Appropriations committee advances battery-fee bill and funds $5 million for species conservation; several measures pass

The Senate Committee on Appropriations met and approved several bills, including a battery stewardship measure and a $5 million transfer for species conservation.

Senate Bill 3, with two amendments labeled L2 (a strike-below) and L4, was moved by sponsors and adopted by the committee. Senator Kirkmeyer asked whether the bill would require general fund dollars; sponsor Senator Wallace said the fees "are being paid in by the... participants" and that the revenue will go to the "battery stewardship program cash fund," adding, "No gen no gen no general fund." The committee adopted the amendments and passed the bill 5–2 on a roll call.

Senate Bill 165 would move $5,000,000 from the Species Conservation Trust Fund for species conservation projects. Senator Kirkmeyer sought clarity on fund sources and whether this would draw from the perpetual account versus the operational account. Sponsor Senator Roberts said the bill "moves $5,000,000 from the species conservation trust fund to the department to be used for species conservation efforts," and said the funding approach had been considered by the Joint Budget Committee. The committee passed SB 165 unanimously.

Senate Bill 138 was initially passed 6–1, but a motion to reconsider was made and accepted; on the subsequent poll the bill passed unanimously. Committee members noted that an audit provision had been removed in the strike-below and that the fiscal note was updated to reflect that change.

The committee also considered House Bill 1207 and House Bill 1109. Sponsors said state reporting would largely reuse existing federal forms so businesses would not face duplicative new procedures; private institutions of higher education were given an exception to use IPEDS. J01, a technical amendment, was adopted, and the committee recorded roll-call votes on the house measures (several passed 4–3).

Votes at a glance

- Senate Bill 3 (as amended by L2 and L4): adopted; roll call 5–2 (Gonzales: Aye; Kirk Meyer: No; Kolker: Aye; Liston: No; Pelton: Aye; Vice Chair: Aye; Chair: Aye).
- Senate Bill 138: final adoption after reconsideration; final tally unanimous on re-poll.
- Senate Bill 165 (Species Conservation Trust Fund, $5,000,000): adopted unanimously.
- Senate Bill 172 (rail district): passed (see separate coverage).
- House Bill 1207 / House Bill 1109 and related J01 technical item: committee adopted J01 and passed the house bills on recorded roll calls (various 4–3 tallies).

Why it matters

The committee’s actions move funding and regulatory changes forward to later stages of the legislative process. The battery stewardship and species conservation votes affect how fees and trust funds are used; the reporting bills affect how state agencies collect data from businesses if federal reporting changes.

What’s next

Passed measures will proceed in the legislative process as provided by Senate rules; bills laid over will return at later hearings. The committee adjourned at the end of the calendar.