Budget & Taxes (Government Transparency)

This bill requires all state executive branch agencies to create and follow annual performance plans that outline their strategic and operational goals. Starting in July 2027, each agency must submit a report on its progress toward these goals to the Office of Policy and Management and the relevant legislative committee. The Office of Policy and Management will provide guidelines and technical assistance for developing these plans and will conduct regular performance evaluations of most agencies at least every two years. Some independent regulatory bodies are exempt from these reporting and evaluation requirements. The legislation aims to improve transparency and accountability by establishing a standardized process for tracking agency performance.

HB 5039 requires state agencies to provide greater transparency and oversight when distributing funds specifically directed by the legislature to particular organizations (not state agencies, disaster relief, competitive grants, or bond funds). It mandates that recipients prove financial responsibility and secure written approval from agencies before sharing funds with subrecipients. State agencies must submit annual reports on fund usage by November 1, and the state will publish a public database of all such funds by January 1. This bill directly affects state agencies managing these funds and the organizations receiving them, focusing on accountability through reporting and public access.

SB 276 requires all municipalities to publicly post monthly reports on their websites detailing revenue and spending by department. Starting January 2027, municipalities must upload these reports by the 15th of each month, showing budget allocations, actual expenditures, and revenue compared to projections for the prior month. Reports must be available in both PDF and CSV formats and maintained online for three years. This bill directly affects all local governments in the state, aiming to increase transparency in how public funds are used.