The committees on Temperance and Liquor Control, State and County Fairs, and Dairy Products and Livestock are an indication of what was considered important to society then. For example, the House Education Committee, which has about 33 members, is made up of several divisions. Being named chair of one of these divisions is considered just as important, if not more so, than being head of some of the other full committees that are considered less influential. Generally, the committees on Taxes, Finance, Judiciary, and Education are considered among the most important. Some committees also have subcommittees which focus on a particular topic and function much like divisions do.
Committees meet at regular times and locations early in each session.
The meetings are normally scheduled to last an hour and 45 minutes. But as the legislative pace becomes more hectic toward the end of session, they may meet more often and for longer times. The goal of the deadlines is to winnow the list of topics to be dealt with that year. In 1994, for example, the first deadline was March 25, and the second one was March 31. A third committee deadline, which applies to all bills with a fiscal impact, was April 8, 1994.