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Committee reports HB 2,684 and HJM 4012 out with 'do pass' recommendations after amendment debate
Summary
The Technology, Economic Development and Veterans Committee moved House Bill 2,684 (adding Middle Eastern/North African to OMWBE categories) out of committee with a 'do pass' recommendation after rejecting five amendments; the committee also reported House Joint Memorial 4012 out with a 'do pass' recommendation by oral vote.
The Technology, Economic Development and Veterans Committee on Feb. 4 considered two items in executive session and reported both out of committee with 'do pass' recommendations.
House Bill 2,684: scope and amendment debate
House Bill 2,684, described by the chair as a narrow bill to add a "Middle Eastern, North African" category for consideration under the Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises' certification process, was moved out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation after discussion and roll-call. Committee staff briefed five proposed amendments and committee members debated each on the floor.
Amendments rejected: The committee heard and rejected five amendments (pool 188; WALE 294; WALE 293; WALE 295; WALE 296). Highlights of the debate include:
- Pool 188 (sponsored by Representative Barnard) would have narrowed the rebuttable presumption by requiring OMWBE to identify specific current instances of discrimination that would be remedied before the presumption applied. Supporters argued for targeted findings; opponents said it would invite delay, administrative burden and litigation.
- WALE 294 (Representative Volz) would have required disaggregated subgroup data and prohibited use of aggregated subgroup data to identify disadvantaged groups when significant intra-group disparities exist. Volz argued income and other metrics show wide disparities among Middle Eastern/North African subgroups; others cautioned that "significant" is undefined and that income alone does not capture discrimination.
- WALE 293 (Representative Keaton) sought to require rules adopted by the office to be consistent with Article I, Section 12 of the state constitution; critics called the proposed change unnecessary because agencies are already expected to follow the constitution.
- WALE 295 (Representative Barnard) sought to bar agency rules that conflict with federal law; opponents warned that federal policy and interpretations are in flux and that the amendment could create operational difficulties.
- WALE 296 (Representative Barnard) would require Attorney General's Office review to determine whether rules comport with federal law; supporters said it could reduce litigation risk, while others noted it could create fiscal impacts for AGO review.
Representative Penner spoke for several floor motions to adopt amendments; Representative Shavers argued the amendments would narrow program access and increase administrative delay. After debate, committee members rejected all five amendments by voice vote.
Final vote on HB 2,684: Staff called a roll call for reporting the bill out of committee. Tally as announced: 7 ayes, 4 nays, 2 excused. By that vote, House Bill 2,684 was reported out of committee with a 'do pass' recommendation.
House Joint Memorial 4012
The committee next considered House Joint Memorial 4012. Representative Brenner said the memorial asks Congress to take up a change to create parity for certain combat-injured veterans and urged support. The committee took an oral vote; staff announced 11 ayes, 0 nays, 2 excused. The memorial was reported out of committee with a 'do pass' recommendation.
What happens next: Both items are now eligible to move to the floor under the legislature’s schedule. No further committee-level action was taken at this meeting.
