Executive Committee bars letter interim committees, approves one emergency resolution committee

The Executive Committee of the Legislative Council voted to fund zero letter interim committees and to set aside funding for one Executive Committee resolution interim committee that may meet up to three times with up to six members.

Elizabeth Berger of Legislative Council staff presented budget options for interim and year‑round committees, noting last year’s allocations and the cost differences between letter interim committees and year‑round statutory committees. Staff recommended setting modest funding aside for resolution interim committees even if letter committees are suspended.

The Minority Leader urged more aggressive cuts, saying he "would argue that we should not fund interim committees of any sort" as a signal of fiscal restraint; other members said some statutory or year‑round committees, such as the water resources review committee, merit continued scrutiny because of ongoing water-compact issues.

The committee voted first to fund one executive-committee resolution committee for up to three meetings and up to six members. Deputy Director Berger said the placeholder cost for that configuration would be $1,782.03 and suggested it could be taken from leaders' budgets. The motion passed unanimously on roll call.

A subsequent motion to fund zero letter interim committees also passed unanimously.

Staff and members discussed precedent: the committee suspended statutory interim committees in 2020 during a health emergency, and staff clarified which committees are year‑round versus interim-only. Members asked for more time to discuss where reductions should be targeted and for further caucus consultation before making permanent changes beyond this fiscal decision.