House Workplace Committee recommends sanctions after finding harassment; motion passes 6–0

The House Workplace Committee voted 6–0 to recommend a package of corrective actions after prior determinations that harassment and retaliation occurred in six complaints. Representative Stewart moved the recommendations, which the committee adopted and will forward to House leadership for final action.

"I move that the committee recommend this range of corrective actions to include removal from all Committee Assignments except 1 as per House Rule 25 b 2... removal of all aid hours... that the respondent takes workplace harassment training... provides a formal, written apology to be published in the journal," Representative Stewart said while offering the motion. Representative Soper seconded the motion; Miss Berger then called the roll and the chair announced, "The motion passes, 6 to 0."

The motion lists specific remedies: removing the respondent from committee assignments (with one exempt committee), removing certain aide hours, relocating the respondent's physical office and floor seat to avoid proximity to complainants, requiring workplace-harassment training, directing a written apology to be published in the House journal, and recommending the House pursue a formal censure vote if warranted. The committee emphasized these recommendations should remain in effect "as long as the complainants are employees at the State Capitol."

Committee members cited the prior finding phase as the basis for the recommendations. The chair reminded members that the committee had earlier found the allegations merited findings that included harassment and retaliation and that the current meeting existed to consider the resulting recommendations. The committee's vote completes its recommendation process; the implementation authority lies with House leadership, which the committee will now brief.