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House passes HB 3, the "bill of bills," sending $15.1 billion budget to the Senate
Summary
The House approved House Bill 3, a consolidated appropriations measure that adds about $42 million in general and education funds and combines fiscal impacts of session legislation into a $15.1 billion 2017 budget; an amendment to reallocate funds for air-quality monitoring failed on the floor.
Representative Sampey, sponsor of House Bill 3, told the chamber HB 3 is the "bill of bills" that folds fiscal notes and supplemental appropriations into the state budget, saying the measure “adds about 42,000,000 from the general fund and education fund and new and reallocated resources.” He said about two-thirds of $668,000,000 in additions would go to higher education, noting the bill raises that sector’s allocation above the governor’s recommendation.
Representative Briscoe offered a voice-motion amendment to delete specific line items (delete lines 9:32–9:38 and reallocate amounts on pages 25 and 34) to move roughly $66,300 from a bill unlikely to pass into air-quality monitoring. Briscoe argued the change would supplement an area that has struggled for funding; Sampey and others opposed reallocating funds from items that might yet be adopted, and the chair characterized the debate as a process concern about reassigning dollars tied to unsettled bills. The motion to amend failed on a voice vote.
Sampey said he supported the package after extensive work and urged final passage. Voting was opened and, after members cast ballots, House Bill 3 passed the House by a vote of 68 yea to 3 nay and will be referred back to the Senate for further consideration.
Actions and next steps: The House adopted HB 3 as the consolidated appropriations measure for fiscal 2017 and will transmit the bill to the Senate. No further floor amendments to the House-passed version were recorded in this session.
