Committee adopts revenue-stabilization companion bills, approves other one-time funding

The joint budget panel adopted companion revenue-stabilization bills — Senate Bill 637 and House Bill 2003 — by voice vote and approved a separate one-time funding bill after brief floor questions on education funding and fund balances.

Committee Chairman said the two bills were identical, noting, “These bills are exactly the same.” Representative Wootton asked where the adequacy funding per-student increase appears; the chairman replied that adequacy funding is shown as the first line item for the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, listed as $2,400,000,000.

Committee members pressed on how the adequacy increase would be paid. The chairman said the increase would come from fund balances, and gave an offhand figure for the increase — “about a a hundred million, but, but little hundred and 60,000,000 increase.” No roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript; the committee proceeded by motion and second and adopted SB 637 by voice vote. The committee then took up the companion House Bill 2003 and likewise adopted it by voice vote.

Later in the meeting the committee considered another one-time funding bill, identified in the transcript as “636. 6 30 6.” After no substantive questions, members moved, seconded and adopted that measure by voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- Senate Bill 637 (revenue stabilization; companion to HB 2003): motion and second; voice vote — adopted. - House Bill 2003 (companion to SB 637): motion and second; voice vote — adopted. - “636. 6 30 6” (one-time funding, transcript label): motion and second; voice vote — adopted.

The committee adjourned after directing standing subcommittees to resume work. No specific amendments or roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript excerpt included with the meeting.