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A RESOLUTION adopting the Rules of Procedure for the 2025 Regular Session of 1
the House of Representatives. 2
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the 3
Commonwealth of Kentucky: 4
Section 1. The following Rules of Procedure are adopted to govern the 2025 5
Regular Session of the House of Representatives. 6
Rule 1. Hours of Meeting. The House shall meet at times set by the Committee 7
on Committees. 8
Rule 2. Quorum. A majority of the members elected to the House shall 9
constitute a quorum. If a quorum is not present at the time fixed for a meeting of the 10
House, five members may adjourn or recess from day to day or from time to time and 11
fifteen members may order a call of the House and send for absent members. 12
On any session day during which remote voting is authorized under House Rule 13
67A or alternative voting is authorized under House Rule 68A, the determination of a 14
quorum shall include those members physically present in the House Chamber, as well as 15
those members physically present in their Capitol Annex office or in their automobile on 16
the Capitol Campus, as applicable, and whose presence has been verified by the Speaker 17
or other presiding officer under Rule 26 through appropriate means, including but not 18
limited to a video call in which the member’s face can be seen. 19
Rule 3. Call of the House. Upon a call of the House, the Clerk shall call the 20
roll. Absentees are then only noted, but no excuses shall be made until the full roll is 21
called. The Clerk shall then call the absentees again. Excuses will be heard at this time. 22
The doors of the House Chamber shall then be closed and the absentees not excused by 23
the House may be sent for and arrested by the Sergeant-at-Arms and the House shall 24
determine upon what conditions they shall be discharged from arrest. Members who 25
voluntarily appear shall be immediately admitted to the floor of the House and names 26
returned upon the Journal as present unless the House otherwise directs. Excuses for 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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leaves of absence must receive a consent approval of two-thirds of the members elected. 1
On any session day during which remote voting is authorized under House Rule 2
67A or alternative voting is authorized under House Rule 68A, any member physically 3
present in the House Chamber or any member physically present in their Capitol Annex 4
office or in their automobile on the Capitol Campus, as applicable, and whose presence 5
has been verified by the Speaker or other presiding officer under Rule 26 through 6
appropriate means, including but not limited to a video call in which the member’s face 7
can be seen, shall be permitted to answer the convening roll call. 8
ORDER OF BUSINESS 9
Rule 4. Order of Business. The order of business shall be as follows: 10
1. Invocation. 11
2. Pledge of Allegiance. 12
3. Roll Call. 13
4. Reading and Approval of the Journal. 14
5. Introduction of Guests. 15
6. Second Reading of Bills. 16
7. Report of Committees and First Reading of Bills. 17
8. Orders of the Day. 18
9. Motions, Petitions, Communications, and Announcements. 19
10. Introduction of Bills and Resolutions. 20
11. Meeting and Report of the Committee on Committees and the Rules 21
Committee. 22
12. Floor Amendments. 23
13. Adjournment. 24
Under the order of business Introduction of Guests, the Majority Caucus Chair and 25
the Minority Caucus Chair shall be recognized to read a cumulative list of the guests for 26
the day. No more than 30 minutes shall be allotted to Motions, Petitions, 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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Communications, and Announcements. 1
Rule 4A. Order of Business on First Day of the 2025 Regular Session. The order of 2
business on the first day of the 2025 Regular Session shall be as follows: 3
1. Invocation. 4
2. Pledge of Allegiance. 5
3. Certificates of Election. 6
4. Administration of Oath to Members. 7
5. Roll Call. 8
6. Election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 9
7. Election of Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives. 10
8. Election of Constitutional Officers. 11
9. Approval of the Journal. 12
10. Special First Day Introduction of Guests. 13
11. Report of Party Leadership Elections. 14
12. Motions, Petitions, Communications, and Announcements. 15
13. Introduction of Bills and Resolutions. 16
14. Meeting and Report of the Committee on Committees and the Rules Committee. 17
15. Introduction of Floor Amendments. 18
16. Adjournment. 19
Rule 5. Unfinished Business. Unfinished business which was being considered 20
upon adjournment shall have precedence in the class of business to which it properly 21
belongs upon the next succeeding legislative day. 22
MOTIONS 23
Rule 6. Reading of Motions. When a motion has been made and seconded, it 24
shall be stated by the Speaker, or, being in written form, it shall be read by the Clerk 25
before debate, amendment or motion concerning it shall be in order. 26
Rule 7. Withdrawal of Motions. Every oral motion after it has been stated by 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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the Speaker, and every written motion, bill, resolution or other paper, after it has been 1
read by the Clerk, shall be the property and in the possession of the House and shall not 2
be withdrawn without consent of the House. Every written motion, report or measure 3
may be committed or recommitted at the pleasure of the House. 4
Rule 8. Order of Questions. All questions, whether in Committee of the Whole 5
or in the House, when not privileged questions, shall be propounded in the order in which 6
they were moved, except that in filling blanks the smallest sum and the most remote date 7
shall be put first. 8
Rule 9. Precedence of Motions. When a question is under consideration, no 9
motion shall be in order except: 10
1. To call the House when there is no quorum present. 11
2. To fix the time to which the House shall adjourn. 12
3. To adjourn. 13
4. To take recess. 14
5. To lay on the table. 15
6. For the previous question. 16
7. To limit or extend limits of debate. 17
8. To postpone to a fixed time. 18
9. To lay on the Clerk’s desk. 19
10. To refer or commit. 20
11. To amend. 21
12. To postpone indefinitely. 22
The above several motions shall have precedence in the order in which they are 23
arranged and the first seven of them shall not be debatable. 24
A second motion to adjourn, to take a recess, to lay on the table, for the previous 25
question, to limit or extend limits of debate, to postpone to a time certain, to lay on the 26
Clerk’s desk, to refer or commit or to postpone indefinitely shall not be in order on the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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same day, upon the same question, and at the same status unless other business 1
intervenes; provided, however, that amendments may be made to the time to which it is 2
proposed to adjourn, to take a recess or to postpone to a fixed time. 3
Rule 10. Motion to Adjourn. A motion to adjourn, to take a recess, or a motion 4
to adjourn to a time certain, shall always be in order, except when a member is speaking, 5
while a vote is being taken or when the Committee on Committees is reporting; subject, 6
however, to the limitations set out in Rule 9. A motion to adjourn or a motion to adjourn 7
to a time certain shall be taken by roll call vote, unless the motion is made after the 8
House has reached adjournment in the order of business under Rule 4, in which case 9
adjournment shall be by voice vote unless a roll call is ordered by a majority of the 10
members. 11
Rule 11. Motion to Table. The adoption of the motion to table, under these rules, 12
defeats the subject matter under consideration. The reconsideration of the motion to table 13
shall require approval of a majority of the members elected. 14
Rule 12. Previous Question. The previous question may be ordered by a three-15
fifths majority of the members elected. On the call of the roll,[ and subject to any motion 16
to limit debate,] no member shall be allowed to speak more than three[two] minutes to 17
explain a vote[, and no more than one minute if the member has already spoken on the 18
measure,] and shall not speak at all if the question is not a debatable question. The effect 19
of the previous question shall be to put an end to debate on any pending amendment; to 20
prevent the offering of additional amendments and to bring the House to an immediate 21
vote upon any amendment that has been called and is in order. Once the previous 22
question has been ordered, and any pending amendment has been voted upon, the 23
opponents of the measure shall have ten minutes, and proponents of the measure shall 24
have ten minutes,[all debate shall cease and the House shall immediately] before the 25
vote upon[on] the main question. 26
Rule 13. Motion to Set the Limits on Debate. A motion to set a time limit for 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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debate on a measure,[ which may include a time limit for explanation of votes,] in excess 1
of that permitted under Rule 12, shall be in order unless the previous question shall have 2
been ordered on the measure. The time limit set for debate[ and explanation of votes] 3
under this rule shall be allotted by the Speaker evenly between the opponents of the 4
measure and the proponents of the measure. Adoption of a motion under this rule does 5
not prevent the offering of additional amendments. 6
Rule 14. Motion to Reconsider. A motion to reconsider a vote shall not be in 7
order unless made by a member who voted upon the prevailing side of the question, nor 8
shall that motion be in order unless made within two legislative days in which the House 9
is in session next after the date the vote was taken and the bill or resolution is in the 10
possession of the House; however, the motion to reconsider when coupled with the 11
additional motion to lay that motion upon the table may be made by any member. For 12
purposes of this rule, a member who is recorded as "not voting" on a proposition which 13
failed is considered to have voted on the prevailing side. Procedural motions, such as a 14
motion to lay on the table or lay on the clerk’s desk, shall not be subject to a motion to 15
reconsider. 16
Rule 15. Motion to Lay on Clerk’s Desk. The effect of the adoption of a motion 17
to lay on the Clerk’s desk under these rules is to place in charge of the Clerk the pending 18
question and everything adhering to it. A motion laid on the Clerk’s desk may be taken 19
from the desk and proceeded with at any time in the same order as when laid on the 20
Clerk’s desk. 21
Rule 16. Motion to Strike Out Enacting Clause. A motion to amend by striking 22
out the enacting words of a bill or resolution shall have precedence over a motion to 23
amend; and, if adopted, shall have the same effect as though the bill or resolution were 24
regularly voted upon and rejected. 25
Rule 17. Motion to Separate Part of a Measure. A motion to commit, 26
recommit, or postpone a part of a measure so as to separate that part of the measure from 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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the remainder shall not be in order. 1
Rule 18. Postponement of Measure. When a measure shall have been postponed 2
indefinitely it shall not be in order again during the session. 3
Rule 19. Reading of Pending Papers. Any pending bill, resolution, motion or 4
report shall be read upon the request of any member, with the concurrence of a majority 5
of the members elected to the House, but it shall not again be read on the same day unless 6
so ordered by the House. 7
Rule 20. Nominations. In all elections a previous nomination shall be made. 8
MEMBERS 9
Rule 21. Attendance of Members. No member shall be absent from a session of 10
the House without leave from the House. For the purposes of this rule, a member shall be 11
considered present if the member is in his or her Capitol Annex office during any session 12
when remote voting is authorized pursuant to House Rule 67A or if the member is in his 13
or her automobile on the Capitol Campus during any session when alternative voting is 14
authorized pursuant to House Rule 68A. 15
Rule 22. Decorum of Members. No member shall designate another member by 16
name. All members shall treat fellow members with the utmost courtesy and respect. All 17
members’ remarks in debate shall be confined to the subject under debate, avoiding 18
personality.[ A sign, poster, or any other object, the purpose of which can be reasonably 19
construed to indicate support or opposition to any measure before the House, and which 20
