Senate reads committee reports, refers bills to appropriations and Committee of the Whole; adjourns to May 6

The Senate convened for routine committee reports and bill introductions and moved several measures to committee for further consideration.

The clerk read committee reports recommending that Senate Bill 191 be referred to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation and that Senate Bill 183 be referred to the Committee on Appropriations. The Committee on State Veterans and Military Affairs recommended that House Bill 1287 be referred favorably to Appropriations and that House Bill 1130 be postponed indefinitely. The Committee on Business, Labor and Technology reported that Senate Bill 189 was amended and, as amended, should be referred to Appropriations. The finance committee reported amending House Bill 1233 and House Bill 1004 and recommended referrals for several other House bills, including recommending House Bill 1341 for the Committee of the Whole and placement on the consent calendar. Committees also reported amendment-and-referral actions on Senate Bills 184 and 185, and recommended Senate Bill 186 be placed on the Committee of the Whole and on the consent calendar; the state veterans committee recommended amending and referring Senate Bill 190.

The clerk read a message from the House that multiple measures were passed on third reading and transmitted to the reviser, including Senate Bill 160 and House Bills 1054, 1230, 1272, 1327 and 1016 (as amended); the House also passed and transmitted House Bill 1428 and postponed Senate Bill 66 indefinitely. The reviser transmitted specified House bills without comment, including House Bill 1428 and others listed as amended.

On introductions, the Senate heard notices of new House bills: House Bill 1016 (continuation of open educational resources policies; appropriation), House Bill 1054 (worker safety protections), House Bill 1230 (extension of the conservation easement tax credit through tax year 2036), House Bill 1272 (worker protections related to climate change; appropriation), House Bill 1327 (health care support for large‑employer workers; appropriation), and House Bill 1428 (measures to improve administration of publicly funded programs for students who are not full‑time in‑person students, Department of Education reporting on online and part‑time enrichment programs, and related designation authority for boards of cooperative services).

Majority Leader Wiseman announced that the Appropriations Committee will meet the next morning at 8 a.m. in LSBB to hear bills assigned to that committee. Wiseman then moved that the Senate stand adjourned until Wednesday, May 6, at 9 a.m.; the motion carried by voice vote and the Senate adjourned.

Actions at a glance: Committee reports and referrals read on the floor included: referral of SB191 to Committee of the Whole (favorable recommendation); referral of SB183 to Appropriations; referral of HB1287 to Appropriations (favorable) and postponement of HB1130 indefinitely; referral of HB1004 to Appropriations (favorable); amendment-and-referral of HB1233 to Committee of the Whole (favorable); referral of HB1341 to Committee of the Whole with a consent‑calendar recommendation; amendment-and-referral of SB189 to Appropriations; postponement of SB108 and SB168 indefinitely; amendment-and-referral of SB184 and SB185 with SB184 referred to Appropriations; referral of SB186 to Committee of the Whole with a consent‑calendar recommendation; amendment-and-referral of SB190 to Committee of the Whole; messages from the House transmitting SB160, HB1054, HB1230, HB1272, HB1327, HB1016, and HB1428 (as described above); and the motion to adjourn, moved by Majority Leader Wiseman, which carried by voice vote. Details and sponsors were read into the record by the clerk.

No recorded roll‑call votes were taken on the measures read; the floor action consisted of committee reports, introductions, messages and scheduling. The Senate is scheduled to reconvene at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 6.