State Administration Committee authorizes proxy voting; vice chairs to hold proxies

The House State Administration Committee voted to authorize proxy voting and directed that the committee’s vice chairs hold proxies during votes, the panel decided during its opening meeting.

Legislative research analyst Rebecca Power briefed members on proxy procedures and quorum rules before the committee took formal action. "We ask for at least two signed proxies, not dated," Power said, explaining that proxies can instruct a designee to "follow so-and-so's vote" or record a specific preference. She told members that proxies are announced when the absent member's name is called during roll call.

Representative Kelly Corden moved the measure to authorize proxy voting and name the vice chairs as custodians of proxies. The committee took a voice vote; the motion carried. No roll-call tally was recorded on the transcript.

Why it matters: Proxy rules affect how the committee will transact executive action and votes when members are absent. The committee also discussed related administrative practices — including how informational witnesses will be managed during hearings — but deferred any change in that procedure until the returning chair decides.

Details: Power described practical steps for members: have at least two signed (undated) proxies available; meet with the vice chair who will cast the proxy; and when members holding a proxy respond during roll call they should say, for example, "Representative X, by proxy, yes/no." Representative Perry asked for confirmation of the timing and phrasing for proxy votes and Power walked through the roll-call procedure.

Next steps: The committee did not adopt further written rules at this meeting; members were instructed to coordinate with vice chairs about holding signed proxies and were reminded that proxies should be present if a member expects to be absent for executive action.