Committee forwards Department of Revenue cash‑fund consolidation bill to appropriations

House Bill 10‑59, sponsored by Representatives Hartsook and Rosanna Stewart at the Department of Revenue’s request, was advanced to the House Appropriations Committee after sponsor and DOR testimony that the measure consolidates cost‑recovery cash funds to reduce administrative overhead.

The bill would create a single cost‑recovery cash fund for the Department of Revenue to capture administrative cost reimbursements the department is allowed to retain when it collects fee revenue on behalf of other entities. Deputy Chief Financial Officer Jason Gardaus testified that recent bills had created multiple separate cost‑recovery funds and that consolidating them standardizes the department’s process and reduces administrative work. The sponsors and DOR emphasized the bill does not eliminate positions or change the purpose of existing funds; the fiscal note reflects no net fiscal reduction because the change reallocates administrative work rather than producing immediately quantifiable savings.

Representative Gonzales asked whether the consolidation produces measurable savings; sponsors and Representative Hartsook said that estimated savings are largely operational (staff time and administrative efficiency) and not captured as direct fiscal savings in the current fiscal note. After DOR testimony, the committee moved HB 10‑59 to Appropriations with a favorable recommendation. The roll call was 10 yes, 0 no, 1 excused (Marshall excused).

Next steps: Appropriations will review any fiscal‑note details and consider whether the consolidation requires changes to administration, reporting or staff allocations before the bill proceeds to the House calendar.