Governor to sign severance tax bill at 1:00, Legislature adjourns sine die

The House just passed the Senate version of the severance tax bill by a vote of 82-17. Other than Rep. Lindsley Smith's paired vote and Rep. Roy Ragland's "no" vote, there were no changes to yesterday's House vote. In the Senate, today's vote was 32-1 -- only Sen. Altes voted against the House version of the bill. Sens. Johnson and Wilkinson did not vote. The Senate overwhelmingly passed the marriage bill and the legislation extending a deadline in the desegregation litigation. All of the bills have been delivered to the governor, and he'll choose one of the severance tax bills (they're identical) to sign at a ceremony this afternoon.

There were five pairs in the House:
Smith-Woods
Webb-Anderson
Dobbins-Breedlove
Sumpter-Harris
George-Harris

Here are the roll call pages:



A procedural question was raised about Rep. Eric Harris pairing with two members. There's nothing in the rules preventing a member entering into multiple pairs, and Tim Massanelli says it's never occurred. Any change to clarify this will have to be proposed to the rules committee and legislated in the next session. I don't guess it matters one way or another. We're awaiting word to confirm that the Senate has finished its business so we can adjourn simultaneously. The governor will sign the bill at 1:00 p.m.

Update (10:17 a.m.): Adjourned.