Committee advances Blankford bill to clarify reporting for counties that receive mineral severance tax

The Finance Ways Committee on March 3, 2026, voted to advance House Bill 15 17, a measure from the comptroller's office intended to clarify reporting requirements and reduce paperwork for counties that receive mineral severance tax revenue.

Representative Blankford, who spoke for the bill, said, "This bill is from the comptroller's office, simply clarifies legislation and reporting requirements that, for counties that receive mineral severance tax revenue," and described the proposal as a straightforward efficiency measure to reduce unnecessary paperwork.

A committee member asked whether this was the sponsor's first bill and the chair asked if the sponsor wanted to defer consideration for two weeks; the chair noted that rolling the bill to the "heel" would pose a problem and the committee instead proceeded to a roll call vote. The transcript does not record the names of the motion mover or seconder.

The clerk announced the result as 21 ayes and 0 nos. (The clerk had earlier reported 20 members present before the vote; the record as provided does not reconcile that count with the later tally.) Following the vote, the chairman said House Bill 15 17 "moves on to calendar and rules."

With no further business, the committee adjourned. The transcript provides no additional detail about substantive amendments, fiscal notes, committee debate on technical points, or who made the motion and second. The bill will next appear on the calendar and rules stage.