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. 2026-4667, by Representative Fitzgibbon
p. 1 HR 4667
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
p. 2 HR 4667
(D) "Fiscal committee" means the appropriations, capital budget, 1
finance, and transportation committees. 2
(E) "Sergeant at arms" means the director of house security.3
(F) "Session" means a constitutional gathering of the house in 4
accordance with Article II, section 12 of the state Constitution.5
(G) "Term" means the two-year term during which the members as a 6
body may act. 7
Chief Clerk to Call to Order8
Rule 2. It shall be the duty of the chief clerk of the previous 9
term to call the house to order and to conduct the proceedings until 10
a speaker is chosen. 11
Election of Officers12
Rule 3. The house shall elect the following officers at the 13
commencement of each term: Its presiding officer, who shall be styled 14
speaker of the house; a speaker pro tempore, who shall serve in 15
absence or in case of the inability of the speaker; a deputy speaker 16
pro tempore, who shall serve in absence or in case of the inability 17
of the speaker and speaker pro tempore; and a chief clerk of the 18
house. Such officers shall hold office during all sessions until the 19
convening of the succeeding term: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That any of 20
these offices may be declared vacant by the vote of a constitutional 21
majority of the house, the members voting viva voce and their votes 22
shall be entered on the journal. If any office is declared vacant, 23
the house shall fill such vacant office as hereinafter provided. In 24
all elections by the house a constitutional majority shall be 25
required, the members shall vote viva voce and their votes shall be 26
entered on the journal. (Article II, section 27) 27
Powers and Duties of the Speaker28
Rule 4. The speaker shall have the following powers and duties:29
(A) The speaker shall take the chair and call the house to order 30
precisely at the hour appointed for meeting and if a quorum be 31
present, shall cause the journal of the preceding day to be read and 32
shall proceed with the order of business. 33
p. 3 HR 4667
(B) The speaker shall preserve order and decorum, and in case of 1
any disturbance or disorderly conduct within the chamber or 2
legislative area, shall order the sergeant at arms to suppress the 3
same and may order the sergeant at arms to remove any person creating 4
any disturbance within the house chamber or legislative area.5
(C) The speaker may speak to points of order in preference to 6
other members, arising from the seat for that purpose, and shall 7
decide all questions of order subject to an appeal to the house by 8
any member, on which appeal no member shall speak more than once 9
without leave of the house. 10
(D) The speaker may authorize members who are not elected as 11
officers as provided in Rule 3 to perform the powers and duties of 12
the speaker described in subsections (A) through (C) of this rule.13
(E) The speaker shall sign all bills in open session. (Article 14
II, section 32) 15
(F) The speaker shall sign all writs, warrants, and subpoenas 16
issued by order of the house, all of which shall be attested to by 17
the chief clerk. 18
(G) The speaker shall have the right to name any member to 19
perform the duties of the chair, but such substitution shall neither 20
extend beyond adjournment nor authorize the representative so 21
substituted to sign any documents requiring the signature of the 22
speaker. 23
(H) The speaker, in open session, shall appoint committee chairs 24
as selected by the majority party caucus, and shall appoint members 25
to committees in the same ratio as the membership of the respective 26
parties of the house, unless otherwise provided by law or house 27
rules. 28
(I) The speaker shall serve as chair of the rules committee and 29
the executive rules committee. 30
(J) The speaker shall have charge of and see that all officers, 31
attaches, and clerks perform their respective duties.32
(K) The speaker pro tempore shall exercise the duties, powers, 33
and prerogatives of the speaker in the event of the speaker's death, 34
p. 4 HR 4667
illness, removal, or inability to act until the speaker's successor 1
shall be elected. 2
Chief Clerk3
Rule 5. The chief clerk shall perform the usual duties pertaining 4
to the office, and shall hold office until a successor has been 5
elected. 6
The chief clerk shall perform all administrative duties related 7
to the public records obligations of members of the house.8
The chief clerk shall employ, subject to the approval of the 9
speaker, all other house employees; the hours of duty and assignments 10
of all house employees shall be under the chief clerk's directions 11
and instructions, and they may be dismissed by the chief clerk with 12
the approval of the speaker. The speaker shall sign and the chief 13
clerk shall countersign all payrolls and vouchers for all expenses of 14
the house and appropriately transmit the same. In the event of the 15
chief clerk's death, illness, removal, or inability to act, the 16
speaker may appoint an acting chief clerk who shall exercise the 17
duties and powers of the chief clerk until the chief clerk's 18
successor shall be elected. 19
Executive Rules Committee20
Rule 6. The executive rules committee is hereby established to 21
oversee administrative operations of the house. The committee 22
consists of four members of the majority caucus and three members of 23
the minority caucus, to be named by the speaker and minority leader 24
respectively. 25
Duties of Employees26
Rule 7. Employees of the house shall perform such duties as are 27
assigned to them by the chief clerk. Under no circumstances shall the 28
compensation of any employee be increased for past services. No house 29
employee shall seek to influence the passage or rejection of proposed 30
legislation. 31
Admission to the House32
Rule 8. It shall be the general policy of the house to keep the 33
chamber clear as follows: 34
p. 5 HR 4667
(A) The sergeant at arms shall admit only the following 1
individuals to the wings and adjacent areas of the house chamber for 2
the period of time beginning one-half hour prior to convening and 3
