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House bill to codify a year-round oversight committee clears Senate standing committee after debate over subpoena powers
Summary
Lawmakers debated House Bill 1178, which would codify a year-round House oversight committee with authority to request performance audits; supporters said the change restores authority removed in 2008, while others questioned whether it duplicates existing powers and how subpoena authority would work.
House Bill 1178, which would codify a year-round House oversight committee and restore audit authority supporters say was stripped in 2008, cleared the Senate standing committee after extended questioning on scope and subpoena power.
Representative Horner, the bill’s presenter, told the committee that the measure would authorize a House committee to request performance audits of state entities and ‘‘call those people in’’ for oversight, restoring a practice he said existed before 2008. He said the bill includes the appropriations chair as a member so leadership still controls whether the committee meets year round.
Senator Dolezal and other members asked whether the House already possesses the ability to subpoena witnesses or order audits through resolutions or existing committees. Dolezal described past Senate practice of delegating subpoena authority and noted the legislature previously passed a law clarifying both chambers’ authority to subpoena and swear witnesses. Representative Horner responded that the difference is codifying the committee in statute to ensure consistent year-round oversight and to enable performance audits through the appropriate channels.
Other senators suggested the proposal could duplicate existing oversight functions. One senator noted that the Appropriations Committee routinely orders audits of state agencies and said a separate standing committee might be redundant. Horner acknowledged similarities but said the bill’s purpose is to restore a specific statutory committee that can focus on identified problems and report findings to the legislature.
Committee members also pressed for operational detail: whether the bill grants independent subpoena power, how audits would be initiated, and what approvals would be needed before ordering an audit. The sponsor said audits would be requested through the committee structure and that leadership participation — including the appropriations chair — constrains unilateral action.
After the discussion the committee voted to move the bill forward with a motion to ‘do pass.’ The committee recorded the vote and the motion carried.
