1. Definitions. As used in these rules:
“author” means the member who introduces a House bill or resolution and whose name appears
first on the bill.
“bill” includes bills and joint resolutions but does not include concurrent or house resolutions.
“chamber” means the room, including the galleries, in which the House holds its legislative
sessions.
“clerk” means Principal Clerk.
“coauthor” means a member who joins with the author and whose name appears after the name
of the author.
“concurrent resolution” means a non-joint resolution that must be presented to both houses of
the General Assembly for adoption.
“constitutional majority” means a majority of all the members elected to the House.
(Constitution, Article 4, Section 25.)
“cosponsor” means a member who joins with the sponsor and whose name appears after the
name of the sponsor.
“floor” means the main floor of the chamber.
“galleries” means the areas within the chamber that have been provided for members of the
public to observe the sessions of the House.
“hall” means the chamber together with all rooms and hallways adjacent to the chamber.
“house resolution” means a resolution that is not to be presented to the Senate for adoption.
“joint resolution” means a resolution that must meet the same requirements for adoption as a
bill.
“journal” means the Journal of the House.
“majority” means a majority of the members present and voting.
“meeting day” means a day when the House convenes in session.
“member” means an individual duly elected to the House.
“member's desk” means the desk within the chamber assigned to a member or the chamber bin
located adjacent to the chamber, assigned to a member.
“sponsor” means the member who sponsors in the House a bill or resolution which originated
in the Senate and whose name appears first on the bill.
PART II
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
2. Time of Convening. The House shall be convened on the first meeting day of each regular
or special session at 10:00 a.m. and at 1:00 p.m. on each meeting day thereafter, unless otherwise
provided by motion adopted by a constitutional majority.
2.1. Deadlines. Whenever a deadline date is specified in these rules, and that date falls on a
Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, that deadline date is extended to the next day that is not a
Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.
2.2. Meeting Day Limitation. The House may not convene for more than fifty-five (55) calendar
days during the first regular session of the General Assembly, or for more than twenty-nine (29)
calendar days during the second regular session of the General Assembly.
3. Quorum. Two-thirds of the members of the House constitute a quorum to do business.
(Constitution, Article 4, Section 11.)
4. Power of Less Than a Quorum to Compel Attendance. Seven (7) members with the Speaker
or Speaker Pro Tempore, or eight (8) members in the absence of the Speaker and Speaker Pro
Tempore, one of whom they shall elect acting Speaker, may call the House to order, compel the
attendance of absent members, make an order for their fine and censure and adjourn from day to day
until a quorum is in attendance.
5. Votes Necessary for Action.
5.1 For the final passage of bills, motions to concur with Senate amendments, or the adoption
of conference committee reports, approval by a constitutional majority is required.
5.2 In all other cases, approval by a majority is required, except as provided in Rules 8, 24,
83, 108 and 149.
6. Organizational Meeting.
6.1 The first item of business, in the first regular session, shall be election of officers.
6.2 Other items of business for the organizational meeting shall include the adoption of rules
and joint rules.
7. Effect of the Rules. These rules shall govern the House for the term of the General Assembly.
(Constitution, Article 4, Section 10.)
8. Changing the Rules. Any rule may be rescinded, changed or suspended without previous
notice, and a motion for such purpose is in order at any time, except after a vote on the question has
been ordered. Such a motion has precedence over all other business. The motion must be seconded
by a constitutional majority and must be carried by two-thirds vote of the members of the House,
except as provided in Rules 147, 148 and 160. However, the rescission, change or suspension of any
rule recommended by the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedures may be adopted by a
constitutional majority of the House.
9. Parliamentary Authority. Concerning all questions not provided for by these rules,
Jefferson's Manual shall be regarded as a parliamentary guide of the House and the rules and
precedents of the House of Representatives of the United States shall be followed.
10. Order of Business_Usual. The order of business shall be as follows:
10.1 Calling the House to order.
10.2 Prayer.
10.3 Pledge of Allegiance.
10.4 Roll call.
10.5 Reports from committees.
(a) Standing committees.
(b) Select committees.
(c) Conference committees.
10.6 Introduction of resolutions and bills.
10.7 Business on the Speaker's table.
(a) Executive and other communications.
(b) Bills and resolutions from the Senate on first reading.
(1) Reference to committee; or
(2) Placed on file in order of receipt.
(c) Bills of the House and Senate on second reading.
(d) Bills of the House and Senate on third reading.
10.8 Reading of the Journal, or so much thereof as shall be called for, shall occur upon motion
duly adopted by a majority.
11. Order of Business_Discretionary. Notwithstanding Rule 10, the following items of
business may be considered at any time at the discretion of the Speaker:
11.1 Messages from the Senate.
11.2 Action on Senate amendments to House bills.
11.3 Action on reports of conference committees (subject to Rules 160 and 161).
12. Order of Business_Suspension. The order of business may be suspended with the consent
of a majority.
13. Effect of Adjournment Sine Die. Every bill or resolution which is pending at the
adjournment sine die of any session of the General Assembly shall be deemed to have failed and
shall not be transferred to any subsequent session, special session or technical session.
14. Persons Authorized Within the Hall. Only the following persons may be admitted within
the hall of the House without the consent of the Speaker:
14.1 members, officers, or employees of the General Assembly;
14.2 members of the executive or judicial branches;
14.3 accredited members of the news media;
14.4 employees of the Legislative Services Agency; or
14.5 members of the public seated in the galleries.
