House committee gives favorable report to bill allowing elected officials to serve on local utility and fire boards

House Bill 471, which would permit elected officials at the local, county and state level to serve on water, sewer and fire protection boards, received a favorable committee report after brief consideration.

Representative Chip Brown, sponsor of the bill, told the committee the law now bars elected officials from serving on those local boards under a cited statutory provision and that some districts are having trouble filling seats. "We just can't find people willing to be on the water board," Brown said, adding that some volunteers continue to serve without compensation "because they love the community."

Committee members asked about the statute's origins and whether the prohibition had been intended to prevent self-dealing. A member asked, "Was it originally because people were afraid of some sort of self dealing if you were elected and being on board?" Representative Underwood (questioner) and others discussed that concern but did not identify a specific amendment or additional safeguards in the bill.

A motion for a favorable report was made and seconded; the committee took a voice vote. The clerk recorded the measure as having been given a favorable report; no roll-call vote or member-level vote tally was provided in the hearing transcript.

The committee did not record further debate or amendments on the bill in the transcript. The measure will proceed according to the legislature's committee-report process.

Votes at a glance: HB471 — motion for favorable report moved and seconded; outcome recorded in committee as "favorable report" (voice vote; no named vote tally in the transcript).