GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H Simple
Resolution
Adopted
HOUSE RESOLUTION 1
Adopted 1/8/25
Sponsors: Representative Bell.
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Calendar 1/8/2025
January 8, 2025
*H1-v-2*
A HOUSE RESOLUTION A DOPTING THE TEMPORAR Y RULES OF THE HOUSE OF 1
REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE 2025 REGULAR SESSION. 2
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives: 3
SECTION 1. The temporary rules of the Regular Session of the House of 4
Representatives of the 2025 General Assembly are: 5
TEMPORARY RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE 6
REGULAR SESSION OF THE 2025 GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA 7
I. Order of Business, 1-5.1 8
II. Conduct of Debate, 6-12 9
III. Motions, 13-19 10
IV. Voting, 20-25 11
V. Committees, 26-30 12
VI. Handling of Bills, 31-44.2 13
VII. Legislative Officers and Employees, 45-49 14
VIII. Privileges of the Hall, 50-53 15
IX. General Rules, 54-62 16
I. Order of Business 17
RULE 1. Convening Hour, Limitation on Legislative Sessions. – The House shall 18
convene each legislative day at the hour fixed by the House. In the event the House adjourns on 19
the preceding legislative day without having fixed an hour for reconvening, the House shall 20
convene on the next legislative day at 2:00 P.M. During January and February of 2025, no 21
sessions may be held on Friday. Without leave of the House, no session shall continue after 10:00 22
P.M. on Monday nor after 9:00 P.M. on any other days, and the Speaker shall adjourn the House 23
without motion at that point, except that a motion may be made as to the time and day of next 24
convening. Except for votes on motions to approve the Journal and to adjourn, no votes may be 25
held on any Sunday. 26
RULE 1.1. Emergencies. – (a) In the event of a disaster, natural or otherwise, that 27
precludes the General Assembly from meeting in the Legislative Building, the members will be 28
notified by the Speaker where and when the House will convene. 29
(b) In the event of a State of Emergency that threatens the health and safety of 30
members, the Speaker may invoke the modifications to these rules contained in and pursuant to 31
Rule 58.1. The Speaker may terminate the use of the modifications upon 24 hours' written notice 32
to the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, and the Principal Clerk. 33 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Resolution 1
RULE 2. Opening the Session. – The Sergeant-at-Arms shall clear the House 10 1
minutes before the convening hour. At the convening hour on each legislative day, the Speaker 2
shall call the members to order and shall have the session opened with prayer. At the convening 3
hour, the Speaker, or the Speaker's designee, shall lead the members in the Pledge of Allegiance 4
to the American Flag. 5
RULE 3. Quorum. – (a) A quorum consists of a majority of the qualified members 6
of the House. 7
(b) Should the point of a quorum be raised, the doors shall be closed, and the 8
Clerk shall call the roll of the House, after which the names of those not responding shall again 9
be called. In the absence of a quorum, 15 members are authorized to compel the attendance of 10
absent members and may order that absentees for whom no sufficient excuses are made be taken 11
into custody wherever they may be found by special messenger appointed for that purpose. 12
RULE 4. Approval of Journal. – (a) The Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, 13
Calendar, and Operations of the House shall cause the Journal of the House to be examined daily 14
before the hour of convening to determine if the proceedings of the previous day have been 15
correctly recorded. 16
(b) Immediately following the Pledge of Allegiance, the Speaker shall call for the 17
Journal report by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the 18
House, or by a Representative designated by the Chair, as to whether the proceedings of the 19
previous day have been correctly recorded. Without objection, the Speaker shall cause the Journal 20
to stand approved. 21
RULE 5. Order of Business of the Day. – After the approval of the Journal of the 22
preceding day, unless the Speaker varies or alters the order, the House shall proceed to business 23
in the following order: 24
(1) The receiving of petitions, memorials, and papers addressed to the General 25
Assembly or to the House; 26
(2) Messages from the Governor; 27
(3) Ratification of bills; 28
(4) Reports of standing committees; 29
(5) Reports of select committees; 30
(6) First reading and referral to committee of bills and resolutions; 31
(7) Messages from the Senate; 32
(8) Concurrence with Senate amendments or Senate committee substitutes; 33
(9) The unfinished business of the preceding day; 34
(10) Calendar (each category in accordance with Rule 40 – House bills first): 35
a. Resolutions for adoption 36
b. Conference reports for adoption 37
c. Local bills (roll call), third reading 38
d. Local bills (roll call), second reading 39
e. Local bills, third reading 40
f. Local bills, second reading 41
g. Public bills (roll call), third reading 42
h. Public bills (roll call), second reading 43
i. Public bills and resolutions, third reading 44
j. Public bills and resolutions, second reading; 45
(11) Reading of notices and announcements; 46
(12) Reading of Representative Statements. 47
RULE 5.1. Pro Forma Sessions. – (a) The following motions, votes, and matters and 48
no others are in order during a pro forma session: 49
(1) A motion and vote to approve the Journal; 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Resolution 1 Page 3
(2) The receiving of petitions, memorials, and papers addressed to the General 1
Assembly or to the House; 2
(3) Messages from the Governor; 3
(4) Ratification of bills; 4
(5) Reports of standing committees; 5
(6) First reading and referral to committee of bills and resolutions; 6
(7) Re-referral to committee of bills and resolutions; 7
(8) Reading of Representative Statements approved, in writing, for presentation 8
during the pro forma session by the Chair of the Standing Committee on 9
Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House; 10
(9) Messages from the Senate; 11
(10) Submission of conference reports; 12
(11) A motion and vote to adjourn subject to the standard stipulations under Rule 13
15.1. 14
(b) As used in these rules, a pro forma session occurs when the Speaker notifies 15
the body, either by announcement in the chamber or electronically using the General Assembly 16
email system, that no motions, votes, or matters other than those allowed under subsection (a) of 17
this rule will be taken during a future designated session. 18
II. Conduct of Debate 19
RULE 6. Duties and Powers of the Speaker. – The Speaker shall have general 20
direction of the Hall, subject to more specific provisions of these rules. The Speaker may name 21
any member to perform the duties of the chair, but substitution shall not extend beyond one day, 22
except in the case of sickness or by leave of the House. If the Speaker is absent and has not 23
designated a member or the Principal Clerk to perform the duties of the chair, the Speaker Pro 24
Tempore shall preside during such absence. In the case of a vacancy in the office of the Speaker 25
of the House of Representatives, the Principal Clerk shall preside over the House until the House 26
elects a Speaker. 27
RULE 7. Obtaining Floor. – (a) When any member desires recognition for any 28
purpose, the member shall rise and respectfully address the Speaker. No member shall proceed 29
until recognized by the Speaker for a purpose. 30
(b) When a member desires to interrupt a member having the floor, the member 31
shall first obtain recognition by the Speaker and permission of the member occupying the floor, 32
and when such recognition and permission have been obtained, he or she may propound a 33
question to the member occupying the floor; but he or she shall not otherwise interrupt the 34
member having the floor, except as provided in subsection (c) of this rule; and the Speaker shall, 35
without the point of order being raised, enforce this rule. 36
(c) A member who has obtained the floor may be interrupted only for the 37
following reasons: 38
(1) A request that the member speaking yield for a question, 39
(2) A point of order, 40
(3) A parliamentary inquiry, or 41
(4) A question of privilege. 42
RULE 8. Questions of Privilege. – Upon recognition by the Speaker for that purpose, 43
any member may speak to a question of privilege for a time not to exceed three minutes. 44
Questions of privilege shall be those affecting, first, the rights of the House collectively, its 45
safety, dignity, and the integrity of its proceedings; second, the rights, reputation, and conduct of 46
members, individually, in their representative capacity only; and shall have precedence over all 47
other questions, except motions to adjourn. Privilege may not be used to explain a vote or debate 48
a bill. The Speaker shall determine if the question is one of privilege and shall, without the point 49
of order being raised, enforce this rule. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 4 House Resolution 1
RULE 8.1. Points of Personal Privilege; Representative Statements; Explanation 1
of Vote. – Upon recognition by the Speaker for that purpose, any member may speak to a point 2
of personal privilege for a time not exceeding three minutes. The Speaker shall determine if the 3
question raised is one of personal privilege and shall, without the point of order being raised, 4
enforce this rule. A member may use some or all of that time to explain to the House a 5
"Representative Statement." Upon motion supported by a majority present and voting, that 6
statement may be spread upon the Journal. Neither personal privilege nor a Representative 7
Statement may be used to explain a vote, debate a bill, or in any way disrupt the regular business 8
of the House, nor shall such opportunities be used to solicit support or sponsors for any bill. The 9
format of a Representative Statement shall be prescribed by the Chair of the Standing Committee 10
on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, but in any case shall speak only in the voice of 11
the member submitting it. 12
RULE 9. Points of Order. – (a) The Speaker shall decide questions of order, which 13
once raised, are not debatable. Any member may appeal from the ruling of the chair on questions 14
of order; on such appeal no member may speak more than once, unless by leave of the House. A 15
three-fifths vote of the members present shall be necessary to sustain any appeal from the ruling 16
of the chair. 17
(b) When the Speaker calls a member to order, the member shall be seated, except 18
that a member called to order may clear a matter of fact, or explain, but shall not proceed in 19
debate so long as the decision stands. If the member appeals from the ruling of the chair and the 20
decision by a three-fifths vote of the members present be in favor of the member called to order, 21
the member may proceed; if otherwise, the member shall not; and if the case, in the judgment of 22
the House, requires it, the member shall be liable to censure by the House. 23
RULE 10. Limitations on Debate. – (a) No member shall speak on, debate, or solicit 24
cosponsors for a bill or resolution at its first reading. 25
(b) No member shall speak more than twice on the main question nor longer than 26
15 minutes for the first speech and five minutes for the second speech; nor shall the member 27
speak more than twice upon an amendment or a motion to reconsider, re-refer, or postpone or 28
any motion on concurrence, and then not longer than 10 minutes for the first speech and five 29
minutes for the second speech. 30
(c) A member may speak only once and for not more than 10 minutes on the 31
question of the adoption of a minority report. 32
(d) In computing the time allowed for argument, the time consumed in answering 33
questions should be considered and is taken out of any time allowed that member. 34
(e) The House, by consent of a majority of the members present, may suspend the 35
operation of subsections (b) through (d) of this rule during any debate on any particular question 36
before the House. 37
RULE 11. Reading of Papers. – When there is a call for the reading of the text of a 38
paper which has been presented to the House and there is objection to such reading, the question 39
shall be determined by a majority vote of the members of the House present. Except for protests 40
permitted by the Constitution, no member may have material printed in the Journal until said 41
material has been presented to the House and the printing approved by the House, and said 42
material shall not exceed 1,000 words. 43
RULE 12. General Decorum. – (a) The Speaker shall preserve order and decorum. 44
(b) Decency of speech shall be observed and disrespect to personalities carefully 45
avoided. 46
