Committee gives favorable report to substituted, amended state general fund recommendation

Chairman Reynolds presided as the committee adopted a substituted and amended version of the state general fund appropriations proposal and gave it a favorable report.

The committee’s substitute, as described by Chairman Reynolds, trims and reassigns funding compared with the governor’s recommendation and the senate sub. "These are almost exact from what when we sat down individually and went through the budget with you last week or week before last," Reynolds said while reviewing the comparison sheets the committee used to craft its recommendation.

Why it matters: the substituted package funds executive, legislative and judicial agencies for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2027, and contains line-item shifts the committee said will keep the budget conservative while addressing local priorities.

The committee adopted an amendment that changes how food-bank dollars are allocated. Reading the amendment, Reynolds said, "Each partner food bank shall receive a base allocation of $25,000. Remaining funds shall be dispersed based on the goal factor calculation for each food bank." Members accepted the amendment by voice vote.

Key changes the committee listed include $2,000,000 for district attorney administrative costs; $2,000,000 in airport development grants (to a $15,000,000 total); $600,000 for the North Alabama Public Energy District; $750,000 for the Emergency Management Agency; $1,100,000 to the Historical Commission (including $975,000 to a Blakely authority in Baldwin County); $185,000 for TANF-related programming tied to youth services; $2,900,000 for tourism grants; $650,000 for the U.S. Veterans Memorial Foundation; and an $18,000,000 allocation for SEIB insurance and COLA-related costs.

On corrections funding the committee said it would suspend a $1,835,000 allocation for maintenance of new correctional facilities this year and move that amount to next year to help balance the budget. Reynolds called the decision part of a conservative approach to revenue and debt service planning.

Representative Warren pressed for context on state-house costs; Reynolds responded that the house and the ETF each pay $10,000,000 annually (for $20,000,000 total) due Oct. 1 and said roughly $229,000,000 in cash appropriations over the last three years have reduced long-term debt service.

The committee moved, seconded and voice-voted to report SB146 as substituted and amended to the next stage. The committee also noted the recommendation includes an initial $10,000,000 general fund allocation for the new state house project.

The committee adjourned after giving the substituted and amended SB146 a favorable report.