Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2026-02-18 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2026-02-18 House Journal Page 1646 HB 289 The following was read the second time: HOUSE BILL NO. 289 "An Act making supplemental appropriations, reappropriations, and other appropriations; amending appropriations; capitalizing funds; and providing for an effective date." 2026-02-18 House Journal Page 1647 with the: Journal Page FIN RPT CS(FIN) NEW TITLE 6DP 5AM 1640 Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the following committee substitute be adopted in lieu of the original bill: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 289(FIN) "An Act making appropriations, including supplemental appropriations, capital appropriations, reappropriations, and other appropriations; amending appropriations; capitalizing funds; making appropriations under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution of the State of Alaska, from the constitutional budget reserve fund; and providing for an effective date." Representative Stapp objected. The question being: "Shall the House adopt CSHB 289(FIN)?" The roll was taken with the following result: HB 289 Second Reading Adopt Finance CS YEAS: 21 NAYS: 19 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Carrick, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Josephson, Kopp, Mears, Mina, Schrage, Story, Stutes Nays: Allard, Bynum, Costello, Coulombe, Elam, Johnson, McCabe, Moore, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Prax, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schwanke, St. Clair, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Underwood, Vance And so, CSHB 289(FIN) was adopted. Amendment No. 1 was offered by Representative Costello: Page 17, following line 28: Insert a new bill section to read: "* Sec. 20. DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES: CAPITAL. The amount of federal receipts received during the fiscal 2026-02-18 House Journal Page 1648 years ending June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027, for creating a statewide project permitting dashboard is appropriated to the Department of Natural Resources, administration and support services, for that purpose." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 20, lines 30 - 31: Delete "17 - 20" Insert "17 - 21" Page 21, lines 3 - 4: Delete "20(a), 21, 22, and 24" Insert "20, 21(a), 22, 23, and 25" Page 21, line 5: Delete "20(b)" Insert "21(b)" Page 21, line 10: Delete "20(b)" Insert "21(b)" Page 21, line 11: Delete "sec. 25" Insert "sec. 26" Representative Costello moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 1 be adopted. Representative Josephson objected. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 1 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 289(FIN) Second Reading Amendment No. 1 YEAS: 19 NAYS: 21 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 2026-02-18 House Journal Page 1649 Yeas: Allard, Bynum, Costello, Coulombe, Elam, Johnson, McCabe, Moore, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Prax, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schwanke, St. Clair, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Underwood, Vance Nays: Carrick, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Josephson, Kopp, Mears, Mina, Schrage, Story, Stutes And so, Amendment No. 1 was not adopted. Amendment No. 2 was offered by Representative Stapp: Page 1, lines 1 - 3 (title amendment): Delete ", capital appropriations, reappropriations, and other appropriations; amending appropriations; capitalizing funds; making appropriations under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution of the State of Alaska, from the constitutional budget reserve fund" Page 2, line 1, through page 21, line 12: Delete all material and insert: “* Section 1. The following appropriations are for capital projects and grants from the general fund or other funds as set out in sec. 2 of this Act by funding source to the agencies named for the purposes expressed. They lapse under AS 37.25.020, unless otherwise noted. Appropriation General Other Allocations Items Funds Funds * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Department of Transportation and Public Facilities * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Federal Program Match 13,000,000 13,000,000 Federal-Aid Highway State 13,000,000 Match (HD 1-40) (SECTION 2 OF THIS ACT BEGINS ON THE NEXT PAGE) * Sec. 2. The following sets out the funding by agency for the appropriations made in sec. 1 of this Act. Funding Source Amount Department of Transportation and Public Facilities 1004 Unrestricted General Fund Receipts 13,000,000 *** Total Agency Funding *** 13,000,000 * * * * * Total Budget * * * * * 13,000,000 2026-02-18 House Journal Page 1650 (SECTION 3 OF THIS ACT BEGINS ON THE NEXT PAGE) * Sec. 3. The following sets out the statewide funding for the appropriations made in sec. 1 of this Act. Funding Source Amount Unrestricted General 1004 