Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Committee Votes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Judiciary committee advances judicial-deference bill and adopts amendments on multiple measures
Summary
During the hearing, the committee adopted an amendment removing an emergency clause from bill 22‑44 and advanced bill 22‑85 (judicial deference) as amended after deleting a final declaratory sentence; an effort to exempt elected agencies from 22‑85 failed.
The Senate Judiciary Committee took formal action on multiple bills and amendments during the session.
On Senate Bill 22‑44 (parenting‑rights legislation), the committee adopted an amendment to remove the bill’s emergency clause. Senator Paulson moved the amendment and Senator Meerdahl seconded; the amendment carried. After adoption of that change the committee moved the bill as amended for a due‑pass recommendation. Senator Myrtle moved the due‑pass; Senator Lueck seconded. A roll call recorded several aye votes and one no vote from Senator Brownberger; Chair Larson announced the motion carried and Senator Meerdahl agreed to carry the bill to the floor.
On Senate Bill 22‑85 (judicial deference), the committee first voted to remove a final sentence in the bill that would have required courts to resolve ambiguities against increased agency authority. Senator Castaneda moved the deletion; the amendment was seconded and the motion carried. The committee then considered an amendment proposed by Commissioner Chrisman (through Senator Meerdahl) that would have exempted agencies administered by elected public officials; that amendment failed on a second voice vote when opposition outnumbered support. Following the amendments, Senator Paulson moved a due‑pass on 22‑85 as amended, Senator Lueck seconded, and the committee recorded a roll call and Chair Larson announced the motion carried; Senator Meerdahl volunteered to carry the bill.
Committee minutes show the following roll‑call votes where recorded in the transcript (names appear as read during the roll calls):
- Roll call on due‑pass for SB 22‑44 as amended: Senator Paulson — Yes; Senator Castaneda — Yes; Senator Cory — Aye; Senator Lueck — Yes; Senator Myrtle — Aye; Senator Brownberger — No; Chair Larson — Yes. Chair announced motion carries.
- Roll call on due‑pass for SB 22‑85 as amended: Senators recorded as voting — Senator Cory — Aye; Senator Bridal — Aye; Senator Castaneda — Aye; Senator Brownberger — Aye; Senator Lueck — Yes; Senator Paulson — Aye; Chair Larson — Yes. Chair announced motion carries; Senator Meerdahl will carry the bill.
Committee discussion on 22‑85 included testimony and stakeholder outreach: proponents said removing deference to agency interpretations would restore legislative authority and mirror recent federal developments; some elected agencies and commissioners asked for carve‑outs to preserve their rule‑making authority but the committee did not adopt an exemption.
Where roll‑call tallies were audible in the record, the article lists individual votes above. The committee sent the amended bills to the floor with positive recommendations and named committee carriers as recorded.