ending one-half hour following the adjournment of the house's daily 4
session: 5
The governor; 6
Members of the senate; 7
State elected officials; 8
Officers and authorized employees of the legislature;9
Former members of the house who are not advocating any pending or 10
proposed legislation; 11
Representatives of the press; 12
Other persons with the consent of the speaker.13
(B) Only members of the house, pages, sergeants at arms, the 14
speaker's attorney, the leadership counsel to the minority caucus, 15
and clerks are permitted on the floor while the house is in session.16
(C) Lobbying in the house chamber or in any committee room or 17
lounge room is prohibited when the house or committee is in session 18
unless expressly permitted by the house or committee. Anyone 19
violating this rule will forfeit their right to be admitted to the 20
house chamber or any of its committee rooms. 21
Absentees and Courtesy22
Rule 9. No member shall be absent from the service of the house 23
without leave from the speaker. When the house is in session, only 24
the speaker shall recognize visitors and former members.25
Bills, Memorials and Resolutions - Introductions26
Rule 10. Any member desiring to introduce a bill shall file the 27
same with the chief clerk. Bills filed by 10:00 a.m. shall be 28
introduced at the next daily session, in the order filed: PROVIDED, 29
That if such introduction is within the last ten days of a regular 30
session, it cannot be considered without a direct vote of two-thirds 31
(2/3) of all the members elected to each house with such vote 32
recorded and entered upon the journal. (Article II, section 36)33
Any returning member or member-elect may prefile a bill with the 34
chief clerk commencing the first Monday in December preceding any 35
p. 6 HR 4667
regular session or twenty (20) days before any special session. 1
Prefiled bills shall be introduced on the first legislative day.2
All bills shall be endorsed with a statement of the title and the 3
name of the member or members introducing the same. The chief clerk 4
shall attach to all bills a substantial cover bearing the title and 5
sponsors and shall number each bill in the order filed. All bills 6
shall be printed unless otherwise ordered by the house.7
Any bill introduced at any session during the term shall be 8
eligible for action at all subsequent sessions during the term.9
No house bill may be introduced that is identical to any other 10
pending house bill. 11
No bill shall be introduced by title only, and, in the event a 12
bill is not complete, at least section 1 shall be set forth in full 13
before the bill may be accepted for introduction. 14
Reading of Bills15
Rule 11. Every bill shall be read on three separate days: 16
PROVIDED, That this rule may be temporarily suspended at any time by 17
a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present; and that on and after 18
the fifth day prior to the day of adjournment sine die of any 19
session, as determined pursuant to Article II, section 12 of the 20
state Constitution or concurrent resolution, or on and after the 21
third day prior to the day a bill must be reported from the house as 22
established by concurrent resolution, this rule may be suspended by a 23
majority vote. 24
A bill may be returned to second reading for the purpose of 25
amendment by a suspension of the rules: PROVIDED, That on and after 26
the fifth day prior to the day of adjournment sine die of any 27
session, as determined pursuant to Article II, section 12 of the 28
state Constitution or concurrent resolution, or on and after the 29
third day prior to the day a bill must be reported from the house as 30
established by concurrent resolution, this rule may be suspended and 31
a bill returned to second reading for the purpose of amendment by a 32
majority vote. 33
(A) FIRST READING. The first reading of a bill shall be by title 34
only, unless a majority of the members present demand a reading in 35
full. 36
p. 7 HR 4667
After the first reading the bill shall be referred to an 1
appropriate committee. 2
Upon being reported out of committee, all bills shall be referred 3
to the rules committee, unless otherwise ordered by the house.4
The rules committee may, by majority vote, refer any bill in its 5
possession to a committee for further consideration. Such referral 6
shall be reported to the house and entered in the journal under the 7
fifth order of business. 8
(B) SECOND READING. Upon second reading, the bill number and 9
short title and the last line of the bill shall be read unless a 10
majority of the members present shall demand its reading in full. The 11
bill shall be subject to amendment section by section. No amendment 12
shall be considered by the house until it has been sent to the chief 13
clerk's desk in writing or electronically, distributed to the desk of 14
each member or made available to each member electronically, and read 15
by the clerk. All amendments adopted during second reading shall be 16
securely fastened to the original bill. All amendments rejected by 17
the house shall be passed to the minute clerk, and the journal shall 18
show the disposition of such amendments. 19
When no further amendments shall be offered, the speaker shall 20
declare the bill has passed its second reading. 21
(C) SUBSTITUTE BILLS. When a committee reports a substitute for 22
an original bill with the recommendation that the substitute bill do 23
pass, it shall be in order to read the substitute the first time and 24
have the same printed. A motion for the substitution shall not be in 25
order until the second reading of the original bill.26
(D) THIRD READING. Only the last line of bills shall be read on 27
third reading unless a majority of the members present demand a 28
reading in full. No amendments to a bill shall be received on third 29
reading but it may be referred or recommitted for the purpose of 30
amendment. 31
(E) SUSPENSION CALENDAR. Bills may be placed on the second 32
reading suspension calendar by the rules committee if at least two 33
minority party members of the rules committee join in such motion. 34
Bills on the second reading suspension calendar shall not be subject 35
