Senate accepts amendment capping public-utilities restricted account at $3 million

Senators on Jan. 27 debated changes to House Bill 109, which would create a restricted account in the general fund for public-utilities funding and increase legislative oversight of those monies.

Senator Shiozawa framed the bill as an oversight and predictability measure for the public utilities fund, saying it "increases the oversight" and "gives a predictable amount of funding to this fund." During floor discussion Senator Endrick (speaker 28) proposed an amendment to put a cap of $3,000,000 on the restricted account to prevent indefinite accumulation of funds; Endrick said the amendment was intended to protect taxpayer dollars and prevent the account from becoming an unfettered repository.

Senator Shiozawa characterized the amendment as friendly and accepted it; the Senate then proceeded toward third reading on the amended bill. The floor debate referenced committee review and the intent to permit the service commission and Department of Commerce to utilize restricted funds while setting an upper limit.

What happens next: HB109, as amended with a $3,000,000 cap, was ordered toward third reading; the floor did not record a complete final tally on the amendment in the transcript excerpt provided and the clerk’s final third-reading tally was not specified in the available segments.