Temporary rules

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That no later than Friday, 1
January 31, 2025, the nineteenth legislative day, the House of 2
Representatives shall meet to consider adoption of permanent House 3
Rules for the Sixty-Ninth Legislature; and 4
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That temporary House rules for the Sixty-5
ninth Legislature be adopted as follows: 6
((PERMANENT)) TEMPORARY RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES7
((SIXTY-EIGHTH)) SIXTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE ((2023-2024)) 2025-20268
9 HOUSE RULE NO.
10 Rule 1 Definitions
11 Rule 2 Chief Clerk to Call to Order
12 Rule 3 Election of Officers
13 Rule 4 Powers and Duties of the Speaker
14 Rule 5 Chief Clerk
15 Rule 6 Executive Rules Committee
16 Rule 7 Duties of Employees
17 Rule 8 Admission to the House
18 Rule 9 Absentees and Courtesy
19 Rule 10 Bills, Memorials and Resolutions - Introductions
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2025-4600, by Representatives Fitzgibbon and Corry
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1 Rule 11 Reading of Bills
2 Rule 12 Amendments
3 Rule 13 Final Passage
4 Rule 14 Hour of Meeting, Roll Call and Quorum
5 Rule 15 Daily Calendar and Order of Business
6 Rule 16 Motions
7 Rule 17 Remote Participation and V oting Permitted Upon Authorization
8 Rule 18 Members' Right to Debate
9 Rule 19 Rules of Debate
10 Rule 20 Ending of Debate - Previous Question
11 Rule 21 V oting
12 Rule 22 Reconsideration
13 Rule 23 Call of the House
14 Rule 24 Appeal from Decision of Chair
15 Rule 25 Standing Committees
16 Rule 26 Duties of Committees
17 Rule 27 Standing Committees - Expenses - Subpoena Power
18 Rule 28 Vetoed Bills
19 Rule 29 Suspension of Compensation
20 Rule 30 Smoking
21 Rule 31 Liquor
22 Rule 32 Parliamentary Rules
23 Rule 33 Standing Rules Amendment
24 Rule 34 Rules to Apply for Assembly
25 Rule 35 Legislative Publications
26 Rule 36 Emergency Resolution Authorized
Definitions27
Rule 1. (A) "Absent" means an unexcused failure to attend.28
(B) "Bill" means bill, joint memorial, joint resolution, or 29
concurrent resolution unless the context indicates otherwise.30
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(C) "Committee" means any standing, conference, joint, or select 1
committee as so designated by rule or resolution. 2
(D) "Fiscal committee" means the appropriations, capital budget, 3
finance, and transportation committees. 4
(E) "Sergeant at arms" means the director of house security.5
(F) "Session" means a constitutional gathering of the house in 6
accordance with Article II, section 12 of the state Constitution.7
(G) "Term" means the two-year term during which the members as a 8
body may act. 9
Chief Clerk to Call to Order10
Rule 2. It shall be the duty of the chief clerk of the previous 11
term to call the house to order and to conduct the proceedings until 12
a speaker is chosen. 13
Election of Officers14
Rule 3. The house shall elect the following officers at the 15
commencement of each term: Its presiding officer, who shall be styled 16
speaker of the house; a speaker pro tempore, who shall serve in 17
absence or in case of the inability of the speaker; a deputy speaker 18
pro tempore, who shall serve in absence or in case of the inability 19
of the speaker and speaker pro tempore; and a chief clerk of the 20
house. Such officers shall hold office during all sessions until the 21
convening of the succeeding term: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That any of 22
these offices may be declared vacant by the vote of a constitutional 23
majority of the house, the members voting viva voce and their votes 24
shall be entered on the journal. If any office is declared vacant, 25
the house shall fill such vacant office as hereinafter provided. In 26
all elections by the house a constitutional majority shall be 27
required, the members shall vote viva voce and their votes shall be 28
entered on the journal. (Article II, section 27) 29
Powers and Duties of the Speaker30
Rule 4. The speaker shall have the following powers and duties:31
(A) The speaker shall take the chair and call the house to order 32
precisely at the hour appointed for meeting and if a quorum be 33
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present, shall cause the journal of the preceding day to be read and 1
shall proceed with the order of business. 2
(B) The speaker shall preserve order and decorum, and in case of 3
any disturbance or disorderly conduct within the chamber or 4
legislative area, shall order the sergeant at arms to suppress the 5
same and may order the sergeant at arms to remove any person creating 6
any disturbance within the house chamber or legislative area.7
(C) The speaker may speak to points of order in preference to 8
other members, arising from the seat for that purpose, and shall 9
decide all questions of order subject to an appeal to the house by 10
any member, on which appeal no member shall speak more than once 11
without leave of the house. 12
(D) The speaker may authorize members who are not elected as 13
officers as provided in Rule 3 to perform the powers and duties of 14
the speaker described in subsections (A) through (C) of this rule.15
(E) The speaker shall sign all bills in open session. (Article 16
II, section 32) 17
(((E))) (F) The speaker shall sign all writs, warrants, and 18
subpoenas issued by order of the house, all of which shall be 19
attested to by the chief clerk. 20
(((F))) (G) The speaker shall have the right to name any member 21
to perform the duties of the chair, but such substitution shall 22
neither extend beyond adjournment nor authorize the representative so 23
substituted to sign any documents requiring the signature of the 24
speaker. 25
(((G))) (H) The speaker, in open session, shall appoint committee 26
chairs as selected by the majority party caucus, and shall appoint 27
members to committees in the same ratio as the membership of the 28
respective parties of the house, unless otherwise provided by law or 29
house rules. 30
(((H))) (I) The speaker shall serve as chair of the rules 31
committee and the executive rules committee. 32
(((I))) (J) The speaker shall have charge of and see that all 33
officers, attaches, and clerks perform their respective duties.34
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(((J))) (K) The speaker pro tempore shall exercise the duties, 1
powers, and prerogatives of the speaker in the event of the speaker's 2
death, illness, removal, or inability to act until the speaker's 3
successor shall be elected. 4
Chief Clerk5
Rule 5. The chief clerk shall perform the usual duties pertaining 6
to the office, and shall hold office until a successor has been 7
elected. 8
The chief clerk shall perform all administrative duties related 9
to the public records obligations of members of the house.10
The chief clerk shall employ, subject to the approval of the 11
