House, Senate leaders set 2020 committee deadlines

Legislators and the public officially know the timeline for getting bills through the committee process during the 2020 session.

House and Senate leaders have agreed on the following dates:

• Friday, March 13 — Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin.
• Friday, March 20 — Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body.
• Friday, April 3 — Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.

Per House Rule 2.03, the deadlines do not apply to the House Capital Investment Division; the House Taxes, Ways and Means, or Rules and Legislative Administration committees; nor the Senate Capital Investment, Finance, Taxes or Rules and Administration committees.

The final deadline comes a day before annual Easter/Passover break that is scheduled to begin Saturday, April 4, and go through Monday, April 13.

The 2020 session is scheduled to begin Feb. 11. The Legislature must complete its work by May 18.