Rep. Nathan Toman proposes legislative–executive task force to identify duplicative programs, seek savings

The House Industry, Business and Labor Committee opened a hearing on House Bill 1442 on the proposal to create a joint legislative–executive task force to identify duplicative or inefficient state programs and recommend consolidation, sunsetting or performance audits.

Representative Nathan Toman, R–District 34, told the committee the panel would “look at all of the legislative initiatives and agencies to determine if there's duplicative or inefficient operations and to sunset unused, unneeded, programs and to combine duplicative programs and find efficiencies,” and said the measure would provide the legislature and the executive branch better information about agency operations ahead of future budgets.

Why it matters: supporters and the bill sponsor said the task force would give lawmakers context they do not get from a single-year budget document and would help limit growth in spending by identifying opportunities to cut duplication and red tape before the next session.

Supporters at the hearing described how the panel would work and where the funding and staffing questions remain. Al Dorman of the governor’s office said the administration sees the measure as a partner to the governor’s…