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Senate Finance and Claims concurs in House Bill 1 after adopting amendment to equalize partisan staff funds
Summary
The Senate Finance and Claims committee on a 19–3 vote concurred in House Bill 1 (the annual 'feed' bill) after adopting an amendment that reallocates partisan staff funding on a per-member basis; the amendment passed 12–10. Committee staff said much of the bill’s increase reflects higher staff pay and added audiovisual and legal-defense costs.
The Senate Finance and Claims committee on Thursday concurred in House Bill 1 — the annual "feed" bill that funds legislative salaries, per diem and session operations — after adopting an amendment that redistributes partisan staff funds on a per-member basis.
Representative Lou Jones (House District 18), sponsor of House Bill 1, told the committee the feed bill covers remaining session payroll and operating costs and includes a legal-defense line item tied to pending litigation. "There is a legal defense portion of it. That's, I believe, $120,000 to $150,000," Jones said, describing funds to defend the legislature in a privacy-related case. He said the bill funds printing, IT and other session needs.
Angie Carter of Legislative Services presented a detailed breakout and described overall increases in the draft for 2025. "The total requested…
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