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Committee backs bill to require quarterly off‑budget reports to help fiscal oversight
Summary
Senate Bill 600, supported by committee members, would require quarterly reporting on off‑budget appropriations and clearer lapse reporting to give fiscal committees timely revenue information; the committee voted ought to pass.
Senate Finance Committee members voted that Senate Bill 600 ought to pass after sponsors argued the measure would improve fiscal oversight of off‑budget appropriations.
Supporters said quarterly reporting would give the fiscal committee better real-time insight into revenues and lapses and help avoid large, unanticipated variances in lapse estimates. “By requiring this quarterly report, the fiscal committee would be able to know what's going on and make better informed decisions about offbudget appropriations,” a sponsor said.
Members noted that prior budget cycles showed wide variance in projected lapses — from an $80 million governor projection to a $140+ million House projection and an actual near $47 million number after accounts were set up — and argued that more timely department reporting would reduce guesswork. Senators moved the bill as ought to pass and the committee approved the motion for consent to move it forward.
The committee recorded no further amendments and moved SB600 forward for next-stage consideration.
