Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Title61 Cleanup topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Panel hears large Title 61 cleanup (House Bill 99) moving multiple definitions across chapters
Summary
Representative Denise Baum opened the hearing on House Bill 99, characterizing it as a large reorganization of Title 61 definitions intended to standardize terms across chapters without substantive change.
Representative Denise Baum opened the hearing on House Bill 99 and described the measure as a substantial, non‑substantive reorganization of definitions (over 100 pages of draft language) so common terms for boats, declared weight and other chapter‑specific concepts live in a consistent location.
Joe Carroll, who drafted the bill for the Legislative Services Division, said he had a partial handout and would provide a complete explanation of the back half of the bill after the hearing. Carroll explained that the bill moves definitions that are used only in a single chapter (for example, “declared weight” used in Title 61, chapter 3) into a new chapter‑specific definitions section to shorten 61‑1‑101 and make bill drafting easier across titles.
Committee members asked several technical questions. Representative Smith inquired about whether a passenger threshold would change from 14 to 16 passengers (including the driver) in an identified provision; Carroll said HB 99 does not change that substantive provision. Other members asked about where passenger thresholds and commercial motor vehicle definitions live; Carroll offered to research the precise locations and return with answers.
Carroll told the committee he had not completed the handout for the back half of the bill and would provide a complete copy to committee staff. No proponents or opponents testified in person or online beyond the drafter and sponsor. Representative Baum closed the hearing and urged a do‑pass recommendation; the committee did not take a final vote at the hearing.
The hearing focused on standardizing definition placement across Title 61 to reduce clutter in the master definition statute and to make statutory drafting and future amendment clearer for legislators and staff.
