House Education Committee reopens hearing on HB1161, schedules follow-up testimony

The House Education Committee on an recorded roll call voted to reopen its hearing on House Bill 1161 and scheduled follow-up testimony for the second week of February.

Committee Chairman Heinert said the bill had been returned to the committee after being taken off last Friday’s agenda, and offered members the chance to reopen the hearing. Representative Shriver Beck moved to reopen "the hearing and receive further testimony," a motion seconded by Representative Jonas. The committee then took a roll call vote.

The motion passed. Chairman Heinert said the committee would schedule the reopened hearing for the second week of February and "we will put a time certain on that... it will not be more than an hour for each side." He said the scheduling would take into account whether Representative Murphy or other proponents wished to testify.

Why it matters: reopening a committee hearing gives additional parties a formal opportunity to testify and can change the committee’s deliberative record. Committee members said the re-referral followed questions about possible outside influence that had been raised on the floor and then clarified before the bill was returned to committee.

Committee discussion and logistics: Representative Novak asked for background on why the hearing was being reopened; Chairman Heinert said over the weekend discussions had clarified questions about a possible financial influence and that the university system wanted to offer additional testimony. Novak said the committee would set a time certain because the bill’s author and other parties "already had a chance to come testify."

Roll-call and outcome: the roll call recorded the following responses when the committee voted on reopening the hearing: Chairman Heinert — yes; Vice Chair Schreiberbeck — yes; Representative Conmee — yes; Representative Hager — yes; Representative Huddleston — yes; Representative Halk — no; Representative Heilmann/Jonas — yes; Representative Longmire — yes; Representative Mackey — yes; Representative Marshall — no; Representative Morton — no; Representative Novak — yes; Representative Osowski — yes. Chairman Heinert announced the motion carried and set the follow-up timing and time limits.

What happens next: the committee will notify parties of the time certain for additional testimony and reconvene in the second week of February to hear up to an hour per side.