Capital Committee reports House Bill 2295 out of committee with due-pass recommendation (voice vote: 18-0, 1 excused)

The Capital Committee moved in executive session to report proposed substitute House Bill 2295 (H-36030.3) out of committee with a due-pass recommendation. The motion passed by roll-call: 18 yeas, 0 nays, and 1 excused.

Staff briefed the committee on the proposed substitute, saying it appropriates additional funding for several new projects listed in a change-summary document available in the committee's electronic bill binder. Staff described net spending adjustments, including an additional $611,000 in bonds and $3,000,000 from the waste-tire removal account in the proposed substitute. Committee members used the floor to offer brief remarks of gratitude for staff work and to highlight budget priorities such as affordable housing, climate-related investments, small-school modernization, and higher-education projects.

The committee recorded the voice/roll-call vote and instructed members to check the record for accurate vote entries. The chair noted there will be follow-up executive sessions and that the final capital budget will depend on subsequent conferencing with the Senate; she also reminded members that amendments to a pending bill were due by 12 p.m. that day to be published by 6 p.m.

What's next: With the committee's due-pass recommendation, HB 2295 moves closer to floor consideration and to eventual conference with the Senate; the chair said final adoption depends on continued bipartisan work and final appropriation decisions.