(c) When the Speaker is putting any question or addressing the House, no person 47
shall speak, stand up, walk out of, or cross the House, nor, when a member is speaking, engage 48
in disruptive discourse or pass between the member and the chair. 49
(d) Food shall not be permitted on the floor of the House during the first hour of 50
the daily session. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Resolution 1 Page 5
(e) The reading of newspapers shall not be permitted on the floor of the House 1
while the House is in session. 2
(f) The consumption of food or beverages shall not be permitted in the galleries 3
at any time. 4
(g) Special recitals and performances by musicians or other groups shall not be 5
permitted on the floor of the House, and special guests of members of the House shall not be 6
permitted on the floor of the House. 7
(h) Members shall observe appropriate attire: coat and tie for male members and 8
dignified dress for female members. 9
(i) The use of a mobile device or cellular phone for the purpose of making or 10
receiving a phone call shall not be permitted in the House Chamber while the House is in session. 11
(j) Placards, stickers, or signs are not permitted in the House Chamber. 12
III. Motions 13
RULE 13. Motions Generally. – (a) A motion that is complex, complicated, or 14
otherwise not easily understood shall be reduced to writing at the request of the Speaker or any 15
member. No motion relating to a bill shall be in order that does not identify the bill by its number 16
and short title. 17
(b) When a motion is made, it shall be stated by the Speaker or, if written, it shall 18
be handed to the chair and read aloud by the Speaker or Clerk before debate. 19
(c) After a motion has been stated by the Speaker or read by the Speaker or Clerk, 20
it shall be in the possession of the House; but it may be withdrawn before a decision or 21
amendment, except in case of a motion to reconsider, which motion, when made by a member, 22
shall be in possession of the House and shall not be withdrawn without leave of the House. 23
RULE 14. Motions, Order of Precedence. – When there are motions before the 24
House, the order of precedence is as follows: 25
To adjourn. 26
To recess. 27
To lay on the table. 28
Previous question. 29
To postpone indefinitely. 30
To reconsider. 31
To postpone to a day certain. 32
To re-refer. 33
To amend an amendment. 34
To amend. 35
To pass the bill. 36
No motion to lay on the table, to postpone indefinitely, to postpone to a day certain, 37
to re-refer, to divide the question, or to make a particular amendment, being decided, shall be 38
again allowed at the same stage of the bill or proposition. 39
RULE 15. Motion to Adjourn. – (a) A motion to adjourn shall be seconded before 40
the motion is put to the vote of the House. 41
(b) A motion to adjourn shall be decided without debate and shall always be in 42
order, except when the House is voting or some member is speaking; but a motion to adjourn 43
shall not follow a motion to adjourn until debate or some other business of the House has 44
intervened. 45
RULE 15.1. Motion to Adjourn or Stand in Recess; Standard Stipulations. – A 46
motion to adjourn or stand in recess subject to the standard stipulations shall constitute a motion 47
to adjourn or stand in recess subject to the ratification of bills, messages from the Senate, 48
committee reports, conference reports, referral and re-referral of bills and resolutions, 49
appointment of conferees, introduction of bills and resolutions, committee appointments, and the 50
reading of Representative Statements. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 6 House Resolution 1
RULE 16. Motion to Table. – (a) A motion to table shall be seconded before the 1
motion is put to the vote of the House and is in order except when a motion to adjourn or to recess 2
is before the House. 3
(b) A motion to table shall be decided without debate; however, the proponent of 4
the matter that is subject of the motion to table shall be given up to two minutes to explain the 5
matter subject to the motion to table if the proponent has not previously explained the matter 6
prior to the motion to table. 7
(c) A motion to table a bill shall constitute a motion to table the bill and all 8
amendments thereto. 9
(d) When the question before the House is the adoption of an amendment to a bill 10
or resolution, a motion to table the bill is not in order; and a motion to table an amendment applies 11
to the amendment only, and the motion may not expressly or by implication or construction be 12
expanded to include a motion to table the bill also. 13
(e) When a question has been tabled, it shall not thereafter be considered, except 14
on motion to reconsider under Rule 18 or to remove from the table approved by a two-thirds vote. 15
RULE 17. Motion to Postpone Indefinitely. – A motion to postpone indefinitely is 16
in order except when a motion to adjourn, or to lay on the table, or for the previous question, or 17
to recess is before the House. However, after one motion to postpone indefinitely has been 18
decided, another motion to postpone indefinitely shall not be allowed at the same stage of the bill 19
or proposition. When a question has been postponed indefinitely, it shall not thereafter be 20
considered, except on motion to reconsider under Rule 18 or to place on the favorable calendar 21
approved by a two-thirds vote. 22
RULE 18. Motion to Reconsider. – (a) When a question has been decided, it is in 23
order for any member to move for the reconsideration thereof on the same or the succeeding 24
legislative day; provided that if the vote by which the motion was originally decided was taken 25
by a recorded vote, only a member of the prevailing side may move for reconsideration. 26
(b) A motion to reconsider shall be determined by a majority vote, except all of 27
the following shall require a two-thirds vote: 28
(1) A motion to reconsider not made on the same or the succeeding legislative 29
day when a question has been decided. 30
(2) A second or subsequent motion to reconsider. 31
(3) A motion to reconsider: 32
a. A vote upon a motion to table. 33
b. A motion to postpone indefinitely. 34
c. A motion to remove a bill from the unfavorable calendar. 35
d. A motion that a bill be read twice on the same day. 36
e. A motion to remove from the table. 37
(c) A motion to reconsider the vote by which a person has been elected as Speaker 38
or Speaker Pro Tempore shall not be in order. This subsection of this rule cannot be suspended 39
except by a vote of three-fifths of all the members of the House. 40
RULE 19. Previous Question. – (a) The previous question may be called only by: 41
(1) The Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House; 42
(1a) The Vice-Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the 43
House if the Chair is not in the Chamber or able to participate in debate; 44
(2) The Majority Leader; 45
(3) The member submitting the report on the bill or other matter under 46
consideration; 47
(4) The member introducing the bill or other matter under consideration; 48
(5) The member in charge of the measure, who shall be designated by the chair 49
of the standing committee reporting the same to the House at the time the bill 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Resolution 1 Page 7
or other matter under consideration is reported to the House or taken up for 1
consideration. 2
(b) When the call for the previous question has been decided in the affirmative by 3
a majority vote of the House, the question is on the passage of the bill, resolution, or other matter 4
under consideration. 5
(c) The call for the previous question shall preclude all motions, amendments, 6
and debate, except the motion to adjourn, motion to recess, or motion to table. 7
(d) If the previous question is decided in the negative, the question remains under 8
debate. 9
(e) After the previous question is ordered by the House on the main question of 10
second or third reading, the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader may each allocate three 11
minutes of debate on the question. The Majority Leader and the Minority Leader may each 12
designate another member to act under this subsection. 13
IV. Voting 14
RULE 20. Use of Electronic Voting System. – (a) Votes on the following questions 15
shall be taken on the electronic voting system, and the ayes and noes shall be recorded on the 16
Journal: 17
(1) The passage as required by Section 23 of Article II of the North Carolina 18
Constitution on second and third readings of any bill: 19
a. Raising money on the credit of the State, 20
b. Pledging the faith of the State for the payment of a debt, 21
c. Imposing a State tax, or 22
d. Authorizing a county, municipality, or other local governmental unit 23
to: 24
1. Raise money on its credit, 25
2. Pledge its faith for the payment of a debt, or 26
3. Impose a local tax. 27
(2) All questions on which a call for the ayes and noes under Rule 24(a) and 28
Section 19 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution has been sustained. 29
(3) Both second and third readings of bills proposing amendment of the North 30
Carolina Constitution or ratifying resolutions amending the United States 31
Constitution. 32
(4) The passage of a bill, notwithstanding the Governor's veto thereof, pursuant 33
to Section 22 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution. 34
(b) Votes on the following questions shall be taken on the electronic voting 35
system: 36
(1) Second reading of all public bills except resolutions, all amendments to public 37
bills, third reading if a public bill was amended after second reading or if the 38
reading occurs on a day or days following the second reading, all conference 39
reports on public bills, all motions to lay public bills on the table, and all 40
motions to postpone public bills indefinitely. 41
(2) Upon a call for division. 42
(3) Any other question upon direction of the Speaker or upon motion of any 43
member supported by one-fifth of the members present. 44
(c) When the electronic voting system is used, 15 seconds shall be allowed for 45
voting on the question before the House, unless the Chair shall direct otherwise. Once the system 46
is locked, the vote shall be recorded and printed. 47
(d) The voting station at each member's desk in the Chamber shall be used only 48
by the member to which the station is assigned. Under no circumstances shall any other person 49
vote at a member's station. It is a breach of the ethical obligation of a member either to request 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 8 House Resolution 1
that another person vote at the requesting member's station or to vote at another member's station. 1
The Speaker shall enforce this rule without exception. 2
(e) When the electronic voting system is used, the Speaker shall state the question 3
and shall then state substantially the following: "All in favor vote 'aye'; all opposed vote 'no'; the 4
Clerk will open the vote." In order to have the vote recorded, the member must vote by the 5
electronic voting system within the time allowed for that vote, unless the voting station assigned 6
to a member is malfunctioning. The Speaker shall enforce this rule without exception. After the 7
allotted time for voting has elapsed, the Speaker shall say: "The Clerk will now lock the machine 8
and record the vote." After the machine is locked and the vote recorded, the Speaker shall 9
announce the vote and declare the result. 10
(f) One copy of the machine printout of the vote record of all votes taken on the 11
electronic voting system shall be filed in the office of the Principal Clerk, and two copies shall 12
be filed in the Legislative Library where the copies shall be open to public inspection. A legible 13
copy of the bill, amendment, or motion on which the vote was taken shall be filed with the 14
printout of the vote in the Legislative Library. 15
(g) When the Speaker ascertains that the electronic voting system is inoperative 16
before a vote is taken or while a vote is being taken on the electronic voting system, the Speaker 17
shall announce that fact to the House, and any partial electronic voting system voting record shall 18
be voided. In such a case, if the North Carolina Constitution or the Rules of the House require a 19
call of the ayes and noes, the Clerk shall call the roll of the House, and the ayes and noes shall 20
be taken manually and shall be recorded on the Journal. All roll call votes shall be taken 21
alphabetically. If, after a vote is taken on the electronic voting system, it is discovered that a 22
malfunction caused an error in the electronic voting system printout, the Speaker shall direct the 23
Reading Clerk and the Principal Clerk to verify and correct the printout record and so advise the 24
House. 25
(h) For the purpose of identifying motions on which the vote is taken on the 26
electronic voting system, the motions are coded as follows: 27
(1) To adjourn. 28
(2) To recess. 29
(3) To lay on the table. 30
