Committee advances bill to cap Legislative Department Cash Fund at $8 million and authorize $12 million transfer

The Executive Committee advanced LLS 26-0486, a repeal-and-replace draft that would establish an $8 million cap on the Legislative Department Cash Fund (adjusting annually with changes in legislative appropriation) and transfer $12 million into the fund for the fiscal year.

Director DeCicco described the mechanics: under the bill, reversions would continue to populate the fund up to the cap and any amounts in excess of the cap would revert to the general fund. The draft also codifies that gifts, grants and CORA deposit dollars can be solicited, received and expended into the fund and preserves separate redistricting accounts that are not counted toward the cap.

Director Natalie Castle explained uses for the cash fund—capital maintenance and renovations of the Capitol Complex, IT refreshes, accessibility projects (including the House chamber vertical lift), security, and one-time redistricting accounts. She said the fund’s balance in January was approximately $19 million and, after the $12 million transfer and existing reservations, that would leave about $5.5 million before reversions refill the cap.

Members pressed staff on how the $12 million transfer would be apportioned among existing subaccounts (House, Senate and legislative service agencies) and whether allocations would be proportional; staff said the executive committee could direct allocations and that they would provide spreadsheets and more detailed projections. Secretary of the Senate Esther Vanmoreck reviewed past uses of the fund, including the Senate chamber restoration, rewiring chandeliers, ADA lift work and other renovations.

A motion to approve LLS 26-0486 as an executive committee bill and to authorize OLLS to make technical corrections was moved, seconded and approved unanimously on roll call. Committee members asked staff to return with detailed numbers and options for allocation and account structure.