speaker, all other house employees; the hours of duty and assignments 12
of all house employees shall be under the chief clerk's directions 13
and instructions, and they may be dismissed by the chief clerk with 14
the approval of the speaker. The speaker shall sign and the chief 15
clerk shall countersign all payrolls and vouchers for all expenses of 16
the house and appropriately transmit the same. In the event of the 17
chief clerk's death, illness, removal, or inability to act, the 18
speaker may appoint an acting chief clerk who shall exercise the 19
duties and powers of the chief clerk until the chief clerk's 20
successor shall be elected. 21
Executive Rules Committee22
Rule 6. The executive rules committee is hereby established to 23
oversee administrative operations of the house. The committee 24
consists of four members of the majority caucus and three members of 25
the minority caucus, to be named by the speaker and minority leader 26
respectively. 27
Duties of Employees28
Rule 7. Employees of the house shall perform such duties as are 29
assigned to them by the chief clerk. Under no circumstances shall the 30
compensation of any employee be increased for past services. No house 31
employee shall seek to influence the passage or rejection of proposed 32
legislation. 33
Admission to the House34
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Rule 8. It shall be the general policy of the house to keep the 1
chamber clear as follows: 2
(A) The sergeant at arms shall admit only the following 3
individuals to the wings and adjacent areas of the house chamber for 4
the period of time beginning one-half hour prior to convening and 5
ending one-half hour following the adjournment of the house's daily 6
session: 7
The governor or designees, or both; 8
Members of the senate; 9
State elected officials; 10
Officers and authorized employees of the legislature;11
Former members of the house who are not advocating any pending or 12
proposed legislation; 13
Representatives of the press; 14
Other persons with the consent of the speaker.15
(B) Only members of the house, pages, sergeants at arms, and 16
clerks are permitted on the floor while the house is in session.17
(C) Lobbying in the house chamber or in any committee room or 18
lounge room is prohibited when the house or committee is in session 19
unless expressly permitted by the house or committee. Anyone 20
violating this rule will forfeit their right to be admitted to the 21
house chamber or any of its committee rooms. 22
Absentees and Courtesy23
Rule 9. No member shall be absent from the service of the house 24
without leave from the speaker. When the house is in session, only 25
the speaker shall recognize visitors and former members.26
Bills, Memorials and Resolutions - Introductions27
Rule 10. Any member desiring to introduce a bill shall file the 28
same with the chief clerk. Bills filed by 10:00 a.m. shall be 29
introduced at the next daily session, in the order filed: PROVIDED, 30
That if such introduction is within the last ten days of a regular 31
session, it cannot be considered without a direct vote of two-thirds 32
(2/3) of all the members elected to each house with such vote 33
recorded and entered upon the journal. (Article II, section 36)34
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Any returning member or member-elect may prefile a bill with the 1
chief clerk commencing the first Monday in December preceding any 2
regular session or twenty (20) days before any special session. 3
Prefiled bills shall be introduced on the first legislative day.4
All bills shall be endorsed with a statement of the title and the 5
name of the member or members introducing the same. The chief clerk 6
shall attach to all bills a substantial cover bearing the title and 7
sponsors and shall number each bill in the order filed. All bills 8
shall be printed unless otherwise ordered by the house.9
Any bill introduced at any session during the term shall be 10
eligible for action at all subsequent sessions during the term.11
No house bill may be introduced that is identical to any other 12
pending house bill. 13
Reading of Bills14
Rule 11. Every bill shall be read on three separate days: 15
PROVIDED, That this rule may be temporarily suspended at any time by 16
a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present; and that on and after 17
the fifth day prior to the day of adjournment sine die of any 18
session, as determined pursuant to Article II, section 12 of the 19
state Constitution or concurrent resolution, or on and after the 20
third day prior to the day a bill must be reported from the house as 21
established by concurrent resolution, this rule may be suspended by a 22
majority vote. 23
A bill may be returned to second reading for the purpose of 24
amendment by a suspension of the rules: PROVIDED, That on and after 25
the fifth day prior to the day of adjournment sine die of any 26
session, as determined pursuant to Article II, section 12 of the 27
state Constitution or concurrent resolution, or on and after the 28
third day prior to the day a bill must be reported from the house as 29
established by concurrent resolution, this rule may be suspended and 30
a bill returned to second reading for the purpose of amendment by a 31
majority vote. 32
(A) FIRST READING. The first reading of a bill shall be by title 33
only, unless a majority of the members present demand a reading in 34
full. 35
After the first reading the bill shall be referred to an 36
appropriate committee. 37
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Upon being reported out of committee, all bills shall be referred 1
to the rules committee, unless otherwise ordered by the house.2
The rules committee may, by majority vote, refer any bill in its 3
possession to a committee for further consideration. Such referral 4
shall be reported to the house and entered in the journal under the 5
fifth order of business. 6
(B) SECOND READING. Upon second reading, the bill number and 7
short title and the last line of the bill shall be read unless a 8
majority of the members present shall demand its reading in full. The 9
bill shall be subject to amendment section by section. No amendment 10
shall be considered by the house until it has been sent to the chief 11
clerk's desk in writing or electronically, distributed to the desk of 12
each member or made available to each member electronically, and read 13
by the clerk. All amendments adopted during second reading shall be 14
securely fastened to the original bill. All amendments rejected by 15
the house shall be passed to the minute clerk, and the journal shall 16
show the disposition of such amendments. 17
When no further amendments shall be offered, the speaker shall 18
declare the bill has passed its second reading. 19
(C) SUBSTITUTE BILLS. When a committee reports a substitute for 20
an original bill with the recommendation that the substitute bill do 21
