How They Voted: Energy and Animal Dissection

The State Legislature has been working almost literally around the clock to finish legislation before their mandated adjournment at midnight on Wednesday night. I will try to report on how our local delegation voted on bills that are in the news, bills that might have a specific impact for our City, or bills that are unusual in some way. All of these illustrate what our representatives believe in (it is, after all, an election year and these things matter).

SB-493 AN ACT REDUCING ELECTRICITY COSTS AND PROMOTING RENEWABLE ENERGY.

This act changes the regulation of the supply and sale of electricity in the state. It is a large bill, and was intensively lobbied against by electricity providers. The bill was co-sponsored by Representative Gail Hamm. It passed in the House, 81 to 61 (40 absent), and in the Senate 20 to 14 (2 absent). The House vote occurred at 6:01AM on Wednesday.

• Paul Doyle (Senate, D, 9th District): YEA
• Thomas Gaffey (Senate, D, 13th District): YEA

• James O'Rourke (House, D, 32nd district): YEA
• Joseph Serra (House, D, 33rd district): ABSENT
• Gail Hamm (House, D, 34th district): YEA
• Matt Lesser (House, D, 100th district): YEA

HB-5423 AN ACT CONCERNING DISSECTION CHOICE

This act reads: No local or regional school district shall require students raising a conscientious objection to participate in the dissection of any animal as part of classroom instruction, provided the parent or guardian of such student provides written authorization of such objection to the school.

The bill passed in the House by a vote of 81 to 67 (3 absent). The Senate has not taken up the bill.

• James O'Rourke (House, D, 32nd district): YEA
• Joseph Serra (House, D, 33rd district): NAY
• Gail Hamm (House, D, 34th district): YEA
• Matt Lesser (House, D, 100th district): YEA