May
21
Written by:
Mark Lavergne
5/21/2011 12:31 PM
Both chambers took major steps toward avoiding a special session today.
Almost simultaneously, the House passed the map that redraws Senate District lines, and the Senate passed the map that redraws the House District lines. The House approved Senate redistricting 96-47, and the Senate approved House redistricting 25-6.
Moments later, the House finally passed SB 1811, the fiscal matters bill that was crucial to make the budget agreement work. Many amendments were offered to the bill, but few managed to attach. At any rate, Pitts will have the opportunity to remove amendments he considers extraneous once the bill goes to conference.
The last major hurdle is for the House to pass a school finance bill, which was popped on a point of order May 19 and then sent back to the Senate yesterday, May 20. By the end of the day yesterday, the bill was reported out of the House Public Education Committee. The Senate removed language that allowed for the carry of concealed firearms in university buildings before sending it back to the House.