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Committee clears bill to confirm volunteer firefighters, retired judges may hold other posts; roll call 8–4
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Summary
The committee reported HB 258 favorably after a roll‑call vote (8 yeas, 4 nays). The bill clarifies dual‑office rules for volunteer firefighters and allows retired judges to serve on advisory boards while remaining available for ad hoc judicial assignments, with recusal rules still applying.
House Bill 258 (Chair Bowyer) would provide exceptions to dual office‑holding prohibitions for volunteer firefighters and certain judicial branch employees. The sponsor described the measure as a clean‑up to reflect existing practice and to ensure volunteer firefighters and retired judges can continue service on boards and commissions without being caught by a strict reading of dual‑office statutes.
Members asked whether the change creates conflicts of interest for judges serving on boards; ethics administrator David Bordelon told the committee conflicts and recusals would still apply and that dual‑office holding conflict is not under the ethics board’s jurisdiction. Representative Carter and others pressed for clarity about appointment processes; the chair said the strongest rationale was preserving a small pool of retired judges who serve ad hoc when needed.
The chairman moved the bill; the committee approved it on a roll-call vote of 8 yeas and 4 nays and reported the bill favorably.
