Leigslative regular session through Apr. 12, 2014

Occasionally, the legislative process will change a bill in such a way that it no longer is good or bad. This happened recently with HB 601, which therefore is removed from the list of bad bills. The process even can take a bill from one status to another, typically in the form of a substitute because the changes can be extensive, as happened to HB 626 when it became HB 1261. Clarifying covered entities made the difference.

THE GOOD: HB 1262 by Rep. Barry Ivey, another substitute bill, would provide information to women that both discourages abortion and encourages beneficial lifestyle changes.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 74 was deferred involuntarily by House committee; HB 225 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 305 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 801 with minor amendment failed to pass the House; HB 1013 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 1075 passed the House; HB 1076 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 1261 passed House committee; SB 553 with minor amendment passed Senate committee.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 111 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 152 was substituted for by HB 1256; HB 246 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 322 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 685 was deferred involuntarily; HB 858 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 1256 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 60 passed the Senate; SB 84 with major amendment passed Senate committee.

SCORECARD:

Total number of bills, House: 1262; total number of bills, Senate: 679.

Total number of good bills, House: 73; total number of good bills, Senate: 34.

Total number of bad bills, House: 105; total number of bad bills, Senate: 33.

Total House good bills heard in House committee: 31; total Senate good bills heard in Senate committee: 11.

Total House bad bills heard in House committee: 34; total Senate bad bills heard in Senate committee: 11.

Total House good bills passed by House committee: 15; total Senate good bills passed by Senate committee: 6.

Total House bad bills passed by House committee: 5; total Senate bad bills passed by Senate committee: 5.

Total House good bills approved by House: 5; total Senate good bills approved by Senate: 4.

Total House bad bills approved by House: 2; total Senate bad bills approved by Senate: 3.

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.