Appropriations committee reports several bills favorably, including pensions, environment and foster-care vehicle measure

The House Committee on Appropriations on March 30 reported a slate of bills favorable, advancing measures affecting retirement funding rules, procurement, environmental cleanup funding and benefits for firefighters and foster youth.

Among the actions taken by unanimous consent: the committee cleared a proposed constitutional amendment (House Bill 27) to let retirement boards choose which unfunded accrued liabilities to pay with nonrecurring state dollars; a procurement bill to allow indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts for design services tied to deferred maintenance (HB 755); a consumer-access bill to require cash acceptance at state-owned stadium transactions initiated after July 1, 2027 (HB 308); and an increase in the cap on the Hazardous Waste Site Cleanup Fund (HB 417). The panel also moved House Bill 5 75 to give priority access to surplus state vehicles for youth in extended foster care and approved technical and administrative measures including HB 290 (recreating the Department of the Treasury) and HB 382 (adjusting JLCB authority).

Votes at a glance
- HB 27 (constitutional amendment on nonrecurring state monies to retirement UAL): reported favorable (motion made by Representative Barrault; no recorded roll call vote).
- HB 755 (IDIQ contracting for design services): passed favorable (motion by Representative DeWitt; no recorded roll call vote).
- HB 308 (cash acceptance at state stadiums; effective for transactions after 07/01/2027): reported favorable (motion by Representative Freiburg).
- HB 311 (increase to insurance premium assessment for municipal fire & police civil service fund): reported favorable (motion by Representative DeWitt).
- HB 417 (raise cap on hazardous waste cleanup fund from $6,000,000, set 1997): adopted favorable (motion by Representative Fisher).
- HB 980 (increase Firemen’s Supplemental Pay Board membership): reported favorable (motion by Representative DeWitt).
- HB 575 (priority access to surplus state vehicles for extended foster care youth): reported favorable (motion by Representative Barrault).
- HB 290 (recreate Department of the Treasury; extend termination date to 07/01/2031): approved favorably (motion by Representative DeWitt).
- HB 382 (clarify authority of Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget): approved favorably (motion by Representative Lyons).

Most motions were approved by unanimous consent; the transcript records no roll-call tallies in committee.

The committee adjourned after completing the listed business.