The House Natural Resources Committee convened its organizational meeting and approved the use of proxy voting with rules for how proxies will be held and exercised.

Members discussed committee procedure, including quorum requirements, the chair's duties, the bill hearing and executive action processes, and amendment timelines. Representative Greg Obland moved to permit proxies; Representative Konar moved a clarifying provision on custody and designation and the committee approved the motions by voice vote.

Why it matters: committee procedure determines how and when bills advance to the House floor and whether members who are absent can record positions on votes. The committee set rules intended to reduce duplicate work and to preserve the body’s ability to act daily during the legislative session.

Most important details: staff and members explained quorum rules (a majority of the 14-member committee, meaning eight members, is required to transact business). The chair outlined duties that include presiding, maintaining order, scheduling, and determining the hearing order. Staff reminded members that amendments should be submitted 24 hours in advance when possible and described the drafting and proofreading process.

On proxies, members agreed that vice chairs will keep proxy sheets but that members may designate any committee colleague to cast the proxy on their behalf. The committee recorded that proxy votes are not permitted on motions to remove a bill from the table. The recorded procedural motion approving proxy use passed by voice vote and was announced as carried.

Other procedural items covered: the committee reviewed executive action scheduling (normally the day after a hearing), options for voice or roll-call votes at the chair’s discretion, rules for tabling and postponement, and the process to request committee bills. Members agreed to coordinate future informational panels and glossaries to brief newer members on recurring technical topics.

The meeting closed after staff and vice chairs described housekeeping (cell-phone and public-testimony rules), and the committee said it will schedule further panels and hearings on a rolling basis.