Sonnenberg, Pelton look back at a legislative session unlike any other

The 2020 Legislature session that ended on June 15 was unlike any other, and not in a good way.

In the session’s final three weeks, 67 bills were introduced in the House and 20 in the Senate. The House’s list included 42 bills tied to the 2020-21 budget plus the School Finance Act.

That meant a lot of rushing, and it did not sit well with state Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg of Sterling. He pointed out that one measure was introduced at 7:45 p.m. one evening, was through its only committee hearing by 8:15 p.m. and had a preliminary vote by 8:30 p.m. That measure, Senate Bill 224, was to prohibit landlords from disclosing a tenant’s immigration status.

Such a process led Sonnenberg to question, “Why the rush?” That day, June 10, was the 79th day of a session that could have gone on for another couple of weeks and would have allowed time for the public to weigh in, Sonnenberg explained.

“The public doesn’t have the opportunity to testify on bills” with a process like this, Sonnenberg said.

“That is no way for a legislature to act. It’s inappropriate to shut out the public.” He acknowledged that there were bills that had to be done by July 1, such as the budget and the School Finance Act, but those bills got done. “We can still do good work.”

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