Legislative regular session through Apr. 27, 2013

Note: For those unfamiliar with the process, a legislative committee may “hear” a bill by deferring it to a future session. Thus, it may consider the bill later and take some kind of action on it then. This also applies when the author voluntarily defers the bill, because it theoretically could be brought back up later, or when there is action taken upon but no formal resolution to a bill, as occurred this week with SB 153. Finally, even when a bill is approved by a committee, rules or a preference to have another referral may send it to another committee instead of to the chamber floor.

Also, during the session sometimes “substitute” bills are filed, as noted in last week’s post. This occurs when a previously-introduced bill is changes substantially, which effectively negates the previous bill. For example, HB 21 has been substituted for by HB 717 in this session.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 717 with major amendment passed the House; SB 20 with minor amendment passed Senate committee; SB 118 with major amendment passed the Senate.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 110 was involuntarily deferred; HB 160 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 206 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 215 with major amendment passed Senate committee.

SCORECARD

Total number of bills, House: 720; total number of bills, Senate: 258.

Total number of good bills, House: 51; total number of good bills, Senate: 15.

Total number of bad bills, House: 53; total number of bad bills, Senate: 12.

Total House good bills heard in House committee: 18; total Senate good bills heard in Senate committee: 5.

Total House bad bills heard in House committee: 21; total Senate bad bills heard in Senate committee: 4.

Total House good bills passed by House committee: 2; total Senate good bills passed by Senate committee: 4.

Total House bad bills passed by House committee: 2; total Senate bad bills passed by Senate committee: 1.

Total House good bills approved by House: 1; total Senate good bills approved by Senate: 1.

Total House bad bills approved by House: 0; total Senate bad bills approved by Senate: 0.

Total House good bills heard in Senate committee: 0; total Senate good bills heard in House committee: 0.

Total House bad bills heard in Senate committee: 0; total Senate bad bills heard in House committee: 0.

Total House good bills approved by Senate committee: 0; total Senate good bills approved by House committee: 0.

Total House bad bills approved by Senate committee: 0; total Senate bad bills approved by House committee: 0.

Total House good bills approved by Senate: 0; total Senate good bills approved by House: 0.

Total House bad bills approved by Senate: 0; total Senate bad bills approved by House: 0.

Total House good bills going to governor: 0; total Senate good bills going to governor: 0.

Total House bad bills going to governor: 0; total Senate bad bills going to governor: 0.

Total House good bills signed by governor/filed with Secretary of State: 0; total Senate good bills signed by governor/filed with Secretary of State: 0.

Total House bad bills signed by governor/filed with Secretary of State: 0; total Senate bad bills signed by governor/filed with Secretary of State: 0.