Blog

This Tuesday marked a major deadline in the legislature. All bills that were not passed by committee on Tuesday were declared dead for this session. The majority of bills introduced died this week. You can view the list of all bills that survived here.

The House spent most of this week debating and voting on bills before the entire House. We passed several dozen measures this week. Here are a few highlights:

• Increasing Efficiency in Government: I was happy to present HB 736 to the House this week. This bill aims to increase efficiency in state government by requiring that state agencies consider state-owned property before leasing private office space. It also requires that an efficiency study examine how existing offices can be combined and reduced to save taxpayer dollars.

• Workforce Development: Three important measures passed the House this week that will help better equip our state’s workforce. HB 1175 requires occupational licensing boards to review existing regulations that make it more difficult for people to earn a living. HB 175 and 387 reduce barriers to reentry for individuals leaving state prisons and remove restrictions that make it more difficult for these people to find honest work.

• Mental Health Courts: Last year, the legislature authorized a pilot program for mental health courts. These are intended to help divert individuals from the criminal justice system who can be better served with treatment. HB 419 expands this pilot program statewide, allowing more options for individuals to get access to needed treatment.

• Right to Life: HB 1510 protects the right to life by preventing abortions after the 15^th week of pregnancy. The bill is aimed at protecting the rights of unborn children while balancing the health interests of the mother.

As always, you can see every bill that the House voted on this week, along with a short explanation of what each bill does and how I voted, on my weekly vote post here.

Next week, the House and Senate will work to vote on each bill on their calendars prior to Thursday’s deadline. You can view each bill before the House, along with a short explanation and color-coded based on how I’m planning to vote, on my Calendar with Notes page here.

There will be lots of discussion and lively debate around bills next week. Be sure to like my Facebook page, where you can see a live stream of action from the House each day that we’re in session.

Please feel free to email me at [email protected] or give me a call on my cell phone at (601) 207-0813 if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

It’s an honor and a privilege to represent you!