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Senate trims proposed DPS fee increase, debates shifting fee authority to agency
Summary
Senate debated House Bill 237 to consolidate Department of Public Safety fees, adopted an amendment reducing a proposed $15 processing fee to $10, and heard concerns that the bill delegates fee-setting authority from legislative appropriation committees to agency/division leaders.
Senators debated House Bill 237 on March 3, which consolidates several Department of Public Safety fees (fingerprint-card processing, name checks, concealed-weapons permit renewals and replacements). Senator Wadhams explained the bill's text and then offered a floor amendment to bracket a $15 fee and insert $10 in its place for a specified line item.
Several senators said they supported the principle of updating fees but opposed making the change on the Senate floor without wider stakeholder discussion. Senator Steele said he had difficulty accepting a floor amendment that had not been vetted publicly; Senator Hall argued against the amendment on consistency grounds, noting that initial license issuance often carries higher administrative costs. Senator Wattis and others argued a modest increase on renewals was consistent with prior changes and supported the $10 figure.
Senator Suazo expressed a structural concern: HB237 moves fee-adjustment authority away from annual appropriations committee review and toward the division or commissioner in statute, potentially allowing larger or more frequent increases with reduced legislative oversight. Sponsors said the statutory provision limits increases (for example, to 5% in some lines) and suggested drafting future legislative fixes if needed.
The Senate adopted the amendment by voice vote and proceeded toward final consideration under suspension of the rules; staff note and fiscal-review follow-up were requested. The transcript shows the amendment clearely adopted; subsequent roll-call for final passage was called under suspension of rules for later confirmation and enrollment.