is large enough to be generally visible from the chair, shall not be displayed in the House 21
Chamber, or in a member’s Capitol Annex office during any session when remote voting 22
is authorized pursuant to House Rule 67A, by any member while the House is in session.] 23
Rule 22A. Point of Personal Privilege. To be in order, a point of personal 24
privilege must relate to allegations regarding the rights, reputation, or conduct of a 25
member personally, in the member’s capacity as a representative, that, if true, would 26
incapacitate them for membership. Members who have the floor after claiming a point of 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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personal privilege shall confine themselves to defending their own rights, reputations, or 1
conduct, and not those of other members. Members wishing to make general comments 2
about pending legislation, media coverage, or other matters that would be out of order if 3
raised as a point of personal privilege shall use Motions, Petitions, Communications, and 4
Announcements. 5
Rule 22B. Required Training. Each member of the House shall complete 6
workplace harassment prevention training at the beginning of each session of the General 7
Assembly. 8
Rule 23. Call to Order. If any member, in speech or otherwise, transgresses the 9
rules of order or decorum, the member shall immediately be called to order by the chair 10
and shall be seated. The Clerk shall reduce the objectionable words to writing and read 11
them to the House. After hearing a short explanation from the member called to order, or 12
upon the withdrawal of the objectionable language, the Speaker may permit the member 13
to proceed, or may compel silence upon the member until the matter is disposed of. The 14
ruling of the chair shall be subject to an appeal to the House. A member offending the 15
House shall be liable to censure. 16
Rule 24. Debate. No member may speak more than once to the same subject until 17
all members desiring to be heard have spoken, but nothing in this rule shall do away with 18
the previous question if then in effect, nor permit debate on an undebatable motion. 19
No member shall speak more than thirty minutes in the aggregate on any question 20
or measure, at the end of which period, or any portion thereof, the floor shall be returned 21
to the Speaker. 22
Rule 25. Members Shall Vote at Seats. Except when remote voting is 23
authorized pursuant to House Rule 67A or alternative voting is authorized pursuant to 24
House Rule 68A, a member shall vote only when at the member’s seat or visibly 25
approaching it. 26
OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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Rule 26. Duties of Speaker. The Speaker shall take the chair every day precisely 1
at the hour fixed for the meeting of the House and on the appearance of a quorum, shall 2
cause the Journal of the preceding day to be read, unless the reading of the same is 3
dispensed with by the House. 4
In the order of business Introduction of Guests, the Speaker may appoint any 5
member to take the chair for a period of time for the sole purpose of introducing that 6
member's guests, and may authorize the Clerk to call upon subsequent members to 7
take the chair only for a similar purpose. Following Introduction of Guests, the 8
member holding the chair shall relinquish it to the Speaker. 9
The Speaker shall preserve decorum and order and, in the event of any disorder in 10
the gallery or in the House Chamber, may cause the same to be cleared of any persons 11
creating disturbances or disorders. 12
All writs, warrants, subpoenas or other processes shall be signed by the officer who 13
may be presiding over the House when the paper is issued; and the presiding officer’s 14
signature shall be attested by the Clerk, when ordered by a majority of the members. 15
Any reference made to the Speaker in these rules shall refer to the Speaker of the 16
House or, in the proper context, any member, including the Speaker Pro Tempore, who is 17
acting as the presiding officer. 18
Rule 27. Appeal from Decision of Chair. The Speaker while presiding may 19
speak to points of order in preference to members. The Speaker shall decide points of 20
order and manner of procedure. If two or more members arise from their respective seats 21
and address the chair, the Speaker shall determine who was first and recognize that 22
member. 23
Any decision made by the Speaker shall be subject to appeal to the House. Every 24
appeal shall be in writing and signed by at least two members. During the pendency of an 25
appeal to the House from a decision of the chair, the Speaker shall vacate the chair and 26
call the Speaker Pro Tempore to preside. When the Speaker Pro Tempore is presiding on 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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an appeal to the House from a decision of the Chair, no motion or business shall be in 1
order except the motion on appeal from the decision of the Chair, and that motion shall 2
not be debatable. The ruling of the Speaker shall be sustained unless a majority of the 3
members elected to the House oppose the ruling. 4
[For purposes of an appeal, the Chair includes the Speaker, Speaker Pro Tempore, 5
or other designee of the Speaker or Speaker Pro Tempore, or other member serving as 6
Chair in the absence of the Speaker or Speaker Pro Tempore.] 7
Rule 28. Speaker Pro Tempore. The House shall elect a Speaker Pro Tempore. 8
The Speaker Pro Tempore shall perform the duties of the Speaker when the Speaker is 9
absent from the House[in the absence of the Speaker] or when empowered by the 10
Speaker to perform the duties of the Chair. 11
Rule 29. Duties of the Clerk. The Clerk shall have charge of all clerical[, 12
technical] and administrative functions not assigned to the Legislative Research 13
Commission and shall cooperate with the Commission to facilitate the work of the 14
House[procedural matters which relate to legislation including but not limited to: 15
notification of committees of their appointment and business referred to them; keeping a 16
calendar showing such bills as are entitled to their second reading each day, 17
distinguishing between House and Senate bills; supervising the engrossing and enrolling 18
of bills; and such other matters as are assigned by the Committee on Committees]. The 19
Clerk shall read to the House papers ordered to be read; call the roll and note the answers 20
of members when a question is taken by yeas and nays; assist the Speaker in taking the 21
count when any vote of the House is taken; attest all writs, warrants, and subpoenas 22
issued by order of the House; certify to the passage of all bills and to the adoption of all 23
joint and concurrent resolutions by the General Assembly; and make all reports to the 24
Senate. The Clerk shall perform such other duties as are assigned by the Committee on 25
Committees. 26
Rule 29A. Duties of the Legislative Research Commission. The Legislative 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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Research Commission[ staff] shall have charge of clerical, technical and procedural 1
matters which relate to legislation including but not limited to: notification of 2
committees of their appointment and business referred to them; keeping a calendar 3
showing such bills as are entitled to their second reading each day, distinguishing 4
between House and Senate bills; supervising the engrossing and enrolling of bills; and 5
such other matters as are assigned by the Committee on Committees[administrative 6
functions as assigned by the Clerk and shall cooperate with the Clerk to facilitate the 7
work of the House]. 8
Rule 30. Journal of Proceedings. The Legislative Research Commission[Clerk] 9
shall cause to be kept the Journal of the proceedings of the House. The 10
Commission[Clerk] shall note upon the Journal all questions of order, together with the 11
disposition of same, and the dates upon which all bills and resolutions were sent to 12
committee and returned to the House. The House may correct errors in the Journal the 13
day the Journal containing errors is presented to the House. No record which is in the 14
hands of the Commission staff[Clerk] and is required by law to be entered upon the 15
Journal of the House shall be copied by any person until same shall have been entered 16
upon the Journal and that Journal shall have been approved. 17
Half an hour before the time fixed for the meeting of the House each day, the 18
Commission staff[Clerk or an assistant] shall be present at the Clerk’s desk with the 19
Journal of the preceding session for inspection of any member of the House. 20
The[ Clerk or an assistant shall transmit the] Journal for each day, as soon as it has 21
been approved by the House, shall be delivered by[to] the[ Legislative Research] 22
Commission staff[, which shall deliver it] to the public printer. The Commission staff 23
shall proofread and index the Journal upon return from the printer and make necessary 24
typographical corrections. 25
Rule 31. Custody of Papers. The Legislative Research Commission[Clerk] shall 26
have custody of all records, minutes, reports, and documents pertaining to legislation, and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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shall not allow them to be taken from his or her possession without the leave of the 1
House, unless to be delivered to the chair of a committee to which they have been 2
referred[ or to the Legislative Research Commission]. The Legislative Research 3
Commission[Clerk] shall cause to be enclosed on bills and papers brief notes of 4
proceedings had thereon by the House and preserve the same in convenient files for 5
reference. The Director of the Legislative Research Commission shall implement a policy 6
to provide for the maintenance and distribution of the records, papers, and bills of the 7
legislative branch. 8
Rule 32. Accounts of Expenditures. The Legislative Research Commission shall 9
keep the accounts for pay and mileage of members, officers and attaches, and for printing 10
and other contingent expenses of the House and Senate. 11
Rule 33. Printing of House Papers. The Legislative Research Commission shall 12
have supervision and charge of all printing done for the House as certified by the Clerk 13
and the public printer shall print only such documents and other matter as the Legislative 14
Research Commission authorizes. The Clerk shall report to the Speaker every failure to 15
execute printing work correctly and promptly. 16
Rule 34. Duties of the Sergeant-at-Arms. It shall be the duty of the Sergeant-at-17
Arms and the Doorkeeper to exclude or remove all persons not entitled to the floor of the 18
House. One hour before convening of the House each day the Sergeant-at-Arms shall 19
announce in a loud, distinct voice: "All persons not entitled to the floor of the House 20
under the rules thereof will now vacate the House Chamber." The Sergeant-at-Arms shall 21
then compel all persons who are not entitled to remain therein to leave the House 22
Chambers and shall prohibit their entry until one hour after the House has adjourned. 23
Rule 35. Appointment and Conduct of Constitutional Employees. The 24
constitutional employees of the House shall be appointed by election during the regular 25
sessions of the General Assembly and shall serve one year terms or until the election of 26
their successors. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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All the constitutional employees of the House, shall, one hour before the meeting of 1
the House each day, report to the Clerk, who shall report to the Committee on 2
Committees whether or not all of the employees are on duty. The Committee on 3
Committees, whenever it deems it necessary, shall report to the House any dereliction of 4
duty. 5
Rule 36. Other Employees. All other professional, clerical and other services 6
required by the House or its committees shall be furnished by the Legislative Research 7
Commission, upon the request of the Committee on Committees. Employees performing 8
such services shall be under the supervision of the Committee on Committees. 9
No officer or employee of the House shall receive any fee, tip or compensation 10
from any member and violation of this rule shall be ground for dismissal. 11
COMMITTEES 12
Rule 37. Committee on Committees. There shall be a Committee on 13
Committees composed of the Speaker of the House, the Speaker Pro Tempore, the 14
Majority Caucus Chair, the Majority Floor Leader of the House, the Majority Whip, and 15
the Minority Floor Leader of the House, the Minority Caucus Chair, and the Minority 16
Whip. The Speaker shall be Chair of the Committee and the majority of the Committee 17
