House rules, permanent

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That permanent House rules for 1
the Sixty-ninth Legislature be adopted as follows: 2
PERMANENT RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES3
SIXTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE 2025-20264
5 HOUSE RULE NO.
6 Rule 1 Definitions
7 Rule 2 Chief Clerk to Call to Order
8 Rule 3 Election of Officers
9 Rule 4 Powers and Duties of the Speaker
10 Rule 5 Chief Clerk
11 Rule 6 Executive Rules Committee
12 Rule 7 Duties of Employees
13 Rule 8 Admission to the House
14 Rule 9 Absentees and Courtesy
15 Rule 10 Bills, Memorials and Resolutions - Introductions
16 Rule 11 Reading of Bills
17 Rule 12 Amendments
18 Rule 13 Final Passage
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2025-4607, by Representative Fitzgibbon
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1 Rule 14 Hour of Meeting, Roll Call and Quorum
2 Rule 15 Daily Calendar and Order of Business
3 Rule 16 Motions
4 Rule 17 Remote Participation and V oting Permitted Upon Authorization
5 Rule 18 Members' Right to Debate
6 Rule 19 Rules of Debate
7 Rule 20 Ending of Debate - Previous Question
8 Rule 21 V oting
9 Rule 22 Reconsideration
10 Rule 23 Call of the House
11 Rule 24 Appeal from Decision of Chair
12 Rule 25 Standing Committees
13 Rule 26 Duties of Committees
14 Rule 27 Standing Committees - Expenses - Subpoena Power
15 Rule 28 Vetoed Bills
16 Rule 29 Suspension of Compensation
17 Rule 30 Smoking
18 Rule 31 Liquor
19 Rule 32 Parliamentary Rules
20 Rule 33 Standing Rules Amendment
21 Rule 34 Rules to Apply for Assembly
22 Rule 35 Legislative Publications
23 Rule 36 Emergency Resolution Authorized
Definitions24
Rule 1. (A) "Absent" means an unexcused failure to attend.25
(B) "Bill" means bill, joint memorial, joint resolution, or 26
concurrent resolution unless the context indicates otherwise.27
(C) "Committee" means any standing, conference, joint, or select 28
committee as so designated by rule or resolution. 29
(D) "Fiscal committee" means the appropriations, capital budget, 30
finance, and transportation committees. 31
(E) "Sergeant at arms" means the director of house security.32
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(F) "Session" means a constitutional gathering of the house in 1
accordance with Article II, section 12 of the state Constitution.2
(G) "Term" means the two-year term during which the members as a 3
body may act. 4
Chief Clerk to Call to Order5
Rule 2. It shall be the duty of the chief clerk of the previous 6
term to call the house to order and to conduct the proceedings until 7
a speaker is chosen. 8
Election of Officers9
Rule 3. The house shall elect the following officers at the 10
commencement of each term: Its presiding officer, who shall be styled 11
speaker of the house; a speaker pro tempore, who shall serve in 12
absence or in case of the inability of the speaker; a deputy speaker 13
pro tempore, who shall serve in absence or in case of the inability 14
of the speaker and speaker pro tempore; and a chief clerk of the 15
house. Such officers shall hold office during all sessions until the 16
convening of the succeeding term: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That any of 17
these offices may be declared vacant by the vote of a constitutional 18
majority of the house, the members voting viva voce and their votes 19
shall be entered on the journal. If any office is declared vacant, 20
the house shall fill such vacant office as hereinafter provided. In 21
all elections by the house a constitutional majority shall be 22
required, the members shall vote viva voce and their votes shall be 23
entered on the journal. (Article II, section 27) 24
Powers and Duties of the Speaker25
Rule 4. The speaker shall have the following powers and duties:26
(A) The speaker shall take the chair and call the house to order 27
precisely at the hour appointed for meeting and if a quorum be 28
present, shall cause the journal of the preceding day to be read and 29
shall proceed with the order of business. 30
(B) The speaker shall preserve order and decorum, and in case of 31
any disturbance or disorderly conduct within the chamber or 32
legislative area, shall order the sergeant at arms to suppress the 33
same and may order the sergeant at arms to remove any person creating 34
any disturbance within the house chamber or legislative area.35
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(C) The speaker may speak to points of order in preference to 1
other members, arising from the seat for that purpose, and shall 2
decide all questions of order subject to an appeal to the house by 3
any member, on which appeal no member shall speak more than once 4
without leave of the house. 5
(D) The speaker may authorize members who are not elected as 6
officers as provided in Rule 3 to perform the powers and duties of 7
the speaker described in subsections (A) through (C) of this rule.8
(E) The speaker shall sign all bills in open session. (Article 9
II, section 32) 10
(F) The speaker shall sign all writs, warrants, and subpoenas 11
issued by order of the house, all of which shall be attested to by 12
the chief clerk. 13
(G) The speaker shall have the right to name any member to 14
perform the duties of the chair, but such substitution shall neither 15
extend beyond adjournment nor authorize the representative so 16
substituted to sign any documents requiring the signature of the 17
speaker. 18
(H) The speaker, in open session, shall appoint committee chairs 19
as selected by the majority party caucus, and shall appoint members 20
to committees in the same ratio as the membership of the respective 21
parties of the house, unless otherwise provided by law or house 22
rules. 23
(I) The speaker shall serve as chair of the rules committee and 24
the executive rules committee. 25
(J) The speaker shall have charge of and see that all officers, 26
attaches, and clerks perform their respective duties.27
(K) The speaker pro tempore shall exercise the duties, powers, 28
and prerogatives of the speaker in the event of the speaker's death, 29
illness, removal, or inability to act until the speaker's successor 30
shall be elected. 31
Chief Clerk32
Rule 5. The chief clerk shall perform the usual duties pertaining 33
to the office, and shall hold office until a successor has been 34
elected. 35
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The chief clerk shall perform all administrative duties related 1
to the public records obligations of members of the house.2
The chief clerk shall employ, subject to the approval of the 3
speaker, all other house employees; the hours of duty and assignments 4
of all house employees shall be under the chief clerk's directions 5
and instructions, and they may be dismissed by the chief clerk with 6
