The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation voted to authorize proxy voting and set a brief procedure for informational witnesses during its organizational meeting.

The committee, chaired by Senator Bruce Gillespie, approved proxy voting by voice vote and agreed that proxies will be handled by each party’s vice chair. The panel also adopted a practice for informational witnesses: when invited to speak they should introduce themselves, their affiliation and the specific area of their expertise before answering committee questions.

The committee adopted the proxy rule after a motion to authorize proxy voting was made during the meeting; a subsequent motion specified that proxies be handled by the committee’s vice chairs. The motions passed by voice vote. The committee’s staffer, Becca Brown, had earlier advised members on committee procedures, amendment rules and interim committee background material.

The procedural decisions are intended to speed handling of a heavy agenda while retaining accountability: senators who vote by proxy will have their proxy recorded and the committee agreed that informational witnesses will identify their qualifications on the record so members can direct technical questions appropriately.

The committee adjourned after completing organizational business and brief agency introductions.