Capital Development Committee introduces eight‑section CDC bill to clarify capital‑planning procedures

The Capital Development Committee voted 6‑0 to introduce draft committee legislation that would revise multiple procedural deadlines and clarify the committee’s authority on a range of capital‑planning items.

Megan McCall of the Office of Legislative Legal Services summarized the eight sections of the draft, telling the committee it updates internal election timing for the CDC chair and vice chair; allows the Transportation Commission to submit State Highway reconstruction, repair and maintenance requests for funding from the Capital Construction Fund without requiring an annual submission; and aligns higher‑education two‑year projection submittals with current practice for CDC review.

McCall said section 4 delays a Treasurer’s Report deadline (described in the presentation as moving a deadline from Sept. 1 to March 1) to allow inclusion of additional financial data about bonds and debt for institutions of higher education. Section 5 would set a specific November 1 deadline for agencies to encumber funds once appropriated; section 6 adjusts an OSPB submission date from Jan. 1 to Jan. 2 to avoid a statutory holiday. Section 7 would give the CDC greater flexibility to waive certain requirements of the Art in Public Places program, and section 8 clarifies that a supplemental appropriation extends spending authority for the remainder of the fiscal year plus two additional fiscal years.

Representative Lindsey asked about adding clearer timing for committee appointments following general elections. McCall cited existing statute ("2‑3‑13‑2, subsection 1.5" as recited in the hearing) that already allows appointees to be designated after the general election and before the General Assembly convenes; she said the statute could be modified to provide more specific timing guidance if the committee wishes.

Senator Mollica moved to introduce the CDC bill as drafted. The roll call recorded votes in favor from Henriksen (yes), Representative Lindsey (yes), Senator Pelton R. (aye), Representative Winter (yes), Senator Malika (yes) and the committee chair (recorded as "Madam Chair") (yes). The motion carried on a 6‑0 vote.

Committee members agreed to allow technical corrections by staff. Several members volunteered to be listed as sponsors or co‑sponsors; staff said they would add sponsors, seek delayed‑bill permission from leadership, and place the bill on paper for official filing as soon as administrative steps allow, likely within the following week.

The draft bill covers procedural clarifications and does not, in the presentation, change substantive funding formulas or create new appropriations; the transcript contains no estimate of fiscal impact.