The House passed HB 12‑44, a technical cleanup to the statewide Welcome, Reception and Integration Grant Program adopted last year. The bill clarifies program priorities for community‑based organizations that receive grants to help newly arrived migrants, replacing a one‑year definition of “new” with language allowing prioritization of migrants who have arrived within the past three years.

Supporters, including Representative Velasco, said the amendment is intended to ensure organizations already operating the program can serve people who remain in need after arrival and that no new appropriation is requested; the money was appropriated last year and the grant work is already under way. Proponents argued the longer eligibility window reflects how long integration services can reasonably be required.

Opponents warned the change could jeopardize federal funding streams. Representatives Gonzalez and others said their constituents view the use of state funds for migrants as a local fairness issue and that expanding the program’s scope while the state is considering budget cuts elsewhere raised political and financial concerns. Representative Gonzales moved amendments to add protections in the event federal funding is withdrawn; several proposed amendments to limit eligibility to persons who arrive lawfully were debated and failed on the floor. A substitute amendment that narrowed eligibility to people who arrived legally was also rejected.

Floor votes show the body rejected amendments intended to remove state support if federal funding was disrupted, and several proposed narrowing amendments failed. The final bill as passed continues to prioritize recently arrived migrants (up to three years) while leaving grant administration details to the department and the intermediary organization that manages awards.

The House recorded final passage of HB 12‑44 on the floor. Debate highlighted tensions between local needs and concerns about federal funding and the scope of services that state programs should provide.