shall have full power to act on all matters referred to the Committee, either by these rules 18
or by the action of the House. All bills and joint or concurrent resolutions shall, upon 19
their introduction, be automatically referred to the Committee on Committees who 20
shall[may] refer same to the proper Committee not later than the fifth day in which the 21
House is in session after the date of introduction. Simple resolutions shall be referred to 22
the appropriate committee or the floor of the House, in accordance with Rule 64.[ In 23
the event of a vacancy on the Committee on Committees, the other remaining members 24
of the majority or minority party’s leadership serving on the Committee on Committees 25
may determine whether there is a vacancy on the Committee on Committees and shall 26
appoint a replacement for that member.] 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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The Committee on Committees shall have supervision and control over all 1
employees of the House, whether elected by the House or provided by the Legislative 2
Research Commission, and the Committee on Committees shall see that they perform all 3
of their duties to the House and the members thereof. The Committee on Committees is 4
empowered to discharge any or all said employees and officers except the constitutional 5
officers of the House. The Committee on Committees shall appoint the members of all 6
standing and special committees and shall fill any vacancies thereon in accordance with 7
Rule 39. 8
Rule 38. Standing Committees. The following shall be the standing committees 9
of the House: 10
1. Agriculture 11
2. Appropriations and Revenue 12
3. Banking and Insurance 13
4. Economic Development and Workforce Investment 14
5. Primary and Secondary Education 15
6. Postsecondary Education 16
7. Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs 17
8[7]. Families and Children 18
9[8]. Health Services 19
10[9]. Judiciary 20
11[10]. Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations 21
12[11]. Local Government 22
13[12]. Natural Resources and Energy 23
14[13]. Small Business and Information Technology 24
15[14]. State Government 25
16[15]. Tourism and Outdoor Recreation 26
17[16]. Transportation 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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18[17]. Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection 1
Rule 39. Appointment of Committees. The Committee on Committees shall 2
appoint the Chair, Vice-Chairs and the members of all standing and special committees 3
and shall fill any vacancies thereon. In making the appointments to standing committees, 4
the Committee on Committees shall appoint a member with service in the immediately 5
preceding regular session to at least one committee on which the member served in that 6
previous regular session. That appointment to the one committee shall be at the 7
preference of the member, and the Committee on Committees shall be bound by the 8
member’s preference for that one committee; provided, however, a member who was a 9
committee chair in the preceding regular session shall select for reappointment the 10
committee the member so chaired if the member wishes to be considered for the 11
chairmanship of that committee; if another selection is made, the member shall not be 12
reappointed chair of the committee which the member chaired in the preceding regular 13
session. A member of the Committee on Committees shall not serve as chair of a standing 14
committee. A chair of a standing committee or statutory committee shall not serve as a 15
member of the Committee on Appropriations and Revenue. The Committee on 16
Committees shall select members of each standing and special committee in proportion to 17
the representation of each political party in the House. The Vice-Chair shall act in the 18
absence of the Chair. The Chair of any committee may appoint subcommittees to conduct 19
hearings or study any matters which have been referred to the committee. 20
Before the Committee on Committees shall appoint the members of standing and 21
special committees, the number of members on the committee to be appointed shall be 22
established by the Committee on Committees. At the same time, the Committee on 23
Committees shall establish the number of members of the committee to be appointed 24
from[of] the majority party and the number of members to be appointed from the 25
minority party. 26
Every member of the House shall be appointed to at least one standing committee 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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and no member shall be appointed to more than three of the following committees: all 1
standing committees except the Committee on Appropriations and Revenue, the 2
Committee on Education and the Committee on State Government, and the Committee 3
on Committees. 4
In appointing the membership of standing committees, the Committee on 5
Committees shall consider the predominant business interests or occupation of each 6
member so that the private interests of a majority of a committee’s members do not 7
correspond to the jurisdiction of the standing committee. 8
Rule 40. Jurisdiction of Standing Committees. The Committee on Committees 9
shall refer each bill to the Committee with control over the subject matter. All bills and 10
resolutions on the same subject matter shall be referred to the same committee. The 11
general jurisdiction of the several standing committees shall be: 12
1. Agriculture: matters pertaining to crops, livestock, poultry and their 13
marketing; disease control and warehousing; tobacco; stockyards; agricultural 14
cooperatives and marketing associations; agriculture weights and measures; veterinarians; 15
the State Fair; county fairs. 16
2. Appropriations and Revenue: matters pertaining to the executive budget 17
and other appropriations of state monies; the levying of state and local taxes, including 18
school taxes; property tax rates and assessments; the state debt; revenue bond projects; 19
claims upon the treasury; accounting of state funds by local officers; audits for state 20
purposes; budget and financial administration; payment, collection and refund of taxes. 21
3. Banking and Insurance: matters pertaining to banking; banks and trust 22
companies; consumer loan companies; building and loan associations; credit unions; 23
investment companies; industrial loan corporations; securities; the Blue Sky Law; 24
mortgage guaranty insurance; assessment and cooperative insurance; fraternal benefit 25
societies; hospital service corporations; burial associations; medical and dental service 26
corporations; life, accident, indemnity and other forms of insurance; stock and mutual 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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insurance companies; banking and insurance aspects of the Uniform Commercial Code; 1
interest and usury; pawnbrokers; private credit; consumer credit; sale of checks; 2
installment sales contracts; legal investments; principal and income. 3
4. Economic Development and Workforce Investment: matters pertaining to 4
commerce, industry, and economic and industrial development; the workforce and the 5
workplace; economic development planning, international trade and investment; 6
investment companies and industrial loan corporations as they relate to economic and 7
industrial development; recruitment of business and industry; small business matters 8
relative to economic and industrial development; financing of business and industrial 9
development; business regulatory matters, including the Uniform Commercial Code, 10
relative to economic and industrial development; worker training; technology 11
development and application; chambers of commerce; convention centers and publicly 12
owned exhibition and parking facilities; arts and arts exhibition facilities; state, interstate, 13
and national parks and historic sites; travel promotion and advertising; wages and hours; 14
garnishments; safety and health of employees; child labor; employment agencies; 15
apprenticeship; unemployment compensation; workers’ compensation; consumer 16
protection; industrial weights and measures. 17
5. Primary and Secondary Education: matters pertaining to public primary 18
and[,] secondary [and higher ]education; the State Board of Education; the State 19
Department of Education; the powers and duties of local boards of education; conduct of 20
schools; attendance; state support of education; the operation of school districts, teachers’ 21
qualifications and tenure; the school curriculum; teachers’ retirement; school employees; 22
pupil transportation; school property and buildings; vocational education and 23
rehabilitation; [universities and colleges; community colleges; regional education; 24
]educational television. 25
6. Postsecondary Education: matters pertaining to higher education; universities and 26
colleges; community colleges; regional education; postsecondary education property and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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buildings. 1
7. Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs: 2
matters pertaining to the proposing of constitutional amendments and the calling of a 3
constitutional convention; ratification of amendments to the United States Constitution; 4
the election of officers to state, local and school board positions; election commissioners, 5
officers and precincts; qualifications, registration and purging of voters; regular elections; 6
primary elections; presidential and congressional elections; special elections to fill 7
vacancies; contest of elections; corrupt practices and election financing; election offenses 8
and prosecutions; voting machines; absentee ballots; intergovernmental cooperation; 9
state-federal relations; interstate compacts. 10
8[7]. Families and Children: matters pertaining to child welfare; adoptions; 11
assistance to children; children's homes; commitment and care of children and families; 12
child protective services; adult protective services; state guardianship; caregiver support 13
services; child support programs; support of dependents; family preservation programs; 14
social service programs; child care; senior citizens and aging; disabilities; rape crisis 15
centers; domestic violence shelters; sexual assault programs; public assistance programs 16
such as TANF, CCAP, SNAP, LIHEAP, and WIC. 17
9[8]. Health Services: matters pertaining to health care and health care delivery; 18
human development; health outcomes; disabled persons; mental health; health, medical, 19
and dental scholarships; public health; local health departments; vital statistics; 20
communicable diseases; epidemiology; certificate of need; hospitals, health clinics, and 21
long-term care facilities; substance abuse; maternal and child health; foods, drugs, and 22
poisons; hotel, restaurant, and trailer park regulations; sanitation plants; sanitation 23
districts; suicide prevention; physicians, osteopaths, and podiatrists; chiropractors; 24
dentists and dental specialists; nurses; pharmacists; embalmers and funeral directors; 25
clinical psychologists; optometrists and ophthalmic dispensers; physical therapists; 26
Medicaid. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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10[9]. Judiciary: matters pertaining to contracts; the Uniform Commercial 1
Code; debtor-creditor relations; ownership and conveyance of property; private 2
corporations and associations; competency proceedings; administration of trusts and 3
estates of persons under disability; descent, wills and administration of decedents’ 4
estates; domestic relations; support of dependents; statutory actions and limitations; 5
eminent domain; arbitration; declaratory judgments; witnesses; evidence; legal notices; 6
construction of statutes; civil procedure; the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, circuit 7
courts and district courts; family courts; jurisdiction, rules, terms, judges, commissioners, 8
selections, districts, qualifications, compensation and retirement; clerks of courts; juries, 9
attorneys; receivers; court reporters; habeas corpus; crimes and punishments; criminal 10
procedure; probation and parole; correctional facilities; civil rights; and juvenile matters. 11
11[10]. Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations: matters 12
pertaining to professional licensing not assigned specifically to another committee; 13
racing; prize fighting and wrestling; places of entertainment; alcoholic beverage control; 14
private corporations; cooperative corporations and marketing associations; religious, 15
charitable and educational societies; nonprofit corporations; professional service 16
corporations; cemeteries; barbers and cosmetologists; professional engineers and land 17
