HOUSE RESOLUTION AMENDING THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE YEARS 2025 AND 2026 (Amends the House rules to mandate that all lobbyists vacate the House floor twenty (20) minutes prior to the beginning of the scheduled House session.)

H8122

2026 -- H 8122
========
LC005457
========

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
AMENDING THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE YEARS
2025 AND 2026

Introduced By:
Representatives Serpa, Fellela, Cotter, Messier, Corvese, and Knight

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House Rules
1
RESOLVED, That section (38) of the rules of the House of Representatives adopted by
2
the House of Representatives at its January session, A.D. 2025, entitled “House Resolution
3
Adopting the Rules of the House of Representatives for the years 2025 and 2026”, be and the
4
same is hereby amended to read as follows:
5
Rules Pertaining to Admission to the Floor
6
(38)(a). No person or persons, except currently elected members of the general assembly,
7
legislative staff assigned by the Speaker or Minority Leader and authorized representatives of the
8
public press shall be admitted to the floor of the House during the session thereof, except by the
9
approval of the Speaker for a designated purpose.
All guests and lobbyists shall vacate the house
10
floor twenty (20) minutes prior to the beginning of the scheduled opening of the House session,
11
unless by approval of the speaker.
The Speaker may make special provision for admission to the
12
floor of the House during the session thereof for people who, by reason of disability, are unable
13
to gain access to the House galleries. All persons so admitted by the Speaker to the floor of the
14
House during the session thereof shall be present for the sole purpose of observing the
15
proceedings of the House and shall remain seated, refrain from conversation, and maintain the
16
decorum of the House. No person so admitted shall contact, address, speak or gesture to, or
17
communicate in any way with any House member while present on the floor of the House. No
18
person on the floor of the chamber shall dress in a manner offensive to the decorum of the House.
19
Any House member who observes conduct in violation of the House Rules shall immediately

1
notify the Speaker thereof and the Speaker shall forthwith take appropriate corrective action and
2
may order the removal of the offending person.
3
(b) During House sessions, admission to the House lounge is limited to currently serving
4
members, and staff of the General Assembly authorized by the Speaker
5
(c) Complimentary items, souvenirs and gifts of food shall not be placed upon members'
6
desks nor delivered to the floor of the House or to members' mailboxes.
========
LC005457
========

LC005457 - Page 2 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
AMENDING THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE YEARS
2025 AND 2026
***
1
This House resolution would amend the House rules to mandate that all lobbyists and
2
guests vacate the House floor twenty (20) minutes prior to the beginning of the scheduled House
3
session.
========
LC005457
========

LC005457 - Page 3 of 3