Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HR00002 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	LCO No. 1200 1 of 17
4	4
5	5	General Assembly House Resolution No. 2
6	6	January Session, 2025
7	7	LCO No. 1200
8	8
9	9
10	10	Referred to Committee on No Committee
11	11
12	12
13	13	Introduced by:
14	14	REP. ROJAS, 9
15	15	th
16	16	Dist.
17	17	REP. CANDELORA V., 86
18	18	th
19	19	Dist.
20	20
21	21
22	22
23	23
24	24
25	25	RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE HOUSE RULES.
26	26	Resolved by this House:
27	27
28	28	That the following shall be the rules to regulate the proceedings of 1
29	29	the House of Representatives for the 2025 and 2026 sessions: 2
30	30	THE SPEAKER 3
31	31	1. The speaker shall take the chair every day at the hour to which the 4
32	32	House has adjourned and shall immediately call the House to order and, 5
33	33	after prayer and recitation of the pledge of allegiance, proceed to 6
34	34	business if a quorum is present in the House Chamber. 7
35	35	2. In the absence of a quorum, the speaker may adjourn the House to 8
36	36	a later time or to the next session day. At all other times an adjournment 9
37	37	shall be pronounced by the speaker on motion. 10
38	38	3. The speaker shall preserve order and decorum and shall decide all 11
39	39	questions of order and discipline, upon which no debate shall be 12
40	40	allowed except at the speaker's request, but the decision shall be subject 13
41	41	to an appeal to the House, which must be seconded and on which no 14 House Resolution No.
42	42
43	43
44	44	LCO No. 1200 2 of 17
45	45
46	46	member shall speak more than once. No other business shall be in order 15
47	47	until the disposition of such appeal. 16
48	48	4. The speaker shall rise to put a question or to address the House. 17
49	49	5. If there is any disturbance, disorderly conduct or other activity in 18
50	50	or about the State Capitol or Legislative Office Building which, in the 19
51	51	opinion of the speaker, may impede the orderly transaction of the 20
52	52	business of the House, the speaker may take such action as the speaker 21
53	53	deems necessary to preserve and restore order. 22
54	54	6. If the speaker wishes to leave the chair, a deputy speaker or a 23
55	55	member may be designated by the speaker to perform the duties of the 24
56	56	chair. 25
57	57	7. If the speaker, or a deputy speaker or member designated by the 26
58	58	speaker in accordance with the preceding rule, is absent at the hour to 27
59	59	which the House has adjourned, the clerk shall call the House to order 28
60	60	and first business shall be the election of an acting speaker, which shall 29
61	61	be done immediately without debate, by ballot or otherwise, as the 30
62	62	House shall determine, also without debate; and the person thus elected 31
63	63	shall preside in the House and discharge all the duties of the speaker 32
64	64	until the speaker's return. In the case of the death, resignation or 33
65	65	permanent disability of the speaker, a deputy speaker shall then call the 34
66	66	House to order and the first business shall be the election of a speaker, 35
67	67	which the House shall immediately proceed to do without debate. The 36
68	68	person thus elected shall immediately assume the duties of speaker 37
69	69	during the continuance of the General Assembly. 38
70	70	DEPUTY SPEAKERS 39
71	71	8. There shall be such deputy speakers as determined and appointed 40
72	72	by the speaker of the House. The speaker shall designate a deputy 41
73	73	speaker to assume the duties of the speaker in the speaker's absence. 42
74	74	CHAPLAIN AND DEPUTY CHAPLAINS 43
75	75	9. Within one week after the appointment of the speaker, the speaker 44 House Resolution No.
