Appropriations committee reports several bills out of committee; votes advance EV battery recycling, prescribed burns, healthcare contracting, AI bargaining and

The House Appropriations Committee on an evening session reported several substitute bills out of committee with do-pass recommendations, advancing measures on electric-vehicle battery recycling, prescribed burns funding, contracting fairness between insurers and independent providers, collective bargaining over artificial intelligence for state employees, and limitations on payment-processor fees charged against employee tips.

Committee action: Substitute House Bill 15‑50 (battery recycling) was moved by Vice Chair Gregersen and reported out of committee with a do-pass recommendation; the committee recorded a final tally of 21 ayes and 10 nays. Second substitute House Bill 15‑63 (prescribed burns) was reported out with a do-pass recommendation (29 ayes, 2 nays). Second substitute House Bill 15‑89 (contracting between carriers and independent providers) was reported out of committee with a do-pass recommendation (27 ayes, 4 nays). Substitute House Bill 16‑22 (bargaining over artificial intelligence for state employees) was reported out 22 ayes, 9 nays. Substitute House Bill 16‑23 (limits on card‑processor fees applied to employee tips) was reported out 18 ayes, 13 nays. Clerks announced the tallies on the record during roll calls.

Why it matters: The bills touch several policy areas the committee oversees — environmental management of battery waste and mineral recovery, forest and wildfire risk reduction, access to independent health-care…