JBC introduces cash‑fund appropriation, Healthy School Meals and disability buy‑in premium bills; all motions pass unanimously

The Joint Budget Committee on March 27 introduced several bills to run with the long bill and approved each introduction by unanimous votes.

The committee approved a bill to make certain cash funds subject to annual appropriation (LOS 9 20). Vice Chair moved to introduce the bill; the motion passed 6–0. Senate sponsors and House cosponsors for the measure were announced to the committee.

Committee members then approved introduction of a Healthy School Meals for All bill to run with the long bill. Staff explained the draft includes contingency language: if voter-approved revenue measures do not provide at least $90,000,000 per year in new revenue, the program would be narrowed effective Jan. 1 to community eligibility and low‑income sites, with provisions allowing the department to notify the committee if supplemental funding was required. The introduction motion passed 6–0.

Rebecca Baieti of the Office of Legislative Legal Services presented draft LLS 25‑0975 on disability buy‑in premiums and explained changes to statute and new subsection language intended to clarify treatment of the premiums. She said the premiums are "charges that are collected in exchange for services. Right? So they're not taxes." The committee moved to introduce the enterprise disability buy‑in premiums bill, and the motion passed 6–0.

All three introduction motions were approved without objection; staff said the measures would start the Senate run and would be carried in the House by designated representatives.