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House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources committee opens session, sets procedural expectations
Summary
At an organizational meeting, members of the House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Committee introduced themselves and the chair outlined rules for microphones, public comment, amendment timing and publication, and attendance reporting; no formal votes were taken.
Representative Matthew McQueen, chair of the House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Committee, opened an organizational meeting and used the session to lay out the panel’s operating procedures, including microphone use, public comment limits, and a 24-hour practice for amendments and committee substitutes.
The meeting, which consisted of member introductions and committee housekeeping, did not include any bill debates or formal votes. McQueen said the committee will aim for efficiency so it does not need frequent Saturday sessions and asked members to avoid redundant questions while still encouraging substantive debate. “If we are efficient in the way we address bills, we don't have to do that,” McQueen said.
McQueen reviewed technical and procedural details he said members should follow. He warned that the microphones are sensitive and “if you don't turn on your mic, you will not be heard on the webcast,” and asked members to turn microphones off when finished. He described a longstanding “24-hour rule” as a practice by which amendments and committee steps should be shared with members roughly 24 hours before a hearing; he also noted a recently adopted rule that committee substitutes and amendments be posted on the legislative website when emailed to the committee so the public can see changes in advance. “That when they're made available to the committee language is when they're emailed out to the committee. So those should be available 24 hours in advance,” McQueen said.
On attendance and voting, McQueen said committee reports currently list only vote tallies but that he is “working on a rule change to list the people who vote yes,” so the record will show names rather than just counts. He also described the committee’s current practice of holding a vote open or delaying it when temporary absences might affect the outcome.
Members introduced themselves and described their districts and backgrounds. Representative Merrick Dixon of District 20 and Representative Mark Murphy of Roswell each gave brief introductions; Murphy described a background in oil field work and energy advising. Representative Risa Montoya, who represents San Juan County, framed her approach as rooted in middle-class concerns and said she expects robust debate. Representative Debbie Serenano, vice chair, and Representative Miguel Garcia, the chamber’s longest-serving member, also introduced themselves; each described prior committee experience or district demographics.
McQueen said the committee will take public comment but will limit time when large numbers of people wish to speak: he said the panel may set a time limit and hear a set number of minutes “on each side” to avoid repetitive testimony. He reminded members to address remarks to the chair during hearings to prevent disorderly back-and-forth questioning.
Other logistical matters discussed included a committee dinner (McQueen said he hoped to broaden the sponsor mix beyond advertising firms), the hybrid format for remote testimony, and encouragement for members to notify the chair if they will be absent so votes can be recorded as excused rather than absent. The chair said the committee will typically begin at 8:30 a.m.
The meeting concluded with no legislative actions taken and no votes recorded. The committee is scheduled to meet at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday with an agenda to follow.
