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Committee advances bill suspending interim committees; sponsors say savings are modest and unanimous final vote follows
Summary
The committee advanced Senate Bill 199, which suspends certain interim committees and reduces legislative appropriations, after sponsors described savings of about $272,000 and 2.6 FTE. The committee adopted a technical amendment and passed the bill unanimously.
The House Appropriations Committee advanced Senate Bill 199 to the Committee of the Whole after sponsors described the measure as a cost-saving step that suspends interim committees and trims legislative appropriations.
Minority Leader Pugliese, the bill’s co-prime, said the measure reduces appropriations by suspending certain interim and statutory committees and that the executive committee unanimously supported the change. Speaker McCleskey said the cut would save approximately $272,000 and 2.6 FTE in next year’s budget.
Representative Velasco asked specifically about eliminating budgeted funds for a potential special session, including per diem and other allowances. Pugliese and sponsors said the original estimate had budgeted for roughly 20 days of special session but that the committee eliminated that placeholder and would rely on a supplemental appropriation if a special session became necessary.
The committee considered amendment J002 (a technical correction related to COYAC/Coyak restoration handled in the Senate). The amendment was moved and adopted without objection. Sponsors noted the Senate had restored funding for the youth advisory council in a manner the House wished to handle differently; the amendment sought to correct that sequencing.
Representative Luck flagged internal report-date language (references to December 1, 2023 and December 1, 2025) and sponsors acknowledged the committee would address the drafting detail offline.
Representative Titone asked about aide requests (PTO, badges, parking); sponsors said staff were working on a budget‑neutral PTO proposal and that parking and badge options were under review without anticipated budget impacts.
After adopting the technical amendment, the committee moved the bill as amended to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation. The committee recorded a unanimous vote to advance the bill.
Why it matters: SB199 temporarily suspends interim committees and reduces legislative appropriations; sponsors said the savings are modest but unanimous support reflects the executive committee’s consensus on short-term reductions.
Next steps: Senate Bill 199 will go to the Committee of the Whole for further consideration.