surveyors; architects; real estate brokers and agents; public accountants; detection of 18
deception examiners; auctioneers; business schools; warehouses; partnerships; trade 19
practices; building codes; review of administrative regulations. 20
12[11]. Local Government: matters pertaining to the officers, organization, 21
government and financing of city and county governments; city and county imposed 22
taxes and licenses; special purpose assessment and taxing districts within a city; city 23
revenue bond projects; city indebtedness; incorporation and classification of cities; forms 24
of city government; charter county, urban-county, and consolidated local governments 25
generally; county and special district debt; city and county finances and revenue; the 26
imposition of duties and costs on cities and counties; special districts not assigned to 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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another committee; the powers, duties and composition of fiscal court; compensation of 1
city and county officers and employees; local government civil service systems and local 2
government retirement systems; planning and zoning; interlocal cooperation and 3
consolidation of local government services; county roads; public road districts; city 4
streets and sidewalks; housing; manufactured housing; urban renewal and redevelopment; 5
water districts; acquisition of waterworks and water districts by cities; financing of 6
municipal improvements; urban service districts; fire protection districts; police 7
departments, fire departments and local public safety agencies; issuance of bonds for 8
county and special district projects; sewers; metropolitan sewer and sanitation districts; 9
local air pollution control districts; city and county libraries; library districts; annexation 10
of territory; public works; parks and playgrounds. 11
13[12]. Natural Resources and Energy: matters pertaining to forestry; mining; 12
soil and water conservation; flood control and water usage; drainage and irrigation; 13
geology and water resources; waterways and dams; oil, gas and salt water wells; state and 14
national parks; drainage districts; water pollution; air pollution; management of waste; 15
protection of the environment; Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet; 16
privately owned public utilities; rates, permits and certifications of convenience and 17
necessity; water district rates; utilities in cities; public utility cooperatives; electric and 18
gas utilities and cooperatives; oil and gas transmission companies; municipal utilities and 19
water works; energy and fuel development; energy waste disposal; the Public Service 20
Commission; solar and other renewable energy; hydroelectric and thermonuclear energy; 21
gasohol and other alternative fuels. 22
14[13]. Small Business and Information Technology: development and 23
support of small businesses; job creation and job-training programs; federal, state and 24
local regulations that impact small businesses and their employees; all other matters not 25
specifically assigned to another committee relating to administrative, regulatory or 26
operating issues which, because of their smaller size, uniquely impact small business; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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information technology planning; statewide standards related to information technology; 1
broadband Internet; Internet service providers. 2
15[14]. State Government: matters pertaining to the sovereignty and 3
jurisdiction of the Commonwealth; the General Assembly, its committees, officers and 4
service agencies; redistricting; the Governor; the Lieutenant Governor; administrative 5
organization; administrative regulations; administrative agencies; Department of Law; 6
constitutional offices; state personnel; state retirement systems; public property and 7
public printing; public officers, their terms, appointments, fees, compensation, removal, 8
oaths and bonds; public information; disaster and emergency services; state and regional 9
planning; libraries; archives and records; public corporations; Commonwealth’s 10
attorneys; circuit clerks. 11
16[15]. Tourism and Outdoor Recreation: matters relating to tourism and 12
travel promotion and development; state, interstate, and national parks and historic sites; 13
fish and wildlife; small business matters relative to tourism development; hotels and 14
motels generally; hotel and restaurant regulations; billboards; advertising related to 15
tourism development; entertainment establishments; campgrounds; the Tourism Cabinet; 16
hunting and fishing; boating; horseback riding; hiking; bird watching; rock climbing; 17
recreational use of all-terrain vehicles; mountain biking; cycling; kayaking; recreational 18
land use. 19
17[16]. Transportation: matters relating to airports and aviation; boats and 20
boating; licensing of motor vehicles; operators and trailers; financial responsibility law; 21
nonresident motorists; motor vehicle sales; railroad rates, service and operating 22
regulations; motor carriers; matters pertaining to the construction and maintenance of the 23
state highway system; the Transportation Cabinet; state aid for local roads and streets; the 24
state police; the Federal Highway Safety Law; turnpike authority; state and federal 25
highways; limited access facilities; use of road bond monies; automobile recyclers; 26
highway beautification; bridges, tunnels and ferries; traffic regulations; vehicle 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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equipment and storage; driver training schools. 1
18[17]. Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection: military affairs and 2
civil defense; national guard; veterans; retention of military bases; veterans’ rights, 3
benefits, and education; veterans’ nursing homes; military memorials and cemeteries; fire 4
prevention and protection; foods, drugs, and poisons; pure foods and drugs; trailer park 5
regulations; hotel and restaurant regulations as they pertain to public health; sanitation 6
plants; garbage and refuse disposal. 7
Rule 41. Rules Committee. There shall be a Rules Committee composed of the 8
Speaker of the House, the Speaker Pro Tempore, the Majority Floor Leader, the Majority 9
Caucus Chair, the Majority Whip, the Minority Floor Leader, the Minority Caucus Chair, 10
and the Minority Whip, and not less than nine nor more than eighteen members 11
appointed by the Committee on Committees. All bills and resolutions having been 12
reported out of the committee to which referred and having received their second reading 13
shall be referred to the Rules Committee. The Rules Committee may refer any bill or 14
resolution before it back to a standing committee. If a bill which includes incarceration as 15
a possible penalty has been received by the Rules Committee from a standing committee 16
other than the Committee on Judiciary, the bill shall be referred to the Committee on 17
Judiciary. No bill or resolution shall be referred back by the Rules Committee on more 18
than one occasion. All meetings of the Rules Committee shall be open. No bill may be 19
kept in Rules Committee for longer than five legislative days. Within that time, each 20
bill must be reported to the floor or referred back to a standing committee. In the event 21
of a vacancy on the Rules Committee, the other remaining members of the majority or 22
minority party’s leadership serving on the Rules Committee may determine whether there 23
is a vacancy on the Rules Committee and shall appoint a replacement for that member. 24
The Majority Floor Leader shall while the Rules Committee is in session call bills 25
and resolutions for consideration by the Rules Committee. A bill or resolution may be 26
placed for consideration in the first order of business at the next regular Rules Committee 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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meeting by a majority of the membership voting for such consideration. 1
Each member shall be given an opportunity upon request to appear before the Rules 2
Committee when a bill of which the member is a sponsor or co-sponsor is under 3
consideration including the subsequent vote thereon. No measure shall be posted in the 4
Orders of the Day for final passage except by order of the Rules Committee unless 5
otherwise ordered posted for the next succeeding legislative day by a majority of the 6
members voting. The Rules Committee shall arrange the Orders of the Day so that all 7
measures shall appear thereon for the consideration of the House, but the Rules 8
Committee may not place in the Orders of the Day any bill or other measure in the 9
possession of a standing or special committee of the House. The Rules Committee, prior 10
to each day’s session, shall post a notice in a regular place in the House Chamber listing 11
the bills to be considered that day in the Orders of the Day. Should the House not 12
complete any day’s Orders of the Day, the bills and resolutions remaining unconsidered 13
shall go to the top of the Orders of the Day on the next day that Orders of the Day are 14
considered. 15
The Speaker of the House shall be the Chair of the Rules Committee. The Majority 16
Floor Leader of the House shall act for the Rules Committee in calling from the Orders of 17
the Day any bills or resolutions in the order the Majority Floor Leader deems proper and 18
shall be recognized by the Speaker for that purpose during all times that the Rules 19
Committee is in charge of posting the Orders of the Day. The Speaker Pro Tempore shall 20
act as chair in the absence of the Speaker. 21
Rule 42. Liaison Subcommittees. The Committee on Appropriations and 22
Revenue shall be divided into the following eight standing subcommittees of no more 23
than ten members each: 24
1. Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Protection, Tourism and 25
Energy; 26
2. Subcommittee on Personnel, Public Retirement and Finance; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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3. Subcommittee on General Government; 1
4. Subcommittee on Justice, Public Safety and Judiciary; 2
5. Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education and Workforce 3
Development; 4
6. Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education; 5
7. Subcommittee on Transportation; 6
8. Subcommittee on Health and Family Services. 7
The Committee on Committees shall appoint to each standing subcommittee no 8
more than four members of the Committee on Appropriations and Revenue and no more 9
than six members from the membership of one or more of the remaining standing 10
committees of the House. No member of the Committee on Committees shall serve as a 11
member of a liaison subcommittee. A member of the Committee on Appropriations and 12
Revenue shall serve on no more than one standing subcommittee. The chair of each 13
standing subcommittee shall be appointed by the Committee on Committees from among 14
the members of the Committee on Appropriations and Revenue serving on the particular 15
standing subcommittee. 16
The liaison subcommittee members of a standing subcommittee shall have full 17
voting authority in all matters before a standing subcommittee. 18
The Committee on Committees may assign the chair of a standing committee as an 19
ex officio non-voting member of a standing subcommittee.[ The chairman and vice 20
chairman of the Committee on Appropriations and Revenue shall serve as ex officio 21
members of each standing subcommittee.] 22
Rule 42A. Budget Review. The standing budget review subcommittees shall notify 23
the membership of the standing substantive committees whose jurisdictional area will be 24
affected by their action of any meetings or hearings and the members of the standing 25
committees may participate as non-voting members. 26
When the budget review subcommittees have concluded their hearings and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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formulated their recommendations they shall communicate their recommendations to the 1
affected standing committee or committees who may thereafter file a written response to 2
the recommendations, which response shall be transmitted to the full Committee on 3
Appropriations and Revenue with the subcommittee recommendations. 4
When the full Committee on Appropriations and Revenue has reported the final 5
budget bill or bills to the floor, it shall notify the affected standing committees of the 6
content of the budget relating to their areas of jurisdiction. 7
The Rules Committee shall not post for passage any budget bill less than one day 8
after the bill has been finally reported out of committee, and no budget bill or amendment 9
