Senate committee bill would move Economic Forum meeting earlier and shift contract authority to LCB

Senate Bill 419 would move the statutory date for the Economic Forum’s regular legislative‑session meeting from on or before May 1 to on or before April 1, and would authorize the Legislative Counsel Bureau (LCB) director to enter into contracts to assist the Economic Forum and its Technical Advisory Committee, committee members heard.

Sponsor Senator Marilyn Dondero Loop told the Senate Government Affairs Committee the change is intended to give the Legislature more time between the Economic Forum’s updated general‑fund revenue forecast and the end of a constitutionally limited 120‑day session. "The current May 1 date was put into statute before the adoption of a 120‑day session limit," she said. Moving the date to April 1 would give budget drafters and legislators additional time to adjust appropriations if necessary.

The bill would also shift administration of contracts that assist the Economic Forum — for example, contracts for revenue forecasting and data processing services — from the Executive Branch to the Legislative Counsel Bureau, which currently can and does rely on outside contractors for fiscal work. Fiscal division staff told the committee those forecasting contracts already exist and that the change would move administration of them to LCB rather than creating a new contract load.

Committee members asked whether the governor’s July 1 requirement to impanel the Economic Forum would change; fiscal staff confirmed that July 1 remains unchanged. No opposition testimony was presented during the hearing, and the committee closed the bill’s hearing with technical questions answered by legislative fiscal staff.