2/15 - Success at the Legislature yesterday

Mostly good news.  
 
HB 159 (Grubbs) – k-12 school funding passed 2d reading in the Senate:  49 YES  - 1 NO  (Gordon Vance voting NO) HB 159 will pass the Senate tomorrow on 3d and be on its way to the governor’s desk!

HB 175 (Dooling) – state and university pay plan also passed 2d reading in the Senate:  50 YES (unanimous) Unfortunately, the Senate amended SB 175 ever so slightly.  See below.  The amendment has absolutely NO effect on the deal we bargained with the governor.  It will not negatively impact employee salary, health insurance, or per diem.  But the amendment does slow things down.  After the Senate affirms its favorable vote on the bill tomorrow, SB 175 must go back to the House for its concurrence with the bill as amended.  Annoying . . . but nothing more than that.
 
SB 152 (Barrett) – 6-mill levy passed the Senate picking up one more vote from yesterday:  Go here -http://bit.ly/2tp80Qo​  SB 152 is now on its way to an uncertain future in the House.  Stay tuned.