Sen. Ann Cummings, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, opened the panel’s organizational meeting with a request for civil discourse and said she expects the committee to work collegially on high-stakes fiscal issues. During the meeting members nominated and approved a committee clerk by voice vote.

"I have 1 rule, and that is we don't shoot the messenger," Cummings said, describing the tone she wants in committee deliberations. She told members that the committee typically avoids formal constraints unless debate becomes disorderly and that she prefers to build near-unanimous support for bills before they reach the floor.

Members discussed routine administrative matters including vice-chair attendance and whether to elect a clerk. A motion to appoint a clerk was made, seconded, and approved by voice vote; the transcript does not clearly record the appointee's full name. The chair noted she rarely orders roll-call votes for routine matters and that basic business will generally proceed by voice vote unless a close tally calls for a recorded roll call.

Committee members also introduced themselves and offered brief biographical notes as part of the organizational meeting. Several members who usually serve on other committees said they would return for scheduled sessions next week. The chair asked members to consider nominations for clerk and said the panel would finalize the selection at the committee’s next meeting if needed.

The meeting closed after the administrative items; the committee will reconvene for policy briefings on education funding and revenue forecasts in the coming weeks.