Committee deadlocks on FY2026 revenue forecast after split votes; decision postponed

The committee began consideration of fiscal year 2026 revenue projections with two main proposals in the record: the Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee’s recommendation of $6,400,000,000 and the governor’s recommended figure (reported in materials) of approximately $6,261,000,000.

Representative Petsky moved to adopt the EORC’s $6.4 billion recommendation. Senator Woodward offered a substitute motion adopting a compromise figure of $6,330,000,000. Committee debate centered on whether to use a more conservative projection for budget-setting or adopt the higher EORC number.

The substitute motion (Senator Woodward’s $6.33 billion) failed on a roll-call split that left the substitute without a majority from both delegations. The transcript reports a grand total of 8 ayes and 12 nays, so the substitute failed.

The committee then took the original motion to adopt the $6.4 billion EORC number. That motion received a majority of the committee’s votes overall but did not achieve the practice JFAC leaders expect—majorities from both the Senate and House delegations. The clerk reported a final tally showing the motion did not gain the necessary majority in both bodies and therefore failed. Committee leaders said they would postpone final action on the FY2026 revenue number to a later time and resume other agenda work.

Members who spoke in favor of the compromise emphasized caution and a conservative baseline; members supporting the higher number cited the work of the economic outlook committee and concerns about repeatedly underprojecting revenues.