Bill would update committee names, subject areas after 2023 reorganization

Sen. Simon Ayre told the House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee on March 24 that Senate Bill 153 would correct statutory references after a 2023 committee reorganization and make related technical changes to committee membership on overlapping commissions.

"So this bill does 3 things," Ayre told the committee. He said the legislation would replace references to the old Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee with the new Education, Energy, and Environmental Committee across state law (he said there were over 50 references), update subject-matter allocations because committee jurisdictions shifted in February 2023, and adjust commission representation so each affected committee sends one representative rather than duplicative appointments.

Ayre said drafters also identified a duplication—"environmental matters" was mentioned twice—and the bill includes a technical amendment to fix ordering in a committee name. He said the chairs of the affected committees agreed to the change to reduce redundant representation on an intercommittee commission.

Delegate Boyce asked whether this sort of cleanup is typically handled by the Department of Legislative Services. Ayre replied that he worked with DLS and that staff advised the change should be made by legislators rather than in corrective legislation.

The committee held a brief hearing; the sponsor answered questions and the chair closed the hearing. No committee vote on SB153 was recorded at the March 24 Rules committee session.