March 7, 2023
The House passed the bonding bill yesterday, with 21 Republicans voting for the bill. That is 10 more than needed for the supermajority required to pass a bonding bill. This is a sign that there is buy-in with the minority party, although Senate Republicans continue to drag their feet and promised in a press conference on Monday not to vote for the bill until there is a significant agreement on tax cuts. The GOP votes in the House may help apply pressure to their counterparts in the Senate, but that remains somewhat uncertain.
Leadership plans to pass a bonding bill earlier in the session, which is not typical, in order to clear the backlog of projects from not passing a bonding bill in 2021 or 2022. The plan also includes putting together a bonding bill to pass at the end of session and then beginning the usual schedule of tours over the summer and fall to put together a bonding bill in 2024, the second year of the biennium, (which is the traditional timing).
There is also a frantic pace at the Capitol as the first deadline approaches this Friday. This is the deadline for bills to be acted favorably on in either the Senate or House Committees. With 3,000 bills introduced so far, this will dramatically narrow the field of bills in play.
Shifting gears to the Jobs and Economic Development Committee and EDAM’s top priority to increase funding for the Redevelopment Grant Fund, a hearing on H.F. 1920 will take place on March 15 in the House Economic Development Committee. The timing works out well because it is also EDAM’s Day at the Capitol, rescheduled due to the snowstorm on February 22. If you haven’ t already, please register here! No experience is necessary and there is no cost, but please register so we can schedule meetings to help make your participation as impactful as possible.