the approval of the speaker. The speaker shall sign and the chief 7
clerk shall countersign all payrolls and vouchers for all expenses of 8
the house and appropriately transmit the same. In the event of the 9
chief clerk's death, illness, removal, or inability to act, the 10
speaker may appoint an acting chief clerk who shall exercise the 11
duties and powers of the chief clerk until the chief clerk's 12
successor shall be elected. 13
Executive Rules Committee14
Rule 6. The executive rules committee is hereby established to 15
oversee administrative operations of the house. The committee 16
consists of four members of the majority caucus and three members of 17
the minority caucus, to be named by the speaker and minority leader 18
respectively. 19
Duties of Employees20
Rule 7. Employees of the house shall perform such duties as are 21
assigned to them by the chief clerk. Under no circumstances shall the 22
compensation of any employee be increased for past services. No house 23
employee shall seek to influence the passage or rejection of proposed 24
legislation. 25
Admission to the House26
Rule 8. It shall be the general policy of the house to keep the 27
chamber clear as follows: 28
(A) The sergeant at arms shall admit only the following 29
individuals to the wings and adjacent areas of the house chamber for 30
the period of time beginning one-half hour prior to convening and 31
ending one-half hour following the adjournment of the house's daily 32
session: 33
The governor ((or designees, or both)); 34
Members of the senate; 35
State elected officials; 36
Officers and authorized employees of the legislature;37
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Former members of the house who are not advocating any pending or 1
proposed legislation; 2
Representatives of the press; 3
Other persons with the consent of the speaker. 4
(B) Only members of the house, pages, sergeants at arms, the 5
speaker's attorney, the leadership counsel to the minority caucus, 6
and clerks are permitted on the floor while the house is in session.7
(C) Lobbying in the house chamber or in any committee room or 8
lounge room is prohibited when the house or committee is in session 9
unless expressly permitted by the house or committee. Anyone 10
violating this rule will forfeit their right to be admitted to the 11
house chamber or any of its committee rooms. 12
Absentees and Courtesy13
Rule 9. No member shall be absent from the service of the house 14
without leave from the speaker. When the house is in session, only 15
the speaker shall recognize visitors and former members.16
Bills, Memorials and Resolutions - Introductions17
Rule 10. Any member desiring to introduce a bill shall file the 18
same with the chief clerk. Bills filed by 10:00 a.m. shall be 19
introduced at the next daily session, in the order filed: PROVIDED, 20
That if such introduction is within the last ten days of a regular 21
session, it cannot be considered without a direct vote of two-thirds 22
(2/3) of all the members elected to each house with such vote 23
recorded and entered upon the journal. (Article II, section 36)24
Any returning member or member-elect may prefile a bill with the 25
chief clerk commencing the first Monday in December preceding any 26
regular session or twenty (20) days before any special session. 27
Prefiled bills shall be introduced on the first legislative day.28
All bills shall be endorsed with a statement of the title and the 29
name of the member or members introducing the same. The chief clerk 30
shall attach to all bills a substantial cover bearing the title and 31
sponsors and shall number each bill in the order filed. All bills 32
shall be printed unless otherwise ordered by the house.33
Any bill introduced at any session during the term shall be 34
eligible for action at all subsequent sessions during the term.35
No house bill may be introduced that is identical to any other 36
pending house bill. 37
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No bill shall be introduced by title only, and, in the event a 1
bill is not complete, at least section 1 shall be set forth in full 2
before the bill may be accepted for introduction.3
Reading of Bills4
Rule 11. Every bill shall be read on three separate days: 5
PROVIDED, That this rule may be temporarily suspended at any time by 6
a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present; and that on and after 7
the fifth day prior to the day of adjournment sine die of any 8
session, as determined pursuant to Article II, section 12 of the 9
state Constitution or concurrent resolution, or on and after the 10
third day prior to the day a bill must be reported from the house as 11
established by concurrent resolution, this rule may be suspended by a 12
majority vote. 13
A bill may be returned to second reading for the purpose of 14
amendment by a suspension of the rules: PROVIDED, That on and after 15
the fifth day prior to the day of adjournment sine die of any 16
session, as determined pursuant to Article II, section 12 of the 17
state Constitution or concurrent resolution, or on and after the 18
third day prior to the day a bill must be reported from the house as 19
established by concurrent resolution, this rule may be suspended and 20
a bill returned to second reading for the purpose of amendment by a 21
majority vote. 22
(A) FIRST READING. The first reading of a bill shall be by title 23
only, unless a majority of the members present demand a reading in 24
full. 25
After the first reading the bill shall be referred to an 26
appropriate committee. 27
Upon being reported out of committee, all bills shall be referred 28
to the rules committee, unless otherwise ordered by the house.29
The rules committee may, by majority vote, refer any bill in its 30
possession to a committee for further consideration. Such referral 31
shall be reported to the house and entered in the journal under the 32
fifth order of business. 33
(B) SECOND READING. Upon second reading, the bill number and 34
short title and the last line of the bill shall be read unless a 35
majority of the members present shall demand its reading in full. The 36
bill shall be subject to amendment section by section. No amendment 37
shall be considered by the house until it has been sent to the chief 38
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clerk's desk in writing or electronically, distributed to the desk of 1
each member or made available to each member electronically, and read 2
by the clerk. All amendments adopted during second reading shall be 3
securely fastened to the original bill. All amendments rejected by 4
the house shall be passed to the minute clerk, and the journal shall 5
show the disposition of such amendments. 6
When no further amendments shall be offered, the speaker shall 7
declare the bill has passed its second reading. 8
