The Senate committee voted Monday to approve amendments to Senate Bill 952 and send the measure to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation. The bill and the amendments address how vacancies in the office of United States Senator are filled, clarify special-election timing and prohibit a governor from appointing themselves to a vacant U.S. Senate seat.

Leslie, the committee staff member who summarized the bill, told the panel that the bill “requires the governor to temporarily fill vacancies for The United States Senator by appointment in addition to the current requirement that a vacancy be filled by special election.” Leslie said the dash-1 amendment before the committee clarifies that any special election called to fill a U.S. Senate vacancy “must take place not less than 80 days and not more than 150 days after the vacancy occurred.” Leslie also summarized the dash-2 amendment, which “prohibits the governor from appointing themselves to fill a vacancy for United States Senator.” Staff said neither amendment had a fiscal or revenue impact.

During discussion, Vice Chair Bonham said she opposed the measure as amended, arguing that “who should decide who that next U.S. Senator should be?” and stating, "I just stand firm that it should be the people." Bonham explained concerns about the incumbency advantage that can follow even a temporary appointment.

The committee adopted the dash-1 amendment on a roll call; Senators voting aye included Senator Holden, Senator Manning, Senator Becker, Vice Chair Bonham, and Chair Johnson (aye). The committee then adopted the dash-2 amendment on a roll call; the transcript records ayes including Senator Golden, Senator Manning, Senator Thatcher, Vice Chair Bonham, and Chair Johnson. After brief further discussion, Vice Chair Bonham moved the bill as twice amended to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. A roll call on the final motion recorded ayes from Senator Golden, Senator Manning and Chair Johnson; Senators Sanders and Vice Chair Bonham voted no. Chair Johnson announced that the motion passed and named Senator Galser Brouhin as the bill carrier.

The committee recorded the amendments and the final action in the public record and noted no fiscal impacts for either amendment or for the bill as amended. The session’s debate centered on the balance between temporary executive appointment authority and the democratic preference for election-based selection of federal officeholders.