15. Persons Authorized on Speaker's Stand. No person shall enter upon the Speaker's stand or
stand upon the steps leading thereto without an invitation from the Speaker.
PART III
OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND JOURNAL
A. SELECTION OF OFFICERS
16. Officers. The officers of the House shall be:
16.1 Speaker.
16.2 Principal Clerk.
17. Term of Office. Each officer of the House shall continue in office for the term of the
General Assembly unless removed, suspended or unable to serve.
18. Oath. The Speaker and Principal Clerk shall, before entering upon the discharge of their
duties, take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and the State of Indiana and to
faithfully and impartially discharge their duties.
B. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE SPEAKER
19. Call to Order. The Speaker shall call the House to order every meeting day at the hour fixed
pursuant to Rule 2.
20. Direction of the Hall.
20.1 The Speaker shall have general direction of the hall.
20.2 The Speaker shall preserve order and decorum.
20.3 In case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct in the hall, the Speaker may order it to
be cleared.
21. Speaker Pro Tempore. The Speaker may appoint one of the members of the House as
Speaker Pro Tempore, who shall hold office at the pleasure of the Speaker, and who shall exercise
all the powers and carry out all the duties of the Speaker in the absence of the Speaker, and who shall
carry out such other duties as may be assigned by the Speaker.
22. Acting Speakers. The Speaker, or the Speaker Pro Tempore in the absence of the Speaker,
may name any member to perform the duties of the Chair, but such substitution shall not extend
beyond one day.
23. Appointment of Committees. The Speaker shall appoint all committees and committee
chairs unless otherwise specifically directed by a constitutional majority.
24. Questions of Order.
24.1 The Speaker shall decide questions of order, subject to an appeal to the House by any two
members. Such an appeal shall be in writing, signed by the members taking the appeal,
and shall clearly state the point of order decided by the Chair. No member may speak
more than once on an appeal, unless by consent of a majority of the House. No appeal
from the decision of the Chair shall prevail except by a constitutional majority. The
decisions of the Chair shall be inserted in the Journal.
24.2 The Speaker may speak to points of order in preference to other members, rising from his
seat for that purpose.
25. Stating Motions. When a motion is made and seconded, it shall be stated by the Speaker
or being in writing, read aloud by the reading clerk.
26. Questions_Form and Vote. Questions shall be put substantially in this form: “The question
is on _________ as many as are in favor vote 'aye,'” and after the affirmative vote is expressed, “as
many as are opposed 'no.'” If the Speaker is uncertain of the result of a voice vote, he may order a
roll call or, upon request of any two members, he shall grant a roll call.
27. Voting. The Speaker is not required to vote in ordinary legislative proceedings. But when
the House is equally divided on a question, he shall give the deciding vote; when his vote would
make an equal division, he shall vote upon the call of any member.
28. Signature. The Speaker shall sign all enrolled acts, enrolled joint resolutions, warrants, and
subpoenas of or issued by order of the House.
C. DUTIES OF OTHER OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
29. Clerk_List of Bills Filed. The Clerk shall weekly, prior to the reconvening of the General
Assembly, and daily during a session prepare a list of the bills filed. The list shall contain the
number, title and author of each bill and shall be delivered to the Speaker for committee referral of
each bill.
30. Clerk_Receipt for Enrolled Acts. As custodian of the enrolled acts, the Clerk shall require
a receipt upon surrendering possession of an enrolled act.
31. Clerk_Disposition of Bills After Session.
31.1 After each session, the Clerk shall transmit to the State Archives all original and
engrossed House bills and resolutions. The State Archives will provide for the
preservation of such bills and resolutions.
31.2 The Clerk shall retain the receipt books of the transmittal of enrolled acts and joint
resolutions to the Governor and such bookkeeping records as are appropriate. At the end
of the term of office, unless re-elected, the Clerk shall transmit to the Legislative Services
Agency all such receipt books and bookkeeping records from each session during the
term. The Legislative Services Agency shall provide for the preservation of such records
and books for future use.
32. Clerk_Messages from the Senate. When messages, bills, and resolutions are received from
the Senate they shall be delivered in writing to the Speaker.
33. Doorkeepers.
33.1 It is the duty of the Doorkeepers to attend to the House during its sessions, to maintain
order in the hall, to execute all process issued by the authority of the House and directed
to them by the Speaker and in all things to execute the commands of the Speaker of the
House.
33.2 It is the duty of the Doorkeepers upon the authority of the Speaker to clear the hall of
unauthorized persons from 30 minutes before the time for convening until 30 minutes
after adjournment.
D. HOUSE JOURNAL
34. Requirement. A Journal of the proceedings of the House shall be kept and published.
(Constitution, Article 4, Section 12.)
35. Contents.
35.1 The title of every bill introduced shall be recorded in the Journal.
35.2 All joint resolutions amending the Constitution of the State shall be published in full in
the Journal.
35.3 All motions, resolutions, reports, petitions, decisions of the Chair, and amendments to
bills or other matters shall appear of record in a manner approved by the Speaker.
PART IV
RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF MEMBERS
A. GENERALLY
36. Attendance. No member shall absent himself from the service of the House unless he is
excused by the Speaker, is sick or is unable to attend.
