Appropriations Committee introduces staff, outlines schedule and rules ahead of governor—s budget

Chair Barnes opened the session of the Appropriations Committee to introduce committee and Department of Legislative Services staff, review procedural guidelines and preview the budget schedule ahead of the governor—s budget release.

The meeting centered on staffing and process. Ryan Bishop, director of the Office of Policy Analysis (OPA) for the Department of Legislative Services, thanked members and described OPA—s role supporting the committee during the session. "My door is always open," Bishop said, offering assistance to members as the committee prepares for a challenging budget cycle.

The committee heard from David Propert, fiscal coordinator for OPA, who outlined the budget management team and introduced managers and new analysts. Propert named Matthew Klein as capital budget manager; Emily Haskell, who will be on family leave for much of the session; Tanya Zimmerman as operating budget manager; and Anne Braun as deputy operating budget manager. Propert also introduced four new budget analysts: Catherine Barber, Scott Benson, David Propert (introduced in the staff roster as the fiscal coordinator), and Sudhaksha Bahushal, and said the staff will support members throughout the session and the subcommittee process.

Members were given procedural guidance and a schedule. Committee guidelines distributed to members emphasize attendance (absences excused only for required attendance in another committee, meetings with the speaker or governor, or emergencies at the chair—s discretion); the governor will introduce his budget on Jan. 15; the committee—s fiscal briefing is scheduled for Jan. 20; and budget hearings will begin about Jan. 23. The Department of Legislative Services will provide physical budget books to members— offices and will email DLS budget analyses two days before each agency hearing. All public testimony and agency responses will be available on the committee—s floor system.

Committee leadership stressed the centrality of subcommittees to the committee—s work. Members were reminded that subcommittees have autonomous authority over their portions of the budget and that that work is critical to the committee—s final product. The committee reiterated a preference that members not introduce amendments on second reader and that floor debate on second reader be minimized, while retaining members— right to vote their conscience on third reader.

Several staff and long-serving employees were introduced: Matt Bennett, returning to appropriations after 17 years with the Department of Legislative Services; Ken Weaver, in his fifth session with the committee; Joe Gubberlet, returning for a second session; Helen Wilson, noted as serving her 25th session; and Debbie Romanovsky, the vice chair—s staff member with 38 sessions of service. Security and administrative staff including Nathan Sayers, BJ King and Nathan Scafidi were also identified.

New committee members introduced themselves. Delegate Barry Beauchamp identified himself as representing District 38B from Wicomico County and described his background; Delegate Matt Schindler said he represents District 2B (Hagerstown) and that he previously served on the Hagerstown City Council.

The meeting closed with reminders about the full January schedule in members— packets and an encouragement to contact staff with questions. "We—re gonna get to work next week," Chair Barnes said before adjourning.