Committee reports capital budget substitute out of committee with small net bond increase

The Capital Budget Committee voted to report a substitute version of the capital budget out of committee with a due-pass recommendation after staff summarized project-level changes and funding adjustments.

John, a staff member, told the committee the proposed substitute (H2080.5, as listed in the committee materials) “makes a number of changes as compared to the substitute that was released on March 31 and heard in committee on April 1. These changes are summarized in the matrix on the screen in front of you and also in your electronic bill book.” He described the net effect as an increase of $3,100,000 in state bond appropriations, a $100,000 decrease in the Climate Commitment Account, about $6,500,000 in additional spending from Model Toxics Clean-up accounts, and additional federal expenditure authority from the federal broadband account.

Committee members praised staff coordination. The Committee Chair thanked staff for anticipating questions and for supporting bipartisan collaboration. Representative Steele said the committee had reached a broadly acceptable package and that “we will adopt a budget here today that I think meets a lot of the priorities on, from throughout throughout the whole of the state and represents both majority and the minorities priorities, fairly well.”

Members highlighted program priorities in the substitute: investments in housing and behavioral health, completing existing projects rather than starting many new pre-design efforts, and specific facility work. Committee members mentioned finishing the Pritchard Building and completing Western State Hospital, which was cited as about $285,000,000 in remaining work.

The vice chair moved the substitute out of committee; following an expedited voice vote the clerk recorded 18 ayes and 1 excused. The committee recommended the substitute be reported out with a due-pass recommendation.

Why this matters: the substitute changes project lists, funding amounts and funding sources across multiple agencies. The adjustments will be reconciled in conference with the Senate and in operating budget discussions, and staff said the package is designed to preserve a robust bottom line to accommodate future supplemental needs.

Next steps: committee leaders said they will hold bills for conference with the Senate and aim to complete conference work before April 27, then place a conference substitute on the receiving bill when the Senate version arrives.