Committee votes 4–2 to permanently authorize aide access badges with tighter controls requested

Madam Chief Clerk presented results from the aide badge pilot: of 101 House aides listed, 33 were recorded as having accessed the building between 5 PM and 7 AM or on weekends; for Senate aides the number was three of 51. Clerks said CSP'provided counts of unique users (not the number of accesses) and could not always determine whether an access occurred while the building was closed without correlating committee schedules. Clerks also described changes to the acknowledgment form requiring legislator approval before issuing a badge and urged prompt notice when aides off‑board so badges can be returned and deactivated.

Mister President moved to permanently authorize security badges for legislative aides, with immediate access authorized for aides working for members of the joint budget committee. Senators Simpson and Caldwell expressed concern that the program increases access and poses risks if badges are not deactivated when staff turnover occurs. Madam Chief Clerk said CSP reported no inappropriate access incidents in the interim. The roll call vote was 4 in favor and 2 opposed; the committee adopted the permanent authorization while emphasizing improved member notification and controls on issuance.

"I just not sure, this is worth the risk that we expose ourselves to potentially," Senator Simpson said, urging caution on broad access. Chief Clerk staff noted they revised the acknowledgment form to require managing‑legislator approval for badge issuance.