37. Presentation of Petitions and Memorials.
37.1 Members having petitions, memorials, concurrent or house resolutions to present may
hand them to the Speaker, endorsing them with their names. Petitions, memorials,
concurrent or house resolutions, and the reference or disposition of them, shall be entered
on the Journal and may be referred by the Speaker to the appropriate committees. If any
petition, memorial, concurrent or house resolution is presented which in the judgment of
the Speaker is not respectful, temperate and free from offensive imputations upon the
character or conduct of the General Assembly or other constituted authority, it shall be
returned to the member from whom it was received.
37.2 When a paper is first presented to the House, it is a matter of right of any member to have
it read before the House votes upon it. If the paper has been once read or the reading
dispensed with and the reading is again requested and objected to, it shall be determined
by a vote of the House.
38. Protest. Any member of the House has the right to protest, and to have that protest, with the
reasons for dissent, entered on the Journal. (Constitution, Article 4, Section 26.)
B. CONCERNING DEBATE
39. Decorum. While the Chair is putting any question or addressing the House, no member
shall walk out of or across the House; when a member is speaking or delivering any matter to the
House, no other member shall pass between that member and the Chair.
40. Recognition to Speak.
40.1 Any member desiring to speak in debate or to deliver any matter to the House, shall rise
and respectfully address “Mr. Speaker,” but shall not proceed until recognized by the
Speaker.
40.2 When two or more members rise at once, the Speaker shall name the member who is first
to speak.
41. Contents of Comments. Comments shall be confined to the question under consideration,
shall avoid personality, and shall not impeach the motive of any member's vote or argument.
42. Frequency of Speaking. No member may speak more than twice on the same question
without the consent of the House, nor more than once until every member choosing to speak has
spoken.
43. Breaches of Order.
43.1 If a member transgress the rules of the House, the Speaker or any other member may call
the offender to order, in which case the member called to order shall immediately sit
down, unless permitted to explain. The House shall, if appealed to, decide on the case,
without debate, in accordance with Rule 24. If there is no appeal the decision of the Chair
shall be submitted to. If the decision is in favor of the member called to order, he or she
may proceed; if the decision is not in favor of that member, he or she may not proceed
if any member objects, without leave of the House. If the case requires it, a member may
be liable to the censure of the House.
43.2 If a member is called to order for words spoken in debate, the person calling him or her
to order shall repeat the words excepted to, and they shall be taken down in writing at the
rostrum.
43.3 No member shall be held to answer or be subject to the censure of the House for any
words spoken in debate if any other member has spoken or other business had intervened
after the words were spoken and before exception to them has been taken.
C. CONCERNING VOTING
44. Right to Have Vote Counted. When the question is stated by the Speaker and the vote is
on a call of the yeas and nays, all members within the House shall be counted.
44.1 Notwithstanding any rule or prior interpretation of these rules to the contrary, the Speaker
shall, upon the request of any two (2) members prior to the call for a vote, regardless of
the question under consideration, cause a permanent public written record of any vote to
be made. This record shall include the date, subject matter under consideration, total
number of members voting, the identity by name of members and whether they voted in
favor, against or were excused from voting. This record shall be recorded in the House
Journal and shall be made available to the public and news media. Violations of this rule
shall be considered a violation of the public trust.
45. Duty to Vote. Every member who is on the floor of the House when the question is put shall
vote, unless excused by the House for special reasons.
46. Excuse from Voting. All motions to excuse a member from voting shall be made before the
House divides or before the call of the yeas and nays is commenced. No call of the yeas and nays
shall be entertained on a motion to excuse a member from voting.
47. Conflict of Interest. Any member who is immediately and particularly interested in the
result on any question shall ask to be excused and shall not vote on that question. Any member
requesting to be excused from voting may make a brief statement of the reasons for making such
request, and the question then shall be taken without further debate.
48. Refusal to Vote. The refusal to vote by a member who is present and has not been excused
from voting is a high breach of decorum and subjects the person so offending to a fine, censure or
such other penalty as the House may order.
49. Absent Members.
49.1 A member who is absent from the House without excuse may, by order of the members
present, be sent for and taken into custody wherever found by the Doorkeeper or other
person appointed for that purpose.
49.2 When a member is discharged from custody and admitted to the House, the remaining
members shall determine whether a fine, censure or other penalty should be imposed. The
House shall determine whether a delinquent member, taken into custody, shall pay the
expenses incurred.
50. Voting for Another.
50.1 No member shall vote for another member. In addition to such penalties as may be
prescribed by law, any member who votes or attempts to vote for another member may
be punished in such manner as the House may determine.
50.2 No person not a member may cast a vote for a member. If a person not a member votes
or attempts to vote for a member, that person shall be barred from the floor of the House
for the remainder of the session and may be further punished in such manner as the
House deems proper.
51. Voting After the Machine is Closed. No member may vote or change a vote after the
Speaker announces that the machine is closed for the recording of the vote.
