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Legislative Council explains agency budget bills, 'blue/green/purple' sheets and amendment process
Summary
Legislative Council staff described how agency appropriation bills are organized, the blue/green/purple sheet system for base/executive/alternate budgets and changes to amendment formats and statements of purpose used during appropriations.
Alex Kronquist of Legislative Council walked members through how agency appropriation bills and committee materials are organized online and in print, and explained changes to amendment presentation for the session.
Kronquist said the agency base budget bill is the first appropriation bill version and that green (executive), blue (base) and a later purple sheet (incoming governor) will be available for members. He explained the worksheet that shows base, executive adjustments (ongoing and one‑time) and the total appropriation, and noted committees generally use the worksheet/long sheet as the working document.
Kronquist described an amendment workflow change: red/green marked‑up bill text will replace the older “page X line Y change to” paper format; members will receive a purpose‑of‑amendment (SPA) document summarizing dollar changes and rationale. Legislative Council staff will prepare individual member amendments on request, but Mr. Knudson and the chairman encouraged members to take amendments directly to legislative council staff to reduce errors.
The committee chair urged members to give advance notice for substantial amendments so hearings can be advertised and the public given an opportunity to comment. Kronquist said paper copies of long/worksheet versions will be available on request but the default will be digital versions linked on the legislative website.
