculation of education spending when determining excess spending. Additionally, the bill allows any school district that begins construction before July 1, 2026, to be deemed as having good cause for commencing construction prior to receiving final approval under the State Aid for School Construction Program.

The bill amends current law by modifying the definition of education spending to clarify that voter-approved bond payments toward principal and interest will not be included in the calculation of excess spending. Furthermore, it establishes that any school district that starts construction before the specified date will automatically be considered to have good cause for doing so. The effective date for the exclusion of excess spending is immediate upon passage, while the provisions regarding final approval for construction aid will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 16-4001, 16-3445(a)(5), 16-3445, 16-3445(a)