(C) SUBSTITUTE BILLS. When a committee reports a substitute for 9
an original bill with the recommendation that the substitute bill do 10
pass, it shall be in order to read the substitute the first time and 11
have the same printed. A motion for the substitution shall not be in 12
order until the second reading of the original bill.13
(D) THIRD READING. Only the last line of bills shall be read on 14
third reading unless a majority of the members present demand a 15
reading in full. No amendments to a bill shall be received on third 16
reading but it may be referred or recommitted for the purpose of 17
amendment. 18
(E) SUSPENSION CALENDAR. Bills may be placed on the second 19
reading suspension calendar by the rules committee if at least two 20
minority party members of the rules committee join in such motion. 21
Bills on the second reading suspension calendar shall not be subject 22
to amendment or substitution except as recommended in the committee 23
report. When a bill is before the house on the suspension calendar, 24
the question shall be to adopt the committee recommendations and 25
advance the bill to third reading. If the question fails to receive a 26
two-thirds vote of the members present, the bill shall be referred to 27
the rules committee for second reading. 28
(F) HOUSE RESOLUTIONS. House resolutions shall be filed with the 29
chief clerk who shall transmit them to the rules committee. If a 30
rules committee meeting is not scheduled to occur prior to a time 31
necessitated by the purpose of a house resolution, the majority 32
leader and minority leader by agreement may waive transmission to the 33
rules committee to permit consideration of the resolution by the 34
house. The rules committee may adopt house resolutions by a sixty 35
percent majority vote of its entire membership or may, by a majority 36
vote of its members, place them on the motions calendar for 37
consideration by the house. House resolutions are not subject to 38
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debate, except for resolutions necessary for the operation of the 1
house, and resolutions commemorating Children's Day, Day of 2
Remembrance, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, National Guard Day, and 3
President's Day. 4
(G) CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS. Reading of concurrent resolutions may 5
be advanced by majority vote. 6
Amendments7
Rule 12. The right of any member to offer amendments to proposed 8
legislation shall not be limited except as provided in Rule 11 (E) and 9
as follows: 10
(A) AMENDMENTS TO BE OFFERED IN PROPER FORM. The chief clerk 11
shall establish the proper form for amendments and all amendments 12
offered shall bear the name of the member who offers the same, as 13
well as the number and section of the bill to be amended.14
(B) COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS. When a bill is before the house on 15
second reading, amendments adopted by committees and recommended to 16
the house shall be acted upon by the house before any amendments that 17
may be offered from the floor. 18
(C) SENATE AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILLS. A house bill, passed by the 19
senate with amendment or amendments which shall change the scope and 20
object of the bill, upon being received in the house, shall be 21
referred to the appropriate committee and shall take the same course 22
as for original bills unless a motion not to concur is adopted prior 23
to the bill being referred to committee. 24
(D) AMENDMENTS TO BE GERMANE. No motion or proposition on a 25
subject different from that under consideration shall be admitted 26
under color of amendment; and no bill or resolution shall at any time 27
be amended by annexing thereto or incorporating therein any other 28
bill or resolution pending before the house. 29
(E) SCOPE AND OBJECT NOT TO BE CHANGED. No amendment to any bill 30
shall be allowed which shall change the scope and object of the bill. 31
This objection may be raised at any time an amendment is under 32
consideration. The speaker may allow the person raising the objection 33
and the mover of the amendment to provide brief arguments as to the 34
merits of the objection. (Article II, section 38) 35
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(F) NO AMENDMENT BY REFERENCE. No act shall ever be revised or 1
amended without being set forth at full length. (Article II, section 2
37) 3
(G) TITLE AMENDMENTS. The subject matter portion of a bill title 4
shall not be amended in committee or on second reading. Changes to 5
that part of the title after the subject matter statement shall 6
either be presented with the text amendment or be incorporated by the 7
chief clerk in the engrossing process. 8
(H) DATE AND TIME FOR AMENDMENT SUBMISSION. To facilitate the 9
orderly consideration of proposed legislation, the speaker, after 10
consultation with the minority leader, may establish a date and time 11
for submission of amendments. 12
Final Passage13
Rule 13. Rules relating to bills on final passage are as follows:14
(A) BUDGET BILLS. No final passage vote may be taken on an 15
operating budget, transportation budget, or capital budget bill until 16
twenty-four (24) hours after the bill is placed on the third reading 17
calendar. The twenty-four (24) hour requirement does not apply to 18
conference reports, which are governed by the Joint Rules of the 19
Senate and the House of Representatives, or to bills placed on the 20
third reading calendar by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members 21
present. 22
(B) RECOMMITMENT BEFORE FINAL PASSAGE. A bill may be recommitted 23
at any time before its final passage. 24
(C) FINAL PASSAGE. No bill shall become a law unless on its final 25
passage the vote be taken by yeas and nays, the names of the members 26
voting for and against the same be entered on the journal of each 27
house, and a majority of the members elected to each house be 28
recorded thereon as voting in its favor. (Article II, section 22)29
(D) BILLS PASSED - CERTIFICATION. When a bill passes, it shall be 30
certified to by the chief clerk, said certification to show the date 31
of its passage together with the vote thereon. 32
Hour of Meeting, Roll Call and Quorum33
Rule 14. (A) HOUR OF MEETING. The speaker shall call the house to 34
order each day of sitting at 10:00 A.M., unless the house shall have 35
adjourned to some other hour. 36
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(B) ROLL CALL AND QUORUM. Before proceeding with business, the 1
roll of the members shall be called and the names of those absent or 2
excused shall be entered on the journal. A majority of all the 3
members elected must be present to constitute a quorum for the 4
transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, seven members 5
with the speaker, or eight members in the speaker's absence, having 6
chosen a speaker pro tempore, shall be authorized to demand a call of 7
the house and may compel the attendance of absent members in the 8
manner provided in Rule 23 (B). Any member participating remotely in 9
house proceedings as provided in Rule 17 shall be considered present 10
for purposes of a quorum. For the purpose of determining if a quorum 11
be present, the speaker shall count all members present, whether 12
voting or not. (Article II, section 8) 13
(C) The house shall adjourn not later than 10:00 P.M. of each 14
working day. This rule may be suspended by a majority vote.15
Daily Calendar and Order of Business16
Rule 15. The rules relating to the daily calendar and order of 17
business are as follows: 18
(A) DAILY CALENDAR. Business of the house shall be disposed of in 19
the following order: 20
First: Roll call, presentation of colors, prayer, and approval of 21
the journal of the preceding day. 22
Second: Introduction of visiting dignitaries. 23
Third: Messages from the senate, governor, and other state 24
officials. 25
Fourth: Introduction and first reading of bills, memorials, joint 26
resolutions, and concurrent resolutions. 27
Fifth: Committee reports. 28
Sixth: Second reading of bills. 29
Seventh: Third reading of bills. 30
Eighth: Floor resolutions and motions. 31
Ninth: Presentation of petitions, memorials, and remonstrances 32
addressed to the Legislature. 33
Tenth: Introduction of visitors and other business to be 34
considered. 35
Eleventh: Announcements. 36
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(B) UNFINISHED BUSINESS. The unfinished business at which the 1
house was engaged preceding adjournment shall not be taken up until 2
reached in regular order, unless the previous question on such 3
unfinished business has been ordered prior to said adjournment.4
(C) EXCEPTIONS. Exceptions to the order of business are as 5
follows: 6
(1) The order of business may be changed by a majority vote of 7
those present. 8
(2) By motion under the eighth order of business, a bill in the 9
rules committee may be placed on the calendar by the affirmative vote 10
of a majority of all members of the house. 11
(3) House resolutions and messages from the senate, governor, or 12
other state officials may be read at any time. 13
Motions14
Rule 16. Rules relating to motions are as follows:15
(A) MOTIONS TO BE ENTERTAINED OR DEBATED. No motion shall be 16
entertained or debated until announced by the speaker and every 17
motion shall be deemed to have been seconded. A motion shall be 18
reduced to writing and read by the clerk, if desired by the speaker 19
or any member, before it shall be debated and by the consent of the 20
house may be withdrawn before amendment or action.21
(B) MOTIONS IN ORDER DURING DEBATE. When a motion has been made 22
and seconded and stated by the chair, the following motions are in 23
order, in the rank named: 24
25 (1) Privileged motions:
26 Adjourn
27 Adjourn to a time certain
28 Recess to a time certain
29 Reconsider
30 Demand for division
31 Question of privilege
32 Orders of the day
33
34 (2) Subsidiary motions:
35 First rank: Question of consideration
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1 Second rank: To lay on the table
2 Third rank: For the previous question
3 Fourth rank: To postpone to a day certain
4 To commit or recommit
5 To postpone indefinitely
6 Fifth rank: To amend
7
8 (3) Incidental motions:
9 Points of order and appeal
10 Method of consideration
11 Suspension of the rules
12 Reading papers
13 Withdraw a motion
14 Division of a question
(C) THE EFFECT OF POSTPONEMENT - MOTIONS TO POSTPONE OR COMMIT. 15
Once decided, no motion to postpone to a day certain, to commit, or 16
to postpone indefinitely shall again be allowed on the same day and 17
at the same stage of the proceedings. When a question has been 18
postponed indefinitely, it shall not again be introduced during the 19
session. The motion to postpone indefinitely may be made at any stage 20
of the bill except when on first reading. 21
(D) MOTIONS DECIDED WITHOUT DEBATE. A motion to adjourn, to 22
recess, to lay on the table and to call for the previous question 23
shall be decided without debate. 24
All incidental motions shall be decided without debate, except 25
that members may speak to points of order and appeal as provided in 26
Rule 24. 27
Motions to adopt house resolutions shall be decided without 28
debate, except as provided in Rule 11(F). 29
A motion for suspension of the rules shall not be debatable 30
except that the mover of the motion may briefly explain the purpose 31
of the motion and one member may briefly state the opposition to the 32
motion. 33
(E) MOTION TO ADJOURN. A motion to adjourn shall always be in 34
order, except when the house is voting or is working under the call 35
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of the house; but this rule shall not authorize any member to move 1
for adjournment when another member has the floor. 2
Remote Participation and Voting Permitted Upon Authorization3
Rule 17. The majority leader and minority leader or their 4
designees may authorize members of their respective caucuses to 5
participate remotely in official house proceedings, including 6
committee meetings and floor sessions, upon the request of a member 7
who is experiencing a medical condition or illness that prevents in-8
person participation. Once authorized, any member participating 9
remotely shall be considered present for purposes of a quorum and 10
voting. Members participating remotely shall use the computer and 11
virtual background provided by the house during all committee 12
meetings and floor proceedings. The majority leader and minority 13
leader or their designees shall determine when the member's 14
authorization to participate remotely ends. 15
Members' Right to Debate16
Rule 18. The methods by which a member may exercise their right 17
to debate are as follows: 18
(A) RECOGNITION OF MEMBER. When any member desires to speak in 19
debate or deliver any matter to the house, the member shall rise and 20
respectfully address the speaker and pause until recognized. Any 21
member participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in 22
Rule 17 who desires to speak may request to be recognized by use of 23
the request to speak button in the remote floor activity system.24
(B) ORDER OF SPEAKING. When two or more members arise at once, 25
the speaker shall name the one who is to speak. 26
(C) LIMITATION OF DEBATE. No member shall speak longer than ten 27
(10) minutes without consent of the house: PROVIDED, That on and 28
after the fifth day prior to the day of adjournment sine die of any 29
session, as determined pursuant to Article II, section 12 of the 30
