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Bill Summary · SB 31

SB 31 — "The Wells Act"

Status: Withdrawn from Committee
Introduced: August 15, 2025
Subjects: Authorities; Boards; Commissions; Committees; General Assembly; Legislative Library; Public Reports; Studies; Task Forces

Main purpose

To identify and accelerate repeal of inactive, nonresponsive, or obsolete state-level boards, committees, and commissions by requiring the Legislative Library to audit their activity and send a compiled list to the Joint Legislative Administrative Procedure Oversight Committee for repeal recommendations.

Key provisions

  • Directs the Legislative Library to send a standardized request for documentation and confirmation of activity to all state boards, committees, and commissions that remain on the books and have not already expired or been repealed.
  • Specifies the documentation to be requested:
    • Current membership roster
    • Most recent meeting minutes
    • Current bylaws
    • List of entities to which the board/committee/commission reports
  • Sets a 120‑day response window.
  • If an entity (a) fails to respond within 120 days, or (b) responds but has not met in the prior 12 months, the Legislative Library will add it to a compiled list of nonresponsive/inactive entities.
  • Directs the Joint Legislative Administrative Procedure Oversight Committee to receive that list and prepare legislation to repeal the listed entities; that legislation is to be recommended to the next Regular Session of the General Assembly (the bill directs recommendation for the 2026 session).
  • Effective date: upon becoming law (no delayed implementation language in the bill text).

Who would be affected

  • All non-expired state boards, commissions, task forces and committees that are required to report to the legislature or state agencies.
  • The Legislative Library (responsible for outreach and compiling responses).
  • The Joint Legislative Administrative Procedure Oversight Committee (charged with reviewing the list and preparing repeal bills).
  • Potentially affected boards/commissions that fail to respond or have not met in 12 months — they would be subject to legislative repeal.

Procedural/timeline notes & likely impacts

  • The 120‑day response deadline and the 12‑month meeting test create a clear administrative pathway to identify inactive bodies.
  • Administrative workload will increase for the Legislative Library (issuing requests, tracking replies, compiling the list); the bill does not specify funding or staffing changes.
  • Financial impact is likely minimal but could require modest staff time.
  • Policy impact: streamlines government oversight by removing dormant entities, increases transparency, and reduces statutory clutter; critics may note risk of inadvertent repeal of low‑activity but still necessary bodies if outreach or review is incomplete.
  • Current status (per bill metadata provided): Withdrawn from committee after introduction on August 15, 2025.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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