Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to use electronic voting system; chair outlines testimony and camera rules

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a training session on a new electronic voting system and agreed on procedures for public testimony and camera use, Chairman Dale Patton said during the committee's meeting. The committee also scheduled additional training next Thursday and planned to recess to a joint meeting with the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee at 9:45 a.m.

Patton told members the committee has introduced an electronic roll and voting option using the LAWS system and that Legislative Council IT staff would demonstrate operation and vote mechanics. “We have a new system in place, where we can, take our role electronically and vote electronically,” Patton said. Adam, a Legislative Council IT specialist, assisted with the training and explained the basic voting steps, including clicking a ballot icon and submitting a vote: “Oh, I'm Adam with Legislative Council IT. So I'm a specialist and I'm just here to help.”

Committee members were instructed that votes entered into the system can be changed while the vote remains open and that, once recorded, committee votes will be visible to colleagues on the floor through LAWS. Patton said there will be no anonymity in committee voting records: if a vote splits, other senators will be able to see who voted which way. Staff said they would confirm where the vote records are stored and make that information available to members.

The chair said voice votes remain an option in limited circumstances — for example, if the electronic system is unavailable or if a member requests it — but his preference is to record votes electronically so there is a recorded record. Members asked procedural questions about timing (how long a vote will remain open) and whether discussion can continue once voting starts; Patton said discussion must end before voting begins and that votes should be cast quickly.

The committee also discussed rules for public testimony. Patton said the committee will accept proponents first, then opponents, and generally will not accept neutral public testimony; agencies may provide neutral or background testimony. He emphasized courteous treatment of testifiers and warned against allowing personal attacks: “It is my intention and, my request that we treat everybody that comes forward with respect. … We will not I won't allow personal attacks to anybody that's testifying,” Patton said. He added that a bill sponsor may clarify a point but, once a sponsor has finished and sat down, they generally will not be allowed to return to the lectern during the same hearing.

Camera operation and recording also were addressed. Patton said the committee will turn cameras off during multi‑minute breaks between bills and will confirm when cameras are off or on. He instructed staff to put informational bill summaries together for upcoming hearings. Patton said he had received a report showing 11 bills currently queued for the committee and warned members the agenda could expand as bills are filed.

Staff introductions were given during the meeting. Kendra McCann identified herself as procedural clerk and described her duties handling materials and supplies for the committee; Reagan O'Donnell introduced herself as a legal extern with legislative counsel; Joseph (technology clerk) said he would handle Teams connections and indexing of recordings.

The committee scheduled further training on motions and vote-related functions for next Thursday morning at 9 a.m., and Patton said formal hearings will begin the following Thursday. The chair recessed the session to join a joint education update with the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee at 9:45 a.m.