A day in the life of a Legislator During Session
Preparation for the day begins by arriving at the Capitol at approximately 7:00 AM. At that time electronic and written mail is reviewed along with any telephone messages. This is also time to review legislation coming before the committees and to the floor of the House.
Morning Committees begin at 8:00 or 9:00. The morning committees are: Appropriations, Education, Health and Welfare, Revenue and Taxation, and State Affairs. Every legislator has an assigned morning committee.
The House goes into Session for floor action at 11:00 by rule unless otherwise approved by the body and finishes between 12:00 and 12:30. Toward the end of the session, floor action will begin earlier and go later. After calling the House to order, the order of business for the House is as follows:
- Roll Call.
- Prayer by the Chaplain, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Approval of Journal.
- Consideration of messages from the Governor and the Senate.
- Report of standing committees.
- Report of select committees.
- Motions, memorials and resolutions.
- Introduction, first reading and reference of bills and joint resolutions.
- First reading of engrossed bills.
- Second reading of bills and joint resolutions.
- Thierd reading of bills and joint resolutions.
- Consideration of general orders.
- Miscellaneous and unfinished business.
- Presentation of petitions and communications.
- Announcements
- Adjournment
The afternoon committees begin their meetings at 1:30 PM in the following order:
Agricultural Affairs, even days
Business, odd days
Commerce & Human Resources, odd days
Environment, Energy, & Technology, even days
Judiciary, Rules, & Administration, odd days
Local Government, even days
Resources & Conservation, odd days
Transportation & Defense, even days
Ways and Means, on call
The afternoon committees finish between 3:00 and 4:00.
At the end of the afternoon committees, again electronic and written mail is reviewed along with any telephone messages. Throughout the day between morning committees, lunch and after afternoon committees, meetings are scheduled with constituents. This is also time to review legislation coming before the committees and to the floor of the House.