PART V
STANDING COMMITTEES AND SUBCOMMITTEES
52. Standing Committees. The following shall be the standing committees:
Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development
Commerce, Economic Development and Technology
Courts and Criminal Code
Education
Elections and Apportionment
Environmental Affairs
Financial Institutions
Human Affairs
Insurance, Corporations and Small Business
Judiciary
Labor and Employment
Local Government
Public Health
Public Policy, Ethics and Veterans Affairs
Roads and Transportation
Rules and Legislative Procedures
Ways and Means
53. Membership.
53.1 Except as otherwise provided, all standing committees shall consist of not less than three
nor more than fifteen members, except at the discretion of the Speaker of the House.
53.2 The Committee on Ways and Means shall include at least one member from each
congressional district and two members of the Budget Committee.
53.3 The Committee on Elections and Apportionment shall be composed of at least one
member from each congressional district.
54. Proportional Representation. Insofar as feasible and practical, the membership of the
standing committees shall be made proportionate to representation of parties in the House.
55. Appointment and Term. The standing committees shall be appointed by the Speaker not
later than ten (10) days after the election of officers, and shall be recorded in the Journal. The
members of the standing committees shall serve for the term of the General Assembly unless
removed, suspended or unable to serve.
56. Duties. It is the duty of the several standing committees to examine into and report upon
all matters that may be referred to them, either by bill or otherwise.
57. Time of Meeting. No committee may sit while the House is in session without the consent
of the House.
58. Right of Authors and Sponsors. Any member of the House, having any petition, memorial,
remonstrance, resolution, bill or other matter of which he is the author, coauthor, sponsor or
cosponsor, may meet with and act as a member of the committee during the time the committee has
such subject under consideration. He may participate in debate, but he may not make or second
motions or vote unless he is a regular member of the committee.
59. Notice of Meetings.
59.1 Every member of the House shall be given written notice of all committee meetings. The
notice shall also be posted and made available to the public. The notice shall include the
date, time and place of the meeting and the number and author of each bill or resolution
to be considered together with such information concerning the subject matter as the
committee chair shall determine.
59.2 When the House is in a recess of more than three (3) days, the notice required to be given
to members may be given by depositing a copy of the notice in the United States mail at
least five (5) days before the meeting.
60. Announcement of Meetings. The chair of each committee shall have all committee and
subcommittee meetings announced from the floor of the House. At such time the number of each
bill to be considered at the meeting shall be announced. With the exception of hearings on the budget
bills, such announcements shall be made for all committee meetings prior to adjournment on the
meeting day next preceding the meeting; however, when the House is in a recess of three (3) or more
days, such meetings need not be announced from the floor of the House.
61. Open Meetings. All standing committee and subcommittee meetings shall be open to the
public, and citizens shall have the right to be heard. To the extent feasible, meetings will be held at
times and places convenient to the public.
62. Quorum. A quorum consists of a majority of the committee members. No action may be
taken without a quorum.
63. Voting for Another. No member of a committee may vote for another member, nor may any
person not a member of the committee cast a vote for a member.
63.5. Proxy Voting. The chair of a committee may allow members of the committee to vote by
proxy, provided that the chair of the committee has issued a written policy specifying under what
circumstances and conditions proxy votes will be accepted and the proxy is voted in accordance with
the committee policy on proxy voting.
64. No Secret Ballot. Voting by secret ballot is prohibited.
65. Record of Voting. When a final vote is taken on any bill or resolution under consideration
by a committee or subcommittee the vote of each member shall be recorded and retained as part of
the record of the meeting. Records of such votes shall be made available for examination by
legislators, the news media and the public.
66. Change of Vote. No recorded vote of a member on any bill or resolution may be changed
except upon adoption of a motion to do so during a committee session at which there is a quorum.
67. Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedures_Duties. If in checking printed bills and
the daily Journal, the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedures ascertains any error, including
spelling or technical errors, the error shall be corrected under their direction. A record of such errors
and the corrections shall be entered in the Journal.
68. Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedures_Meetings. It is in order for the
Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedures to meet any time, and to report at any time when
no question is before the House.
PART VI
VOTING PROCEDURE
69. Voting Machine. The voting machine may be used in voting on any question.
70. When Voting Machine Not Operating. In the event the voting machine is not operating, the
names of the members shall be called alphabetically, the name of the Speaker being called last. After
the roll has been gone through, the reading clerk shall first read over the names of those who have
answered in the affirmative, and then the names of those who have answered in the negative, in order
that, if any mistake has been made in noting the answer, or if any member has made a mistake in
giving an answer, the mistake of either may be corrected.
71. During the Vote. After a vote on the question has been ordered, no debate and no motion,
including a motion to adjourn, or a point of personal privilege, shall be in order until the vote is
completed.
72. Bringing the Question to a Vote.
72.1 When the House is ready to vote upon any question requiring a roll call, the Speaker shall
announce: “The question is on the passage (designating the matter to be voted upon). All
in favor of such question shall vote 'aye;' all opposed shall vote 'no.' The House will
now proceed to vote.”
72.2 When sufficient time has been allowed the members to vote, the Speaker shall announce:
“Have all members voted?” and after a short pause the vote shall be tallied.
73. Explanation of Vote. The ordering of the previous question shall not prevent a member
from explaining his or her vote after the vote is recorded; but no member, under this rule, shall be
permitted more than one minute for that purpose.
74. Announcing the Vote. When the vote is tallied, the Speaker shall announce the result and
the vote tally shall be recorded in the Journal.
