Senate Finance Committee advances House Bill 730, adds federal maternal-health funding and redirects projects

The Senate Finance Committee on the first hearing of substitute House Bill 730 adopted several amendments and favorably reported the bill to the Committee on Rules and Reference.

Chair Cerino opened the session and summarized HB 730 as a reappropriation measure that mirrors provisions in SB 371 and reappropriates about $1,930,000,000 to support public infrastructure and school facility projects statewide. Committee members were provided written biographies for gubernatorial appointments and the committee referred those appointments to the Committee on Rules and Reference earlier in the meeting.

Sen. Craig moved an amendment to redirect $575,000 previously appropriated for a Columbus State Community College capital project to the Maroon Arts Group for cultural lab upgrades. The amendment drew no objections and was added to the bill. “This amendment would redirect the funds previously appropriated … to the Maroon Arts Group for their cultural lab upgrades,” Sen. Craig said.

Ranking Member Hicks Hudson offered two substantive amendments aimed at county-level program administration. The first sought to allocate $12,500,000 from the Family Assistance local and federal fund to county departments for SNAP administration using the traditional distribution formula; Hicks Hudson said the change was intended to make distribution more equitable and to reduce administrative errors. Vice Chair Chavez…