The State and Local Government Committee gave House Bill 1063 a do‑pass recommendation after adopting an emergency‑clause amendment and voting to advance the bill.

Sherry Haugen Hufford, a commissioner at the Public Service Commission, said the agency must follow open‑meeting rules whenever two commissioners are in the same location where public business is conducted, which has led to awkward compliance challenges when commissioners simply attend outside meetings. “These meetings are already publicly noticed, video recorded, and well documented, requiring additional notices and minute recordings ... It removes the obligation to post a physical notice at the venue,” Haugen Hufford told the committee.

Nut graf: The bill would retain online notice and filing requirements but remove the obligation to post a physical notice at third‑party venues (for example, federal buildings or hotels) and would exempt attendance at already‑noticed legislative committee hearings from triggering PSC posting obligations. Supporters argued the change reduces redundant administrative steps while preserving transparency through online notices and official minutes.

Committee action and votes

Senator Wallen moved and the committee seconded an emergency‑clause amendment; the clerk recorded the amendment vote as 5‑0‑1. Senator Barbaugh moved a do‑pass as amended; the committee recorded the final vote as 5‑0‑1 and forwarded HB 1063 with the emergency clause.

Details and limits

Haugen Hufford said the commission would continue to post notices online and with the secretary of state; the bill targets situations in which the commission has no control over physical posting at a venue. During questioning, she gave examples such as testimony at civic centers where venue door‑posting policies make compliance impractical. The committee debated whether an emergency clause was necessary; the Public Service Commission staff said an emergency clause was not required but would not harm operations.

Ending: The committee’s action sends HB 1063 to the next stage with an emergency clause; staff and sponsors signaled readiness to refine implementation details if floor debate requires it.