75. Change of Voting Records. The roll call as recorded on the recording equipment shall not
be altered or changed in any manner, by any person, except by a constitutional majority upon written
petition setting forth the reasons for the change of the recorded vote. The petition and the action
thereon shall be entered in the Journal.
76. Voting Records. At the same time the vote is recorded by the recording equipment, an
original and not less than three duplicate roll call sheets shall be made showing the vote. One of the
duplicates shall be for the use of the news media and one shall be furnished to the Legislative
Services Agency.
PART VII
MOTIONS
77. Absence of Quorum. When less than a quorum is present no motion may be entertained,
except to adjourn or compel the attendance of members.
78. Form. Every motion, except a motion for the previous question, or calling or excusing
absentees, shall be in writing or reduced to writing immediately after introduction.
79. Second. When a motion is made it must be seconded before it may be debated after which
it is in possession of the House; but, it may be withdrawn at any time before a decision or
amendment.
80. Germane. No motion or proposition on a subject not germane to that under consideration
shall be admitted under color of an amendment.
81. Division of a Question. Any member may call for the division of a question before or after
the main question is ordered. The question shall be divided, if it contains propositions in substance
so distinct that if one were taken away, a substantive proposition shall remain for the decision of the
House. A motion to strike out and insert shall be deemed indivisible, but a motion to strike out being
lost shall preclude neither amendment nor a motion to strike out and insert.
82. Fix a Time of the Next Meeting. A motion to fix a time to which the House shall adjourn
is in order at any time, except as provided in Rule 71, and is debatable unless made while another
question is pending, in which case it is undebatable.
83. Suspend Rule Requiring Reading on Three Separate Meeting Days. A motion to suspend
the constitutional rule requiring a bill to be read on three separate meeting days must be carried by
two-thirds vote of the members of the House. (Constitution, Article 4, Section 18.)
84. Recommit. After a bill has been reported to the House, it may be recommitted to the same
or another committee with or without recommendation by a majority vote and shall be recommitted
by the Speaker to the Committee on Ways and Means in accordance with Rule 127.
85. Call Back to the House from Committee. After a committee has had a bill under
consideration for six meeting days (the day of its introduction not included), the author of the bill
or any member of the House may call the bill back to the House on motion carried by a constitutional
majority, either with or without recommendation, and when so returned shall be before the House
for consideration the same as if it had been reported upon by the committee.
86. Precedence of Motions When Question Under Debate. When a question is under debate,
only the following motions may be received:
1. to adjourn,
2. to lay on the table,
3. for the previous question,
4. to postpone to a day certain,
5. to postpone indefinitely,
6. to commit or recommit,
7. to strike out the enacting words, or
8. to amend.
These motions have precedence in the order that they are listed.
87. Adjourn. A motion to adjourn shall be decided without debate and is always in order,
except as provided in Rule 71 or while another member is speaking.
88. Table. A motion to lay on the table is undebatable and is always in order, except as
provided in Rule 71 or while another member is speaking.
89. Previous Question.
89.1 The previous question shall be in this form: “Shall the main question be now put?”
89.2 On the previous question there shall be no debate.
89.3 All incidental questions of order arising after a motion is made for the previous question,
and pending such motion, shall be decided, whether on appeal or otherwise, without
debate.
90. Postpone to a Day Certain or Commit. A motion to postpone to a meeting day certain or
to commit, being decided, shall not again be allowed on the same day, at the same stage of the bill
or proposition.
91. Strike Out the Enacting Words. A motion to strike out the enacting words of a bill, if
carried, is equivalent to its rejection.
92. Precedence of Certain Motions. Motions to postpone to a meeting day certain, to commit
or amend may be amended and have precedence in the order named in Rule 86.
93. Effect of Indefinite Postponement or Tabling. When a question is postponed indefinitely,
or when a motion to reconsider has been laid upon the table, neither such question nor any bill,
resolution, conference committee report or amendment on the same subject matter shall be
considered again during the session. However, the indefinite postponement of or tabling of a motion
to reconsider action on a House bill shall not prevent later consideration of or action upon a Senate
bill on the same subject matter.
94. Reconsider_Tie Vote. In all cases of equal division the question is not lost and may be
reconsidered upon motion by any member.
95. Reconsider.
95.1 When a question has been decided either in the affirmative or negative, except as
provided in Rules 93 and 154, it is in order for any member having voted with the
majority to move for the reconsideration thereof, on the same or the succeeding meeting
day. The motion takes precedence over all other questions, except a motion to adjourn,
and may not be withdrawn after that succeeding day without the consent of a majority.
95.2 When a motion is pending for the reconsideration of any question, any member of the
House may call up the motion for the action of the House when it has been pending for
twenty-four (24) hours. All such motions shall take precedence over all questions except
a conference committee report or motion to adjourn; however, if such motion is made
after April 14 of the first regular session or after March 7 of the second regular session,
it shall be disposed of when made.
PART VIII
LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE
A. FORM OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
96. Digest. A brief digest stating the nature of the proposed bill shall be attached to each copy
of the bill when filed for introduction.
97. Title. Every bill shall contain a title that expresses in concise terms the subject matter of
the bill, in sufficient detail to acquaint the members of the House with the general subject matter
under consideration.
98. Identification of Law to be Amended. Every amendatory bill shall identify the original act
or code as last amended, and the sections amended shall be set forth and published at full length. The
identification required by this rule shall be made by citation reference.
