Committee discusses House Bill 73 on residency requirements; no vote taken, members plan written amendments

The Special Committee on Rule Issues discussed House Bill 73, which proposes residency requirements for members of certain boards, but the committee did not vote and deferred action to a subsequent meeting after members agreed to draft amendments.

Representative McDowell said several committee members support Representative Taylor's proposal but suggested refining the language to make it more palatable. McDowell proposed inserting the words "non-elected" after the phrase "member of a" to narrow the scope.

Representative Taylor, identified himself as "Representative Tim Taylor from the 40 Eighth District," and clarified the bill's intent: "it's not to do city councils or anything like that." The chair asked members to submit written amendments by noon on Tuesday so the committee could circulate them at least 24 hours before the next meeting.

Committee members discussed working offline in offices to craft amendments; the chair confirmed the committee would take up the proposed amendments at next week's meeting in executive session. No formal motions or votes on House Bill 73 were recorded in the transcript.

Key clarifying points on the record include Representative McDowell's suggested insertion of the term "non-elected" to limit the bill's reach and the chair's procedural request for amendments by a near-term deadline.