76	76
77	77
78	78	LCO No. 1200 3 of 17
79	79
80	80	shall nominate a chaplain and up to four deputy chaplains, and if such 45
81	81	nominations are confirmed by the House by a majority vote, the 46
82	82	candidates so nominated and confirmed shall serve for the regular 47
83	83	sessions and any special sessions during the 2025-2026 legislative term. 48
84	84	CLERK 49
85	85	10. The clerk shall keep a House journal, and shall enter therein a 50
86	86	record of each day's proceedings, record any amendment that may be 51
87	87	offered to any bill or resolution and record the date of filing of an 52
88	88	agreement, award or stipulation that is filed in accordance with Joint 53
89	89	Rule 31 or 32. 54
90	90	11. Subject to Rule 50, the clerk shall keep a calendar and shall enter 55
91	91	daily on such calendar (1) all bills and joint resolutions received from 56
92	92	the senate except (a) bills and resolutions which do not have the 57
93	93	favorable report of a joint committee which shall, upon being read by 58
94	94	the clerk, be referred without further action to the appropriate 59
95	95	committee, and (b) all bills and joint resolutions received from the senate 60
96	96	which have not been referred by the House to any committee; and (2) all 61
97	97	bills and resolutions favorably reported to the House from any 62
98	98	committee and these shall be entered on the calendar in the order in 63
99	99	which they are received. Each joint resolution proposing an amendment 64
100	100	to the constitution and each bill so entered shall be printed and in the 65
101	101	files and on the calendar for two session days with a file number and 66
102	102	shall be starred for action on the session day next succeeding, except 67
103	103	that: 68
104	104	(A) A bill or resolution certified in accordance with section 2-26 of the 69
105	105	general statutes, if filed in the House, may be transmitted to and acted 70
106	106	upon first by the senate with the consent of the speaker; and if filed in 71
107	107	the senate, may be transmitted to and acted upon first by the House with 72
108	108	the consent of the president pro tempore, 73
109	109	(B) (i) Except as provided in clause (ii) of this subparagraph, any bill 74
110	110	or resolution certified in accordance with section 2-26 of the general 75
111	111	statutes may be acted upon in the House (I) on the same session day that 76 House Resolution No.
112	112
113	113
114	114	LCO No. 1200 4 of 17
115	115
116	116	electronic notice of the filing and number of the bill or resolution is 77
117	117	provided to the members of the House, except the bill or resolution may 78
118	118	not be acted upon less than six hours after the House is called to order 79
119	119	or less than six hours after such notice is provided to the members, 80
120	120	whichever is later, (II) at any time on the next session day following the 81
121	121	day that such notice is provided to the members, or (III) during the last 82
122	122	five calendar days of the session, immediately after such notice is 83
123	123	provided to the members, and in any such case may be transmitted 84
124	124	immediately to the senate, 85
125	125	(ii) The clerk shall immediately provide an electronic notice of the 86
126	126	filing, in either chamber, and number of any emergency certified bill 87
127	127	introduced by the president pro tempore and the speaker, certified in 88
128	128	accordance with section 2-26 of the general statutes, that is the biennial 89
129	129	budget bill or a bill that amends the biennial budget bill to the members 90
130	130	of the House. No such emergency certified bill may be marked ready for 91
131	131	action or acted upon less than twelve hours following the provision of 92
132	132	such electronic notice. 93
133	133	(C) If the House refers a bill or resolution to another committee and 94
134	134	that committee favorably reports the bill or resolution not as a substitute 95
135	135	on the same session day as the House referral, the clerk shall 96
136	136	immediately enter the bill or resolution on the calendar and the House 97
137	137	may act upon it on the same session day, 98
138	138	(D) If the House rejects an amendment adopted by the senate, the bill 99
139	139	or resolution, after final action in the House, may be transmitted 100
140	140	immediately to the senate, or if the senate rejects an amendment 101
141	141	adopted by the House, the bill or resolution, when received from the 102
142	142	senate, may be placed immediately on the calendar, 103
143	143	(E) During the last ten calendar days of the session, if the House 104
144	144	rejects an amendment adopted by the senate, or adopts a House 105
145	145	amendment to a bill or resolution received from the senate, or takes any 106
146	146	action on the bill or resolution requiring further action by the senate, the 107
147	147	bill or resolution, after final action in the House, may be transmitted 108
148	148	immediately to the senate, or if the senate rejects an amendment 109 House Resolution No.
