Rules Committee adopts special order letter scheduling 58 bills for April 16 session

The Rules Committee on Thursday adopted a special order letter placing 58 bills on the House special order for the session scheduled for Wednesday, April 16, and reminded members of filing deadlines for amendments.

Chair Garrison told members that a copy of the special order letter was on the desk and that negotiated time allocations were included for questions and debate on every bill placed on special order. "On the desk is a special order letter for session on Wednesday, April 16. You'll see it has 58 bills on it, so we'll have a busy day on that Wednesday. But as required by the rules, negotiated time allocations are included for questions and debate on all bills on special order," Chair Garrison said.

Committee members voiced no objections when the chair called for a vote. "All in favor of the special order letter say yay," Garrison said; the letter was adopted "without objection," the chair announced.

Garrison also reviewed the amendment deadlines members must meet ahead of the April 16 session. He said main amendments must be submitted to House bill drafting by 3 p.m. and approved for filing by 4 p.m. He said hearing amendments must be submitted to House bill drafting by 6:30 p.m. and approved for filing by 7 p.m.

Leader Sherroy, when asked if there were questions or public testimony, said there were none and indicated support for proceeding. Representative Tamp moved to adjourn at the end of the meeting; the motion was accepted and the committee adjourned.

The special order letter governs which bills will receive scheduled time and set debate parameters for the April 16 House session; members were reminded of the stated filing deadlines for amendments.