The cold winds of January may be some 4 1/2 months away, but that hasn't stopped some lawmakers from getting a jump on the 1990 legislative session.
The 1990 session is scheduled to begin Jan. 9, but already some 22 bills have been prefiled, as have another three resolutions.Representatives have a wide lead over their Senate counterparts, having prefiled 20 of the 22 bills, and two of the three resolutions.
The bills, almost evenly split between Republican and Democratic sponsors, reflect a broad mix of new ideas and old.
Among the prefiled bills:
- HB1, which would require registration and financial disclosures for those supporting or opposing ballot propositions.
- HB5, which would create a "Suggestion Award Program" to encourage cost-saving suggestions in state government.
- HB7, which would increase the penalty for driving a vehicle without insurance from a Class B to a Class A misdemeanor.
- HB6, which would provide for a state minimum wage in line with the federal minimum wage standard in those cases where the federal law does not apply.
- HB12, which would create a non-partisan reapportionment commission.
- HB13, which changes the amount charged for drivers' licenses.
- HB15, which would require all homeowners and landlords to install smoke detectors in residences.
- HB17, which allows for the removal of county sheriffs from office upon their conviction on misdemeanors.
- HB18, which requires legislative approval before a radioactive waste treatment or disposal facility can be built.
- HB19, which allows an income tax credit of $50 for couples married for five years and $100 for couples married more than five years.
- HJR2, which would change the starting date of the Legislature from the second Monday in January to the fourth Monday in January.
- SB1, which would require political candidates to remove campaign signs within 15 days of the general election.