North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina House Bill H563 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	H Simple
4		-	Resolution
5		-	Adopted
	3	+	H 1
6	4		HOUSE RESOLUTION 563
7		-	Committee Substitute Favorable 3/31/25
8		-	Adopted 4/1/25
9	5
10		-	Sponsors:
11		-	Referred to:
	6	+
	7	+	Sponsors: Representative Bell.
	8	+	For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
	9	+	Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
12	10		March 31, 2025
13		-	H563 -v-3
	11	+	H563 -v-1
14	12		A HOUSE RESOLUTION A DOPTING THE PERMANEN T RULES OF THE HOUSE OF 1
15	13		REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE 2025 REGULAR SESSION. 2
16	14		Be it resolved by the House of Representatives: 3
17	15		SECTION 1. The permanent rules of the Regular Session of the House of 4
18	16		Representatives of the 2025 General Assembly are: 5
19	17		PERMANENT RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE 6
20	18		REGULAR SESSION OF THE 2025 GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA 7
21	19		I. Order of Business, 1-5.1 8
22	20		II. Conduct of Debate, 6-12 9
23	21		III. Motions, 13-19 10
24	22		IV. Voting, 20-25 11
25	23		V. Committees, 26-30 12
26	24		VI. Handling of Bills, 31-44.2 13
27	25		VII. Legislative Officers and Employees, 45-49 14
28	26		VIII. Privileges of the Hall, 50-53 15
29	27		IX. General Rules, 54-62 16
30	28		I. Order of Business 17
31	29		RULE 1. Convening Hour, Limitation on Legislative Sessions. – The House shall 18
32	30		convene each legislative day at the hour fixed by the House. In the event the House adjourns on 19
33	31		the preceding legislative day without having fixed an hour for reconvening, the House shall 20
34	32		convene on the next legislative day at 2:00 P.M. During January and February of 2025, no 21
35	33		sessions may be held on Friday. Without leave of the House, no session shall continue after 10:00 22
36	34		P.M. on Monday nor after 9:00 P.M. on any other days, and the Speaker shall adjourn the House 23
37	35		without motion at that point, except that a motion may be made as to the time and day of next 24
38	36		convening. Except for votes on motions to approve the Journal and to adjourn, no votes may be 25
39	37		held on any Sunday. 26
40	38		RULE 1.1. Emergencies. – (a) In the event of a disaster, natural or otherwise, that 27
41	39		precludes the General Assembly from meeting in the Legislative Building, the members will be 28
42	40		notified by the Speaker where and when the House will convene. 29
43	41		(b) In the event of a State of Emergency that threatens the health and safety of 30
44	42		members, the Speaker may invoke the modifications to these rules contained in and pursuant to 31
45	43		Rule 58.1. The Speaker may terminate the use of the modifications upon 24 hours' written notice 32
46	44		to the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, and the Principal Clerk. 33
47	45		RULE 2. Opening the Session. – (a) The Sergeant-at-Arms shall clear the House 10 34
48		-	minutes before the convening hour. At the convening hour on each legislative day, the Speaker 35 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
49		-	Page 2 House Resolution 563
50		-	shall call the members to order and shall have the session opened with prayer. At the convening 1
51		-	hour, the Speaker, or the Speaker's designee, shall lead the members in the Pledge of Allegiance 2
52		-	to the American Flag. 3
53		-	(b) If session is convened with a pro forma session pursuant to Rule 5.1, the prayer 4
54		-	and pledge may be delayed until a session that is not a pro forma session is convened. 5
55		-	RULE 3. Quorum. – (a) A quorum consists of a majority of the qualified members 6
56		-	of the House. 7
57		-	(b) Should the point of a quorum be raised, the doors shall be closed, and the 8
58		-	Clerk shall call the roll of the House, after which the names of those not responding shall again 9
59		-	be called. In the absence of a quorum, 15 members are authorized to compel the attendance of 10
60		-	absent members and may order that absentees for whom no sufficient excuses are made be taken 11
61		-	into custody wherever they may be found by special messenger appointed for that purpose. 12
62		-	RULE 4. Approval of Journal. – (a) The Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, 13
63		-	Calendar, and Operations of the House shall cause the Journal of the House to be examined daily 14
64		-	before the hour of convening to determine if the proceedings of the previous day have been 15
65		-	correctly recorded. 16
66		-	(b) Immediately following the Pledge of Allegiance, the Speaker shall call for the 17
67		-	Journal report by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the 18
68		-	House, or by a Representative designated by the Chair, as to whether the proceedings of the 19
69		-	previous day have been correctly recorded. Without objection, the Speaker shall cause the Journal 20
70		-	to stand approved. 21
71		-	RULE 5. Order of Business of the Day. – After the approval of the Journal of the 22
72		-	preceding day, unless the Speaker varies or alters the order, the House shall proceed to business 23
73		-	in the following order: 24
74		-	(1) The receiving of petitions, memorials, and papers addressed to the General 25
75		-	Assembly or to the House; 26
76		-	(2) Messages from the Governor; 27
77		-	(3) Ratification of bills; 28
78		-	(4) Reports of standing committees; 29
79		-	(5) Reports of select committees; 30
80		-	(6) First reading and referral to committee of bills and resolutions; 31
81		-	(7) Messages from the Senate; 32
82		-	(8) Concurrence with Senate amendments or Senate committee substitutes; 33
83		-	(9) The unfinished business of the preceding day; 34
84		-	(10) Calendar (each category in accordance with Rule 40 – House bills first): 35
85		-	a. Resolutions for adoption 36
86		-	b. Conference reports for adoption 37
87		-	c. Local bills (roll call), third reading 38
88		-	d. Local bills (roll call), second reading 39
89		-	e. Local bills, third reading 40
90		-	f. Local bills, second reading 41
91		-	g. Public bills (roll call), third reading 42
92		-	h. Public bills (roll call), second reading 43
93		-	i. Public bills and resolutions, third reading 44
94		-	j. Public bills and resolutions, second reading; 45
95		-	(11) Reading of notices and announcements; 46
96		-	(12) Reading of Representative Statements. 47
97		-	RULE 5.1. Pro Forma Sessions. – (a) The following motions, votes, and matters and 48
98		-	no others are in order during a pro forma session: 49
99		-	(1) A motion and vote to approve the Journal; 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
100		-	House Resolution 563 Page 3
101		-	(2) The receiving of petitions, memorials, and papers addressed to the General 1
102		-	Assembly or to the House; 2
103		-	(3) Messages from the Governor; 3
104		-	(4) Ratification of bills; 4
105		-	(5) Reports of standing committees; 5
106		-	(6) First reading and referral to committee of bills and resolutions; 6
107		-	(7) Re-referral to committee of bills and resolutions; 7
108		-	(8) Reading of Representative Statements approved, in writing, for presentation 8
