Appropriations: general government; appropriations for fiscal year 2026-2027; provide for. Creates appropriation act.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by John Cherry

Provides the official authorization and rules for state agency expenditures and how agency-generated revenue is deposited and used for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE WITH SUBSTITUTE (S-1)

#appropriations:generalgovernment

Overview

Purpose: Establish an appropriation act to authorize and regulate the expenditure of funds by state government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027. The bill covers appropriations for several state offices and departments, including general government functions, and provides rules for the disposition of agency fees and income.

Status: Introduced March 18, 2026. Reassigned to the Committee on Appropriations on April 14, 2026. Sponsored by Senator John Cherry (co-sponsor).

Key Provisions

Scope of Appropriations:

Provides appropriations for the following entities:
Legislature
Executive branch
Department of the Attorney General
Department of State
Department of Treasury
Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB)
Department of Civil Rights
Other state purposes as designated in the act

Budget Year: Finances the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027. This may reflect intended spending levels and program authorizations for that year.

Expenditure Authority: The act “provides for the expenditure of the appropriations,” meaning it authorizes state agencies to incur expenditures consistent with the appropriations and any accompanying schedule or line items.

Fees and Income: The act “provides for the disposition of fees and other income received by the state agencies.” This typically means:

How agency-generated revenue (fees, fines, service charges) is to be deposited, accounted for, and potentially redirected.
Rules for supplemental appropriations or adjustments tied to agency receipts.

Effect and Implementation: The bill states the effect of the act, establishing it as the controlling appropriation mechanism for the specified year, subject to any amendments or adjustments as provided within the act.

Who and What Is Affected

State Government Operations: Directly affects funding and authority for:

Legislative operations
Executive agencies and programs
The Attorney General’s office
The Department of State
The Department of Treasury
The Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB)
The Department of Civil Rights

State Agencies and Programs: All programs within the covered agencies will be funded and governed by the appropriations in this act, including any directives related to fee and income disposition.

Revenue Streams: Agencies that generate fees or other income will be subject to specified disposition rules, influencing how revenues are deposited and used.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Introduction and Sponsorship: Introduced March 18, 2026, by Senator John Cherry (co-sponsor).

Committee Assignment: Reassigned to the Committee on Appropriations on April 14, 2026. This is the typical path for general fund/appropriations bills to be reviewed, debated, and amended before floor action.

Next Steps: As an appropriations bill, it will undergo committee review, potential amendments, and eventually floor consideration in the Senate. If enacted, it would become the annual appropriation act binding for the 2026-2027 fiscal year investments and spending authorities.

Notes

The language provided focuses on the high-level purpose and structure of the bill. Exact appropriation amounts, line-item allocations, programmatic directives, and any contingent or sunset provisions would be specified in the full fiscal-year appropriation schedule and related reports within the bill text and accompanying fiscal notes.

Bill