Committee moves amendment to shift town-highway disaster money from pilot special fund; amendment approved on voice/roll call

Appropriations members discussed an amendment that would change the source of $1,150,000 for town‑highway nonfederal disaster assistance so the sum is drawn from pilot special funds pursuant to a cited statutory provision. Staff noted language in the budget that would prevent unspent amounts from being transferred into the transportation fund and that unspent funds would revert to the pilot special fund at the end of the fiscal year.

Members raised questions about FEMA and federal disaster funding and whether federal decisions had affected highway disaster programs. A staff member said the impact of FEMA decisions on the state's programs was not fully known and recommended further agency input.

On a motion to move the amendment (identified in the transcript as associated with the T bill / S.488 amendment), the clerk conducted a roll‑call sequence captured in the excerpt. The transcript records multiple senators voting yes on the motion; the recorded names in the excerpt include Senator Watson (yes), Senator Baruch (yes), Senator Westman (yes), and Senator Bennett (yes). The clerk concluded the call and the motion was advanced for floor consideration.

Committee members indicated the transportation committee plans to make conforming amendments and that appropriations would route the language into the larger bill packet. Several members reminded colleagues that the amendment is intended to conform budgeted numbers and authority language across committee drafting.