109		-	during the pro forma session by the Chair of the Standing Committee on 9
110		-	Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House; 10
111		-	(9) Messages from the Senate; 11
112		-	(10) Submission of conference reports; 12
113		-	(11) A motion and vote to adjourn subject to the standard stipulations under Rule 13
114		-	15.1. 14
115		-	(b) As used in these rules, a pro forma session occurs when the Speaker notifies 15
116		-	the body, either by announcement in the chamber or electronically using the General Assembly 16
117		-	email system, that no motions, votes, or matters other than those allowed under subsection (a) of 17
118		-	this rule will be taken during a future designated session. 18
119		-	II. Conduct of Debate 19
120		-	RULE 6. Duties and Powers of the Speaker. – The Speaker shall have general 20
121		-	direction of the Hall, subject to more specific provisions of these rules. The Speaker may name 21
122		-	any member to perform the duties of the chair, but substitution shall not extend beyond one day, 22
123		-	except in the case of sickness or by leave of the House. If the Speaker is absent and has not 23
124		-	designated a member or the Principal Clerk to perform the duties of the chair, the Speaker Pro 24
125		-	Tempore shall preside during such absence. In the case of a vacancy in the office of the Speaker 25
126		-	of the House of Representatives, the Principal Clerk shall preside over the House until the House 26
127		-	elects a Speaker. 27
128		-	RULE 7. Obtaining Floor. – (a) When any member desires recognition for any 28
129		-	purpose, the member shall rise and respectfully address the Speaker. No member shall proceed 29
130		-	until recognized by the Speaker for a purpose. 30
131		-	(b) When a member desires to interrupt a member having the floor, the member 31
132		-	shall first obtain recognition by the Speaker and permission of the member occupying the floor, 32
133		-	and when such recognition and permission have been obtained, he or she may propound a 33
134		-	question to the member occupying the floor; but he or she shall not otherwise interrupt the 34
135		-	member having the floor, except as provided in subsection (c) of this rule; and the Speaker shall, 35
136		-	without the point of order being raised, enforce this rule. 36
137		-	(c) A member who has obtained the floor may be interrupted only for the 37
138		-	following reasons: 38
139		-	(1) A request that the member speaking yield for a question, 39
140		-	(2) A point of order, 40
141		-	(3) A parliamentary inquiry, or 41
142		-	(4) A question of privilege. 42
143		-	RULE 8. Questions of Privilege. – Upon recognition by the Speaker for that purpose, 43
144		-	any member may speak to a question of privilege for a time not to exceed three minutes. 44
145		-	Questions of privilege shall be those affecting, first, the rights of the House collectively, its 45
146		-	safety, dignity, and the integrity of its proceedings; second, the rights, reputation, and conduct of 46
147		-	members, individually, in their representative capacity only; and shall have precedence over all 47
148		-	other questions, except motions to adjourn. Privilege may not be used to explain a vote or debate 48
149		-	a bill. The Speaker shall determine if the question is one of privilege and shall, without the point 49
150		-	of order being raised, enforce this rule. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
151		-	Page 4 House Resolution 563
152		-	RULE 8.1. Points of Personal Privilege; Representative Statements; Explanation 1
153		-	of Vote. – (a) In session and upon recognition by the Speaker for that purpose, unless otherwise 2
154		-	provided by the Speaker, any member may speak to a point of personal privilege for a time not 3
155		-	exceeding one minute to a matter of immediate importance that concerns the House collectively. 4
156		-	The Speaker shall determine if the question raised is one of personal privilege and shall, without 5
157		-	the point of order being raised, enforce this rule. 6
158		-	(b) Outside of session and during business hours designated by the Principal 7
159		-	Clerk, members may reserve time to speak from the Well of the House on a point of personal 8
160		-	privilege for a time not exceeding 10 minutes. The video system will be used to record members 9
161		-	and duplicates may be requested and fulfilled by the Principal Clerk within one week of 10
162		-	presentation, after which the recording will be deleted. 11
163		-	(c) A member may use some or all of the applicable time allotted under subsection 12
164		-	(b) of this rule to explain to the House a "Representative Statement." Upon request, that statement 13
165		-	shall be spread upon the Journal. Neither personal privilege nor a Representative Statement may 14
166		-	be used to explain a vote, debate a bill, speak to policy or politics, advocate or advise on political 15
167		-	issues or ideologies, or in any way disrupt the regular business of the House, nor shall such 16
168		-	opportunities be used to solicit support or sponsors for any bill. The format of a Representative 17
169		-	Statement shall be prescribed by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 18
170		-	Operations of the House, but in any case shall speak only in the voice of the member submitting 19
171		-	it. 20
172		-	RULE 9. Points of Order. – (a) The Speaker shall decide questions of order, which 21
173		-	once raised, are not debatable. Any member may appeal from the ruling of the chair on questions 22
174		-	of order; on such appeal no member may speak more than once, unless by leave of the House. A 23
175		-	three-fifths vote of the members present shall be necessary to sustain any appeal from the ruling 24
176		-	of the chair. 25
177		-	(b) When the Speaker calls a member to order, the member shall be seated, except 26
178		-	that a member called to order may clear a matter of fact, or explain, but shall not proceed in 27
179		-	debate so long as the decision stands. If the member appeals from the ruling of the chair and the 28
180		-	decision by a three-fifths vote of the members present be in favor of the member called to order, 29
181		-	the member may proceed; if otherwise, the member shall not; and if the case, in the judgment of 30
182		-	the House, requires it, the member shall be liable to censure by the House. 31
183		-	RULE 10. Limitations on Debate. – (a) No member shall speak on, debate, or solicit 32
184		-	cosponsors for a bill or resolution at its first reading. 33
185		-	(b) No member shall speak more than twice on the main question nor longer than 34
186		-	15 minutes for the first speech and five minutes for the second speech; nor shall the member 35
187		-	speak more than twice upon an amendment or a motion to reconsider, re-refer, or postpone or 36
188		-	any motion on concurrence, and then not longer than 10 minutes for the first speech and five 37
189		-	minutes for the second speech. 38
190		-	(c) A member may speak only once and for not more than 10 minutes on the 39
191		-	question of the adoption of a minority report. 40