149	149
150	150
151	151	LCO No. 1200 5 of 17
152	152
153	153	adopted by the House or adopts a senate amendment to a bill or 110
154	154	resolution received from the House, or takes any action on the bill or 111
155	155	resolution requiring further action by the House, the bill or resolution, 112
156	156	when received from the senate, may be placed immediately on the 113
157	157	calendar and may be acted upon immediately, 114
158	158	(F) During the last ten calendar days of the session, any bill or 115
159	159	resolution, after final action in the House, may be transmitted 116
160	160	immediately to the senate, 117
161	161	(G) During the last five calendar days of the session, any bill or 118
162	162	resolution received by the House after final action by the senate may be 119
163	163	placed on the calendar immediately and the bill or resolution may be 120
164	164	acted upon after it has appeared on the calendar for two session days, 121
165	165	or 122
166	166	(H) A report by a joint standing committee of a resolution concerning 123
167	167	a judicial, workers' compensation commissioner or Board of Pardons 124
168	168	and Paroles member nomination may be acted upon after it has 125
169	169	appeared on the calendar for two days. 126
170	170	All bills and resolutions starred for action shall be acted upon only 127
171	171	when called and any bill or resolution not acted upon shall retain its 128
172	172	place on the calendar unless it is moved to the foot of the calendar or 129
173	173	unless its consideration is made the order of the day for some specified 130
174	174	time. When a bill or resolution is removed from the foot of the calendar, 131
175	175	it shall not be acted upon before the next regular succeeding session day. 132
176	176	Prior to the convening of the House on each session day, the speaker 133
177	177	shall make available on the floor of the House a list of bills and 134
178	178	resolutions intended to be acted upon during that session day. Such list 135
179	179	shall set forth the action intended to be taken on each bill or resolution 136
180	180	so listed. The list shall be for informational purposes only. 137
181	181	12. The clerk shall retain all bills, resolutions and other papers, in 138
182	182	reference to which any member has a right to move a reconsideration, 139
183	183	until the right of reconsideration has expired, and no longer. 140 House Resolution No.
184	184
185	185
186	186	LCO No. 1200 6 of 17
187	187
188	188	13. The clerk shall keep a record of all petitions, resolutions, joint 141
189	189	resolutions and bills for all acts presented for consideration of the 142
190	190	House, and said record shall be so kept as to show by one and a single 143
191	191	reference thereto the action of the House on any specified petition, 144
192	192	resolution, joint resolution or bill up to the time of such reference. 145
193	193	14. The clerk shall supervise all clerical work to be done for the House 146
194	194	and shall supervise all employees subject to the direction of the speaker. 147
195	195	The assistant clerk shall have the same powers and perform the same 148
196	196	duties as the clerk, subject to the direction of the clerk. The bill clerk, the 149
197	197	journal clerk and the calendar clerk shall perform such duties as are 150
198	198	assigned to them by the clerk. 151
199	199	15. Upon the request of any member, the clerk shall provide a 152
200	200	calendar to such member on each session day. 153
201	201	MEMBERS 154
202	202	16. When any member is about to speak in debate or deliver any 155
203	203	matter to the House, the member shall rise and address the chair as "Mr. 156
204	204	Speaker" or "Madam Speaker," as the case may be. 157
205	205	If two or more rise at the same time, the speaker shall name the 158
206	206	member entitled to the floor, preferring one who rises in place to one 159
207	207	who does not. 160
208	208	No member shall speak in debate or deliver any matter to the House 161
209	209	unless such member is present in the House Chamber. 162
210	210	17. No member shall speak on the same question more than twice 163
211	211	without unanimous consent of the members of the House present. 164
212	212	18. The speaker shall, or any member may, call to order any member 165
213	213	who in speaking or otherwise, transgresses the rules and orders of the 166
214	214	House. If speaking, the member shall sit down, unless permitted to 167
215	215	explain; and if a member is guilty of a breach of any of the rules and 168
216	216	orders, the member may be required by the House, on motion, to make 169
217	217	satisfaction therefor, and shall not be allowed to vote or speak except by 170 House Resolution No.
