The Transportation and Defense Committee opened with staff and the chair describing this year’s paperless procedures and meeting conduct. Legislative Services Office staff told members that meeting materials, administrative rules and past meetings will be posted to a Committee OneDrive and asked members to bring laptops or tablets to meetings.

The committee’s Legislative Services Office staff said, “We’re a paperless committee. So after today, all of your RS’s bills, rules, everything will be online on our Committee OneDrive.” The staff explained that committee folders will include the agenda first followed by items in agenda order and that members who need help accessing OneDrive can get assistance from IT on site.

Chairman said members should leave the committee’s orange folders in the room and only take copies of materials they want to keep. He also asked members to route questions through the chair and to speak more slowly when requested so motions are clear before a vote. “Let’s try and not miss our meetings when we can,” the chair said, adding the committee will try to keep meetings brief.

The chair identified Representative Ponca and Representative Gannon as volunteer proofreaders for the session and said the committee may consolidate similar proposals before hearings to avoid duplicative work. When Representative Shepherd asked about the schedule for reviewing administrative rules, the chair said the committee has only a few rules to consider and will likely consider them as a whole committee but did not provide a firm date.

The guidance also included procedural reminders for voting: members should turn on their microphones for roll-call votes so votes record correctly. The chair said he will restate motions clearly and asked members to interrupt if they need clarification before voting.

Less-critical logistical notes included an informal remark that the committee may recognize an “award” for the member who missed the most meetings last year and that IT staff are available to help members who cannot access the OneDrive.

The committee then moved on to its agenda items.