Unrestricted General Fund Receipts 13,000,000 *** Total Unrestricted General *** 13,000,000 (SECTION 4 OF THIS ACT BEGINS ON THE NEXT PAGE) * Sec. 4. FUND TRANSFERS. The following amounts are appropriated to the general fund from the sources indicated: (1) the amount collected for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, estimated to be $6,080,000, from the surcharge levied under AS 43.55.300; and (2) the amount collected for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, estimated to be $6,100,000, from the surcharge levied under AS 43.40.005. * Sec. 5. ALASKA INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND EXPORT AUTHORITY. The sum of $17,000,000 has been declared available by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority board of directors under AS 44.88.088 for appropriation as the dividend for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. If, after the appropriations made to the general fund in this Act, the unrestricted state revenue available for appropriation in fiscal year 2026 is insufficient to cover the general fund appropriations that take effect in fiscal year 2026 that are made in this Act, as passed by the Thirty- Fourth Alaska State Legislature in the Second Regular Session and enacted into law, the amount necessary to balance revenue and general fund appropriations that take effect in fiscal year 2026 that are made in this Act, as passed by the Thirty-Fourth Alaska State Legislature in the Second Regular Session and enacted into law, not to exceed the balance of the amount declared available by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority board of directors under AS 44.88.088 for appropriation as the dividend for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, that remains after deductions for appropriations for capital purposes are made from the amount, is appropriated to the general fund from the unrestricted balance in the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority revolving fund (AS 44.88.060), the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority sustainable energy transmission and supply development fund (AS 44.88.660), and the Arctic infrastructure development fund (AS 44.88.810). 2026-02-18 House Journal Page 1651 * Sec. 6. LAPSE. The appropriations made in sec. 1 of this Act are for capital projects and lapse under AS 37.25.020. * Sec. 7. Sections 4 and 5 of this Act take effect June 30, 2026. * Sec. 8. Except as provided in sec. 7 of this Act, this Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c)." Representative Stapp moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 2 be adopted. Representative Josephson objected. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 2 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 289(FIN) Second Reading Amendment No. 2 YEAS: 19 NAYS: 21 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Bynum, Costello, Coulombe, Elam, Johnson, McCabe, Moore, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Prax, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schwanke, St. Clair, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Underwood, Vance Nays: Carrick, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Josephson, Kopp, Mears, Mina, Schrage, Story, Stutes And so, Amendment No. 2 was not adopted. Amendment No. 3 was offered by Representative Stapp: Page 1, lines 1 - 3 (title amendment): Delete "making appropriations, including supplemental appropriations, capital appropriations, reappropriations, and other appropriations; amending appropriations; capitalizing funds;" Insert "making supplemental appropriations;" Page 2, line 1, through page 21, line 12: Delete all material and insert: "* Section 1. The following appropriations are for capital projects and 2026-02-18 House Journal Page 1652 grants from the general fund or other funds as set out in sec. 2 of this Act by funding source to the agencies named for the purposes expressed. They lapse under AS 37.25.020, unless otherwise noted. Appropriation General Other Allocations Items Funds Funds * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Department of Transportation and Public Facilities * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Federal Program Match 13,000,000 13,000,000 Federal-Aid Highway State 13,000,000 Match (HD 1-40) (SECTION 2 OF THIS ACT BEGINS ON THE NEXT PAGE) * Sec. 2. The following sets out the funding by agency for the appropriations made in sec. 1 of this Act. Funding Source Amount Department of Transportation and Public Facilities 1001 Constitutional Budget Reserve Fund 13,000,000 *** Total Agency Funding *** 13,000,000 * * * * * Total Budget * * * * * 13,000,000 (SECTION 3 OF THIS ACT BEGINS ON THE NEXT PAGE) * Sec. 3. The following sets out the statewide funding for the appropriations made in sec. 1 of this Act. Funding Source Amount Unrestricted General 1001 Constitutional Budget Reserve Fund 13,000,000 *** Total Unrestricted General *** 13,000,000 (SECTION 4 OF THIS ACT BEGINS ON THE NEXT PAGE) * Sec. 4. CONSTITUTIONAL BUDGET RESERVE FUND. The appropriations made from the constitutional budget reserve fund in sec. 1 of this Act are made under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution of the State of Alaska. * Sec. 5. LAPSE. The appropriations made in sec. 1 of this Act are for capital projects and lapse under AS 37.25.020. * Sec. 6. