House committee adopts substitute for Senate Bill 1062, approves two House amendments

The House Committee on General Laws voted to report the House committee substitute for Senate Substitute No. 3 for Senate Bill 1062 do pass, after adopting two House committee amendments.

Chair Keithley moved to consider the Senate substitute, and Representative Jones introduced two House committee amendments. Representative Jones said the first amendment (ending in 0.01h) mirrors House Bill 3470, changes the bill's informal title away from a charity reference and to the "Inspiration Act," and creates a task force to oversee implementation. "We're taking charity out," Representative Jones said, adding that "Inspiration Act, I think, is more fitting" and that the task force will help the program run smoothly.

The committee heard brief testimony in support. Representative Engel, citing work with the children's division in Jackson County on a pilot known as the Care Portal, said the model helped meet families' immediate needs and preserve placements and urged statewide expansion.

Representative Matheson said he was skeptical of creating new task forces, noting many produce reports with little follow-through, but he did not vote against the amendment. Representative Jones said the senator sponsoring the substitute supports the amendment and that the amendment aligns with work already drafted between bill authors.

The committee adopted the first amendment by voice vote and then adopted a second amendment (ending in 0.02h), which Representative Jones explained mirrors House Bill 2408 by removing a $300,000 cap imposed in 2016 on grants for services to blind and deaf individuals so eligible entities can apply for additional funds. Representative Simmons asked whether removing the cap meant additional funding would automatically be provided; Representative Jones said the change allows applications but does not guarantee funding and that future appropriations remain subject to the budget process.

After rolling the two House committee amendments into a new House committee substitute and adopting the substitute, the committee called the roll and reported the House committee substitute for Senate Substitute No. 3 for SB 1062 do pass by a recorded vote of 12 ayes and 2 nos.

The committee concluded its executive session on SB 1062 and moved on to a public hearing on another bill.

The committee's actions mean SB 1062, as amended by the committee substitute, will be reported out of committee with the committee's recommendations and proceed according to the legislature's remaining procedures.