AT THE CAPITOL
The 2022 Legislative session ended on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. The next session will commence on January 4, 2023 with new leadership and new committee chairs.
There will be a senate session some time in June to bid farewell to the seven senators out of 36 in the circle who are not running for office in the fall. This provides an opportunity for family and friends to attend this send-off. The 15 percent of representatives in the House currently planning not to run in the fall received a video farewell last week.
Both the Democrats and Republicans endorsed candidates for the August primary at their conventions last weekend. More information about the primary will be forthcoming throughout the next few months.
The CBA will once again be involved in the Secretary’s Legal Assistance Program, whereby our attorneys will be trained to be on call to lend support with any conflicts at the polling stations.
RULES COMMITTEE
The final Rules Committee meeting of the year was held on Monday May 9. It was preceded by the annual public hearing that offers the opportunity for the public to sign up and comment on issues that have been placed on the agenda. These items will be approved or rejected at the final Rules Committee meeting and then brought to the judges annual meeting in June for approval. The approved items will then be placed in the January 2023 Practice Book.
LEGISLATION
There will be an upcoming summary of legislation distributed to our section chairs and legislative liaisons, who will distribute it to their section members.
During the last week of the session, there were bills that were approved in only one chamber, other bills that were referred to committee, some that were included within the Budget Implementer or other bills, and some that just died.
Bills concerning digital assets, non-compete, aid in dying, dissolution of marriage, and false claims never received approval in chambers and will return next year with work taking place during the off session for their 2023 approval. Legislation that was approved in both chambers included clean air, climate change, Juvenile Justice, Childhood mental health, and captive audience.
Remote notarization passed the Senate, but when it got to the House the branch notified that there was a separation of powers, and the Judiciary chairs stated that remote notarization was uniformly under the cognizance of the Judiciary and not the Commerce committee.
For five years, the probate administrator, CBA Real Property and Estates and Probate Sections, and the Department of Revenue Services have been working on legislation regarding real property subject to liens for unpaid probate fees. This legislation was finally passed by both chambers.
The Court Ops bill that was passed included legislation for interstate depositions and the extended enactment of the Commercial Real Estate Receivership Act.
Additional stipulations were added to the sale of cannabis, disallowing gifting to attendees at grey market fairs and limiting public advertising.