State Agency Budget Transparency

Under current law, every department, commission, council, board, bureau, committee, agency, or other governmental unit of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of state government (state agency) is required to submit a budget request to the joint budget committee on or before November 1 of every year. The bill clarifies what each state agency must include in its budget request beginning with the 2027-28 state fiscal year. The bill requires a state agency, as part of the state agency's budget request, to submit the following to the joint budget committee and relevant committee of reference: An ideal budget that identifies the least critical 10% in the budget and any duplicative programs administered by the state agency; and A budget that is at least 5% less than the current year's appropriations for the state agency. The bill requires a state agency to submit a budget request to the joint budget committee and relevant committee of reference every 10 years that justifies and explains every expense of the state agency. Lastly, the bill expands an existing reporting requirement and requires all principal departments, as part of the principal department's "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act" hearing, to report all grants made to the state agency during the immediately preceding state fiscal year. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)