Conference committee recommends Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5,998 to the legislature after budget briefing

The conference committee for Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5,998 reviewed a multi‑page conference report on the supplemental operating budget and, after debate, recommended the report to the full legislature by a 4–2 vote.

Budget coordinators from the House and Senate walked members through a three‑way comparison of the Senate‑passed, House‑passed and conference proposals, emphasizing how agency‑level, functional and statewide totals differ. James, one of the budget coordinators, described the report layout and figures, and Mary, the other coordinator, summarized resource assumptions and policy changes. Mary said the briefing used the February 2026 ERFC forecast and noted the conference proposal assumes a $880 million transfer from the Budget Stabilization Account to the general fund in 2025‑27 and a projected negative near general fund outlook (NGFO) balance of about $878 million in fiscal year 2028 under the outlook.

The presenters highlighted policy‑level changes with a net NGFO impact of about $621 million in 2025‑27 and $179 million in 2027‑29, and summarized major items such as a $1 billion NGFO allocation for the self‑insurance liability account, a working families tax credit expansion consistent with 6346 ($230.6 million NGFO), and $250.7 million in total budget authority for wildfire response and suppression (including Climate Commitment Act funds).

Senator Robinson, who moved that the committee recommend adoption of the conference report, described the work as collegial and the product of multiple sessions of negotiation: "This is the tenth budget that Representative Ormsby and I have worked on together. It feels a little momentous," Robinson said, adding that the conference reflects the respective House and Senate proposals.

Opponents pressed fiscal risk and equity concerns. Senator Gildan said: "I won't be supporting the budget today. I believe that it is an $80,000,000,000 house of cards that's built on a very shaky foundation," pointing to the projected shortfall in 2028 and low reserves. Representative Couture also said he would not support the report, arguing it spends more than projected revenues, reduces reserves and shifts burdens to rural K‑12 districts; Couture said the package "assumes an unconstitutional income tax," a claim that was asserted in debate but not resolved during the briefing.

Representative Gregersen spoke in support of the report, thanking staff and caucuses and saying the proposal "reflects the dedication and hard work of the staff and members" while backing measures to backfill federal HR1 effects and noting the inclusion of a millionaire's tax mechanism intended to fund future priorities such as free school meals.

The clerk, Ms. McCollum, called the roll: Representative Couture — no; Representative Gregersen — aye; Representative Ormsby — recommend; Senator Gildan — do not recommend; Senator Robinson — recommend; Senator Stanford — recommend. The clerk announced 4 recommend and 2 do not recommend; the committee recommended the conference report for Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5,998 to the legislature.

The committee adjourned with no further business.