Senate panel restores Human Rights Commission funding, undoes House repeal language
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Summary
The Senate Finance Committee voted to remove language that would have abolished the Human Rights Commission, restore funding for a position and IT, and modify the commission’s makeup and reporting structure; the package places oversight with an advisory committee under the judicial branch for one year.
The Senate Finance Committee voted to undo provisions in the House budget that would have abolished the Human Rights Commission and altered how it operates, restoring funding and adding revised oversight and reporting requirements.
Committee members said the amendment package deletes repeal language, restores a previously removed staff position and IT funding, and adjusts the commission’s membership and reporting expectations. The package, described by the senator speaking to the amendment, "basically undoes what the house did, puts funding back in place, and then sets some new parameters for the commission."
Senator Waters and others expressed concern about audits and lingering implementation issues from decades-old findings and asked for firmer reporting or a follow-up mechanism. In response, a committee sponsor said the amendment establishes a one-year advisory committee under the judicial branch to monitor progress and support the commission so it does not founder and to avoid overly prescriptive micromanagement for sensitive cases. The sponsor said the advisory panel will help track outstanding audit findings.
The committee discussed making the commission chair a licensed attorney to ensure legal familiarity in handling cases. Senator Lang said his oversight committee has started bringing division heads in for follow-up on unresolved audits and would continue monitoring the commission’s response.
Members also clarified that the amendment undoes a repeal of the Housing Appeals Board and keeps it administratively attached to the Board of Tax and Land Appeals (BTLA), and that language will make shared staffing across statutes explicit.
The committee voted to approve the package with the committee amendment; senators said additional oversight and potential follow-up through the Performance Audit and Oversight Committee would continue to monitor outcomes.
The committee instructed staff to include required reporting language and the advisory committee provisions in the bill package and left open further technical adjustments at later steps of the budget process.