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DCBS legislative director Theresa Van Winkle outlines 2026 short‑session timeline and MLAC role
Summary
Theresa Van Winkle, DCBS legislative director, told MLAC the 2026 short session begins Feb. 2; key deadlines include Feb. 16 (first‑chamber) and the constitutional deadline March 8. She outlined how MLAC reviews legislative concepts and communicates recommendations to policy committees.
Theresa Van Winkle, legislative director at the Department of Consumer and Business Services and a former MLAC administrator, presented a 2026 legislative overview to the caucus.
Van Winkle told members the short session "officially begins on Monday, February 2, Groundhog Day," and summarized key deadlines: a first‑chamber deadline on Feb. 16 and the constitutional deadline in early March. She described the short session as a sprint with faster deadlines and fewer hearings than a long session.
Van Winkle explained MLAC's role in reviewing legislative concepts (LCs) and bills, triaging proposals, advising policy committees, and, when appropriate, sending MLAC letters with recommendations or proposing amendments. She said MLAC can establish subcommittees and that staff will work to ensure MLAC recommendations are reflected in bill language when possible.
She urged members to review the session calendar and noted the agency will share bill assignments and committee scheduling as they become available.
