The Senate, Thursday, May 15, 1997

The Senate took up 31 bills, listed below by bill.

Journal
Senate Journal 18
Votes Taken
4 roll calls28 voice votes
Cite this page

Granite Record indexes the General Court’s record; it is not that record. Where a citation allows only one source, cite the General Court — every page here links to what it is drawn from. The date below is the day the page was read.

MLA
“The Senate, Thursday, May 15, 1997.” Granite Record, https://graniterecord.org/session/S/1997-05-15. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.
APA
Granite Record. (n.d.). The Senate, Thursday, May 15, 1997. Retrieved 19 Oct. 2026, from https://graniterecord.org/session/S/1997-05-15
Chicago
Granite Record. “The Senate, Thursday, May 15, 1997.” Accessed 19 Oct. 2026. https://graniterecord.org/session/S/1997-05-15.
BibTeX
@misc{session-S-1997-05-15, title = {The Senate, Thursday, May 15, 1997}, howpublished = {Granite Record}, url = {https://graniterecord.org/session/S/1997-05-15}, note = {Accessed 19 Oct. 2026} }

The Senate journal does not record who spoke for or against a motion, so this is the vote record without the debate.

What the Senate Did That Day

The record does not say what order these came in: the journal page is cited on only a few of them, so they are listed by bill.

HB 102-LOCAL (1997)Became Law
relative to school employee background investigations.
Rep. Spear (Straf 5) House Education Senate Education Education - General

Senate Education recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 5–1.

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 8, 1997✓HouseMar 12, 1997✓SenateMay 15, 1997✓GovernorJun 3, 1997✓LawAug 2, 1997
HB 110 (1997)Became Law
relative to the use of and school district liability for the use of district computer systems and networks.
Rep. Thomas (Belk 3) House Education Senate Education Education - General

Senate Education recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 5–1.

Lay on the Table (Set the bill aside)

Motion Passed: Bill Tabled on a voice vote

In the record: Laid on Table

✓IntroducedJan 8, 1997✓HouseFeb 12, 1997✓SenateMay 28, 1997✓GovernorJun 19, 1997✓LawJan 1, 1998
HB 136 (1997)Became Law
relative to the division of fire standards and training and the fire standards and training commission.
Rep. Hunter (Hills 7) House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Senate Executive Departments and Administration recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 8–0.

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 8, 1997✓HouseMar 12, 1997✓SenateMay 15, 1997✓GovernorJun 9, 1997✓LawAug 8, 1997
HB 144-FN (1997)Became Law
relative to cash incentives paid to servants and agents, excluding commission employees, authorized to sell tickets.
Rep. R. Kelley (Hills 18) House Local and Regulated Revenues Senate Ways and Means Gambling

Senate Ways and Means recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 5–0.

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 8, 1997✓HouseMar 26, 1997✓SenateMay 15, 1997✓GovernorJun 9, 1997✓LawAug 8, 1997
HB 201-LOCAL (1997)Became Law
allowing municipalities to apply the amount of a property abatement refund to outstanding taxes owed by the taxpayer and relative to the procedure for adoption and modification of elderly exemptions.
Rep. Noyes (Rock 26) House Local and Regulated Revenues Senate Public Affairs Taxes - Local

Senate Public Affairs recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 7–0.

Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA, Pass the bill with changes)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed with Changes on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓HouseFeb 5, 1997✓SenateMay 15, 1997✓GovernorJun 19, 1997✓Law
HB 229-FN-A-LOCAL (1997)Became Law
establishing a reading recovery training program.
Rep. Guest (Graf 10) House Education Senate Education Education - General

Senate Education recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 4–3.

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed 21–2 on a roll call

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓HouseMar 26, 1997✓SenateMay 22, 1997✓GovernorJun 19, 1997✓LawJul 1, 1997
HB 261 (1997)Became Law
recodifying the insurance laws pertaining to hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, and nonprofit health service corporations (Blue Cross/Blue Shield).
Rep. Hunt (Ches 10) House Commerce Senate Insurance Insurance

Senate Insurance recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 4–0.