pass, it shall be in order to read the substitute the first time and 22
have the same printed. A motion for the substitution shall not be in 23
order until the second reading of the original bill.24
(D) THIRD READING. Only the last line of bills shall be read on 25
third reading unless a majority of the members present demand a 26
reading in full. No amendments to a bill shall be received on third 27
reading but it may be referred or recommitted for the purpose of 28
amendment. 29
(E) SUSPENSION CALENDAR. Bills may be placed on the second 30
reading suspension calendar by the rules committee if at least two 31
minority party members of the rules committee join in such motion. 32
Bills on the second reading suspension calendar shall not be subject 33
to amendment or substitution except as recommended in the committee 34
report. When a bill is before the house on the suspension calendar, 35
the question shall be to adopt the committee recommendations and 36
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advance the bill to third reading. If the question fails to receive a 1
two-thirds vote of the members present, the bill shall be referred to 2
the rules committee for second reading. 3
(F) HOUSE RESOLUTIONS. House resolutions shall be filed with the 4
chief clerk who shall transmit them to the rules committee. If a 5
rules committee meeting is not scheduled to occur prior to a time 6
necessitated by the purpose of a house resolution, the majority 7
leader and minority leader by agreement may waive transmission to the 8
rules committee to permit consideration of the resolution by the 9
house. The rules committee may adopt house resolutions by a sixty 10
percent majority vote of its entire membership or may, by a majority 11
vote of its members, place them on the motions calendar for 12
consideration by the house. House resolutions are not subject to 13
debate, except for resolutions necessary for the operation of the 14
house, and resolutions commemorating Children's Day, Day of 15
Remembrance, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, National Guard Day, and 16
President's Day. 17
(G) CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS. Reading of concurrent resolutions may 18
be advanced by majority vote. 19
Amendments20
Rule 12. The right of any member to offer amendments to proposed 21
legislation shall not be limited except as provided in Rule 11 (E) and 22
as follows: 23
(A) AMENDMENTS TO BE OFFERED IN PROPER FORM. The chief clerk 24
shall establish the proper form for amendments and all amendments 25
offered shall bear the name of the member who offers the same, as 26
well as the number and section of the bill to be amended.27
(B) COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS. When a bill is before the house on 28
second reading, amendments adopted by committees and recommended to 29
the house shall be acted upon by the house before any amendments that 30
may be offered from the floor. 31
(C) SENATE AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILLS. A house bill, passed by the 32
senate with amendment or amendments which shall change the scope and 33
object of the bill, upon being received in the house, shall be 34
referred to the appropriate committee and shall take the same course 35
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as for original bills unless a motion not to concur is adopted prior 1
to the bill being referred to committee. 2
(D) AMENDMENTS TO BE GERMANE. No motion or proposition on a 3
subject different from that under consideration shall be admitted 4
under color of amendment; and no bill or resolution shall at any time 5
be amended by annexing thereto or incorporating therein any other 6
bill or resolution pending before the house. 7
(E) SCOPE AND OBJECT NOT TO BE CHANGED. No amendment to any bill 8
shall be allowed which shall change the scope and object of the bill. 9
This objection may be raised at any time an amendment is under 10
consideration. The speaker may allow the person raising the objection 11
and the mover of the amendment to provide brief arguments as to the 12
merits of the objection. (Article II, section 38) 13
(F) NO AMENDMENT BY REFERENCE. No act shall ever be revised or 14
amended without being set forth at full length. (Article II, section 15
37) 16
(G) TITLE AMENDMENTS. The subject matter portion of a bill title 17
shall not be amended in committee or on second reading. Changes to 18
that part of the title after the subject matter statement shall 19
either be presented with the text amendment or be incorporated by the 20
chief clerk in the engrossing process. 21
(H) DATE AND TIME FOR AMENDMENT SUBMISSION. To facilitate the 22
orderly consideration of proposed legislation, the speaker, after 23
consultation with the minority leader, may establish a date and time 24
for submission of amendments. 25
Final Passage26
Rule 13. Rules relating to bills on final passage are as follows:27
(A) BUDGET BILLS. No final passage vote may be taken on an 28
operating budget, transportation budget, or capital budget bill until 29
twenty-four (24) hours after the bill is placed on the third reading 30
calendar. The twenty-four (24) hour requirement does not apply to 31
conference reports, which are governed by the Joint Rules of the 32
Senate and the House of Representatives, or to bills placed on the 33
third reading calendar by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members 34
present. 35
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(B) RECOMMITMENT BEFORE FINAL PASSAGE. A bill may be recommitted 1
at any time before its final passage. 2
(C) FINAL PASSAGE. No bill shall become a law unless on its final 3
passage the vote be taken by yeas and nays, the names of the members 4
voting for and against the same be entered on the journal of each 5
house, and a majority of the members elected to each house be 6
recorded thereon as voting in its favor. (Article II, section 22)7
(D) BILLS PASSED - CERTIFICATION. When a bill passes, it shall be 8
certified to by the chief clerk, said certification to show the date 9
of its passage together with the vote thereon. 10
Hour of Meeting, Roll Call and Quorum11
Rule 14. (A) HOUR OF MEETING. The speaker shall call the house to 12
order each day of sitting at 10:00 A.M., unless the house shall have 13
adjourned to some other hour. 14
(B) ROLL CALL AND QUORUM. Before proceeding with business, the 15
roll of the members shall be called and the names of those absent or 16
excused shall be entered on the journal. A majority of all the 17
members elected must be present to constitute a quorum for the 18
transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, seven members 19
with the speaker, or eight members in the speaker's absence, having 20
chosen a speaker pro tempore, shall be authorized to demand a call of 21
the house and may compel the attendance of absent members in the 22