218	218
219	219
220	220	LCO No. 1200 7 of 17
221	221
222	222	way of excuse until such satisfaction is made. 171
223	223	COMMITTEES AND LEADERS 172
224	224	19. At the opening of each session a committee on contested elections, 173
225	225	consisting of four members, at least two of whom shall be members of 174
226	226	the minority party in the House, shall be appointed by the speaker to 175
227	227	take into consideration all contested elections of the members of the 176
228	228	House and to report the facts, with their opinion thereon in a manner 177
229	229	that may be directed by House resolution. 178
230	230	20. (a) Majority Election and Appointments. The majority leader shall 179
231	231	be elected by the members of the majority party in the House and the 180
232	232	deputy majority leaders shall be appointed by the majority leader and 181
233	233	shall serve at the pleasure of the majority leader. The assistant deputy 182
234	234	speaker, majority caucus chairperson, deputy majority caucus 183
235	235	chairperson, assistant majority leaders and majority whips shall be 184
236	236	appointed by the speaker in consultation with the majority leader, and 185
237	237	shall serve at the pleasure of the speaker. 186
238	238	The chairpersons, and where appropriate, vice-chairpersons, of the 187
239	239	standing committees shall be appointed by the speaker and shall serve 188
240	240	at the pleasure of the speaker, except when a chairperson is designated 189
241	241	or appointed by the minority leader pursuant to these rules or the joint 190
242	242	rules, in which case, the person so designated or appointed shall serve 191
243	243	at the pleasure of the minority leader. Notwithstanding any provision 192
244	244	of the general statutes, during the 2025-2026 biennium, the ranking 193
245	245	member of the Legislative Regulation Review Committee shall be 194
246	246	appointed by the speaker. 195
247	247	(b) Minority Election and Appointments. The minority leader shall be 196
248	248	elected by the members of the minority party in the House and the 197
249	249	deputy minority leaders, the minority caucus chairperson, the assistant 198
250	250	minority leaders, the minority whips and the ranking members of each 199
251	251	joint standing committee shall be appointed by the minority leader and 200
252	252	shall serve at the pleasure of the minority leader except when a ranking 201
253	253	member is designated or appointed by the speaker pursuant to these 202 House Resolution No.
254	254
255	255
256	256	LCO No. 1200 8 of 17
257	257
258	258	rules or the joint rules, in which case, the person so designated or 203
259	259	appointed shall serve at the pleasure of the speaker. Notwithstanding 204
260	260	any provision of the general statutes, during the 2025-2026 biennium, 205
261	261	the chairperson of the Legislative Regulation Review Committee shall 206
262	262	be appointed by the minority leader. 207
263	263	(c) Number of Leaders. The number of members appointed to the 208
264	264	positions of assistant majority leader and majority whip shall not exceed 209
265	265	thirty-three per cent of the total membership of the majority party in the 210
266	266	House. The number of members appointed to the positions of assistant 211
267	267	minority leader shall not exceed thirty-three per cent of the total 212
268	268	membership of the minority party in the House. Notwithstanding the 213
269	269	provisions of this subsection, the chairpersons of the bonding 214
270	270	subcommittees of the joint standing committee on finance, revenue and 215
271	271	bonding may be assistant majority leaders and the ranking members of 216
272	272	said subcommittees may be assistant minority leaders. 217
273	273	(d) Committees. The staff clerks of the standing committees shall be 218
274	274	appointed by the speaker. Chairpersons of subcommittees may be 219
275	275	appointed by the chairpersons of the respective standing committees 220
276	276	with the approval of the speaker. 221
277	277	All standing committee members shall be appointed by the speaker 222
278	278	on or before the fifth regular session day of the first year of the term, 223
279	279	except to fill a vacancy caused by death or incapacity, or resignation or 224
280	280	removal from the House or from a committee, and except that the 225
281	281	speaker may appoint any member elected after the fifth regular session 226
282	282	day of the first year of the term to any committee, within five calendar 227
283	283	days after the member takes the oath of office. The member first 228
284	284	appointed shall be chairperson. All members of standing committees 229
285	285	shall serve for both sessions of the term, except that: (1) The speaker may 230
286	286	accept the resignation, for good cause, of a member of a standing 231
287	287	committee prior to the expiration of the term, and (2) the speaker may 232
288	288	remove a member, provided the speaker's removal of a member of the 233
289	289	minority party shall require the concurrence of the minority leader. 234
290	290	Chairpersons, vice-chairpersons and subcommittee chairpersons shall 235 House Resolution No.