192		-	(d) In computing the time allowed for argument, the time consumed in answering 41
193		-	questions should be considered and is taken out of any time allowed that member. 42
194		-	(e) The House, by consent of a majority of the members present, may suspend the 43
195		-	operation of subsections (b) through (d) of this rule during any debate on any particular question 44
196		-	before the House. 45
197		-	RULE 11. Reading of Papers. – When there is a call for the reading of the text of a 46
198		-	paper which has been presented to the House and there is objection to such reading, the question 47
199		-	shall be determined by a majority vote of the members of the House present. Except for protests 48
200		-	permitted by the Constitution, no member may have material printed in the Journal until said 49
201		-	material has been presented to the House and the printing approved by the House, and said 50
202		-	material shall not exceed 1,000 words. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
203		-	House Resolution 563 Page 5
204		-	RULE 12. General Decorum. – (a) The Speaker shall preserve order and decorum. 1
205		-	(b) Decency of speech shall be observed and disrespect to personalities carefully 2
206		-	avoided. 3
207		-	(c) When the Speaker is putting any question or addressing the House, no person 4
208		-	shall speak, stand up, walk out of, or cross the House, nor, when a member is speaking, engage 5
209		-	in disruptive discourse or pass between the member and the chair. 6
210		-	(d) Food shall not be permitted on the floor of the House during the first hour of 7
211		-	the daily session. 8
212		-	(e) The reading of newspapers shall not be permitted on the floor of the House 9
213		-	while the House is in session. 10
214		-	(f) The consumption of food or beverages shall not be permitted in the galleries 11
215		-	at any time. 12
216		-	(g) Special recitals and performances by musicians or other groups shall not be 13
217		-	permitted on the floor of the House, and special guests of members of the House shall not be 14
218		-	permitted on the floor of the House. 15
219		-	(h) Members shall observe appropriate attire: coat and tie for male members and 16
220		-	dignified dress for female members. 17
221		-	(i) The use of a mobile device or cellular phone for the purpose of making or 18
222		-	receiving a phone call shall not be permitted in the House Chamber while the House is in session. 19
223		-	(j) Placards, stickers, or signs are not permitted in the House Chamber. 20
224		-	III. Motions 21
225		-	RULE 13. Motions Generally. – (a) A motion that is complex, complicated, or 22
226		-	otherwise not easily understood shall be reduced to writing at the request of the Speaker or any 23
227		-	member. No motion relating to a bill shall be in order that does not identify the bill by its number 24
228		-	and short title. 25
229		-	(b) When a motion is made, it shall be stated by the Speaker or, if written, it shall 26
230		-	be handed to the chair and read aloud by the Speaker or Clerk before debate. 27
231		-	(c) After a motion has been stated by the Speaker or read by the Speaker or Clerk, 28
232		-	it shall be in the possession of the House; but it may be withdrawn before a decision or 29
233		-	amendment, except in case of a motion to reconsider, which motion, when made by a member, 30
234		-	shall be in possession of the House and shall not be withdrawn without leave of the House. 31
235		-	RULE 14. Motions, Order of Precedence. – When there are motions before the 32
236		-	House, the order of precedence is as follows: 33
237		-	To adjourn. 34
238		-	To recess. 35
239		-	To lay on the table. 36
240		-	Previous question. 37
241		-	To postpone indefinitely. 38
242		-	To reconsider. 39
243		-	To postpone to a day certain. 40
244		-	To re-refer. 41
245		-	To amend an amendment. 42
246		-	To amend. 43
247		-	To pass the bill. 44
248		-	No motion to lay on the table, to postpone indefinitely, to postpone to a day certain, 45
249		-	to re-refer, to divide the question, or to make a particular amendment, being decided, shall be 46
250		-	again allowed at the same stage of the bill or proposition. 47
251		-	RULE 15. Motion to Adjourn. – (a) A motion to adjourn shall be seconded before 48
252		-	the motion is put to the vote of the House. 49
253		-	(b) A motion to adjourn shall be decided without debate and shall always be in 50
254		-	order, except when the House is voting or some member is speaking; but a motion to adjourn 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
255		-	Page 6 House Resolution 563
256		-	shall not follow a motion to adjourn until debate or some other business of the House has 1
257		-	intervened. 2
258		-	RULE 15.1. Motion to Adjourn or Stand in Recess; Standard Stipulations. – A 3
259		-	motion to adjourn or stand in recess subject to the standard stipulations shall constitute a motion 4
260		-	to adjourn or stand in recess subject to the ratification of bills, messages from the Senate, 5
261		-	committee reports, conference reports, referral and re-referral of bills and resolutions, 6
262		-	appointment of conferees, introduction of bills and resolutions, committee appointments, and the 7
263		-	reading of Representative Statements. 8
264		-	RULE 16. Motion to Table. – (a) A motion to table shall be seconded before the 9
265		-	motion is put to the vote of the House and is in order except when a motion to adjourn or to recess 10
266		-	is before the House. 11
267		-	(b) A motion to table shall be decided without debate; however, the proponent of 12
268		-	the matter that is subject of the motion to table shall be given up to two minutes to explain the 13
269		-	matter subject to the motion to table if the proponent has not previously explained the matter 14
270		-	prior to the motion to table. 15
271		-	(c) A motion to table a bill shall constitute a motion to table the bill and all 16
272		-	amendments thereto. 17
273		-	(d) When the question before the House is the adoption of an amendment to a bill 18
274		-	or resolution, a motion to table the bill is not in order; and a motion to table an amendment applies 19
275		-	to the amendment only, and the motion may not expressly or by implication or construction be 20
276		-	expanded to include a motion to table the bill also. 21
277		-	(e) When a question has been tabled, it shall not thereafter be considered, except 22
278		-	on motion to reconsider under Rule 18 or to remove from the table approved by a two-thirds vote. 23
279		-	RULE 17. Motion to Postpone Indefinitely. – A motion to postpone indefinitely is 24
280		-	in order except when a motion to adjourn, or to lay on the table, or for the previous question, or 25
281		-	to recess is before the House. However, after one motion to postpone indefinitely has been 26
282		-	decided, another motion to postpone indefinitely shall not be allowed at the same stage of the bill 27
283		-	or proposition. When a question has been postponed indefinitely, it shall not thereafter be 28
284		-	considered, except on motion to reconsider under Rule 18 or to place on the favorable calendar 29
285		-	approved by a two-thirds vote. 30
