The Legislative Coordinating Council voted to amend LCC policy 38 to allow Legislative Administrative Services (LAS) to pay printing and mailing vendors directly for legislators’ newsletter printing and postage, rather than requiring members to pay vendors and seek reimbursement. The change is permissive (an option for members) and the council directed the Reviser of Statutes to prepare amendatory language.

Tom Day, a LAS staff member, outlined concerns for direct payment, noting state payment requires a vendor W-9 and that LAS can pay only up to the balance in a member’s account; if a member had already used postage during the session, LAS may not be able to cover the full invoice and the vendor could need to collect the remainder from the member. He also flagged operational complications when multiple vendors are involved (e.g., a production vendor plus a mailing house) and the timing of invoices.

Senator Blasey said the change would streamline member communications and reduce the need for legislators to write large personal checks in advance; he proposed the amendatory motion. Some members, including Speaker Hawkins, cautioned that paying vendors directly shifts administrative burden to LAS to verify invoices and that the prior reimbursement process acted as a check: vendors or members must provide invoices and LAS must confirm the work before payment.

Key policy details and amounts discussed:
- Current allotments: $6,000 per representative; $18,000 per senator (calendar-year, use-it-or-lose-it).
- LAS indicated typical usage: many senators have used $15,000–$17,000; many representatives have used $5,500–$5,800.
- Second-year Indigo CRM contract (discussed earlier in the meeting) is approximately $543,415 for 300 licenses; LAS said some offices use only a handful of seats.

Council action and safeguards: The motion, moved by Senator Blasey and seconded (recorded in the transcript as a second by Senator Schallenberger), passed with members stressing safeguards: vendors must submit required paperwork (W-9), LAS would verify invoices and only pay up to a member’s available account balance, and LAS approval of mail pieces would remain a control to ensure compliance with content and budget rules. The motion language was permissive — an option for members rather than a mandate.

Why it matters: The change alters how taxpayer-funded newsletter and postage allotments are disbursed, potentially making it easier for members to send constituent mailings but also placing more invoice-verification responsibility on LAS. Members urged follow-up to adopt written rules and best practices to ensure transparency and correct use of funds.

Ending: The council directed the Reviser of Statutes to draft the amendatory language to LCC policy 38 and distribute it to members; members signaled interest in additional written rules and best-practice guidance to accompany the new permissive payment option.