Rules committee advances two packages of House bills on party-line and unanimous votes

The House Rules Committee voted to advance two packages of bills during a rules committee meeting, approving the first package unanimously and the second on a party-line vote.

Having established a quorum, Chair Bradford said, “We will move 2 packages of bills today,” before reading the bills included in the first package. The first package advanced on a voice roll call, which Chair Bradford announced as “The ayes have it with a vote of 33 to nothing.”

The first package, as presented to the committee, included House Bill 1534 (Printer’s No. 1879), described in committee as addressing an omission to ensure child and development care tax credits are available to all qualifying families; House Bill 1527 (Printer’s No. 1784), described as extending the authorization of the Rare Disease Advisory Council; and House Bill 564 (Printer’s No. 1831), described as providing for mental health crisis response and imposing duties upon the Department of Human Services. Committee discussion was limited; Chair Bradford asked if there was any discussion, and none was offered before the roll call.

During roll call and procedural remarks, Representative Delosier noted his presence. Chair Bradford said he understood Republican members would vote in the affirmative on the first package; the committee’s tally was recorded as 33-0 in favor.

Later the committee took up a second package of bills. Chair Bradford listed the measures as House Bill 1610 (Printer’s No. 1914), described as implementing combined reporting for businesses that pay the corporate net income tax; House Bill 1445 (Printer’s No. 1897), described as removing barriers to health care coverage in school settings; and House Bill 506 (Printer’s No. 1854), described as providing recruitment and retention bonuses for preschool teachers. After a brief exchange, Chair Bradford called the vote. He announced that “Democrats vote in favor,” and that “Republicans no,” then declared the second package had advanced “by a vote of 18 15.”

The meeting concluded after the second vote; Chair Bradford announced the committee was adjourned.

The committee record in the transcript includes the bill numbers and Printer’s numbers listed above and the two vote tallies (33-0 and 18-15). The transcript does not specify further floor scheduling or the next committee assignment for the measures, nor does it include detailed debate on the substance of each bill beyond the short descriptions read into the record.