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HB 1329

AN ACT to provide for a legislative management study regarding the establishment of a government spending database.

69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26) Introduced by Michelle Axtman and 3 co-sponsors

HB1329 directs a 2025–26 feasibility study on a publicly accessible government spending database, outlining data, training, and governance; could enable free access if implemented.

Filed with Secretary Of State 04/28
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Bill Summary · HB 1329

HB 1329 — Legislative management study on a government spending database (summary)

Status: Filed with Secretary of State 04/28/2025
Introduced: November 14, 2024

Purpose

HB 1329 directs the Legislative Management to study the feasibility of creating a publicly accessible government spending database. The study is intended to evaluate what data should be included, technical and operational requirements, training needs for local education officials, and implementation issues, and to report recommendations (including any implementing legislation) to the 70th Legislative Assembly.

Key requirements of the study

  • Conducted during the 2025–26 interim by Legislative Management.
  • Report findings and recommendations, and any necessary draft legislation, to the 70th Legislative Assembly.

Topics the study must examine

  1. Training needs: review training services needed for school board members, superintendents, principals, and business managers related to the database — covering best practices, personnel management, financial operations, facility planning, and regulatory compliance.
  2. Data elements: feasibility of compiling, for each expenditure:
    • amount paid; payment date; recipient name; paying entity;
    • employee position when payment is personnel-related;
    • for school districts (educational materials): curriculum description, textbook publisher/author, software specifications and developer identification;
    • standardized categorization using U.S. Census Bureau transaction codes and nationally recognized codes for school districts and higher education institutions.
  3. Database capabilities: feasibility of providing search capabilities, data aggregation tools, common-format downloads, anonymous (de-identified) salary and benefit information, and regular (at least monthly) updates.
  4. Data submission and governance: standards, security protocols, reporting schedules, and responsibilities for submitting parties to provide accurate data and use existing resources for compliance.

Appropriation / Fiscal

  • One-time appropriation of $97,000 (biennium July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027) to the Legislative Council to contract with a consultant to assist the interim study.

Who would be affected (if implemented)

  • Submitting parties considered in study: state budget units, political subdivisions, school districts, and institutions under the state board of higher education.
  • State legislative and executive staff (Legislative Management/Legislative Council, consultant engagement).
  • Local education officials (training implications).
  • The public (would gain free online access to expenditure-level information if a database is later created).

Timeline / Next steps

  • Study to be completed during the 2025–26 interim.
  • Legislative Management must deliver recommendations and any proposed legislation to the 70th Legislative Assembly.
  • Any actual creation of a statewide spending database would require follow-up legislation, appropriation, and assignment of operational responsibility (the bill only requires the feasibility study).

Variations and legislative history notes

  • Multiple drafts and amendments circulated: earlier proposals assigned database responsibility to the State Treasurer or Superintendent of Public Instruction and included larger one-time appropriations ($350,000–$500,000) for implementation. The enrolled/most recent version focuses on an interim feasibility study and a $97,000 consultant appropriation.
  • Passed by both chambers (House and Senate votes recorded) and filed with the Secretary of State 04/28/2025.

Potential impacts (illustrative)

  • Increased budget transparency and public access to detailed expenditure data if recommendations lead to implementation.
  • Implementation would raise issues to resolve in the study: cost of building and maintaining the system, data standardization and validation, privacy and security (especially personnel data), and training/resource needs for local entities.

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

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