The Senate Appropriations Committee — Human Resources Division voted to adopt an amendment to Senate Bill 2021 and gave the bill a due-pass recommendation after debate about continuing appropriation language, staffing levels and several funding items.

The action clears an amended version of SB 2021, described in the meeting as the budget for ITD, to move toward full committee consideration on Monday. Committee members approved an amendment (25.0188.01001) and then voted to give SB 2021 a due-pass recommendation as amended.

Committee members focused discussion on a provision (footnote 9 in the draft) that would transfer $99,000,000 from the department’s IT operating fund to a continuing appropriation, a change the transcript says would allow the department to charge state agencies for IT services without specific legislative approval. Senator Davison said, “You know, even when I read that now, this makes me uncomfortable,” citing the significance of the change. Senators discussed adding reporting language; Senator Cleary said he liked the reporting language added for the continuing appropriation and expected the House to review the change.

Members also reviewed staffing and reserve changes in the bill. Committee members said ITD had initially requested six new positions for operations related to a large siren project; the committee approved funding for two positions and directed those personnel costs to draw from the agency’s roughly $37,000,000 reserve balance. The transcript places the siren project cost at $250,000,000 and includes an estimate that operating costs in the upcoming biennium could be about $10,000,000, with a cash-flow delta of roughly $6,000,000. Committee members discussed potential revenue options, including changing a 50¢ fee that yields about $4,000,000, though members noted raising the fee could be unpopular.

Lawmakers clarified several budget figures during the discussion. A committee member asked about a matching amount “487,000” for the state and local cybersecurity grant program; a staff member answered that the figure discussed was $47,000,000 and that a match existed. The transcript also references an $80,000,000 figure and a separate $45,000,000 tranche in the discussion; members said some funds had been moved to special funds and that $2,900,000 was ongoing funding for the information-technology operating fund.

After discussion, Senator Davison moved adoption of amendment 25.0188.01001 and a “due pass” recommendation on SB 2021 as amended. The committee recorded roll-call votes; Senators Clary, Davison, Chairman Deaver, Magrum and Mather voted aye on both the amendment and the due-pass recommendation. The clerk recorded the motion as carried.

Committee members agreed the item could be reconsidered on Monday if outstanding questions remained. The chair scheduled full committee consideration Monday morning at 8:00 a.m. ahead of a 10:00 a.m. floor session. The committee then adjourned for the day.