thereto shall be voted upon without providing at least twenty-four hours for review after 10
the bill is posted for passage. 11
Rule 43. Enrollment Committee. The Committee on Committees shall appoint 12
an Enrollment Committee of not more than seven members. The Enrollment Committee 13
shall be responsible for the engrossment and enrollment of bills and resolutions. 14
Rule 44. Conference Committees. When a House bill has been amended in the 15
Senate and the House refuses to concur in the amendment, or when a Senate bill has been 16
amended in the House and the Senate refuses to concur in the amendment and when 17
neither will recede from that action, the Committee on Committees shall appoint a 18
Conference Committee to meet a like committee from the Senate. The Conference 19
Committee shall confer with the Senate Committee and report back to the House within a 20
reasonable time, in the same manner as reports are made for House bills. The conference 21
report shall make no recommendation other than agreement upon or rejection of the 22
matter or matters in controversy, and shall be voted upon, and, if adopted the bill shall 23
immediately be put upon its final passage. 24
Should a conference committee report its inability to submit a report, or if either 25
house refuses to adopt its report, each house may appoint a free conference committee, 26
consisting of three or more members. A free conference committee shall propose no new 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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appropriation or any appropriation above the level originally designed by either chamber. 1
The free conference report shall be voted on, and if adopted, the bill shall immediately be 2
put upon its final passage. 3
A conference committee or free conference committee report shall be signed by a 4
majority from each house or it shall not be in order. 5
Where both majority and minority conference or free conference reports are 6
submitted, a motion to adopt the majority report shall first be considered and a motion to 7
adopt a minority report shall not be in order unless a motion to adopt the majority report 8
fails. Once the majority or minority report is adopted, the bill shall immediately be put 9
upon its final passage. 10
Rule 44A. Majority and Minority Caucuses. The Majority Caucus of the House 11
of Representatives shall consist of all House members of majority party affiliation. The 12
Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives shall consist of all House members of 13
minority party affiliation. The majority and minority caucuses of the House of 14
Representatives shall be committees, other than standing committees, of the House of 15
Representatives and General Assembly. 16
Rule 45. Meetings of Committees. No committee except the Committee on 17
Committees, the Enrollment Committee and a Conference Committee between the House 18
and the Senate shall sit while the House is in session, unless by consent of the House. The 19
Committee on Committees and Enrollment Committee may report at any time except 20
during roll call or while a vote is being taken. 21
The Committee on Committees, in conference with committee chairs, shall 22
schedule a definite time and place for the regular weekly meetings of each committee, 23
and that schedule shall be posted in the House Chamber and published in the Legislative 24
Record. A committee shall meet at the regular weekly scheduled time and place so long 25
as business is pending before the committee. The Chair or a majority of any committee 26
may call a special meeting in addition to those regularly scheduled. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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The Chair shall keep a record of the attendance of members at meetings, which 1
record shall be filed with the Clerk. 2
The Director of the Legislative Research Commission, under the direction of the 3
Committee on Committees, shall assign a secretary to each committee and provide any 4
professional, clerical or other employees required by any committee. 5
The Committee on Committees shall meet on call of the Speaker or on call of a 6
majority of the members of the Committee on Committees. 7
Rule 46. Committee Reports. No bill or resolution shall be considered by the 8
House except on report of committee. A standing committee may report a bill or 9
resolution in the following manner: 10
"With the expression of opinion that the same should pass," or 11
"With the expression of opinion that the same should pass, with the committee 12
amendment attached thereto," or 13
"With the expression of opinion that the same should pass, with the committee 14
substitute attached thereto," or 15
"With the expression of opinion that the same should not pass." 16
Rule 47. Standing and Special Committee Reports. It shall require a majority 17
of the committee membership to report a bill or resolution. The chair shall keep a record 18
of the vote of each member on the disposition of each bill, and shall report the total vote 19
on each side to the House. The chair may sign reports on behalf of a majority of the 20
committee members. The chair’s signature shall attest to the action of a majority, but 21
shall not be construed as the chair’s personal approval or disapproval of the bill. 22
A committee report may be accompanied by a minority report, signed by those 23
members who have dissented from the committee’s report, and it shall be in order to 24
move the adoption of the minority report as a substitute for the committee’s report when 25
the committee offers its report. It shall require a majority of the members elected to adopt 26
the minority report. The committee’s report shall always be read before the minority 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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report is read. Where both majority and minority reports are submitted, a motion to adopt 1
the majority report shall first be considered, and a motion to adopt a minority report shall 2
not be in order unless a motion to adopt the majority report fails. 3
Rule 48. Discharge Petition. Whenever a committee fails or refuses to report 4
within a reasonable time a bill submitted to it, a member may sponsor and file with the 5
Clerk a written request, signed by twenty-five or more members, to call the same up for 6
consideration on the next succeeding legislative day after the filing of the request. The 7
effect of this petition shall be to bring before the House the question of whether the 8
committee to which the bill has been assigned has held the bill for an unreasonable time. 9
Upon the motion of the member sponsoring the request, and if a majority of the members 10
elected to the House concur that the bill has been held an unreasonable time, the bill shall 11
be considered as though it had been regularly reported, and sent to the Rules Committee. 12
Rule 49. Procedure in Committee. The rules of procedure in the House shall be 13
observed in committee insofar as the same are applicable. The committee chair, or the 14
committee by majority vote in a regularly called meeting, shall post at least three 15
calendar days prior to their consideration the bills and resolutions to be considered by 16
the committee at its next meeting, provided that no bill or resolution shall be posted by 17
the chair or the committee by a majority vote unless and until a request for posting 18
form has been filed with the committee chair or secretary and approved by the 19
committee chair as containing satisfactory information. No measure shall be 20
considered except those posted, unless the measure is one which has been recommitted 21
to the same committee from which it was previously reported with a favorable 22
expression. A list of the measures to be considered shall be filed with the Clerk at least 23
three calendar days prior to the meeting. In the case of prefiled House bills receiving 24
the affirmative votes of a majority of the House members of the interim joint committee 25
to which they were assigned, posting by the chair or the committee shall occur during 26
the first four days of the session, and those bills may be considered by the appropriate 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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committee during the first fifteen legislative days of the session. No posting request 1
shall be required for those prefiled bills.[Any bill or resolution referred to a committee 2
by the Committee on Committees shall be considered eligible for consideration and 3
action thereon by the committee at the discretion of the committee chair.] 4
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS 5
Rule 50. Form of Bills. All bills introduced shall be printed on the computerized 6
bill preparation system of the Legislative Research Commission, and none otherwise 7
prepared shall be accepted for introduction. Bills shall be offered as one original and 8
three distinctly legible copies. Identical bills for introduction in the other chamber may be 9
exact reproductions of original bill provided one copy is authenticated by the Director of 10
the Legislative Research Commission as the original to be introduced in the other 11
chamber. The original shall be the official bill, and shall be retained by the Legislative 12
Research Commission staff[Clerk] for the use of the House until engrossed and sent to 13
the Senate. A replacement original of a bill, generated pursuant to these Rules, shall 14
thereafter be considered the original and official bill. One copy shall be used by 15
committees; one copy shall be retained for the use of legislative staff; and one copy shall 16
be retained by[provided to] the Legislative Research Commission for its work file. Each 17
copy shall be backed with a protective cover, as provided for this purpose by the 18
Legislative Research Commission. The title of the bill, or a portion thereof, and the 19
signature of the member introducing the bill shall be placed on each cover. 20
In all bills, as introduced and as printed, any new matter contained therein shall be 21
underscored; and when an amendment proposes the elimination of matter in an existing 22
law, that elimination shall be indicated on the bill by placing the material proposed to be 23
eliminated in brackets, and by striking through the words to be eliminated with a single 24
line so as not to render those words illegible. In any bill seeking to repeal existing 25
sections of the Kentucky Revised Statutes, the sections sought to be repealed shall be 26
identified by way of inclusion of the headnotes applied to each section as it appears in the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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Kentucky Revised Statutes. All bills recommending or reauthorizing a study by an 1
interim committee, task force, or special committee of the Legislative Research 2
Commission shall include the following language: "Provisions of this statute to the 3
contrary notwithstanding, the Legislative Research Commission shall have the authority 4
to alternatively assign the issues identified herein to an interim joint committee or 5
subcommittee thereof, and to designate a study completion date." The Legislative 6
Research Commission staff shall see that all bills introduced have been prepared through 7
the computerized bill preparation system of the Legislative Research Commission. 8
Rule 51. Introduction of Bills. A member may introduce bills and resolutions by 9
filing them with the House Clerk on the floor or in the Clerk’s office at any time the 10
office is open. The member filing the bill or resolution shall be the primary sponsor of the 11
bill or resolution, and with the sponsor’s permission, one member may sign the bill as 12
primary co-sponsor. Other members may co-sponsor the bill or resolution only with the 13
sponsor’s permission and by either filing the proper papers with the Clerk or by 14
indicating their desire to co-sponsor the bill or resolution in the Legislative Research 15
Commission Remote Voting System or, upon motion by the primary sponsor of a simple 16
resolution to allow co-sponsorship by a roll call vote made immediately following 17
adoption of the resolution, by indicating their desire to co-sponsor the resolution by an 18
affirmative vote. Bills and resolutions must be signed by the sponsors and co-sponsors 19
with the member’s legislative district numbers beside their signature, except in the case 20
of co-sponsorship by the Legislative Research Commission Remote Voting System or 21
roll call vote as permitted by this rule. A co-sponsor may withdraw co-sponsorship of the 22
bill or resolution with or without the sponsor’s permission by filing the proper papers 23
with the Clerk. Bills and resolutions filed after the House has concluded the Introduction 24
and Reading of New Bills, in Rule 4, Order of Business, shall be considered as having 25
