The legislative session is beginning to pick up speed. Committees are still doing invited-testimony-only orientation sessions on particular issues. And the two chambers are not yet meeting every work day. But the Joint Ways & Means tour on the 2017-19 budget is closing out. And bills are beginning to be acted on by committees in work sessions.

Consider this – in tracking terms – as entering the firsts curve and beginning to stretch the stride.

As a result, you will notice in reports from policy team members more news about progress on bills of county interest.

By the way, to date 2,094 bills have been introduced, with the AOC list holding at over 60 percent (1,267). The deadline for members to introduce their bills (there are exceptions to the deadline) is February 28th.

Contributed by: Gil Riddell | AOC Policy Director