manner provided in Rule 23 (B). Any member participating remotely in 23
house proceedings as provided in Rule 17 shall be considered present 24
for purposes of a quorum. For the purpose of determining if a quorum 25
be present, the speaker shall count all members present, whether 26
voting or not. (Article II, section 8) 27
(C) The house shall adjourn not later than 10:00 P.M. of each 28
working day. This rule may be suspended by a majority vote.29
Daily Calendar and Order of Business30
Rule 15. The rules relating to the daily calendar and order of 31
business are as follows: 32
(A) DAILY CALENDAR. Business of the house shall be disposed of in 33
the following order: 34
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First: Roll call, presentation of colors, prayer, and approval of 1
the journal of the preceding day. 2
Second: Introduction of visiting dignitaries. 3
Third: Messages from the senate, governor, and other state 4
officials. 5
Fourth: Introduction and first reading of bills, memorials, joint 6
resolutions, and concurrent resolutions. 7
Fifth: Committee reports. 8
Sixth: Second reading of bills. 9
Seventh: Third reading of bills. 10
Eighth: Floor resolutions and motions. 11
Ninth: Presentation of petitions, memorials, and remonstrances 12
addressed to the Legislature. 13
Tenth: Introduction of visitors and other business to be 14
considered. 15
Eleventh: Announcements. 16
(B) UNFINISHED BUSINESS. The unfinished business at which the 17
house was engaged preceding adjournment shall not be taken up until 18
reached in regular order, unless the previous question on such 19
unfinished business has been ordered prior to said adjournment.20
(C) EXCEPTIONS. Exceptions to the order of business are as 21
follows: 22
(1) The order of business may be changed by a majority vote of 23
those present. 24
(2) By motion under the eighth order of business, a bill in the 25
rules committee may be placed on the calendar by the affirmative vote 26
of a majority of all members of the house. 27
(3) House resolutions and messages from the senate, governor, or 28
other state officials may be read at any time. 29
Motions30
Rule 16. Rules relating to motions are as follows:31
(A) MOTIONS TO BE ENTERTAINED OR DEBATED. No motion shall be 32
entertained or debated until announced by the speaker and every 33
motion shall be deemed to have been seconded. A motion shall be 34
reduced to writing and read by the clerk, if desired by the speaker 35
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or any member, before it shall be debated and by the consent of the 1
house may be withdrawn before amendment or action. 2
(B) MOTIONS IN ORDER DURING DEBATE. When a motion has been made 3
and seconded and stated by the chair, the following motions are in 4
order, in the rank named: 5
6 (1) Privileged motions:
7 Adjourn
8 Adjourn to a time certain
9 Recess to a time certain
10 Reconsider
11 Demand for division
12 Question of privilege
13 Orders of the day
14
15 (2) Subsidiary motions:
16 First rank: Question of consideration
17 Second rank: To lay on the table
18 Third rank: For the previous question
19 Fourth rank: To postpone to a day certain
20 To commit or recommit
21 To postpone indefinitely
22 Fifth rank: To amend
23
24 (3) Incidental motions:
25 Points of order and appeal
26 Method of consideration
27 Suspension of the rules
28 Reading papers
29 Withdraw a motion
30 Division of a question
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(C) THE EFFECT OF POSTPONEMENT - MOTIONS TO POSTPONE OR COMMIT. 1
Once decided, no motion to postpone to a day certain, to commit, or 2
to postpone indefinitely shall again be allowed on the same day and 3
at the same stage of the proceedings. When a question has been 4
postponed indefinitely, it shall not again be introduced during the 5
session. The motion to postpone indefinitely may be made at any stage 6
of the bill except when on first reading. 7
(D) MOTIONS DECIDED WITHOUT DEBATE. A motion to adjourn, to 8
recess, to lay on the table and to call for the previous question 9
shall be decided without debate. 10
All incidental motions shall be decided without debate, except 11
that members may speak to points of order and appeal as provided in 12
Rule 24. 13
Motions to adopt house resolutions shall be decided without 14
debate, except as provided in Rule 11(F). 15
A motion for suspension of the rules shall not be debatable 16
except that the mover of the motion may briefly explain the purpose 17
of the motion and one member may briefly state the opposition to the 18
motion. 19
(E) MOTION TO ADJOURN. A motion to adjourn shall always be in 20
order, except when the house is voting or is working under the call 21
of the house; but this rule shall not authorize any member to move 22
for adjournment when another member has the floor.23
Remote Participation and Voting Permitted Upon Authorization24
Rule 17. The majority leader and minority leader or their 25
designees may authorize members of their respective caucuses to 26
participate remotely in official house proceedings, including 27
committee meetings and floor sessions, upon the request of a member 28
who is experiencing a medical condition or illness that prevents in-29
person participation. Once authorized, any member participating 30
remotely shall be considered present for purposes of a quorum and 31
voting. Members participating remotely shall use the computer and 32
virtual background provided by the house during all committee 33
meetings and floor proceedings. The majority leader and minority 34
leader or their designees shall determine when the member's 35
authorization to participate remotely ends. 36
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Members' Right to Debate1
Rule 18. The methods by which a member may exercise their right 2
to debate are as follows: 3
(A) RECOGNITION OF MEMBER. When any member desires to speak in 4
debate or deliver any matter to the house, the member shall rise and 5
respectfully address the speaker and pause until recognized. Any 6
member participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in 7
Rule 17 who desires to speak may request to be recognized by use of 8
the request to speak button in the remote floor activity system.9
(B) ORDER OF SPEAKING. When two or more members arise at once, 10
the speaker shall name the one who is to speak. 11
(C) LIMITATION OF DEBATE. No member shall speak longer than ten 12
(10) minutes without consent of the house: PROVIDED, That on and 13
after the fifth day prior to the day of adjournment sine die of any 14
session, as determined pursuant to Article II, section 12 of the 15
state Constitution or concurrent resolution, or on and after the 16
fifth day prior to the day any bill must be reported from the house 17
as established by concurrent resolution, no member shall speak more 18
than three (3) minutes without the consent of the house. No member 19
shall speak more than twice on the same question without leave of the 20
