09 April 2016

Regular legislative session through Apr. 9, 2016

Filing of bills finally has ended, with a final batch of the good and bad:

THE GOOD: HB 977 by Rep. Rick Edmonds brings greater flexibility to the state’s voucher program; HB 986 by Rep. John Schroder would eliminate certain statutory dedications and funds; HB 1005 by Rep. Tom Willmott would encourage more efficient use of agency resources; HB 1019 by Edmonds would protect the unborn from being killed due to genetic malformation; HB 1021 by Edmonds would require voter approval before initiation of camera traffic enforcement; HB 1075 by  Rep. Steve Carter would create more informative accountability grades for school districts; HB 1081 by Rep. Mike Johnson would outlaw a gruesome form of abortion; HB 1091 by Rep. Barry Ivey would reintroduce closed primary elections for Congress; HB 1095 by Rep. Alan Seabaugh would have the state join an effort to reduce federal government deficit spending; SB 406 by Sen. Eddie Lambert would bring more stability to indigent defense funding (similar bill: SB 418); SB 416 by Sen. Jack Donahue would apportion more accurately costs of operating special funds; SB 417 by Donahue would establish a rolling sunset for many statutory dedications; SB 446 by Sen. Sharon Hewitt would prod towards restructuring higher education; SB 452 by Sen. Bodi White would increase flexibility of local education employers in offering retirement benefits; HB 466 by Hewitt would facilitate restructuring state health care.

THE BAD: HB 971 by Steve Carter meddles too intrusively and selectively in collegiate athletic scheduling; HB 985 by Schroder could cost the state more in its Taylor Opportunity Programs for Students; HB 1023 by Rep. Kenny Havard would weaken needlessly education accountability standards; HB 1045 by Rep. Dustin Miller overregulates teacher pay policies; HB 1079 by Rep. Dee Richard would cause greater potential voter confusion; HB 1102 by Rep. Stuart Bishop would allow the state to enforce surrogate motherhood contracts; HB 1112 by Rep. Ted James would legalize cannabis medical use even as it scientifically offers almost no significant benefits; SB 393 by Sen. Troy Carter would call an elitist and unduly restricted constitutional convention; SB 401 by Sen. Ryan Gatti would put civil jury trials even more out of reach by raising the nation’s highest threshold even more; SB 433 by Sen. JP Morrell would limit the effectiveness of the State Bond Commission; SB 436 by Carter would implement overly intrusive and unnecessary employment regulations; SB 438 by Sen. Karen Peterson would enable government unionization at taxpayer expense; SB 449 by Sen. Wesley Bishop would restrict unduly options for government contractors.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 386 passed the House; HB 587 was deferred involuntarily; HB 842 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 89 passed Senate committee; SB 174 passed Senate committee; SB 245 was deferred involuntarily; SB 329 passed Senate committee.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 7 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 109 with minor amendment passed the House.

SCORECARD:
Total number of bills, House: 1136; total number of bills, Senate: 469.

Total number of good bills, House: 85; total number of good bills, Senate: 32.

Total number of bad bills, House: 67; total number of bad bills, Senate: 26.

Total House good bills heard in House committee: 23; total Senate good bills heard in Senate committee: 13.

Total House bad bills heard in House committee: 13; total Senate bad bills heard in Senate committee: 5.

Total House good bills passed by House committee: 7; total Senate good bills passed by Senate committee: 4.

Total House bad bills passed by House committee: 3; total Senate bad bills passed by Senate committee: 3.

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

Total House bad bills approved by House: 2; 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.

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