Committee on Legal Services advances Senate Bill 125 to Committee of the Whole after 7–1 vote

The Committee on Legal Services voted Tuesday to send Senate Bill 125, the annual Rule Review bill, to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation after a roll-call vote of 7–1, with two members excused.

Vice Chair Soper moved to advance the bill “to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation,” and Representative Mabry seconded the motion. Jake Baus of the Office of Legislative Legal Services told the committee he had no opening comments but was available to give a brief overview or answer questions.

Representative Luck spoke against the measure before the vote. "I vote against giving rulemaking authority on most bills, because I don't believe the legislature should be giving over a lot of the authority that we do to the executive branch," she said, thanking staff for their work but saying she could not support transferring broad rulemaking discretion.

Chair Weisman then took a roll-call vote. Members recorded votes as follows: Representative Camacho — yes; Senator Carson — aye; Senator Gonzales — aye; Representative Joseph — yes; Representative Luck — no; Representative Mabry — yes; Vice Chair Soper — yes; Chair Weisman — yes. Senators Frizzell and Roberts were recorded as excused. The chair announced that, "With a vote of 7 to 1 and 2 excused, 125 passes to the Committee of the Whole."

Director DiCecco invited any additional business. Aditya, chief financial officer for the Office of Legislative Legal Services, told members the transcript-recorded item referred to a house joint resolution spoken as “10 23,” which would require the committee to retain counsel to represent the general assembly in state court if it passes both chambers; the chair said the committee would coordinate with staff about scheduling should that resolution advance.

The committee adjourned and the chair noted members might be polled and meet intermittently over the summer if retention-of-counsel matters arise.