Ways and Means panel backs Judicial Department budget with funds for interpreters, security and staffing

The Joint Committee on Ways and Means on June 13 recommended House Bill 50‑12, the Judicial Department budget bill, be reported out to the full committee as amended. The public safety subcommittee package the committee approved includes funding for court interpreters, courthouse security and additional positions for appellate and circuit courts.

House Bill 50‑12 contains a total funds budget of $1,000,000,000, including $873,000,000 in general fund, $162,900,000 in other funds and $5,400,000 in federal funds and funds 2,178 positions. The work‑session presentation said the total funds budget is down roughly 13% from the 2023–25 legislatively approved budget because of the phase‑out of one‑time funding but a 16.9% increase from the 2025–27 current services level. Major line items noted by staff included funding for court interpreters, staffing to address the unrepresented‑defendant crisis, courthouse security, positions for appellate and circuit courts, judge training, continuation of grant positions and an ARPA carry‑forward for circuit court replacement planning and improvements.

The measure also carries a current 2023–25 biennium fund shift that moves a $2.9 million criminal fine account allocation into the general fund. The public safety subcommittee recommended the bill be amended by the dash‑1 amendment and reported out “to pass as amended.” The committee approved that recommendation without a roll‑call tally recorded in the work‑session transcript.

Discussion focused on courthouse staffing and county impacts. Senator Manning said Lane County “is really struggling” and urged the legislature to provide at least two of the three judges he said the county needs. Representative Smith declared a potential conflict of interest, noting she is “a member of a limited liability company that has a professional relationship with Harney County.” Representative Smith also urged the Legislature to pursue an interim review of judicial compensation so courts can recruit and retain judges: “I would really, really like us to pursue that in the future.” A co‑chair responded that “you are going to be pleased next week,” indicating follow‑up action from subcommittee work.

Committee members pressed staff on project accounting and retained funds. Senator McLean asked about an $803,000 retainage related to a Crook County courthouse replacement. John Borden of the Legislative Fiscal Office explained that the retainage is a typical portion of construction financing held as a contingency while final project costs and eligibility are confirmed and that the department has informed LFO the retainage can be released once the project’s final accounting is complete.

Senator Solman highlighted investments in trauma‑informed training for judges, calling training for domestic‑violence and sexual‑assault cases “incredibly important.” The committee recorded the public safety subcommittee recommendation and moved the measure forward to full committee consideration.

The motion recorded in the work session text was: “House Bill 50‑12 be amended by the dash‑1 amendment and be reported out to pass as amended.” Outcome recorded: approved/passed (reported out to the full committee).