House members warn Senate filibuster strategy is stalling local bills, adopt special-order calendar

Representative Treadaway warned the House that a reported Senate filibuster strategy — he described it as one bill per hour — was killing uncontested local bills that have passed the House and prevented them from becoming law. "We have a bunch of uncontested bills ... they get killed," Treadaway said, urging colleagues to consider slowing the House calendar in response.

Several members from across the chamber amplified the concern and described the practical impact on constituents. Representative England said the legislature repeatedly works to pass local measures only to see them “die in the senate,” while Representative Hall urged the House to preserve deliberative opportunities and to insist that members receive notice of floor substitutes so they can review them before votes. Representative Sellers and others described the need to defend the House’s work and to press for balance and accountability between the two chambers.

House leadership moved forward with the special-order calendar after debate. The chair called for the adoption of the calendar and members approved it by voice vote. Members said they would continue to monitor the senate’s actions and the treatment of transmitted bills.

The adoption of the calendar was the most recent procedural step noted on the floor; members also discussed logistics such as leave of absence requests and scheduling for the Old Capitol chamber the next day. No formal change to House rules was recorded on the floor during this session; members stressed they would pursue options available under existing rules and through leadership conversations.