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Executive Committee appoints nonpartisan Census liaisons; approves bill to suspend 2025 interim committee activity
Summary
The Executive Committee designated two nonpartisan liaisons for the U.S. Census redistricting data program and approved bill draft LLS 900 to suspend several interim committees from meeting or recommending legislation during the 2025 interim.
The Executive Committee of the Legislative Council voted to appoint senior attorney Jacob (Jake) Baus of the Office of Legislative Legal Services and Dr. Kate Watkins, the state demographer, as the General Assembly's nonpartisan liaisons to the U.S. Census Bureau for the redistricting data program.
The committee also approved bill draft LLS 900, a proposal that suspends multiple interim committees from meeting, traveling or recommending legislation during the 2025 interim and, in some cases, into 2026.
Director Ed DeCicco of the Office of Legislative Legal Services told the committee the governor agrees with the recommended appointments and that a letter with signature lines would be prepared after the committee made its official determinations. "We recommend and the Governor agrees that we should continue to practice, and that is to appoint the state demographer and an attorney from our office," DeCicco said during the discussion.
On the interim-committee bill draft, Michael Doerr of the Office of Legislative Legal Services summarized the measure, saying, "The bill draft before you would limit the interim committees for the 2025 interim," and noted the draft preserves the executive committee's statutory authority to appoint interim committees when necessary. Sections specifically named in the presentation included the COIAC committee, the committee on treatment of persons with behavioral health disorders in the criminal and juvenile justice systems, the pension review committee, the tax policy committee and the sales and use tax simplification task force.
Votes at a glance
- Appointment of nonpartisan liaisons to the U.S. Census Bureau: Motion to designate senior attorney Jacob Baus (Office of Legislative Legal Services) and Dr. Kate Watkins (state demographer) passed. Duran was recorded as excused. Named recorded votes included Lundin (aye), Pugliese (yes), Rodriguez (aye), Glendeen (aye), Madam Speaker (yes) and Mister President (aye). Outcome: approved.
- Bill draft LLS 900 (suspend 2025 interim activities as presented by the Office of Legislative Legal Services): Motion to approve passed. Roll-call votes recorded Lundin (aye), Pugliese (yes), Rodriguez (aye), Madam Speaker (yes) and Mister President (aye); Duran excused. A committee member offered to sponsor the bill for consideration in the Senate; specific sponsor confirmation was discussed but not finalized during the meeting. Outcome: approved.
Why it matters
The liaison appointments establish the General Assembly's designated nonpartisan contacts for the redistricting data program, a procedural step needed for receipt and legal review of census redistricting data. Approval of LLS 900 pauses multiple interim committee activities, which the presenters said would limit meeting and legislative recommendation activity during the 2025 interim and affect committee workplans and timelines for the named subject areas.
What’s next
Committee staff said they will prepare the formal appointment letter for signatures and move forward with drafting and sponsoring LLS 900 for legislative consideration; members discussed possible Senate sponsorship and confirmation of cosponsors.
