A conference committee on Senate Bill 2004 voted Thursday to replace its earlier amendment with a 2022 amendment that removes funding for an FTE position, eliminates Section 13 and deletes a 180-day provision, sending the committee report on for legislative-council review and floor consideration.

Grant, of the Legislative Council, told the committee the 2022 amendment “only changes that are being made from the 2019 version are to remove the FTE position funding and to eliminate Section 13,” and that two subsections of Section 13 were moved into Section 12 while the subsection containing the 180‑day provision was removed entirely.

The committee first reconsidered its prior action adopting the 2019 amendment; a motion to reconsider passed by voice vote. Senator Davidson then moved to adopt the 2022 amendment “due pass” on Senate Bill 2004. The committee recorded a roll-call vote on that motion: Senator Mather voted no; Senator Deavor voted yes; Senator Davison voted yes; Chairman Lauser voted yes; Representative Martinson voted yes; Representative Hansen voted no. The motion passed.

Representative Hansen said she appreciated process improvements but opposed adopting the amendment because she believes the bill remains understaffed. “I will resist it,” she said, adding that she was “glad with many of the steps that we have taken” but was “disappointed that we’re not adding either extra staff, either through an FTE or through professional services.”

Committee members discussed next steps after passage. Grant said the paperwork must clear Legislative Council; once that is done the report will be signed by Representative Lausser and the committee chair before it goes to each chamber’s floor. One committee member confirmed they would carry the bill for the Senate, with Representative Lausser carrying it for the House.

No statutes, court cases, or other legal authorities were cited during the committee’s discussion beyond references to the bill text and specific amendment sections. The committee’s actions were procedural: reconsideration of a prior amendment, adoption of a replacement amendment, and forwarding the conference report for internal clearance and floor action.

The committee adjourned after completing the vote and confirming procedural next steps.