2013 Idaho Legislature to End After Education Budget Deal Reached

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A compromise 2014 public schools bill that was hammered out by lawmakers over the last few days has sailed through both chambers of the Legislature — setting the stage for a final vote on the $1.3 billion school budget Thursday.

The revised legislation started out Wednesday with a hearing hosted by the House and Senate education committees, then cruised through the Senate on a 31-3 vote. The bill then rapidly made its way through the House in the afternoon before winning final approval with a 51-12 vote.

The public schools budget was narrowly defeated in the Senate last week, forcing lawmakers to scramble in recent days to find compromise. The final version features minor changes, including conditions on teacher merit pay and $3 million for pilot technology projects.