99. Emphasize Amendments.
99.1 When a bill proposes to amend the Constitution, or any statute or section thereof, the
author shall indicate the new matter by use of bold face type; if any matter has been
deleted, the deleted material shall be set out in cancelled type.
99.2 Capitalization, organization or punctuation changes made solely for the purpose of
uniform style need not be indicated.
100. Form. Every bill or resolution of the House shall be written on full sheets of paper. All
bills and resolutions shall be typewritten or printed, having no handwritten interlining or defacements
of any kind.
101. Original and Copies.
101.1 There shall be one original of each bill prepared for filing, together with such copies as
the Speaker shall from time to time determine. The Clerk shall distribute the copies to
such persons as the Speaker shall designate with a view towards improving the legislative
process and encouraging public awareness of and participation in matters pending before
the House. Such distribution shall be made upon release of a bill for committee
consideration or upon the date of first reading, whichever is earlier.
101.2 This rule does not apply to bills filed in the name of the Committee on Rules and
Legislative Procedures.
102. Authorized Copies. The printing and other contractors shall work under the direction of
the Speaker and no bill in the possession of the House shall be printed for any member or other
person without the express approval of the Speaker.
103. Release of Information Concerning Printing and Computing.
103.1 Neither the printing nor other contractors, nor any subcontractor shall release information
concerning bills, their progress or the work thereon to any person not authorized by the
Speaker to receive such information.
103.2 A procedure shall be developed under the direction of the Speaker for informing authors
or sponsors about printing of their bills.
B. FILING, INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT
104. Time to File. On or after the first meeting day of a regular or special session, any member
may file a bill with the Clerk for introduction. Filing shall not be later than 2:00 p.m. the day prior
to introduction and first reading.
105. Preconditions for Filing. No member may file a bill for introduction, except the budget
bills, unless:
105.1 it has previously been submitted to the Legislative Services Agency for the purpose of
checking as to form; and
105.2 the subject matter is clearly set forth both in the title and the body of the bill.
106. Names of Author and Coauthors.
106.1 Every bill filed shall include the name or names of the member or members offering it
and shall be delivered in person or by certified mail to the Clerk's office. There may be
no more than three (3) coauthors or cosponsors of a bill.
106.2 This rule does not apply to bills filed for the Committee on Rules and Legislative
Procedures under Rule 107. The Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedures shall
be considered the author of such bills at the time of filing.
107. Vehicle Bills. On the fifth meeting day in January, twenty-five (25) bills shall be filed in
the name of the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedures. Rule 105 and the time limits of
Rule 113 do not apply to such bills.
108. Deadline for Filing.
108.1 During the first regular session of any term of the General Assembly, no bill may be filed
for introduction later than 2:00 p.m. on the fourth meeting day in January without the
consent of a two-thirds majority of the members elected.
108.2 During the second regular session of any term of the General Assembly, no bill may be
filed for introduction later than 2:00 p.m. on the fourth meeting day in January without
consent of a two-thirds majority.
108.3 This rule does not apply to bills filed in the name of the Committee on Rules and
Legislative Procedures under Rule 107.
109. Bill Limit.
109.1 During the second regular session, each member shall be permitted to file for
introduction no more than five bills.
109.2 This rule does not apply to bills filed in the name of the Committee on Rules and
Legislative Procedures under Rule 107.
110. Numbering. The Clerk shall date and number each bill consecutively in the order received,
commencing with the number 1001, and joint resolutions consecutively, commencing with the
number 1. The number a bill takes when introduced by a member is only for convenience in filing
and for reference; it is no part of the bill or act itself.
111. Withdrawal. Any bill may be withdrawn prior to first reading by the author upon written
request to the Clerk and the records shall show such bill as having been withdrawn.
112. Effect of Loss of Author. A bill filed by a member whose office becomes vacant before
the bill is first read shall be introduced and read a first time in the name of the first named coauthor.
If there is no coauthor, the records shall show that the bill was withdrawn before first reading.
113. Referral to Committee. The Speaker shall refer each bill to a committee within ten (10)
calendar days after filing unless committees have not been appointed, in which case they shall be
referred within ten (10) calendar days after the appointment of the committees. The Speaker shall
cause the committee referral to be indicated on the list of bills filed, and cause the list to be
distributed to the members.
114. Claims Against the State. All claims against the State which must be first presented in the
House shall be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means before being referred to any other
committee.
115. Introduction and First Reading. The reading of each bill by number, title and author and
committee reference shall be the introduction and first reading. The first reading of a bill is for
information.
116. Rejection or Assignment to Committee. If a member objects to a bill on first reading the
question shall be: “Shall the bill be rejected?” If the question to reject is defeated, the bill shall be
referred to a committee.
C. AMENDMENTS
117.1. Copies. There shall be made one copy on the House computer network in a format
specified by the Speaker and one original and that number of additional paper copies specified of all
amendments and committee reports. The copies shall be distributed to those persons as the Speaker
shall designate with a view towards improving the legislative process and encouraging public
awareness of and participation in matters pending before the House.
117.2. Floor Amendments to Bills. No amendment may be offered to a bill on second reading
unless such amendment shall have been reduced to writing, saved in a computer format specified by
the Speaker, filed with the Clerk and time-stamped at least two (2) hours prior to the convening of
the session on the day on which the bill is called for second reading. A paper copy of each timely
filed amendment shall be distributed to all members as soon as practicable and made available on
the House computer network as soon as practicable.
