Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 12, 2019 03:39 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Tim Briggs |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Public Hearings for Constitutional Amendments |
| Did you know that a state constitutional amendment can be placed on the ballot for consideration without ANY public hearings? The framers of the constitution had the foresight to recognize that amending the constitution was a responsibility that was not to be undertaken lightly. As such, they required that the proposed changes be considered and adopted in two consecutive sessions of the General Assembly. In addition, the proposed changes are also required to be published in newspapers throughout the state. I believe that we as the General Assembly should be of like mind as the framers of the constitution and recognize the gravity of our responsibility to truly deliberate the implications of changes to this foundational document. As such, I am introducing an amendment to our House Rules to require that a public hearing be held on any proposed change to the constitution prior to consideration of any constitutional amendment. While it may be up for debate whether general legislation passed during the session should or should not receive a public hearing, I firmly believe that any proposed constitutional amendment should receive a hearing. |
Introduced as HR201