Committee advances arbitration‑fairness bill after series of clarifying amendments

Sponsors presented a series of stakeholder‑driven amendments to House Bill 12 36 aimed at making compelled arbitration more accessible and less likely to preclude meaningful relief for claimants. Representative Oke said amendments arose from meetings with arbitration administrators and advocacy groups; Representative Zocai framed the bill as protecting consumers from predatory fees and preserving access to relief where arbitration is compelled. The committee adopted clarifying amendments L2, L3, L5, L6 and L7, which respectively clarified fee comparability by forum, limited the discrimination inquiry to procedural neutrality rather than result, extended an award payment window to 90 days, struck a controversial class‑waiver clause, and clarified payment‑due date language. After sponsors’ closing remarks the committee voted 6–5 to advance House Bill 12 36 as amended to the committee of the whole.