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c)." Representative Stapp moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 3 be adopted. Representative Josephson objected. 2026-02-18 House Journal Page 1653 The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 3 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 289(FIN) Second Reading Amendment No. 3 YEAS: 19 NAYS: 21 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Bynum, Costello, Coulombe, Elam, Johnson, McCabe, Moore, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Prax, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schwanke, St. Clair, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Underwood, Vance Nays: Carrick, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Josephson, Kopp, Mears, Mina, Schrage, Story, Stutes And so, Amendment No. 3 was not adopted. Amendment No. 4 was offered by Representative Stapp: Page 1, lines 1 – 2 (title amendment): Delete ", capital appropriations, reappropriations, and other appropriations; amending appropriations" Page 2, line 1, through page 21, line 12: Delete all material and insert: "* Section 1. The following appropriations are for capital projects and grants from the general fund or other funds as set out in sec. 2 of this Act by funding source to the agencies named for the purposes expressed. They lapse under AS 37.25.020, unless otherwise noted. Appropriation General Other Allocations Items Funds Funds * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Department of Transportation and Public Facilities * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Federal Program Match 13,000,000 13,000,000 Federal-Aid Highway State 13,000,000 Match (HD 1-40) (SECTION 2 OF THIS ACT BEGINS ON THE NEXT PAGE) * Sec. 2. The following sets out the funding by agency for the appropriations made in sec. 1 of this Act. 2026-02-18 House Journal Page 1654 Funding Source Amount Department of Transportation and Public Facilities 1004 Unrestricted General Fund Receipts 13,000,000 *** Total Agency Funding *** 13,000,000 * * * * * Total Budget * * * * * 13,000,000 (SECTION 3 OF THIS ACT BEGINS ON THE NEXT PAGE) * Sec. 3. The following sets out the statewide funding for the appropriations made in sec. 1 of this Act. Funding Source Amount Unrestricted General 1004 Unrestricted General Fund Receipts 13,000,000 *** Total Unrestricted General *** 13,000,000 (SECTION 4 OF THIS ACT BEGINS ON THE NEXT PAGE) * Sec. 4. ALASKA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. (a) The board of directors of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation anticipates that $54,275,000 of the adjusted change in net assets from the second preceding fiscal year will be available for appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. (b) The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation shall retain the amount set out in (a) of this section for the purpose of paying debt service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, in the estimated amount of $2,500,000 for debt service on the bonds authorized under sec. 4, ch. 120, SLA 2004. (c) After deductions for the item set out in (b) of this section and deductions for appropriations for operating and capital purposes are made, the remaining balance of the amount set out in (a) of this section, not to exceed $25,820,000, is appropriated to the general fund. * Sec. 5. ALASKA INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND EXPORT AUTHORITY. The sum of $17,000,000 has been declared available by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority board of directors under AS 44.88.088 for appropriation as the dividend for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. After deductions for appropriations for capital purposes are made, any remaining balance of the amount set out in this section is appropriated from the unrestricted balance in the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority revolving fund (AS 44.88.060), the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority sustainable energy transmission and supply development fund (AS 44.88.660), and the Arctic infrastructure development fund (AS 44.88.810) to the general fund. * Sec. 6. FUND CAPITALIZATION. (a) The sum of $40,000,000 is 2026-02-18 House Journal Page 1655 appropriated from the general fund to the disaster relief fund (AS 26.23.300(a)). (b) The sum of $35,000,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the disaster relief fund (AS 26.23.300(a)). * Sec. 7. FUND TRANSFERS. The following amounts are appropriated to the general fund from the sources indicated: (1) the amount collected