House Education Committee approves proxy voting; vice chairs to hold proxies by default

The House Education Committee voted by voice to accept proxy voting for the session and discussed practical guidance for how proxies will be managed.

Committee staff told members the committee needed to take a vote on the record to accept proxy voting. A committee member moved to accept proxy voting and the motion carried on a voice vote; the clerk recorded the outcome as in favor with no recorded opposition.

Representative Melissa Romano told the committee that vice chairs should hold proxies by default unless a member explicitly allocates a proxy to another person. Representative Seekins Crowe (discussion on proxy responsibility) reminded members that even when a proxy is given to another legislator, the member remains responsible for how their vote is cast. Members discussed listing more than one designated proxy and ensuring the designated proxy understands the member’s voting intentions when the member is absent.

The committee chair asked members to deliver proxy forms to vice chairs before meetings when possible and suggested members provide guidance to their proxies about how they wish to vote. The committee did not specify a numeric quorum change; members were reminded to check in for quorum before leaving for other bill presentations.