state Constitution or concurrent resolution, or on and after the 31
fifth day prior to the day any bill must be reported from the house 32
as established by concurrent resolution, no member shall speak more 33
than three (3) minutes without the consent of the house. No member 34
shall speak more than twice on the same question without leave of the 35
house: PROVIDED, That the chair of the committee or the mover of the 36
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question may close debate if it is consistent with Rule 20 (Previous 1
Question). 2
Rules of Debate3
Rule 19. The rules for debate in the house are as follows:4
(A) QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE. Any member may rise to a question of 5
privilege and explain a personal matter, by leave of the speaker, but 6
the member shall not discuss any pending question in such 7
explanations. 8
(B) WITHDRAWAL OF MOTION, BILL, ETC. After a motion is stated by 9
the speaker or a bill, memorial, resolution, petition, or 10
remonstrance is read by the clerk, it shall be deemed to be in 11
possession of the house, but may be withdrawn by consent of the house 12
at any time before decision or amendment. 13
(C) READING OF A PAPER. When the reading of any paper is called 14
for and is objected to by any member, it shall be determined by a 15
vote of the house. 16
(D) DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS. Any materials of any nature 17
distributed to the members' desks on the floor shall be subject to 18
approval by the speaker and shall bear the name of at least one 19
member granted permission for the distribution. Any member 20
participating remotely as provided in Rule 17 who wishes to 21
distribute materials subject to the speaker's approval may do so 22
electronically. All materials approved for distribution shall be 23
provided electronically to members participating remotely to the 24
extent practicable. This shall not apply to materials normally 25
distributed by the chief clerk. 26
(E) ORDER OF QUESTIONS. All questions, whether in committee or in 27
the house, shall be propounded in the order in which they are named 28
except that in filling blanks, the largest sum and the longest time 29
shall be put first. 30
(F) DIVISION OF POINTS OF DEBATE. Any member may call for a 31
division of a question which shall be divided if it embraces subjects 32
so distinct that one being taken away a substantive proposition shall 33
remain for the decision of the house; but a motion to strike out and 34
to insert shall not be divided. The rejection of a motion to strike 35
out and to insert one proposition shall not prevent a motion to 36
strike out and to insert a different proposition. 37
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(G) DECORUM OF MEMBERS. While the speaker is putting the 1
question, no member shall walk across or out of the house; nor when a 2
member is speaking shall any member entertain private discourse or 3
pass between the speaking member and the rostrum. 4
(H) REMARKS CONFINED. A member shall confine all remarks to the 5
question under debate and avoid personalities. No member shall impugn 6
the motive of any member's vote or argument. 7
(I) EXCEPTION TO WORDS SPOKEN IN DEBATE. If any member be called 8
to order for words spoken in debate, the person calling the member to 9
order shall repeat the words excepted to and they shall be taken down 10
in writing at the clerk's table. No member shall be held in answer or 11
be subject to the censure of the house for words spoken in debate if 12
any other member has spoken before exception to them shall have been 13
taken. 14
(J) TRANSGRESSION OF RULES - APPEAL. If any member, in speaking 15
or otherwise, transgresses the rules of the house the speaker shall, 16
or any member may, call the member to order, in which case the member 17
so called to order shall immediately sit down unless permitted to 18
explain; and the house shall, if appealed to, decide the case without 19
debate; if there be no appeal, the decision of the chair shall 20
prevail. 21
If the decision be in favor of the member called to order, the 22
member shall be at liberty to proceed; if otherwise, and the case 23
shall require it, the member shall be liable to the censure of the 24
house. 25
Ending of Debate - Previous Question26
Rule 20. The previous question shall not be put unless demanded 27
by one-sixth (1/6) of the members present.28
The previous question may be ordered by a ((two-thirds (2/3) )) 29
majority vote of the members present on all recognized motions or 30
amendments which are debatable. 31
The previous question is not debatable and cannot be amended.32
The previous question shall be put in this form: 33
"((Representative __________ demands the previous question. )) As many 34
as are in favor of ordering the previous question will say 'Aye'; as 35
many as are opposed will say 'No'." 36
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The results of the motion are as follows: If determined in the 1
negative, the consideration goes on as if the motion had never been 2
made; if decided in the affirmative it shall have the effect of 3
cutting off all debate and bringing the house to a direct vote upon 4
the motion or amendment on which it has been ordered: PROVIDED 5
HOWEVER, That when a bill is on final passage or when the motion to 6
postpone indefinitely is pending, ((one of the sponsors of the bill 7
or the chair of the committee )) one proponent and one opponent may 8
have the privilege of closing debate for up to three minutes after 9
the previous question has been ordered. 10
If an adjournment is had after the previous question is ordered, 11
the motion or proposition on which the previous question was ordered 12
shall be put to the house immediately following the approval of the 13
journal on the next working day, thus making the main question 14
privileged over all other business, whether new or unfinished.15
Voting16
Rule 21. (A) PUTTING OF QUESTION. The speaker shall put the 17
question in the following form: "The question before the house is 18
(state the question). As many as are in favor say 'Aye'; and after 19
the affirmative vote is expressed, "as many as are opposed say 'No'."20
(B) ALL MEMBERS TO VOTE. Except as provided in subsection (G), 21
every member who was in the house or participating remotely in house 22
proceedings as provided in Rule 17 when the question was put shall 23
vote unless, for special reasons, excused by the house.24
All motions to excuse a member shall be made before the house 25
divides or before the call for yeas and nays is commenced; and any 26
member requesting to be excused from voting may make a brief and 27
verbal statement of the reasons for making such request, and the 28
question shall then be taken without further debate.29
