Committee reports do-pass recommendations on multiple bills, including incentives reporting and education language

The committee advanced a slate of bills, returning several to the full chamber with do-pass recommendations.

SB 1530: Presented by Representative Moore as a research-and-development ecosystem bill intended to foster partnerships among universities, businesses and industry. Committee action: reported out with a do-pass recommendation, 29–0.

SB 1847: Presented by Representative Moore, described in committee as saving about $153 per day per resident by allowing certain residents to avoid nursing-home placement. Committee action: reported out with a do-pass recommendation, 29–0.

SB 1990: Presented by Representative Cain, the bill directs the Incentive Evaluation Commission to submit its annual report to the secretary of state, expand comparative analyses to include other state incentives, and evaluate whether incentives provide a strategic economic goal or competitive advantage. Representative Schreiber asked why the bill’s placement changed; Cain said centralizing reporting at the secretary of state prompted the change. Committee action: reported out with a do-pass recommendation, 28–0.

SB 1992: Presented by Chairman Caldwell as a Department of Commerce cleanup bill. No substantive questions were raised in committee. Committee action: reported out with a do-pass recommendation, 27–2.

SB 1579: Presented by Speaker Hilbert and described as a Taxpayer Bill of Rights measure. Committee action: reported out with a do-pass recommendation, 26–0.

SB 1778: Presented by Speaker Hilbert as agreed language with the Senate to clarify SRA formulas and reading legislation. Representative Provenzano asked about provisions that permit early third-grade testing in the second grade; the presenter said federal law still requires all third graders to take the federal test and the bill makes earlier testing permissive for districts. Committee action: reported out with a do-pass recommendation, 28–0.

Ending: The committee recessed briefly while awaiting an author and then adjourned; all listed bills were reported out to the full chamber as noted above.