Senator Reese urges further agency input as committee reports measure "favorable as amended"

A Senate committee voted to report a measure "favorable as amended" after Senator Reese urged colleagues to keep seeking input from implementing agencies and to consider funding options.

Senator Reese, in brief closing remarks to the panel, said the matter was "complicated" and of clear importance across the state. "Clearly, this is a complicated issue, but the importance of this issue across our state is quite clear," Reese said. He added that several agencies will be responsible for implementation and asked the committee to allow continued consultation: "We'll continue to take their input over time if you allow me to do so, and we'll explore the senate's appetite to pay for it." (Senator Reese's remarks are from the committee record.)

Following those remarks, Senator Hodges made a substitute motion "to move favorable as amended." The chair asked if there were any objections; hearing none, the chair said the motion "will be reported favorable." The transcript does not include a recorded roll-call vote or a tally; no objections were voiced on the record.

After the motion was reported favorable, Senator Owen moved to adjourn. The chair called for objections, heard none, and declared the committee adjourned.

The transcript does not identify the bill or measure by number or title, does not record a vote tally, and does not specify next procedural steps for the measure beyond it being reported favorable by the committee.