An original resolution authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
This Senate resolution authorizes the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry to incur expenses and hire staff from March 1, 2025, through February 28, 2027. It allows the committee to spend from the Senate’s contingent fund, employ personnel, and use the services of other government departments or agencies on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis with prior consent. The resolution sets specific spending caps for three periods (Mar 1–Sep 30, 2025; Oct 1, 2025–Sep 30, 2026; Oct 1, 2026–Feb 28, 2027) and outlines how expenses are paid, including several categories that do not require voucher documentation. It also authorizes agency contributions to cover certain compensation costs for committee employees. In short, the bill provides formal budgeting authority and process for the committee’s operations, including hearings, investigations, staff, consultants, and related activities, for a two-year span.
Key Points
- 1General authority to spend, hire staff, and use other agency personnel (reimbursable or nonreimbursable) from March 1, 2025, to February 28, 2027, with prior consent from the Committee on Rules and Administration for cross-agency staffing.
- 2Spending ceilings by period:
- 3- March 1, 2025 – September 30, 2025: up to $4,464,935 (including up to $200,000 for consultants and up to $40,000 for staff training).
- 4- October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026: up to $7,654,174 (including up to $200,000 for consultants and up to $40,000 for staff training).
- 5- October 1, 2026 – February 28, 2027: up to $3,189,239 (including up to $200,000 for consultants and up to $40,000 for staff training).
- 6Payment mechanics: most expenses paid from the Senate’s contingent fund on vouchers approved by the committee chair, but certain routine items (salaries, telecom, stationery, mail, copying, recording services, and mass mail) may not require vouchers.
- 7Agency contributions: authority to receive and pay agency contributions related to the compensation of committee employees for the specified periods.