to amendment or substitution except as recommended in the committee 36
p. 8 HR 4667
report. When a bill is before the house on the suspension calendar, 1
the question shall be to adopt the committee recommendations and 2
advance the bill to third reading. If the question fails to receive a 3
two-thirds vote of the members present, the bill shall be referred to 4
the rules committee for second reading. 5
(F) HOUSE RESOLUTIONS. House resolutions shall be filed with the 6
chief clerk who shall transmit them to the rules committee. If a 7
rules committee meeting is not scheduled to occur prior to a time 8
necessitated by the purpose of a house resolution, the majority 9
leader and minority leader by agreement may waive transmission to the 10
rules committee to permit consideration of the resolution by the 11
house. The rules committee may adopt house resolutions by a sixty 12
percent majority vote of its entire membership or may, by a majority 13
vote of its members, place them on the motions calendar for 14
consideration by the house. House resolutions are not subject to 15
debate, except for resolutions necessary for the operation of the 16
house, and resolutions commemorating Children's Day, Day of 17
Remembrance, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, National Guard Day, and 18
President's Day. 19
(G) CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS. Reading of concurrent resolutions may 20
be advanced by majority vote. 21
Amendments22
Rule 12. The right of any member to offer amendments to proposed 23
legislation shall not be limited except as provided in Rule 11 (E) and 24
as follows: 25
(A) AMENDMENTS TO BE OFFERED IN PROPER FORM. The chief clerk 26
shall establish the proper form for amendments and all amendments 27
offered shall bear the name of the member who offers the same, as 28
well as the number and section of the bill to be amended.29
(B) COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS. When a bill is before the house on 30
second reading, amendments adopted by committees and recommended to 31
the house shall be acted upon by the house before any amendments that 32
may be offered from the floor. 33
(C) SENATE AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILLS. A house bill, passed by the 34
senate with amendment or amendments which shall change the scope and 35
p. 9 HR 4667
object of the bill, upon being received in the house, shall be 1
referred to the appropriate committee and shall take the same course 2
as for original bills unless a motion not to concur is adopted prior 3
to the bill being referred to committee. 4
(D) AMENDMENTS TO BE GERMANE. No motion or proposition on a 5
subject different from that under consideration shall be admitted 6
under color of amendment; and no bill or resolution shall at any time 7
be amended by annexing thereto or incorporating therein any other 8
bill or resolution pending before the house. 9
(E) SCOPE AND OBJECT NOT TO BE CHANGED. No amendment to any bill 10
shall be allowed which shall change the scope and object of the bill. 11
This objection may be raised at any time an amendment is under 12
consideration. The speaker may allow the person raising the objection 13
and the mover of the amendment to provide brief arguments as to the 14
merits of the objection. (Article II, section 38) 15
(F) NO AMENDMENT BY REFERENCE. No act shall ever be revised or 16
amended without being set forth at full length. (Article II, section 17
37) 18
(G) TITLE AMENDMENTS. The subject matter portion of a bill title 19
shall not be amended in committee or on second reading. Changes to 20
that part of the title after the subject matter statement shall 21
either be presented with the text amendment or be incorporated by the 22
chief clerk in the engrossing process. 23
(H) DATE AND TIME FOR AMENDMENT SUBMISSION. To facilitate the 24
orderly consideration of proposed legislation, the speaker, after 25
consultation with the minority leader, may establish a date and time 26
for submission of amendments. 27
Final Passage28
Rule 13. Rules relating to bills on final passage are as follows:29
(A) BUDGET BILLS. No final passage vote may be taken on an 30
operating budget, transportation budget, or capital budget bill until 31
twenty-four (24) hours after the bill is placed on the third reading 32
calendar. The twenty-four (24) hour requirement does not apply to 33
conference reports, which are governed by the Joint Rules of the 34
Senate and the House of Representatives, or to bills placed on the 35
p. 10 HR 4667
third reading calendar by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members 1
present. 2
(B) RECOMMITMENT BEFORE FINAL PASSAGE. A bill may be recommitted 3
at any time before its final passage. 4
(C) FINAL PASSAGE. No bill shall become a law unless on its final 5
passage the vote be taken by yeas and nays, the names of the members 6
voting for and against the same be entered on the journal of each 7
house, and a majority of the members elected to each house be 8
recorded thereon as voting in its favor. (Article II, section 22)9
(D) BILLS PASSED - CERTIFICATION. When a bill passes, it shall be 10
certified to by the chief clerk, said certification to show the date 11
of its passage together with the vote thereon. 12
Hour of Meeting, Roll Call and Quorum13
Rule 14. (A) HOUR OF MEETING. The speaker shall call the house to 14
order each day of sitting at 10:00 A.M., unless the house shall have 15
adjourned to some other hour. 16
(B) ROLL CALL AND QUORUM. Before proceeding with business, the 17
roll of the members shall be called and the names of those absent or 18
excused shall be entered on the journal. A majority of all the 19
members elected must be present to constitute a quorum for the 20
transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, seven members 21
with the speaker, or eight members in the speaker's absence, having 22
chosen a speaker pro tempore, shall be authorized to demand a call of 23
the house and may compel the attendance of absent members in the 24
manner provided in Rule 23 (B). Any member participating remotely in 25
house proceedings as provided in Rule 17 shall be considered present 26
for purposes of a quorum. For the purpose of determining if a quorum 27
