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House advances measure raising threshold and requiring draft for special-session polls after amendment fails
Summary
House Bill 348 would raise the number of legislators required to trigger a poll for a special session and require a draft bill with any poll request. An amendment to lower the threshold to 20 members failed; sponsor said the change is meant to curb frivolous special-session calls.
Representative G. Nicolakakos introduced House Bill 348, which would raise the number of legislators required to trigger a poll to call a special session from 10 to 30 and require those requesting a poll to submit draft legislation with the request. "Special session is serious business," the sponsor said, arguing the change promotes "efficiency and respect."
Representative Regier offered an amendment to change the threshold to 20 members, calling that a "middle" position between 10 and 30. Regier argued that the constitution grants the legislature the power to self-convene and that the threshold should not be so high as to make the power impractical.
The amendment was debated and voted down. The clerk recorded 42 ayes and 58 noes on the amendment, so the body rejected the lower 20-member threshold. Speakers on the floor who opposed the sponsor's original 30-member threshold argued it would make calling a special session too difficult; supporters said 30 represents a reasonable bar that reduces publicity-driven or frivolous polling.
After debate the sponsor—s motion that the committee recommend House Bill 348 do pass advanced for second reading consideration.
