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House considers small budget changes and authorizes tender of judgment in Deep Creek Ranch case
Summary
House considered Senate amendments to the Appropriations Act and debated House Concurrent Resolution 10 to allow a state tender of judgment in the Deep Creek Ranch litigation (an $850,000 offer plus estimated interest and attorney fees). Members debated small line‑item changes and the principle of adding new projects in a tight budget.
Clerks announced the Senate had passed (as amended) House Bill 1 (Appropriations Act) and transmitted it; members discussed two small Senate changes the House was asked to concur with: reversing a $25,000 Senate addition for WinterFest and transferring $30,000 from the RS 24 77 Road Fund toward a San Rafael study (bringing total San Rafael study intent language to $50,000). Representative Dayton said he would vote against concurring on principle because of budget constraints and the precedent of adding projects outside committee.
Separately, Representative Bigelow spoke to House Concurrent Resolution 10 regarding a proposed tender of judgment in litigation over Deep Creek Ranch. The sponsor said the state’s offer would be $850,000 plus estimated interest and attorney fees (approximately $1.5 million total estimated when fees and interest are included). The sponsor said if the plaintiff rejects the tender, litigation and appeals will continue; there are no alternative mechanisms in the resolution to resolve the case other than proceeding in court.
Floor exchange included technical questions about whether the plaintiff was likely to accept the tender and confirmation that the resolution was an offer rather than a final purchase. The clerk opened voting on the resolution in the excerpt provided; the transcript records votes and subsequent procedural motions to adjourn. Members then voted to adjourn until 8:30 a.m. the next day.
Next steps: the transcript records concurrence motions handled and the floor adjourning; where the excerpt does not include full roll‑call breakdowns for every vote, the record shows the motions carried and the House adjourned.
