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Transportation committee staff set amendment rules, preview SB 59 hearing and run safety briefing
Summary
Committee staff asked members to allow 24 hours for drafting amendments and discouraged conceptual same-meeting amendments; Chair Durham announced a Friday hearing on Senate Bill 59, the sergeant of arms gave a safety briefing, and the committee approved a $40-per-member snack fund by unanimous consent.
Helena — At its organizational meeting, the Montana House Transportation Committee set several operational expectations: staff asked for time to draft amendments, the chair set a near-term hearing schedule that includes Senate Bill 59, and the sergeant of arms delivered a safety briefing and led a practice evacuation.
Casey Palister, research analyst with the Legislative Services Division, told members that staff will not draft amendments unless a legislator signs or authorizes them and asked colleagues to "give us 24 hours to create the amendment" so staff can research cross-references and impacts. Palister also discouraged conceptual amendments drafted and approved in the same meeting, warning they can "have actually big repercussions that are not foreseen." The committee accepted those procedural clarifications for staff workload and amendment quality.
Chair Neil Durham previewed the committee calendar, saying, "This Friday we'll have a single bill hearing and it's gonna be Senate Bill 59 and so we'll have that bill hearing at the conclusion of that bill hearing ... we'll take executive action." Members were told Monday's calendar includes four bills and that the committee will try to avoid holding full Friday hearings when business allows.
Sergeant Greg (sergeant of arms office) reviewed emergency procedures for Room 455, described lockdown and evacuation steps, identified evacuation routes and AED locations, and said the outside rally point is at the northeast corner of the building near the Montana Historical Society. He also reminded members that members of the public must remain behind the podium and center aisle and may be asked to step back or exit if necessary to ensure safety.
On a lighter logistical note, Chair Durham proposed increasing the committee snack fund from $30 to $40 per member to avoid running short; he "made a motion that $40 instead of 30 will be our snack fund," which passed without objection.
What happens next
The committee will proceed under the clarified amendment and proxy procedures; staff will expect written authorization for amendments and the committee will schedule and hold a hearing on Senate Bill 59 this Friday with executive action to follow.
