Committee rejects amendment to clear DD waiver waitlist after extended debate (8–15 roll call)

A contested amendment to the operating budget, offered by Senator Braun, sought funding to provide access to the individual and family services waiver for individuals on the developmental‑disability service‑request list.

Braun described the amendment as a bipartisan, straightforward attempt to fund the unfilled waitlist and carry that funding forward. "All this amendment would do is fund, the unfilled wait list, the folks on the wait list that aren't funded," Braun said in presenting the amendment.

Opponents argued the committee faces constrained resources and that the budget cannot absorb the additional ongoing costs without other offsets. Senator Hansen framed the committee's responsibility as fiscal: "It is purely, as this is a fiscal committee, a question of cost," and urged a no vote despite supporting the policy objective. Other senators, including Frame and Trudeau, expressed similar reluctance to add ongoing costs given the committee's broader fiscal choices.

Senator Braun requested a roll call. The clerk recorded individual votes: the amendment failed with 8 ayes, 15 nays and 1 excused. The official clerk statement in the transcript noted: "Madam Chair, there are 8 ayes, 15 nay, and 1 excused." The amendment therefore was not adopted.

The committee's rejection leaves the question of funding for people on the DD waiver waitlist to future budget negotiations or other proposals. Sponsors urged continued attention to the issue; opponents said the current budget must prioritize sustainability and balance across many programs.