Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance
committees of the Legislature. LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they
are used for other purposes.
F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR
Reps. Herrera, De La Cruz, Johnson and
Szczepanski/Sen. Hamblen
LAST UPDATED
ORIGINAL DATE 2/16/2025
SHORT TITLE Combine Standing & Interim Committees
BILL
NUMBER
House Joint
Memorial 2
ANALYST Leger
ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT*
(dollars in thousands)
Agency/Program
FY25 FY26 FY27
3 Year
Total Cost
Recurring or
Nonrecurring
Fund
Affected
$2.5 to $6.0 $10.0 to $20.0
$500.0 to
$1,000.0
$2.5 to
$1,000.0
Recurring General Fund
Total $2.5 to $6.0 $10.0 to $20.0
$500.0 to
$1,000.0
$2.5 to
$1,000.0
Recurring General Fund
Parentheses ( ) indicate expenditure decreases.
*Amounts reflect most recent analysis of this legislation.
Sources of Information
LFC Files
SUMMARY
Synopsis of House Joint Memorial 2
House Joint Memorial 2 (HJM2) requests the Legislative Council to convene an 11-member task
force to study combining standing committees (which meet during the session) and interim
committees into committees that function during the legislative session and the interim.
HJM2 requests the study include how standing and interim committees could be combined into
year-round committees, the staffing needs of combined committees, administration and funding
of the combined committees, the legislation needed to combine the committees, the number of
combined committees needed, each committee’s area of subject matter, and how the changes
could be implemented in 2027.
The task force is to be appointed by the Legislative Council to include four members of the
House of Representative, two from majority and two from minority, and four members of the
Senate, two from majority and two from minority, and three public members who have expertise
in legislative affairs.
The task force shall issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the members of the
Council and the director of the Legislative Council Service by November 30, 2025.
House Joint Memorial 2 – Page 2
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The task force will consist of eight legislators who may be entitled to receive mileage and per
diem reimbursement for attending in-person task force meetings. The per diem cost estimate is
$247/day and 70 cents per mile for mileage, the rates set for legislator travel from March 1-
September 30, 2025. The estimates do not include public members of the task force.
The expense for FY25 assumes the task force meets one day a month from April to June.
The expense for FY26 assumes the task force meets one day a month from July to November
when the final report is expected to be complete.
HJM2 suggests changes recommended by the task force be implemented in 2027. The 2027
legislative session will be a 60-day session and may have some added expenses if reorganization
and hiring is a recommendation of the task force.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
HJM2 states there were 26 standing committees during the 2024 regular legislative session—the
House had 17 and the Senate had nine—and there were 24 interim committees during the 2024
legislative interim.
HJM2 further states having the same committees function during the legislative session and the
interim could increase the efficiency of the legislative process, reduce overlap of subject matter,
allow for continuity in membership and staffing, provide for more uniformity and references to
committees in the law, and make endorsements of legislation during the interim more
meaningful.
OTHER SUBSTANT IVE ISSUES
Discussion of staffing needs should include ensuring there is adequate space for current year-
round full-time staff and any additional staffing that may be needed.
Currently, the space for current year-round full-time staff housed within the state capitol and
Capitol North is inadequate. Office sharing, creating landing spots, and occupying committee
rooms during the interim have allowed for temporary relief. Should the Secretary of State vacate
the capitol, the space will likely accommodate only the current staff and not any new staff.
JL/hg/sgs