118. Substituting Another Bill. No bill may be amended by annexing to it or incorporating with
it any other bill pending before the House.
119. Substituting Different Subject Matter_House Bill.
119.1 No amendment proposed to a House bill substituting therein a different subject matter
may be accepted, unless accompanied by the written consent of its author and coauthors.
119.2 The House shall reject all House bills that have been amended in the Senate by
substituting therein the contents of a different bill or a different subject matter without
having first received the written consent of its author and coauthors.
120. Substituting Different Subject Matter_Senate Bill. No House amendment proposed to
a Senate bill substituting therein the contents of a different bill or a different subject matter may be
accepted unless it is accompanied by the written consent of the author, coauthors, sponsor and
cosponsors.
121. Effect of Tabling. If a motion to lay proposed amendments on the table prevails, it shall
not affect the general subject to which the amendments are offered.
122. Appended to Bill. The text of all committee and floor amendments to a bill shall be
appended to each printing of that bill, unless otherwise ordered by the House.
D. COMMITTEE MEETINGS, CONSIDERATIONS, REPORTS
123. Record of Committee Vote. The vote of the committee shall be placed on the bill.
124. Approval of Digest. When a bill is reported out of committee, it shall be submitted to the
House attorney for approval or revision of the digest, as appropriate.
125. Committee Reports. A committee to which a bill has been referred may report thereon
with or without amendments.
126. Effect of Motion to Postpone or Table. If a majority of the committee members present
at a committee meeting vote to table or to postpone a bill indefinitely, the decision of the committee
shall not be reported to the House.
127. House Action on Committee Reports. The report, with amendments, if any, shall be acted
upon by the House upon its submission. Any bill with an annual fiscal impact to the State in excess
of $50,000 may be referred by the Speaker to and reported by the Committee on Ways and Means
before it is eligible for second reading.
128. Minority Reports. Any member of a committee reporting who voted against adoption of
the committee report may submit a separate report which shall be filed with the committee report
and shall be a minority report. In the event a minority report is submitted, the report adopted by the
recorded vote of a majority of the committee members present at a duly constituted meeting of the
committee shall be the majority report. A minority report duly filed with the Clerk for action by the
House shall be voted upon before the majority report and, upon adoption, becomes the committee
report. If the minority report is rejected, the House shall then act upon the majority report.
129. First Printing_Form. Every bill reported favorably by a committee, and other bills as
directed by the House, shall be printed for the first time in bill form with the pages and lines
numbered.
130. First Printing_Laid on Desks. After a bill is printed for the first time it shall be laid upon
the desks of the members and shall be made available on the House computer network as soon as
practicable.
131. Emphasize Amendments.
131.1 Whenever a bill proposing to amend the Constitution or any statute is printed, the text
of the bill shall reflect each proposed change from the text of the Constitution or statute.
This shall be accomplished by the use of bold face type to indicate the addition of new
material and cancelled type to indicate the deletion of existing material.
131.2 Capitalization or punctuation changes made solely for the purpose of uniform style need
not be indicated.
132. Type Face. No special type faces shall be used in the printed bill to indicate the occurrence
of committee or floor amendments; instead, except as provided in Rule 131 the printing shall set
forth the clean text of the bill as it appears after the committee and floor amendments have been
implemented.
E. SECOND READING
141. Calendar of Bills. The Speaker shall, insofar as is practical, make up a daily calendar of
all bills and resolutions which are due to be handed down for action either on second or third reading
on the next meeting day. The calendar shall be laid upon the desks of the members as soon as
practicable after adjournment, promptly posted in the hall, and made available on the House
computer network.
142. Eligibility. A bill is eligible for its second reading on the second calendar day following
distribution to the members.
143. Calling Down on Second Reading. When the time for second readings arrives, each
member who is an author or sponsor of a bill shall be entitled to call down a bill for consideration
by the House. A coauthor or cosponsor may call down a bill with the written consent of the author
or sponsor. When the bill is called, the Speaker shall hand down the bill to be read and then state that
the bill is ready for amendment, recommitment or engrossment.
144. Engrossment_Reprinting. All bills ordered to be engrossed shall be executed in
typewritten or printed form and made available on the House computer network. Whenever a bill
is amended on second reading, it shall be reprinted, unless at the discretion of the Speaker or by
motion adopted, it is otherwise ordered. If the bill is reprinted, the reprinted bill shall be used for the
engrossed bill, and if the bill is not reprinted the amendments shall be engrossed to the bill.
145. Engrossment_Supervision. Bills when ordered to engrossment shall be engrossed under
the direction of the Speaker and the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedures. It is the duty
of the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedures to carefully compare the engrossed bills with
the original bills and ascertain whether they have in all respects been accurately and correctly
engrossed; if that committee ascertains any mistake, it shall be corrected under the committee's
direction.
F. THIRD READING
146. Eligibility.
146.1 No bill shall be considered on third reading on the same meeting day that it passed to
engrossment except on motion adopted pursuant to Rule 83.
