Appropriations panel approves amendment creating agency-level vacant FTE pool; sends SB 2013 to floor

The Appropriations - Government Operations Division approved amendment 0.01002 to Senate Bill 2013 on a unanimous voice vote and then recommended SB 2013 as amended for a due-pass to the full legislature after a unanimous roll call.

The amendment creates a new ‘‘vacant and new FTE’’ line item within each agency’s budget rather than keeping the pool in OMB, reallocating existing dollars and producing a reported net savings of $86,204 for the affected budget lines. Adam, committee staff, said the O2 version of the amendment “would just build on this, build on that previous version,” and that a technical correction — adding a descriptive section about the new pool — would be added before the amendment is transmitted.

The nut graf: The committee debated only technical and accounting adjustments tied to how vacant and newly authorized full‑time equivalent (FTE) positions are reflected in agency budgets for the 2025–27 biennium; those adjustments move money between salary/wage line items and a newly created agency-level FTE pool and do not add net new statewide appropriation according to committee discussion.

Committee staff described the mechanics: the amendment adds $201,000 to the new and vacant FTE pool line item while removing $287,000 from salaries and wages in other line items, yielding the $86,204 net reduction that appears on the long‑sheet. Staff said the change reflects a reclassification of amounts that were previously in an OMB-level pool into agency budgets; “it’s essentially a wash” for the overall state budget, staff said, though the presentation affects percentage-change calculations on the long sheet.

Senator Sickler and other members asked that staff produce clearer long‑sheet documentation showing an ‘‘apples-to-apples’’ percentage change that would exclude the vacants/new FTE adjustments so constituents are not misled into thinking the figure reflects net new money. Adam said staff would “take a look” at adding explanatory material under the long sheet.

Senator Burleigh moved adoption of amendment 0.01002 with the technical language Adam described; Senator Burkhart seconded. The committee recorded ayes by voice and the chair declared the amendment passed unanimously.

After adopting the amendment, a committee member moved to report Senate Bill 2013 as amended with a due‑pass recommendation to the floor; that motion was seconded and approved by roll call. Carol (clerical) called the roll; recorded ayes included Chairman Wanzek, Senator Burkhart, Senator Dwyer, Senator Eberle, and Senator Sickler. The committee chair said the motion passed and designated Senator Burkhart as carrier to the floor.

Votes at a glance: - Amendment 0.01002 (technical correction; creates agency-level new and vacant FTE pool; adds descriptive section before transmission). Mover: Senator Burleigh. Second: Senator Burkhart. Vote: unanimous (ayes recorded during voice vote). Outcome: approved. - Senate Bill 2013 as amended (report for due pass to the full body). Mover: not specified on the record. Second: not specified on the record. Roll-call vote: Chairman Wanzek — Aye; Senator Burkhart — Aye; Senator Dwyer — Aye; Senator Eberle — Aye; Senator Sickler — Aye. Outcome: recommended (due pass) unanimously.

The committee discussion focused on presentation and accounting of existing FTE funding rather than new spending; staff indicated intent to add clarifying language and a descriptive section about the new pool before sending materials to the full Appropriations Committee and the floor.

Ending: Committee members said they wanted clearer public-facing documentation about how the vacants/new FTE adjustments affect percentage-change figures on budget summaries. The committee completed its business and members exchanged brief remarks about carrying the item to the floor.