Committee advances amendments on honors: governor discretion for statewide mourning and rules for lying in state

Representative Miller explained amendments to House Bills 1531 and 1532 on April 13, changing prior language to give the governor and legislative leaders discretion rather than a mandatory duty when proclaiming a statewide day of mourning or permitting a deceased member or former member to lie in state at the Capitol.

Under the amendments, the governor "may" proclaim a statewide day of mourning and order flags at half-staff; similarly, lying in state would be permitted at the discretion of the governor and legislative speakers and would be limited to a specified period when the State Capitol building is open to the public.

Both bills include identical prohibitions: a deceased member or former member convicted of a felony may not be honored in this way unless they were pardoned for the felony or had been expelled from office and never reelected.

Representative Miller said the change from "shall" to "may" was intended to provide discretion and to codify existing practice. The committee voted to move HB 1531 to Calendar and Rules (16 Aye, 5 No) and HB 1532 to Calendar and Rules (15 Aye, 6 No).

Next steps: Both amended bills will appear on Calendar and Rules for further consideration; the committee did not enact a final statewide protocol but established statutory parameters and disqualifying criteria for honors.