Committee on Legal Services elects Representative Mabry chair, approves technical rule amendments

The Committee on Legal Services elected Representative Mabry as chair for 2026 and Senator Frizzell as vice chair, and approved staff-proposed technical amendments to the committee rules.

Christie Chase of the Office of Legislative Legal Services reviewed election procedures at the start of the organizational meeting and the chair opened the floor for nominations. The chair nominated Representative Mabry; there were no other nominations and the committee elected him by unanimous consent. Senator Carson nominated Senator Frizzell for vice chair; that nomination was seconded and approved without objection.

Director DeCicco then presented two rule edits the office proposed as cleanups: renaming the Office of Legislative Workplace Relations to the Legislative Human Resources Division, and striking a sentence that stated attorney fees and expenses are paid "for such purposes" because there is no separate line item specifically earmarked for attorney fees in the legislative department appropriation. A member moved to adopt the staff proposal and, after a second and no objections, the committee amended the rules as presented.

The actions were procedural and technical; no dissenting votes or formal roll-call tallies were recorded. The committee adjourned with calendar holds set for upcoming meetings and the chair said scheduling details would be finalized in advance of the next sessions.