286		-	RULE 18. Motion to Reconsider. – (a) When a question has been decided, it is in 31
287		-	order for any member to move for the reconsideration thereof on the same or the succeeding 32
288		-	legislative day; provided that if the vote by which the motion was originally decided was taken 33
289		-	by a recorded vote, only a member of the prevailing side may move for reconsideration. 34
290		-	(b) A motion to reconsider shall be determined by a majority vote, except all of 35
291		-	the following shall require a two-thirds vote: 36
292		-	(1) A motion to reconsider not made on the same or the succeeding legislative 37
293		-	day when a question has been decided. 38
294		-	(2) A second or subsequent motion to reconsider. 39
295		-	(3) A motion to reconsider: 40
296		-	a. A vote upon a motion to table. 41
297		-	b. A motion to postpone indefinitely. 42
298		-	c. A motion to remove a bill from the unfavorable calendar. 43
299		-	d. A motion that a bill be read twice on the same day. 44
300		-	e. A motion to remove from the table. 45
301		-	(c) A motion to reconsider the vote by which a person has been elected as Speaker 46
302		-	or Speaker Pro Tempore shall not be in order. This subsection of this rule cannot be suspended 47
303		-	except by a vote of three-fifths of all the members of the House. 48
304		-	RULE 19. Previous Question. – (a) The previous question may be called only by: 49
305		-	(1) The Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House; 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
306		-	House Resolution 563 Page 7
307		-	(1a) The Vice-Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the 1
308		-	House if the Chair is not in the Chamber or able to participate in debate; 2
309		-	(2) The Majority Leader; 3
310		-	(3) The member submitting the report on the bill or other matter under 4
311		-	consideration; 5
312		-	(4) The member introducing the bill or other matter under consideration; 6
313		-	(5) The member in charge of the measure, who shall be designated by the chair 7
314		-	of the standing committee reporting the same to the House at the time the bill 8
315		-	or other matter under consideration is reported to the House or taken up for 9
316		-	consideration. 10
317		-	(b) When the call for the previous question has been decided in the affirmative by 11
318		-	a majority vote of the House, the question is on the passage of the bill, resolution, or other matter 12
319		-	under consideration. 13
320		-	(c) The call for the previous question shall preclude all motions, amendments, 14
321		-	and debate, except the motion to adjourn, motion to recess, or motion to table. 15
322		-	(d) If the previous question is decided in the negative, the question remains under 16
323		-	debate. 17
324		-	(e) After the previous question is ordered by the House on the main question of 18
325		-	second reading, third reading, or a vote on overriding a gubernatorial veto, the Majority Leader 19
326		-	and the Minority Leader may each allocate three minutes of debate on the question. The Majority 20
327		-	Leader and the Minority Leader may each designate another member to act under this subsection. 21
328		-	IV. Voting 22
329		-	RULE 20. Use of Electronic Voting System. – (a) Votes on the following questions 23
330		-	shall be taken on the electronic voting system, and the ayes and noes shall be recorded on the 24
331		-	Journal: 25
332		-	(1) The passage as required by Section 23 of Article II of the North Carolina 26
333		-	Constitution on second and third readings of any bill: 27
334		-	a. Raising money on the credit of the State, 28
335		-	b. Pledging the faith of the State for the payment of a debt, 29
336		-	c. Imposing a State tax, or 30
337		-	d. Authorizing a county, municipality, or other local governmental unit 31
338		-	to: 32
339		-	1. Raise money on its credit, 33
340		-	2. Pledge its faith for the payment of a debt, or 34
341		-	3. Impose a local tax. 35
342		-	(2) All questions on which a call for the ayes and noes under Rule 24(a) and 36
343		-	Section 19 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution has been sustained. 37
344		-	(3) Both second and third readings of bills proposing amendment of the North 38
345		-	Carolina Constitution or ratifying resolutions amending the United States 39
346		-	Constitution. 40
347		-	(4) The passage of a bill, notwithstanding the Governor's veto thereof, pursuant 41
348		-	to Section 22 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution. 42
349		-	(b) Votes on the following questions shall be taken on the electronic voting 43
350		-	system: 44
351		-	(1) Second reading of all public bills except resolutions, all amendments to public 45
352		-	bills, third reading if a public bill was amended after second reading or if the 46
353		-	reading occurs on a day or days following the second reading, all conference 47
354		-	reports on public bills, all motions to lay public bills on the table, and all 48
355		-	motions to postpone public bills indefinitely. 49
356		-	(2) Upon a call for division. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
357		-	Page 8 House Resolution 563
358		-	(3) Any other question upon direction of the Speaker or upon motion of any 1
359		-	member supported by one-fifth of the members present. 2
360		-	(c) When the electronic voting system is used, 15 seconds shall be allowed for 3
361		-	voting on the question before the House, unless the Chair shall direct otherwise. Once the system 4
362		-	is locked, the vote shall be recorded and printed. 5
363		-	(d) The voting station at each member's desk in the Chamber shall be used only 6
364		-	by the member to which the station is assigned. Under no circumstances shall any other person 7
365		-	vote at a member's station. It is a breach of the ethical obligation of a member either to request 8
366		-	that another person vote at the requesting member's station or to vote at another member's station. 9
367		-	The Speaker shall enforce this rule without exception. 10
368		-	(e) When the electronic voting system is used, the Speaker shall state the question 11
369		-	and shall then state substantially the following: "All in favor vote 'aye'; all opposed vote 'no'; the 12
370		-	Clerk will open the vote." In order to have the vote recorded, the member must vote by the 13
371		-	electronic voting system within the time allowed for that vote, unless the voting station assigned 14
372		-	to a member is malfunctioning. The Speaker shall enforce this rule without exception. After the 15
373		-	allotted time for voting has elapsed, the Speaker shall say: "The Clerk will now lock the machine 16
374		-	and record the vote." After the machine is locked and the vote recorded, the Speaker shall 17
375		-	announce the vote and declare the result. 18
376		-	(f) One copy of the machine printout of the vote record of all votes taken on the 19
377		-	electronic voting system shall be filed in the office of the Principal Clerk, and two copies shall 20
378		-	be filed in the Legislative Library where the copies shall be open to public inspection. A legible 21
379		-	copy of the bill, amendment, or motion on which the vote was taken shall be filed with the 22
