Committee delays voting-rights bill; routes crossover items to rules committee

The chair of the Senate Committee on Government Operations announced that the committee will delay consideration of the voting-rights bill (298) because the final language was not available in the meeting packet and floor scheduling will prevent action tomorrow.

Members discussed logistical options but agreed the bill could not be taken up at the current meeting. The chair and members noted that some items that did not make crossover — including a patent charter and S324 (described in the transcript as legislative operations/government accountability) — will need to be routed through the rules committee for release before the committee can act on them.

Committee members also addressed scheduling matters for the day, including a field trip with an anticipated departure around 1:40 p.m., transportation needs for members, and finalization of the witness list. Staff (Tim and Lynn were named in the transcript) were tasked with providing clean copies of materials and the witness list ahead of the next meeting. The transcript does not indicate final dates for when bill 298 will return for consideration.