Committee flags fiscal‑note discrepancy and asks sponsor to clarify language on LD 2150

The Judiciary Committee on March 30 revisited LD 2150 — legislation intended to improve written notice for individuals whose access to state property has been restricted — after the sponsor and committee analysts identified an unexpected fiscal note tied to Attorney General Office costs.

Senator Grohowski, the bill sponsor, told the committee she was surprised by a fiscal-note estimate that appeared to assume new enforcement duties and an AG position, saying the bill as drafted "is just telling people what their rights are" and does not create new enforcement processes. She asked staff and the Appropriations Committee contacts whether unallocated language stating that implementation must be "within existing resources" could address the disagreement between the judicial-branch assessment and the AG fiscal note.

Committee staff explained that, if the committee's original intent was to have the bill operate within existing resources, adding unallocated language to that effect could be done without reopening the original vote; members agreed that clarifying language and a tightened title — proposed as "An Act to enhance notice to individuals whose access to state property has been restricted" — would better reflect the bill's purpose. Several members noted earlier testimony from Department of Public Safety witnesses had discussed potential resource needs under a different enforcement model, but staff confirmed the current draft redirects notice and recordkeeping rather than creating a new enforcement regime.

The committee did not take a final vote on the language at today's meeting. Staff will circulate revised draft language and a fiscal/technical memo; the committee set a short comment period for the language review and agreed it would reconvene for any further adjustments.

Sponsor quote: "My understanding was that this bill is just telling people what their rights are. It's not changing their rights. It's not adding any processes regarding the court system," Senator Grohowski told the committee, urging clarification of the fiscal note. Committee staff suggested including a broadly worded unallocated clause to make the committee's intent explicit.

Next steps: staff will prepare the revised text, including the proposed title change and unallocated language options, and distribute pink copies for the committee's comment period; members will have until the stated response deadline to submit concerns and staff will schedule time for further review if needed.