380		-	printout of the vote in the Legislative Library. 23
381		-	(g) When the Speaker ascertains that the electronic voting system is inoperative 24
382		-	before a vote is taken or while a vote is being taken on the electronic voting system, the Speaker 25
383		-	shall announce that fact to the House, and any partial electronic voting system voting record shall 26
384		-	be voided. In such a case, if the North Carolina Constitution or the Rules of the House require a 27
385		-	call of the ayes and noes, the Clerk shall call the roll of the House, and the ayes and noes shall 28
386		-	be taken manually and shall be recorded on the Journal. All roll call votes shall be taken 29
387		-	alphabetically. If, after a vote is taken on the electronic voting system, it is discovered that a 30
388		-	malfunction caused an error in the electronic voting system printout, the Speaker shall direct the 31
389		-	Reading Clerk and the Principal Clerk to verify and correct the printout record and so advise the 32
390		-	House. 33
391		-	(h) For the purpose of identifying motions on which the vote is taken on the 34
392		-	electronic voting system, the motions are coded as follows: 35
393		-	(1) To adjourn. 36
394		-	(2) To recess. 37
395		-	(3) To lay on the table. 38
396		-	(4) Previous question. 39
397		-	(5) To postpone indefinitely. 40
398		-	(6) To reconsider. 41
399		-	(7) To postpone to a day certain. 42
400		-	(8) To re-refer. 43
401		-	(9) To amend an amendment. 44
402		-	(10) To amend. 45
403		-	(11) To concur or not concur. 46
404		-	(12) Miscellaneous. 47
405		-	RULE 21. Voice Votes; Stating Questions. – (a) All other votes except those 48
406		-	required to be taken on the electronic voting system may be taken by voice vote. 49 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
407		-	House Resolution 563 Page 9
408		-	(b) When a voice vote is taken, the Speaker shall put the question substantially as 1
409		-	follows: "Those in favor (as the question may be) will say 'aye,'" and after the affirmative voice 2
410		-	has been expressed, "Those opposed will say 'no.'" 3
411		-	(c) No statement, explanation, debate, motion, parliamentary inquiry, or point of 4
412		-	order shall be allowed once the voice vote has begun. Any point of order or parliamentary inquiry 5
413		-	may be raised, however, after the completion of the vote. 6
414		-	RULE 22. Determining Questions. – (a) Unless otherwise provided by the North 7
415		-	Carolina Constitution or by these rules, all questions shall be determined by a simple majority of 8
416		-	the members present and voting. 9
417		-	(b) No member may vote unless the member is in the Chamber between the time 10
418		-	when the question is put and the time the vote is locked. This subsection of this rule cannot be 11
419		-	suspended. 12
420		-	RULE 23. Voting by Division. – Any member may call for a division of the members 13
421		-	upon the question before the result of the vote has been announced. Upon a call for a division, 14
422		-	the Speaker shall cause the number voting in the affirmative and in the negative to be determined. 15
423		-	Upon a division and count of the House on any question, no member away from the member's 16
424		-	seat shall be counted. 17
425		-	RULE 24. Roll Call Vote. – (a) Before a question is put, any member may call for 18
426		-	the ayes and noes. If the call is sustained by one-fifth of the members present, the question shall 19
427		-	be decided by the ayes and noes upon a roll call vote. 20
428		-	(b) Every member who is in the Hall of the House when the question is put shall 21
429		-	vote upon a call of the ayes and noes, unless excused pursuant to Rule 24.1A. 22
430		-	(c) No member may change a vote without leave of the House, but such leave 23
431		-	shall not be granted if it affects the result or if the session in which the vote was taken has been 24
432		-	adjourned. The Speaker may, at his discretion, set written procedures to carry out this subsection. 25
433		-	RULE 24.1A. Excuse From Deliberations and Voting on a Bill. – (a) Any member 26
434		-	shall, upon request, be excused in advance from the deliberations and voting on a particular bill 27
435		-	at any time that the reason for the request arises in the proceedings on the bill. 28
436		-	(b) The member may make a brief oral statement of the reasons for making the 29
437		-	request. The member shall provide to the Principal Clerk, on a form provided by the Clerk, a 30
438		-	concise written statement of the reason for the request, and the Clerk shall include this statement 31
439		-	in the Journal. 32
440		-	(c) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this rule, the member so excused shall 33
441		-	not debate the bill or any amendment to the bill, vote on the bill, offer or vote on any amendment 34
442		-	to the bill, or offer or vote on any motion concerning the bill, in committee or on the floor of the 35
443		-	House at any reading, or any subsequent consideration of the bill. 36
444		-	(d) A member may request that his or her excuse from deliberations on a 37
445		-	particular bill be withdrawn. 38
446		-	(e) By leave of the House, a member who has been excused from deliberations 39
447		-	and voting on a bill may participate in deliberations and votes on amendments to which that 40
448		-	member does not have any conflict that requires excusal. 41
449		-	RULE 24.1B. Division of Amendments and Questions. – (a) Any member may call 42
450		-	for an amendment to be divided into two or more amendments to be voted on separately. The 43
451		-	motion shall be in writing, must be submitted to the Principal Clerk at the time the motion is 44
452		-	made, and must clearly state how the question is to be divided. The Speaker shall determine 45
453		-	whether the amendment admits of such a division. Upon a majority vote of the members present 46
454		-	and voting, the motion shall be adopted and the body shall debate and vote each amendment 47
455		-	separately. 48
456		-	(b) Any member may call for a bill to be divided into two or more propositions to 49
457		-	be voted on separately, provided the bill is subject to division into separate parts so that each part 50
458		-	states a separate and distinct proposition capable of standing alone. The motion shall be in 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
459		-	Page 10 House Resolution 563
460		-	writing, must be submitted to the Principal Clerk at the time the motion is made, and must clearly 1
461		-	state how the question is to be divided. The Speaker shall then determine whether the bill admits 2
462		-	of such a division. Upon a majority vote of the members present and voting, the motion shall be 3
463		-	adopted and there shall be no further amendment or debate as to further division of the distinct 4
464		-	propositions. If the question is divided, the body shall debate and vote each proposition 5
465		-	separately. If any proposition fails, the bill shall be removed from the calendar and re-referred to 6
466		-	the committee from which the bill was reported. If all parts of the divided question pass, the 7
