A lower court judge issued two rulings last year that found the state was failing to meet its duty to support an adequate education equally for all students.

One aid proposal would increase by $35 million assistance to school districts to cover the cost of students receiving special education services.

A second would devote $39 million more for property and income poor communities that the Legislature has defined as at a disadvantage in raising enough through their local property tax to support schools.

Another $25 million would be sent to communities based on the number of pupils that get free or reduced school lunches, a program the state uses as a proxy for low-income students.

A fourth change starting in 2025 would increase from $4,100 to $4,404 the base per pupil grant given to all school districts.

Last year, a Superior Court judge determined that the base grant should be at least $7,356 per student.

Republican legislative leaders have come out against these decisions and warned they could take a sales or income tax to increase school aid by more than $500 million annually.

State prosecutors have appealed one of the lawsuit rulings already to the state Supreme Court.

In a second ruling, the same judge, John Ruoff in Rockingham County, found that the statewide education property tax (SWEPT) was unconstitutional.

This ruling directed wealthier towns to give to poorer towns any excess SWEPT they collect above what they need to support their own schools.

The House panel approved an amended form of the special education aid bill (HB 1656), 19-1, and the other aid bill (HB 1583), 16-4.

klandrigan@unionleader.com