House Appropriations Committee advances package of bills, re-refers minimum wage increase after roll call

The House Appropriations Committee met March 25 and advanced a package of bills to the House floor, adopting amendments and recording a roll call on the state minimum wage measure.

The committee chair called the meeting to order, the clerk confirmed a quorum and the executive director summarized the agenda. "In front of us, we have House Bill 10 42, which permits state inmates to reduce their aggregate minimum sentence through vocational training and educational credit," the executive director stated in the committee's overview of the agenda.

The committee first approved House Resolution 424, designating March 25, 2026, as Prince Hall Mason Day at the Capitol. The resolution passed with no discussion; the chair declared it passed unanimously.

On legislation, the committee advanced multiple bills:

- House Bill 1042: The bill, described by staff as permitting state inmates to reduce aggregate minimum sentences via vocational training and educational credit, was placed before the committee. A Republican committee member announced that Republicans would vote negatively on the bill while the chair stated that Democrats would vote affirmatively; the chair directed that the bill be re-referred to the House floor.

- House Bill 1260: The bill would require new large warehouses and distribution centers to be "solar ready" and provide local tax exemptions for solar-ready retrofits on existing facilities. As with HB 1042, members stated opposing and supporting positions by party and the bill was re-referred to the House floor.

- House Bill 1750 and Senate Bills 862 and 997: The committee placed HB 1750 (establishing a regulatory framework for cremation of companion animals), SB 862 (expedited filling of borough council vacancies), and SB 997 (adding a motor carrier safety advisory committee member) on the agenda and, with members indicating unanimous support, the chair declared each passed and re-referred them to the House floor.

- House Bill 1344 (as amended): The committee considered Amendment A026660 to HB 1344, which concerns standards for municipal police canine units that may be exposed to fentanyl. Committee members indicated support for the amendment; it passed unanimously and HB 1344 as amended was re-referred to the House floor.

- House Bill 21-89 (minimum wage increase, as amended): The committee considered Amendment A02714 to HB 21-89. Republicans indicated they would vote against the amendment and the bill; Democrats indicated support. The amendment was adopted. The committee then conducted a roll call on the bill as amended; the transcript records multiple "yes" votes from members and several recorded "no" or "designation, no" responses. After tallying the roll call, the chair declared, "Seeing that the ayes have it, House Bill 21-89 will pass this committee as amended and be re-referred to the floor of the House of Representatives." The bill was therefore advanced by the committee.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in committee): HR 424 — passed unanimously; HB 1042 — re-referred to the floor (committee recorded opposition by Republicans and support by Democrats); HB 1260 — re-referred to the floor (same party split recorded); HB 1750, SB 862, SB 997 — passed unanimously; HB 1344 (A026660) — amendment adopted and bill re-referred; HB 21-89 (A02714) — amendment adopted and bill passed the committee on a roll call vote and was re-referred.

The committee did not provide mover/second details in the transcript. The chair closed the meeting after the last vote and adjourned.

What happens next: Each bill advanced by the committee is scheduled to be considered by the full House, where additional debate, amendment or votes may occur.