Subcommittee backs capital improvements for legislative branch, including new office and parking structure

The joint subcommittee on K‑12, higher education and the capital improvement program on May 1 recommended financing for a package of legislative-branch capital projects, including seismic and safety work, a replacement office building for the Legislative Counsel Bureau and a new parking structure.

The Legislative Counsel Bureau’s interim director, Diane Thornton, told the committee the building has significant deferred maintenance needs — including asbestos abatement, seismic retrofitting, fire suppression, and end‑of‑life HVAC and electrical systems — and that the phone system is obsolete. Thornton also presented a proposal to construct a replacement office building and a parking structure to meet staff, legislator and visitor needs.

The subcommittee voted to recommend the general‑fund appropriation and bond financing outlined in the LCB memo. The recommendation included roughly $33.8 million in general‑fund appropriations for capital improvements, about $191.9 million to be financed with general‑obligation bonds, and a one‑time general‑fund package of about $7.1 million for information‑technology services and operations; additionally, registration and dues costs of about $1.1 million were included as presented by the LCB.

Assemblymember Hafen registered a “soft no,” saying she preferred deferring the recommendation until after the economic forum revenue forecast; Senators Buck and Stone also recorded no votes. The motion nonetheless carried.

Why it matters: The projects are intended to preserve continuity of government and address life‑safety and operational deficiencies in the legislative workplace. The mix of one‑time general‑fund dollars and bond financing will affect the capital budget and future debt capacity.

What’s next: The subcommittee’s recommendation will be transmitted to the full joint committee as part of the 2025 capital improvement program closing actions.