Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Remote Participation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee moves bill to clarify remote participation for joint committees to Committee of the Whole after debate
Summary
Committee members debated a bill to resolve confusion over which remote-participation rules apply to joint legislative committees during session; sponsors called it a cleanup measure, and the committee sent House Bill 1068 to the Committee of the Whole with a 3–2 vote.
Sponsors presented House Bill 1068 as a cleanup measure to clarify which remote-participation policies govern joint committees that include members of both chambers when those committees meet during the legislative session. The bill would authorize the Executive Committee to establish a policy for joint-session committee remote participation while preserving each chamber’s existing rules for single-chamber meetings.
A sponsor explained that current differences between House and Senate rules — and the Executive Committee’s interim policies — have created uncertainty for chairs, staff and members about whether and how members may participate remotely during session. Supporters said the measure would resolve that confusion and listed supporting groups including Colorado Common Cause and ResponsiveGovAction. Sponsors also said the bill carries no fiscal note.
Committee members offered mixed views: some emphasized the need for in-person hallway conversations and regional equity concerns about travel burden for members from rural areas; others said the bill simply provides clarity for frequent joint committees. After discussion and no amendments, Senator Sullivan moved the bill to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a roll-call vote, 3 to 2.
The bill now proceeds to the Committee of the Whole for further consideration.
