House committee schedule released for 2015-16 biennium

The House will begin session later in the day during the 2015-16 biennium and committees are scheduled to complete their work earlier in the day.

According to the newly released committee schedule, the House plans to meet in session at 3:30 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, 30 minutes later than the current biennium.

The incoming Republican majority has also opted for, at most, four committee blocks per day, with the latest ending at 4:15 p.m. The 2013-14 schedule had five blocks on the busiest days with meetings scheduled until 5:30 p.m.

Committee blocks will begin at 8:15 a.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays.

With the exception of the House Ways and Means Committee, no House meetings are scheduled before 12:30 p.m. Monday, and no regularly scheduled meetings are to occur on Friday.

While the number of committee blocks has decreased, the time allotted for each committee meeting will increase. In the current biennium, committee blocks are 90 minutes in length; the new layout extends meeting times by 15 minutes.

Committee names and chairs were announced Nov. 18. Committee membership is traditionally announced in mid-December.