be present, the speaker shall count all members present, whether 28
voting or not. (Article II, section 8) 29
(C) The house shall adjourn not later than 10:00 P.M. of each 30
working day. This rule may be suspended by a majority vote.31
Daily Calendar and Order of Business32
Rule 15. The rules relating to the daily calendar and order of 33
business are as follows: 34
p. 11 HR 4667
(A) DAILY CALENDAR. Business of the house shall be disposed of in 1
the following order: 2
First: Roll call, presentation of colors, prayer, and approval of 3
the journal of the preceding day. 4
Second: Introduction of visiting dignitaries. 5
Third: Messages from the senate, governor, and other state 6
officials. 7
Fourth: Introduction and first reading of bills, memorials, joint 8
resolutions, and concurrent resolutions. 9
Fifth: Committee reports. 10
Sixth: Second reading of bills. 11
Seventh: Third reading of bills. 12
Eighth: Floor resolutions and motions. 13
Ninth: Presentation of petitions, memorials, and remonstrances 14
addressed to the Legislature. 15
Tenth: Introduction of visitors and other business to be 16
considered. 17
Eleventh: Announcements. 18
(B) UNFINISHED BUSINESS. The unfinished business at which the 19
house was engaged preceding adjournment shall not be taken up until 20
reached in regular order, unless the previous question on such 21
unfinished business has been ordered prior to said adjournment.22
(C) EXCEPTIONS. Exceptions to the order of business are as 23
follows: 24
(1) The order of business may be changed by a majority vote of 25
those present. 26
(2) By motion under the eighth order of business, a bill in the 27
rules committee may be placed on the calendar by the affirmative vote 28
of a majority of all members of the house. 29
(3) House resolutions and messages from the senate, governor, or 30
other state officials may be read at any time. 31
Motions32
Rule 16. Rules relating to motions are as follows:33
(A) MOTIONS TO BE ENTERTAINED OR DEBATED. No motion shall be 34
entertained or debated until announced by the speaker and every 35
p. 12 HR 4667
motion shall be deemed to have been seconded. A motion shall be 1
reduced to writing and read by the clerk, if desired by the speaker 2
or any member, before it shall be debated and by the consent of the 3
house may be withdrawn before amendment or action. 4
(B) MOTIONS IN ORDER DURING DEBATE. When a motion has been made 5
and seconded and stated by the chair, the following motions are in 6
order, in the rank named: 7
8 (1) Privileged motions:
9 Adjourn
10 Adjourn to a time certain
11 Recess to a time certain
12 Reconsider
13 Demand for division
14 Question of privilege
15 Orders of the day
16
17 (2) Subsidiary motions:
18 First rank: Question of consideration
19 Second rank: To lay on the table
20 Third rank: For the previous question
21 Fourth rank: To postpone to a day certain
22 To commit or recommit
23 To postpone indefinitely
24 Fifth rank: To amend
25
26 (3) Incidental motions:
27 Points of order and appeal
28 Method of consideration
29 Suspension of the rules
30 Reading papers
31 Withdraw a motion
p. 13 HR 4667
1 Division of a question
(C) THE EFFECT OF POSTPONEMENT - MOTIONS TO POSTPONE OR COMMIT. 2
Once decided, no motion to postpone to a day certain, to commit, or 3
to postpone indefinitely shall again be allowed on the same day and 4
at the same stage of the proceedings. When a question has been 5
postponed indefinitely, it shall not again be introduced during the 6
session. The motion to postpone indefinitely may be made at any stage 7
of the bill except when on first reading. 8
(D) MOTIONS DECIDED WITHOUT DEBATE. A motion to adjourn, to 9
recess, to lay on the table and to call for the previous question 10
shall be decided without debate. 11
All incidental motions shall be decided without debate, except 12
that members may speak to points of order and appeal as provided in 13
Rule 24. 14
Motions to adopt house resolutions shall be decided without 15
debate, except as provided in Rule 11(F). 16
A motion for suspension of the rules shall not be debatable 17
except that the mover of the motion may briefly explain the purpose 18
of the motion and one member may briefly state the opposition to the 19
motion. 20
(E) MOTION TO ADJOURN. A motion to adjourn shall always be in 21
order, except when the house is voting or is working under the call 22
of the house; but this rule shall not authorize any member to move 23
for adjournment when another member has the floor.24
Remote Participation and Voting Permitted Upon Authorization25
Rule 17. The majority leader and minority leader or their 26
designees may authorize members of their respective caucuses to 27
participate remotely in official house proceedings, including 28
committee meetings and floor sessions, upon the request of a member 29
who is experiencing a medical condition or illness that prevents in-30
person participation. Once authorized, any member participating 31
remotely shall be considered present for purposes of a quorum and 32
voting. Members participating remotely shall use the computer and 33
virtual background provided by the house during all committee 34
meetings and floor proceedings. The majority leader and minority 35
p. 14 HR 4667
leader or their designees shall determine when the member's 1
authorization to participate remotely ends. 2
Members' Right to Debate3
Rule 18. The methods by which a member may exercise their right 4
to debate are as follows: 5
(A) RECOGNITION OF MEMBER. When any member desires to speak in 6
debate or deliver any matter to the house, the member shall rise and 7
respectfully address the speaker and pause until recognized. Any 8
member participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in 9
Rule 17 who desires to speak may request to be recognized by use of 10
the request to speak button in the remote floor activity system.11
(B) ORDER OF SPEAKING. When two or more members arise at once, 12
the speaker shall name the one who is to speak. 13
(C) LIMITATION OF DEBATE. No member shall speak longer than ten 14
(10) minutes without consent of the house: PROVIDED, That on and 15
after 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
fifth day prior to the day any bill must be reported from the house 19
