Subcommittee amends HB1448 to create statewide advanced-technology review program and forwards bill

At a subcommittee meeting on House Bills 1448 and 1265, members voted to amend House Bill 1448 to replace a standalone grant with an "advanced technology review program" that would evaluate applications for AI and other advanced-technology projects and forward funding recommendations to existing state programs.

The amendment (25.0883 0.01001) rewrites the bill to create a technical review committee rather than a new grant program, changes committee membership, removes a $135-per-day compensation provision while retaining travel reimbursements, and adds post-award monitoring requirements for projects that receive funding after the committee's recommendation. Chairman Bosch said the change reflects committee discussions about "maybe the possibility of combining the bills" and steering applicants toward existing programs rather than creating redundancy.

Why it matters: The amendment aims to route early-stage and commercialization-stage advanced-technology projects into the state programs best suited to them'from entry-level assistance up to commercial financing and state entrepreneurship programs. Supporters said the review committee would add technical scrutiny and a pathway to existing funding without establishing a separate grant stream.

Key provisions and discussion points

- Committee role and membership: The amendment defines the executive director of the…