Committee unanimously adopts cleanup bill clarifying DGO responsibilities and cabinet titles

Representative Norm Thurston presented House Bill 384, a statute-cleanup package for the Department of Government Operations (DGO). Thurston said the substitute corrects statutory vestiges from prior reorganizations, clarifies that the Office of Data Privacy and other functions are part of DGO, and aligns statutory language to current practice, including audit practices (sampling rather than auditing every payment) and oversight of shared systems.

"Right now, statute requires a division of finance to audit all claims against the state. Auditing every payment is not functional," Thurston said, explaining the substitute would reflect current auditing practice that relies on statistical sampling rather than a literal audit of every payment. Marvin Dodge, executive director of DGO, clarified payroll and Division of Technology Services questions, noting some agencies use different front ends but that Vantage would be the payroll back end.

A separate portion of the substitute standardizes titles: the governor requested the ability to refer to cabinet heads consistently as "commissioners" rather than some being "executive directors" and others "commissioners." The governor's office staff told the committee the change is meant to create consistent cabinet nomenclature and reflected current practice; sponsors said it would not add cost.

Representative LeBay moved to adopt the first substitute; the committee adopted it. LeBay then moved to favorably recommend HB384 first substitute to the House floor and to place the bill on consent; both motions passed by voice vote without dissent. Sponsors characterized the measure as statutory alignment with existing administrative practice rather than a substantive expansion of duties or new spending.