HB 42 – Higher ed spending increase.

HB 42 would double the annual allocation to the Higher Education Fund, committing an additional $394 million in general revenue every biennium, with no clear fiscal offset. This massive spending increase—totaling nearly $2 billion over five years—expands the size and scope of government. Rather than providing targeted relief to taxpayers or reducing tuition burdens, the bill pours more money into a system already struggling with accountability and bloated administrative costs. The bill makes no serious effort to reduce waste or reform how capital funds are used by institutions. At a time when the state should be prioritizing property tax relief or limiting government growth, this bill moves in the opposite direction.