as established by concurrent resolution, no member shall speak more 20
than three (3) minutes without the consent of the house. No member 21
shall speak more than twice on the same question without leave of the 22
house: PROVIDED, That one proponent and one opponent of the question 23
may close debate if it is consistent with Rule 20 (Previous 24
Question). 25
Rules of Debate26
Rule 19. The rules for debate in the house are as follows:27
(A) QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE. Any member may rise to a question of 28
privilege and explain a personal matter, by leave of the speaker, but 29
the member shall not discuss any pending question in such 30
explanations. 31
(B) WITHDRAWAL OF MOTION, BILL, ETC. After a motion is stated by 32
the speaker or a bill, memorial, resolution, petition, or 33
remonstrance is read by the clerk, it shall be deemed to be in 34
p. 15 HR 4667
possession of the house, but may be withdrawn by consent of the house 1
at any time before decision or amendment. 2
(C) READING OF A PAPER. When the reading of any paper is called 3
for and is objected to by any member, it shall be determined by a 4
vote of the house. 5
(D) DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS. Any materials of any nature 6
distributed to the members' desks on the floor shall be subject to 7
approval by the speaker and shall bear the name of at least one 8
member granted permission for the distribution. Any member 9
participating remotely as provided in Rule 17 who wishes to 10
distribute materials subject to the speaker's approval may do so 11
electronically. All materials approved for distribution shall be 12
provided electronically to members participating remotely to the 13
extent practicable. This shall not apply to materials normally 14
distributed by the chief clerk. 15
(E) ORDER OF QUESTIONS. All questions, whether in committee or in 16
the house, shall be propounded in the order in which they are named 17
except that in filling blanks, the largest sum and the longest time 18
shall be put first. 19
(F) DIVISION OF POINTS OF DEBATE. Any member may call for a 20
division of a question which shall be divided if it embraces subjects 21
so distinct that one being taken away a substantive proposition shall 22
remain for the decision of the house; but a motion to strike out and 23
to insert shall not be divided. The rejection of a motion to strike 24
out and to insert one proposition shall not prevent a motion to 25
strike out and to insert a different proposition. 26
(G) DECORUM OF MEMBERS. While the speaker is putting the 27
question, no member shall walk across or out of the house; nor when a 28
member is speaking shall any member entertain private discourse or 29
pass between the speaking member and the rostrum. 30
(H) REMARKS CONFINED. A member shall confine all remarks to the 31
question under debate and avoid personalities. No member shall impugn 32
the motive of any member's vote or argument. 33
(I) EXCEPTION TO WORDS SPOKEN IN DEBATE. If any member be called 34
to order for words spoken in debate, the person calling the member to 35
p. 16 HR 4667
order shall repeat the words excepted to and they shall be taken down 1
in writing at the clerk's table. No member shall be held in answer or 2
be subject to the censure of the house for words spoken in debate if 3
any other member has spoken before exception to them shall have been 4
taken. 5
(J) TRANSGRESSION OF RULES - APPEAL. If any member, in speaking 6
or otherwise, transgresses the rules of the house the speaker shall, 7
or any member may, call the member to order, in which case the member 8
so called to order shall immediately sit down unless permitted to 9
explain; and the house shall, if appealed to, decide the case without 10
debate; if there be no appeal, the decision of the chair shall 11
prevail. 12
If the decision be in favor of the member called to order, the 13
member shall be at liberty to proceed; if otherwise, and the case 14
shall require it, the member shall be liable to the censure of the 15
house. 16
Ending of Debate - Previous Question17
Rule 20. The previous question shall not be put unless demanded 18
by one-sixth (1/6) of the members present. 19
The previous question may be ordered by a majority vote of the 20
members present on all recognized motions or amendments which are 21
debatable. 22
The previous question is not debatable and cannot be amended.23
The previous question shall be put in this form: "As many as are 24
in favor of ordering the previous question will say 'Aye'; as many as 25
are opposed will say 'No'." 26
The results of the motion are as follows: If determined in the 27
negative, the consideration goes on as if the motion had never been 28
made; if decided in the affirmative it shall have the effect of 29
cutting off all debate and bringing the house to a direct vote upon 30
the motion or amendment on which it has been ordered: PROVIDED 31
HOWEVER, That when a bill is on final passage or when the motion to 32
postpone indefinitely is pending, one proponent and one opponent may 33
have the privilege of closing debate for up to three minutes after 34
the previous question has been ordered. 35
p. 17 HR 4667
If an adjournment is had after the previous question is ordered, 1
the motion or proposition on which the previous question was ordered 2
shall be put to the house immediately following the approval of the 3
journal on the next working day, thus making the main question 4
privileged over all other business, whether new or unfinished.5
Voting6
Rule 21. (A) PUTTING OF QUESTION. The speaker shall put the 7
question in the following form: "The question before the house is 8
(state the question). As many as are in favor say 'Aye'; and after 9
the affirmative vote is expressed, "as many as are opposed say 'No'."10
(B) ALL MEMBERS TO VOTE. Except as provided in subsection (G), 11
every member who was in the house or participating remotely in house 12
proceedings as provided in Rule 17 when the question was put shall 13
vote unless, for special reasons, excused by the house.14
All motions to excuse a member shall be made before the house 15
divides or before the call for yeas and nays is commenced; and any 16
