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Appropriations committee rereports general-appropriations package despite GOP objections
Summary
The House Appropriations Committee voted to report the general appropriations bill (House Bill 1330) and related fiscal bills to the floor after a committee discussion in which Republican members expressed concern that proposed spending exceeded expected revenues and relied on uncertain gaming revenues.
The House Appropriations Committee voted to report House Bill 1330, the general appropriations bill for fiscal 2025–26, and related fiscal bills to the House floor after committee debate in which Republican members said proposed spending exceeded expected revenues.
Committee members said the package matters because it sets the Commonwealth’s spending priorities for the coming fiscal year and includes assumptions the minority called uncertain. "We are concerned with the spending amount that is well beyond what we expect revenues to be," a committee member said during the hearing, citing uncertainty about revenue estimates and gaming-related receipts.
Committee discussion focused on revenue assumptions and the timing of budget passage. Committee staff and members noted that several related bills in the HB13xx series make specific appropriations from restricted-revenue accounts, the gaming fund, and other dedicated funds. Republican committee members said those bills assume revenues from skill-game regulations and other sources that are not yet in place. Democrats on the committee voted to report the bills; Republicans registered formal objections during the roll call. The chair announced that HB1330 and companion HB1340 were reported out of committee for consideration by the full House.
The action does not adopt a final budget; it moves the bills to the next stage of the legislative process. Committee members repeatedly framed the vote as a procedural step toward floor consideration. No floor amendments or final enactment were decided in committee.
Background: Committee materials presented a multi-bill package that included HB1330 (general appropriations), HB1332 (debt authorization for capital projects), and a series of HB13xx measures authorizing restricted-revenue and fund-specific appropriations. Committee members flagged the package’s reliance on restricted- and special-fund revenue estimates and the proximity of the scheduled budget deadline as reasons for additional scrutiny going forward.
Looking ahead, the bills will be considered on the House floor; committee members indicated continued debate is expected as fiscal details and revenue assumptions are examined.
