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Committee approves consolidation of STEM Action Center into Workforce Development Council and related funding changes
Summary
Lawmakers approved consolidating the STEM Action Center into the Workforce Development Council, added six FTE and made net-zero transfers across line items; the committee also approved a small FY2026 supplemental reduction for STEM and a FY2027 funding zero-out connected to the consolidation.
The joint committee voted to consolidate the STEM Action Center into the Workforce Development Council and approved related budget adjustments and position transfers.
Brooke Dupree, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told members the Workforce Development Council request included consolidation of the STEM Action Center into the council and that a germane bill to do so had already passed the House and was on the Senate calendar. Representative Pesky moved a budget-neutral adjustment for FY2027 that adds six full-time positions and approximately $3.08 million from the general fund while shifting dollars between categories; Pesky described the package as largely a net-zero transfer of resources across agencies and line items.
The committee also approved a FY2026 supplemental reduction of $76,400 to the STEM Action Center (reductions split between operating and trustee/benefit lines) and later approved a FY2027 reduction to zero out STEM Action Center funding as responsibilities move to the Workforce Development Council.
Votes: the consolidation motion passed (Senate 9 ayes, 1 nay; House 6 ayes, 4 nays). The FY2026 supplemental reduction and the FY2027 zero-out both carried largely unanimous votes in the committees.
Why it matters: the consolidation shifts program responsibility and funding from an office under the governor to the Workforce Development Council and includes specific staff and budget shifts that will affect how STEM outreach and contracts are administered going forward.
Next steps: the consolidation language will be included in the Workforce Development Council bill and the committees will carry do-pass recommendations to the respective chambers.