member requesting to be excused from voting may make a brief and 17
verbal statement of the reasons for making such request, and the 18
question shall then be taken without further debate.19
(C) COUNT OF THE HOUSE. Upon a division and count of the house on 20
the question, only members at their desks within the bar of the house 21
or participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in Rule 17 22
shall be counted. 23
(D) CHANGE OF VOTE. When the electric roll call machine is used, 24
no member shall be allowed to vote or change a vote after the speaker 25
has locked the roll call machine. When an oral roll call is taken, no 26
member shall be allowed to vote or change a vote after the result has 27
been announced. 28
(E) PRIVATE INTEREST. No member shall vote on any question which 29
affects that member privately and particularly. A member who has a 30
private interest in any bill or measure proposed or pending before 31
the legislature shall disclose the fact to the house of which he is a 32
member, and shall not vote thereon. (Article II, section 30)33
(F) INTERRUPTION OF ROLL CALL. Once begun, the roll call may not 34
be interrupted. No member or other person shall visit or remain at 35
the clerk's desk while the yeas and nays are being called.36
p. 18 HR 4667
(G) MOTIONS NOT REQUIRING A RECORDED ROLL CALL VOTE. Members in 1
the house and members participating remotely in house proceedings as 2
provided in Rule 17 may vote on any motion not requiring a recorded 3
roll call vote, including when the house divides. Members 4
participating remotely may vote using the remote floor activity 5
system. 6
(H) INABILITY TO VOTE USING REMOTE VOTING FUNCTION. A member 7
participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in Rule 17 8
who is unable to vote using the remote voting function on any motion 9
requiring a recorded roll call vote may vote orally. If a member is 10
unable to vote using the remote voting function or orally, the 11
rostrum staff shall contact the member by telephone and the member's 12
vote may be taken by telephone to rostrum staff after the member 13
answers security questions to verify the identity of the member. The 14
rostrum staff will announce the vote of the member, which shall be 15
recorded. 16
(I) YEAS AND NAYS - RECORDED VOTES. Upon the final passage of any 17
bill, the vote shall be taken by yeas and nays and shall be recorded 18
by the electric voting system: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That an oral roll 19
call shall be ordered when demanded by one-sixth (1/6) of the members 20
present. (Article II, section 21) 21
The speaker may vote last when the yeas and nays are called.22
When the vote is by electric voting machine or by oral roll call 23
on any question, it shall be entered upon the journal of the house. A 24
recorded vote may be compelled by one-sixth (1/6) of the members 25
present. A request for a recorded vote must be made before the vote 26
is commenced. 27
(J) TIE VOTE, QUESTION LOSES. In case of an equal division, the 28
question shall be lost. 29
(K) DIVISION. If the speaker is in doubt, or if division is 30
called for by any member, the house shall divide. 31
(L) STATEMENT FOR JOURNAL. A member whose recorded vote does not 32
accurately reflect their intent may submit a written statement for 33
the journal clarifying their intent to vote aye or nay. The statement 34
must be submitted to the chief clerk on the same day the vote is 35
taken. A member who is excused for one or more days of recorded votes 36
p. 19 HR 4667
may submit a written statement for the journal explaining the reason 1
for their absence. The statement may not exceed 50 words and must be 2
submitted to the chief clerk on the same day the member returns. A 3
member participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in 4
Rule 17 who was unable to vote using the remote voting function, 5
orally, or by telephone may submit a statement for the journal within 6
48 hours indicating their intent to vote yea or nay.7
Reconsideration8
Rule 22. Notice of a motion for reconsideration on the final 9
passage of bills shall be made on the day the vote to be reconsidered 10
was taken and before the house has voted to transmit the bill to the 11
senate. 12
Reconsideration of the votes on the final passage of bills must 13
be taken on the next working day after such vote was taken: PROVIDED, 14
That on and after the fifth day prior to the day of adjournment sine 15
die of any session, as determined pursuant to Article II, section 12 16
of the state Constitution, or concurrent resolution, or on and after 17
the third day prior to the day a bill must be reported from the house 18
as established by concurrent resolution, then reconsideration of 19
votes on the final passage of bills must be taken on the same day as 20
the original vote was taken: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That any member 21
participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in Rule 17 22
who was unable to vote using the remote voting function, orally, or 23
by telephone may require reconsideration of the vote on the final 24
passage of bills the same day the vote is taken. 25
A motion to reconsider an amendment may be made at any time the 26
bill remains on second reading. 27
Any member who voted on the prevailing side may move for 28
reconsideration or give notice thereof. 29
A motion to reconsider can be decided only once when decided in 30
the negative. 31
When a motion to reconsider has been carried, its effect shall be 32
to place the original question before the house in the exact position 33
it occupied before it was voted upon. 34
Call of the House35
p. 20 HR 4667
Rule 23. One-sixth (1/6) of the members present may demand a call 1
of the house at any time before the house has divided or the voting 2
has commenced by yeas and nays. 3
(A) DOORS TO BE CLOSED. When call of the house has been ordered, 4
the sergeant at arms shall close and lock the doors, and no member 5
shall be allowed to leave the chamber: PROVIDED, That the rules 6
committee shall be allowed to meet, upon request of the speaker, 7
while the house stands at ease: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That the 8
speaker may permit members to use such portions of the fourth floor 9