(4) Previous question. 31
(5) To postpone indefinitely. 32
(6) To reconsider. 33
(7) To postpone to a day certain. 34
(8) To re-refer. 35
(9) To amend an amendment. 36
(10) To amend. 37
(11) To concur or not concur. 38
(12) Miscellaneous. 39
RULE 21. Voice Votes; Stating Questions. – (a) All other votes except those 40
required to be taken on the electronic voting system may be taken by voice vote. 41
(b) When a voice vote is taken, the Speaker shall put the question substantially as 42
follows: "Those in favor (as the question may be) will say 'aye,'" and after the affirmative voice 43
has been expressed, "Those opposed will say 'no.'" 44
(c) No statement, explanation, debate, motion, parliamentary inquiry, or point of 45
order shall be allowed once the voice vote has begun. Any point of order or parliamentary inquiry 46
may be raised, however, after the completion of the vote. 47
RULE 22. Determining Questions. – (a) Unless otherwise provided by the North 48
Carolina Constitution or by these rules, all questions shall be determined by a simple majority of 49
the members present and voting. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Resolution 1 Page 9
(b) No member may vote unless the member is in the Chamber when the question 1
is put. This subsection of this rule cannot be suspended. 2
RULE 23. Voting by Division. – Any member may call for a division of the members 3
upon the question before the result of the vote has been announced. Upon a call for a division, 4
the Speaker shall cause the number voting in the affirmative and in the negative to be determined. 5
Upon a division and count of the House on any question, no member away from the member's 6
seat shall be counted. 7
RULE 24. Roll Call Vote. – (a) Before a question is put, any member may call for 8
the ayes and noes. If the call is sustained by one-fifth of the members present, the question shall 9
be decided by the ayes and noes upon a roll call vote. 10
(b) Every member who is in the Hall of the House when the question is put shall 11
vote upon a call of the ayes and noes, unless excused pursuant to Rule 24.1A. 12
(c) No member may change a vote without leave of the House, but such leave 13
shall not be granted if it affects the result or if the session in which the vote was taken has been 14
adjourned. 15
RULE 24.1A. Excuse From Deliberations and Voting on a Bill. – (a) Any member 16
shall, upon request, be excused in advance from the deliberations and voting on a particular bill 17
at any time that the reason for the request arises in the proceedings on the bill. 18
(b) The member may make a brief oral statement of the reasons for making the 19
request. The member shall provide to the Principal Clerk, on a form provided by the Clerk, a 20
concise written statement of the reason for the request, and the Clerk shall include this statement 21
in the Journal. 22
(c) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this rule, the member so excused shall 23
not debate the bill or any amendment to the bill, vote on the bill, offer or vote on any amendment 24
to the bill, or offer or vote on any motion concerning the bill, in committee or on the floor of the 25
House at any reading, or any subsequent consideration of the bill. 26
(d) A member may request that his or her excuse from deliberations on a 27
particular bill be withdrawn. 28
(e) By leave of the House, a member who has been excused from deliberations 29
and voting on a bill may participate in deliberations and votes on amendments to which that 30
member does not have any conflict that requires excusal. 31
RULE 24.1B. Division of Amendments and Questions. – (a) Any member may call 32
for an amendment to be divided into two or more amendments to be voted on separately. The 33
motion shall be in writing, must be submitted to the Principal Clerk at the time the motion is 34
made, and must clearly state how the question is to be divided. The Speaker shall determine 35
whether the amendment admits of such a division. Upon a majority vote of the members present 36
and voting, the motion shall be adopted and the body shall debate and vote each amendment 37
separately. 38
(b) Any member may call for a bill to be divided into two or more propositions to 39
be voted on separately, provided the bill is subject to division into separate parts so that each part 40
states a separate and distinct proposition capable of standing alone. The motion shall be in 41
writing, must be submitted to the Principal Clerk at the time the motion is made, and must clearly 42
state how the question is to be divided. The Speaker shall then determine whether the bill admits 43
of such a division. Upon a majority vote of the members present and voting, the motion shall be 44
adopted and there shall be no further amendment or debate as to further division of the distinct 45
propositions. If the question is divided, the body shall debate and vote each proposition 46
separately. If any proposition fails, the bill shall be removed from the calendar and re-referred to 47
the committee from which the bill was reported. If all parts of the divided question pass, the 48
Speaker shall announce that the entire measure has passed second or third reading. No conference 49
report and no Current Operations Appropriations Bill is eligible to be divided under this 50
subsection. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 10 House Resolution 1
RULE 25. Voting by Speaker. – In all elections, the Speaker may vote. In all other 1
instances, the Speaker may vote or may reserve this right until there is a tie, in which event the 2
Speaker may vote; but in no instance may the Speaker vote twice on the same question. 3
V. Committees 4
RULE 26. Standing Committees Generally. – (a) The Speaker shall appoint a chair, 5
or cochairs, of every standing committee, and select committee, if any. In the construction of 6
these rules, the word "chair," as applied to a committee, extends to and includes a cochair of the 7
committee. The Speaker shall have the exclusive right and authority to establish select 8
committees, but this does not exclude the right of the House by resolution to establish select 9
committees. 10
(b) The Speaker shall establish the number of members of each standing 11
committee and appoint the members in a manner to reflect the partisan membership of the House, 12
except that the Committee on Ethics shall have an equal number of members of the majority and 13
minority. 14
(c) Before appointing members of committees, the Speaker shall consult with the 15
Minority Leader. The Speaker and Minority Leader shall consider members' committee 16
preferences in making appointments and recommendations. 17
(d) The Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, 18
the Speaker Pro Tempore, the Majority Leader, and the Deputy Majority Leader are ex officio 19
members of each standing committee with the right to vote. The previous sentence does not apply 20
to the Standing Committee on Ethics. Up to two chairs of the Appropriations Committee are 21
entitled to vote in all other Appropriations Committees (Capital, Education, General 22
Government, Health and Human Services, Information Technology, Justice and Public Safety, 23
Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, and Transportation). 24
(e) Either the chair or acting chair, designated by the chair or by the Speaker, and 25
five other members of the standing committee, or a majority of the standing committee, 26
whichever is fewer, shall constitute a quorum of that standing committee. A quorum of less than 27
a majority of all the members must include at least one member of the minority party. For 28
purposes of determining a quorum, the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 29
Operations of the House, the Speaker Pro Tempore, the Majority Leader, and the Deputy 30
Majority Leader, when serving only as ex officio members under subsection (d) of this rule, shall 31
be counted among the membership of the committee only when present. 32
(f) In any joint meeting of the Senate and House committees, the House standing 33
committee reserves the right to vote separately. 34
RULE 26.1. Mentions of Standing Committee Includes Select Committee. – Any 35
reference in these rules to standing committees shall extend to select committees unless the 36
context requires otherwise. 37
RULE 27. List of Standing Committees. – The standing committees are: 38
Committees 39
40
Agriculture 41
42
Alcoholic Beverage Control 43
44
Appropriations 45
46
Appropriations, Agriculture and Natural 47
and Economic Resources 48
49
Appropriations, Capital 50
51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Resolution 1 Page 11
Appropriations, Education 1
2
Appropriations, General Government 3
4
Appropriations, Health and Human Services 5
6
Appropriations, Information Technology 7
8
Appropriations, Justice and Public Safety 9
10
Appropriations, Transportation 11
12
Banking 13
14
Commerce 15
16
Disaster Recovery and Homeland Security 17
18
Education – Community Colleges 19
20
Education – K-12 21
22
Education – Universities 23
24
Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform 25
26
Energy and Public Utilities 27
28
Environment 29
30
Ethics 31
32
Families, Children, and Aging Policy 33
34
Federal Relations and American Indian Affairs 35
36
Finance 37
38
Health 39
40
Insurance 41
42
Judiciary 1 43
44
Judiciary 2 45
46
Judiciary 3 47
48
Local Government – Land Use, Planning and Development 49
50
Local Government 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 12 House Resolution 1
1
Marine Resources and Aquaculture 2
3
Military and Veterans Affairs 4
5
Oversight and Reform 6
7
Pensions and Retirement 8
9
Redistricting 10
11
Regulatory Reform 12
13
Rules, Calendar, and 14
Operations of the House 15
16
State Government 17
18
State Personnel 19
20
Transportation 21
22
UNC Board of Governors Nominations 23
24
Unemployment Insurance 25
26
Wildlife Resources 27
RULE 28. Standing Committee Meetings. – (a) Standing committees shall be 28
furnished with suitable meeting places pursuant to a schedule established by the Chair of the 29
Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House. Select committees shall 30
be furnished with suitable meeting places as their needs require by the Chair of the Standing 31
Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House. 32
(b) Subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this rule, standing committees 33
thereof shall permit other members of the General Assembly, the press, and the general public to 34
attend all sessions of said standing committees. 35
(c) The chair or other presiding officer shall have general direction of the meeting 36
place of the standing committee, and, in case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct therein, or 37
if the peace, good order, and proper conduct of the legislative business is hindered by any person 38
or persons, the chair or presiding officer shall have power to exclude from the session any 39
individual or individuals so hindering the legislative business. 40
(d) Procedure in the standing committees shall be governed by the rules of the 41
House, so far as the same may be applicable to such procedure. Before a question is put, any 42
member may call for the ayes and noes. The chair shall ask, "Is the call sustained?" If the call is 43
sustained by one-fifth of the members present and standing, the question shall be decided by the 44
ayes and noes upon a roll call vote. All roll call votes shall be taken alphabetically and shall be 45
subject to Rule 21(c). 46
(d1) The committee chair shall set the agenda for each committee meeting. After 47
April 1, 2025, a committee may, provided there is a written request signed by at least two-thirds 48
of the members of the committee, place a bill on the committee's agenda for the next regularly 49
scheduled meeting of the committee. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Resolution 1 Page 13
(e) No standing committee shall meet on any day when the House shall not 1
convene except by permission of the Speaker or by approval of the House by resolution adopted 2
by a majority vote of the House. 3
(f) No standing committee shall meet during any session of the House that is not 4
a pro forma session. Standing committees shall meet at their regularly scheduled hour. Standing 5
committees may meet at other times as authorized by the Chair of the Standing Committee on 6
Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House in order to assure the availability of the meeting 7
room and that no conflicts will exist with the meetings of other bodies. Except for a meeting of 8
a standing committee for which the Speaker has given notice that the House will be at ease until 9
the adjournment of that standing committee, all standing committee meetings shall adjourn no 10
later than: 11
(1) 15 minutes preceding a regular session of the House, and 12
(2) 10 minutes preceding the hour of the next regularly scheduled standing 13
committee meeting. 14
