Chairman Thomas called to order the conference committee hearing on Senate Bill 2,009 and members agreed on a compromise to increase state funding for safety and security infrastructure at the State Fair to $800,000, according to the hearing transcript.

The committee reached the compromise after the House had proposed $600,000 and the Senate had proposed $1,000,000. Members also agreed to include an emergency clause and to repeal a provision identified in the transcript as “Section 5,” which the committee staff said prohibits the state from paying maintenance items at the State Fair. Committee staff identified the funding source for the $800,000 as SIF and said the award would be a straight grant, not a match.

Sheila, a committee staff member, explained that the section under discussion bars the state from paying maintenance items at the State Fair and that repealing the section would remove that prohibition. She further said the Senate had included an exception while the House had repealed the section; committee members discussed whether to repeal Section 5 permanently or to make only a one-time exception for the current funding.

After discussion, the committee took a roll-call vote on the motion to increase the safety and security appropriation to $800,000 (with the emergency clause and repeal of Section 5 included). The clerk recorded the following votes: Chairman Thomas — Yes; Senator Connelly — Yes; Senator Meyer — Aye; Representative Nathie — Yes; Representative Swan Tech — Yes; Representative Martinson — Yes. The motion carried on that roll call.

Later in the hearing a separate motion was made to give a due-pass amended recommendation on the in-gross Senate bill as listed in the motion text in the transcript. That motion was made on the floor and seconded by Senator Meyer; the committee again took a roll-call vote and the clerk recorded the measure as advancing on a due-pass amended recommendation with the same affirmative votes recorded in the transcript.

Representative Nathie asked for clarification to ensure he understood how to present the measure when he carries it to the floor. Chairman Thomas closed the hearing after the committee completed its votes.

The transcript does not provide a session date beyond the hearing itself, a formal bill text citation for “Section 5,” or further floor scheduling information. The committee record in the transcript identifies the funding source as SIF and describes the $800,000 as a straight grant (not a matching grant).