JFAC approves OEMR budget shift; committee debates — but does not adopt — language to study moving energy-assistance grants to Office of Energy and Mineral

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved a technical, net-zero shift of personnel-cost allocations within the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources (OEMR) budget for FY2026 but members debated proposed language that would have required OEMR and the Department of Health and Welfare to report back on steps necessary to transfer administration of certain federal energy-assistance grants.

Kellen McGurkin, budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services, told the committee OEMR’s FY2026 request included three enhancements: a net-zero shift of $48,000 between existing dedicated funds to align personnel costs; a proposed $24,500,000 ongoing federal appropriation to administer a home energy rebates program; and the governor’s recommendation for one full-time position and $481,100 from the general fund to create a “speed council” (the committee later declined to approve the speed-council request).

Representative Price moved the committee motion to implement the requested personnel-cost fund allocation shifts (a net-zero dedicated-fund impact). Representative Tanner seconded; the roll calls show the motion passed with both houses’ majorities in favor (Senate 10 ayes; House 9 ayes; one absence noted). Chairman Groh announced the motion would “go forward” with a do-pass recommendation.

Proposed reporting language and committee response A later packet page contained draft language that would have required OEMR to work with the Department of Health and Welfare to produce a report, due to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, outlining steps necessary to transfer the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Weatherization Assistance Program to OEMR’s administration. The language included a January 15 deadline for the report.

Representative Tanner said he added the language to encourage agencies to examine whether certain programs fit better administratively in OEMR than in Health and Welfare. Several committee members, including Senator Wintrow and Representative Ward Engelking, said they had not seen the language before and asked where it came from; Senator Wintrow said the committee had “never seen this language before.” Representative Borden King, a member of the related work group, said the text had not been discussed in the group and that she was uncomfortable approving it without that prior work-group review.

Staff and members ultimately declined to take a vote on the proposed transfer-study language during the session. Senator Cook suggested removing the last page of language so the committee could approve the budget and adjourn; Representative Tanner agreed that the language was not crucial and did not involve additional money. The transcript records no roll call adopting the report requirement; staff told members the conditions/limitations language was not needed if the reporting language was not adopted.

Clarifying details provided in committee - McGurkin said the agency expected the $24,500,000 federal appropriation request would administer the home energy rebates program, but the committee did not approve that federal appropriation as part of the net-zero allocation motion. - Committee members attempted several times earlier in the day to obtain approval for the governor’s requested “speed council”; those efforts did not succeed during this session.

Ending: The committee approved the OEMR personnel allocation shift and forwarded it with a do-pass recommendation; the separate proposed study/report language asking OEMR and Health and Welfare to outline steps to transfer energy-assistance grant administration was discussed but not adopted by the committee during this meeting.