Panel approves do-pass on Senate Bill 2023, Racing Commission budget amended

An Appropriations - Education and Environment Division subcommittee voted to approve Senate Bill 2023 as amended, sending the Racing Commission budget to the full Appropriations Committee.

The amendment (25.0190.01001.K) and the do-pass motion were adopted by roll call after staff described the changes to the bill’s salary and vacancy accounting. The committee recorded unanimous “aye” votes during both the amendment and final passage roll calls; the item will be carried to the full committee, with Senator Meyer identified as the bill carrier.

Staff member Adam walked the committee through the supplemental statement of purpose for the amendment and explained the change in how vacancies and the new-and-vacant FTE pool are handled. Adam said the amendment transfers funding out of agency line items into a new agency-specific vacancy pool and does not add new net dollars: "we pulled out $7,076 from the racing commission line item, but only added $49.53 to this new line item. So it results in savings," he said.

Committee members asked whether creating agency-level vacancy pools was practical for very small agencies. Adam said thresholds differ by agency size and that smaller agencies typically receive a smaller percentage for vacancy calculations; agencies can request deficiency appropriations later if needed.

The committee took a roll-call vote on the amendment and then on the bill as amended. The recorded yes votes on the amendment and final passage included the committee chair and the senators on the panel who answered during roll call. According to committee remarks, the division passed Senate Bill 2023 and will forward it to the full Appropriations Committee, where Senator Meyer is expected to carry it.

The action affects only the Racing Commission budget as described in the amendment; no other policy changes were adopted during the vote.