Lawmakers crossed the deadline for hearing bills and joint resolutions in committees of their chamber of origin Thursday and Friday, cutting the number of measures from over 2,100 to just over 900.
By Jan. 22’s deadline for filing bills and joint resolutions to be heard during the 2015 legislative session, representatives filed a total of 1,233 measures and senators filed 828.
Members of the Senate have filed an additional 14 measures under a provision in Senate Rules that permit bills to be filed at anytime. One Senate bill – SB0820 – was filed under the auspices of the Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget. Bills filed for consideration by the joint committee also are exempt from the usual legislative deadlines.
After the deadline for bills and joint resolutions to be heard in committee of their chamber of origin, 458 House measures remain alive and 390 Senate measures filed before Jan. 22 have the possibility of being heard on the floor.
With some exceptions, bills passed on to the floor of a respective chamber must be dealt with by March 12 in order to be passed on to the other chamber for further consideration.
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