Legislative oversight panel approves OPEGA scope to catalogue business‑incentive data

The Joint Legislative Committee on Government Oversight unanimously approved a scope directing the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability (OPEGA) to evaluate transparency across state business incentives and identify options lawmakers could use to improve data access.

OPEGA senior analyst Jen Henderson told the committee the project would catalogue what publicly available data exists for each individual incentive, assess strengths and weaknesses, identify barriers preventing basic public access, and outline options — including centralizing incentive data under a single administrator. "The overall goal of this special project would be to provide detailed information about the current availability of business incentive data and options for legislators to consider for increasing transparency," Henderson said.

Committee members debated timing after Henderson noted a new reporting model for the Derego (also referenced as Duergo/Derego in committee discussion) business incentive will be released at the end of the calendar year and could inform the review. Henderson said OPEGA could complete the work within the calendar year if the committee preferred, or could wait to incorporate the Derego reporting and report in early 2027.

Chair Craig Hickman called for the motion to accept the proposed scope. Representative Chad Perkins moved and Representative Anne Marie Mastracchio seconded; the committee indicated unanimous consent to accept the scope.

The committee instructed OPEGA staff to proceed and said chairs and members will receive OPEGA deliverables in future packets. The vote clears OPEGA to move from planning to scoping and execution, and members said they expect to use the OPEGA findings to inform possible legislative options on data collection and administration.