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓HouseMar 5, 1997✓SenateMay 15, 1997✓GovernorJun 18, 1997✓LawJan 1, 1998
HB 262-FN-A-LOCAL (1997)Became Law
establishing a committee to oversee a statewide school technology plan.
Rep. Durham (Hills 22) House Education Senate Education Education - General

Senate Education recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 6–1.

Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA, Pass the bill with changes)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed with Changes on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓HouseFeb 19, 1997✓SenateMay 15, 1997✓GovernorJun 18, 1997✓LawAug 17, 1997
HB 289-LOCAL (1997)Became Law
authorizing annual school district meetings to be held at multiple locations, and relative to budgetary official ballot.
Rep. Lamach (Merr 3) House Education Senate Education Education - General

Senate Education recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 6–0.

Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA, Pass the bill with changes)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed with Changes on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓HouseFeb 19, 1997✓SenateMay 15, 1997✓GovernorJun 23, 1997✓LawAug 22, 1997
HB 291 (1997)Became Law
relative to the use of the terms "native," "local," and "our own" when referring to farm products.
Rep. Owen (Merr 6) House Environment and Agriculture Senate Public Affairs Agriculture

Senate Public Affairs recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 7–0.

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓HouseMar 18, 1997✓SenateMay 15, 1997✓GovernorJun 9, 1997✓LawJun 9, 1997
HB 352 (1997)Became Law
modifying the definitions of "agriculture" and "farming" for certain purposes and adding definitions of "short rotation tree fiber farming" and "genetically engineered tree."
Rep. Davis (Coos 1) House Environment and Agriculture Senate Wildlife and Recreation Agriculture

Senate Wildlife and Recreation recommended Re-refer to Committee, 5–1.

Recommit (Send the bill back to committee)

Motion Passed: Sent Back to Committee on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓HouseMar 18, 1997✓SenateMay 28, 1997✓GovernorJun 19, 1997✓LawAug 18, 1997
HB 470 (1997)Died
implementing recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relative to the laws requiring a prescription to possess hypodermic needles and modifying the drug paraphernalia laws applying to syringes.
Rep. Copenhaver (Graf 10) House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Senate Public Institutions, Health and Human Services Public and Mental Health

Senate Public Institutions, Health and Human Services recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 3–2.

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed 16–8 on a roll call

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓HouseMar 18, 1997✕SenateMay 15, 1997Governor✕LawMay 15, 1997
HB 501 (1997)Became Law
including blindness in the special education provisions, and allowing attorneys to act as neutrals in special education dispute resolution.
Rep. McKinley (Straf 2) House Education Senate Education Education - General

Senate Education recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 7–0.

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓HouseMar 26, 1997✓SenateMay 15, 1997✓GovernorJun 3, 1997✓LawAug 2, 1997
HB 51-FN-A (1997)Became Law
extending the temporary tax rates of the meals and rooms tax, communications services tax, and real estate transfer tax through the biennium ending June 30, 1999.
Rep. Burling (Sull 1) House Finance Senate Ways and Means Taxes - State

Senate Ways and Means recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 4–0.

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed 20–3 on a roll call

✓IntroducedFeb 26, 1997✓HouseApr 2, 1997✓SenateMay 15, 1997✓GovernorJun 9, 1997✓LawJul 1, 1997
HB 525-LOCAL (1997)Became Law
relative to Braille instruction for functionally blind pupils.
Rep. Gagnon (Hills 48) House Education Senate Education Education - General

Senate Education recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 5–1.

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓HouseApr 2, 1997✓SenateMay 15, 1997✓GovernorJun 9, 1997✓LawJul 1, 1997
HB 53-FN-A (1997)Became Law
relative to electronic data submission under the meals and rooms tax.
Rep. Burling (Sull 1) House Finance Senate Ways and Means Taxes - State

Senate Ways and Means recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 5–0.

