Legislative Updates

Welcome to week 10!  The week is coming to a close with the revenue forecast released yesterday and the expectation of the Senate budget coming out next Monday or Tuesday (3/20 or 3/21).  Regarding the revenue forecast, the General Fund State...

March 8th was the cut-off for bills to get out of the original house… and while many bills died, a lot did not and will now be taken up by the opposite house.  It is also important to remember that a number of bills have been deemed necessary to...

Fiscal committee cut-off came and went on February 24th…. with a lot of bills passing out of their respective fiscal committees but many not getting through and therefore dying. Monday, February 27th began morning-to-night floor action that will...

Another busy cut-off week… This time, the cut-off is for bills to get out of the fiscal committees.  Last Friday, February 17th, was the cut-off for bills to get out of the original policy committees.  And while many bills died, a lot did not!  Some...

Cut-off weeks are generally incredibly busy, and this one was no exception.  Today, February 17th, is the cut-off for bills to get out of their committees of origin.  Most committees have been both hearing and exec’ing bills all week, and for a...

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night… While you may recognize this as the Postal Service creed, it can certainly apply to the legislature!  In spite of the snow and icy conditions, the legislature was back in action on Monday and has...

Week 3 ended with an attempt by the Senate Democrats to take control of the Senate in order to bring the school levy ‘cliff’ bill to the floor.   The attempt failed, and on February 1st, the Senate Republican education funding bill was passed by...

Welcome to Week 3!  Bills, bills, bills!!!  Many bills were dropped this week, including a number in the children and families realm.  Of particular note are HB 1661/SB 5498, the companion bills that bring together the Department of Early Learning...

The week was filled with hearings on bills and work sessions on a variety of topics, including K-12 funding, Economic Services, the Office of Homeless Youth, Home Visiting, the Department of Early Learning, the Blue Ribbon Commission report, and...

Welcome to the 2017 Legislative Session! It’s hard to believe the interim is over and the legislature is back in action.  The week was busy with elected officials being sworn in, the Governor’s address to the legislature, the inaugural ball, bill...