House Appropriations Chair Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, told the House that HB 345 would transfer any year-end surplus beyond $20 million to the budget stabilization fund. “This is a year-end surplus eliminator,” Bell said. “It is going to take a lot of faith on our part, because at this point, there is no surplus to eliminate.” The bill passed unanimously, on a 67-0 vote.

The House then recessed for short caucuses for both parties. Meanwhile, the Senate is debating SB 1200, the public schools budget.