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House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee adopts rules at organizational meeting
Summary
The House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee held an organizational meeting, heard member introductions and adopted the committee rules — described as unchanged from the prior session — following a motion and an unrecorded second.
The House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee held its organizational meeting and adopted the committee rules after a motion to do so, members said.
Representative Don Parsons, speaking at the start of the session, said the committee would operate through two subcommittees and that most bill testimony is handled there before full-committee consideration. "This is our first meeting, organizational meeting of the committee," Parsons said, noting meeting-room changes this week because of weather and the appropriations process.
The committee adopted the rules that had been presented to members. "I move the House adopt the 2020 2025-26 House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications rules that we have in front of us, presented by the chairman," said Representative Todd Jones during the motion on the floor. After an unnamed member seconded the motion, the committee chair called for voice votes; members responded "aye," and the chair said, "We have adopted these rules."
Committee members used the organizational portion of the meeting to introduce themselves and their districts. Several members described the scope of the panel: matters affecting electricity, cellular service, broadband and the Public Service Commission. Representative Carla Drenner was highlighted by another member as a resource on energy issues.
Chair remarks emphasized that legislation affecting everyday services such as electricity and broadband typically comes to this committee and that the panel aims to review legislation carefully to produce positive outcomes for residents. The chair also mentioned Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure as the controlling parliamentary guide and noted the manual is commonly used across the General Assembly.
No roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript for the rules adoption; the committee's chair declared the rules adopted after the voice vote. No amendments, conditions or formalities beyond the oral motion, second and voice vote were recorded in the available transcript.
The meeting was brief and largely organizational: member introductions, a description of subcommittee practice, a presentation of the rules and their adoption, and the chair's invitation for other items for the good of the order.
