There’s quite a crowd of lawmakers on the dais in the Lincoln Auditorium this morning for the joint House-Senate Education committees hearing on SB 1199; here, they’re gathering for the 8 a.m. hearing. “Committees, this is a little different procedure,” Senate Education Chairman John Goedde said. “We’re operating individually at the same time in this proceeding. So at the end … when it’s necessary to take up the bill, we can dismiss the House, they will adjourn, and we can do the business before us.”

House Education Chairman Reed DeMordaunt said, “So this is our public hearing on SB 1199. However, we will not and cannot vote on this piece of legislation; it will need to make its way through the process. And when we see it at the House, at that point in time, we will convene our committee and take the necessary action at that point in time.”