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JFAC orders year‑end transfers: bond levy equalization, constitutional defense, and governor’s emergency funds moved into general fund or legal reserve
Summary
The committee approved several year‑end cash transfers and a unanimous‑consent instruction on budget stabilization: directing the state controller on budget stabilization deposits and moving balances from bond levy equalization, the constitutional defense fund, and the governor’s emergency fund.
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee approved a set of year‑end transfers intended to reconcile fund balances and simplify accounting before the end of the fiscal year.
Committee leadership requested unanimous consent language asking the state controller to keep the Budget Stabilization Fund balance intact rather than transferring the excess above the statutory 15 percent cap; members granted unanimous consent to include the language on the screen.
The committee then approved three roll‑call transfers:
- Transfer the remaining balance in the Bond Levy Equalization Fund to the General Fund (net positive to general fund approximately $37 million after an earlier $25 million transfer to the Rural Schools Revolving Loan Fund). The roll call produced unanimous results in the Senate (10 ayes) and 9 ayes in the House for a combined 19 ayes and 1 absent; the motion passed.
- Transfer the remaining balance of the Constitutional Defense Fund into the Legislative Legal Defense Fund. The constitutional defense account had been largely unused; the transfer would bring the Legislative Legal Defense Fund balance to approximately $2.36 million. The motion passed on roll call with combined committees recording 17 ayes, 2 nays, 1 absent.
- Transfer the remaining balance of the Governor’s Emergency Fund (approximately $652,527) to the General Fund. The motion carried by roll call with combined committees recording 16 ayes, 2 nays, and 2 absent or excused.
Analysts said the actions are appropriations and transfers within the legislature’s authority; members discussed fund histories and the desire to preserve funds for contingencies while balancing the general fund.
