Rep. Furman introduces measure to limit number of bills legislators may file

Representative Furman introduced RS32725 to the House Health and Welfare Committee, asking the panel to give the request a bill number so the idea can be examined during the interim. "The goal here is to set a limit on the number of bills that can be brought during any legislative session by a legislator," Furman told the committee.

Furman said the proposal is intended to encourage members to prioritize and better vet legislation. "It takes a lot of work to bring good legislation. You have to lobby your colleagues on both sides of the rotunda. You have to work with lobbyists, work with outside groups. You have to even get the governor's office on board," Furman said, adding that limiting introductions could reduce bills introduced without realistic plans to pass them.

Members who spoke on the request generally expressed support for the concept but differed on the appropriate limit and on whether leadership should be treated differently. Representative Levitt said she liked the idea but thought a ceiling of 12 bills was "too many" and suggested a limit closer to six. Representative Vicelinger raised a procedural question about how the measure would treat substantially revised reintroductions of the same bill; Furman said the draft accounts for that by allowing revised versions to be marked as replacements so the original is treated as stricken and the revised filing would not count against a legislator's total.

Representative Redmond moved to introduce RS32725. The motion carried on a voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded.

The committee did not set a final limit or adopt text; the request was introduced so members can continue discussion during the interim.