for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, estimated to be $6,080,000, from the surcharge levied under AS 43.55.300; and (2) the amount collected for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, estimated to be $6,100,000, from the surcharge levied under AS 43.40.005. * Sec. 8. CONSTITUTIONAL BUDGET RESERVE FUND. (a) If, after the appropriations made to the general fund in this Act, the unrestricted state revenue available for appropriation in fiscal year 2026 is insufficient to cover the general fund appropriations that take effect in fiscal year 2026 that are made in this Act, as passed by the Thirty-Fourth Alaska State Legislature in the Second Regular Session and enacted into law, the amount necessary to balance revenue and general fund appropriations that take effect in fiscal year 2026 that are made in this Act, as passed by the Thirty-Fourth Alaska State Legislature in the Second Regular Session and enacted into law, not to exceed $15,000,000, is appropriated to the general fund from the budget reserve fund (art. IX, sec. 17, Constitution of the State of Alaska). (b) The appropriations made from the budget reserve fund (art. IX, sec. 17, Constitution of the State of Alaska) in (a) of this section are made under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution of the State of Alaska. * Sec. 9. LAPSE. (a) The appropriations made in sec. 1 of this Act are for capital projects and lapse under AS 37.25.020. (b) The appropriations made in sec. 6 of this Act are for the capitalization of a fund and do not lapse. * Sec. 10. CONTINGENCY. The appropriation made in sec. 6(b) of this Act is contingent on the state's match rate as of June 30, 2026, remaining at 25 percent of the state's costs for disaster relief under the Federal Emergency Management Agency's major disaster declaration for the state because of Typhoon Halong (FEMA-4893-DR). * Sec. 11. Sections 7 and 8 of this Act take effect June 30, 2026. * Sec. 12. Except as provided in sec. 11 of this Act, this Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c)." 2026-02-18 House Journal Page 1656 Representative Stapp moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 4 be adopted. Representative Josephson objected. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 4 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 289(FIN) Second Reading Amendment No. 4 YEAS: 19 NAYS: 21 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Bynum, Costello, Coulombe, Elam, Johnson, McCabe, Moore, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Prax, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schwanke, St. Clair, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Underwood, Vance Nays: Carrick, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Josephson, Kopp, Mears, Mina, Schrage, Story, Stutes And so, Amendment No. 4 was not adopted. Amendment No. 5 was not offered. Amendment No. 6 was offered by Representative Tomaszewski: Page 15, line 18, following "LAW.": Insert "(a)" Page 15, following line 21: Insert a new subsection to read: "(b) The sum of $1,000,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Law, civil division, for litigation relating to the defense of rights to develop and protect the state's natural resources, to access land, to manage its fish and wildlife resources, and to protect state sovereignty for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026." Representative Tomaszewski moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 6 be adopted. 2026-02-18 House Journal Page 1657 Representative Josephson objected. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 6 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 289(FIN) Second Reading Amendment No. 6 YEAS: 19 NAYS: 21 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Bynum, Costello, Coulombe, Elam, Johnson, McCabe, Moore, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Prax, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schwanke, St. Clair, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Underwood, Vance Nays: Carrick, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Josephson, Kopp, Mears, Mina, Schrage, Story, Stutes And so, Amendment No. 6 was not adopted. Amendment No. 7 was offered by Representative Stapp: Page 1, lines 1 – 3 (title amendment): Delete "making appropriations, including supplemental appropriations, capital appropriations, reappropriations, and other appropriations; amending appropriations; capitalizing funds;" Insert "making supplemental appropriations;" Page 2, line 1, through page 21, line 12: Delete all material and insert: "* Section 1. The following appropriations are for capital projects and grants from the general fund or other funds as set out in sec. 2 of this Act by funding source to the agencies named for the purposes expressed. They lapse under AS 37.25.020, unless otherwise noted. Appropriation General Other Allocations Items Funds Funds * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Department of Transportation and Public