Action taken by a committee in violation of this rule is voidable unless taken by 15
unanimous consent at a meeting at which a majority of all the members of the committee are 16
present, and at which at least one member present is of the minority party. 17
(g) Any call or notice of a standing committee meeting between legislative 18
sessions shall be sent by electronic mail to each member of the standing committee at least five 19
days prior to such meeting. If a member of the body so requests in writing to the chair of the 20
standing committee, the member shall also be notified of the meetings by mail at a designated 21
address. 22
(h) During standing committee meetings, the chair may exercise the right to vote, 23
or may reserve this right until there is a tie, in which event the chair may vote, but in no instance 24
may the chair vote twice on the same question. 25
RULE 28.1. Ethics Committee Investigations Into Violations of the Open 26
Meetings Law. – (a) On its own motion, or in response to signed and sworn complaint of any 27
individual filed with the Standing Committee on Ethics, the Committee shall inquire into any 28
alleged violation by members of the House of the Open Meetings Law (Article 33C of Chapter 29
143 of the General Statutes), as the same may be amended in the future. 30
(b) If, after such preliminary investigation as it may make, the Committee 31
determines to proceed with an inquiry into the conduct of any individual, the Committee shall 32
notify the individual as to the fact of the inquiry and the charges against the individual and shall 33
schedule one or more hearings on the matter. The individual shall have the right to present 34
evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and be represented by counsel at any hearings. 35
(c) After the Committee has concluded its inquiries into the alleged violations, 36
the Committee shall dispose of the matter by taking one of the following actions: 37
(1) Dismiss the complaint and take no further action. 38
(2) Issue a private letter of reprimand to the legislator, if the legislator 39
unintentionally violated the provisions of the Open Meetings Law. 40
(3) Issue a public letter of reprimand if the violation of the Open Meetings Law 41
was intentional or if the legislator has previously received a private letter of 42
reprimand. The Chair of the Committee on Ethics shall have the public letter 43
of reprimand spread on the pages of the House Journal. 44
(4) Refer the matter to the House for appropriate action. 45
RULE 28.2. Committee Meetings; Use of Remote Participation. – (a) At times 46
when Rule 58.1 is not in effect, a standing committee may conduct meetings with members 47
participating remotely provided all of the following requirements are met: 48
(1) The Speaker has not disallowed remote participation for the standing 49
committee. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 14 House Resolution 1
(2) Each member is able to communicate, in real time, with all other members by 1
(i) in-person communication, (ii) remote communication using devices or 2
programs that transmit audio or audio and video, or (iii) both. 3
(3) All documents considered by the committee are provided to members. 4
(4) The committee otherwise complies with G.S. 143-318.13(a). 5
(b) A committee member who is participating remotely shall be counted as 6
present for quorum purposes and may vote on any measure or motion before the committee. An 7
ex officio member under Rule 26(d) shall be counted among the membership of the committee 8
only when present or participating remotely. 9
RULE 29. Notice of Standing Committee Meetings and Hearings. – (a) Notice of 10
meetings of standing committees that will occur at the regularly scheduled meeting times shall 11
be given by one or both of the following methods: 12
(1) Notice given openly at a session of the House; or 13
(2) Notice mailed or sent by electronic mail to those who have requested notice, 14
and to the Legislative Services Office, which shall post the notice on the 15
General Assembly website. 16
(b) Notice of all other meetings shall be given in the House. If the meeting is 17
scheduled to occur after adjournment, notice shall also be given by electronic mail and posting 18
on the General Assembly website. 19
(c) The chair of the standing committee shall notify or cause to be notified the 20
sponsor of each bill that is set for hearing or consideration before the standing committee as to 21
the date, time, and place of that meeting. 22
RULE 29.1. Public Hearings. – (a) The chair of the standing committee may 23
schedule a time to receive public comments for the standing committee as a whole during the 24
meeting of the standing committee or after the adjournment of a regular daily House session. 25
(b) Persons desiring to provide public comments during a meeting of a standing 26
committee shall submit their requests to the chair of the standing committee. The standing 27
committee chair may designate one or more members to arrange the order of appearance of 28
interested parties. A brief written statement of testimony may be submitted without oral 29
presentation and shall be incorporated into the minutes of the public hearing. 30
RULE 29.2. Minutes to Legislative Library. – The chair of a standing committee 31
shall ensure that written minutes are compiled for each of the body's meetings. The minutes shall 32
indicate the members present and the actions taken at the meeting. Not later than 10 days after 33
the adjournment of each session of the General Assembly, the chair or the chair's designee shall 34
deliver the minutes to the Legislative Library. The Speaker of the House may grant a reasonable 35
extension of time for filing said minutes upon written application of the chair. 36
RULE 30. Committee of the Whole House. – (a) A Committee of the Whole House 37
shall not be formed, except by leave of the House. 38
(b) After passage of a motion to form a Committee of the Whole House, the 39
Speaker shall appoint a chair to preside in the committee, and the Speaker shall leave the dais. 40
(c) The rules of procedure in the House shall be observed in the Committee of the 41
Whole House, so far as they may be applicable, except the rule limiting the time of speaking and 42
the previous question. 43
(d) In the Committee of the Whole House, a motion that the standing committee 44
rise shall always be in order, except when a member is speaking, and shall be decided without 45
debate. 46
(e) When a bill is submitted to the Committee of the Whole House, it shall be 47
read and debated by sections, leaving the preamble to be last considered. The body of the bill 48
shall not be defaced or interlined, but all amendments, noting the page and line, shall be duly 49
entered by the Principal Clerk on a separate paper as the same shall be agreed to by the standing 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Resolution 1 Page 15
committee and be so reported to the House. After report, the bill shall again be subject to be 1
debated and amended by sections before a question on its passage be taken. 2
VI. Handling of Bills 3
RULE 31. Introduction of Bills and Resolutions. – (a) All bills and resolutions shall 4
be introduced by submitting same to the Principal Clerk's office on the legislative day prior to 5
the first reading and referral thereof according to the following schedule: by 15 minutes after 6
adjournment each Monday; and by 3:00 P.M. each Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. 7
The Clerk shall number all bills and resolutions in the order in which they are introduced. 8
(b) Bills shall not become resolutions provided the Senate has a similar rule. 9
Resolutions shall not become bills. Resolutions are not law but may be used when a law is not 10
necessary for the purpose contained therein. Resolutions shall not be used to appropriate funds 11
for any purpose, but may be used to create study commissions or committees or establish 12
investigative committees, to honor deceased members of the General Assembly, to express to 13
Congress the opinions of the House and the General Assembly, and to adopt House rules and 14
internal affairs. Resolutions cannot amend, repeal, or modify a statute; nor do they have life 15
beyond the term of the session during which they are adopted. 16
(c) Every bill or resolution shall be read in regular order of business, except upon 17
permission of the Speaker or on the report of a standing committee. 18
(d) All bills and resolutions shall show in their captions a brief descriptive 19
statement of the true substance of same, which captions may thereafter be amended. Amendments 20
to captions of bills are in order only if the amendment is germane to the bill. Third reading shall 21
not be had on any bill or resolution on the same day that such caption is amended. 22
(e) A Substitute Bill shall be covered with the same color jacket as the original 23
bill and shall be prefaced as follows: "House Committee Substitute for______." 24
(f) House resolutions need not be read more than twice. 25
(g) All memorializing, celebration, commendation, and commemoration 26
resolutions, except those honoring the memory of deceased members of the General Assembly 27
or expressing to Congress the opinions of the House or the General Assembly, shall be excluded 28
from introduction and consideration in the House. The mention of a deceased member of the 29
General Assembly as a pretext to honor an institution or a living person is prohibited. Members 30
should utilize a Representative Statement, as provided in Rule 8.1, as the preferred alternative to 31
House simple resolutions that memorialize, celebrate, commend, and commemorate, other than 32
for those relating to deceased members of the General Assembly or expressing to Congress the 33
opinions of the House or the General Assembly. 34
(h) Any reference in these rules to bills shall extend to resolutions unless the 35
context requires otherwise. 36
RULE 31.1. Deadlines on Introduction and Receipt; No Blank Bills; 15 Bill Limit. 37
– (a) All local bills must be submitted to the Legislative Drafting Division or the Legislative 38
Analysis Division of the Legislative Services Office by 4:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 20, 39
2025, and must be introduced not later than 3:00 P.M. on Thursday, March 6, 2025. 40
(b) All public bills or resolutions must be submitted to the Legislative Drafting 41
Division or the Legislative Analysis Division of the Legislative Services Office by 4:00 P.M. on 42
Thursday, March 6, 2025, and must be introduced not later than 3:00 P.M. on Thursday, April 3, 43
2025. 44
(c) A bill containing no substantive provisions may not be introduced in the 45
House. 46
(d) No member may introduce more than 15 public bills. For the purpose of this 47
subsection, the introducer is the member who is listed as the first sponsor. A member may assign 48
a portion of this limit to another member electronically using the procedures established and 49
published by the Principal Clerk. This subsection does not apply to the following: 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 16 House Resolution 1
(1) Bills or resolutions recommended by commissions or committees authorized 1
or directed by act or resolution of the General Assembly (i) to report to the 2
2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly, or to report prior to convening 3
of that session, or (ii) that are recommended to the Regular Session of the 4
General Assembly by a commission or committee established directly by 5
Chapter 120 of the General Statutes. 6
(2) Joint resolutions or House resolutions. 7
(3) Bills introduced by the Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 8
Operations of the House providing for action on gubernatorial nominations or 9
appointments or for action on appointments by the General Assembly 10
pursuant to G.S. 120-121. 11
(e) In order to be eligible for consideration by the House during the first Regular 12
Session, all Senate bills other than (i) finance or appropriations bills that would be required to be 13
re-referred to the Appropriations or Finance Committee under Rule 38, (ii) those providing for 14
action on gubernatorial nominations or appointments, (iii) those providing for action on 15
appointments by the General Assembly pursuant to G.S. 120-121, (iv) those providing for 16
amendments to the North Carolina Constitution, (v) those containing statutory amendments 17
necessary to implement proposed amendments to the North Carolina Constitution, (vi) those 18
establishing districts for Congress or State or local entities, (vii) those addressing election laws, 19
(viii) those ratifying an amendment or amendments to the Constitution of the United States, and 20
(ix) adjournment resolutions must be received and read on the floor of the House as a message 21
from the Senate no later than Thursday, May 8, 2025; provided that a message from the Senate 22
received by the next legislative day stating that a bill has passed its third reading and is being 23
