Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Initiative Fiscal Notes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee approves requirement for updated fiscal notes on revised initiatives
Summary
Senate Bill 11-17 would require the Division of Financial Management to issue new or updated fiscal statements if an initiative petition is changed during the process and moves some voter pamphlet deadlines earlier; the committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation.
Representative Heather Scott (District 2) presented Senate Bill 11-17, a Secretary of State‑sponsored measure that would require updated fiscal impact statements when initiative petitions are modified and adjust filing deadlines for arguments in the voter pamphlet.
"This ensures that voters have the most accurate information on what the fiscal note actually does," Scott said, noting arguments for and against would be filed earlier so the Secretary of State could publish current information in the voter pamphlet and online.
Jason Mercier, vice president and research director at the Mountain States Policy Center, testified in support and cited Proposition 1 as an example: the committee was told an initial fiscal estimate of under $2 million later was revised to about $40 million. "Going from $2,000,000 to $40,000,000 is a material information that could greatly change how voters address this measure," Mercier said.
The committee adopted a motion to send Senate Bill 11-17 to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation. No opposition testimony was recorded in committee.
The measure will proceed to the House floor for additional consideration.
