Committee adopts amended House Bill 1003, advancing attorney general budget with new positions and one‑time funds

The Appropriations - Education and Environment Division on Feb. 4 adopted amendments to House Bill 1003 and voted to give the attorney general’s biennial budget a “do pass, as amended” recommendation to the floor, with roll‑call results recorded as 6 yes, 0 no, 1 absent.

The amended package adds four full‑time equivalent positions to the attorney general’s office (two paid primarily with federal funds) and includes one‑time and base adjustments intended to cover crime‑lab equipment and maintenance, litigation costs, human‑trafficking grants and several technology upgrades.

Committee members said two of the four new positions are largely federally funded and the other two are paid from the office’s appropriations. Representative Sanford, who led the budget walkthrough, listed the new roles as a state crime evidence technician, staff for a medical fraud unit, an executive staff officer (communications), and a tobacco compliance auditor. Sanford said the tobacco auditor would be paid from tobacco trust funds for a posted amount of about…