Commerce & Economic Development committee concurs with Senate amendment to H.398

The Commerce & Economic Development committee voted to concur with the Senate's proposed amendment to H.398 during its May 9, 2025 meeting, approving the motion by a 10'0'00'1 tally and asking a member to report the action on the floor.

Committee members said the amendment would let administrators identify prior grant recipients on applications and use that information to prioritize applicants who have not yet received grant assistance. Committee member (Speaker 2) asked whether adding the check would "hold up getting the funds out timely" or add to administrative burden. Committee member (Speaker 1) replied it likely would not, saying administrators would implement it as "a box that would be on the app, loan application" and that it would probably be a "self best best statement." The speaker added that if a false answer were discovered later, there could be follow-up actions.

Members described the practical effect as a prioritization tool: applicants who report no prior grant aid would be moved "to the head of the line," while those who had already received grants might be placed further down. The committee did not direct new administrative rules at the meeting; it concurred with the Senate amendment and instructed that the concurrence be reported on the floor.

The committee chair said H.398 will be on the floor at 9:30 a.m.; the committee's concurrence will be reported there. No additional formal motions or administrative deadlines were set during the discussion.