House Bill 313, which would change rules for nonpublic (nonpublic session) meetings when public discussion could harm individuals’ reputations, was recommended ITL by the subcommittee and later by the full Judiciary Committee.

Subcommittee members said the bill raised complicated scenarios—for example, where two people’ reputations might be discussed and one wants public debate while another seeks privacy—and that existing statutory protections and procedural workarounds may address many concerns. A subcommittee member observed that people can preemptively request meetings be open, which could make portions of the bill unnecessary.

The subcommittee motion to ITL carried in that smaller body, and when the full committee revisited HB313 the chair summarized similar concerns from the subcommittee and moved ITL; the full committee recorded a 17–0 vote to send HB313 to ITL and placed it on consent. Representative Birch was asked to write the report.

The committee’s ITL recommendation does not change law but signals lawmakers’ current view that the measure is not ready for passage in this form.