Appropriations & Finance committee approves House Bill 1 to fund 2026 legislative operations and 2030 redistricting preparations

The Appropriations & Finance committee approved House Bill 1, the legislative branch appropriation for the 2026 session, during a committee meeting (date not specified). The bill funds session expenses, year‑round committee operations, chief clerk offices, the legislative finance and education study committees, and initial work on the 2030 census redistricting data program.

Madam leader introduced the bill and outlined its organization, saying sections 1–2 cover session expenses, sections 3–4 fund permanent, year‑round committee operations and related items, and later sections address the legislative finance committee, the education study committee, clerks’ offices and the initial phases of the 2030 census redistricting program. Shauna Kasphere, director of the Legislative Council Service, described the bill’s scope and several specific programs funded in it.

Kasphere described the census work as an early, multi‑phase effort to prepare for the 2030 census. “This first phase of the...block boundary project is for the states to work with the local governments,” Kasphere said, explaining that the phase creates the building blocks for accurate census data and that the Legislative Council Service has issued a request for proposals; responses were due January 28. She told members the work is intended to ensure state data sent to the census is accurate and usable for redistricting.

Members asked for detail about contracting and transfer authority. The leader said competitive bids would be used for contractual services when appropriate. On transfers between budget categories, Kasphere explained the process uses a BAR (budget adjustment request) routed through the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA); the Legislative Council typically approves transfers and staff follow up with DFA paperwork to effectuate them.

Committee members also questioned several line items: district staff office expenses (the bill shows an asterisk indicating use of legislative cash balances for part of earlier funding), rent and salary components for district staff, and an expansion of a capital outlay integrated data system. Kasphere said the district office request includes rent and that salary increases were built into the request; she said the capital outlay system request grew so it could address intake and editing inefficiencies and better integrate data flow with DFA.

Vice Chair Dixon moved approval of House Bill 1; Representative Sanchez seconded the motion. The committee adopted a “do pass” recommendation on House Bill 1; Representative Pettigrew was recorded in opposition. The chair then adjourned the meeting but acknowledged that the committee had failed to solicit public comment on the bill and apologized, saying the panel will provide an opportunity for public comment.

The committee’s action forwards the bill with a committee recommendation. Next steps for the measure will follow the legislature’s regular floor and committee scheduling processes.