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Tense debate as committee advances DEI-reporting bill to calendar and rules
Summary
Representative Mayberrysponsored HB 1664 would require agencies to report policies the legislature previously labeled discriminatory; the committee approved the measure after heated debate over what constitutes a discriminatory policy and whether the bill targets local appointment processes.
The committee considered HB 1664, a reporting bill the sponsor described as ensuring compliance with last year's legislation on discriminatory preferences. Representative Mayberry (Speaker 6) told the committee the bill would require entities to report policies the General Assembly found discriminatory to the comptroller.
Representative Glenn (Speaker 14) reacted angrily, saying the bill effectively asks agencies to report on policies and raised a local example involving a school-board appointment. "I think it's appalling that you want the other entities to report back on a d e" Glenn said during his remarks. Mayberry repeatedly said the bill is a reporting measure tied to prior legislation and not a vehicle to relitigate local appointment disputes.
The exchange grew heated and multiple members asked points of order. The committee nevertheless voted to advance HB 1664 to calendar and rules (final committee tally recorded as 13 ayes, 4 nays, 2 present not voting). The sponsor and supporters said the measure simply implements reporting required under prior law; opponents pressed for clarity on what counts as a discriminatory policy and how the reports would be used.
