Many LRL researchers are interested in legislative intent—understanding why a bill becomes law, and who proposes ideas or reforms. However, "intent" is not always explicitly spelled out.
In more recent years, legislative intent often can be found in bill analyses within the bill files. It sometimes is recorded in the text of the bill or in the house or senate journals.
As we work on digitizing past committee minutes, we have also found some instances where legislative intent was added to the record in committee hearings.
- In HB 2689, 78R, a "statement of intent" is included in the April 3, 2003 minutes for the House Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee.
- In HB 2149, 79R, the May 4, 2005 minutes of the House Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee note that "Rep. Delwin Jones moved that the official letter of intent be entered in with the minutes."
Both of these intent documents are noted as reports in the committee minutes database records for their respective committees and sessions. You also can access them via the bills' records in the Legislative Archive System.
Conducting legislative research involves consulting a wide range of documents and close attention to detail. But checking everything is worth it—you never know which resource will provide the information you need!
