The House Rules Committee passed HB 1163 today, an amendment to the lottery scholarship bill and Gerard Matthews was on hand. There’s at least scattered opposition to a speedy vote on a bill that includes a one-year delay in making scholarship qualification harder from high schools that indicate grade inlfation. House Speaker Robbie Wills said there was some confusion as to how those schools are identified and the legislature shouldn’t punish students for something that was out of their control.  Rep. Barry Hyde raised a question about financial support for non-traditional students. He expected the bill to lay out a specific dollar amount for those students. Wills assured Hyde and the committee that those scholarship amounts would be set at a minimum of $8 million and the general assembly, along with the lottery oversight committe, would be able to determine the amount each year.

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