The Assembly Committee on Ways and Means voted to advance three work‑session measures and to introduce a bill draft request during its late‑afternoon meeting.

The committee approved a motion to introduce BDR 4031127, described at the hearing as a measure that “revises provisions related to vessels.” The panel also approved a work‑session motion to move Assembly Bill 232 (school employee service‑credit language), Assembly Bill 347 (increasing the non‑governmental gift/grant expenditure threshold) and Assembly Bill 355 (changes to school capital improvement funds and related tribal‑land project provisions) out of committee.

The measures were advanced by voice vote after short presentations and limited discussion. Committee Chair Danielle Monroe Moreno presided; Assemblymember Melody Bacchus moved multiple motions and Assemblymember Yvanna Hategui recorded several second motions. No roll‑call vote totals were recorded on the record; the committee chair called the voice votes “aye” and announced that the motions carried.

Why it matters: The work‑session approvals move each measure to the next legislative step — either to floor consideration or to bill drafting and print. AB232 and AB355 affect K‑12 financing and service‑credit calculations for school employees; AB347 alters the threshold at which gifts or grants from non‑governmental sources trigger Interim Finance Committee review.

What the bills do (brief):
- AB232: Provides that school district employees and certain higher‑education professional staff receive a full year of service credits if they work at least 900 hours in a school year; a conceptual amendment clarifies the 900 hours must be across at least eight calendar months of the school year.
- AB347: Raises the threshold for new expenditures supported by gifts or grants from non‑governmental sources from $200,000 to $500,000; new expenditures above $500,000 would require Interim Finance Committee approval.
- AB355: Revises provisions for funds that assist school districts with capital improvements and rural school capital projects, and includes an amendment addressing grants and gifts for qualified tribal‑land projects and related handling of interest and retained funds.

Actions recorded in committee were procedural approvals; accompanying staff fiscal analyses were brief and the committee reserved authority to review final language where members requested it.

Next steps: The bills will proceed according to the committee assignments announced at the hearing. The bill draft request for the vessel provisions will move into the Legislature’s drafting process.