House rejects effort to move homeopathic licensing bill out of Health Committee

A motion to remove House Bill 69 from the Health Committee and refer it to the Business, Labor and Economic Development Committee failed on the House floor after extended debate.

Representative Jay Reese Hunter moved to reassign HB69, saying the bill "was heard by the rules committee and extensive testimony at the last session" and that the Business, Labor and Economic Development Committee would "have a much greater insight into this bill because of the additional testimony that they've had." Hunter argued the committee has prior experience with licensing acts and could give the bill a thorough hearing.

Opponents characterized the motion as "committee shopping." One Representative called out that "Basically, what we're doing here is committee shopping... We're shopping for a committee where the sponsor can think the bill can succeed," and urged members to uphold the Rules Committee's placement, saying HB69 is a health issue and should remain in the Health Committee.

Other members reacted along partisan and procedural lines: some said licensing acts traditionally go to Business/Labor and supported the move; others said changing committee assignments on the floor would consume floor time and undermine the Rules Committee's role. The previous practice of sending licensing legislation to Business/Labor was cited by supporters.

After debate and a call for the question, the motion to lift HB69 from the Health Committee and place it in Business, Labor and Economic Development was put to a vote and failed; the chair announced the motion "fails" and returned the bill to its original committee assignment.

Outcome: Motion to reassign HB69 — defeated. The bill remained with the Health Committee as originally recommended by Rules.