I’m old enough to remember when the clock was literally turned back at midnight to provide additional time for the General Assembly to conclude its business on the last day of the session.

      To avoid that time travel, we are now guaranteed a bill hearing if we submit our bill requests to our drafting staff by the close of business today.  The overwhelming majority of House bills will be introduced by the next deadline on February 7, and all of that legislation will have a public hearing by the second week in March.

No matter how well I think I’ve planned ahead, there’s a rush of requests today – seven to be exact.

I realized that I’m old enough not to remember the email address for the bill drafting office.  I had to settle for CtrlC(copy).

In some cases, some of the details of your proposed legislation may be lacking.  So you request that last year’s bill be reintroduced with the intent of making changes to gain support before the bill is introduced.

An advocacy group may be unaware of the deadline.  So at a meeting yesterday, you offer to make a bill request, giving the group the time to find another sponsor who’s on the committee that will hear the bill.

—-

My name will be on one bill that was introduced today.

I am one of 66 co-sponsors of the Governor’s legislation to repeal the death penalty.  As I sought support on the House floor, additional members also indicated they would vote yes but not co-sponsor.

We have the votes for passage.