Finance, Ways and Means committee sets budget-hearing schedule, filing rules

Chairman Hicks, presiding over the Finance, Ways and Means Committee, called the committee to order in February 2025 and outlined the schedule and procedures members must follow for upcoming budget hearings.

The committee will begin department and agency budget hearings in February 2025 and expects to conclude hearings by Monday, March 17, 2025. Chairman Hicks said hearings will generally start on Mondays at 8 a.m. and that members are expected to attend department and agency sessions. "One of the responsibilities as a finance committee member is to attend all department and agency budget hearings," he said.

Hicks emphasized rules for submitting bill notices, committee amendments and testimony. He said all amendments must be filed electronically with the full committee through the corresponding Outlook distribution list; that filing will automatically request a fiscal memo; and that "the finance committee does not accept verbal amendments." He also set a submission deadline for proposed committee amendments: Monday at 10 a.m.

The committee will only consider local bills with a local fiscal impact if they are sponsored or cosponsored by a representative from the affected locality. Hicks said a sponsor may "roll" a bill to allow time to obtain an appropriate cosponsor.

Requests for guest testimony must be submitted to the chair's office at least 24 hours before the scheduled meeting, and individual testimony will be limited to three minutes.

Chairman Hicks introduced committee staff who will support the hearings, naming the house budget director, fiscal review director, committee attorneys, administrative and research staff, interns and house clerks. He closed the brief session by reminding members not to expect such a short meeting regularly and adjourning without objection.

The remarks were procedural; no formal motions or committee votes were taken during the session.