The Senate adopted an interim rules change that reshapes several standing committees and will govern committee organization through the interim, senators said.

Senator Hughes, sponsor of Senate Resolution 5, told colleagues the measure would amend rule 11.02 to change standing committee jurisdictions for the interim and take effect until the next full Senate organizes in January 2027. “This would take effect for the interim,” Hughes said. “And of course, when the new senate comes in in, 2027, there's a new, rule, for the committees going forward. But this would cover the senate, over the interim.”

Hughes summarized the main changes: the current border security committee and the veterans affairs committee would be combined into a new Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs Committee; the education K–16 committee would be restored to two distinct panels — education and higher education — returning it “to its historic nature;” and the jurisprudence committee’s jurisdiction would be rolled back into the state affairs committee.

The sponsor asked for support and yielded for questions. The motion to adopt was called and recorded: the chair announced 26 ayes and no nays and declared the resolution adopted. Hughes said the changes would apply during the interim and that the next Senate (in 2027) may establish different committee rules.

The resolution as adopted changes committee jurisdiction for the interim session and does not by itself create or fill individual committee seats; appointments or changes in membership were not detailed on the floor.