Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee advances two dozen measures to full finance, places remainder behind budget

The Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee met April 14, 2024, and advanced a number of bills to full finance while placing the majority of the 57 bills on its calendar behind the budget for further consideration.

The committee front‑loaded brief sponsor presentations and then processed the calendar quickly. "We do have 57 bills on the calendar that we're going to take up this morning," Chairman Hicks said as the committee opened. He reminded members that testimony that day was limited to fiscal impacts only. Several sponsors made short remarks before the committee either voted their bills to full finance or placed them behind the budget because of fiscal notes.

Why it matters: the subcommittee decides which measures move to the full finance committee for budget consideration. Bills placed "behind the budget" will not advance until fiscal impacts are resolved or a budget provision is available; bills that advance to full finance will be scheduled for further review and possible funding decisions.

Votes at a glance (selected bills moved to full finance)

- House Bill 11-25 (Chairman Farmer): As amended, the bill allows local education agencies to compensate a teacher who died, and adjusts related provisions; the clerk recorded the vote as 12 ayes, 0 nos. Outcome: moved to full finance. "This bill does 3 things," Chairman Farmer said, noting the amendment moved the effective date to Sept. 1, 2024, to cover a recent family. (Vote recorded at transcript time s=519.2–531.3.)

- House Bill 11-28 (Chairman Farmer): Creates an option for constables to become POST‑certified. Vote: 12 ayes, 0 nos. Outcome: moved to full finance. (s=567.09–574.85.)

- House Bill…