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Senate adopts technical budget amendments and passes main appropriations bill
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Summary
The Senate moved several technical amendments into the budget—shifting pilot‑fund language and correcting a duplicated $500,000 line—and passed H951, the main appropriations act. Members debated homelessness funding, a proposed exempt‑salary freeze (which failed), and small reallocations for corrections facility sprinkler upgrades.
Senate leaders on the floor moved technical changes into the budget and approved H951, 'an act relating to making appropriations for the support of the government.' The chamber adopted four technical amendments that, according to the amendment presenter, transfer pilot‑fund language into budget text, correct a duplicated $500,000 capital line and add a $500,000 sprinkler upgrade appropriation for the Newport correctional facility, and add language so homelessness spending can be addressed within the budget conference process.
The amendments were described on the floor as including a transfer of roughly $3 million from a pilot fund to the State Highway program to be distributed to towns under the current town‑highway formula. The presenter said this change was an appropriations matter better handled in the budget rather than in a separate policy bill. He also identified a $21.1 million line connected to homelessness discussions that the Senate intends to address through conference committee budget work.
Senators debated a separate amendment that would have frozen proposed pay‑act increases for higher‑earning exempt state employees and used nearly $4.5 million in first‑year savings (about $4.0 million in year two) to fund two positions: staffing for the Ethics Commission and the Human Rights Commission. The sponsor argued the measure would reduce a growing pay gap between exempt and nonexempt employees and free funds to support oversight bodies. The Appropriations Committee reported a unanimous (7–0) recommendation against the freeze, and the amendment failed on the floor.
After considering the amendments and hearing committee reports and clarifications from members, the Senate ordered the third reading and announced that H951 passed in concurrence.
The Senate also briefly acknowledged and corrected a numerical discrepancy between the web report and the printed highlight sheet; leaders said the highlight sheet contained the accurate figures.
