Joint Order, To Amend Joint Rule 308 To Allow Referencing Of Bills By The Secretary Of The Senate And The Clerk Of The House At All Times

This bill amends Maine's Joint Rule 308 to allow the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House to refer bills to committees at any time, including when the Legislature is not in session. It clarifies the process for resolving disagreements between the Secretary and Clerk - escalating to the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and then the Legislative Council if needed. The rule also permits committees to recommend changing a reference before a public hearing if committee chairs and leads disagree on the assignment. This change streamlines the initial committee assignment process, affecting how bills are organized for review by the Legislature.