Legislative regular session through Apr. 7, 2018

Bill filing has come to a halt, and with that a blizzard of last-minute filings. Also, HB 79 was amended to broaden it in a constructive way, leading to dropping it from the list of bad bills.

THE GOOD: HB 793 by Rep. Steve Carter would discourage hazing at public colleges; HB 825 by Rep. Polly Thomas would ease unnecessary occupational licensing (similar bill: SB 504); HB 830 by Rep. Julie Stokes would reduce the incidence of human trafficking problems; HB 836 by Rep. Julie Emerson would increase Second Amendment rights on college campuses; HB 881 by Rep. Dustin Miller would reduce privileging of those who smoke in public; HB 891 by Rep. Frank Hoffman would prevent abortion providers from funneling indirectly public dollars to the practice; SB 522 by Sen. Dan Claitor would provide improved crime deterrence and restorative justice; SB 531 by Sen. John Milkovich would create a fairer reimbursement methodology for nursing homes; SB 534 by Milkovich would discourage coerced abortions.

THE BAD: HB 795 by Rep. Gary Carter would increase the chances of election fraud; HB 805 by Rep. Robert Johnson would reveal too intrusively taxpayer records; HB 809 by Rep. Ted James would increase needlessly taxpayer expenditures on corrections; HB 823 by Rep. Tanner Magee would remove an oversight opportunity from the medical marijuana program (similar bill: HB 827); HB 852 by Gary Carter would place needlessly onerous regulation on Second Amendment rights; HB 858 by Rep. Marcus Hunter would expand gambling; SB 516 by Sen. Ed Price would impose needlessly higher labor costs potentially on gaming operations.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 54 passed House committee; HB 78 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 88 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 281 passed the House; HB 413 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 723 passed House committee; HB 727 passed House committee; HB 891 passed House committee;

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 579 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 499 was deferred involuntarily; SB 374 became substituted for SB 558; SB 558 passed Senate committee.

SCORECARD:
Total number of bills, House: 892; total number of bills, Senate: 579.

Total number of good bills, House: 51; total number of good bills, Senate: 26.

Total number of bad bills, House: 35; total number of bad bills, Senate: 44.

Total House good bills heard in House committee: 22; total Senate good bills heard in Senate committee: 12.

Total House bad bills heard in House committee: 10; total Senate bad bills heard in Senate committee: 28.

Total House good bills passed by House committee: 12; total Senate good bills passed by Senate committee: 7.

Total House bad bills passed by House committee: 2; total Senate bad bills passed by Senate committee: 11.

Total House good bills approved by House: 3; total Senate good bills approved by Senate: 3.

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.