been introduced the next succeeding legislative day. The House Clerk shall number bills 26
in the order received and transmit a copy immediately after introduction on the House 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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floor to the Committee on Committees for reference to committee. 1
In a regular session in an even-numbered year, no bill or resolution having the force 2
of law shall be introduced after the thirty-eighth legislative day of the session. In a 3
regular session in an odd-numbered year, no bill or resolution having the force of law 4
shall be introduced after the fourteenth legislative day of the session. 5
The last two legislative days preceding the veto recess shall be reserved by the 6
House exclusively for the business of concurring in amended House bills, receding from 7
House amendments, considering conference and free conference committee reports, and 8
final passage and enrollment of legislation. No House bills or House resolutions having 9
the force of law, other than those referred to in the previous sentence, shall be placed 10
upon their passage later than the fifty-third legislative day in even-year regular sessions, 11
nor later than the twenty-fifth legislative day in odd-year regular sessions; and on the 12
fifty-fourth legislative day in an even-year regular session and on the twenty-sixth 13
legislative day in an odd-year regular session, all bills other than those referred to in the 14
previous sentence that remain in the Orders of the Day shall be returned to the Rules 15
Committee. 16
The House shall not consider any bills or resolutions having the force of law for 17
concurrence, recession, adoption of conference or free conference committee reports, or 18
final passage if they are received after 5 p.m. on the final concurrence day of a regular 19
session. Any legislative day falling after the veto recess shall be reserved by the House 20
exclusively for the purposes of considering gubernatorial veto messages. 21
Rule 52. Statutory Fiscal Impact Statements. The staff of the Legislative 22
Research Commission shall analyze and prepare a fiscal statement for any bill which, if 23
enacted, would fiscally affect local governments in a significant manner through the 24
imposition of a local mandate; constitute a mandated health benefit; change the financial 25
liability of any public retirement system administered by an agency of state government; 26
or fiscally affect state or local corrections services in a significant manner, including any 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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bill which would modify or create a criminal penalty or otherwise affect the population of 1
a correctional system or facility. No measure for which the preparation of a fiscal 2
statement has been requested or is required pursuant to this rule shall be placed in the 3
Orders of the Day until the fiscal statement is attached, unless the requirement is waived 4
by a vote of a majority of the members elected to the House. 5
Rule 52A. Member Requested Fiscal Notes. A sponsor of a bill which, if enacted, 6
would affect the revenues or expenditures of the Commonwealth generally, may at any 7
time by request cause the staff of the Legislative Research Commission to analyze and 8
prepare a fiscal note for the measure describing such impacts on revenues or 9
expenditures. The fiscal note, if requested, shall be delivered to the sponsor. 10
The chair or a majority of the committee to which a bill has been referred may 11
require that a fiscal note be attached to the bill prior to final committee action. 12
Members may require, by majority vote, that a fiscal note be prepared for any bill 13
on the Orders of the Day. In that instance, the fiscal note shall be attached to the bill prior 14
to final consideration on the floor of the House. 15
Rule 53. Member Requested Fiscal Notes and Statutory Fiscal Impact 16
Statements for Amendments. Any member proposing an amendment from the floor for 17
a measure to which a fiscal note or fiscal statement has been attached shall cause an 18
amended fiscal note or fiscal statement, as appropriate, to be prepared and attached to the 19
amendment. 20
Rule 54. Reference of Bills. The Committee on Committees shall[may] refer all 21
bills[a bill] to the proper standing committee not later than the fifth day in which the 22
House is in session after the date of introduction. When a House bill has been amended 23
in the Senate and has been returned to the House for concurrence in the amendment, it 24
shall be referred to the Rules Committee. In these instances, the Clerk shall distribute 25
copies of the bill and its proposed amendment to each member of the Rules Committee. 26
The Rules Committee may post these bills to the Orders of the Day for consideration of 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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the amendment, and final passage, giving precedence to these bills over all other matters 1
posted. When bills with amendments for concurrence are reached in the Orders of the 2
Day, the Speaker shall first put the question of concurrence in the amendment, 3
whereupon if that is favorable, the bill shall be put immediately upon its final passage. 4
Bills originating in and passed by the Senate when reported to the House shall be referred 5
to the Committee on Committees and shall take the same course as other bills. 6
Rule 55. Printing of Bills. Upon receipt of a bill, the Legislative Research 7
Commission shall examine the form of the bill to ensure that it is free from errors of form 8
or typography and has been assigned the proper KRS section or chapter numbers. If a 9
formal change is necessary the Commission shall request the sponsor of the bill to sign a 10
form approving the specified changes. If a bill is found to be correct, or corrections have 11
been approved, the Commission shall authorize its printing. 12
The Legislative Research Commission shall have printed for the use of the 13
members a sufficient number of copies of each bill or resolution carrying the force and 14
effect of law introduced in the House and of each bill or resolution carrying the force and 15
effect of law acted on by the Senate and reported to the House. Bills shall be printed in 16
the order in which they are introduced and shall be distributed to members immediately 17
upon receipt from the printer. For the purposes of this rule, printing and distribution of 18
bills and resolutions shall be considered satisfied when any bill or resolution is 19
distributed electronically to each member’s electronic bill book, provided that any 20
member may at any time request the additional printing of a paper copy of any bill or 21
resolution introduced in or reported to the House. 22
Rule 56. Readings of Bills. If a bill is reported with the expression of opinion 23
that it should not pass, a vote may then be taken on whether it shall be read at length and 24
be placed on the Calendar, if a majority of the members elected to the House shall concur 25
therein. When reported favorably by the committee, the bill shall then be given its first 26
reading at length and shall be placed by the Commission staff[Clerk] upon the Calendar 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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to be kept by the staff, and shall then be entitled to its second reading the next succeeding 1
legislative day. 2
Every bill shall be read at length on three different legislative days; but the second 3
and third readings thereof at length may be dispensed with by a majority of all the 4
members elected to the House and the bill read by its title. 5
Rule 57. Calendar; Consent Calendar. (1) In order to reduce the time required 6
for final passage of bills posted in the Orders of the Day, a consent procedure for the 7
consideration of uncontested[noncontroversial] bills shall be established and designated 8
as follows: 9
(a) The Commission staff[Clerk] shall keep a Regular Calendar and a Consent 10
Calendar for each legislative day showing the bills receiving their second reading. 11
(b) The Commission staff[Clerk] shall also keep a Regular Orders and a Consent 12
Orders showing bills posted for final passage by the Rules Committee. 13
(2) Bills reported by a Standing Committee with a regular "should pass" or 14
"should pass with committee amendment/substitute attached" recommendation shall be 15
shown in the Regular Calendar on the day on which they are entitled to a second reading. 16
(3) A Standing Committee may at the time of favorably reporting any House or 17
Senate Bill, recommend that it be placed in the Consent Calendar provided: 18
(a) The primary sponsor has so requested when it is a House Bill, and 19
(b) The bill receives a "should pass" or "should pass with committee 20
amendment/substitute attached" recommendation from the committee by a unanimous 21
vote of the members present.[The Rules Committee may recommend that any House or 22
Senate Bill having been favorably reported by a Standing Committee be placed in the 23
Consent Calendar, provided the bill receives a recommendation from the Rules 24
Committee by a unanimous vote of the members present. ] 25
Any House or Senate Bill thus reported shall be first[recommended for consent 26
shall be] placed in the Consent Calendar on the day on which it is entitled to a second 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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reading and shall continue to be shown in that Calendar until taken therefrom by the 1
Rules Committee and posted in the Consent Orders. Bills receiving a second reading 2
should be so designated to distinguish them from bills which have already received their 3
second reading. 4
(4) A certificate shall be attached to each bill recommended for the Consent 5
Calendar showing the unanimous recommendation of the members[ of the Rules 6
Committee] present[,] signed by the Chair. 7
(5) After a sufficient number of bills have accumulated in the Consent Calendar, 8
the Rules Committee may post any or all of those bills to the Consent Orders for a day 9
certain. On that day, the Consent Orders shall be called before the Regular Orders. 10
(6) Upon the call of the Consent Orders each bill in those Orders shall be given a 11
third reading by title only. The Speaker shall then allow a reasonable time for questions 12
from the floor and any explanation necessary by the sponsor or committee chair. Consent 13
Order bills may not be amended from the floor. 14
(7) The Commission staff[Clerk] shall attach a roll call to each bill in the Consent 15
Calendar and any member may at any time prior to passage of the Consent Orders record 16
with the Commission staff[Clerk] a "nay" or "pass" vote on any bill within the Consent 17
Calendar or Consent Orders. 18
(8) Upon the call for the question on the Consent Orders, the Speaker shall 19
instruct the Commission staff[Clerk] to announce the "nay" and "pass" votes previously 20
filed on each bill in the Consent Orders. All other members present in the chamber on the 21
day and at the time the Consent Orders are called shall be considered as having voted 22
"aye" and the roll call attached to each bill shall so reflect as the final vote. 23
(9) Upon the written petition of any member objecting to the placement or 24
retention of any bill in the Consent Calendar or Consent Orders, or upon the filing of a 25
floor amendment to the bill, the bill shall cease to be so considered and shall be placed 26
in the Regular Calendar or Regular Orders as provided in these rules. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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Rule 58. Orders of the Day. When a bill has had its second reading it shall be 1
referred to the Rules Committee for consideration of whether it shall be placed in the 2
Orders of the Day, or be recommitted, and when next reached in the House it shall be 3
ready for recommitment, or to be read a third time and placed upon its passage, and the 4
Speaker shall so announce to the House. 5
A bill may be recommitted or amended in accordance with these rules at any time 6
before its passage. Bills shall be placed in the Orders of the Day in the order in which 7
they have been given their first reading, and shall be taken therefrom in accordance with 8
Rule 41. When a House bill is in the Orders of the Day, it shall be in order on motion of 9
the author to substitute for it an identical Senate bill which is in the Calendar of the 10
House. 11
No bill shall be taken from the Orders of the Day unless it shall have been printed 12
and previously distributed to members, which for the purposes of this rule shall include 13
electronic distribution to each member’s electronic bill book. No bill, amendment, or 14
