Commentary: Questions for State House Representative Jacque Phillips

HD-31 State House Representative Jacque Phillips (D) spoke at the 6/10 Thornton City Council meeting’s audience participation.

She urged constituents to give her input before proposed legislation gets to her committees (Education and Transportation, Housing & Local Government):

It’s important, if you’re watching legislation or you have concerns when we get back in session in January, if you can come to me before committee. That’s super helpful because then we can do amendments in committee (49:00).

Why is she making this request?

Beyond the stated rationale of offering amendments, this request may be in response to the defeat of HB25-1142, which died after negative committee testimony that apparently surprised Phillips.

Whatever the reasoning, the request raises several questions:

• Where will Phillips be publishing all versions of all legislation that may come before her committees with deadlines for when input is most helpful?
  • As bills are already being drafted by lobbyists, when is the earliest constituents can have access to the draft language?
• How else will Phillips be supporting constituents in learning about proposed legislation on the timeline she proposes?
• How can constituents do this review work in ways respectful of their time given that they lack access to paid lobbyists?
  • What advocacy groups can the representative recommend constituents work with, including groups who might oppose her positions on any given bill?
• If voters do not become aware of a bill until just before a committee hearing, what options do they have for input?
• What is the role of hearing testimony? And how does testimony differ from input constituents should provide before a bill reaches a committee?