Senate Institutions names Senator Sam Douglas committee clerk and hears staff briefings on jurisdiction

The Senate Institutions Committee on Jan. 14 unanimously appointed Senator Sam Douglas clerk and used its organizational meeting to hear from legislative counsel and the Joint Fiscal Office about the committee's scope and workflow.

Chair Senator Wendy Harrison opened the meeting and asked for a volunteer to serve as clerk. "I move to make Senator Douglas the clerk of the Institutions Committee," said Senator Rob Hungett. After a voice vote, Harrison announced, "You are unanimously appointed." The clerk role will handle documents moving between the Senate floor, committee room and Senate office.

The committee then heard from legislative-counsel attorneys and Joint Fiscal Office staff who described their roles. Rick Sengel (Legislative Counsel staff attorney) explained his portfolio includes commerce, consumer protection and an expectation that the committee may take on information-technology matters, including cybersecurity and data privacy. Beno Bogrossi (Legislative Counsel attorney) summarized that his judiciary-related portfolio covers criminal matters, bail, restorative justice and correctional policy. Scott Moore (Joint Fiscal Office) described the spreadsheets and numbers the committee will use when it considers capital and bonding proposals this session.

Members discussed timing and meeting cadence for the coming weeks. Chair Harrison said the committee has a shortened early session because of chair/vice-chair training and asked members to review last year's spreadsheet and bill language in advance so the panel is prepared for floor reporting and questions.

The committee did not take further formal action during the meeting.