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House narrowly approves substitute amendments in workforce/Industrial Commission restructuring bill after heated debate on appeals independence
Summary
Lawmakers debated a major reorganization of the Industrial Commission and creation of a new Department of Workforce Services, focusing on appeals board independence and the department’s grant of broad authority. Substitute amendments to move adjudication authority and limit 'in addition to' language passed narrowly in division votes; the bill as amended advanced.
The House spent substantial floor time on a proposal to restructure the Industrial Commission and create a Department of Workforce Services. Representative Howard offered a substitute amendment to relocate adjudication and to limit an expansive departmental authority clause. Supporters argued the change was necessary to protect the independence of adjudicators; opponents said the bill already addressed separation and warned against adding extraneous changes. Multiple substitute motions were debated and passed in close division votes; a later floor announcement recorded a narrow 35–34 result on a motion to amend the bill so amended. The House circled the bill and it now proceeds with the agreed amendments for further processing.