house: PROVIDED, That the chair of the committee or the mover of the 21
question may close debate if it is consistent with Rule 20 (Previous 22
Question). 23
Rules of Debate24
Rule 19. The rules for debate in the house are as follows:25
(A) QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE. Any member may rise to a question of 26
privilege and explain a personal matter, by leave of the speaker, but 27
the member shall not discuss any pending question in such 28
explanations. 29
(B) WITHDRAWAL OF MOTION, BILL, ETC. After a motion is stated by 30
the speaker or a bill, memorial, resolution, petition, or 31
remonstrance is read by the clerk, it shall be deemed to be in 32
possession of the house, but may be withdrawn by consent of the house 33
at any time before decision or amendment. 34
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(C) READING OF A PAPER. When the reading of any paper is called 1
for and is objected to by any member, it shall be determined by a 2
vote of the house. 3
(D) DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS. Any materials of any nature 4
distributed to the members' desks on the floor shall be subject to 5
approval by the speaker and shall bear the name of at least one 6
member granted permission for the distribution. Any member 7
participating remotely as provided in Rule 17 who wishes to 8
distribute materials subject to the speaker's approval may do so 9
electronically. All materials approved for distribution shall be 10
provided electronically to members participating remotely to the 11
extent practicable. This shall not apply to materials normally 12
distributed by the chief clerk. 13
(E) ORDER OF QUESTIONS. All questions, whether in committee or in 14
the house, shall be propounded in the order in which they are named 15
except that in filling blanks, the largest sum and the longest time 16
shall be put first. 17
(F) DIVISION OF POINTS OF DEBATE. Any member may call for a 18
division of a question which shall be divided if it embraces subjects 19
so distinct that one being taken away a substantive proposition shall 20
remain for the decision of the house; but a motion to strike out and 21
to insert shall not be divided. The rejection of a motion to strike 22
out and to insert one proposition shall not prevent a motion to 23
strike out and to insert a different proposition. 24
(G) DECORUM OF MEMBERS. While the speaker is putting the 25
question, no member shall walk across or out of the house; nor when a 26
member is speaking shall any member entertain private discourse or 27
pass between the speaking member and the rostrum. 28
(H) REMARKS CONFINED. A member shall confine all remarks to the 29
question under debate and avoid personalities. No member shall impugn 30
the motive of any member's vote or argument. 31
(I) EXCEPTION TO WORDS SPOKEN IN DEBATE. If any member be called 32
to order for words spoken in debate, the person calling the member to 33
order shall repeat the words excepted to and they shall be taken down 34
in writing at the clerk's table. No member shall be held in answer or 35
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be subject to the censure of the house for words spoken in debate if 1
any other member has spoken before exception to them shall have been 2
taken. 3
(J) TRANSGRESSION OF RULES - APPEAL. If any member, in speaking 4
or otherwise, transgresses the rules of the house the speaker shall, 5
or any member may, call the member to order, in which case the member 6
so called to order shall immediately sit down unless permitted to 7
explain; and the house shall, if appealed to, decide the case without 8
debate; if there be no appeal, the decision of the chair shall 9
prevail. 10
If the decision be in favor of the member called to order, the 11
member shall be at liberty to proceed; if otherwise, and the case 12
shall require it, the member shall be liable to the censure of the 13
house. 14
Ending of Debate - Previous Question15
Rule 20. The previous question may be ordered by a two-thirds 16
(2/3) vote of the members present on all recognized motions or 17
amendments which are debatable. 18
The previous question is not debatable and cannot be amended.19
The previous question shall be put in this form: "Representative 20
__________ demands the previous question. As many as are in favor of 21
ordering the previous question will say 'Aye'; as many as are opposed 22
will say 'No'." 23
The results of the motion are as follows: If determined in the 24
negative, the consideration goes on as if the motion had never been 25
made; if decided in the affirmative it shall have the effect of 26
cutting off all debate and bringing the house to a direct vote upon 27
the motion or amendment on which it has been ordered: PROVIDED 28
HOWEVER, That when a bill is on final passage or when the motion to 29
postpone indefinitely is pending, one of the sponsors of the bill or 30
the chair of the committee may have the privilege of closing debate 31
after the previous question has been ordered. 32
If an adjournment is had after the previous question is ordered, 33
the motion or proposition on which the previous question was ordered 34
shall be put to the house immediately following the approval of the 35
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journal on the next working day, thus making the main question 1
privileged over all other business, whether new or unfinished.2
Voting3
Rule 21. (A) PUTTING OF QUESTION. The speaker shall put the 4
question in the following form: "The question before the house is 5
(state the question). As many as are in favor say 'Aye'; and after 6
the affirmative vote is expressed, "as many as are opposed say 'No'."7
(B) ALL MEMBERS TO VOTE. Except as provided in subsection (G), 8
every member who was in the house or participating remotely in house 9
proceedings as provided in Rule 17 when the question was put shall 10
vote unless, for special reasons, excused by the house.11
All motions to excuse a member shall be made before the house 12
divides or before the call for yeas and nays is commenced; and any 13
member requesting to be excused from voting may make a brief and 14
verbal statement of the reasons for making such request, and the 15
question shall then be taken without further debate.16
(C) COUNT OF THE HOUSE. Upon a division and count of the house on 17
the question, only members at their desks within the bar of the house 18
or participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in Rule 17 19
shall be counted. 20
(D) CHANGE OF VOTE. When the electric roll call machine is used, 21
no member shall be allowed to vote or change a vote after the speaker 22
has locked the roll call machine. When an oral roll call is taken, no 23
member shall be allowed to vote or change a vote after the result has 24
been announced. 25
(E) PRIVATE INTEREST. No member shall vote on any question which 26
affects that member privately and particularly. A member who has a 27
