I wrote last night that one bill that would open conference committees and other legislative meetings to the public was scheduled but not being heard on the Senate floor. Meanwhile, a similar bill is getting a hearing this morning in the Senate Rules Committee.
House Bill 393, sponsored by Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, is being considered by the committee right now. The meeting isn’t being webcast, so I can’t tell you what’s happening there, but I can tell you that at least one other journalist is attending the meeting. More on Cervantes’ bill later.
Meanwhile, a mirror of the Cervantes bill, Senate Bill 737, sponsored by Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, is No. 6 on the agenda for today’s Senate floor session. When or if the bill is brought up for debate is solely in the hands of Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, who opposes opening conference committees to the public.
Cervantes’ bill is currently scheduled to head to the Senate Judiciary Committee — if the Rules Committee OKs it — before it could reach the Senate floor. That could change if a motion is made on the Senate floor to bypass the Judiciary Committee.