Appropriations panel advances Public Service Commission budget amendment to House Bill 1008

During a session of the House Appropriations — Government Operations Division, committee members voted to attach amendment 25.015201001 to House Bill 1008, advancing the Public Service Commission budget to full committee consideration.

The amendment keeps the commission's full‑time equivalent (FTE) count at 45 and makes modest base adjustments: a reduction in salaries and wages in one place, a 4 percent salary line included in the budget, the previously negotiated "3 and 3" increase agreed with the governor, and movement of an OMB pool between biennia. The amendment also adds limited one‑time operating funds — including IT and rent — and separate one‑time items for a drone program and federal intervention funding.

Why it matters: the Public Service Commission regulates utilities and handles certain federal filings that can carry litigation or technical contracting costs. The committee left permanent staffing unchanged while adding one‑time funding to cover technology and outside legal or technical intervention when cases reach federal regulators.

Key items and context - Amendment and worksheet: Committee members said the amendment should match the committee long sheet (dated February 4). The amendment was presented as amendment 25.015201001 and reviewed against the long sheet during the meeting. - FTEs: The panel confirmed no change to the commission's total FTE count; the total shown was 45. - Salaries and statutory language: The budget includes a 4 percent salary line carried in this agency's budget and the suite of 3% increases described as the "3 and 3" agreement with the governor. Committee counsel noted elected officials' salaries are set by statute and require a statutory section; similar statutory sections will appear for other elected officials. - Operating and capital: Members described an added $255,000 of operating funds that cover IT and rent; the drone program was funded with $250,000 one‑time and an added capital asset line stated as 155 (as presented in the worksheet). Committee members discussed that the drone funding is largely supported by a federal grant, with only a small state match noted in testimony. - Specialized legal services and federal intervention funding: The base budget line for specialized legal services was stated as $420,000 (general fund portion identified in testimony), with additional federal funding shown separately. Committee members placed federal intervention funding as a one‑time appropriation, intended to pay for outside specialists when the commission must intervene at federal regulators such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). - Rail safety language: The sections reviewed include statutory language amending the amount of excise taxes deposited into the rail safety fund (identified in the hearing as "section 50 seven‑43.2‑nineteen" in the committee discussion).

Formal actions - Motion to attach amendment: Committee member moved to attach amendment 25.015201001 to House Bill 1008; Representative Bosch seconded. The clerk recorded the roll call; members recorded as voting yes were Chairman Munson, Vice Chairman Brandenburg, Representative Sposch, Representative Fisher, Representative Kapanek, Representative Meyer and Representative Pyle. The motion carried and the amendment was attached. - Motion for a due‑pass as amended: The committee then voted to report House Bill 1008 out as "due pass as amended." Representative Pyle moved the due‑pass motion; Representative Meyer seconded. The clerk recorded yes votes from Chairman Munson, Vice Chairman Brandenburg, Representative Bosch, Representative Fisher, Representative Kopenick, Representative Meyer and Representative Pyle. The motion carried and the bill, with the amendment, was sent to full committee.

What committee members said about specific items Committee members and staff spent time reconciling the amendment with the long sheet (dated Feb. 4) and asked for line‑item clarifications: where the $420,000 specialized legal services line appears in the long sheet totals, how federal innovation funding is displayed, and where operating and capital additions were counted. Staff and committee counsel indicated the long sheet's top line includes the base column totals and pointed members to testimony and page 7 of the testimony packet for details.

Next steps Committee staff said the amendment requires no further changes and is ready to go to full committee; members agreed the bill will be carried to full committee later the same day.