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedMar 19, 1997✓HouseApr 10, 1997✓SenateMay 15, 1997✓GovernorJun 9, 1997✓LawJul 1, 1997
HB 592-FN-A-LOCAL (1997)Became Law
establishing an advisory council on brain and spinal cord injuries.
Rep. Boyce (Belk 5) House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Senate Public Institutions, Health and Human Services Public and Mental Health

Senate Public Institutions, Health and Human Services recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 4–1.

Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA, Pass the bill with changes)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed with Changes on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 29, 1997✓HouseApr 2, 1997✓SenateMay 15, 1997✓GovernorJun 19, 1997✓LawJun 19, 1997
HB 671-A (1997)Became Law
establishing a committee to study the organization, structure, and administration of the department of fish and game, and making an appropriation therefor.
Rep. Pfaff (Merr 11) House Wildlife and Marine Resources Senate Wildlife and Recreation Study Committees and Commissions

Senate Wildlife and Recreation recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 6–0.

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 29, 1997✓HouseMar 12, 1997✓SenateMay 15, 1997✓GovernorJun 3, 1997✓LawJun 3, 1997
HB 708 (1997)Became Law
extending the reporting date for the committee studying the issues surrounding the definition of "facility" for the purposes of eligibility for certain property tax exemptions.
Rep. Whalley (Merr 5) House Municipal and County Government Senate Ways and Means

Senate Ways and Means recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 4–0.

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 29, 1997✓HouseMar 12, 1997✓SenateMay 15, 1997✓GovernorJun 9, 1997✓LawJun 9, 1997
HB 755-FN (1997)Became Law
relative to OHRVs and increasing certain OHRV registration fees.
Rep. M. Whalley (Merr 5) House Resources, Recreation and Development Senate Wildlife and Recreation Fish & Game

Senate Wildlife and Recreation recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 5–1.

Adopt the Committee Amendment (Accept the committee's changes)

Motion Passed: Amendment Adopted 22–2 on a roll call

In the record: Adopt Committee Amendment

Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA, Pass the bill with changes)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed with Changes on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 29, 1997✓HouseApr 2, 1997✓SenateMay 15, 1997✓GovernorJun 19, 1997✓LawJul 1, 1997
HB 781-FN (1997)Became Law
relative to lucky 7 tickets and bingo games and requiring manufacturers and distributors of bingo supplies to be licensed.
Rep. R. Kelley (Hills 18) House Local and Regulated Revenues Senate Ways and Means Gambling

Senate Ways and Means recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 4–1.

Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA, Pass the bill with changes)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed with Changes on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 29, 1997✓HouseApr 2, 1997✓SenateMay 15, 1997✓GovernorJun 23, 1997✓LawAug 22, 1997
HB 799 (1997)Became Law
regulating the sale of insurance by financial institutions.
Rep. Herman (Hills 13) House Commerce Senate Banks

Senate Banks recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 7–0.

Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA, Pass the bill with changes)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed with Changes on a voice vote

✓IntroducedFeb 12, 1997✓HouseMar 18, 1997✓SenateMay 15, 1997✓GovernorJun 18, 1997✓LawAug 17, 1997
SB 38 (1997)Became Law
relative to certain activities under the workers' compensation law.
Sen. Francoeur (SD14) House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Senate Insurance Employment

Concur with the Amendment (Accept the other chamber's changes)

Motion Passed: Changes Accepted on a voice vote

In the record: Concur

✓IntroducedJan 8, 1997✓SenateMar 13, 1997✓HouseMay 7, 1997✓GovernorJun 9, 1997✓LawAug 8, 1997
SB 75-FN (1997)Became Law
regulating beer festivals and requiring beer festival promoters to obtain a single event license for a fee from the liquor commission to hold a beer festival.
Sen. Cohen (SD24) House Local and Regulated Revenues Senate Ways and Means Liquor and Beer

Concur with the Amendment (Accept the other chamber's changes)

Motion Passed: Changes Accepted on a voice vote

In the record: Concur

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓SenateMar 6, 1997✓HouseMay 14, 1997✓GovernorJun 9, 1997✓LawJul 1, 1997