Senate trims asbestos abatement appropriation to $4 million and sends measure to House

Senator Bartle moved to reduce the appropriation in the substitute asbestos abatement bill from $5,000,000 to $4,000,000 and to update the bill title and text accordingly. "We passed a $5,000,000 appropriation in the asbestos bill… I would move that we reduce this $5,000,000 down to $4,000,000," Bartle said on the Senate floor. The Senate placed the amended bill on the third reading calendar and then conducted a final roll call. The amendment and the bill carried on the recorded vote. The Senate clerk reported the bill passes and will be transmitted to the House for their further action.

The change was presented as a fiscal compromise after committee review of the bill's recommended funding level; proponents framed it as a pragmatic reduction to secure bicameral concurrence. The Senate followed its procedural step of amending the title and relevant text wherever the figure appeared, and then completed final passage by roll call. The clerk announced the tally and confirmed the bill's passage before it was referred back to the House.

Next steps: The House will receive the amended substitute bill and may concur, further amend, or request conference. No implementing dates or additional appropriations language were specified on the floor during debate.