engrossed shall comply with the requirements of this subsection and provided that the Senate has 24
a similar rule. 25
(f) This rule, other than subsections (c) and (d), does not apply to bills (i) 26
establishing districts for Congress or State or local entities, (ii) introduced on the report of the 27
Committees on Appropriations, Finance, or Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, (iii) 28
ratifying an amendment or amendments to the Constitution of the United States, (iv) providing 29
for action on gubernatorial nominations or appointments, or (v) providing for action on 30
appointments by the General Assembly pursuant to G.S. 120-121. This rule does not apply to 31
resolutions pertaining to the internal affairs of the House or adjourning the General Assembly 32
sine die or to a day certain. 33
RULE 32. Referral to Standing Committees; Serial Referrals; Re-referral of Bills 34
From One Standing Committee to Another Standing Committee; Re-referral to Committee 35
on Rules. – (a) Each bill not introduced on the report of a standing committee shall immediately 36
upon its first reading be referred by the Speaker to such standing committee, select committee, 37
or committee of the whole as the Speaker deems appropriate. The Speaker at the same time may 38
order that, if the bill is reported with any favorable recommendation or without prejudice, it be 39
re-referred automatically upon the committee report to another committee designated in the 40
order. Each joint resolution or House resolution not introduced on the report of a standing 41
committee shall immediately upon its first reading either be referred by the Speaker to a standing 42
committee or be calendared on the date designated by the Speaker, as the Speaker deems 43
appropriate. 44
(a1) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this rule, any bill establishing districts for 45
Congress or State Senators or State Representatives may be placed on the calendar without being 46
referred by the Speaker to a committee and on the same legislative day of its introduction or 47
receipt from the Senate. 48
(b) Upon consent of the sponsor of the bill, the Speaker, the chair of the standing 49
committee from which the bill is to be re-referred, and the chair of the standing committee to 50
which the bill is to be re-referred, the chair of the standing committee from which the bill is to 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Resolution 1 Page 17
be re-referred or the Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House 1
may move for a re-referral to another standing committee, and the bill shall be re-referred upon 2
vote of the majority present during a regular session of the House. 3
(c) The Speaker may remove a bill from the committee to which the bill has been 4
referred and may re-refer the bill to another committee. 5
(d) All public bills and resolutions reported by any standing committee must have 6
also been reported by the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House prior to 7
being calendared for consideration by the House. This rule may be waived by leave of the House. 8
RULE 33. Papers Addressed to the House. – Petitions, memorials, and other papers 9
addressed to the House shall be presented by the Speaker. A brief statement of the contents 10
thereof may be made orally by the introducer before referral to a committee, but such papers shall 11
not be debated or decided on the day of their first being read unless the House shall direct 12
otherwise. 13
RULE 34. Introduction of Resolutions and Bills. – (a) House Bills shall be 14
designated as "H.B.___." (No. following). A Joint Resolution shall be designated as "H.J.R.___." 15
(No. following). A House Resolution shall be designated as "H.R.___." (No. following). 16
Whenever any resolution or bill is filed for introduction, it shall comply with the 17
procedures established and published by the Principal Clerk. 18
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this rule, no bill may be filed for 19
introduction if the draft contains names preprinted on the bill jacket and body of the bill (either 20
as primary sponsors or cosponsors) unless each such member has signed or initialed the jacket. 21
(c) A bill may be filed for introduction without the signature or initial of each 22
member whose name appears on the preprinted bill jacket as a primary sponsor if each such 23
member has approved being included as a primary sponsor using the member's electronic 24
dashboard. 25
RULE 35. Public and Local Bills. – (a) The Legislative Services Officer shall cause 26
such bills as are introduced to be duplicated in such numbers as may be specified by the Speaker. 27
Copies shall be available in the Printed Bills Room and made available to the committees to 28
which the bill is referred, to individual members on request, and to the general public. 29
(b) A public bill is a bill affecting 15 or more counties. A local bill is one affecting 30
fewer than 15 counties. 31
RULE 35.1. Municipal Incorporation Reports. – Every legislative proposal 32
introduced in the House or received in the House from the Senate, proposing the incorporation 33
of a municipality shall have attached to the jacket of the original bill at the time of its 34
consideration on second or third readings by the House or by any committee of the House prior 35
to a favorable report, a recommendation from the Municipal Incorporations Subcommittee of the 36
Joint Legislative Committee on Local Government, established by Article 20 of Chapter 120 of 37
the General Statutes. The recommendation of the Municipal Incorporations Subcommittee of the 38
Joint Legislative Committee on Local Government shall be made in accordance with the 39
provisions and criteria set forth in Article 20 of Chapter 120 of the General Statutes and shall 40
include the findings required to be made by G.S. 120-166 through G.S. 120-170. 41
RULE 36. Report by Standing Committee. – (a) Reports. – Bills and resolutions 42
may be reported from the standing committee to which referred with such recommendations as 43
the standing committee may desire to make. 44
(b) Favorable Report. – When a standing committee reports a bill with the 45
recommendation that it be passed, the bill shall be placed on the favorable calendar on the day 46
designated by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the 47
House, but not on the same day that it is reported except by leave of the House, and no later than 48
the fourth legislative day after submission of the report or Senate message under Rule 43.2 or 49
Rule 43.3(a), unless: 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 18 House Resolution 1
(1) The bill is re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations or Committee on 1
Finance under Rule 38 or was serially referred under Rule 32; or 2
(2) The bill has not yet been placed on the calendar, and the Speaker refers the 3
bill to another committee. 4
In order to place a bill on the calendar for a legislative day, notice shall be given by the Chair of 5
the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House orally in the House or 6
in writing to the Principal Clerk. When a committee substitute is adopted and receives a favorable 7
report by the standing committee, the chair shall submit to the standing committee the question 8
of an unfavorable report on the original bill. The standing committee's action, if any, on the 9
original bill shall be reported at the same time the committee substitute is reported. 10
(b1) Favorable Report of Bills Proposing Congressional or State Districts. – 11
Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this rule, a bill establishing districts for Congress or State 12
Senators or State Representatives that is reported favorably by a committee may be placed on the 13
favorable calendar on the same day it is reported. 14
(c) Report Without Prejudice. – When a standing committee reports a bill 15
without prejudice, the bill shall be placed on the favorable calendar in the same manner as 16
provided in subsection (b) of this rule. 17
(d) Postponed Indefinitely. – When a standing committee reports a bill with the 18
recommendation that it be postponed indefinitely and no minority report accompanies it, the bill 19
shall be placed on the unfavorable calendar. 20
(e) Unfavorable Report. – When a standing committee reports a bill with the 21
recommendation that it not be passed and no minority report accompanies it, the bill shall be 22
placed on the unfavorable calendar. 23
(f) Minority Report. – When a bill is reported by a standing committee with a 24
recommendation that it not be passed or that it be postponed indefinitely but it is accompanied 25
by a minority report signed by at least one-fourth of the members of the standing committee who 26
were present and voting when the bill was considered in standing committee, the question before 27
the House shall be: "The adoption of the minority report." If the minority report is adopted by 28
majority vote, the bill shall be placed on the favorable calendar for consideration. If the minority 29
report fails of adoption by a majority vote, the bill shall be placed on the unfavorable calendar. 30
RULE 36.1. Fiscal Notes. – (a) The Chair or Cochair of the Appropriations 31
Committee, of the Finance Committee, or of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 32
Operations of the House, upon the floor of the House, may request that a fiscal analysis be made 33
of a bill, a resolution, or an amendment to a bill or resolution which is in the possession of the 34
House and that a fiscal note be attached to the measure, which request shall be allowed when, in 35
the opinion of the Speaker, the fiscal effects of that measure are not apparent from the language 36
of the measure. When a request is properly made under this subsection, the bill is removed from 37
the calendar until such time that the fiscal note is attached to the measure. 38
(b) The fiscal note shall be filed and attached to the bill or amendment within two 39
legislative days of the request, and a copy shall be sent by electronic mail to each member. If it 40
is impossible to prepare a fiscal note within two legislative days, the Director of Fiscal Research 41
shall, in writing, so advise the Speaker, the Principal Clerk, the Majority Leader, the Minority 42
Leader, and the member introducing or proposing the measure and shall indicate the time when 43
the fiscal note will be ready. 44
(c) The fiscal note shall be prepared by the Fiscal Research Division on a form 45
approved by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the 46
House as to content and form and signed by the staff member or members preparing it. If no 47
estimate in dollars is possible, the fiscal note shall indicate the reasons that no estimate is 48
provided. The fiscal note shall not comment on the merit, but may identify technical problems. 49
The Fiscal Research Division shall make the fiscal note available to the membership of the 50
House. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Resolution 1 Page 19
(d) A sponsor of a bill or amendment may deliver a copy of the bill or amendment 1
to the Fiscal Research Division for the preparation of a fiscal note. The sponsor shall attach the 2
fiscal note to the bill when filed or to the amendment when its adoption is moved. 3
(e) The sponsor of a bill or amendment to which a fiscal note is attached who 4
objects to the estimates and information provided may reduce to writing the objections. These 5
objections shall be appended to the fiscal note attached to the bill or amendment and to the copies 6
of the fiscal note available to the membership. 7
(f) Subsection (a) of this rule shall not apply to the Current Operations 8
Appropriations Bill or the Capital Improvement Appropriations Bill. This rule shall not apply to 9
a bill or amendment requiring an actuarial note under these rules. 10
RULE 36.1A. Distribution of Proposed Committee Substitutes. – (a) No proposed 11
committee substitute may be considered by a standing committee unless the proposed committee 12
substitute shall have been distributed electronically no later than 9:00 P.M. of the preceding 13
calendar day to the members of the committee and to the member who is listed as the first primary 14
sponsor. This requirement may be waived by leave of the standing committee. 15
(b) Subsection (a) of this rule does not apply to a proposed committee substitute 16
establishing districts for Congress or State Senators or State Representatives. 17
RULE 36.2. Actuarial Notes. – (a) Every bill or resolution proposing any change in 18
the law relative to any: 19
(1) State, municipal, or other retirement system funded in whole or in part out of 20
public funds; or 21
(2) Program of hospital, medical, disability, or related benefits provided for 22
teachers and State employees, funded in whole or in part by State funds; 23
shall have attached to it at the time of its consideration by any standing committee a brief 24
