Joint Budget Committee narrows verbal amendments, adopts rules change and advances general appropriation measure

Mister Chairman opened the Joint Budget Committee meeting and introduced a single substantive rules change: "All amendments to bills presented to joint budget committee shall be in writing," with a proviso allowing a verbal amendment to be presented in a subcommittee "if it is deemed by the chairs as minor or technical," and requiring that any verbal amendment adopted in subcommittee be reported in writing to the full committee.

The change — described by meeting staff as intended to align the committee—s rules with House rules — sparked extended discussion among senators about whether the language would prevent subcommittees from making nontechnical amendments. Senator Hickey sought explicit assurance that subcommittees could still propose and adopt substantive amendments if the subcommittee members voted for them; Hickey said he wanted to "make 100% sure that a subcommittee can make any amendment if they get the…