Capitol update: Budget Talks, permitting reform and business mandates
May 23, 2025
It’s Friday and we're preparing for Memorial Day weekend. But, the Legislature has not completed its work for the year. Earlier this week, the Legislature adjourned as they were required to do by the Constitution, but they did not complete their work as they didn't complete their budget. The budget is required this year, and the state must balance its budget and produce a new budget for the upcoming fiscal year and biennium, which will start on July 1. The Legislature is working to complete that. And a special session is expected to be reconvened by the governor and go through the remaining budget items yet-to-be-completed and do so in a timely way.
We don't see any type of partial or full shutdown of the government as a result of their inability to get their jobs done, but I'm optimistic that they will, because they need to, but also because we've seen progress in them being able to reach deals to compromise. That's what's required this year at the Legislature. The makeup of the Legislature this year is a 34-33 split in the Senate with one-vote majority held by the Democrats. On the House side, it's an equal split of 67-67 between the two parties. That requires them to reach compromise, and that is being accomplished. We believe that will produce meaningful results and a budget before they are able to wrap up.