committee substitute relating to congressional or legislative redistricting shall be taken 15
from the Orders of the Day unless it shall have been verified by Legislative Research 16
Commission staff using the Commission’s redistricting software, for plan integrity and 17
geographic integrity. The verification shall be evidenced by the Legislative Record 18
summary notation "PLAN INTEGRITY VERIFIED" and the "Geographic Integrity 19
Verified" notation on amendments. 20
Rule 59. Final Passage. When a House bill has been amended in the Senate and 21
the House has concurred in the amendment, or a Senate bill has been amended in the 22
House, but the Senate refuses to concur, and the House recedes from its amendment, the 23
bill shall immediately be placed upon its passage. 24
Rule 60. Amendments to Bills. All amendments offered shall be on sheets with a 25
proper heading printed in black, furnished by the Commission staff, and shall bear the 26
signature and district number of the members offering the same. An amendment prepared 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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for one member but signed by another shall be considered the amendment of the member 1
signing the amendment. All amendments shall give the proper page and line of the 2
printed bill. An original and one copy of each amendment shall be introduced. No 3
amendment shall be in order that is not germane to the matter under consideration and 4
unless it shall have been printed and previously distributed by the Clerk to members at 5
least one legislative day prior to consideration of the bill or resolution; and the Speaker, 6
when the question is raised, shall rule as to the admissibility of the proposed amendment, 7
subject to appeal to the House. 8
Any[No] amendment to a bill under consideration containing[shall be in order if it 9
contains] the substantial text of the language of any other bill introduced during the 10
session shall require for its consideration the affirmative vote of a majority of the 11
members of[which has not passed] the House. The commission staff shall cause those 12
amendments to be identified when the bill proposed to be amended thereby is posted on 13
the Orders of the Day. When a question is raised as to the identity of the proposed 14
amendment containing the substantial text of any other bill introduced during the session, 15
the Speaker shall rule thereon, subject to appeal to the House. 16
A committee substitute, upon its adoption, shall be considered as the original bill 17
for purposes relating to the permissible degree of further amendment of the bill. 18
A proposal to amend the title of a bill shall be by separate title amendment. The 19
question of adoption of an offered title amendment for a bill shall be presented to the 20
body immediately after adoption of the bill. 21
A proposal to amend the Constitution of Kentucky shall be introduced as a bill, and 22
no such proposal shall be in order if it is offered as an amendment to any bill. 23
If a proposed floor amendment to a branch budget bill will result, if adopted, in a 24
loss of revenues or an increase in expenditures for a budget unit, the amendment shall 25
specify by budget unit the amount and source of funds that will offset the loss of revenues 26
or specify the budget unit or other source of funds that will support the increased 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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expenditures. If a budget unit or other source of funds is specified, the amendment shall 1
include all necessary language to effect the changes. It shall be out of order for a floor 2
amendment to a branch budget bill to: (a) specify in general language that funds to 3
support the change shall come from broadly defined sources, such as the budget of a 4
particular cabinet, branch of government, or multiple unrelated budget units, unless the 5
effect on each of these is specifically defined by program and amount; (b) require or 6
permit any other branch or unit of government to determine which specific programs 7
would be affected; or (c) reduce the Budget Reserve Trust Fund. 8
Rule 61. Engrossment of Bills. Every House bill and joint resolution, together 9
with the amendments thereto, which has been passed by the House and not subject to 10
further amendment or motion, shall be engrossed by the Commission staff[Clerk]. The 11
Clerk shall endorse thereon the day of passage or adoption. The bill shall be delivered to 12
the Senate in open session by the Clerk or someone designated by the Clerk, and Senate 13
concurrence asked therein. A like procedure shall be observed toward Senate bills. 14
When engrossing a bill, the Commission staff[Clerk] may incorporate amendments 15
by means of typing or by generating a replacement original of the bill through 16
computerized process. 17
Rule 62. Enrollment of Bills. All House bills and resolutions which have passed 18
both the Senate and the House shall be delivered by the Commission staff[Clerk] to the 19
Enrolling Clerk, taking a receipt therefor, in the order in which passed. The Commission 20
staff[Clerk] shall keep the number and title of all bills and joint and concurrent 21
resolutions carrying the force and effect of law, passed by the House of Representatives 22
and the Senate in a suitable record book attesting the fact and date of passage. 23
If a bill which originates in the House is amended by the Senate and the House 24
concurs in the amendments proposed and adopted by the Senate, the Commission 25
staff[Clerk] shall engross those amendments in the original copy of the bill by typing or 26
may generate a replacement original copy of the House bill through computerized 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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process, before delivering the bill to the Enrolling Clerk of the House. 1
In cases of extreme emergency and during the last three days prior to sine die 2
adjournment, where no correct printed copy can be produced, the Enrolling Clerk may 3
enroll the bill or resolution by typing the same. 4
The original bill or resolution or replacement therefor, if applicable, and an enrolled 5
copy shall be delivered to the Committee on Enrollment. The Enrolling Clerk shall certify 6
that each is in the exact form as finally passed prior to their delivery. The Committee on 7
Enrollment and the Enrolling Clerk shall jointly compare the original bill with the 8
enrolled copy, and if the enrollment is ascertained to be correctly done, the Committee 9
shall report the same to the House. If any bill or resolution is found not correctly enrolled, 10
it shall be returned to the Enrolling Clerk to be properly enrolled and delivered to the 11
Committee on Enrollment as is first provided herein. 12
Rule 63. Signing of Bills. The Enrolling Clerk of the House shall deliver the 13
enrolled copies of House bills and resolutions signed by the Speaker to the Chair of the 14
Enrollment Committee of the Senate for presentation to the President of the Senate for 15
the President’s signature. When signed by the President of the Senate, the enrolled bill or 16
resolution and the original copy thereof shall be returned by the Enrolling Clerk to the 17
Clerk of the House who shall present the enrolled bill or resolution to the Governor for 18
the Governor’s approval and take a receipt for same. 19
Rule 64. Resolutions. Resolutions having the force and effect of law shall be 20
treated and considered as bills in all respects under these rules. A simple resolution 21
expressing the will of the House shall upon its introduction be automatically referred to 22
the Committee on Committees, which may refer it to the floor if it is honorary, 23
benevolent, and does not direct further action; otherwise, it shall be referred to a standing 24
committee. Simple resolutions referred to a standing committee may be considered for 25
adoption only after receiving a recommendation from a standing committee and being 26
posted for passage by the Rules Committee. A resolution shall not be accepted for 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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introduction if offered in lieu of a legislative citation. No resolution shall be considered 1
unless it shall have been distributed to all members. All resolutions recommending or 2
reauthorizing a study by an interim committee, task force, or special committee of the 3
Legislative Research Commission shall include the following language: "Provisions of 4
this resolution to the contrary notwithstanding, the Legislative Research Commission 5
shall have the authority to alternatively assign the issues identified herein to an interim 6
joint committee or subcommittee thereof, and to designate a study completion date." All 7
resolutions recommending or reauthorizing a study, or which recommend or reauthorize 8
creation of a task force or special committee of the Legislative Research Commission 9
shall be concurrent or joint resolutions. 10
Rule 65. Legislative Citations. For the purpose of extending the commendations, 11
condolences or congratulations of the General Assembly to a particular person, or to 12
recognize a particular event or occasion, there may be issued a "Legislative Citation." 13
Citations may not be used for procedural matters, matters of a controversial or partisan 14
political nature, nor in place of resolutions memorializing the U.S. Congress, but only 15
when appropriate to express the feeling of the House or of the General Assembly with 16
reference to a person or event. 17
Staff of the Legislative Research Commission shall prepare proposed legislative 18
citations for adoption by the House and shall assign those citations a number. The 19
sponsor shall receive the original citation and a copy shall also be transmitted to the Clerk 20
of the House prior to adoption. Each citation shall bear the signature of the sponsor and 21
the name of the person or event cited, and upon adoption shall be spread at length upon 22
the Journal. Citations shall be read by title and sponsor only and considered in the order 23
of business "Motions, Petitions, Communications and Announcements." 24
VOTING 25
Rule 66. Roll Call. Any member, with a second, may require a roll call on any 26
matter pending before the House. The names of members shall be arranged alphabetically 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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when taking a yea and nay vote. 1
Any time these rules require a roll-call vote, or a yea and a nay vote of the 2
members, that vote may be taken by either a voice roll call or the electrical voting system, 3
as ordered by the Speaker. 4
The Speaker, before each roll-call vote is taken, shall instruct the Clerk to sound the 5
warning chimes installed in that part of the Capitol assigned to the use of the House. 6
During a roll call any one member, with a second, may request and be afforded a 7
delay of two minutes prior to the closing of the roll. Except when remote voting is 8
authorized pursuant to House Rule 67A or alternative voting is authorized pursuant to 9
House Rule 68A, only one such motion shall be observed during any one roll call. 10
Rule 67. Electrical Voting System. When the House is ready to vote upon any 11
question requiring a roll call, and the vote is to be taken by the electrical roll call system, 12
the Speaker shall announce: 13
"The question is on the passage of (designating the matter to be voted upon). All in 14
favor of the question shall vote ‘yea,’ and all opposed shall vote ‘nay.’ The House roll is 15
now open for voting." 16
The Speaker shall recognize any member who rises for the purpose of explaining a 17
vote. No member shall be allowed to speak more than three[two] minutes to explain a 18
vote,[ and no more than one minute if the member has already spoken on the measure,] 19
and shall not speak at all if the question is not a debatable question.[ The recognition of a 20
member for the purpose of explaining a vote and the time limit allotted by this rule for 21
explanation are subject to, and may be further limited by, a motion to set limits on 22
debate.] 23
When sufficient time has been allowed the members to vote and to explain their 24
vote, the Speaker shall announce: "Have all voted?" "Does anyone desire to change their 25
vote?" and, after sufficient pause, shall lock the roll call system and instruct the Clerk to 26
record the vote. Except when alternative voting is authorized pursuant to House Rule 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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68A, it shall be the responsibility of each member to determine the accuracy of the 1
member’s individual vote as registered opposite the member’s name on the electrical roll 2
call board and advise the Speaker of any desired change before the roll call system is 3
