Senate moves broad consent and concurrence calendars; dozens of bills advanced

The Senate adopted committee reports and advanced a large slate of bills on the consent and concurrence calendars during Day 22.

Clerk communications and the Rules Committee report placed many bills in standing committees and on calendars. Senators adopted the Rules Committee report and committee reports by voice vote and then moved items to the consent calendar.

On the consent calendar, House Bill 206 (ban on sale of smoking paraphernalia to minors) was taken up, circled and later uncircled for presentation; the President later directed a unanimous vote in favor when no nays were heard. Senate Concurrent Resolution 6 (supporting the Department of Environmental Quality’s issuance of a Class B/5 landfill permit to Waste Management for asbestos handling) passed with senators recorded in favor and will be forwarded to the House. House Bill 69 (repeal of a State Engineer authority to plug artesian wells) passed with a recorded vote and will be returned to the House for the speaker’s signature.

The Senate also concurred with House amendments to Senate Bill 23 (Corporate Franchise and Income Tax Amendment) and approved the bill on final passage by a recorded vote of 29–0. Other items taken up included placement of several bills on the second- and third-reading calendars and motions to circle or uncircle bills for third reading.

Why it matters: The consent and concurrence actions move many measures forward with limited floor debate, shaping which bills receive fuller consideration later in the session and which become ready for transmittal to the House or signature.

The chamber proceeded to third- and second-reading business, scheduling time-certain hearings and presenting several bills for debate later in the day.