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House adopts substitute SJR 3 to require fiscal notes for substitute bills and circles substitute for analysis
Summary
Lawmakers adopted a substitute to SJR 3 intended to require that substituted bills be sent for a new fiscal note and be circled on the calendar until the fiscal analyst returns that note, with sponsors arguing it prevents last‑minute fiscal surprises.
Members debated a substitute for Senate Joint Resolution 3 that would require any substitute bill adopted in committee or on the floor to be sent to the fiscal analyst for a new fiscal note and, unless the House waives the review by motion, be circled on the calendar while the fiscal analysis is prepared.
Supporters said the change seeks to avoid late‑session substitutions that carry unrecorded fiscal impacts. The sponsor (floor remarks attributed to the presiding officer during debate) said the intent is "to make the getting of a fiscal note on the bill proactive rather than just depending on someone having to touch it." The substitute includes a waiver provision allowing the House to proceed without further fiscal review when the body votes to do so.
Opponents and questioners raised clarifying points about process — including what happens to debate when a substitute automatically sends a bill for fiscal analysis and turnaround expectations for the fiscal analyst's office. Representative Howard and other members asked how a substituted bill would return to the calendar and whether debate should stop immediately when a substitute is adopted; the sponsor explained the substitute was intended to hold the bill until a fiscal note returns and that the body could waive the hold by motion.
The House adopted the substitute and moved to circle it while awaiting fiscal analysis. Sponsors said the change protects the state's budget process by ensuring fiscal consequences are considered whenever a substitute alters a bill late in the process.
