Committee advances five bills to calendar and rules, including foster care age increase

The Finance, Ways and Means Committee on March 5 advanced five separate measures to the calendar and rules committee, voting to send each bill forward after brief descriptions and limited floor discussion.

House Bill 103, sponsored by Chairlady Littleton, passed unanimously and would expand the state's extension of foster care program. Littleton said the bill raises the eligibility age from under 21 to under 23, makes young people who achieved permanency between ages 16 and 18 eligible, removes fees for driver's license permits or photo identification for participating youth, and establishes a permanent foster care youth outreach liaison program. The clerk recorded the vote as 21 ayes, 0 nos; the motion passed and HB 103 moves to calendar and rules.

House Joint Resolution 17, sponsored by Representative Kalman, also moved forward. Kalman described HJR 17 as a nonbinding resolution urging Congress to adopt a national consumption-based tax often called the Fair Tax Act, shifting federal revenue collection to the point of purchase for many new goods and services. Members debated implications for tax burden: Representative Baum warned a consumption tax can shift a larger share of the burden onto lower-income households, while supporters said it would simplify the code and reduce loopholes. The clerk recorded 19 ayes, 3 nays and 1 present not voting; HJR 17 advances to calendar and rules.

House Bill 115, described as a technical fix to a criminal-code provision created during last year's franchise and excise legislation, was presented without extended discussion and was recorded by the clerk as 23 ayes, 0 nos; it moves to calendar and rules.

House Bill 1133, presented by Chairman Boyd, would add nuclear energy production facilities to the state tax code definition of "certified green energy production facility." That measure moved forward with a vote of 23 ayes and 1 present not voting, and will go to calendar and rules.

House Bill 120, by Chairman Halsey, would make it a misdemeanor for a person intentionally to block or refuse to vacate the path of members of the Department of Safety's Division of Protective Services while they are guarding or escorting a person. Committee members offered no extended debate; the clerk recorded 24 ayes and 1 no and the bill advances to calendar and rules.

Votes at a glance - HB 103 (Littleton): Expand extension of foster care to under-23; remove ID/permit fees for participating youth; establish outreach liaison program. Vote: 21–0 (aye). Outcome: moved to calendar and rules. - HJR 17 (Kalman): Urge Congress to adopt Fair Tax Act (consumption-based). Vote: 19–3–1 (present not voting). Outcome: moved to calendar and rules. - HB 115 (Leader Lambert): Technical fix to criminal code tied to prior franchise and excise bill. Vote: 23–0. Outcome: moved to calendar and rules. - HB 1133 (Boyd): Add nuclear energy production facilities to "certified green energy production facility" definition in tax code. Vote: 23 ayes, 1 present not voting. Outcome: moved to calendar and rules. - HB 120 (Halsey): Create misdemeanor for obstructing Division of Protective Services when escorting/guarding. Vote: 24 ayes, 1 no. Outcome: moved to calendar and rules.

All five items were presented and voted on under the committee's rules; no final floor enactments occurred during the session on March 5. Recorded vote totals above reflect the committee roll calls taken during the meeting.