as may be properly secured. 10
(B) SERGEANT AT ARMS TO BRING IN THE ABSENTEES. The clerk shall 11
immediately call a roll of the members and note the absentees, whose 12
names shall be read and entered upon the journal in such manner as to 13
show who are excused and who are absent without leave. A member 14
authorized to participate remotely in house proceedings as provided 15
in Rule 17 who is visible at the time of the roll call through the 16
remote floor activity system shall not be considered absent or absent 17
without leave. 18
The clerk shall furnish the sergeant at arms with a list of those 19
who are absent without leave, and the sergeant at arms shall proceed 20
to bring in such absentees; but arrests of members for absence shall 21
not be made unless ordered by a majority of the members present.22
(C) HOUSE UNDER CALL. While the house is under a call, no 23
business shall be transacted except to receive and act on the report 24
of the sergeant at arms; and no other motion shall be in order except 25
a motion to proceed with business under the call of the house, a 26
motion to excuse absentees, or a motion to dispense with the call of 27
the house. The motion to proceed with business under the call of the 28
house and the motion to excuse absent members shall not be adopted 29
unless a majority of the members elected vote in favor thereof. The 30
motion to dispense with the call of the house may be adopted by a 31
majority of the members present. 32
Appeal from Decision of Chair33
Rule 24. The decision of the chair may be appealed from by any 34
member, on which appeal no member shall speak more than once unless 35
p. 21 HR 4667
by leave of the house. In all cases of appeal, the question shall be: 1
"Shall the decision of the chair stand as the judgment of the house?"2
Standing Committees3
Rule 25. The standing committees of the house and the number of 4
members that shall serve on each committee shall be as follows:5
1. Agriculture & Natural Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
2. Appropriations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
3. Capital Budget. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
4. Civil Rights & Judiciary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
5. Community Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 910
6. Consumer Protection & Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1511
7. Early Learning & Human Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1112
8. Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1913
9. Environment & Energy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2114
10. Finance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1515
11. Health Care & Wellness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1916
12. Housing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1717
13. Labor & Workplace Standards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 918
14. Local Government. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
15. Postsecondary Education & Workforce. . . . . . . . . . . . 1720
16. Rules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2421
17. State Government & Tribal Relations. . . . . . . . . . . . 722
18. Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans. . . . . . . 1323
19. Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ((27)) 2924
Committee members shall be selected by each party's caucus. The 25
majority party caucus shall select all committee chairs.26
Duties of Committees27
Rule 26. House committees shall operate as follows:28
(A) NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING. The chief clerk shall make 29
public the time, place and subjects to be discussed at committee 30
meetings. All public hearings held by committees shall be scheduled 31
with at least five (5) days' notice, including the day of notice and 32
day of hearing, and shall be given adequate publicity: PROVIDED, That 33
when less than eight (8) days remain for action on a bill, the 34
Speaker may authorize a reduction of the five-day notice period when 35
p. 22 HR 4667
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
p. 23 HR 4667
shall include the names of absent members, on any substantive 1
question before the committee. A copy of all recorded committee votes 2
shall be kept by the chief clerk and shall be available for public 3
inspection. 4
(7) A member participating remotely in house proceedings as 5
provided in Rule 17 who is unable to vote on a bill in committee for 6
technical reasons may submit a statement for the bill file indicating 7
their intent to have voted yea, nay-do not pass, or nay-without 8
recommendation. The statement must be submitted to the chief clerk on 9
the same day the vote is taken. 10
(8) All bills having a direct appropriation shall be referred to 11
the appropriate fiscal committee before their final passage.12
(9) No standing committee shall vote by secret written ballot on 13
any issue. 14
(10) During its consideration of or vote on any bill, resolution, 15
or memorial, the deliberations of any standing committee of the House 16
of Representatives shall be open to the public. 17
(11) A standing committee to which a bill was originally referred 18
shall, prior to voting the bill out of committee, consider whether 19
the bill authorizes rule-making powers or requires the exercise of 20
rule-making powers and, if so, consider: 21
(a) The nature of the new rule-making powers; and22
(b) To which agencies the new rule-making powers would be 23
delegated and which agencies, if any, may have related rule-making 24
powers. 25
(12) Insofar as practicable, testimony in public hearings should 26
be balanced between those in support of and in opposition to proposed 27
legislation, with consideration given to providing an opportunity for 28
members of the public to testify within available time.29
Standing Committees - Expenses - Subpoena Power30
Rule 27. Regardless of whether the legislature is in session, 31
members of the house may receive from moneys appropriated for the 32
legislature, reimbursement for necessary travel expenses, and 33
payments in lieu of subsistence and lodging for conducting official 34
business of the house. 35
