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Committee passes a batch of local‑government bills including port authority, distribution rules and marriage solemnizers
Summary
The committee passed several bills with limited debate: SB 548 (volunteer fire dues), a Chesterfield port‑authority warehousing bill, a repeal of a county reporting requirement, SB 554 (ready‑to‑drink distribution rules), and SB 581 (allowing former mayors to solemnize marriages).
The City, County & Local Affairs Committee disposed of multiple bills by voice votes during the session.
- SB 548 (Sen. Johnson): Allows certain second‑class towns to levy volunteer fire department dues by majority petition; passed after an amendment.
- SB (Chesterfield): Changes port authority leasing and bidding rules for warehouses constructed for specific tenants; sponsor and port counsel said the change avoids a bidding anomaly and the committee passed the bill.
- Representative Watson’s bill: Deletes an annual reporting requirement for counties that receive $2,000,000 or more in certain highway or severance revenues; sponsor said the data is otherwise public and the committee passed the bill.
- SB 554 (Sen. Johnson): Creates a 'ready‑to‑drink' subcategory for spirit‑based beverages up to 15% alcohol by weight and clarifies distribution rights; ABC requested an amendment that committees adopted; the bill passed as amended.
- SB 581 (Sen. Johnson): Adds former mayors who served at least five years to the list of persons authorized to solemnize marriages; passed by voice vote.
All items were approved by voice votes in committee with no roll‑call tallies recorded in the transcript provided. Several bills carried sponsor‑requested amendments adopted on the floor of the committee.
