Vision committee authorizes chairs to open interim bill files, sets cap of 10

The Vision Interim Committee voted May 21 to authorize the committee chairs to open one or more committee bill files during the interim, and the committee adopted a substitute motion limiting that authority to a maximum of 10 bill files unless the full committee votes to open more.

Senator Cal Musselman moved that the chairs be allowed to open one or more bill files; Representative Tischer offered a substitute motion to allow openings but cap them at 10. Representative Tischer said the cap had been used in prior interims and “it seems to have worked.” Nathan Brady explained Joint Rule 71-602, which authorizes interim committee chairs, by majority committee motion, to open bill files on subjects directly related to approved study items and requires chairs to report back to the committee at the next meeting when they open a file.

The substitute motion to cap chair-opened committee bill files at 10 passed by voice vote with unanimous approval. Committee members noted the chairs had opened one or two files in past interims and that the cap is intended to limit administrative burden while preserving flexibility for chairs to begin work between full meetings. Under Joint Rule 71-602, chair decisions to open a bill file must be joint between both chairs and reported to the committee at the next meeting.

The committee did not record a roll-call vote; the chair announced the motion passed unanimously. Committee staff said they would track any bill files opened by the chairs and report them at subsequent meetings.