private interest in any bill or measure proposed or pending before 28
the legislature shall disclose the fact to the house of which he is a 29
member, and shall not vote thereon. (Article II, section 30)30
(F) INTERRUPTION OF ROLL CALL. Once begun, the roll call may not 31
be interrupted. No member or other person shall visit or remain at 32
the clerk's desk while the yeas and nays are being called.33
(G) MOTIONS NOT REQUIRING A RECORDED ROLL CALL VOTE. Members in 34
the house and members participating remotely in house proceedings as 35
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provided in Rule 17 may vote on any motion not requiring a recorded 1
roll call vote, including when the house divides. Members 2
participating remotely may vote using the remote floor activity 3
system. 4
(H) INABILITY TO VOTE USING REMOTE VOTING FUNCTION. A member 5
participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in Rule 17 6
who is unable to vote using the remote voting function on any motion 7
requiring a recorded roll call vote may vote orally. If a member is 8
unable to vote using the remote voting function or orally, the 9
rostrum staff shall contact the member by telephone and the member's 10
vote may be taken by telephone to rostrum staff after the member 11
answers security questions to verify the identity of the member. The 12
rostrum staff will announce the vote of the member, which shall be 13
recorded. 14
(I) YEAS AND NAYS - RECORDED VOTES. Upon the final passage of any 15
bill, the vote shall be taken by yeas and nays and shall be recorded 16
by the electric voting system: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That an oral roll 17
call shall be ordered when demanded by one-sixth (1/6) of the members 18
present. (Article II, section 21) 19
The speaker may vote last when the yeas and nays are called.20
When the vote is by electric voting machine or by oral roll call 21
on any question, it shall be entered upon the journal of the house. A 22
recorded vote may be compelled by one-sixth (1/6) of the members 23
present. A request for a recorded vote must be made before the vote 24
is commenced. 25
(J) TIE VOTE, QUESTION LOSES. In case of an equal division, the 26
question shall be lost. 27
(K) DIVISION. If the speaker is in doubt, or if division is 28
called for by any member, the house shall divide. 29
(L) STATEMENT FOR JOURNAL. A member whose recorded vote does not 30
accurately reflect their intent may submit a written statement for 31
the journal clarifying their intent to vote aye or nay. The statement 32
must be submitted to the chief clerk on the same day the vote is 33
taken. A member who is excused for one or more days of recorded votes 34
may submit a written statement for the journal explaining the reason 35
for their absence. The statement may not exceed 50 words and must be 36
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submitted to the chief clerk on the same day the member returns. A 1
member participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in 2
Rule 17 who was unable to vote using the remote voting function, 3
orally, or by telephone may submit a statement for the journal within 4
48 hours indicating their intent to vote yea or nay.5
Reconsideration6
Rule 22. Notice of a motion for reconsideration on the final 7
passage of bills shall be made on the day the vote to be reconsidered 8
was taken and before the house has voted to transmit the bill to the 9
senate. 10
Reconsideration of the votes on the final passage of bills must 11
be taken on the next working day after such vote was taken: PROVIDED, 12
That on and after the fifth day prior to the day of adjournment sine 13
die of any session, as determined pursuant to Article II, section 12 14
of the state Constitution, or concurrent resolution, or on and after 15
the third day prior to the day a bill must be reported from the house 16
as established by concurrent resolution, then reconsideration of 17
votes on the final passage of bills must be taken on the same day as 18
the original vote was taken: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That any member 19
participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in Rule 17 20
who was unable to vote using the remote voting function, orally, or 21
by telephone may require reconsideration of the vote on the final 22
passage of bills the same day the vote is taken. 23
A motion to reconsider an amendment may be made at any time the 24
bill remains on second reading. 25
Any member who voted on the prevailing side may move for 26
reconsideration or give notice thereof. 27
A motion to reconsider can be decided only once when decided in 28
the negative. 29
When a motion to reconsider has been carried, its effect shall be 30
to place the original question before the house in the exact position 31
it occupied before it was voted upon. 32
Call of the House33
Rule 23. One-sixth (1/6) of the members present may demand a call 34
of the house at any time before the house has divided or the voting 35
has commenced by yeas and nays. 36
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(A) DOORS TO BE CLOSED. When call of the house has been ordered, 1
the sergeant at arms shall close and lock the doors, and no member 2
shall be allowed to leave the chamber: PROVIDED, That the rules 3
committee shall be allowed to meet, upon request of the speaker, 4
while the house stands at ease: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That the 5
speaker may permit members to use such portions of the fourth floor 6
as may be properly secured. 7
(B) SERGEANT AT ARMS TO BRING IN THE ABSENTEES. The clerk shall 8
immediately call a roll of the members and note the absentees, whose 9
names shall be read and entered upon the journal in such manner as to 10
show who are excused and who are absent without leave. A member 11
authorized to participate remotely in house proceedings as provided 12
in Rule 17 who is visible at the time of the roll call through the 13
remote floor activity system shall not be considered absent or absent 14
without leave. 15
The clerk shall furnish the sergeant at arms with a list of those 16
who are absent without leave, and the sergeant at arms shall proceed 17
to bring in such absentees; but arrests of members for absence shall 18
not be made unless ordered by a majority of the members present.19
(C) HOUSE UNDER CALL. While the house is under a call, no 20
business shall be transacted except to receive and act on the report 21
of the sergeant at arms; and no other motion shall be in order except 22
a motion to proceed with business under the call of the house, a 23
motion to excuse absentees, or a motion to dispense with the call of 24
the house. The motion to proceed with business under the call of the 25
house and the motion to excuse absent members shall not be adopted 26
unless a majority of the members elected vote in favor thereof. The 27
