This article has been updated.
Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, just said on the Senate floor that he plans for a debate tonight on one of the bills that would open conference committees and other legislative meetings to the public.
There has been talk all day about whether House Bill 393, sponsored by Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, or Senate Bill 737, sponsored by Sen. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, will be brought up for consideration. The identical bills have both made it to the Senate floor. Cervantes’ has already passed the House.
Early today, Sanchez called Feldman’s bill up for debate, but she asked for a delay, saying she wants the Senate to vote on Cervantes’ bill instead. Approval of Cervantes’ bill would send the proposal directly to the governor, while Feldman’s bill, if approved by the Senate, would have to go first to the House.
“I want to have Senator Feldman’s bill or whatever other bill might be coming down as one of those bills heard,” Sanchez said moments ago about tonight’s floor session.
Conference committees are groups of usually of three House members and three Senate members who are tasked with reconciling differences between versions bills that have passed both chambers.
In addition to opening conference committees to the public, the Feldman and Cervantes bills would open many other currently closed legislative meetings, including executive sessions of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee. Exempt from having to be open under the proposal would be investigative or quasi-judicial meetings — such as impeachment proceedings — and political party caucus meetings.
It’s worth noting that Sanchez said the same thing yesterday — that the proposal would “probably” be debated last night — and it didn’t happen.
Update, 4 p.m.
The Senate has recessed for committee hearings. Sanchez says the Senate will reconvene between 6:30 and 7 p.m.