MONTGOMERY — On Tuesday, members of the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee will begin discussing and possibly making changes to the $9.35 billion Education Trust Fund (ETF) budget. I recently passed by the House of Commons..
The ETF budget and accompanying supplemental legislation would fund various education-related expenses for the state in fiscal year 2025, from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025.
Approximately $10 million to $14 million could be added to the budget to fund the state-federal summer lunch program, which provides EBT benefits for groceries to children. Alabama was one of the 15 states Those who choose not to participate in the program this summer. A spokesperson for Gov. Kay Ivey told 1819 News in January that Alabama will not participate in the program in 2024 because the federal government has cut funding to states after the 2023 legislative session ends.
“We missed the boat to 2024. Let's be clear about that. We're not talking about this summer. We're talking about 2025.” State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) told reporters Thursday.
“One of the things we're hearing from our members is a lot of concern about the summer youth feeding program,” Orr said.
“That's what we're working on to address that concern and take it from there,” Orr said. “For the second chamber, things get a little trickier because the concrete begins to set after the first chamber passes its budget and comes up with the funds to meet the priorities of members of the second chamber. To find out… What are some of the booby traps and mines that can be triggered when moving resources from one place to another?”
Orr also said the child care tax credit bill, part of the “Working for Alabama” package that recently passed the House, is still under consideration.
There are only five days left in the 2024 legislative session.
To contact the author of this story or comment, send an email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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