Senate panel adopts dash-2 amendment to SB 15 26, refers bill to Ways and Means

The Senate Energy and Environment Committee on Feb. 9 adopted the dash‑2 amendment to Senate Bill 15 26 and referred the amended bill to the floor with a requested subreferral to the Joint Ways and Means Committee.

Vice Chair Brock Smith moved to adopt the dash‑2 amendment, which staff described as expanding the founding board to at least eight members (including one member representing a labor organization), authorizing the board to fill vacancies, and broadening the kinds of projects eligible for financing to include infrastructure, natural working lands, buildings and communities in addition to clean energy projects. Committee staff noted the amendment includes no revenue impact and provided a fiscal note on OLIS.

A recorded voice vote was called on the amendment; the record shows members voting both aye and no and the chair announced the motion carried. Vice Chair Brock Smith then moved the bill, as amended, to the floor with a 'do pass' recommendation and a subreferral to the Joint Ways and Means Committee; that motion also carried. The chair closed the work session on SB 15 26 and opened public hearings on subsequent bills.

The committee record lists the amendment date in the transcript in a format that appears to be a transcription error; committee materials and the OLIS docket should be consulted for the official amendment date and final fiscal analysis. No further amendments or final floor action on SB 15 26 were taken during this session.

Next steps: the amended SB 15 26 is scheduled for consideration on the Senate floor and will be reviewed by the Joint Ways and Means Committee as part of the normal budgetary review process.