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Lawmakers split on LSO bill‑drafter request; committee approves language to seek earlier budget delivery and review interagency billing
Summary
The committee debated and did not clear a staffing increase for the Legislative Services Office in the morning; a separate motion to adopt language asking the governor for an earlier budget transmittal, directing a statewide review of interagency reimbursements, and exploring a new budget submission platform passed.
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on March 24 considered a request to add one full‑time bill‑drafting attorney to the Legislative Services Office (LSO) and separately approved committee language asking the governor for an earlier 2027 budget transmittal and directing LSO to study interagency billing and to explore a new statewide budget submission platform.
Staffing vote Co‑chairs proposed adding 1 FTE and $129,000 for an additional bill‑drafting attorney to help LSO keep pace with an increased bill workload. The motion drew divided votes: combined committee tallies produced 13 ayes and 7 nays; because the Senate did not record a majority in the affirmative that day the motion failed in that chamber and was sent to the Senate for further consideration.
Why the request: committee chairs said LSO staff are handling a surge in bill drafting this year and that adding one drafter would reduce overtime and allow the office to keep up with JFAC workload. Senator Hart highlighted comparisons to neighboring states that have higher per‑capita LSO staffing.
Language package approved Separately, the committee approved language requesting that the governor transmit the 2027 budget recommendation to the legislative branch by an earlier December date (so LSO would receive it sooner than the current practice). The adopted language also directs LSO to conduct a statewide review of inter‑agency reimbursement transactions where agencies bill one another for personnel or other costs, and asks LSO to explore development of a new statewide budget submission platform to replace the existing system.
That language passed the committee with a combined vote of 19 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent excused.
Ending The staffing motion will be reconsidered in the Senate; the language instructions to the governor and LSO were approved and will be transmitted as committee language.
