Late yesterday a critical bill, SB 1581, the public and higher education fiscal matters bill, was passed out of the Senate. A school finance amendment (language from SB 22), as amended, was adopted onto SB 1581.

SB 1581 with 11 floor amendments, passed out of the Senate with 18 ayes and 12 nays. The Senate then sent the legislation to the House where the bill was referred to the House Committee on Public Education. The committee met a few hours ago, just before midnight, and voted the bill favorably out of committee as substituted.