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House committee advances resolution to study federal funding impacts on DEQ
Summary
The House Natural Resources Committee voted to advance HJ 71, a resolution directing the Legislative Finance Committee to track federal funding changes affecting the Department of Environmental Quality, after sponsor Representative Joe Konauer warned that more than a third of DEQ’s budget and hundreds of FTEs depend on federal dollars.
Representative Joe Konauer asked the House Natural Resources Committee on the record to advance HJ 71, a resolution calling for an interim study of how proposed or potential changes to federal funding could affect the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
Konauer, the sponsor, said federal dollars are deeply embedded in state budgeting and cited a statewide figure — about 41% of the state budget comes from federal funding — as context for the request. He identified specific exposure at DEQ, saying the department has about 376 full‑time equivalent positions and that roughly 36.6% of DEQ’s budget relies on federal funds. "Anything that happens at the federal level should be of interest to us," Konauer said, arguing the Legislature needs up‑to‑date information so it can act quickly if federal funding flows change.
The resolution directs the Legislative Finance Committee to monitor federal funding received by DEQ through the Legislative Fiscal Division during the interim and to forward findings to the appropriate interim bodies, including the Environmental Quality Council (EQC), the Water Policy Interim Committee, and the Modernization and Risk Assessment Committee (MARA).
Sonia Nowakowski, director of DEQ, said the department already "keeps very close track of our federal dollars" and described common funding vehicles such as performance partnership agreements (PPAs) that translate into performance partnership grants (PPGs) supporting water and air quality programs. Nowakowski told the committee the department maintains contingency practices for timing gaps in federal allocations but said implementing the resolution would mainly increase DEQ's interim engagement — attending additional interim committee briefings and providing information when requested.
Committee members asked whether any immediate changes at the federal level were likely in the next six months; Konauer and Nowakowski said they had heard discussion about possible shifts, including the prospect of converting some funding streams to block grants, but described those as rumors rather than confirmed actions. Nowakowski said delays in PPG allocations have occurred in the past and that DEQ uses special revenue and fee funds to manage timing mismatches when necessary.
Vice Chair Marler moved that the committee "do pass" HJ 71 in executive action. The committee approved the motion by voice vote; proxies were recorded indicating Representative Steve Fitzpatrick and Representative Jed Henkel voted aye by proxy. The committee’s action sends the resolution forward for further consideration.
The committee record shows the sponsor requested the Legislative Finance Committee track the flows and notify interim policy committees; no formal appropriation was adopted in committee. The next procedural step is the resolution’s movement through the legislative process as determined by House rules and subsequent calendar placement.