467		-	Speaker shall announce that the entire measure has passed second or third reading. No conference 8
468		-	report and no Current Operations Appropriations Bill is eligible to be divided under this 9
469		-	subsection. 10
470		-	RULE 25. Voting by Speaker. – In all elections, the Speaker may vote. In all other 11
471		-	instances, the Speaker may vote or may reserve this right until there is a tie, in which event the 12
472		-	Speaker may vote; but in no instance may the Speaker vote twice on the same question. 13
473		-	V. Committees 14
474		-	RULE 26. Standing Committees Generally. – (a) The Speaker shall appoint a chair, 15
475		-	or cochairs, of every standing committee, and select committee, if any. In the construction of 16
476		-	these rules, the word "chair," as applied to a committee, extends to and includes a cochair of the 17
477		-	committee. The Speaker shall have the exclusive right and authority to establish select 18
478		-	committees, but this does not exclude the right of the House by resolution to establish select 19
479		-	committees. 20
480		-	(b) The Speaker shall establish the number of members of each standing 21
481		-	committee and appoint the members in a manner to reflect the partisan membership of the House, 22
482		-	except that the Committee on Ethics shall have an equal number of members of the majority and 23
483		-	minority. 24
484		-	(c) Before appointing members of committees, the Speaker shall consult with the 25
485		-	Minority Leader. The Speaker and Minority Leader shall consider members' committee 26
486		-	preferences in making appointments and recommendations. 27
487		-	(d) The Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, 28
488		-	the Speaker Pro Tempore, the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, and the Deputy Majority 29
489		-	Leader are ex officio members of each standing committee with the right to vote. The previous 30
490		-	sentence does not apply to the Standing Committee on Ethics. Up to two chairs of the 31
491		-	Appropriations Committee are entitled to vote in all other Appropriations Committees 32
492		-	(Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, Capital and Information Technology, 33
493		-	Education, General Government, Health and Human Services, Justice and Public Safety, and 34
494		-	Transportation). 35
495		-	(e) Either the chair or acting chair, designated by the chair or by the Speaker, and 36
496		-	five other members of the standing committee, or a majority of the standing committee, 37
497		-	whichever is fewer, shall constitute a quorum of that standing committee. A quorum of less than 38
498		-	a majority of all the members must include at least one member of the minority party. For 39
499		-	purposes of determining a quorum, the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 40
500		-	Operations of the House, the Speaker Pro Tempore, the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, 41
501		-	and the Deputy Majority Leader, when serving only as ex officio members under subsection (d) 42
502		-	of this rule, shall be counted among the membership of the committee only when present. 43
503		-	(f) In any joint meeting of the Senate and House committees, the House standing 44
504		-	committee reserves the right to vote separately. 45
505		-	RULE 26.1. Mentions of Standing Committee Includes Select Committee. – Any 46
506		-	reference in these rules to standing committees shall extend to select committees unless the 47
507		-	context requires otherwise. 48
508		-	RULE 27. List of Standing Committees. – The standing committees are: 49
	46	+	minutes before the convening hour. At the convening hour on each legislative day, the Speaker 35
	47	+	shall call the members to order and shall have the session opened with prayer. At the convening 36 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	48	+	Page 2 House Resolution 563-First Edition
	49	+	hour, the Speaker, or the Speaker's designee, shall lead the members in the Pledge of Allegiance 1
	50	+	to the American Flag. 2
	51	+	(b) If session is convened with a pro forma session pursuant to Rule 5.1, the prayer 3
	52	+	and pledge may be delayed until a session that is not a pro forma session is convened. 4
	53	+	RULE 3. Quorum. – (a) A quorum consists of a majority of the qualified members 5
	54	+	of the House. 6
	55	+	(b) Should the point of a quorum be raised, the doors shall be closed, and the 7
	56	+	Clerk shall call the roll of the House, after which the names of those not responding shall again 8
	57	+	be called. In the absence of a quorum, 15 members are authorized to compel the attendance of 9
	58	+	absent members and may order that absentees for whom no sufficient excuses are made be taken 10
	59	+	into custody wherever they may be found by special messenger appointed for that purpose. 11
	60	+	RULE 4. Approval of Journal. – (a) The Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, 12
	61	+	Calendar, and Operations of the House shall cause the Journal of the House to be examined daily 13
	62	+	before the hour of convening to determine if the proceedings of the previous day have been 14
	63	+	correctly recorded. 15
	64	+	(b) Immediately following the Pledge of Allegiance, the Speaker shall call for the 16
	65	+	Journal report by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the 17
	66	+	House, or by a Representative designated by the Chair, as to whether the proceedings of the 18
	67	+	previous day have been correctly recorded. Without objection, the Speaker shall cause the Journal 19
	68	+	to stand approved. 20
	69	+	RULE 5. Order of Business of the Day. – After the approval of the Journal of the 21
	70	+	preceding day, unless the Speaker varies or alters the order, the House shall proceed to business 22
	71	+	in the following order: 23
	72	+	(1) The receiving of petitions, memorials, and papers addressed to the General 24
	73	+	Assembly or to the House; 25
	74	+	(2) Messages from the Governor; 26
	75	+	(3) Ratification of bills; 27
	76	+	(4) Reports of standing committees; 28
	77	+	(5) Reports of select committees; 29
	78	+	(6) First reading and referral to committee of bills and resolutions; 30
	79	+	(7) Messages from the Senate; 31
	80	+	(8) Concurrence with Senate amendments or Senate committee substitutes; 32
	81	+	(9) The unfinished business of the preceding day; 33
	82	+	(10) Calendar (each category in accordance with Rule 40 – House bills first): 34
	83	+	a. Resolutions for adoption 35
	84	+	b. Conference reports for adoption 36
	85	+	c. Local bills (roll call), third reading 37
	86	+	d. Local bills (roll call), second reading 38
	87	+	e. Local bills, third reading 39
	88	+	f. Local bills, second reading 40
	89	+	g. Public bills (roll call), third reading 41
	90	+	h. Public bills (roll call), second reading 42
	91	+	i. Public bills and resolutions, third reading 43
	92	+	j. Public bills and resolutions, second reading; 44
	93	+	(11) Reading of notices and announcements; 45
	94	+	(12) Reading of Representative Statements. 46
	95	+	RULE 5.1. Pro Forma Sessions. – (a) The following motions, votes, and matters and 47
	96	+	no others are in order during a pro forma session: 48
	97	+	(1) A motion and vote to approve the Journal; 49
