AWSP Blog

The focus is and will remain so for this week and next on moving bills through committee Executive Sessions to their respective Rules’ Committees. The few that advance will be placed on floor calendars for possible passage. (March 8th is the deadline for bills to have cleared their house of origin.)

The importance of advocacy cannot be overstated. Legislators need to continually hear from those impacted by proposed legislation. A lobbyist can keep issues in front of legislators, but those most closely impacted, particularly constituents, carry much more weight. Enough said. Listed below are bills that appear to be moving. Some previously reported bills have been dropped but may re-appear in future reports. Listed below are bills that show some life.

A reminder that the 17th of February is the first cut-off when policy bills have to make it out of their respective committees. Fiscal bills have until the 24th. So, the clock is running and selected bills are moving. Listed below are bills that show some life.

There’s a certain rhythm to the Legislature as the session continues. Action begins to move from the public hearings, to executive ones, to rules and dribbling onto the floor for action. The 17th of February is the first cut-off, and in all likelihood, the 6th is a closer measure of when new bills will cease being introduced. (It takes time to schedule, hear, etc. in order to meet the February deadline).

Bills continue to be introduced but the real action happens as committees hold public hearings and executive sessions on various bills. Executive sessions often follow. Changes in planned agendas also often happen at the last moment. Listed below are bills that show some movement. Others were reported last week but are not repeated this week if no activity has occurred to date.