Appropriations panel amends SB2001 to add lodging, printing transfers and space for 25 legislative staff on 15th floor

The Appropriations - Government Operations Division on Thursday amended Senate Bill 2001 to change budget lines for the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, including increasing the anticipated maximum monthly lodging expense, transferring public‑printing funds, removing funding for an advanced nuclear study, and adding authority to use legislative rooms on the 15th floor to house 25 additional employees.

Committee chairmen and staff told members the House changes were “pretty minimal” and walked through line-item adjustments before the panel voted to adopt the amendment and send the amended bill to the full committee.

Representative Sam Meyer, the House carrier, opened the discussion and asked staff to describe the House changes. “The House changes were pretty minimal actually from what the Senate did,” Meyer said as staff reviewed the amendment. Sheila, a committee staff member, then walked members through the long‑sheet budget detail for the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.

Major ongoing changes in the amendment include an increase in the anticipated maximum monthly lodging…