Executive Appropriations Committee approves end-of-session budget changes, directs staff to draft Senate Bill 3

The Executive Appropriations Committee voted unanimously March 6 to adopt additional ongoing and one-time budget changes, approve consolidated end-of-session motions and authorize legislative staff to prepare "Senate Bill 3: Appropriations Adjustments" as an Executive Appropriations Committee bill.

Committee staff member Jonathan summarized two packets presented to the committee, telling members, "This list includes the bills that have been approved for funding and that you've been running for the last 2 days and will continue to run for the rest of the day." He said the blue packet of additional funding items totals $192,000,000 ongoing and $17,700,000 one-time and that the items "will be reflected in the bill of bills, which we'll have ready for you tomorrow."

The committee first approved the minutes from the Feb. 28, 2025 meeting and then voted to adopt the additional one-time and ongoing changes listed in the blue packet titled "Additional Proposed Funding Items 2025 General Session" dated March 6, 2025. Following that vote, the committee approved the motions in the buff packet titled "Consolidated Motions for End of Session Budget Actions" dated March 6, 2025. Both votes were recorded by voice and described as unanimous; no roll-call vote or individual tallies were specified in the transcript.

A later motion directed "legislative staff to prepare a number Senate bill 3 Appropriations Adjustments as an Executive Appropriations Committee Bill." The motion, which passed by voice vote, instructed that staff include the actions of the Executive Appropriations Committee to date that had not already been reflected in appropriations, approved funding to implement bills passed in the 2025 general session that do not carry their own appropriation, and other actions approved by the legislature. The motion also authorized the Legislative Fiscal Analyst, in consultation with the EAC co-chairs, to make technical changes "including changes between funding sources and fiscal years to balance the overall budget."

Committee members expressed appreciation for staff work preparing the packets; no substantive amendments to the presented items were recorded in the transcript. The meeting concluded after a motion to adjourn was approved.

The committee did not record individual vote tallies in the transcript for the votes taken; motions and approvals are reflected in the committee minutes and the packets referenced by staff.