The Committee of the Ways and Means Transportation and Economic Development Subcommittee advanced House Bill 5036, the 2025–27 budget bill for the Real Estate Agency, on May 5, recommending $15,880,214 in other funds to support 32 positions and 32 full‑time equivalents.

The Legislative Fiscal Office told the subcommittee that the recommendation “is a 2025–27 budget of $15,880,214 other funds supporting 32 positions and 32 FTE. This represents an 8% increase from the 23-25 legislative approved budget.” The LFO briefing also said the recommended budget “includes $2,000,000 in other funds expenditure limitation carried forward from the prior biennium to complete the e‑license replacement project” and that the recommendation is projected to support about six months of operating reserves.

The LFO outlined three policy option packages included in the recommendation: Package 70 (labeled “revenue shortfalls”), which eliminates a long‑term vacant compliance specialist 3 position and reduces related services and supplies for a total reduction of $719,280 other funds; Package 90, which restores other‑funds expenditure limitation that had been inadvertently removed during a prior position reclassification; and Package 100, which establishes a wholesale registration fee. The LFO stated that Package 100 “establishes a $300 registration and renewal fee for residential property wholesalers as authorized by House Bill 4058 in the 2024 session” and includes $15,000 in estimated revenue for the biennium with no associated expenditures.

Members approved the LFO recommendation and later adopted the bill’s dash‑1 amendment as reflected in the record. The LFO told the subcommittee the recommendation with the dash‑1 amendment should be moved to the full Ways and Means Committee.

The subcommittee also approved the agency’s proposed key performance measures, with the LFO recommending a wording change for KPM number 3: removing the word “contested” so the measure reads “case actions resolved through settlement” rather than “contested case actions resolved through settlement.”

Co‑chairs and members arranged final steps for the bill: the subcommittee voted to move HB 5036, as amended, to the full committee with a due‑pass recommendation and designated members to carry the bill in the full committee and on the House and Senate floors.

A roll call was taken and the motion to advance the bill passed. The subcommittee scheduled its next meeting for Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. and adjourned.

Why it matters: The recommendation funds the agency’s operations and an e‑license replacement project, implements a newly authorized wholesaler registration fee from 2024 legislation, and updates a performance measure used to track case settlements.