House passes Supplemental Appropriations Act 3 after extended debate over reserve spending and transportation funding

Representative Ron Bigelow presented House Bill 3 01, Supplemental Appropriations Act 3, describing it as the remainder of the budget package that contains technical adjustments and caucus‑driven priorities not included in the base budget. Lawmakers debated a number of floor amendments that would reallocate one‑time funds and draw from budgetary reserve accounts.

Representative Holdaway successfully moved Amendment #9 to transfer $2,000,000 from a Uniform School Fund budgetary reserve to the JobsNow initiative for higher education workforce training. Other members proposed reallocations — including Representative Morgan’s proposal to move $378,000 to services for the deaf and blind and Representative Hutchings’ motion to reduce a transportation line item by $5,000,000 so that some funds could be used for other priorities. Representative Hansen proposed taking additional millions for a veterans nursing home. These motions triggered lengthy debate over where to draw a fiscal line between transportation investments and other one‑time needs.

Representatives arguing against tapping reserves warned of a slippery slope of spending and of blurred priorities; proponents argued the changes addressed urgent needs and that some transfers were one‑time and would generate measurable benefits. After multiple calls for the previous question and substitute motions, the House closed debate and voted. The Clerk reported that House Bill 3 01 received 59 yes votes and 12 no votes; the bill passed and will be sent to the Senate for further action.