explanatory statement or note which shall include a reliable estimate of the financial and actuarial 25
effect of the proposed change to that retirement or pension system. The actuarial note shall be 26
attached to the jacket of each proposed bill or resolution which is reported favorably by any 27
standing committee, shall be separate therefrom, and shall be clearly designated as an actuarial 28
note. A bill described in subdivision (a)(1) of this rule shall be referred to the Committee on 29
Pensions and Retirement upon its introduction in accordance with G.S. 120-111.3. 30
(b) The sponsor of the bill or resolution shall present a copy of the measure, with 31
a request for an actuarial note, to the Fiscal Research Division, which shall prepare the actuarial 32
note as promptly as possible but not later than two weeks after the request is made, unless an 33
extension of time is agreed to by the sponsor as being necessary in the preparation of the note. 34
Actuarial notes shall be prepared in the order of receipt of request and shall be transmitted to the 35
sponsor of the measure. The actuarial note of the Fiscal Research Division shall be prepared and 36
signed by an actuary. 37
(c) The sponsor of the bill or resolution shall also present a copy of the measure 38
to the actuary employed by the system or program affected by the measure. Actuarial notes shall 39
be prepared and transmitted to the sponsor of the measure not later than two weeks after the 40
request is received, unless an extension of time is agreed to by the sponsor as being necessary in 41
the preparation of the note. The actuarial note shall be attached to the jacket of the measure. The 42
provisions of this subsection may be waived by the measure's sponsor for a measure affecting 43
local government retirement or pension plans not administered by the State or any local 44
government program of hospital, medical, disability, or related benefits for local government 45
employees not administered by the State. 46
(d) The note shall be factual and shall, if possible, provide a reliable estimate of 47
both the immediate effect and, if determinable, the long-range fiscal and actuarial effect of the 48
measure. If, after careful investigation, it is determined that no dollar estimate is possible, the 49
note shall contain a statement to that effect, setting forth the reasons why no dollar estimate can 50
be given. No comment or opinion shall be included in the actuarial note with regard to the merits 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 20 House Resolution 1
of the measure for which the note is prepared. Technical and mechanical defects in the measure 1
may be noted. 2
(e) When any standing committee reports a measure to which an actuarial note is 3
attached at the time of committee consideration, with any amendment of such nature as would 4
substantially affect the cost to or the revenues of any retirement or pension system, or program 5
of hospital, medical, disability, or related benefits for teachers or State employees, the chair of 6
the standing committee reporting the measure shall obtain from the Fiscal Research Division an 7
actuarial note of the fiscal and actuarial effect of the proposed amendment. The actuarial note 8
shall be attached to the jacket of the measure. An amendment to any bill or resolution shall not 9
be in order if the amendment affects the costs to or the revenues of a State-administered 10
retirement or pension system, or program of hospital, medical, disability, or related benefits for 11
teachers or State employees, unless the amendment is accompanied by an actuarial note, prepared 12
by the Fiscal Research Division, as to the actuarial effect of the amendment. 13
(f) The Fiscal Research Division shall make all relevant actuarial notes available 14
to the membership of the House. 15
RULE 36.3. Local Legislation Affecting State Highway System. – A local bill 16
affecting the State Highway System shall be referred to the Committee on Transportation. 17
RULE 36.4. Content of Appropriations Bills. – No provision shall be contained in 18
any of the following bills unless it pertains to the appropriation of money or the raising or 19
reducing of revenue: (i) the Current Operations Appropriations Bill; (ii) the Capital Improvement 20
Appropriations Bill; (iii) any bill generally revising appropriations for the second fiscal year of 21
a biennium. If a point of order is made against such a provision and is sustained, the presiding 22
officer shall refer the bill to the committee from which it came, with instructions for the chair of 23
the committee to immediately report out a substitute or amendment removing the offending 24
provision. 25
RULE 37. Removing Bill From Unfavorable Calendar. – A bill may be removed 26
from the unfavorable calendar upon motion carried by a two-thirds vote. A motion to remove a 27
bill from the unfavorable calendar is debatable. 28
RULE 38. Reports on Appropriation and Revenue Bills. – (a) All standing 29
committees, other than the Standing Committees on Appropriations, when favorably reporting 30
any bill or resolution that: 31
(1) Carries an appropriation from the State; or 32
(2) Requires or will require in the future substantial additional State monies from 33
the General Fund or Highway Fund to implement its provisions shall indicate 34
same in the report, and said bill or resolution shall be referred to the Standing 35
Committees on Appropriations for a further report before being acted upon by 36
the House. 37
(b) All standing committees, other than the Standing Committee on Finance, 38
when favorably reporting any bill that in any way or manner raises revenue, reduces revenue, 39
levies a tax, authorizes the levying of a tax, an assessment, or a fee, or authorizes the issue of 40
bonds or notes, whether public or local, shall indicate same in the report, and said bill shall be 41
referred to the Standing Committee on Finance for a further report before being acted upon by 42
the House. This subsection shall not apply to bills only imposing fines, forfeitures, or penalties. 43
RULE 39. Discharge Petition. – (a) A motion to discharge a committee from 44
consideration of a bill may be filed with the Principal Clerk by a primary sponsor of that measure 45
if accompanied by a petition asking that the committee be discharged from further consideration 46
of the bill. No motion may be filed until 10 legislative days after the bill has been referred to the 47
committee. No petition may be filed until notice has been given on the floor of the House that 48
the petition is to be filed and the primary sponsor giving notice has obtained a fiscal note from 49
the Fiscal Research Division on the bill, which note shall be attached to the petition. Members 50
may sign the petition only in the office of the Principal Clerk, and when the signatures of 61 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Resolution 1 Page 21
members appear on the petition, the Principal Clerk shall place that motion on the calendar for 1
the next legislative day as a special order of business. Members may withdraw their names at any 2
time until 61 names appear. If the motion is adopted by the House, then the committee to which 3
the bill or resolution has been referred is discharged from further consideration of the bill, and 4
that bill is placed on the calendar for the next legislative day as a special order of business. The 5
Principal Clerk shall provide a form for discharge petitions. 6
(b) This rule shall not be temporarily suspended without one day's notice on the 7
motion given in the House and delivered in writing to the chair of the standing committee, and 8
to sustain that motion two-thirds of the members shall be required. 9
RULE 40. Calendars and Schedules of Business. – The Clerk of the House shall 10
prepare a daily schedule of business, including the Calendar of Bills and Resolutions for 11
consideration and debate that day, in accordance with the Order of Business of the Day (Rule 5). 12
RULE 41. Reading of Bills. – (a) Every bill shall receive three readings in the House 13
prior to its passage. The Speaker shall give notice at each subsequent reading whether it is the 14
second or third reading. 15
(a1) The first reading and referral to standing committee of a House bill shall occur 16
on the next legislative day following its introduction. The first reading and referral to standing 17
committee of a Senate bill shall occur on the next legislative day following its receipt on 18
messages from the Senate. This subsection does not apply to any bill establishing districts for 19
Congress or State Senators or State Representatives. 20
(b) Except for bills establishing districts for Congress or State Senators or State 21
Representatives, no bill shall be read more than once on the same day without the concurrence 22
of two-thirds of the members present and voting; provided, no bill governed by Section 23 of 23
Article II of the North Carolina Constitution herein shall be read twice on one day under any 24
circumstance. 25
RULE 42. Effect of a Defeated Bill. – (a) Subject to the provisions of subsections 26
(b) and (c) of this rule, after a bill has: 27
(1) Been tabled, 28
(2) Been postponed indefinitely, 29
(3) Failed to pass on any of its readings, or 30
(4) Been placed on the unfavorable calendar, 31
the contents of that bill or the principal provisions of its subject matter shall not be considered in 32
any other measure originating in the Senate or originating thereafter in the House. Upon the point 33
of order being raised and sustained by the chair, that measure shall be laid upon the table and 34
shall not be taken therefrom except by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting. 35
(b) No local bill shall be held by the chair to embody the contents of or the 36
principal provisions of the subject matter of any statewide measure which has been laid on the 37
table, has failed to pass on any of its readings, or has been placed on the unfavorable calendar. 38
(c) Subsection (a) of this rule does not apply to a bill that has received an 39
unfavorable report from a committee if the committee has also in the same report reported 40
favorable to the bill as amended or to a proposed committee substitute to the bill. 41
RULE 43. Amendments. – (a) No amendment to a measure before the House shall 42
be in order unless the amendment is germane to the measure under consideration. 43
A House amendment deleting a previously adopted House amendment shall not be in 44
order. No amendment that is clearly unconstitutional shall be in order. 45
Only one principal (first degree) amendment shall be pending at any one time. If a 46
subsequent or substitute principal amendment shall be offered, the Speaker shall rule it out of 47
order. However, any member desiring to offer a subsequent or substitute principal amendment in 48
opposition to the pending amendment may inform the House by way of argument against the 49
pending amendment that if it is defeated the member proposes to offer another principal 50
amendment, and the member may then read and explain such proposed amendment. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 22 House Resolution 1
Perfecting (or second degree) amendments may be offered and considered without 1
limitation as to number, and in the event of multiple perfecting amendments, they shall be voted 2
upon in inverse order. 3
(b) The following rules apply when considering: (i) the Current Operations 4
Appropriations Bill; (ii) the Capital Improvement Appropriations Bill; (iii) any bill generally 5
revising appropriations for the second fiscal year of a biennium: 6
(1) Amendments cannot increase total spending within a committee area beyond 7
the total for that committee as shown in the committee report. 8
(2) Amendments can only affect appropriations within the departments, agencies, 9
or programs within the jurisdiction of the committee. 10
(3) Amendments cannot increase total spending, from any source, beyond the 11
total amount shown in the committee report. 12
(4) Amendments that cause the budget to be unbalanced are not in order. 13
(5) Amendments cannot spend reversions. 14
(6) Amendments cannot make nonrecurring reductions to fund recurring items. 15
(c) When offering an amendment, the member shall deliver the signed original 16
amendment to the Principal Clerk and a copy to the Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, 17
and Operations of the House. 18
RULE 43.1. Engrossment. – Bills and resolutions which originate in the House and 19
which are amended, shall be engrossed before being sent to the Senate. 20
RULE 43.2. House Concurrence in Senate Amendments to House Bills. – When 21
the House receives a Senate amendment to a bill originating in the House, it shall be placed on 22
the calendar in accordance with Rule 36(b). 23
RULE 43.3. Committee Substitutes Adopted by the Senate to Bills Originating in 24
the House; Procedure for Treatment of Material Amendments Thereto. – (a) Whenever the 25
