Senate debates sweeping changes to committee rules; most amendments rejected, two measures approved

The Senate considered a broad package of amendments to its temporary rules, debating measures on executive sessions, conference-committee procedures, timelines for committee reports and extensions, and public summaries of conference reports.

The debate centered on proposals offered largely by Senator Bruce E. Tarr to tighten or change how committees prioritize bills, use executive session, handle home rule petitions and conference committees, and set deadlines for conference reports and extensions. Supporters said the measures would increase accountability and efficiency; opponents warned that some proposals could block or delay important legislation.

Senator Tarr offered a string of amendments addressing recurring frustrations that bills reported late or repeatedly returned to committee. He said the proposals would, among other things, direct committees to prioritize bills that made it far in the prior session, require greater restraint before entering executive session, and set limits on delay tactics such as repeated extension orders. "This amendment tends…