Agricultural Affairs Committee assigns rule reviews, introduces science fellow

At a short meeting, the Agricultural Affairs Committee assigned each member two administrative rules to review and set a process for hearing agency presentations before voting, and introduced Dr. Ellen Upton, a yearlong science and technology policy fellow who will serve as a research resource for the committee.

The committee’s vice chair, Senator Zito, told members they each had been given two rules to examine and asked that everyone read the other rules so they could discuss questions with the member assigned to that rule. Zito said the committee will take up rules as agencies schedule to present them and that the committee will not vote on rules the same day they are presented; votes will occur at the next meeting or in a single vote at the end of the review period.

“Everybody gets two rules to review, but I would ask everyone else to read the other rules,” Vice Chair Senator Zito said. She instructed members to consult the assigned reviewer if they had questions so the reviewer could report back to the group.

The committee’s secretary was assigned to take a silent roll. The chairwoman confirmed the committee will reconvene next Tuesday to begin the rules process.

The committee also briefly introduced Dr. Ellen Upton, who said she recently earned a Ph.D. in immunology from the University of Iowa and is serving a yearlong science and technology policy fellowship. “I’m just here as a resource, sort of as an LSO analyst/researcher, and I can help you guys with any research questions you have,” Upton said. She offered to assist with research and presenting data in accessible formats.

There were no formal motions or votes during the session. The meeting lasted only a few minutes and was adjourned after scheduling the next meeting and the procedural announcements.