(C) COUNT OF THE HOUSE. Upon a division and count of the house on 30
the question, only members at their desks within the bar of the house 31
or participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in Rule 17 32
shall be counted. 33
(D) CHANGE OF VOTE. When the electric roll call machine is used, 34
no member shall be allowed to vote or change a vote after the speaker 35
has locked the roll call machine. When an oral roll call is taken, no 36
member shall be allowed to vote or change a vote after the result has 37
been announced. 38
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(E) PRIVATE INTEREST. No member shall vote on any question which 1
affects that member privately and particularly. A member who has a 2
private interest in any bill or measure proposed or pending before 3
the legislature shall disclose the fact to the house of which he is a 4
member, and shall not vote thereon. (Article II, section 30)5
(F) INTERRUPTION OF ROLL CALL. Once begun, the roll call may not 6
be interrupted. No member or other person shall visit or remain at 7
the clerk's desk while the yeas and nays are being called.8
(G) MOTIONS NOT REQUIRING A RECORDED ROLL CALL VOTE. Members in 9
the house and members participating remotely in house proceedings as 10
provided in Rule 17 may vote on any motion not requiring a recorded 11
roll call vote, including when the house divides. Members 12
participating remotely may vote using the remote floor activity 13
system. 14
(H) INABILITY TO VOTE USING REMOTE VOTING FUNCTION. A member 15
participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in Rule 17 16
who is unable to vote using the remote voting function on any motion 17
requiring a recorded roll call vote may vote orally. If a member is 18
unable to vote using the remote voting function or orally, the 19
rostrum staff shall contact the member by telephone and the member's 20
vote may be taken by telephone to rostrum staff after the member 21
answers security questions to verify the identity of the member. The 22
rostrum staff will announce the vote of the member, which shall be 23
recorded. 24
(I) YEAS AND NAYS - RECORDED VOTES. Upon the final passage of any 25
bill, the vote shall be taken by yeas and nays and shall be recorded 26
by the electric voting system: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That an oral roll 27
call shall be ordered when demanded by one-sixth (1/6) of the members 28
present. (Article II, section 21) 29
The speaker may vote last when the yeas and nays are called.30
When the vote is by electric voting machine or by oral roll call 31
on any question, it shall be entered upon the journal of the house. A 32
recorded vote may be compelled by one-sixth (1/6) of the members 33
present. A request for a recorded vote must be made before the vote 34
is commenced. 35
(J) TIE VOTE, QUESTION LOSES. In case of an equal division, the 36
question shall be lost. 37
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(K) DIVISION. If the speaker is in doubt, or if division is 1
called for by any member, the house shall divide. 2
(L) STATEMENT FOR JOURNAL. A member whose recorded vote does not 3
accurately reflect their intent may submit a written statement for 4
the journal clarifying their intent to vote aye or nay. The statement 5
must be submitted to the chief clerk on the same day the vote is 6
taken. A member who is excused for one or more days of recorded votes 7
may submit a written statement for the journal explaining the reason 8
for their absence. The statement may not exceed 50 words and must be 9
submitted to the chief clerk on the same day the member returns. A 10
member participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in 11
Rule 17 who was unable to vote using the remote voting function, 12
orally, or by telephone may submit a statement for the journal within 13
48 hours indicating their intent to vote yea or nay.14
Reconsideration15
Rule 22. Notice of a motion for reconsideration on the final 16
passage of bills shall be made on the day the vote to be reconsidered 17
was taken and before the house has voted to transmit the bill to the 18
senate. 19
Reconsideration of the votes on the final passage of bills must 20
be taken on the next working day after such vote was taken: PROVIDED, 21
That on and after the fifth day prior to the day of adjournment sine 22
die of any session, as determined pursuant to Article II, section 12 23
of the state Constitution, or concurrent resolution, or on and after 24
the third day prior to the day a bill must be reported from the house 25
as established by concurrent resolution, then reconsideration of 26
votes on the final passage of bills must be taken on the same day as 27
the original vote was taken: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That any member 28
participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in Rule 17 29
who was unable to vote using the remote voting function, orally, or 30
by telephone may require reconsideration of the vote on the final 31
passage of bills the same day the vote is taken. 32
A motion to reconsider an amendment may be made at any time the 33
bill remains on second reading. 34
Any member who voted on the prevailing side may move for 35
reconsideration or give notice thereof. 36
A motion to reconsider can be decided only once when decided in 37
the negative. 38
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When a motion to reconsider has been carried, its effect shall be 1
to place the original question before the house in the exact position 2
it occupied before it was voted upon. 3
Call of the House4
Rule 23. One-sixth (1/6) of the members present may demand a call 5
of the house at any time before the house has divided or the voting 6
has commenced by yeas and nays. 7
(A) DOORS TO BE CLOSED. When call of the house has been ordered, 8
the sergeant at arms shall close and lock the doors, and no member 9
shall be allowed to leave the chamber: PROVIDED, That the rules 10
committee shall be allowed to meet, upon request of the speaker, 11
while the house stands at ease: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That the 12
speaker may permit members to use such portions of the fourth floor 13
as may be properly secured. 14
(B) SERGEANT AT ARMS TO BRING IN THE ABSENTEES. The clerk shall 15
immediately call a roll of the members and note the absentees, whose 16
names shall be read and entered upon the journal in such manner as to 17
show who are excused and who are absent without leave. A member 18
authorized to participate remotely in house proceedings as provided 19
in Rule 17 who is visible at the time of the roll call through the 20
remote floor activity system shall not be considered absent or absent 21
without leave. 22
