Appropriations committee votes to remove Transportation Fund language allowing transfers to public safety in revised E900

The House Appropriations Committee approved a revised version of E900 on Wednesday, March 12, striking language in Title 19 that had authorized use of the Transportation Fund for support of the Department of Public Safety and removing a Joint Transportation Oversight Committee (JTOC) appropriation referenced in the bill text.

Committee staff explained the amendment as a clean-up of Title 19 language. Committee members said the struck text included a $2,250,000 JTOC figure and broader references allowing Transportation Fund dollars to flow to public safety activities; the revised language limits Transportation Fund appropriations to transportation-related items such as the board of transportation, capital construction, debt service, and operation of information centers.

Committee members asked staff to confirm details of the language. Following staff explanation, the committee agreed “as presented” to approve the revised E900 language and to close the item in the markup.

Committee members framed the change as aligning statutory language with long-standing practice that restricts Transportation Fund uses to transportation-specific purposes. No roll-call vote or formal tally was recorded in the transcript; committee members indicated consensus during the markup.

The committee said it would continue other FY26 budget work after floor activity, and staff will present additional spreadsheets and reconciliations for remaining one-time and base budget items.

The action clears E900 for the committee’s next steps in the budget process; members said they will revisit related items if floor amendments or further language appear.