House appropriations HR section opens HB1012 amendment process, schedules Monday votes

The House Appropriations HR section on Wednesday began detailed consideration of House Bill 1012, the Health and Human Services budget, and asked members to submit amendment language so the committee can vote on each change on Monday.

Chairman Nelson said committee staff would prepare printed amendments and that the group expected to have members' requests entered into the system by the weekend. "We'll ask committee members for amendments they'd like to get prepared for Monday's vote," he said.

Why it matters: HB1012 is the state's largest departmental budget and contains multiple program and capital requests across behavioral health, human services, child care and IT systems. Committee action this week will set the House position ahead of later negotiations with the Senate.

Committee staff explained the procedural plan: submit amendment language this week, produce an updated "long sheet" that shows the House column reflecting approved amendments, then return Monday to vote item by item. Keith, the committee budget staff, told members that approved changes would be moved into the House-version column so the committee will have a final updated sheet at the time of the vote.

Members asked for guidance on amendment format and for staff to accept shorter submissions for efficiency. Representative O'Brien suggested members could supply only the specific amendment section rather than reprinting entire packets. The chairman said he prefers members acknowledge items they have already submitted so staff can track what to prepare.

The committee recessed to continue line-item work, planning to reconvene at 8 a.m. the next day and to join full committee at 10:30 a.m. for the larger agenda.

Ending: The committee did not take final votes Wednesday; members were instructed to provide written amendment language or clear verbal directions to staff before Monday so the panel can act on individual items then.