291	291
292	292
293	293	LCO No. 1200 9 of 17
294	294
295	295	serve for both sessions of the term unless removed by the speaker. 236
296	296	(e) Referrals to Committees. (1) The House may refer any matter to a 237
297	297	committee either before or after the deadline of that committee (A) at 238
298	298	any regular session of the House, or (B) at a technical session of the 239
299	299	House provided the majority leader has notified the minority leader or 240
300	300	the minority leader's designee in writing, not later than 5 p.m. the day 241
301	301	before the technical session, of the majority leader's intent to move for 242
302	302	the referral, and received the approval of the minority leader or the 243
303	303	minority leader's designee for the referral, and provided further that no 244
304	304	matter may be recommitted at a technical session. 245
305	305	(2) The House may, but need not, refer to a committee before or after 246
306	306	its deadline a bill or resolution that was favorably or unfavorably 247
307	307	reported by another committee, except that every bill and resolution 248
308	308	shall be referred to the committees on Legislative Management, 249
309	309	Appropriations, Finance, Revenue and Bonding, Government 250
310	310	Administration and Elections, Government Oversight or Judiciary if 251
311	311	such referral is specifically required under Joint Rule 3 or subsection (e) 252
312	312	of Joint Rule 15. 253
313	313	(f) Meetings in Representatives' Chamber. Committee meetings shall 254
314	314	not be held in the representatives' chamber on session days. 255
315	315	REGULAR ORDER OF BUSINESS 256
316	316	21. The order of business shall be as follows: 257
317	317	1. Reception of petitions. 258
318	318	2. Reception of communications from the Governor, Secretary of the 259
319	319	State, annual and biennial reports, interim committee reports and 260
320	320	special reports. 261
321	321	3. Introduction of bills and resolutions. 262
322	322	4. Reports of committees. 263
323	323	5. Reception of business from the senate. 264 House Resolution No.
324	324
325	325
326	326	LCO No. 1200 10 of 17
327	327
328	328	6. Business on the calendar. 265
329	329	7. Miscellaneous. 266
330	330	RULES AND MOTIONS 267
331	331	22. The rules of parliamentary practice comprised in the 2000 edition 268
332	332	of Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure shall govern the House 269
333	333	whenever applicable and whenever they are not inconsistent with the 270
334	334	standing rules and orders of the House or the joint rules of the senate 271
335	335	and the House of Representatives. 272
336	336	23. The rules of the House shall take precedence over the joint rules 273
337	337	of the senate and the House of Representatives or Mason's Manual of 274
338	338	Legislative Procedure in the event of conflict. 275
339	339	24. When a motion is made, it shall be stated to the House by the 276
340	340	speaker before any debate is had thereon. 277
341	341	25. When a motion is stated by the speaker, or read by the clerk, it 278
342	342	shall be deemed to be in the possession of the House. 279
343	343	It may be withdrawn by the mover at any time before decision or 280
344	344	amendment, but not after amendment, unless the House approves by a 281
345	345	majority vote. 282
346	346	26. The question first moved shall be first put, except as modified in 283
347	347	Rule 28. 284
348	348	27. If the question under debate consists of two or more independent 285
349	349	propositions any member may move to have the question divided. If the 286
350	350	House adopts the motion to divide, the speaker shall rule on the order 287
351	351	of voting on the divisions of a question. 288
352	352	28. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received 289
353	353	except: 290
354	354	1. To adjourn, which is not debatable. 291 House Resolution No.
355	355
356	356
357	357	LCO No. 1200 11 of 17
358	358
359	359	2. To recess. 292
360	360	3. To postpone temporarily retaining position on the calendar. 293
361	361	4. To pass until next session day retaining position on calendar. 294
362	362	5. To close the debate at a specified time. 295
363	363	6. To postpone to a certain time. 296
364	364	7. To refer or recommit to a committee. 297
365	365	8. To amend. 298
366	366	9. To place at foot of calendar. 299
367	367	These motions shall have precedence in the order listed in this rule, 300
368	368	except that a point of order may be raised at any time. 301
369	369	29. When the consideration of a question regularly on the calendar is 302
370	370	interrupted by adjournment, the question comes up in its proper place 303
371	371	on the next session day's calendar. 304
372	372	30. A vote can be reconsidered only on the next regular succeeding 305
373	373	session day, provided there shall be no reconsideration of the vote upon 306
374	374	the following motions: To adjourn, or to reconsider, and no question 307
375	375	shall be twice reconsidered. 308
376	376	AMENDMENTS 309
377	377	31. (a) Amendments shall be filed with the clerk of the House before 310
378	378	10 a.m. on the day on which the bill or resolution is to be acted upon, 311
379	379	except that (1) the following may each sponsor or authorize 312
380	380	amendments at any time: The presiding officer, the majority leader or, 313
381	381	in the majority leader's absence, the majority leader's designated deputy 314
382	382	majority leader, the minority leader or in the minority leader's absence, 315
383	383	the minority leader's designated deputy minority leader; (2) the 316
384	384	presiding officer may waive the filing requirement upon the request of 317
385	385	the majority leader or the minority leader; (3) after any amendment or 318 House Resolution No.
