Committee adopts amendment L003 to HB 11 43; sponsor says enforcement details can wait until second reading

The committee considered House Bill 11 43, and the sponsor, Representative Joseph, offered amendment L003 to remove the fiscal note and to allow higher-education institutions to retain existing vendors.

Representative Taggart asked whether civil penalties in the write-up would affect institutions of higher education or K–12, saying he was “very concerned about civil penalties against our institutions of higher education or K-twelve.” Representative Joseph replied, “As far as penalty in the bill, the idea is that we want the bill to be enforceable. But I'd be happy to have more conversation with you about this particular issue around enforcement on second reading.”

The committee adopted L003 without objection and moved the bill to the Committee of the Whole. The roll-call vote on the motion to advance the amended bill was recorded as passing 7–2 with 2 excused.