locked. If alternative voting is authorized pursuant to House Rule 68A, either the member 4
or the designee of the member’s caucus that is permitted to cast votes on behalf of the 5
member may determine the accuracy of the member’s individual vote and advise the 6
Speaker of any desired change before the roll call system is locked. In the case of 7
alternative voting, the Speaker shall recognize each caucus designee that is permitted to 8
cast votes on behalf of any member for an affirmation that all member votes are 9
registered correctly before the roll call system is locked. 10
The Clerk shall immediately start the recording equipment, and when completely 11
recorded, shall present the result to the Speaker who shall announce same to the House. 12
The Clerk shall enter upon the Journal the result in the manner provided by the rules of 13
the House. 14
At the same time the vote is recorded by the electric recording equipment an 15
original and five duplicate roll call sheets shall be made showing the vote, two of which 16
duplicates shall be for use of the press, and one copy shall be furnished to the Legislative 17
Research Commission. 18
With respect to any roll call vote on a question that is not on the passage of a bill, 19
adoption of an amendment or committee substitute, concurrence or recession from a 20
Senate amendment, adoption of a conference committee or free conference committee 21
report, or override of a gubernatorial veto, the electrical voting system shall indicate that 22
the question subject of the roll call vote is procedural in nature, and the roll call vote shall 23
be described as a procedural vote on the original roll call sheet and on all duplicates. 24
Rule 67A. Remote Voting Permitted. At any time, the Speaker, or other presiding 25
officer as specified in House Rule 26, may authorize remote voting procedures for the 26
members on any matter pending before the House. At any time, a committee chair may 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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authorize remote voting procedures for the members of the committee on any matter 1
pending before the committee. 2
If remote voting is authorized in the House, any member physically present in their 3
Capitol Annex office may cast a vote on any matter pending before the House by 4
utilizing the Legislative Research Commission Remote Voting System to indicate the 5
member’s yea or nay vote on the matter. Any votes cast by members in person in a 6
member’s Capitol Annex office through the Legislative Research Commission Remote 7
Voting System shall be reflected on the electrical voting system. 8
Rule 67B. Vote Modification. Following the close of any vote, a member may 9
only enter a new vote or modify a previously cast vote by motion, and only if the 10
member’s vote will not change the outcome of the original vote on the measure. If the 11
member’s motion is granted, the member shall file with the Clerk the vote the member 12
wishes the Clerk to enter or modify on a form provided by the Clerk, and the Clerk shall 13
thereafter enter upon the Journal the member’s new or modified vote; provided that no 14
vote cast or modified by motion under this rule shall amend an original roll call sheet. 15
Rule 68. Voting for Others Prohibited. Except when alternative voting is 16
authorized pursuant to House Rule 68A, no member shall vote for another member, nor 17
shall any person not a member cast a vote for a member. In addition to any penalties as 18
may be prescribed by law, any member who shall vote or attempt to vote for another 19
member who is not authorized to vote for the member by House Rule 68A may be 20
punished in a manner as the House may determine. If a person not a member shall vote or 21
attempt to vote for any member, that person shall be barred from the floor of the House 22
for the remainder of the session and may be further punished in any manner as the House 23
may deem proper, in addition to the punishment as may be prescribed by law. 24
Rule 68A. Alternative Voting for Others Permitted. If any member is diagnosed 25
with COVID-19 or is under a quarantine order related to COVID-19, the Speaker, or 26
other presiding officer as specified in House Rule 26, may authorize alternative voting 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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procedures for the member. 1
If alternative voting is authorized for a member, and if the member is physically 2
present in their automobile on the Capitol Campus, the member may cast a vote on any 3
matter pending before the House by advising the Speaker, the Clerk, or a designee of the 4
member’s caucus who will be physically present during a session of the House of the 5
member’s yea or nay vote on the matter. 6
Prior to the Speaker, the Clerk, or the caucus designee accepting and casting a vote 7
for another member, the Speaker, the Clerk, or the caucus designee shall verify the 8
member’s identity and desired vote on a specific measure under consideration through 9
appropriate means, including but not limited to a video call in which the member’s face 10
can be seen and their desired vote on a specific measure can be clearly communicated. 11
At the appropriate time, the Speaker shall announce the specific measure to be 12
considered and announce in open session any votes received by him or her directly, as 13
well as any votes received by the Clerk. The Speaker shall then recognize the caucus 14
designees who shall announce in open session any votes received by them on behalf of 15
any other members. All of the announced votes, as well as any votes cast by members in 16
person, shall be reflected on the electrical voting system. 17
The Clerk shall enter upon the Journal the result in the manner provided by the 18
rules of the House. 19
Rule 69. Pairing. All pairs announced in the House shall be entered on the 20
Journal. 21
Rule 70. Adjournment Extended During Roll Call. When the roll is being 22
called in taking a yea and nay vote, and the hour of an adjournment arrives, the same 23
shall stand extended until after the yea and nay vote has been completed and the result 24
announced. 25
PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR 26
Rule 71. Persons Entitled to the Floor. No person shall be permitted upon the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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floor of the House or within the member’s offices on the third and fourth floor of the 1
Capitol Annex when the House is in session and upon the floor of the House one hour 2
before and after the House is in session except the present members of the General 3
Assembly[, former members of the General Assembly,] and all officers and employees of 4
the General Assembly. Bona fide news media correspondents shall be admitted to the 5
gallery when recommended by the Committee on Committees and shall be governed by 6
the rules of the House and assigned by the Committee on Committees to a media section 7
specifically set aside for them. 8
Members may submit the names of guests to the Clerk, who[their caucus chair. The 9
Majority Caucus Chair and the Minority Caucus Chair] shall read the names[ of their 10
respective caucus members’ guests] to the House. Members shall not introduce guests 11
from the floor. 12
Rule 72. Restriction of Lobbying and Access to the House Chambers and 13
Office Areas. No person shall engage in lobbying for or against any measure while the 14
House is in session, or in recess, in any of the corridors or passages or in any of the 15
rooms in that part of the Capitol or Capitol Annex assigned to the use of the House, and 16
no registered lobbyist shall enter that part of the Capitol or the member’s offices on the 17
third and fourth floor of the Capitol Annex while the House is in session. This rule shall 18
not be construed to prohibit the use of the corridors or passages in going to and from the 19
House gallery by any person. 20
A sign, poster, or any other object, the purpose of which can be reasonably 21
construed to indicate support or opposition to any measure before the House, and which 22
is large enough to be generally visible from the House floor, shall not be permitted in the 23
gallery. 24
Only authorized persons shall be allowed access to the office areas assigned for use 25
of the members and staff of the House. For the purposes of this paragraph, "authorized 26
person" means a member of the General Assembly, an employee of the General 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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Assembly or Legislative Research Commission, or a person having obtained specific 1
access authorization from a member or employee. For the purposes of this paragraph, 2
"office areas" means the fourth floor of the Capitol, that part of the third floor of the 3
Capitol assigned to the use of the House, and the third and fourth floors of the Capitol 4
Annex. 5
Rule 73. Restrictions. For purposes of this rule, "material" shall mean any letter, 6
report, writing, article, booklet, pamphlet, image, photograph, object, or any other item, 7
including any physical object or electronic transmission containing audio, video, or 8
electronic communication, which is requested to be placed upon either the desk of a 9
member on the House floor or in a member’s office in the Annex. This material shall not 10
be distributed unless the party interested in the distribution of the material is clearly and 11
physically identified on the material to be distributed. All this material shall conform to 12
accepted public taste, shall contain no matter appealing to prurient interest or without 13
redeeming social value, and shall uphold the dignity of the legislative process. Material 14
originating from the general public shall be delivered to the administrative offices of the 15
Legislative Research Commission or the Clerk of the House and shall upon direction of 16
the Clerk, after inspection, be placed on the members’ desk in the Capitol Annex 17
provided the following conditions are met: 18
(1) Unless 100 copies are provided, all material should be individually addressed 19
to each member expected to receive a copy; 20
(2) If several pages or items are to be provided to each member, they should be 21
securely fastened or placed together in an envelope; and 22
(3) Sufficient copies of all material should be provided; staff shall not make 23
additional copies of material. 24
Material that may be distributed by the Clerk in the House Chamber is restricted to 25
official communications relating to pending legislation or the operation of the House, 26
material sent by a member clearly identified on the face of the material or its attachments 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1090
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to any other member, or other material as designated by the Speaker’s Office. The 1
Sergeant-at-Arms shall be charged with the duty of ensuring that no individual other than 2
employees of the House under the direction of the Clerk or House members shall cause 3
materials of any nature to be distributed in the House Chamber. Questions as to the 4
propriety of materials shall be referred to the Committee on Committees for resolution. 5
Any material distributed by unauthorized individuals shall be collected from the 6
members’ desks and treated as litter, and any material submitted but not distributed that is 7
unclaimed after one week shall be discarded. Material which is received via e-mail or via 8
any digital storage device or media with a request for distribution electronically by LRC 9
staff shall be refused or returned to the sender. Nothing in this rule restricts the right of 10
any person to communicate directly with any member, either electronically or through the 11
United States mail. 12
RULES 13
Rule 74. Mason’s Manual. In the absence of a specific rule of the House, the 14
most recent edition of Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure, as adopted by the 15
National Conference of State Legislatures, shall govern the proceedings, except that in all 16
cases where general parliamentary law provides for a rule of two-thirds, it shall mean in 17
this House a majority of all members elected thereto. 18
Rule 75. Change of Rules. The rules of the House, after their adoption shall not 19
be altered, changed, amended, suspended or interrupted, unless the same be done by a 20
majority of the members elected to the House. No rule shall be suspended for the purpose 21
of any action affecting the passage of a bill or resolution carrying the force of law unless 22
the rule is suspended by a majority of the members elected to the House. Whenever a rule 23
is suspended, no measure shall be considered under suspension except the measure or 24
measures in whose favor the suspension was invoked, and only for that day. 25