After a brief spring break to re-charge their batteries, the House returned to Raleigh this week and wasted no time getting down to their real job of the 2019-2020 biennium – crafting the state’s budget for the next two years. They’d already set the spending growth at 3.45% to a $24Billion general fund spending plan. They’ve been meeting with staff, Senate counterparts and reviewed the Governor’s budget top to bottom. This week they began rolling out the budget by subcommittee areas with plenty of debate, proposed amendments and a determination to get the job done. For the rest of today and through next week, we’ll continue to see amendments, that so far have made minor tweaks to the proposed line items, hear debate and see where the votes fall. Instead of waiting til the final budget is available (likely late Weds or early Thursday of next week) my colleagues at JLF and I just can’t wait to get started! Here’s an update on where the budget is today with relevant reports and documents. “Cause admit it, you want to spend the weekend combing through the state budget too!
Education
DHHS
Ag, NER (passed out of committee 4/25/19):
Justice and Public Safety
Gen Gov (passed out of committee 4/25/19)
Information Technology
Capital
Transportation
What’s missing?
The finance package will be introduced and woven into the budget next week in the Finance Committee on Tuesday. However SB 622 and it’s House companion HB 676, both the Tax Reduction Act of 2019 give us an idea of what the finance part of the budget will be. Count on reforms to the franchise tax to be featured.
The overview of the budget will be added when all the pieces have been put together. It will be in the first few pages of the final document.
Part I, Reserves will be added later as well.
What’s the schedule?
Appropriations Committees will complete their work today (hopefully) and pass their sections of the bill to the full Appropriations Committee.
Finance Committee meets on Tuesday
Full Appropriations Committee meets on Weds. For debate, amendments and committee vote.
Budget will be on the House floor for debate and 2ndReading vote Thursday.
Budget will be on the House floor for debate and 3rdreading vote Friday.
Too much?
No worries. We’ll help you keep up. Look for newsletters and updates on the policies and numbers in the budget from JLF researchers and up to the minute news reports from Carolina Journal all next week. We’ve got you covered!
