Senate Rules Committee advances multiple bills and a package to the floor, including child‑protection and housing measures
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Summary
The Senate Rules Committee voted by voice to advance a salmon‑colored package and a string of individual bills to the floor/second‑reading calendars, including measures on child‑protection procedures, tenant portable cooling devices, DCYF benefits protections taking effect 01/01/2027, and a new state account for abortion‑care funding.
The Senate Committee on Rules on Feb. 20 advanced a salmon‑colored package and a series of individual bills from the white and salmon sheets to the floor and second‑reading calendars, mostly by voice votes.
Senator Petersen moved the salmon‑colored package and urged support, saying it "will help us get through nearly all the way to cut off" and noting the package included measures suggested by the minority party. The committee approved the package by voice vote.
Several individual measures were then advanced. Among them, Senator Petersen moved Senate Bill 6308, which the sponsor said "gives some tools to courts, in shelter care hearings to try to protect children." Senator Richele moved Senate Bill 6200, which the sponsor described as restricting landlords and mobile‑home park owners from prohibiting tenants from installing portable cooling devices. Senator Wilson moved Senate Bill 5911, which the sponsor said will prevent DCYF from applying certain benefits payments to young adults in extended foster care beginning 01/01/2027 and establishes agency responsibilities for eligibility assessments.
Other bills advanced included Senate Bill 6080 (parameters related to federal placement of detainees in local jails), Senate Bill 6052 (establishing a statewide digital transcript data‑sharing environment), Senate Bill 6182 (creating a dedicated state account described as an "abortion savings program" to direct certain insurance‑set‑aside funds via grants), and Senate Bill 6262 (raising a maximum vehicle weight threshold from 6,000 to 9,000 pounds for certain district fee‑subject vehicles). Sponsors spoke briefly on each and the motions carried by voice vote.
Opposition and debate were limited but notable in places. During the discussion of Senate Bill 6346 (described by a sponsor as a "tax on millionaires"), Senator Bridal argued the measure "is an income tax" that could expand in future legislatures and noted an existing state supreme court precedent she said currently holds such an income tax is unconstitutional. The committee proceeded to advance that bill by voice vote despite the objection.
Committee business closed with Senator Petersen thanking staff and saying this was likely the committee's last sit‑down in the first half of session; he said the committee will likely hold one standing rules meeting on Monday as members prepare for cutoff on Tuesday.
The motions were carried largely by voice vote; the transcript records "Aye"/"Opposed, no" and the presiding officer announcing "The ayes have it" for most items rather than recorded roll‑call tallies. The committee did not record detailed vote counts in these segments.
