Committee introduces multiple RS measures and approves travel‑reporting bills for floor consideration

The committee handled several introductory items and procedural bills, adopting minutes and introducing multiple RS drafts before moving two travel‑reporting bills to the House floor with due‑pass recommendations.

The meeting opened with Representative Dygart moving to adopt the minutes for Friday, March 7 and Monday, March 10; the committee approved the motion by voice.

Brent Crane (Representative Crane, District 13) introduced two RS drafts on behalf of Representative Moyle. RS 32,634 relates to lobbyist rules; Crane said the draft adds language addressing concerns about relatives of legislators serving as lobbyists and that both RS drafts will be circulated for at least a week for further comment before a final version is filed. Representative Palmer moved to introduce RS 32,634; Representative Green asked that page 12, line 14 be amended to include the lobbyist employer. Representative Holtzclaw disclosed a potential conflict, saying, "my wife is, lobbyist." The committee approved introduction of RS 32,634.

Crane also introduced RS 32,636 on campaign finance. He described three primary changes: shortening the electioneering window from 60 to 30 days, adding a website to upload independent expenditure filings, and lowering the donation limit for legislators from $5,000 in the earlier draft to $2,500 in the current RS. Representative Mickelson moved to introduce RS 32,636, and the committee approved introduction by voice vote.

Representative Jeff Ehlers presented RS 32,640, a clean rewrite of competing House Rule 40 amendments that previously appeared on the floor. Committee members debated whether a new public hearing was needed; some said the rule concerns only internal chamber procedure and another hearing was unnecessary. Representative Green moved to send RS 32,640 to the second‑reading calendar; Representative Aylers asked about smoking, vaping and other tobacco products as written. The committee approved introduction and placement on the second‑reading calendar.

Representative Stephanie Mickelson introduced two bills about paid‑travel reporting. House Bill 3 78 would require legislators to report out‑of‑state travel destination, date and purpose but does not require disclosure of travel cost. Representative Achilles moved to send HB 3 78 to the House with a due‑pass recommendation; the committee approved the motion. House Bill 3 79 would require constitutionally elected statewide officers to disclose out‑of‑state travel details including the paying entity. The committee voted to send HB 3 79 to the House with a due‑pass recommendation; Representative Barbieri said she supported the motion but noted concerns about exclusions for staff and directorships in the executive branch and reserved the right to oppose on the floor.

All introduced RS items and the two travel bills were approved by voice votes or motions and will proceed for further drafting or floor consideration.