A concurrent resolution which would change the legislative rules of the legislature was passed by the Senate Saturday.
If passed, Senate Concurrent Resolution 1 would allow for rejected bills to be carried over to the following session to further consideration. In an explanation from counsel, members learned specific details which would allow for the bills to essentially be revived in the committee in which they were rejected or unrecognized.
Counsel further explained that in order for the bill to be reintroduced in the session, the committee chair in which the bill was last active would have to push for the bill to be reconsidered. Legislation would keep the same number from the previous session and would be eligible for reconsideration unless the lead bill sponsor withdrew the legislation through written notice of the clerk.
Members of the committee sparked debate over the legislation as each member stated their support of opposition to the proposed change. Chair, Sen. Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, addressed the committee to explain that the resolution was created in order to make the legislative process more “efficient.”
Blair then stated that if issues were to arise in the future he would be open to reforming the change, but ultimately intends for the resolution to strengthen review of bills.
Sen. Ron Stollings, D-Boone, then addressed the Chair to ask if previous studies had been done to review why the rule for bills to not be carried over existed. The Senator’s question resulted in the Chair urging Stollings to motion for the resolution to be a study resolutions.
Stollings then mentioned for the resolution to become a study resolution prior to the bill being reported for the full Senate with the recommendation of passage.
