The Government Operations Division amended and advanced Senate Bill 2097 on a motion to shrink the bill’s proposed endowment appropriation for rural development and to remove a separate $5 million grants authorization.

Senator Dwyer moved to reduce the $50 million appropriation in SB 2097 to $5 million and to remove the section that would have provided $5 million in immediate grants; Senator Burkhart seconded. The roll call recorded affirmative votes from Senator Wansick, Senator Burkhart, Senator Dwyer and Senator Sickler. The motion passed and the committee later voted to give SB 2097 a due pass as amended.

Committee members said the change was intended to keep the endowment idea alive while substantially lowering the near‑term fiscal impact so the concept could be further discussed during the session and potentially folded into Commerce budget discussions or other grant programs.

Ending

With the amendment adopted, SB 2097 was recommended for a due pass as amended; the senator who agreed to carry the bill on the floor said he would coordinate further policy work and outreach.