Senate Rules committee advances slate of bills for further consideration

ATLANTA — The Senate Rules committee approved a motion March 25 to advance a grouped slate of bills to their next steps in the legislative process, carrying the motion by unanimous voice vote.

The committee chair compiled a list of bills and resolutions for consideration; committee members approved the package with a voice vote. The chair framed the move as a time-saving step to get selected measures to their appropriate committees.

Why it matters: advancing a bundle of measures from the Rules committee clears those items for consideration on their respective committee calendars and, if successful there, for possible floor action. The motion covered bills touching on topics that include education, public safety, fisheries, health and regulatory updates.

Votes at a glance

The committee approved, by unanimous voice vote, a motion listing these measures for consideration: SR292; HB 806; HB 164; HB 175; HB 196; HB 208; HB 241; HB 307; HB 428; HB 473; HB 484; HB 551; HB 579. The motion was carried after members were given an opportunity to object and none did.

Details and next steps: Committee members and presenters briefly described many of the bills during the session; several authors said their measures are department or agency bills or technical fixes. The committee did not record a roll-call tally for the voice vote; the chair announced “Motion carries unanimous.” The listed bills will proceed to their standing committees or the next procedural step named by the Rules committee.

The meeting adjourned after the package was approved and members were instructed to take the bills to their committees for further work.