The clerk shall furnish the sergeant at arms with a list of those 23
who are absent without leave, and the sergeant at arms shall proceed 24
to bring in such absentees; but arrests of members for absence shall 25
not be made unless ordered by a majority of the members present.26
(C) HOUSE UNDER CALL. While the house is under a call, no 27
business shall be transacted except to receive and act on the report 28
of the sergeant at arms; and no other motion shall be in order except 29
a motion to proceed with business under the call of the house, a 30
motion to excuse absentees, or a motion to dispense with the call of 31
the house. The motion to proceed with business under the call of the 32
house and the motion to excuse absent members shall not be adopted 33
unless a majority of the members elected vote in favor thereof. The 34
motion to dispense with the call of the house may be adopted by a 35
majority of the members present. 36
Appeal from Decision of Chair37
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Rule 24. The decision of the chair may be appealed from by any 1
member, on which appeal no member shall speak more than once unless 2
by leave of the house. In all cases of appeal, the question shall be: 3
"Shall the decision of the chair stand as the judgment of the house?"4
Standing Committees5
Rule 25. The standing committees of the house and the number of 6
members that shall serve on each committee shall be as follows:7
1. Agriculture & Natural Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
2. Appropriations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
3. Capital Budget. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1910
4. Civil Rights & Judiciary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1311
5. Community Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 912
6. Consumer Protection & Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1513
7. Early Learning & Human Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1114
8. Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1915
9. Environment & Energy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2116
10. Finance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1517
11. Health Care & Wellness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1918
12. Housing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1719
13. Labor & Workplace Standards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 920
14. Local Government. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 721
15. Postsecondary Education & Workforce. . . . . . . . . . . . 1722
16. Rules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2423
17. State Government & Tribal Relations. . . . . . . . . . . . 724
18. Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans. . . . . . . 1325
19. Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2726
Committee members shall be selected by each party's caucus. The 27
majority party caucus shall select all committee chairs.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
Speaker may authorize a reduction of the five-day notice period when 37
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required by the circumstances, including but not limited to the time 1
remaining for action on the bill, the nature of the subject, and the 2
number of prior hearings on the subject. 3
(B) COMMITTEE QUORUM. A majority of any committee shall 4
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.5
(C) SESSION MEETINGS. No committee shall sit while the house is 6
in session without special leave of the speaker. 7
(D) DUTIES OF STANDING COMMITTEES. 8
(1) Only such bills as are included on the written notice of a 9
committee meeting may be considered at that meeting.10
(2) A majority recommendation of a committee must be made by a 11
majority of the entire membership of the committee in a regularly 12
called meeting before a bill, memorial, or resolution may be reported 13
out: PROVIDED, That by motion under the eighth order of business, a 14
majority of the members elected to the house may relieve a committee 15
of a bill and place it on the second reading calendar.16
Majority recommendations of a committee can only be "do pass," 17
"do pass as amended," or that "the substitute bill be substituted 18
therefor and that the substitute bill do pass." 19
(3) Members of the committee not concurring in the majority 20
report may make a written minority report containing a recommendation 21
of "do not pass" or "without recommendation," which shall be joined 22
by those members of the committee subscribing thereto, and submitted 23
with the majority report. 24
(4) Every recommendation and report shall be made by members of 25
the committee during the regularly called meeting of the committee. 26
No signatures are required. 27
(5) All committee reports shall be spread upon the journal. The 28
journal of the house shall contain an exact copy of all committee 29
reports, together with the names of the members joining in the 30
majority and minority recommendations contained in such reports.31
(6) Every vote to report a bill out of committee shall be taken 32
by the yeas and nays, with the nays specifying "do not pass" or 33
"without recommendation," and the names of the members voting for and 34
against, as well as the names of members absent, shall be recorded on 35
the committee report. Any member may call for a recorded vote, which 36
shall include the names of absent members, on any substantive 37
question before the committee. A copy of all recorded committee votes 38
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shall be kept by the chief clerk and shall be available for public 1
inspection. 2
(7) A member participating remotely in house proceedings as 3
provided in Rule 17 who is unable to vote on a bill in committee for 4
technical reasons may submit a statement for the bill file indicating 5
their intent to have voted yea, nay-do not pass, or nay-without 6
recommendation. The statement must be submitted to the chief clerk on 7
the same day the vote is taken. 8
(8) All bills having a direct appropriation shall be referred to 9
the appropriate fiscal committee before their final passage.10
(9) No standing committee shall vote by secret written ballot on 11
any issue. 12
(10) During its consideration of or vote on any bill, resolution, 13
or memorial, the deliberations of any standing committee of the House 14
of Representatives shall be open to the public. 15
(11) A standing committee to which a bill was originally referred 16
shall, prior to voting the bill out of committee, consider whether 17
the bill authorizes rule-making powers or requires the exercise of 18
rule-making powers and, if so, consider: 19
(a) The nature of the new rule-making powers; and20
(b) To which agencies the new rule-making powers would be 21
