House Fish, Wildlife & Parks Committee authorizes proxy voting, assigns vice chairs to hold proxies

The House Fish, Wildlife & Parks Committee voted to allow proxy voting for members and designated the committee vice chairs as the repository for proxy forms.

Representative Jill Konauer moved that the committee permit proxies; the motion was approved by a voice vote with Chair Jedidiah Hinkle announcing, “Ayes have it.” The transcript does not record a second or a roll-call tally for either motion.

Committee members discussed how the proxy process should work in practice. Representative Paul Fielder said proxies help members who must be elsewhere to present or debate bills in other committees. He recommended leaving the name of the proxy designee blank on forms so members can assign the proxy on short notice. Representative Konauer made the motion that the vice chairs hold the proxy forms physically but that individual members may direct their proxy to another committee member; that motion was also approved by voice vote.

Chair Jedidiah Hinkle and other members noted practical variants: Hinkle said he typically assigns proxy sheets to several trusted colleagues rather than a single designee. Members agreed staff would keep extra blank proxy sheets available in the committee room.

The committee framed the proxy policy under the committee’s operating rules (House Rule Section 30) and reminded members that a quorum is required for executive action even if proxies are used for voting when members are absent from the room. Committee staff advised members to sign and print names on proxy forms to document intent.

The committee did not record numerical vote counts in the transcript; the voice votes were reported only as “ayes have it.”

The proxy policy will be used going forward for committee business, with the vice chairs holding proxy forms and members retaining the right to direct their proxy to another committee member as needed.