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Committee passes bill to modernize county financial reports and electronic transfer rules
Summary
The committee passed HB1589 to update county financial reporting language, allow counties to use a reporting format aligned with legislative audit practices and clarify exceptions for electronic transfers to federal and state entities; County Treasurer's Association said training will be provided next year.
Representative Bart Schultz presented House Bill 1589, sponsored by the County Treasurer's Association, proposing language modernizations and substantive changes to county financial reporting. Sections 1–3 replace outdated terms (for example, replacing "warrant" with "check" and "monies" with "monetary funds"). Section 4 would permit counties to present their annual financial reports in a format resembling the statement of revenues, expenditures and changes in fund balances used by the legislative audit. Section 5 clarifies that certain electronic transfers to federal or state entities may proceed without a local ordinance provided claims are submitted, approved through the county claims process and disbursements include adequate documentation.
Representative Scott Richardson asked who would train counties to adopt the new reporting format; Selena Blair, president of the County Treasurer's Association, said the association holds continuing education meetings three times a year, has represented 55 counties at its last meeting and will provide materials and outreach. Blair said counties would have roughly one year to adopt the format, noting March 15 is the filing deadline for annual financial reports. Committee members raised no further concerns, and the committee passed the bill on a voice vote.