	98	+	(2) The receiving of petitions, memorials, and papers addressed to the General 50
	99	+	Assembly or to the House; 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	100	+	House Resolution 563-First Edition Page 3
	101	+	(3) Messages from the Governor; 1
	102	+	(4) Ratification of bills; 2
	103	+	(5) Reports of standing committees; 3
	104	+	(6) First reading and referral to committee of bills and resolutions; 4
	105	+	(7) Re-referral to committee of bills and resolutions; 5
	106	+	(8) Reading of Representative Statements approved, in writing, for presentation 6
	107	+	during the pro forma session by the Chair of the Standing Committee on 7
	108	+	Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House; 8
	109	+	(9) Messages from the Senate; 9
	110	+	(10) Submission of conference reports; 10
	111	+	(11) A motion and vote to adjourn subject to the standard stipulations under Rule 11
	112	+	15.1. 12
	113	+	(b) As used in these rules, a pro forma session occurs when the Speaker notifies 13
	114	+	the body, either by announcement in the chamber or electronically using the General Assembly 14
	115	+	email system, that no motions, votes, or matters other than those allowed under subsection (a) of 15
	116	+	this rule will be taken during a future designated session. 16
	117	+	II. Conduct of Debate 17
	118	+	RULE 6. Duties and Powers of the Speaker. – The Speaker shall have general 18
	119	+	direction of the Hall, subject to more specific provisions of these rules. The Speaker may name 19
	120	+	any member to perform the duties of the chair, but substitution shall not extend beyond one day, 20
	121	+	except in the case of sickness or by leave of the House. If the Speaker is absent and has not 21
	122	+	designated a member or the Principal Clerk to perform the duties of the chair, the Speaker Pro 22
	123	+	Tempore shall preside during such absence. In the case of a vacancy in the office of the Speaker 23
	124	+	of the House of Representatives, the Principal Clerk shall preside over the House until the House 24
	125	+	elects a Speaker. 25
	126	+	RULE 7. Obtaining Floor. – (a) When any member desires recognition for any 26
	127	+	purpose, the member shall rise and respectfully address the Speaker. No member shall proceed 27
	128	+	until recognized by the Speaker for a purpose. 28
	129	+	(b) When a member desires to interrupt a member having the floor, the member 29
	130	+	shall first obtain recognition by the Speaker and permission of the member occupying the floor, 30
	131	+	and when such recognition and permission have been obtained, he or she may propound a 31
	132	+	question to the member occupying the floor; but he or she shall not otherwise interrupt the 32
	133	+	member having the floor, except as provided in subsection (c) of this rule; and the Speaker shall, 33
	134	+	without the point of order being raised, enforce this rule. 34
	135	+	(c) A member who has obtained the floor may be interrupted only for the 35
	136	+	following reasons: 36
	137	+	(1) A request that the member speaking yield for a question, 37
	138	+	(2) A point of order, 38
	139	+	(3) A parliamentary inquiry, or 39
	140	+	(4) A question of privilege. 40
	141	+	RULE 8. Questions of Privilege. – Upon recognition by the Speaker for that purpose, 41
	142	+	any member may speak to a question of privilege for a time not to exceed three minutes. 42
	143	+	Questions of privilege shall be those affecting, first, the rights of the House collectively, its 43
	144	+	safety, dignity, and the integrity of its proceedings; second, the rights, reputation, and conduct of 44
	145	+	members, individually, in their representative capacity only; and shall have precedence over all 45
	146	+	other questions, except motions to adjourn. Privilege may not be used to explain a vote or debate 46
	147	+	a bill. The Speaker shall determine if the question is one of privilege and shall, without the point 47
	148	+	of order being raised, enforce this rule. 48
	149	+	RULE 8.1. Points of Personal Privilege; Representative Statements; Explanation 49
	150	+	of Vote. – (a) In session and upon recognition by the Speaker for that purpose, unless otherwise 50
	151	+	provided by the Speaker, any member may speak to a point of personal privilege for a time not 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	152	+	Page 4 House Resolution 563-First Edition
	153	+	exceeding one minute to a matter of immediate importance that concerns the House collectively. 1
	154	+	The Speaker shall determine if the question raised is one of personal privilege and shall, without 2
	155	+	the point of order being raised, enforce this rule. 3
	156	+	(b) Outside of session and during business hours designated by the Principal 4
	157	+	Clerk, members may reserve time to speak from the Well of the House on a point of personal 5
	158	+	privilege for a time not exceeding 10 minutes. The video system will be used to record members 6
	159	+	and duplicates may be requested and fulfilled by the Principal Clerk within one week of 7
	160	+	presentation, after which the recording will be deleted. 8
	161	+	(c) A member may use some or all of the applicable time allotted under subsection 9
	162	+	(b) of this rule to explain to the House a "Representative Statement." Upon request, that statement 10
	163	+	shall be spread upon the Journal. Neither personal privilege nor a Representative Statement may 11
	164	+	be used to explain a vote, debate a bill, speak to policy or politics, advocate or advise on political 12
	165	+	issues or ideologies, or in any way disrupt the regular business of the House, nor shall such 13
	166	+	opportunities be used to solicit support or sponsors for any bill. The format of a Representative 14
	167	+	Statement shall be prescribed by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 15
	168	+	Operations of the House, but in any case shall speak only in the voice of the member submitting 16
	169	+	it. 17
	170	+	RULE 9. Points of Order. – (a) The Speaker shall decide questions of order, which 18
	171	+	once raised, are not debatable. Any member may appeal from the ruling of the chair on questions 19
	172	+	of order; on such appeal no member may speak more than once, unless by leave of the House. A 20
	173	+	three-fifths vote of the members present shall be necessary to sustain any appeal from the ruling 21
	174	+	of the chair. 22
	175	+	(b) When the Speaker calls a member to order, the member shall be seated, except 23
	176	+	that a member called to order may clear a matter of fact, or explain, but shall not proceed in 24
	177	+	debate so long as the decision stands. If the member appeals from the ruling of the chair and the 25
	178	+	decision by a three-fifths vote of the members present be in favor of the member called to order, 26
	179	+	the member may proceed; if otherwise, the member shall not; and if the case, in the judgment of 27
	180	+	the House, requires it, the member shall be liable to censure by the House. 28
	181	+	RULE 10. Limitations on Debate. – (a) No member shall speak on, debate, or solicit 29
	182	+	cosponsors for a bill or resolution at its first reading. 30
