Senate trims one legislative cash fund item but rejects larger rollbacks after hours-long budget fight

Senate debate on March 11 over the legislative department appropriation (Senate Bill 188) became the chamber’s longest single-topic budget fight of the day, touching on cash fund reversions, capital renovations and competing priorities for Medicaid, child welfare and early intervention services.

Senator Dylan Coleman and the Appropriations Committee presented SB 188 as the annual legislative-branch appropriations bill, covering staff and operating costs for Legislative Council, Office of Legislative Legal Services (OLLS), Legislative Audit, Joint Budget Committee staff, and other legislative entities. The committee reported a technical amendment (a corrected FTE) and recommended passage.

Senator Cindy Kirkmeyer moved a floor amendment (L007) to reduce the ongoing general fund appropriation by $3.5 million, proportionally reducing each legislative office’s appropriation by the share of prior-year reversions. Proponents said the legislature should lead by example while other state programs face deep cuts; they repeatedly cited recent reversions of approximately $5.5 million in general fund appropriations into a legislative cash fund. Supporters framed L007 as a modest, responsible cut in a year of projected statewide deficits.

Opponents, including leaders of the legislative branch’s executive committee and some appropriators, said many of the cash fund balances are set aside for planned projects (technology upgrades, ADA work, capital renovation planning) and that transfers or reversions should be handled carefully. They argued several of the cash fund items are for multi-year projects and that the proposed sweep could impair planned work and staff support. The executive committee noted prior transfers into and out of the fund (including a pandemic-era diversion) and asked legislators to vote no on the larger sweeps.

Several related amendments were offered: L006 (a larger sweep), L008 (prohibiting reversions), and L010 (cutting a single ongoing FTE tied to one-time funding). Senator Kirkmeyer’s L007 failed on division after extended floor speeches and a requested roll-call; other larger-sweep amendments also failed. The body then adopted a narrower change: Amendment L011, a $1 million reduction from the legislative department cash fund, which passed and was recorded as adopted. The final committee report and subsequent actions reflected smaller adjustments rather than the large $3.5 million cut Kirkmeyer had sought.

Floor debate repeatedly juxtaposed the legislative cash fund balance (discussed in the transcript as approximately $22 million with an $11.6 million unencumbered portion after planned expenses) against proposed cuts elsewhere in the state budget: reported governor’s proposals to reduce Medicaid provider rates by roughly $13 million general fund ($57 million total funds) and reported shortfalls for child welfare and early childhood programs. Senators supporting cuts emphasized optics and leadership; opponents cautioned about disrupting planned capital and technology projects or depriving the branch of necessary resources.

Outcome-oriented motions recorded on the floor include multiple roll calls and the adoption or rejection of the amendments above. The committee report on SB 188 ultimately moved forward with the smaller $1 million adjustment to the legislative department cash fund and other technical changes; the bill advanced in the legislative calendar as amended.