Senate has adopted a committee substitute for a bill originating in the House and has returned the 26
bill to the House for concurrence in that committee substitute, it shall be placed on the calendar 27
in accordance with Rule 36(b). 28
(b) The Speaker shall rule whether the committee substitute is a material 29
amendment under Section 23 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution which reads: 30
"Revenue bills. – No law shall be enacted to raise money on the credit of the State, or to 31
pledge the faith of the State directly or indirectly for the payment of any debt, or to impose any 32
tax upon the people of the State, or to allow the counties, cities, or towns to do so, unless the bill 33
for the purpose shall have been read three several times in each house of the General Assembly 34
and passed three several readings, which readings shall have been on three different days, and 35
shall have been agreed to by each house respectively, and unless the yeas and nays on the second 36
and third readings of the bill shall have been entered on the journal." 37
If the committee substitute was referred to standing committee, the standing 38
committee shall: 39
(1) Report the bill with the recommendation either that the House do concur or 40
that the House do not concur; and 41
(2) Advise the Speaker as to whether or not that committee substitute is a material 42
amendment under Section 23 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution. 43
(c) If the committee substitute for a bill is not a material amendment, the question 44
before the House shall be concurrence. 45
(d) If the committee substitute for a bill is a material amendment, the receiving of 46
that bill on messages shall constitute first reading, and the question before the House shall be 47
concurrence on second reading. If the motion is passed, the question then shall be concurrence 48
on third reading on the next legislative day. 49
(e) No committee substitute adopted by the Senate for a bill originating in the 50
House may be amended by the House. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Resolution 1 Page 23
RULE 44. Conference Standing Committees. – (a) Whenever the House shall 1
decline or refuse to concur in amendments put by the Senate to a bill originating in the House, or 2
shall refuse to concur in a substitute adopted by the Senate for a bill originating in the House, or 3
whenever the Senate shall decline or refuse to concur in amendments put by the House to a bill 4
originating in the Senate, or shall refuse to concur in a substitute adopted by the House for a bill 5
originating in the Senate, a conference committee may be appointed by the Speaker upon the 6
Speaker's own motion and shall be appointed upon request by the principal sponsor of the original 7
bill, the chair of the House standing committee that reported the bill, or the sponsor of the 8
amendment in which the Senate refused to concur; and the bill under consideration shall 9
thereupon go to and be considered by the joint conferees on the part of the House and Senate. In 10
appointing members to conference committees, the Speaker shall appoint no less than a majority 11
of members who generally supported the House position as determined by the Speaker. 12
(b) The conference report may be made by a majority of the House members of 13
such conference committee and shall not be amended. If the Senate has a similar rule, only such 14
matters as are in difference between the two houses shall be considered by the conferees and the 15
conference report shall deal only with such matters. If the Senate does not have a similar rule, a 16
conference committee report which includes significant matters that were not in difference 17
between the houses shall be referred to a standing committee for its recommendation before 18
further action by the House. 19
(c) If the conferees fail to agree or if either house fails to adopt the report of its 20
conferees, new conferees may be appointed. 21
(d) Except by leave of the House and except as otherwise provided in this 22
subsection, no vote shall be taken on adoption of a conference report until the next legislative 23
day following the report. Except by leave of the House, no vote shall be taken on adoption of a 24
conference report on either the Current Operations Appropriations Bill or a bill generally revising 25
the Current Operations Appropriations Act until the second legislative day following the report. 26
(e) Notwithstanding subsection (d) of this rule, a conference report for a bill 27
establishing districts for Congress or State Senators or State Representatives may be placed on 28
the calendar for the legislative day the report is submitted. 29
RULE 44.1. Transmittal of Bills to Senate. – Unless ordered by the Speaker or 30
two-thirds vote of the members present and voting, no bill shall be sent from the House on the 31
day of its passage, except on the last day of the session. 32
RULE 44.2. Veto Override. – A vote on overriding a gubernatorial veto may be taken 33
up on the legislative day it is received in the House from the Senate or Governor or any other 34
legislative day it is printed on the calendar published by the Clerk of the House pursuant to Rule 35
40. 36
VII. Legislative Officers and Employees 37
RULE 45. Elected Officers. – (a) The House shall elect its Speaker from among its 38
membership. 39
(b) The House shall elect its Speaker Pro Tempore from among its membership 40
who shall perform such duties as the Speaker may assign. 41
(c) The House shall elect a Principal Clerk, who shall continue in office until 42
another is elected. The Speaker may appoint a Reading Clerk and shall appoint a 43
Sergeant-at-Arms, both of whom shall serve at the Speaker's pleasure. The Principal Clerk, 44
Reading Clerk, and Sergeant-at-Arms shall have and perform duties and responsibilities, not 45
inconsistent with these rules, as the Speaker may assign. Unless directed otherwise by the 46
Speaker on behalf of the House, the Principal Clerk or an employee designated by the Principal 47
Clerk shall receive House bills not approved by the Governor. 48
RULE 46. Assistants to Principal Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms. – The Principal 49
Clerk and the Sergeant-at-Arms may appoint, with the approval of the Speaker, such assistants 50
as may be necessary to the efficient discharge of the duties of their respective offices. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 24 House Resolution 1
RULE 47. Speaker's Staff; Chaplain; and Pages. – (a) The Speaker may appoint 1
one or more staff members to the Speaker, a Chaplain of the House, and pages to wait upon the 2
sessions of the House. 3
(b) When the House is not in session, the pages shall be under the supervision of 4
the Supervisor of Pages. 5
(c) The Speaker, at the request of a member, may appoint honorary pages. 6
RULE 48. Member's Staff. – (a) Each standing committee shall have a committee 7
assistant. The committee assistant to a standing committee shall serve as staff to the chair of the 8
standing committee. 9
(b) Each member shall be assigned a legislative assistant, unless the member has 10
a committee assistant to serve as legislative assistant. 11
(c) The selection and retention of legislative assistants shall be the sole 12
prerogative of the individual member or members. Such staff shall file initial applications for 13
employment with the Director of Legislative Assistants and shall receive compensation as 14
prescribed by the Legislative Services Commission. Their period of employment shall comply 15
with the period as established by the Legislative Services Commission unless employment for an 16
extended period is approved by the Speaker. The legislative assistants shall adhere to such 17
uniform rules and regulations not inconsistent with these rules regarding hours and other 18
conditions of employment as the Legislative Services Commission shall fix by appropriate 19
regulations. The Director of House Legislative Assistants shall be appointed by the Speaker. 20
RULE 49. Compensation of Legislative Assistants. – No person employed, serving, 21
or appointed under Rules 46, 47, and 48 shall receive during such employment, appointment, or 22
service any compensation from any department of the State government, and there shall not be 23
voted, paid, or awarded any additional pay, bonus, or gratuity to any of them; but they shall 24
receive only the pay now provided by law for such duties and services. 25
VIII. Privileges of the Hall 26
RULE 50. Admittance to Floor. – (a) No person except members, officers, and 27
designated employees of the General Assembly who have been issued identification tags as 28
provided by this rule, and former members of the General Assembly who are not registered under 29
the provisions of Article 2 of Chapter 120C of the General Statutes, shall be allowed on the floor 30
of the House during its session, unless permitted by the Speaker or otherwise provided by law. 31
Employees of the General Assembly shall wear identification tags, approved by the Legislative 32
Services Officer, when on the floor of the House. 33
(b) Except when a committee is meeting on the floor of the House, a person who 34
is not authorized to be admitted to the floor under subsection (a) of this rule shall not be allowed 35
to enter the Chamber until at least five minutes after adjournment or recess of the House. 36
RULE 51. Admittance of Press. – Reporters wishing to take down debates may be 37
admitted by the Speaker, who shall assign such places to them on the floor or elsewhere, to effect 38
this object, as shall not interfere with the convenience of the House. Reporters admitted to the 39
floor of the House shall observe the same requirements of attire for members contained in Rule 40
12(h). 41
RULE 52. Extending Courtesies. – Courtesies of the floor, galleries, or lobby shall 42
be extended at the discretion of the Speaker and only by the Speaker. Requests by members to 43
extend these courtesies shall be delivered to the Speaker. No member shall orally ask the Speaker 44
to extend these courtesies during the daily session. 45
RULE 53. Order in House Chamber, Galleries, and Lobby. – In case of any 46
disturbance or disorderly conduct in the House Chamber, galleries, or lobby, the Speaker or other 47
presiding officer is empowered to order the same to be cleared to the extent they deem necessary. 48
IX. General Rules 49
RULE 54. Attendance of Members. – Members and officers of the House shall 50
request leaves from the service of the House with the Principal Clerk. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Resolution 1 Page 25
RULE 55. Documents to Be Signed by the Speaker. – All acts, addresses, and 1
resolutions and all warrants and subpoenas issued by order of the House shall be signed by the 2
Speaker or other presiding officer. 3
RULE 56. Printing or Reproducing Materials. – There shall be no printing or 4
reproducing of paper(s) that are not legislative in essence except upon approval of the Speaker. 5
RULE 57. Placement or Circulation of Materials. – Persons other than members of 6
the House shall not place or cause to be placed any materials on members' desks in the House 7
Chamber without obtaining approval of the Speaker. Any material placed on members' desks in 8
the House Chamber, or circulated to House members anywhere in the Legislative Building or the 9
Legislative Office Building, shall bear the name of the originator. 10
RULE 58. Rescission and Alteration of the Rules. – (a) These rules shall not be 11
permanently rescinded or altered except by House simple resolution passed by a two-thirds vote 12
of the members present and voting. The introducer of the resolution must on the floor of the 13
House give notice of intent to introduce the resolution on the legislative day preceding its 14
introduction. 15
(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, the House upon two-thirds vote of the 16
members present and voting may temporarily suspend any rule. 17
RULE 58.1. Temporary Modifications Due to State of Emergency. – (a) The 18
following modifications to these rules shall apply 24 hours after receipt by the Majority Leader, 19
the Minority Leader, and the Principal Clerk of written notification filed by the Speaker: 20
(1) RULE 12(i) shall read as follows: "(i) The use of a mobile device or 21
cellular phone for the purpose of making or receiving a phone call shall not 22
be permitted in the House Chamber while the House is in session, except the 23
Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, and a designee of a Leader under Rule 24
22.1(c) may use a mobile device or cellular phone during a vote to 25
communicate in real time with members who have filed a voting designation 26
pursuant to Rule 22.1, provided the use does not otherwise disrupt the 27
decorum of the chamber." 28
(2) RULE 13(a) shall read as follows: "RULE 13. Motions Generally. – (a) A 29
motion that is complex, complicated, or otherwise not easily understood shall 30
