Panel presses LBO on data access and resources; variance-authority bill does not advance

Chair Nash introduced a bill to give the Legislative Budget Office authority to perform variance analyses comparing fiscal notes to actual implementation. Christian Larsen, director of the Legislative Budget Office, described a 2022 pilot and said limited reviews (approximately 5–10 per year) could be managed within current resources but a much broader program (hundreds per year) would require additional staff and agency participation.

Members repeatedly questioned whether the LBO is subject to the Data Practices Act and how sensitive data would be protected. Larsen and staff said the LBO currently handles private and secure data in fiscal work and has procedures in place but acknowledged the committee’s cybersecurity and data-access concerns and offered to work on technical language and safeguards.

Several members also raised process questions: the bill as drafted provided broad authority without a clear limit on the number or selection criteria for reviews, and members asked for clarity about overlap with the Office of the Legislative Auditor and the potential resource burden on agencies required to supply implementation data.

After extended debate and requests for a clearer process and fiscal estimates for complicated variance analyses, the committee took a roll-call; the motion to advance did not carry and the bill did not advance at this hearing. Members asked for more precise limiting language, possible oversight by the LBO Oversight Commission, and an assessment of agency workload before the measure is considered again.