Act on Mass

Amendment 3 is now up for debate. This would give reps 48 hours to read a bill before voting on it. This is just shy of our demands, found in Amendment 17, which would require 72 hours.

Rep. Peake argues that this would stifle the progress of important bills, and raises the example of the ROE Act, which was watered down & only passed after years of advocacy. Also, abortion is not just a women's issue. Please use gender-inclusive language next time, Rep!

There are over 700 days in a legislative session. If Rep. Peake is so concerned about good bills being left in the "dust bin" at the end of the session, perhaps committees should release these bills with more than 1 day left in the session.

After months of closed-door deliberation, what is the rush to limit the amount of time the public has to respond to our bills before we take a vote?

Rep Balser is speaking against having 48 hours to read a bill, making reference to emergency bills that needed to be passed in less than 24 hours. Luckily, as @erika4rep clarified, this amendment has a provision that allows it to be waived with 2/3 vote!

Rep. Uyterhoeven responds to Rep. Balser, clarifying that any bill with a veto-proof majority, like the ROE Act, would be able to waive the 48 hour requirement.