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House committee endorses $195 million capital construction bill with amendments
Summary
The House Committee of the Whole recommended passage of House Bill 258, a state-funded capital construction package totaling $195 million. The appropriations committee trimmed some projects, moved contingency and transfer language, and left further amendments for second reading on select items.
The House Committee of the Whole voted to recommend passage of House Bill 258, the state-funded capital construction bill, after committee debate and a series of amendments.
The bill as presented by Representative Pendergraft (Appropriations Committee) would appropriate about $195 million in one-time funds, including $165.8 million from CIPA (Capital Investment and Project Account) and $25.7 million from private revenue, and called for transfers of $154.3 million from LSRA to CIPA to fund projects. "The amounts appropriated are intended to provide a maximum amount excluding contingency funding," Pendergraft said as he summarized the bill for the Committee of the Whole.
Why it matters: HB258 funds a slate of state building, maintenance and public-safety projects across multiple agencies and contains policy language about project durations, contingencies and reversion of unobligated funds.
Key committee changes and debate - The House Appropriations Committee and the Committee of the Whole adopted an amendment that removes roughly $712,000 for SCD enterprise-level planning items; suspends a $36 million firearms range request for now; and reduces an $18 million Department of Corrections security system ask to $9 million pending further funding decisions. Pendergraft explained the committee "pumped the brakes" on new Level 1/Level 2 projects to preserve cash for priority items. - Committee members repeatedly justified sustaining major maintenance items and agreements to defer some new projects until cash is steadier. Representative Pendergraft noted the committee streamlined a transfer from LSRA directly to CIPA, rather than moving through the general fund, to reduce accounting steps. - Members called out specific projects in debate: funding for an updated veterans home (item 48-1) estimated at a present cost near $79 million with an expected VA share (discussed as roughly 51% of earlier estimates), highway patrol driving/evade facilities, and correctional HVAC/security system upgrades. Representative Behr and others emphasized the veterans home had long-standing needs for air-handling upgrades.
Process and next steps The Committee of the Whole voted to recommend that HB258 do pass and to adopt standing committee amendments. Multiple members warned a second‑reading amendment was likely for additional funding sources for corrections and that more information had come to light since the bill first moved through appropriations. House action on second reading is expected to include further amendments and funding-source adjustments.
Speakers quoted - Representative Pendergraft, Appropriations committee member: "The bottom line, $195,000,000 total one-time funds… The amounts appropriated are intended to provide a maximum amount excluding contingency funding." (committee presentation) - Representative Behr, committee chair: "We support the governor's recommendation of going forward with this construction and funding it completely, anticipating that at some point our federal delegation is working on it." (on veterans home funding)
Ending HB258 passed out of the Committee of the Whole with the committee's recommended amendments; additional amendments and funding clarifications were signaled for second reading. The House will consider the bill again on the floor, where members said they expect follow-up adjustments to the corrections and veterans funding lines.
