Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legislative Process topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate debates SJR 8 amendments; lawmakers split over moving session start date
Summary
Lawmakers debated SJR 8, a constitutional amendment package that included changing the legislative session start date, extending judicial confirmation time and fixing veto override timing; an amendment to move the session start drew divided votes and was later removed under suspension of the rules.
The Senate considered SJR 8, a multi-part constitutional amendment that would revise several procedural elements of state government. Senator Tempest (sponsor) outlined four principal changes: extending the judicial confirmation window from 30 to 60 days, codifying a 60-day veto override period, clarifying swearing-in timing for elected officers to align with the start of session, and an amendment that would change the session start date.
A floor amendment proposing to shift the legislative session to begin in the third week instead of the second prompted extended debate. Senators representing rural and seasonal-work constituencies warned that moving the start date by one or two weeks would burden constituents in construction and seasonal industries; others argued the change could improve flexibility in budget study and oversight. A roll call on the amendment produced 16 ayes and 12 nays, causing the amendment to pass initially. Shortly afterward, under suspension of the rules, a motion to delete that amendment and restore the original second-Monday start carried by voice vote, returning the bill to its prior timing and leaving the other proposed modifications intact.
Senator Tempest summarized the remaining changes as clarifying the timing for judicial confirmations, veto overrides, and swearing-in procedures; those items remained part of the proposed constitutional amendment as it advanced through the Senate process.
Next steps: SJR 8 remains before the Legislature with the session-start change removed; additional floor and House actions are possible.