be reduced to writing at the request of the Speaker or any member. No motion 31
relating to a bill shall be in order that does not identify the bill by its number 32
and short title. No motion may be made, nor business presented, by a member 33
who has filed a voting designation pursuant to Rule 22.1 affirming the member 34
will not be present in the House during the time the designation is in effect 35
and has not been revoked." 36
(3) The rules are amended by adding a new rule to read: "RULE 22.1. Designated 37
Voting. – (a) A member who is not present may designate either the Majority 38
or the Minority Leader to cast the member's vote if the member has filed a 39
voting designation with the Principal Clerk and at least 61 members have 40
voted in the House Chamber when the question is put, after which the Speaker 41
shall call upon the Majority and Minority Leaders to cast the votes of members 42
who have made a designation pursuant to this Rule. 43
(b) A designation shall be in writing and on a form made available by the 44
Principal Clerk. In order to be effective for that legislative day, the 45
designation must be received by the Principal Clerk at least one hour 46
prior to the time the House is scheduled to convene. The designation 47
shall state the member will not be present in the House, shall identify 48
either the Majority or Minority Leader as the member's voting 49
designee, and shall include both a commencement and expiration date. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 26 House Resolution 1
A designation may be revoked at any time by notifying the Principal 1
Clerk. 2
(c) The designated Leader may appoint another member to cast all votes 3
designated to that Leader." 4
(4) RULE 22(b) shall read as follows: "(b) Except as provided in Rule 22.1, no 5
member may vote unless the member is in the Chamber. This subsection of 6
this rule cannot be suspended." 7
(4a) RULE 24(c) shall read as follows: "(c) No member may change a vote 8
without leave of the House, but such leave shall not be granted if it affects the 9
result or if the session in which the vote was taken has been adjourned. 10
No member who cast a vote using the designated voting procedure allowed 11
under Rule 22.1 may change that vote without leave of the House, but such 12
leave shall not be granted if it affects the result or if the session in which that 13
vote was taken has been adjourned. A member who voted using the designated 14
voting procedure allowed under Rule 22.1 may request a vote change by 15
submitting a written request to the Leader the member originally designated 16
who shall deliver the request to the Principal Clerk who shall officially receive 17
it. The Principal Clerk shall provide a form to be used by members to request 18
a change to a vote cast pursuant to Rule 22.1." 19
(5) RULE 26(e) shall read as follows: "(e) The chair or acting chair, designated 20
by the chair or by the Speaker, and five other members of the standing 21
committee, or a majority of the standing committee, whichever is fewer, shall 22
constitute a quorum of that standing committee. A quorum of less than a 23
majority of all the members must include at least one member of the minority 24
party. For purposes of determining a quorum, the Chair of the Standing 25
Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House; the Speaker Pro 26
Tempore; the Majority Leader; and the Deputy Majority Leader, when serving 27
only as ex officio members under subsection (d) of this rule, shall be counted 28
among the membership of the committee only when present or participating 29
remotely pursuant to Rule 28(a). A committee member who is participating 30
remotely under Rule 28(a) shall be counted as present for quorum purposes." 31
(6) RULE 28(a) shall read as follows: "RULE 28. Standing Committee 32
Meetings. – (a) Standing committees shall be furnished with suitable meeting 33
places pursuant to a schedule established by the Chair of the Standing 34
Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House. Select 35
committees shall be furnished with suitable meeting places as their needs 36
require by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 37
Operations of the House. Committees may conduct meetings with members 38
participating remotely and such members may vote on any measure or motion 39
before the committee provided all of the following requirements are met: 40
(1) Each member is able to communicate, in real time, with all other 41
members by (i) in-person communication, (ii) remote communication 42
using devices or programs that transmit audio or audio and video, or 43
(iii) both. 44
(2) All documents considered by the committee are provided to members. 45
(3) The committee otherwise complies with G.S. 143-318.13(a)." 46
(7) RULE 32(d) is repealed. 47
(8) RULE 36(b) shall read as follows: "(b) Favorable Report. – When a 48
standing committee reports a bill with the recommendation that it be passed, 49
the bill shall be placed on the favorable calendar on the day designated by the 50
Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Resolution 1 Page 27
House, but no later than the fourth legislative day after submission of the 1
report or Senate message under Rule 43.2 or Rule 43.3(a), unless: 2
(1) The bill is re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations or 3
Committee on Finance under Rule 38 or was serially referred under 4
Rule 32; or 5
(2) The bill has not yet been placed on the calendar, and the Speaker refers 6
the bill to another committee. 7
In order to place a bill on the calendar for a legislative day, notice shall be 8
given by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 9
Operations of the House orally in the House or in writing to the Principal 10
Clerk. When a committee substitute is adopted and receives a favorable report 11
by the standing committee, the chair shall submit to the standing committee 12
the question of an unfavorable report on the original bill. The standing 13
committee's action, if any, on the original bill shall be reported at the same 14
time the committee substitute is reported." 15
(9) RULE 41 shall read as follows: "RULE 41. Reading of Bills. – Every bill 16
shall receive three readings in the House prior to its passage. The Speaker 17
shall give notice at each subsequent reading whether it is the second or third; 18
provided, no bill governed by Section 23 of Article II of the North Carolina 19
Constitution herein shall be read twice on one day under any circumstance." 20
(10) Notwithstanding Rule 44(d), a conference report may be placed on the 21
calendar for the legislative day on which the report is received. The Speaker 22
shall provide notice as soon as practicable to the Majority Leader and the 23
Minority Leader if the Speaker anticipates a conference report will be placed 24
on the favorable calendar the same day the report is received. 25
RULE 59. Cosponsorship of Bills and Resolutions, Removal of Sponsorship. – (a) 26
Except by leave of the primary sponsor, or as provided in subsection (d) of this rule, no member 27
may be listed as an additional primary sponsor on a bill after the bill has been filed. Except as 28
provided in subsection (d) of this rule, any member not listed as a preprinted cosponsor on the 29
computer-generated draft edition who wishes to cosponsor a bill or resolution which has been 30
introduced may do so by 5:00 P.M. of the calendar day following the adjournment of the session 31
during which such bill or resolution was first read and referred, but only electronically under 32
procedures approved by the Principal Clerk. 33
(b) Members wishing to cosponsor legislation prior to preparation of the draft 34
should indicate such to the drafter at the time the bill is requested and before filing the bill with 35
the Principal Clerk's office. The names of the members who are the primary sponsors shall be 36
listed in the order requested by them, followed by the words (Primary Sponsors); and the 37
remaining names of such members cosponsoring shall follow on the draft edition and first edition. 38
No more than four members may be listed as primary sponsors. Names of persons cosponsoring 39
bills thereafter under subsection (a) of this rule do not appear on subsequent editions but shall be 40
listed in the bill status system as cosponsors. 41
(c) No member shall permit anyone, other than that member's committee 42
assistant, legislative assistant, office assistant, or another member, to have possession of and 43
solicit for bill or resolution sponsorship, the jacket of a bill or resolution. 44
(d) Should any member wish to remove the member's sponsorship of a bill that is 45
substantially changed by a Senate amendment or a Senate committee substitute, the member shall 46
notify the House Principal Clerk before the bill is considered for concurrence. If no sponsors 47
remain on the bill, the House Principal Clerk shall notify the Chair of the Standing Committee 48
on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House who may request that other members sponsor 49
the bill. Removal of the first primary sponsor's name from a bill does not reduce the total number 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 28 House Resolution 1
of bills introduced by the member under Rule 31.1(d), and sponsorship of a bill after removal of 1
all sponsors is subject to Rule 31.1(d). 2
RULE 60. Correcting of Typographical Errors. – The Legislative Services Officer 3
may correct typographical errors appearing in House bills or resolutions or House amendments 4
to Senate bills provided that such corrections are made before ratification and do not conflict 5
with any actions or rules of the Senate and provided further that such correction be approved by 6
the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, the 7
Speaker, or other presiding officer. 8
RULE 61. Assignment of Seats. – After initial assignment of seats, a member shall 9
continue to occupy the seat to which initially assigned until assigned a permanent seat; once 10
assigned a permanent seat, the member shall occupy it for the entire biennial session. In event of 11
vacancy, the Speaker or the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations 12
of the House may assign such permanent seats as are necessary to maintain seating. 13
RULE 61.1. Office Assignments. – The Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, 14
Calendar, and Operations of the House shall assign to each member an office space. When 15
available, chairs of standing committees shall be assigned an office adjacent to the room in which 16
the standing committee generally meets if the Chair so desires. The Speaker shall be assigned an 17
office of his or her choice. 18
RULE 61.2. Convening and Assigning Seats in the New House. – (a) The Principal 19
Clerk of the previous House of Representatives shall convene the House of Representatives at 20
12:00 P.M. on the date established by law for the convening of each regular session and preside 21
over the body until the members elect a Speaker. In the case of a vacancy, inability, or refusal to 22
so serve, the duty shall devolve upon the Sergeant-at-Arms of the prior House, and in the case of 23
a vacancy in that office, or inability or refusal to so serve, the duty shall devolve upon the Reading 24
Clerk of the prior House. 25
(b) It shall be the duty of the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, 26
and Operations of the House of the prior House to assign temporary seats to the members of the 27
House of Representatives in its Chamber. In the case of the inability or refusal to serve of the 28
Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, the Speaker 29
of the prior House of Representatives shall appoint a person to assign seats to members of the 30
House of Representatives in its Chamber. In the event that the party that had a majority of 31
members in the prior House will no longer have a majority of members in the new House, then 32
the duty assigned in this subsection to the Chair of the Committee of the prior House shall instead 33
be the duty of the person nominated as Speaker by the majority party caucus for the new House, 34
or some member-elect designated by the Speaker-nominee. In the event no party will have a 35
majority, then the duty assigned in this subsection to the Chair of the Committee of the prior 36
House shall instead be the joint duty of one person chosen each by the caucuses of the two parties 37
having the greatest numbers of members. 38
RULE 61.3. Livestreaming Sessions. – To the extent any session of the House is 39
livestreamed, the methods used for the livestreaming shall comply with the policies and 40
procedures established and published by the Principal Clerk. 41
RULE 62. Matters Not Covered in These Rules. – Except as herein set out, the rules 42
of Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure shall govern the operation of the House. 43
SECTION 2. This resolution is effective upon adoption. 44