The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget considered and approved a number of items on April 23. This roundup lists formal actions recorded on the transcript; where the transcript records only “motion carried” or “no opposition,” vote tallies are not recorded.

Key approvals and recorded outcomes

- Fiscal status and 5‑year baseline: Committee approved the fiscal status statement as presented by Tranesha Hutchinson of the Office of Planning and Budget. (Motion carried; mover: Senator Edmonds.)

- BA‑7 items (budget adjustments and federal fund increases):
- BA‑7 #2: Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District — increase of statutory dedications out of the New Orleans Sports Franchise Assistance Fund by $1,000,000 to the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District. OPB and LFO recommended approval. (Motion carried; mover: Representative Romero.)
- BA‑7 #3: Division of Family Support / Office of Children and Family Services — increase federal funds by $80,273,040 from USDA Food and Nutrition Service for Summer EBT (one‑time $120 per eligible school‑age child). OPB and LFO recommended approval. (Motion carried; mover: Representative Firebird.)
- BA‑7 #4: Washington Parish Tourism Commission Fund — increase statutory dedication by $85,000. LFO noted a statutory citation issue in sales tax citations that needs cleanup but recommended approval. (Motion carried; mover: Senator Boudreaux.)

- Facility Planning and Control (FP&C) items and change orders:
- LSU Healthcare Services Division — increase authority for clinic building project at Lolli Kemp Regional Medical Center by $1,300,000 (project authorization to $5,650,000). FP&C reported the project is self‑funded by LSU Healthcare Services. (Motion carried; mover: Representative Rang.)
- Spanish Trail Industrial Park access road, St. Martin Parish — change order of $255,878 to address subgrade treatment and unforeseen utilities; local match is 25%, state share $191,909 funded from project contingency. (Motion carried; mover: Senator Boudreaux.)
- Port of New Orleans, Folian Avenue container crane expansion — change order of $1,156,931 for additional earthwork, backfill and piling repairs; the Port met its match and requested state funds to cover the change order. The Legislative Auditor reviewed the matter; after discussion the committee approved the change order. (Motion carried; mover: Chairman Womack.)

- State Bond Commission request: Leila Falls and PRAG representative requested committee approval to sell general obligation bonds in a negotiated sale (postponed earlier due to market volatility). Committee approved. (Motion carried; mover: Representative LeFlore.)

- Contract extensions and procurement approvals (reported and approved for specified vendors):
- Office of Risk Management: one‑year extension to Sedgwick (third‑party claims administrator) adding funds (transcript cited an addition of $20,000,000 and $881,000; invoice amounts vary based on emergency services). Committee approved extension. (Motion carried; mover: Representative LaFleur.)
- Department of Environmental Quality: extensions for Compliance Services (underground tank inspections), Atlas Technical Services (removal/remediation), SGS North America (air analysis lab services), and LEAF Environmental (site investigations). Committee approved each extension when presented. (Motions carried; movers recorded in transcript.)
- DEQ records management (Access Sciences Corporation) — the department presented a two‑year extension request and additional $3,200,000 to the total contract; that item was presented for review only and was to be brought back for committee action the next month.

- Sabine River Authority budget: Committee moved the Sabine River Authority’s budget favorable after a short presentation by Executive Director Warren Founds. (Motion carried; mover: Senator Abraham.)

Procedure and roll calls

Most items were approved by voice or unanimous consent; the transcript shows motions followed by “motion carried” or “no opposition” rather than recorded rollcall tallies. Several presenters noted documentation or audits were provided to the committee and the Legislative Fiscal Office and Legislative Auditor gave recommendations on several items.

Items requiring follow‑up

Members asked for statutory citation cleanup related to hotel/motel tax dispositions (BA‑7 #4) and acknowledged that some change orders had been reviewed by the Legislative Auditor. For the DEQ records management item, the department will return the contract for formal review next month.