The House Political Subdivisions Committee voted to amend and advance measures aimed at short-term financing for correctional facilities and to begin a study of jail improvement needs.

An amendment offered by Representative Moschenbacher earmarked $50 million from the Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) and transferred it to the infrastructure revolving loan fund, explicitly allowing those dollars to be used for loans to political subdivisions for correctional facilities. The committee approved the amendment on a roll call, 12 yes, 1 no.

Nut graf: Committee members described the change as a compromise that provides a source of loan financing for urgent correctional facility needs this biennium while a broader study (through a separate bill) looks for long-term solutions and grant options.

Representative Moschenbacher explained the amendment narrows an earlier $200 million proposal to a $50 million transfer and clarified that funding would be used only for loans for correctional infrastructure, with per-project limits discussed at $20 million. After discussion, members moved the amended bill forward to appropriations.

Earlier in the hearing, Representative Moschenbacher also moved a "due pass as amended" recommendation on House Bill 11-97 related to jail improvement grants; the committee recorded a vote on the amendment and then on the bill as amended. The amendment to HB 11-97 passed (11 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent). The final committee action recorded HB 11-97 as amended passing the committee 12 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent, and the bill was advanced as amended.

Committee members characterized the loan approach as a partial, near-term solution: loans rather than outright grants that can help political subdivisions begin projects sooner while a more extensive study or future legislature could set longer-term funding.

Ending: The committee referred House Bill 12-13 (as amended) to appropriations and recorded due-pass action on House Bill 11-97 as amended; both items will be considered further by appropriations and the full House as part of the legislative process.