State Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna told the Senate Education Committee, "This historic piece of legislation is necessary, it's timely, it's urgent." He said, "Let's remember why we're here." He reviewed the deep cuts schools have suffered in recent years, including a historic $128.5 million funding cut this year. "We have to do something different," Luna said. "We can't just continue to cut, cut, cut the current system. We can't continue to cannibalize the system we have today. ... We have to change the system permanently. ... We have to reduce expenses at our local school districts ... based on the funding that we know we have."

Luna said school districts that don't want to raise class sizes and eliminate teaching positions can cut in other areas instead, like teacher pay. "It is the responsibility of this body to put our schools back on firm financial footing," he said. "We know that the economy we have today is the new normal, and this is the reality we must face. ... The truth is something has to give."