The House Environment and Transportation Committee opened its session with the chair outlining committee priorities for the 90-day session and new procedures for hearings, voting and amendments.

The chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee said the panel will address traffic-safety efforts including Vision Zero, housing-affordability bills and environmental goals this session and noted the committee has “the second-most” prefiled bills in the House after the Judiciary Committee. He told members hearings will be held in person with a virtual option for witnesses only and reminded members that voting will take place in person in the committee room.

The nut graf: the committee framed both policy priorities and practical rules that determine how testimony and legislation will move through the panel — from sign-up deadlines and audiovisual changes to expectations for floor leaders and amendment procedure.

Key procedural points announced by the chair included: hearings will be in person with a virtual option only for witnesses; witnesses must sign up two business days before a hearing; the committee has a new audiovisual system for cameras and microphones; subcommittees will meet virtually; and committee votes will occur in person in the committee room, usually by voice vote but with roll-call votes when needed. The chair added that bill sponsors will not be timed but asked sponsors to “please sponsor responsibly” and warned that lengthy sponsor videos will generally not be allowed: “If a sponsor has a 10 minute video, that’s not sponsoring responsibly.”

Members were told to obtain amendments through the formal amendment office and to notify subcommittee chairs or committee staff in advance when preparing amendments. The chair said floor leaders should be prepared to defend the bills they represent on the floor and that the committee will attempt to assign floor leaders on a bipartisan basis.

Staff introductions included the assistant to the chair, Trish Gegen; committee secretary Mana Mostafi; committee clerk Rose Love; counsel Kristen Flynn; counsel Patrick Tracy; new counsel Ben Voigt; and other staff and interns. The committee’s state trooper, Matt Mitchell, was introduced as security support. The vice chair, identified in the transcript as Vice Chair Boyce, also addressed members and emphasized collegial vetting and subcommittee rule-setting.

The chair asked members to pay attention during voting to reduce the need for revotes, said voting lists are issued in advance (typically the day before), and reminded subcommittee chairs that their meetings are hosted by their staff over Zoom. He also noted an internal voluntary snack-and-beverage fund with suggested contributions of $65 from members and $25 from participating staff.

Members paused during the meeting to acknowledge the passing of former Vice Chair Jimmy Malone and several delegates spoke about his service in transportation and motor vehicle matters.

The committee will hold early-session briefings soon and begin hearings later in the month. The chair closed by urging members to check the committee web page for guidelines and to coordinate with staff on scheduling and technical needs.