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S 4372

No Bias in the Baseline Act

119th Congress Introduced by Roger Marshall

The bill clarifies that the budget baseline starts from current law and assumes current discretionary spending continues, shaping scoring and projections accordingly.

Introduced in Senate
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Bill Summary · S 4372

Bill Summary: S. 4372 (119th Congress)

Title

A bill to clarify that the baseline is based on current laws and the assumption of continuation of current levels of discretionary appropriations, and for other purposes.

Status and Action

  • Introduced in the Senate and read twice on 2026-04-22.
  • Referred to the Committee on the Budget on 2026-04-22.
  • Primary sponsor: (unlisted in provided text); Co-sponsor: Senator Roger Marshall.

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill seeks to define or clarify the baseline for budgeting by establishing that the baseline should be based on:
    • Current laws in effect at the time, and
    • The assumption that current levels of discretionary appropriations will continue into the future (i.e., continuation of current discretionary spending levels).
  • In practical terms, this means when evaluating budgetary proposals, amendments, or deficit projections, the starting point (baseline) would reflect laws presently enacted and the expectation that discretionary spending will not automatically grow or shrink unless explicitly changed by new legislation.

Key Provisions (Inferred from the Title and Summary)

  • Clarification of Baseline:
    • Baseline used for budgetary scoring and fiscal estimates should derive from existing statutes (the status quo) rather than alternative or dynamic baselines.
    • Discretionary spending levels are assumed to continue at their current annualized levels unless Congress enacts changes.
  • “For other purposes”:
    • The bill may include additional provisions related to budget procedures, scoring methodologies, or related fiscal rules, though specific text is not provided. The form suggests potential ancillary changes to align budgeting practices with the clarified baseline.

Who/What Would Be Affected

  • Federal budgetary processes and procedures:
    • Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scoring and reporting.
    • Senate and House budget committees, as well as any entities using baseline estimates for authorization and appropriations decisions.
  • Federal agencies operating under discretionary funding:
    • Agencies would see baseline projections that reflect current law and current spending levels, influencing how new funding requests are evaluated.
  • Policymakers and stakeholders:
    • Senators, Representatives, and staff crafting budget reconciliation, authorization, and appropriations measures would use the clarified baseline for analyses and scoring.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • Next steps after referral to the Budget Committee would typically include:
    • Committee consideration, potential amendments, and reporting the bill to the full Senate.
    • Possible floor debate and votes, amendments, and reconciliation discussions depending on the legislative strategy.
  • Timing: The action history shows introduction and committee referral on 2026-04-22, with no further timeline details available in the provided text.

Potential Implications

  • Budgetary clarity: Establishing a fixed baseline based on current law and current discretionary levels could constrain estimates, making it harder to demonstrate the impact of new proposals that would alter the baseline.
  • Policy evaluation: Could affect how new laws are assessed in terms of fiscal impact, possibly influencing the perceived cost or savings of proposed reforms.
  • Political dynamics: As baseline definitions can influence deficit trajectories and the apparent cost of legislation, this measure may influence negotiations over spending and appropriations.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to a specific audience (e.g., policymakers, journalists, advocacy groups) or add a brief comparison to how baselines are treated in current law.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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