House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee adopts internal rules

The House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee voted to adopt its proposed internal rules after a short summary of provisions and brief member discussion.

The adopted rules formalize existing practice on quorum and decorum, require two-thirds of appointed members to approve permanent changes, allow the chair broad authority to appoint and assign legislation to subcommittees, and require roll-call votes when adopting a favorable report. "This is something we had already done in precedent in prior session, and we were just placing in the rule," said Trey, a committee staff member, while summarizing the draft rules.

Members also discussed whether a simple majority of the committee should be able to require a bill be brought up for a hearing if most committee members co-sponsor it. "So let's say, for example, there's a bill that's been filed, and it has to do with golf carts," said Mister Beach, a committee member, offering the hypothetical. Madam chair (name not specified), the committee chair, responded that the committee likely can address such concerns without changing the written rules: "I don't think we need to add it to the rules to do what you want to do," she said.

A motion to "favorably adopt the proposed rules" was made and the committee approved the proposal by roll call. Miss Sherry, a committee staff member, called the roll; the transcript records affirmative votes from: Mister Beach; Mister Bustos; Mister Brandon Cox; Miss Davis; Miss Edgerton; Mister Gilliard; Miss Holman; Mister Jones; Mister Magnuson; Mister Montgomery; Mister Pace; Mister Sanders; Mister Sessions; and Mister White. The motion passed with all recorded votes in favor.

The rules adopted reiterate that (1) the House rules prevail where there is conflict, (2) amendments must be presented in writing before a vote on adoption, (3) the chair may appoint ad hoc committees and serve ex officio on subcommittees, and (4) a member who wishes to sign a minority report must notify the chair before adjournment. Committee members said they expect a busy schedule when the committee reconvenes and will begin processing assigned legislation under the newly adopted procedures.

The meeting concluded after adoption of the rules; no additional formal actions were recorded in the transcript.