Summary of Bill S 1309

Bill Number: S 1309

Title: Requires bills containing an unfunded mandate for a county or municipality to be referred to the state comptroller for opinion before being certified

Status: Referred to Investigations and Government Operations

Introduced: January 09, 2025

Classification: Bill

Purpose and Intent

Bill S 1309 aims to enhance fiscal accountability and transparency in state legislation by ensuring that any proposed bills that impose unfunded mandates on counties or municipalities receive a formal opinion from the state comptroller before they can be certified. The intent is to prevent local governments from being burdened with financial obligations that are not accompanied by corresponding funding.

Key Provisions

• Referral Requirement: Any bill that includes an unfunded mandate must be referred to the state comptroller for an opinion regarding its financial implications before the bill can be certified.
• Definition of Unfunded Mandate: The bill specifies that an unfunded mandate is any requirement imposed by the state that local governments must fulfill without receiving state funding to cover the associated costs.
• Comptroller's Opinion: The state comptroller will assess the financial impact of the unfunded mandate and provide an opinion that will inform lawmakers and the public about the potential fiscal burden on local governments.

Affected Parties

• Counties and Municipalities: Local governments will be directly affected as they will have a clearer understanding of the financial implications of state mandates.
• State Legislators: Lawmakers will be required to consider the comptroller's opinion when proposing or voting on bills that could impose unfunded mandates.
• State Comptroller's Office: This office will take on the responsibility of evaluating and issuing opinions on the financial impacts of proposed legislation.

Procedural Aspects

• Legislative Action: The bill was introduced on January 09, 2025, and has been referred to the Investigations and Government Operations Committee for further consideration.
• Related Legislation: This bill is related to prior-session bills S 7285 and S 5682, which may have addressed similar issues regarding unfunded mandates.

Conclusion

Bill S 1309 seeks to create a more responsible legislative process by ensuring that local governments are not unexpectedly burdened with costs associated with state mandates. By requiring an opinion from the state comptroller, the bill aims to foster informed decision-making and promote fiscal responsibility within state governance.