146.2 The Speaker shall make a daily calendar of bills eligible for third reading.
146.3 When the time for third reading arrives, each member who is an author or sponsor of a
bill shall be entitled to call down a bill for consideration by the House. A coauthor or
cosponsor may call down a bill with the written consent of the author or sponsor. When
the bill is called, the Speaker shall hand down the bill, state that it is on its passage and
allow the author or sponsor to begin the debate.
147. Deadline for House Bills.
147.1 During the first regular session, no House bill shall be eligible for consideration on third
reading after March 6.
147.2 During the second regular session, no House bill shall be eligible for consideration on
third reading after February 5.
147.3 Upon recommendation of the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedures, this rule
may be suspended as to a specific bill by the approval of a constitutional majority.
148. Deadline for Senate Bills.
148.1 During the first regular session, no Senate bill shall be eligible for consideration on third
reading after April 12.
148.2 During the second regular session, no Senate bill shall be eligible for consideration on
third reading after March 1.
148.3 Upon recommendation of the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedures, this rule
may be suspended as to a specific bill by the approval of a constitutional majority.
148.4 No Senate bill or joint resolution amending the Constitution shall be received by the
House after March 10 in the first session or February 9 in the second session.
148.5 The limitation set forth in this Rule shall not apply to bills concerning reapportionment
or redistricting only.
149. Amendments. After a bill has been engrossed and ordered to third reading, it may not be
amended except by unanimous consent, but, upon motion of the author or sponsor, it may be
recommitted to a committee of one with special instructions to amend by a two-thirds vote. In case
any bill is amended after engrossment, the question may again be put on the engrossment of the bill.
149.1. No bill shall be eligible for third reading that specifically exempts the House, its
members, staff and employees from laws applicable to the public at large.
150. Right to Close. The author or sponsor of a bill has a right to fifteen (15) minutes of time
to close the debate upon it when it has reached its third reading. The right secured by this rule shall
not be impaired, even after a demand for the previous question.
151. Final Passage_Majority but Not a Constitutional Majority. When a bill on its final
passage receives a majority of the votes cast, but not a constitutional majority, the bill shall not be
considered lost. When the third reading of the bill is in order any member who voted with the
majority or who did not vote at all may, by motion adopted by a majority vote, reconsider the bill;
and the House shall take another vote thereon. Any number of votes may be taken in such cases by
the House.
152. Final Passage_Tie Vote. When a bill on its final passage receives the same number of
votes cast against it as for it, the bill shall not be considered lost; it may, when the third reading of
bills is in order, be reconsidered upon the motion of any member.
153. Final Passage_More (But Less Than 51) Votes Against Than For. When a bill on its final
passage receives more votes against than for it, but less than a constitutional majority, it may be
considered under the provisions of Rule 95.
154. Final Passage_51 or More Votes Against.
154.1 Whenever a bill on its passage receives fifty-one (51) votes or more against its passage,
the bill, as well as the subject matter of the bill, is decisively defeated, and neither the
question nor any bill, conference committee report, or amendment on the same subject
matter may be considered again during the session. However, the decisive defeat of a
House bill does not prevent later consideration of or action upon a Senate bill on the
same subject matter.
154.2 This rule does not apply to budget bills or state revenue raising measures.
155. Record of Vote on Final Passage. The vote on final passage shall be placed on the bill.
G. CONFERENCE COMMITTEES
156. Meetings.
156.1 Each conference committee on House bills shall be open to the public, shall be held in
the State House and shall convene only after at least two hours public notice. The notice
shall include:
(a) the bill number and subject matter of the bill or bills to be considered;
(b) the time, day, date, and place of meeting;
(c) the members of the conference committee; and
(d) the chair of the conference committee.
156.2 It is the responsibility of the chair of the conference committee to advise the office of the
Majority Caucus Chair of the holding of a conference committee meeting and to provide
that office with the information set forth in paragraph 156.1.
156.3 Notice of conference committee meetings including all information set forth in paragraph
156.1 shall be posted prominently on the House bulletin board located outside the hall
for no less than two hours before the meeting.
157. Filing of Reports. No conference committee report shall be referred to the House until it
has been approved as to form by the House attorney and filed with the Clerk.
158. Amended Digest. When a conference committee report is filed, an amended digest
indicating the changes made shall also be filed.
159. Title Amendments. Conference committee reports requiring title amendments shall be
stamped “Title Amendment.”
160. Deadline.
160.1 In the first regular session, no conference committee report is eligible for consideration
after April 12.
160.2 In the second regular session, no conference committee report is eligible for consideration
after March 1.
160.3 Upon recommendation of the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedures, this rule
may be suspended as to a specific bill by the approval of a constitutional majority.
161. Placed on Members' Desks. All reports of conference committees for adjustment of
differences between the House and Senate together with a digest of the bill shall be filed with the
Clerk, reproduced, placed on each member's desk, and made available on the House computer
network as soon as practicable.
162. Time on Members' Desks.
162.1 During the first regular session, conference reports shall be laid over for twenty-four (24)
hours after filing.
162.2 During the second regular session, such reports shall be laid over for twenty-four (24)
hours after filing.
162.3 Such reports shall then be read in their entirety again and placed before the House for
action.
H. ENROLLMENT
163. Copy Furnished to Author. A copy of each enrolled act shall be furnished to the author of
the act at the time he signs it to certify its accuracy.
The House of Representatives and The Senate have adjourn Sine Die.