motion to dispense with the call of the house may be adopted by a 28
majority of the members present. 29
Appeal from Decision of Chair30
Rule 24. The decision of the chair may be appealed from by any 31
member, on which appeal no member shall speak more than once unless 32
by leave of the house. In all cases of appeal, the question shall be: 33
"Shall the decision of the chair stand as the judgment of the house?"34
Standing Committees35
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Rule 25. The standing committees of the house and the number of 1
members that shall serve on each committee shall be as follows:2
1. Agriculture & Natural Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
2. Appropriations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
3. Capital Budget. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ((29)) 195
4. Civil Rights & Judiciary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ((11)) 136
5. Community Safety((, Justice, & Reentry)). . . . . . . . . . 97
6. Consumer Protection & Business. . . . . . . . . . . ((13)) 158
7. Early Learning & Human Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
8. Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ((15)) 1910
((8.)) 9. Environment & Energy. . . . . . . . . . . . . ((15)) 2111
((9.)) 10. Finance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ((13)) 1512
((10.)) 11. Health Care & Wellness. . . . . . . . . . . ((17)) 1913
((11.)) 12. Housing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ((13)) 1714
((12. Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning. . . . . . . . . 1115
13. Innovation, Community & Economic Development, &16
Veterans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1517
14.)) 13. Labor & Workplace Standards. . . . . . . . . . . . . 918
((15)) 14. Local Government. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
((16)) 15. Postsecondary Education & Workforce. . . . . ((15)) 1720
((17. Regulated Substances & Gaming. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1121
18)) 16. Rules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2422
((19)) 17. State Government & Tribal Relations. . . . . . . . . 723
18. Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans. . . . . . . 1324
((20)) 19. Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ((29)) 2725
Committee members shall be selected by each party's caucus. The 26
majority party caucus shall select all committee chairs. (("Committee 27
chair" includes committee cochair.))28
Duties of Committees29
Rule 26. House committees shall operate as follows:30
(A) NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING. The chief clerk shall make 31
public the time, place and subjects to be discussed at committee 32
meetings. All public hearings held by committees shall be scheduled 33
with at least five (5) days' notice, including the day of notice and 34
day of hearing, and shall be given adequate publicity: PROVIDED, That 35
when less than eight (8) days remain for action on a bill, the 36
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Speaker may authorize a reduction of the five-day notice period when 1
required by the circumstances, including but not limited to the time 2
remaining for action on the bill, the nature of the subject, and the 3
number of prior hearings on the subject. 4
(B) COMMITTEE QUORUM. A majority of any committee shall 5
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.6
(C) SESSION MEETINGS. No committee shall sit while the house is 7
in session without special leave of the speaker. 8
(D) DUTIES OF STANDING COMMITTEES. 9
(1) Only such bills as are included on the written notice of a 10
committee meeting may be considered at that meeting.11
(2) A majority recommendation of a committee must be made by a 12
majority of the entire membership of the committee in a regularly 13
called meeting before a bill, memorial, or resolution may be reported 14
out: PROVIDED, That by motion under the eighth order of business, a 15
majority of the members elected to the house may relieve a committee 16
of a bill and place it on the second reading calendar.17
Majority recommendations of a committee can only be "do pass," 18
"do pass as amended," or that "the substitute bill be substituted 19
therefor and that the substitute bill do pass." 20
(3) Members of the committee not concurring in the majority 21
report may make a written minority report containing a recommendation 22
of "do not pass" or "without recommendation," which shall be joined 23
by those members of the committee subscribing thereto, and submitted 24
with the majority report. 25
(4) Every recommendation and report shall be made by members of 26
the committee during the regularly called meeting of the committee. 27
No signatures are required. 28
(5) All committee reports shall be spread upon the journal. The 29
journal of the house shall contain an exact copy of all committee 30
reports, together with the names of the members joining in the 31
majority and minority recommendations contained in such reports.32
(6) Every vote to report a bill out of committee shall be taken 33
by the yeas and nays, with the nays specifying "do not pass" or 34
"without recommendation," and the names of the members voting for and 35
against, as well as the names of members absent, shall be recorded on 36
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the committee report. Any member may call for a recorded vote, which 1
shall include the names of absent members, on any substantive 2
question before the committee. A copy of all recorded committee votes 3
shall be kept by the chief clerk and shall be available for public 4
inspection. 5
(7) A member participating remotely in house proceedings as 6
provided in Rule 17 who is unable to vote on a bill in committee for 7
technical reasons may submit a statement for the bill file indicating 8
their intent to have voted yea, nay-do not pass, or nay-without 9
recommendation. The statement must be submitted to the chief clerk on 10
the same day the vote is taken. 11
(8) All bills having a direct appropriation shall be referred to 12
the appropriate fiscal committee before their final passage.13
(9) No standing committee shall vote by secret written ballot on 14
any issue. 15
(10) During its consideration of or vote on any bill, resolution, 16
or memorial, the deliberations of any standing committee of the House 17
of Representatives shall be open to the public. 18
(11) A standing committee to which a bill was originally referred 19
shall, prior to voting the bill out of committee, consider whether 20
the bill authorizes rule-making powers or requires the exercise of 21
rule-making powers and, if so, consider: 22
(a) The nature of the new rule-making powers; and23
(b) To which agencies the new rule-making powers would be 24
delegated and which agencies, if any, may have related rule-making 25
powers. 26
(12) Insofar as practicable, testimony in public hearings should 27
