West Central Reporter

The following actions were taken on March 29 in the House on House bill HB1491 ("st capitol president statues"): "House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee" and "Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee".

The Rules Committees is a powerful standing committee in the House controlled by the majority. All legislation is assigned to the Rules Committee as a kind of legislative filter that sorts the more-than-6,000 bills introduced each year. The committee considers the legislation and often assigns it to other committees in order to be heard by other lawmakers. Sometimes, legislation dies in the Rules Committee if the committee decides it does not merit further consideration.

In the event that a committee fails to report to the House on a bill by applicable deadlines, it is automatically re-referred to the Rules Committee according to House rule 19(a). This is what happened with this bill.

The bill, as it was introduced in the House by Rep. Thomas M. Bennett (R-106) on Jan. 29, "amends the Legislative Commission Reorganization Act of 1984" and "provides for the acquisition and placement of statues depicting President Ronald W," according to the General Assembly website.

The following house representatives also co-sponsored the bill: Jaime M. Andrade, Jr. (D-40), Darren Bailey (R-109), Dan Brady (R-105), Kambium Buckner (D-26), Kelly M. Burke (D-36), Tim Butler (R-87), Kelly M. Cassidy (D-14), Dan Caulkins (R-101), Deb Conroy (D-46), C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-100), Tom Demmer (R-90), Mary Edly-Allen (D-51), Marcus C. Evans, Jr. (D-33), Mary E. Flowers (D-31), Robyn Gabel (D-18), LaToya Greenwood (D-114), Brad Halbrook (R-102), Norine K. Hammond (R-93), Sonya M. Harper (D-6), Jeff Keicher (R-70), Michael T. Marron (R-104), Margo McDermed (R-37), Debbie Meyers-Martin (D-38), Martin J. Moylan (D-55), Mike Murphy (R-99), Michelle Mussman (D-56), Lindsay Parkhurst (R-79), Steven Reick (R-63), Nicholas K. Smith (D-34), Keith P. Sommer (R-88), Joe Sosnowski (R-69), Ryan Spain (R-73), Karina Villa (D-49), Celina Villanueva (D-21), Emanuel Chris Welch (D-7), Blaine Wilhour (R-107) and Ann M. Williams (D-11).

The table below shows a history of actions for this bill through March 29.