Senate committee places SJR543 on consent calendar, adds committee as cosponsors in 8-0 vote

At a Senate committee meeting, members voted 8-0 to place Senator Johnson’s SJR543 on the consent calendar and to add all committee members as cosponsors.

The chair announced committee decorum rules at the start of the session, saying profanity is prohibited on signs because minors may be present and the meeting is livestreamed, and that signs should not be held above face level. He also reminded members that men may not wear hats in the committee room.

The chair reviewed procedural deadlines for filing legislation and amendments, saying, “Bills must be put on notice by by 12PM on Tuesday in order to be placed on the following week's calendar,” and “Amendments for bills on calendar must be filed by 12PM on Monday, the day before the committee.” He warned sponsors that a bill’s sponsor may roll a bill only once; should a sponsor fail to appear when scheduled, “the bill or resolution shall return to the desk of the clerk of the senate for purpose of being withdrawn from the senate.” The chair added that he reserves the right to roll bills in committee when substantive amendments have been filed but not yet reviewed.

The chair introduced committee staff by name, listing “Rita Redmond is secretary, Walter Beasley, and Tanner Watson, our research analyst, Elizabeth is the attorney. Roard Brown is our budget analyst, and, Matthew Blessington and, Plaza George is our bill of clerks, and Ralph Soil is our archives.”

When business moved to Senator Johnson’s resolution, the chair said he would make a motion to place SJR543 on the consent calendar and a second was noted. Senator Lamarr asked that members of the judiciary be added as co-prime sponsors; the chair and members agreed to add the full committee as cosponsors. The secretary then took a roll-call vote. The secretary recorded the following ayes: Senator Harshberger, Senator Kyle, Senator Lamar, Senator Roberts (Senator Rose), Senator Stevens, Senator Taylor, Senator White and Chairman Gordon Hire, giving the motion eight ayes.

After announcing that SJR543 "goes to calendar, and all members of the committee will be added as as cosponsor," the chair closed the meeting. A motion to adjourn was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. The chair said the committee hopes to meet next week but may cancel if snow prevents attendance.

The meeting took no other formal actions recorded in the transcript.