be balanced between those in support of and in opposition to proposed 28
legislation, with consideration given to providing an opportunity for 29
members of the public to testify within available time.30
Standing Committees - Expenses - Subpoena Power31
Rule 27. Regardless of whether the legislature is in session, 32
members of the house may receive from moneys appropriated for the 33
legislature, reimbursement for necessary travel expenses, and 34
payments in lieu of subsistence and lodging for conducting official 35
business of the house. 36
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The standing committees of the house may have the powers of 1
subpoena, the power to administer oaths, and the power to issue 2
commissions for the examination of witnesses in accordance with the 3
provisions of chapter 44.16 RCW. Before a standing committee of the 4
house may issue any process, the committee chair shall submit for 5
approval of the executive rules committee a statement of purpose 6
setting forth the name or names of those subject to process. The 7
process shall not be issued prior to approval by the executive rules 8
committee. The process shall be limited to the named individuals.9
Vetoed Bills10
Rule 28. Veto messages of the governor shall be read in the house 11
and entered upon the journal. It shall then be in order to proceed to 12
reconsider the bill, refer it, lay it on the table, or postpone its 13
consideration to a day certain. 14
The merits of the bill may be debated before the vote is taken, 15
but the vote on a vetoed bill cannot be reconsidered.16
In case of a bill containing several sections or items, one or 17
more of which has been objected to by the governor, each section or 18
item so objected to shall be voted upon separately by the house. 19
Action by the house upon all vetoed bills shall be endorsed upon the 20
bill and certified by the speaker. 21
Vetoed bills originating in the house, which have not been passed 22
notwithstanding the veto of the governor, shall remain in the custody 23
of the officers of the house until the close of the term, after which 24
they shall be filed with the secretary of state. 25
Suspension of Compensation26
Rule 29. (1) Any member of the House of Representatives convicted 27
and sentenced for any felony punishable by death or by imprisonment 28
in a Washington state penal institution shall, as of the time of 29
sentencing, be denied the legislative salary for future service and 30
be denied per diem, compensation for expenses, office space 31
facilities, and assistance. Any member convicted of a felony and 32
sentenced therefor under any federal law or the law of any other 33
state shall, as of the time of sentencing, be similarly denied such 34
salary, per diem, expenses, facilities, and assistance if either (a) 35
such crime would also constitute a crime punishable under the laws of 36
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Washington by death or by imprisonment in a state penal institution, 1
or (b) the conduct resulting in the conviction and sentencing would 2
also constitute a crime punishable under the laws of Washington by 3
death or by imprisonment in a state penal institution.4
(2) At any time, the house may vote by a constitutional majority 5
to restore the salary, per diem, expenses, facilities, and assistance 6
denied a member under subsection (1). If the conviction of a member 7
is reversed, then the salary, per diem, and expense amounts denied 8
the member since sentencing shall be forthwith paid, and the member 9
shall thereafter have the rights and privileges of other members.10
Smoking and Vaping11
Rule 30. To provide a safe and healthy environment for all 12
members, employees, and the public, smoking and vaping shall not be 13
permitted at any public meeting of the House of Representatives or 14
within house facilities. Smoking includes the lighting of cigarettes, 15
pipes, or cigars. Vaping includes the use of electronic nicotine 16
delivery systems or electronic smoking devices such as e-cigarettes, 17
e-pipes, or e-cigars. 18
Liquor19
Rule 31. The House of Representatives shall strictly adhere to 20
the liquor laws of the state of Washington, including provisions 21
relating to banquet and special occasion permits. The proper permits 22
must always be obtained before consumption of liquor in any house 23
facility. 24
Parliamentary Rules25
Rule 32. The rules of parliamentary practice comprised in Reed's 26
Parliamentary Rules shall govern all cases in which they are not 27
inconsistent with the standing rules and orders of the house.28
Standing Rules Amendment29
Rule 33. Any standing rule may be rescinded or changed by a 30
majority vote of the members elected: PROVIDED, That the proposed 31
change or changes be submitted at least one day in advance in writing 32
to the members together with notice of the consideration thereof. Any 33
standing rule may be suspended temporarily by a two-thirds (2/3) vote 34
of the members present except as provided in Rule 11.35
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Rules to Apply for Assembly1
Rule 34. The permanent house rules adopted at the beginning of 2
the term are to govern all acts of the house during the course of the 3
term unless amended or repealed. 4
Legislative Publications5
Rule 35. The House of Representatives directs the house executive 6
rules committee to adopt procedures and guidelines to ensure that all 7
legislative publications at public expense are for legitimate 8
legislative purposes. 9
Emergency Resolution Authorized10
Rule 36. If the executive rules committee determines through a 11
majority vote that physically convening all members and staff in a 12
single location presents a danger to the health or safety of members, 13
staff, and the public or is impractical because of an emergency, 14
disaster, or catastrophic incident under RCW 42.14.010, the house 15
shall adopt a resolution establishing the rules and procedures 16
governing any special or regular legislative session. For purposes of 17
adopting the house resolution required by this rule, some or all 18
members may vote using the remote voting function or other process 19
established by the chief clerk. Members are considered in attendance 20
within the bar of the house when using the remote floor activity 21
system or following the established process, including for purposes 22
of establishing quorum. To the extent practicable, a member 23
participating remotely or otherwise under this rule has the same 24
privileges, rights, and responsibilities under the house rules as if 25
the member were physically present. 26
27
I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of28
Resolution 4600 adopted by the House of Representatives29
January 13, 2025 30
31
32
33
34
__________________________ 35
Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk 36
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