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Sponsor seeks daily public tallies of veto-override polling in HB 539
Summary
Representative Bill Mercer told the House State Administration committee HB539 would require the secretary of state to publish a daily list of legislators who have voted during a veto-override polling period and how they voted, with the aim of giving transparency to override efforts.
Representative Bill Mercer opened the hearing on House Bill 539, explaining the bill responds to a transparency gap during the 30‑day veto‑override polling process.
Mercer said that unlike in‑chamber roll calls, the current off‑site polling period produces votes over several days that are not disclosed, leaving sponsors blind to which legislators have voted and how. "This bill would require the secretary of state to do a daily tally and the amendment that Miss Powers drafted is clearer than what I had asked for in the original form," Mercer said, describing the proposed daily tally requirement to list legislators and how they voted.
No proponents or opponents appeared in person or online for HB539 during the hearing, and the committee closed testimony after committee members took no questions.
The bill is procedural: if enacted it would change reporting requirements for the secretary of state during a veto-override poll so that interested parties and the public can track who has participated during the multiday tally period.
