Last Wednesday, I provided a schedule for the first six days of session and indicated I would provide further guidance once bill introduction was completed. Yesterday was the last day for bill introduction and as of this morning all bills have been referenced to their respective committees. The final referencing report will be read into the record this morning.

Eighty-one bills and 24 constitutional amendments were introduced. A record number of bills introduced for a special session. The Revenue Committee received 68 of those bills and resolutions. Rule 9, which governs special sessions, indicates that all public hearings during a special session must be held within 5 calendar days after the date the bill, resolution, or gubernatorial appointment has been referred to the committee. Pursuant to this rule, committees must complete their public hearings by Sunday, which is the fifth calendar day following today’s referencing report. To comply with this rule, Senator Linehan will be scheduling Revenue Committee hearings on Saturday. We will not be meeting in session on that day and the only activity will be the Revenue Committee’s public hearings.

The next three days (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday) will be check-in days with a start time of 9:00 a.m. to allow the other affected committees to complete their public hearings this week.

On Friday, I will be announcing next week’s schedule to the extent known.