386	386
387	387
388	388	LCO No. 1200 12 of 17
389	389
390	390	amendments have been adopted, any member may offer a further 319
391	391	amendment only if it is directly related to the amendment or 320
392	392	amendments adopted. 321
393	393	(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this rule, if a bill or resolution 322
394	394	has been scheduled for consideration on a date certain pursuant to a 323
395	395	special order, all amendments relating to that bill or resolution must be 324
396	396	filed with the clerk of the House before 5 p.m. on the last day the clerk's 325
397	397	office is open preceding the day on which the bill or resolution has been 326
398	398	scheduled for consideration. The only exceptions to this filing 327
399	399	requirement shall be: (1) The persons named in subdivision (1) of 328
400	400	subsection (a) of this rule may each sponsor an amendment at any time; 329
401	401	(2) after any amendment or amendments have been adopted, any 330
402	402	member may offer a further amendment only if it is directly related to 331
403	403	the amendment or amendments adopted. 332
404	404	(c) Members may co-sponsor an amendment that is in the possession 333
405	405	of the clerk of the House, or remove their names as co-sponsors, by 334
406	406	submitting a written request to the clerk not later than 10 a.m. on the 335
407	407	day following adoption or rejection of the amendment, excluding 336
408	408	weekends and holidays. Co-sponsorship of an amendment does not 337
409	409	constitute co-sponsorship of the bill it would amend unless the member 338
410	410	so specifies pursuant to Joint Rule 7(c). 339
411	411	(d) After a motion for passage of a bill or resolution has been made, 340
412	412	a motion to amend the bill or resolution is in order. 341
413	413	A pending amendment may not be amended. No substitute 342
414	414	amendment may be offered for a pending amendment. 343
415	415	(e) No independent new question may be introduced as an 344
416	416	amendment. 345
417	417	(f) Whenever a bill is amended, the speaker may order that it be 346
418	418	returned to the legislative commissioners for the purposes of re-347
419	419	examination pursuant to Joint Rule 13 and for reprinting as amended. 348
420	420	SEATS 349 House Resolution No.
421	421
422	422
423	423	LCO No. 1200 13 of 17
424	424
425	425	32. Immediately after the adoption of these rules the speaker shall 350
426	426	appoint a committee of four, who shall assign seats to all members of 351
427	427	the House. 352
428	428	33. The seats assigned to members shall be their seats for their term 353
429	429	of office. 354
430	430	REPRESENTATIVES' CHAMBER 355
431	431	34. Use of the representatives' chamber shall not be granted for non-356
432	432	legislative use during a General Assembly session except by a vote of 357
433	433	the House, or by a vote of the legislative management committee or with 358
434	434	the permission of the speaker. The speaker shall grant use of the 359
435	435	chamber for legislative use and between General Assembly sessions. 360
436	436	PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICE 361
437	437	35. No debate shall be allowed after a question is put and while it 362
438	438	remains undecided. 363
439	439	36. In all cases when a voice vote is taken without a division, the 364
440	440	speaker shall determine whether it is or is not a vote; and in all doubtful 365
441	441	cases the speaker shall state "The chair is in doubt." Whereupon, the 366
442	442	speaker shall try the question again by a voice vote or roll call, as the 367
443	443	speaker may so order. 368
444	444	After the speaker has declared a vote, it shall not be taken again 369
445	445	unless by a regular motion for reconsideration, made by a member in 370
446	446	the prevailing vote of the House. 371
447	447	37. If a division is called for, the House shall divide, those in the 372
448	448	affirmative first rising from their seats and standing until counted, and 373
449	449	afterwards those in the negative. For the purpose of more conveniently 374
450	450	counting upon the division of the House, the floor thereof shall be 375
451	451	divided by aisles into four divisions, to be numbered first, second, third 376
452	452	and fourth sections, commencing on the right of the chair; for each of 377
453	453	which divisions the speaker shall appoint a member whose seat is in 378
454	454	said division to be a teller and to count and report to the chair. 379 House Resolution No.
