JFAC declines to add bill-drafting attorney for Legislative Services Office

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee rejected a request to add one full-time bill-drafting attorney and $128,500 to the Legislative Services Office (LSO) maintenance budget. The motion, made by Representative Tanner, sought to address what LSO staff described as backlog and drafting demand during this legislative session. The roll call resulted in a 10–10 tie, and the motion failed to achieve approval.

Why it matters: proponents argued that LSO is short-staffed relative to other states and that a single new drafter would reduce overnight drafting and allow better support for members; opponents countered that lawmakers should limit the number of bills they file rather than expand staff and that the committee should not add staff above the agency request during a year of overall budget restraint.

Key points on the record: - Representative Tanner (mover) described sustained high draft volumes and argued one additional attorney would materially reduce workload and late-night work by staff. - LSO Director Terry Condiff and division manager Keith Bybee described year-round drafting demand and said the office fields requests from members statewide; Condiff said the shop is busy 12 months per year. - Multiple senators and representatives cited principles of restraint and parity with other agency reductions and explained they would not support adding positions beyond the agency’s original request.

The vote: Senate 5 ayes, 5 nays; House 5 ayes, 5 nays — committee total 10 ayes, 10 nays; motion failed.

Ending: The committee did not add the requested bill-drafting position. Members who supported the request said they would return to the topic if workload concerns persist; LSO staff will continue to prioritize drafting based on published rules and resource availability.