Summary — HB 1 (Feed Bill)
Status: Signed
Introduced: August 15, 2025 (bill info) — Emergency clause; effective immediately on signature
Subject: Legislature — appropriations for legislative operations and related legislative agency expenses
Main purpose
HB 1 (the “Feed Bill”) provides the Legislature’s own operating appropriations and related interim-session expenses. It funds the Legislature (per‑diem, mileage, staff salaries and benefits), the Legislative Council Service, Legislative Finance Committee, Legislative Education Study Committee, House and Senate chief clerks, district office staffing, pre‑session and interim expenses, legislative information systems and several one‑time legislative projects (including Capitol complex upgrades).
The bill also includes housekeeping provisions governing legislative printed materials, category transfer authority, reporting/performance measures, and an emergency clause to make the appropriations effective immediately.
Key provisions and dollar amounts
Total authorized: about $68.75 million from the general fund and legislative cash balances (recurring and nonrecurring appropriations combined). Major line items identified in fiscal analyses include:
- Recurring general fund support for legislative offices and functions: ~$47.55 million annually.
- Nonrecurring general fund items and legislative cash‑balance expenditures: several million dollars (examples from fiscal analysis):
- $11.5 million (one component) for First Session expenses,
- $3.2 million for legislative information systems,
- $750,000 and $350,000 for LFC studies/software (job architecture study; economic analysis software),
- $4.0 million (from legislative fund balances) for equipment/furniture/upgrades for the State Capitol Complex.
- $14.0 million allocated for legislative district office staff (recurring appropriation noted in analyses).
- An emergency clause directing immediate effect on signature.
Administrative and program provisions:
- Section establishing standards for bills and other printed materials (formatting/printing timetables).
- Category transfer authority for legislative agencies (allows limited transfers between budget categories).
- Requirement that legislative agencies report specified performance measures.
- Committee amendment (reported later) directed use of a portion of an unexpended LFC appropriation (e.g., $50,000) to evaluate state administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), with interim and final reporting deadlines (preliminary report Jan 20, 2026; final report July 1, 2026) — included in later committee report language.
Who is affected
- The principal beneficiaries are legislative branch entities and staff: members, House and Senate staff, Legislative Council Service, Legislative Finance Committee, Legislative Education Study Committee, and district office personnel.
- Vendors and contractors who provide printing, IT systems, Capitol improvements and other goods or services to the Legislature.
- State finances/taxpayers: increases commitments from the general fund and use of legislative cash balances; the bill sets recurring and one‑time expenditures that affect the state budget baseline.
Fiscal and procedural notes
- The Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) fiscal analysis documents the split between recurring and nonrecurring amounts and highlights several specified projects funded by the bill.
- Because of the emergency clause, the bill’s appropriations take effect immediately upon the governor’s signature.
- Some provisions include reporting and oversight requirements (performance measures, specific program evaluations) to inform the Legislature about how funds were used and program effectiveness.
Bottom line
HB 1 is the Legislature’s primary appropriation vehicle for its own operations and interim needs in FY26. It funds recurring legislative operations and several nonrecurring projects (IT, studies, Capitol upgrades, district staff), includes administrative rules on legislative printing and reporting, and contains an emergency clause for immediate effect. The bill increases near‑term legislative spending funded from a mix of general fund and legislative cash balances and includes directed reporting/audit activity to support oversight.
