Require cost model reports for certain programs and institutions.
Summary
House Bill 1010 requires several state departments and boards to submit periodic cost model reports to the Legislature beginning in fiscal year 2026 and then every three years thereafter. The reports must be filed separately from the regular budget report and must cover specified institutions and programs, including the state universities, technical colleges, K-12 general and special education aid, correctional facilities, the developmental center, the Human Services Center, and the State Veterans Home.
The bill defines a cost model report as a detailed funding model showing, over the prior five fiscal years, the variable and fixed costs of delivering services, full-time equivalent staffing levels, the number of people served, revenues by source, and any other information the appropriations committee or a special committee deems necessary. It also allows the Joint Committee on Appropriations and the special committee established in statute to standardize the reporting format.
Impact
HB1010 would add a recurring reporting requirement to state law for major education, corrections, human services, and veterans programs, increasing the amount of financial and operational data provided to the Legislature. It would not directly change program eligibility, funding formulas, or service delivery, but it would create a new statutory obligation for the Board of Regents, Board of Technical Education, Department of Education, Department of Corrections, Department of Human Services, Department of Social Services, and Department of Veterans Affairs. The practical effect would be to give lawmakers more detailed cost and staffing information for budgeting and oversight.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill was not controversial in committee, as it was tabled on a unanimous 8-0 vote. There are no committee transcripts provided, so there is no recorded debate to indicate strong support or opposition. Overall, the bill appears to have been treated as an oversight and transparency measure rather than a policy change with partisan division.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. The main issue likely to arise from the bill’s text is the administrative burden of preparing detailed cost model reports every three years for multiple agencies and institutions, as well as the Legislature’s authority to require additional data and standardize the reports. Any concern would likely come from affected agencies or institutions that must compile the information, while supporters would likely emphasize improved budgeting transparency and comparability across programs.