When a member of the committee hearing my legislation talks, I listen.

A member of the subcommittee reviewing my bill suggested that we needed an amendment detailing an employer’s legal defense to a harassment lawsuit.

That is not necessary, a civil rights attorney advised me yesterday, because it’s addressed by court decisions.

Nonetheless, I responded to my colleague, “If the committee feels that we should amend the bill, we can do that.”

The legislative process is not a courtroom or a classroom.

We’re graded on whether we get enough votes.

At another hearing, the committee chair asked when a report would be completed on a program that my bill would continue.

“Two to four weeks,” replied my expert witness.

“The sooner the better,” I told him afterwards. “The committee might delay action until it gets the report.”