The Senate Technology Committee approved minutes from its March 27, 2024, meeting and adopted Rule 39 as the committee's rules during an organizational session that opened the committee's work for the legislative term.

Committee Chair said the March 27 minutes "were distributed electronically" and, finding no requested changes, said they would be "approved as distributed." Later in the meeting, "Senator Walz has moved that we adopt 39 as the committee rules," and the motion passed on a voice vote after the chair called for the ayes and nos.

The approvals came during brief opening remarks in which the committee's new chair described a forward-leaning approach to technology policy. The chair, identified in the meeting as the committee chair, said they were new to serving as chair of this committee but had served in the legislature the previous four years and aimed to "try to advance bills rather than kill them" and to work with senior members.

Vice Chair Senator Lawns said he hoped his technology background would be helpful and urged the committee not to wait on federal action, adding, "I think it's important that we not just wait on federal government, but be proactive at the state." Ranking Member Senator Bennett, who identified himself as "Senator Bennett from Cedar Rapids" and noted nine years at GoDaddy and current work with Wix.com, said he has long seen the committee as bipartisan and looks forward to collaborative work.

No roll-call vote tally was recorded in the meeting transcript for either the minutes approval or the Rule 39 adoption; both were handled by voice vote and described as passing. The meeting also included procedural remarks thanking staff: the chair thanked clerk Joanna and Henry, the legislative research analyst assigned to technology. Senator Alans moved to adjourn later in the session.

The chair framed technology and artificial intelligence as ongoing priorities for the committee, saying the issues are "driven by the federal government" in many respects but that the state needs to act where federal policy does not. Beyond the organizational motions and opening remarks, the transcript contains no formal committee votes on bills, budget items, or policy proposals during this session.

The committee will next consider bills and other agenda items at future meetings; staff and members emphasized a preference for advancing legislation and addressing technology topics at the state level.