HB20, the bill to require state, county, and municipal elected officials and candidates to disclose details of employment and contracts seems to be making steady progress in the House. Last week, it came through the House Government Operations Committee unscathed. Rep. Lee Fite put an amendment on the bill to include children of elected officials and candidates to the bill. I don’t mind the amendment, as long as it doesn’t lessen its chances for the bill to pass.

During the committee meeting, Rep. Merika Coleman had an excellent idea to include disclosure of employment or contracts with a business that has over 50% of its reciepts from state, county, or city contracts. I am working with her to draft an amendment she can offer on the floor that would incorporate this into the legislation. I am hopeful that it will show up the Special Order Calendar next week and pass out of the House.

Sen. Orr made an attempt to move the companion bill, SB210 in the Senate, today. Although I believe the bill got a fair hearing, there were some questions that needed to be cleared up with members of the committee. Because there was a large number of bills on the committee calendar, the bill was carried over, with assurances from the Chairman Sen. Wendell Mitchell that the bill would be brought up again. Before the bill was carried over, Sen. Penn added an amendment similar to Rep. Fite’s House amendment to require elected officials and candidates to include similar employment and contracts of their children in the bill.

I know I’m probably being overly optimistic, but I think there’s a slim chance this bill could pass this year or next year or the next year or someday, if I survive long enough.