Sen. Albers renews push for 0‑based budgeting in "Waste Reduction Act of 2026"

Senator Albers introduced Senate Bill 392, the "Waste Reduction Act of 2026," telling the Senate Appropriations Committee the measure would require agencies to rebuild budgets from the ground up on a regular basis and ‘‘justify each dollar.’’ Albers said the bill revives an approach the legislature used after 2012 but that subsequently sunset in 2020.

Why it matters: The bill would change the budget process for every line where the General Assembly appropriates dollars, Albers said, pushing agencies and lawmakers to evaluate program purpose, measurable outcomes, alternatives and cost justifications rather than relying on prior‑year baselines.

Albers described 0‑based budgeting as a check on waste and administrative bloat and said it would strengthen legislative and executive oversight. "0 based budgeting takes a different approach to just taking what we had last year and adding a few percent... It allows us to really focus on having taxpayers first," he said.

Committee members pressed the sponsor on details. Chairman Harvison asked whether the bill applied only to the two departments called out in the text or to all appropriated entities; Albers replied the bill would encompass all areas where the legislature appropriates funds and that specific departments were highlighted only because of how they appear in the budget. A committee member raised a concern that past versions had been ‘‘watered down’’ and said counsel could not define what an "equity measure" would produce in practice; Albers said he would work with colleagues and counsel to develop clear templates and expectations, citing prior work on performance templates developed after a separate bill (SB 6).

Other members asked about practical application to formula‑driven programs such as Medicaid. The President Pro Tem said he supported the concept but worried about the workload for formula programs; Albers said the requirement would reach operational spending that supports formula programs so legislators can verify alignment of staff, systems and processes when agencies return budget requests.

Senator Parent asked whether the prior law (SB 33) had failed because it had not been enforced; Albers confirmed SB 33 required a 10‑year cycle and said that the difference now must be legislative follow‑through and work with budget analysts to ensure the reviews are done.

After the Q&A, a motion to advance Senate Bill 392 was made and seconded; the committee voted and the motion passed unanimously.

The committee forwarded SB 392 to the next floor steps after the unanimous vote; the sponsor said he would work with colleagues on drafting details before further consideration.