Committee tables amendment, favorably reports House Bill 249

During the committee's opening business, members debated an amendment to House Bill 249 (amendment 2096). Representative Piccolantonio explained the amendment seeks to remove language that could be read to target people whose appearance does not match their birth‑assigned sex; Representative Williams opposed, saying the amendment "undermines the specific obscene and child endangering acts" the bill targets and arguing that obscenity definitions refer to biological sex distinctions.

Ranking Member Swearingen moved to lay the amendment on the table. With objections noted, the clerk called the roll and the motion to table passed on a recorded vote. After tabling the amendment, Vice Chair Swearingen moved to favorably report HB 249 out of committee and recommend its passage; that motion carried on a roll call and the bill was favorably reported. The committee left the roll open until noon in the Clerk’s Office and concluded the fourth and final hearing for HB 249.

The committee record shows both the motion to table and the favorable report passed on recorded votes; members opposing or voting no are captured in the roll call record.