The standing committees of the house may have the powers of 36
subpoena, the power to administer oaths, and the power to issue 37
p. 24 HR 4667
commissions for the examination of witnesses in accordance with the 1
provisions of chapter 44.16 RCW. Before a standing committee of the 2
house may issue any process, the committee chair shall submit for 3
approval of the executive rules committee a statement of purpose 4
setting forth the name or names of those subject to process. The 5
process shall not be issued prior to approval by the executive rules 6
committee. The process shall be limited to the named individuals.7
Vetoed Bills8
Rule 28. Veto messages of the governor shall be read in the house 9
and entered upon the journal. It shall then be in order to proceed to 10
reconsider the bill, refer it, lay it on the table, or postpone its 11
consideration to a day certain. 12
The merits of the bill may be debated before the vote is taken, 13
but the vote on a vetoed bill cannot be reconsidered.14
In case of a bill containing several sections or items, one or 15
more of which has been objected to by the governor, each section or 16
item so objected to shall be voted upon separately by the house. 17
Action by the house upon all vetoed bills shall be endorsed upon the 18
bill and certified by the speaker. 19
Vetoed bills originating in the house, which have not been passed 20
notwithstanding the veto of the governor, shall remain in the custody 21
of the officers of the house until the close of the term, after which 22
they shall be filed with the secretary of state. 23
Suspension of Compensation24
Rule 29. (1) Any member of the House of Representatives convicted 25
and sentenced for any felony punishable by death or by imprisonment 26
in a Washington state penal institution shall, as of the time of 27
sentencing, be denied the legislative salary for future service and 28
be denied per diem, compensation for expenses, office space 29
facilities, and assistance. Any member convicted of a felony and 30
sentenced therefor under any federal law or the law of any other 31
state shall, as of the time of sentencing, be similarly denied such 32
salary, per diem, expenses, facilities, and assistance if either (a) 33
such crime would also constitute a crime punishable under the laws of 34
Washington by death or by imprisonment in a state penal institution, 35
or (b) the conduct resulting in the conviction and sentencing would 36
p. 25 HR 4667
also constitute a crime punishable under the laws of Washington by 1
death or by imprisonment in a state penal institution.2
(2) At any time, the house may vote by a constitutional majority 3
to restore the salary, per diem, expenses, facilities, and assistance 4
denied a member under subsection (1). If the conviction of a member 5
is reversed, then the salary, per diem, and expense amounts denied 6
the member since sentencing shall be forthwith paid, and the member 7
shall thereafter have the rights and privileges of other members.8
Smoking and Vaping9
Rule 30. To provide a safe and healthy environment for all 10
members, employees, and the public, smoking and vaping shall not be 11
permitted at any public meeting of the House of Representatives or 12
within house facilities. Smoking includes the lighting of cigarettes, 13
pipes, or cigars. Vaping includes the use of electronic nicotine 14
delivery systems or electronic smoking devices such as e-cigarettes, 15
e-pipes, or e-cigars. 16
Liquor17
Rule 31. The House of Representatives shall strictly adhere to 18
the liquor laws of the state of Washington, including provisions 19
relating to banquet and special occasion permits. The proper permits 20
must always be obtained before consumption of liquor in any house 21
facility. 22
Parliamentary Rules23
Rule 32. The rules of parliamentary practice comprised in Reed's 24
Parliamentary Rules shall govern all cases in which they are not 25
inconsistent with the standing rules and orders of the house.26
Standing Rules Amendment27
Rule 33. Any standing rule may be rescinded or changed by a 28
majority vote of the members elected: PROVIDED, That the proposed 29
change or changes be submitted at least one day in advance in writing 30
to the members together with notice of the consideration thereof. Any 31
standing rule may be suspended temporarily by a two-thirds (2/3) vote 32
of the members present except as provided in Rule 11.33
Rules to Apply for Assembly34
p. 26 HR 4667
Rule 34. The permanent house rules adopted at the beginning of 1
the term are to govern all acts of the house during the course of the 2
term unless amended or repealed. 3
Legislative Publications4
Rule 35. The House of Representatives directs the house executive 5
rules committee to adopt procedures and guidelines to ensure that all 6
legislative publications at public expense are for legitimate 7
legislative purposes. 8
Emergency Resolution Authorized9
Rule 36. If the executive rules committee determines through a 10
majority vote that physically convening all members and staff in a 11
single location presents a danger to the health or safety of members, 12
staff, and the public or is impractical because of an emergency, 13
disaster, or catastrophic incident under RCW 42.14.010, the house 14
shall adopt a resolution establishing the rules and procedures 15
governing any special or regular legislative session. For purposes of 16
adopting the house resolution required by this rule, some or all 17
members may vote using the remote voting function or other process 18
established by the chief clerk. Members are considered in attendance 19
within the bar of the house when using the remote floor activity 20
system or following the established process, including for purposes 21
of establishing quorum. To the extent practicable, a member 22
participating remotely or otherwise under this rule has the same 23
privileges, rights, and responsibilities under the house rules as if 24
the member were physically present. 25
26
I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of27
Resolution 4667 adopted by the House of Representatives28
January 12, 2026 29
30
31
32
33
__________________________ 34
Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk 35
p. 27 HR 4667