455	455
456	456
457	457	LCO No. 1200 14 of 17
458	458
459	459	38. In case of a tie vote or an equal division, the question shall not be 380
460	460	passed. 381
461	461	39. The yeas and nays shall be taken on the roll call machine on all 382
462	462	final action on all bills, resolutions proposing amendments to the 383
463	463	constitution and all other substantive resolutions, except bills and 384
464	464	resolutions on the consent calendar. On all other questions, a roll call 385
465	465	vote shall be taken at the request of one-fifth of the members present, 386
466	466	expressed at any time before a declaration of the vote. In the event the 387
467	467	roll call machine is not functioning properly, the roll may be called by 388
468	468	the clerk. 389
469	469	40. Every member, when a question is put by the speaker, shall vote, 390
470	470	unless excused by the speaker, if the member is (1) present in the House 391
471	471	Chamber, or (2) logged into the House of Representatives electronic 392
472	472	voting system in accordance with the provisions of Rule 49. No member 393
473	473	shall absent herself or himself from the House Chamber or the State 394
474	474	Capitol or Legislative Office Building, or log out of the electronic voting 395
475	475	system, without leave, unless there is a quorum without the member's 396
476	476	presence. 397
477	477	Whenever any vote is to be taken, the speaker may order the doors 398
478	478	closed and thereupon no member shall leave the House unless by 399
479	479	permission of the speaker, or the House, until the vote is declared, but 400
480	480	members shall be admitted at any time. 401
481	481	When a vote has been taken, if any member raises a question of an 402
482	482	excess of votes cast over the number of members present, a count of the 403
483	483	House shall be had, and if it appears that such excess of votes exists, the 404
484	484	speaker shall order the vote to be again taken. 405
485	485	41. No representative may vote or change his or her vote on a roll call 406
486	486	after the speaker has requested that the clerk announce the tally. 407
487	487	42. While the House is in session, admission to the floor of the House 408
488	488	shall be limited to members of the General Assembly, authorized 409
489	489	members of the press, authorized staff of the General Assembly and 410 House Resolution No.
490	490
491	491
492	492	LCO No. 1200 15 of 17
493	493
494	494	such other persons as may be authorized by the presiding officer. On 411
495	495	any day during which the House is in session, lobbyists shall be 412
496	496	prohibited from the floor of the House except during a public hearing 413
497	497	on the floor of the House or as may be authorized by the presiding 414
498	498	officer for purposes of recognition or ceremony. 415
499	499	Electronic media equipment and media personnel shall occupy only 416
500	500	those areas designated by the presiding officer. 417
501	501	Proper facilities for transmitting messages to members of the House 418
502	502	shall be provided by the clerk and administered by the messengers. 419
503	503	The sergeant at arms, doorkeepers and messengers shall enforce this 420
504	504	rule and shall see that the aisles and the seats of the members are not 421
505	505	occupied by persons other than members of the General Assembly, 422
506	506	while the House is in session. 423
507	507	43. There shall be a consent calendar on which shall be entered such 424
508	508	bills and resolutions as the majority leader and the minority leader or 425
509	509	their designees shall agree, and shall be proposed to the House by the 426
510	510	majority leader or the designee of the majority leader in the form of a 427
511	511	motion to move to the consent calendar. The consent calendar may be 428
512	512	acted upon on the day of such motion or on a subsequent day. At the 429
513	513	request of a member made from the floor any bill or resolution shall be 430
514	514	removed from those included in the motion. All bills and resolutions 431
515	515	starred for action on the consent calendar shall be passed on motion 432
516	516	without discussion unless, at any time prior to the motion for passage, 433
517	517	a member requests from the floor removal of a bill or resolution from 434
518	518	the consent calendar in which case such bill or resolution shall be so 435
519	519	removed and placed on the regular calendar. Any bill or resolution so 436
520	520	removed shall be considered as having appeared on the regular 437
521	521	calendar for a period of time equivalent to that during which it appeared 438
522	522	on the consent calendar. 439
523	523	44. Upon motion made and adopted, the House may schedule 440
524	524	consideration of any matter appearing on the calendar for a date certain 441
525	525	by special order, but no sooner than the later of (1) the second day, 442 House Resolution No.