delegated and which agencies, if any, may have related rule-making 22
powers. 23
(12) Insofar as practicable, testimony in public hearings should 24
be balanced between those in support of and in opposition to proposed 25
legislation, with consideration given to providing an opportunity for 26
members of the public to testify within available time.27
Standing Committees - Expenses - Subpoena Power28
Rule 27. Regardless of whether the legislature is in session, 29
members of the house may receive from moneys appropriated for the 30
legislature, reimbursement for necessary travel expenses, and 31
payments in lieu of subsistence and lodging for conducting official 32
business of the house. 33
The standing committees of the house may have the powers of 34
subpoena, the power to administer oaths, and the power to issue 35
commissions for the examination of witnesses in accordance with the 36
provisions of chapter 44.16 RCW. Before a standing committee of the 37
house may issue any process, the committee chair shall submit for 38
approval of the executive rules committee a statement of purpose 39
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setting forth the name or names of those subject to process. The 1
process shall not be issued prior to approval by the executive rules 2
committee. The process shall be limited to the named individuals.3
Vetoed Bills4
Rule 28. Veto messages of the governor shall be read in the house 5
and entered upon the journal. It shall then be in order to proceed to 6
reconsider the bill, refer it, lay it on the table, or postpone its 7
consideration to a day certain. 8
The merits of the bill may be debated before the vote is taken, 9
but the vote on a vetoed bill cannot be reconsidered.10
In case of a bill containing several sections or items, one or 11
more of which has been objected to by the governor, each section or 12
item so objected to shall be voted upon separately by the house. 13
Action by the house upon all vetoed bills shall be endorsed upon the 14
bill and certified by the speaker. 15
Vetoed bills originating in the house, which have not been passed 16
notwithstanding the veto of the governor, shall remain in the custody 17
of the officers of the house until the close of the term, after which 18
they shall be filed with the secretary of state. 19
Suspension of Compensation20
Rule 29. (1) Any member of the House of Representatives convicted 21
and sentenced for any felony punishable by death or by imprisonment 22
in a Washington state penal institution shall, as of the time of 23
sentencing, be denied the legislative salary for future service and 24
be denied per diem, compensation for expenses, office space 25
facilities, and assistance. Any member convicted of a felony and 26
sentenced therefor under any federal law or the law of any other 27
state shall, as of the time of sentencing, be similarly denied such 28
salary, per diem, expenses, facilities, and assistance if either (a) 29
such crime would also constitute a crime punishable under the laws of 30
Washington by death or by imprisonment in a state penal institution, 31
or (b) the conduct resulting in the conviction and sentencing would 32
also constitute a crime punishable under the laws of Washington by 33
death or by imprisonment in a state penal institution.34
(2) At any time, the house may vote by a constitutional majority 35
to restore the salary, per diem, expenses, facilities, and assistance 36
denied a member under subsection (1). If the conviction of a member 37
is reversed, then the salary, per diem, and expense amounts denied 38
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the member since sentencing shall be forthwith paid, and the member 1
shall thereafter have the rights and privileges of other members.2
Smoking and Vaping3
Rule 30. To provide a safe and healthy environment for all 4
members, employees, and the public, smoking and vaping shall not be 5
permitted at any public meeting of the House of Representatives or 6
within house facilities. Smoking includes the lighting of cigarettes, 7
pipes, or cigars. Vaping includes the use of electronic nicotine 8
delivery systems or electronic smoking devices such as e-cigarettes, 9
e-pipes, or e-cigars. 10
Liquor11
Rule 31. The House of Representatives shall strictly adhere to 12
the liquor laws of the state of Washington, including provisions 13
relating to banquet and special occasion permits. The proper permits 14
must always be obtained before consumption of liquor in any house 15
facility. 16
Parliamentary Rules17
Rule 32. The rules of parliamentary practice comprised in Reed's 18
Parliamentary Rules shall govern all cases in which they are not 19
inconsistent with the standing rules and orders of the house.20
Standing Rules Amendment21
Rule 33. Any standing rule may be rescinded or changed by a 22
majority vote of the members elected: PROVIDED, That the proposed 23
change or changes be submitted at least one day in advance in writing 24
to the members together with notice of the consideration thereof. Any 25
standing rule may be suspended temporarily by a two-thirds (2/3) vote 26
of the members present except as provided in Rule 11.27
Rules to Apply for Assembly28
Rule 34. The permanent house rules adopted at the beginning of 29
the term are to govern all acts of the house during the course of the 30
term unless amended or repealed. 31
Legislative Publications32
Rule 35. The House of Representatives directs the house executive 33
rules committee to adopt procedures and guidelines to ensure that all 34
legislative publications at public expense are for legitimate 35
legislative purposes. 36
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Emergency Resolution Authorized1
Rule 36. If the executive rules committee determines through a 2
majority vote that physically convening all members and staff in a 3
single location presents a danger to the health or safety of members, 4
staff, and the public or is impractical because of an emergency, 5
disaster, or catastrophic incident under RCW 42.14.010, the house 6
shall adopt a resolution establishing the rules and procedures 7
governing any special or regular legislative session. For purposes of 8
adopting the house resolution required by this rule, some or all 9
members may vote using the remote voting function or other process 10
established by the chief clerk. Members are considered in attendance 11
within the bar of the house when using the remote floor activity 12
system or following the established process, including for purposes 13
of establishing quorum. To the extent practicable, a member 14
participating remotely or otherwise under this rule has the same 15
privileges, rights, and responsibilities under the house rules as if 16
the member were physically present. 17
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