4.03 WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE; BUDGET RESOLUTION; EFFECT ON EXPENDITURE AND REVENUE BILLS. (a) The Committee on Ways and Means must hold hearings as necessary to determine state expenditures and revenues for the fiscal biennium.
(b) Within 25 days after the last state general fund revenue and expenditure forecast for the next fiscal biennium becomes available during the regular session in the odd-numbered year, the Committee on Ways and Means must adopt a budget resolution. The budget resolution: (1) must set the maximum limit on net expenditures for the next fiscal biennium for the general fund, (2) must set an amount or amounts to be set aside as a budget reserve and a cash flow account, (3) must set net spending limits for each budget category represented by the major finance and revenue bills identified in paragraph (e), and (4) may set limits for expenditures from funds other than the general fund. The budget resolution must not specify, limit, or prescribe revenues or expenditures by any category other than those specified in clauses (1), (2), (3), and (4). After the Committee adopts the budget resolution, the limits in the resolution are effective during the regular session in the year in which the resolution is adopted, unless a different or amended resolution is adopted.
(c) During the regular session in the even-numbered year, before the Committee on Ways and Means reports a bill containing net increases or decreases in expenditures as compared to general fund expenditures in the current fiscal biennium estimated by the most recent state budget forecast, the Committee may adopt a budget resolution. If adopted, the resolution must account for the net changes in expenditures. The resolution may also (1) set limits for changes in net expenditures for each budget category represented by the major finance and revenue bills identified in paragraph (e), and (2) set limits for expenditures from funds other than the general fund.
If the Committee adopts a budget resolution, it is effective during the regular session that year, unless a different or amended resolution is adopted.
(d) The major finance or revenue bills may be combined or separated by a majority vote of either the Committee on Ways and Means or the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration. Combined or separated bills must conform to the limits in the resolution as those limits apply to the accounts in those bills.
(e) Major finance and revenue bills are:
the agriculture finance bill;
the capital investment bill;
the climate and energy finance bill;
the commerce finance bill;
the children and families finance bill;
the economic development finance bill;
the elections finance bill;
the environment and natural resources finance bill;
the health finance bill;
the higher education finance bill;
the housing finance bill;
the human services finance bill;
the judiciary finance bill;
the education finance bill;
the labor and industry finance bill;
the legacy finance bill;
the public safety finance bill;
the state and local government finance bill;
the tax bill;
the transportation finance bill;
the veterans and military affairs finance bill; and
the workforce development finance bill.
(f) After the adoption of a resolution by the Committee on Ways and Means, each finance committee, and the Committee on Taxes must reconcile each bill described in Rule 4.10 with the resolution. When reporting a finance or revenue bill, each committee or division must provide to the Committee on Ways and Means a fiscal statement reconciling the bill with the resolution.
(g) After the adoption of a resolution by the Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee on Ways and Means must reconcile finance and revenue bills with the resolution. When reporting a bill, the chair of the Committee must certify to the House that the Committee has reconciled the bill with the resolution.
(h) After the adoption of a resolution by the Committee on Ways and Means, an amendment to a bill is out of order if it would cause any of the limits specified in the resolution to be exceeded. Whether an amendment is out of order under this Rule is a question to be decided on the Floor by the Speaker or other presiding officer and in Committee or Division by the person chairing the Committee or Division meeting. In making the determination, the Speaker or other presiding officer or the Committee or Division chair may consider: (1) the limits in a resolution; (2) the effect of existing laws on revenues and expenditures; (3) the effect of amendments previously adopted to the bill under consideration; (4) the effect of bills previously recommended by a Committee or Division or bills previously passed in the legislative session by the House or by the legislature; (5) whether expenditure increases or revenue decreases that would result from the amendment are offset by decreases in other expenditures or increases in other revenue specified by the amendment; and (6) other information reasonably related to expenditure and revenue amounts.
(i) After a resolution is adopted by the Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee must make available a summary of the estimated fiscal effect on the general fund of each bill that has been referred to the Committee on Ways and Means by a finance committee or a division of a finance committee, or the Committee on Taxes and of each bill that has been reported by the Committee on Ways and Means.
Rule 4.05
Rule 4.02
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