526	526
527	527
528	528	LCO No. 1200 16 of 17
529	529
530	530	excluding weekends and holidays, after the adoption of the special 443
531	531	order, or (2) the day after the matter first appears on the calendar double 444
532	532	starred. 445
533	533	RESTRICTIONS 446
534	534	45. No person shall smoke in the House Chamber or the gallery. No 447
535	535	person shall conduct a conversation on a wireless telephone or similar 448
536	536	device in the House Chamber while the House is meeting. No person 449
537	537	shall take or possess a sign, banner, placard or other display material in 450
538	538	the gallery or in the House Chamber while the House is meeting. The 451
539	539	presiding officer and the sergeant at arms shall enforce this rule. 452
540	540	SUSPENSION OF THE RULES 453
541	541	46. These rules shall not be altered, amended or suspended except by 454
542	542	the vote of at least two-thirds of the members present. 455
543	543	47. Motions to suspend the rules shall be in order on any session day. 456
544	544	Suspension of the rules shall be for a specified purpose. Upon 457
545	545	accomplishment of that purpose, any rule suspended shall be again in 458
546	546	force. 459
547	547	REMOTE PARTICIPATION 460
548	548	48. Quorum. No member who is logged into the House of 461
549	549	Representatives electronic voting system and not present in the House 462
550	550	Chamber shall be considered present for the purpose of determining 463
551	551	whether a quorum is present. 464
552	552	49. Voting Remotely. A member may vote remotely while logged into 465
553	553	the House of Representatives electronic voting system under these rules 466
554	554	as follows: 467
555	555	(1) While present in the State Capitol or Legislative Office Building; 468
556	556	or 469
557	557	(2) While on the grounds of the State Capitol or Legislative Office 470
558	558	Building if the majority leader or minority leader has granted such 471 House Resolution No.
559	559
560	560
561	561	LCO No. 1200 17 of 17
562	562
563	563	member permission because such leader has (A) determined that it is 472
564	564	impracticable for the member to cast a vote while present in the House 473
565	565	Chamber or in the State Capitol or Legislative Office Building, and (B) 474
566	566	informed the speaker of such permission. 475
567	567	50. House Agenda. (a) Upon acceptance of a House agenda, the 476
568	568	clerk's office shall act upon the items listed as indicated and shall 477
569	569	incorporate the items by reference in the House journal and House 478
570	570	transcript. 479
571	571	(b) On any day that is not scheduled as a session day, the speaker and 480
572	572	the minority leader, or their designees, may call the House into session 481
573	573	for purposes of transacting business of a procedural nature by filing 482
574	574	with the clerk or the clerk's designee a written instruction to conduct a 483
575	575	pro forma House session with or without the presence of a member. The 484
576	576	direction shall include a written motion to adopt the day's House 485
577	577	agenda and act on all items as indicated and incorporate the items by 486
578	578	reference into the House journal and House transcript. The motion shall 487
579	579	be read into the record and shall have the same force and effect as if the 488
580	580	House were convened with a presiding officer and a member. 489
581	581	REMOTE PARTICIPATION IN COMMITTEE MEETINGS 490
582	582	51. Upon mutual agreement of the House chairperson and House 491
583	583	ranking member of a joint standing committee, while a motion for a final 492
584	584	action is under consideration by the committee at a committee meeting, 493
585	585	all House members of such committee who are participating on a virtual 494
586	586	platform at such meeting shall be limited to casting a vote on any 495
587	587	question before the committee during the consideration of such motion 496
588	588	for a final action, provided notice of such limitation is distributed to all 497
589	589	House members of the committee not later than 6 p.m. of the day before 498
590	590	such meeting and a record is made of such limitation and such 499
591	591	distribution by the House chairperson and House ranking member. 500