House Appropriations committee approves straw poll on FY 2025 Budget Adjustment Act, 7-4

The House Appropriations Committee held a nonbinding straw poll on Jan. 31 that approved the FY 2025 Budget Adjustment Act (BAA) by a 7-4 vote, advancing the measure toward a formal vote scheduled for Monday.

Committee members spent the meeting debating additions and changes to the BAA after three and a half weeks of work. The main points of contention were an extension of the emergency hotel housing program, a roughly $14 million package of items described during debate, and whether to use roughly $30 million in surplus funds instead of the proposed allocations.

Members who supported the straw poll said the BAA would provide relief across state programs and help prevent immediate disruptions to people in emergency housing. Supporters noted the bill contains substantial appropriations intended to stabilize departments and to mitigate property tax increases in the coming fiscal year.

Opponents, including several members who said they would not back the current draft in a formal vote, said the committee was making a significant policy shift by extending the hotel program without allowing sufficient time to evaluate its effectiveness. Several members also urged that surplus funds be examined as an alternative funding source.

The committee discussed specific dollar amounts during the meeting. Participants referenced a total appropriation figure discussed in committee of roughly $180,000,000 for the package; a plan to commit about $77,000,000 to mitigate property tax increases in FY 2026; rolling approximately $144,000,000 into FY 2026; a roughly $3,000,000 cost cited for the administration-run shelter currently housing 17 families; and an approximately $14,000,000 set of items referenced as requiring further consideration. Committee members also mentioned an available surplus of about $30,000,000 that some members said could be reallocated.

Committee leadership described the Jan. 31 vote as a straw poll only, not the formal recorded vote that will appear in the chamber journal. The committee plans a formal roll-call vote on Monday after staff compiles the final bill language; the measure is then scheduled to go to Ways and Means on Tuesday and to be noticed for floor consideration later in the week.

During the session several members asked for more time to consider late changes and to consult with constituents and agency staff. Committee members were told to be reachable over the weekend in case fiscal staff had follow-up questions as staff finalizes bill language.

The committee chair closed the meeting after the tally. Members were reminded that crossover and other budget deadlines are approaching in March, and that the BAA’s provisions and funding choices will need further committee work in coming weeks.

Votes at a glance (straw poll): The committee conducted a roll call that produced a 7-4 straw-poll result in favor of the FY 2025 BAA. The straw poll vote is nonbinding; a formal, recorded vote is scheduled for Monday.