Facilities * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Federal Program Match 69,695,087 69,695,087 2026-02-18 House Journal Page 1658 Federal-Aid Highway State 58,276,155 Match (HD 1-40) Other Federal Program Match 1,611,548 (HD 1-40) Federal-Aid Aviation State 9,807,384 Match (HD 1-40) Statewide Federal Programs 459,000 459,000 Federal Transit 400,000 Administration Grants (HD 1-40) Highway Safety Grants 59,000 Program (HD 1-40) (SECTION 2 OF THIS ACT BEGINS ON THE NEXT PAGE) * Sec. 2. The following sets out the funding by agency for the appropriations made in sec. 1 of this Act. Funding Source Amount Department of Transportation and Public Facilities 1001 Constitutional Budget Reserve Fund 70,154,087 *** Total Agency Funding *** 70,154,087 * * * * * Total Budget * * * * * 70,154,087 (SECTION 3 OF THIS ACT BEGINS ON THE NEXT PAGE) * Sec. 3. The following sets out the statewide funding for the appropriations made in sec. 1 of this Act. Funding Source Amount Unrestricted General 1001 Constitutional Budget Reserve Fund 70,154,087 *** Total Unrestricted General *** 70,154,087 (SECTION 4 OF THIS ACT BEGINS ON THE NEXT PAGE) * Sec. 4. CONSTITUTIONAL BUDGET RESERVE FUND. The appropriations made from the constitutional budget reserve fund in sec. 1 of this Act are made under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution of the State of Alaska. * Sec. 5. LAPSE. The appropriations made in sec. 1 of this Act are for capital projects and lapse under AS 37.25.020. * Sec. 6. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c)." Representative Stapp moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 7 be adopted. Representative Josephson objected. 2026-02-18 House Journal Page 1659 Representative Stutes, citing Section 101 of Mason's Manual, rose to points of order regarding confining remarks to the motion before the body. The Speaker cautioned the members to confine remarks to the motion before the body. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 7 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 289(FIN) Second Reading Amendment No. 7 YEAS: 19 NAYS: 21 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Bynum, Costello, Coulombe, Elam, Johnson, McCabe, Moore, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Prax, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schwanke, St. Clair, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Underwood, Vance Nays: Carrick, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Josephson, Kopp, Mears, Mina, Schrage, Story, Stutes And so, Amendment No. 7 was not adopted. Amendment No. 8 was offered by Representative Tomaszewski: Page 14, before line 1: Insert a new bill section to read: "* Sec. 7. ALASKA PERMANENT FUND. An amount equal to the amount authorized under AS 37.13.145(b) for transfer by the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation on June 30, 2026, estimated to be $2,429,600,000, is appropriated from the earnings reserve account (AS 37.13.145) to the dividend fund (AS 43.23.045(a)) for the payment of permanent fund dividends and for administrative and associated costs for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 20, lines 30 - 31: Delete "17 - 20" 2026-02-18 House Journal Page 1660 Insert "18 - 21" Page 21, line 1: Delete "secs. 15(b) - (d) and 16" Insert "secs. 7, 16(b) - (d), and 17" Page 21, lines 3 - 4: Delete "Sections 1 - 8, 9(a) - (c) and (e), 10 - 17, 20(a), 21, 22, and 24" Insert "Sections 1 - 6, 8, 9, 10(a) - (c) and (e), 11 - 18, 21(a), 22, 23, and 25" Page 21, line 5: Delete "Sections 9(d), 18, 19, and 20(b)" Insert "Sections 10(d), 19, 20, and 21(b)" Page 21, line 6: Delete "sec. 15(c)" Insert "sec. 16(c)" Page 21, line 10: Delete all material and insert: "* Sec. 26. Sections 10(d), 19, 20, and 21(b) of this Act take effect June 30, 2026. * Sec. 27. Section 7 of this Act takes effect July 1, 2026." Renumber the following bill section accordingly. Page 21, line 11: Delete "sec. 25" Insert "secs. 26 and 27" Representative Tomaszewski moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 8 be adopted. Representative Kopp objected. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 8 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: 2026-02-18 House Journal Page 1661 CSHB 289(FIN) Second Reading Amendment No. 8 YEAS: 12 NAYS: 28 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Costello, Elam, Foster, McCabe, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Prax, St. Clair, Tomaszewski, Underwood, Vance Nays: Bynum, Carrick, Coulombe, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Johnson, Josephson, Kopp, Mears, Mina, Moore, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schrage, Schwanke, Stapp, Story, Stutes And so, Amendment No. 8 was not adopted. Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that CSHB 289(FIN) be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading, and placed on final passage. There was objection. CSHB 289(FIN) will advance to third reading on the February 20 calendar.