Senate Business, Financial Services, and Trade Committee Guidelines, 2025 Legislative Session

Summary

Guidelines of the Senate Business, Financial Services, and Trade Committee for the 2025 Legislative Session. The committee meets in hybrid mode, and under Senate rules the Chair must participate in person while other members may participate remotely. The "5-day" Notice Rule requires five days' notice for hearings on a bill, and a majority of the members present may waive it in limited cases. The public may sign up to testify through the Committee Sign-In (CSI) system up to one hour before a meeting. Amendments must be in writing, sponsored by a Committee member, and submitted to Committee staff by noon the day before an executive session.

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           Senate Business, Financial Services, and Trade Committee
                                Guidelines 2025 Legislative Session
Public Hearings & Work Sessions
The committee will be meeting in hybrid mode. Per Senate rules, the Chair is
required to participate in- person. Other committee members may participate in
committee meeting remotely.
Requests for hearings on bills or work sessions should be made to the Chair and
committee coordinator in electronic form as early as possible for the purposes of
tracking requests.
The “5-day” Notice Rule requires the Committee to provide five days’ notice for
hearings on a bill. The rule may be waived in limited cases, such as approaching
cutoff dates, by a majority of the members present.
Agendas will be adhered to except in extenuating circumstances.
Testimony. Members of the public (remote or in-person) wishing to testify may
sign up remotely through the "Committee Sign-In" (CSI) system up to one hour
before the Committee is scheduled to meet. The deadline for the public to sign up
for providing testimony will be at 7 AM for 8 AM hearings.
Work Sessions are conducted to learn about a subject area from invited guests.
The Chair will attempt to maintain an environment where a free flow of ideas can
occur.
Public Hearings are used to gather testimony from the public on a bill, resolution,
or memorial. This is not the appropriate time for member comments and
statements regarding a measure.
Adjournment. Committee hearings shall adjourn as close to on-time as possible
so that SCS staff and LEG-TECH have enough time to setup for the next meeting
in the hearing room. It takes 30 minutes to setup the logistics for each
committee hearing.
Executive Session
Executive Sessions are held for members to vote on a bill, resolution, memorial, or
appointment. This is the appropriate time for member comments and statements
regarding a measure or appointment. As a general practice, executive action will
not be taken on bills at the first hearing. Per Senate Rule, executive sessions will
be posted by 4 PM two days preceding executive session (unless waived by the
Chair & Ranking Member "in extraordinary circumstances").
Bill amendments must be in writing and standard form. Amendments must be
sponsored by a Committee member. Amendment requests shall be submitted to
Committee staff by noon the day before an executive session. Amendments will
be placed in the books by 4:00pm the day before the executive session (unless
waived by the Chair & Ranking Member "in extraordinary circumstances").
Committee staff shall only draft amendments upon the request of a member.
Per Senate rules, committee voting will be done “subject to signatures”. If, after
executive session on a measure, the signatures of all members are not included on
either a majority or minority report, the committee coordinator shall hold the
signature sheets for 24 hours. This 24-hour hold applies even if a
majority of the members of the committee has signed the majority report.
Members shall make an appointment within that 24 hour period with the
committee coordinator if they want to sign the boards.
Rulings on parliamentary procedure will be made by the Chair.
Staff Workload Management
The primary responsibility of Committee staff is the Committee business under
the direction of the Chair.
The second responsibility of Committee staff is to meet the needs of

Committee members. The third responsibility of Committee staff is to

meet the needs of other members.

The committee coordinator is responsible for staff assignments when not
specifically made under direction of the Chair.
Confidentiality issues are governed by Senate Committee Services procedures.
Respect of members, staff, guests, & public
Respect for all who are participating in committee business should be evident at
all times. Staff members are an important and valued part of state government
and the legislative process. Non- employees appear often at great sacrifice to
themselves.
A time for questions, not statements: During work sessions and public hearings,
long statements of one’s personal position on an issue should not be allowed.
Most often it is difficult to allow adequate time for testimony by those who wish
to be heard. Members should be prepared to ask questions to learn more about
the subject. This is not the appropriate time for statements from members.
Statements by individual Committee members do not represent the policies or
positions of the Committee or the Legislature.
Debate: Debate on policy issues between members shall occur during executive
session, not while people are attempting to provide testimony.
Problems: Personal problems with individuals should be solved one-on-one
outside of committee hearings with other members of the Committee and those
who appear before the Committee.
Code of Conduct. The Committee will abide by the Senate's Policy on Appropriate
Workplace Conduct.


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