Unicameral Update: And They're Off!
January 09, 2025
Yesterday marked the first day of the 109th Legislature, First Regular Session. Families and friends filled the Legislative Chamber while 16 “new” Senators, one returning former Senator, three appointed Senators winning their first election, and five incumbent Senators who won reelection were sworn in. Yes, that’s a lot of new faces! Following the pomp and circumstances, Senators got down to work electing leadership for the next two years. There weren’t any surprises as Republicans were elected to fill all but one leadership position. Senator McKinney is the lone Democrat committee chair as he retained his leadership role over the Urban Affairs Committee. The most interesting part of the leadership elections was the lack of prior experience held by the majority of those elected to lead committees. Out of the 14 standing committees, only four have their existing chair returning. Three will join their respective committees for the first time as chair.
Once leadership was chosen, the Committee on Committees met to make committee assignments and discussions quickly disintegrated. As you can imagine, there was some partisan politics at play as the Republican majority wanted to make sure that committees reflected the overall make-up of the Legislature with Republicans holding a majority on each committee. After the dust settled this afternoon, only the Urban Affairs Committee will have a majority of Democrats with a four to three split. At the other end of the spectrum, the Agriculture Committee has a seven to one majority of Republicans. If you think everyone is happy with how things ended up, you have another thing coming. . . . I predict we will be hearing about it during floor debate on an almost endless loop.
In happier news, Speaker Arch did confirm a new Legislative Session Calendar that has the 90th day falling on June 9th. If we are at all lucky, we will be done June 2nd (or earlier).
The following are links to both the Calendar and committee assignments.
Today, Speaker Arch released a memo outlining his plan for the Session schedule. Highlights are as follows:
January 10
• Convene at 10:00 a.m.
• Bill introduction
• Adjourn around 11:30 a.m. or when introduced bills have been processed by the Clerk’s office
January 13
• Convene at 1:00 p.m.
• Bill introduction
• Adjourn around 2:15 p.m. or when introduced bills have been processed by the Clerk’s office
January 14
• Convene at 10:00 a.m.
• Bill introduction
• Adjourn around 11:30 a.m. or when introduced bills have been processed by the Clerk’s office
January 15
• Convene at 9:45 a.m.
• Governor Jim Pillen’s State of the State Address—10:00 a.m.
• Bill introduction
• Adjourn around 12:00 p.m. or when introduced bills have been processed by the Clerk’s office
January 16
• Convene at 10:00 a.m.
• Bill introduction
• Adjourn around 11:30 p.m. or when introduced bills have been processed by the Clerk’s office
• (Tentative) Last day to submit bill requests to Revisor of Statutes/Bill Drafting Office (by noon)
January 17
• Convene at 11:00 a.m.
• Bill Introduction
• Adjourn around 12:15 p.m. or when introduced bills have been processed by the Clerk’s office
January 21
• Convene at 10:00 a.m.
• Bill introduction
• Adjourn around 11:30 p.m. or when introduced bills have been processed by the Clerk’s office
January 22
• Convene at 9:00 a.m.
• Last day of bill introduction
• Begin debate of permanent rules
• Adjourn around 12:00 p.m. or when introduced bills have been processed by the Clerk’s office
• First day of public hearings begin at 1:30 p.m.
January 23, 24
• Convene at 9:00 a.m.
• Continue debate of permanent rules, unless adopted earlier
• Public hearings at 1:30 p.m.
January 27
• Convene at 1:00 p.m.
• Check-in Day
• Adjourn by 1:15 p.m.
• Public hearings at 1:30 p.m.
January 28
• Convene at 10:00 a.m.
• Chief Justice Funke’s State of the Judiciary Address—10:15 a.m.
• Adjourn following address
• Public hearings at 1:30 p.m.
January 29
• Convene at 9:00 a.m.
• Begin debate of legislation
• Adjourn around noon
• Public hearings at 1:30
March 13, Prior to Adjournment
• Last day to submit a letter to the Speaker requesting the designation of a bill as a 2025 Speaker priority bill
March 14, Prior to Adjournment
• Deadline for designation of committee and Senator priority bills
March 17, Prior to Adjournment
• Speaker will announce 2025 Speaker priority bills
March 28
• Last day to complete public hearings on introduced bills
March 31
• Full Day floor debate begins
April 22-May 29
• Senators are requested to keep their session day evenings open beginning April 22 and throughout the remainder of the session for extended floor debate. Yes, late nights!!
Senators introduced 81 bills today. We will be reviewing them tonight and you can expect to begin getting your daily and weekly missives from me tomorrow or Saturday!
Have a great evening!
Korby M. Gilbertson
Radcliffe Gilbertson & Brady