Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs delays business after lacking quorum

Chair Craig Hickman called the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs to order and announced the panel could not conduct business because it lacked the seven-member in-person quorum required by the joint rules. "We will not be able to conduct any business today," Hickman said.

Hickman told members the meeting had been scheduled to review specific language ready for the committee’s consideration but several members were joining online and therefore did not count toward the in-person quorum. He explained that, under the committee’s joint rules and the senate president’s authority, the panel cannot proceed to votes without the required number of members physically present.

The chair said the committee will reschedule its work for later this week. "We will take up all of our business on Wednesday or Friday of this week provided we have a quorum," Hickman said.

No motions were made and no votes were taken. The committee indicated it will reconvene on one of the announced days if a sufficient in-person quorum is reached; otherwise business will be deferred again.