Conference committee names chair and vice chair, exchanges Senate's opening budget offer

The conference appropriation committee on agriculture, environment and general government and agriculture and natural resources formally organized and selected leadership, and committee members exchanged the Senate's opening budget offer.

Representative Esco Esposito moved to nominate Senator Broder to chair the conference committee; the motion was adopted without objection, and Broder then moved to nominate Esposito as vice chair, also adopted without objection. Senator Broder described a conference "starting point" on the committee's budget spreadsheet, saying the Senate's document shows positions coming off the floor and that many items are already "grayed out" as agreed while outstanding items are highlighted in yellow. "For informational purposes we have included the conference starting point on our budget spreadsheet," Broder said.

The committee did not take further formal actions on specific line items at the meeting; Broder characterized the Senate spreadsheet as its "first offer" and said the Senate had attempted to move closer to the House position. Representative Esposito told the committee the House would review the Senate offer and respond. There were no public comments during the session.

Broader context: the conference committee will reconcile differences between the House and Senate budget positions for agriculture, environment and related areas; Broder said many positions reflected floor agreements and that committee members should expect more items to become agreed as negotiations continue. Members were asked to "watch for a notice for our next meeting," and Broder reminded attendees the committee was on one-hour notice. Senator Trudeau moved to adjourn; the motion was recognized and the committee adjourned without objection.