The Appropriations Committee advanced House Bill 5002, “an act concerning housing and the needs of homeless persons,” after a contested committee debate in which multiple members objected to voting on the measure without a fiscal note or final bill language.

The bill, described by supporters as a work in progress aimed at studying housing costs and supports for people experiencing homelessness, drew repeated objections from members who said the committee’s role is fiscal review and that passing the bill now would amount to a blank check. “This bill can literally turn into anything at this point,” Representative Nuccio said during the committee’s discussion, adding that the bill “has 0 language, 0 fiscal numbers in it, and just pushing it through to become a blank check.”

Nuccio and other members noted that the bill previously went to the revenue committee and carried no dollar amounts. “We have no idea how much money or for what,” she said. Representative Ackert and Representative Balinski echoed concerns about the absence of a fiscal note, with Balinski saying he could not “for the life of it, justify anything other than a no vote on this thing.” Several members said the process undermined public trust because any strike-all amendment on the floor could add significant spending without the appropriations committee reviewing the fiscal impacts.

Supporters, led by Representative Walker who moved the bill forward, said the committee sometimes advances study or “screening” bills ahead of the final budget so work can continue and so the proposal does not die. “This bill has focuses of lowering housing costs, increasing housing options, and better support to persons who are experiencing homelessness,” Walker said. Walker urged colleagues to pass the bill out of committee now, with the option to vote against it on the floor if they disagreed with later amendments.

Senator Summers said she was “dismayed that we are passing a bill out of the money committee that has no fiscal note attached” and stated she would be “a big no,” arguing the committee should see the full amendment and associated dollars before passage. Representative Gonzalez said she would vote to advance the bill but reserved the right to change her vote on the floor.

After discussion, the committee recorded a roll-call vote and advanced HB 5002 to the next stage. The committee debate focused on process: whether the appropriations committee should advance a placeholder/work‑group bill with no fiscal estimate, and whether doing so would remove the committee’s ability to scrutinize likely future spending once strike-all amendments are filed on the floor.

The committee did not direct staff to prepare a specific fiscal analysis before floor action; members noted that fiscal notes typically appear once the amendment language and spending levels are set.

Votes recorded during the roll call show multiple members voting both for and against advancing the bill; the chair closed the roll call and the bill was advanced out of committee for further consideration on the floor.