House committee approves nonbinding resolution urging sponsors to identify funding sources for appropriations

The House State Administration committee voted 13-6 to pass House Resolution 7 on a roll call after a short hearing and discussion.

Sponsor Representative Nellie Nicholl, identifying herself as representing House District 53, told the committee the intent of the resolution is to prompt lawmakers to “think closely about what bills they're passing and what money is attached to those bills and where is that money coming from.” She said the measure would remind sponsors to write in the bill the program or fund that would supply any attached appropriation so that legislators have thought through fiscal impacts before passage.

Committee members who questioned the sponsor focused on whether the resolution duplicates established fiscal-note procedures and whether it could meaningfully pin down funding sources in a shifting budget. Representative Edwards asked how this differs from existing fiscal notes; Nicholl replied that fiscal notes indicate spending and some funding paths but that the resolution is intended as an additional prompt to ensure clarity when an actual appropriation is included. Representative Rexton warned that, given uncertain budgets, seeking exact funding sources for every proposal could be a “goose chase.”

Other members spoke in support. Representative Byrne called the resolution “a useful prompt” during a period of large budget deliberations, and Representative Perry said being prepared with identified funding sources increases a bill’s chances of passage. The committee discussed and then moved to a roll call vote.

Clerk-conducted roll call showed the following recorded votes: Vice chair Bertolio — Yes; Vice chair Cordum — No; Representative Bennett — Yes; Byrne — Yes; Cochran — Yes; Edwards — Yes; Fyant — No (by proxy); Strand — No (by proxy); Lee — Yes (by proxy); Love — Yes; Perry — Yes; Brexton — Yes; Running Wolf — No; Schubert — Yes; Smith — No; Souptis — No (by proxy); Tillman — Yes; Worth — Yes; Chair Darling — Yes. The clerk announced the tally as 13 ayes and 6 nays, and the committee ordered the resolution to the House floor.

House Resolution 7 is nonbinding: it does not require agencies to take new action but expresses the chamber’s preference that sponsors include clear funding-source language when they present appropriation requests. The committee did not identify statutory authorities or cite a specific code section in the hearing record. The chair noted possible future hearings if additional Senate-passed bills come to the House.

The committee adjourned following the vote. The resolution will next be considered by the full House.