House Education Committee adopts paperless policy, sets testimony and voting rules

The Idaho House Education Committee, chaired by Doug Pickett, adopted a set of ground rules for the session at an organizational meeting, including a declaration that the committee will operate paperless, a statement on confidentiality for RS materials and limits on presentation and public-comment times.

Chairman Doug Pickett said the committee “has declared ourselves to be a paperless committee,” and asked members to notify him if they need printed materials. He told members that Request Statements (RSs) delivered to members’ OneDrive should be treated as private until the sponsor introduces them and asked members to consult sponsors before sharing RS files: “To me, it's important that an RS is private until it's introduced and proprietary in fact.”

The committee set specific procedures for hearings. Pickett said bill presenters will receive five minutes for an initial presentation, followed by a question period; public comment on bills will be limited to two minutes per person for hearings that allow remote testimony; and sponsors may make a final statement of up to five minutes. He said the committee will permit remote testimony but will “give preference to those who attend” in person.

On motions and voting, Pickett outlined available committee actions (for example, motions to give a bill a due-pass recommendation, hold indefinitely, hold to a time certain — which requires a specific date — send a bill to general orders, or recommend do not pass). He said the committee will use voice votes unless a roll-call vote is requested in advance, and that members may request their dissent be recorded if they are in the minority. He also stated that a motion to call the previous question is not in order in committee proceedings: “A motion for a previous question to be called was is appropriate on the House floor requiring a 2 thirds vote. But we will not be entertaining any motion for previous question in this committee.”

Pickett asked members to review RS statements of purpose and fiscal notes and to consult Joint Rule 18 when questions arise about those materials: “When you receive these RS's on your file, would you please take the time and review them and review joint rule 18.” He also noted that agency bills should have floor sponsors and that the committee will aim to distribute agendas earlier and meet at 9 a.m. whenever possible.

Members conducted introductions before the rules discussion; the meeting included two dozen member turns and closed when Pickett adjourned the session.

The committee’s rules set expectations for decorum as well: Pickett emphasized that members’ questions and comments should go through the chair and urged respectful treatment of public testifiers, particularly those inexperienced with legislative testimony. He also asked members to avoid editorializing or campaigning in committee remarks and to focus on the substance of bills.