Committee deadlines likely to be pushed back in bid for more time

Committees, divisions and subcommittees may get an extra week to finish their work.

The House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee amended — then approved — a concurrent resolution Tuesday to establish committee deadlines for the 2020 session.

As amended, the first and second committee deadlines would be pushed back one week to March 20 and March 27.

“[The change would] give committees a little bit more time to operate given some of the time constraints at the beginning of session,” said House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler (DFL-Golden Valley), the committee chair.

The amended resolution must be officially adopted by both bodies; that is likely to happen later this week. Following the meeting, Winkler said Senate leadership is on board with the changes.

Presuming the changes are passed by each body, the 2020 deadlines would be:

• Friday, March 20 — Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin.
• Friday, March 27 — 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 Legislature must complete its work by May 18.