	183	+	(b) No member shall speak more than twice on the main question nor longer than 31
	184	+	15 minutes for the first speech and five minutes for the second speech; nor shall the member 32
	185	+	speak more than twice upon an amendment or a motion to reconsider, re-refer, or postpone or 33
	186	+	any motion on concurrence, and then not longer than 10 minutes for the first speech and five 34
	187	+	minutes for the second speech. 35
	188	+	(c) A member may speak only once and for not more than 10 minutes on the 36
	189	+	question of the adoption of a minority report. 37
	190	+	(d) In computing the time allowed for argument, the time consumed in answering 38
	191	+	questions should be considered and is taken out of any time allowed that member. 39
	192	+	(e) The House, by consent of a majority of the members present, may suspend the 40
	193	+	operation of subsections (b) through (d) of this rule during any debate on any particular question 41
	194	+	before the House. 42
	195	+	RULE 11. Reading of Papers. – When there is a call for the reading of the text of a 43
	196	+	paper which has been presented to the House and there is objection to such reading, the question 44
	197	+	shall be determined by a majority vote of the members of the House present. Except for protests 45
	198	+	permitted by the Constitution, no member may have material printed in the Journal until said 46
	199	+	material has been presented to the House and the printing approved by the House, and said 47
	200	+	material shall not exceed 1,000 words. 48
	201	+	RULE 12. General Decorum. – (a) The Speaker shall preserve order and decorum. 49
	202	+	(b) Decency of speech shall be observed and disrespect to personalities carefully 50
	203	+	avoided. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	204	+	House Resolution 563-First Edition Page 5
	205	+	(c) When the Speaker is putting any question or addressing the House, no person 1
	206	+	shall speak, stand up, walk out of, or cross the House, nor, when a member is speaking, engage 2
	207	+	in disruptive discourse or pass between the member and the chair. 3
	208	+	(d) Food shall not be permitted on the floor of the House during the first hour of 4
	209	+	the daily session. 5
	210	+	(e) The reading of newspapers shall not be permitted on the floor of the House 6
	211	+	while the House is in session. 7
	212	+	(f) The consumption of food or beverages shall not be permitted in the galleries 8
	213	+	at any time. 9
	214	+	(g) Special recitals and performances by musicians or other groups shall not be 10
	215	+	permitted on the floor of the House, and special guests of members of the House shall not be 11
	216	+	permitted on the floor of the House. 12
	217	+	(h) Members shall observe appropriate attire: coat and tie for male members and 13
	218	+	dignified dress for female members. 14
	219	+	(i) The use of a mobile device or cellular phone for the purpose of making or 15
	220	+	receiving a phone call shall not be permitted in the House Chamber while the House is in session. 16
	221	+	(j) Placards, stickers, or signs are not permitted in the House Chamber. 17
	222	+	III. Motions 18
	223	+	RULE 13. Motions Generally. – (a) A motion that is complex, complicated, or 19
	224	+	otherwise not easily understood shall be reduced to writing at the request of the Speaker or any 20
	225	+	member. No motion relating to a bill shall be in order that does not identify the bill by its number 21
	226	+	and short title. 22
	227	+	(b) When a motion is made, it shall be stated by the Speaker or, if written, it shall 23
	228	+	be handed to the chair and read aloud by the Speaker or Clerk before debate. 24
	229	+	(c) After a motion has been stated by the Speaker or read by the Speaker or Clerk, 25
	230	+	it shall be in the possession of the House; but it may be withdrawn before a decision or 26
	231	+	amendment, except in case of a motion to reconsider, which motion, when made by a member, 27
	232	+	shall be in possession of the House and shall not be withdrawn without leave of the House. 28
	233	+	RULE 14. Motions, Order of Precedence. – When there are motions before the 29
	234	+	House, the order of precedence is as follows: 30
	235	+	To adjourn. 31
	236	+	To recess. 32
	237	+	To lay on the table. 33
	238	+	Previous question. 34
	239	+	To postpone indefinitely. 35
	240	+	To reconsider. 36
	241	+	To postpone to a day certain. 37
	242	+	To re-refer. 38
	243	+	To amend an amendment. 39
	244	+	To amend. 40
	245	+	To pass the bill. 41
	246	+	No motion to lay on the table, to postpone indefinitely, to postpone to a day certain, 42
	247	+	to re-refer, to divide the question, or to make a particular amendment, being decided, shall be 43
	248	+	again allowed at the same stage of the bill or proposition. 44
	249	+	RULE 15. Motion to Adjourn. – (a) A motion to adjourn shall be seconded before 45
	250	+	the motion is put to the vote of the House. 46
	251	+	(b) A motion to adjourn shall be decided without debate and shall always be in 47
	252	+	order, except when the House is voting or some member is speaking; but a motion to adjourn 48
	253	+	shall not follow a motion to adjourn until debate or some other business of the House has 49
	254	+	intervened. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	255	+	Page 6 House Resolution 563-First Edition
	256	+	RULE 15.1. Motion to Adjourn or Stand in Recess; Standard Stipulations. – A 1
	257	+	motion to adjourn or stand in recess subject to the standard stipulations shall constitute a motion 2
	258	+	to adjourn or stand in recess subject to the ratification of bills, messages from the Senate, 3
	259	+	committee reports, conference reports, referral and re-referral of bills and resolutions, 4
	260	+	appointment of conferees, introduction of bills and resolutions, committee appointments, and the 5
	261	+	reading of Representative Statements. 6
	262	+	RULE 16. Motion to Table. – (a) A motion to table shall be seconded before the 7
	263	+	motion is put to the vote of the House and is in order except when a motion to adjourn or to recess 8
	264	+	is before the House. 9
	265	+	(b) A motion to table shall be decided without debate; however, the proponent of 10
	266	+	the matter that is subject of the motion to table shall be given up to two minutes to explain the 11
	267	+	matter subject to the motion to table if the proponent has not previously explained the matter 12
	268	+	prior to the motion to table. 13
	269	+	(c) A motion to table a bill shall constitute a motion to table the bill and all 14
	270	+	amendments thereto. 15
	271	+	(d) When the question before the House is the adoption of an amendment to a bill 16
	272	+	or resolution, a motion to table the bill is not in order; and a motion to table an amendment applies 17
	273	+	to the amendment only, and the motion may not expressly or by implication or construction be 18
	274	+	expanded to include a motion to table the bill also. 19
	275	+	(e) When a question has been tabled, it shall not thereafter be considered, except 20
	276	+	on motion to reconsider under Rule 18 or to remove from the table approved by a two-thirds vote. 21
	277	+	RULE 17. Motion to Postpone Indefinitely. – A motion to postpone indefinitely is 22
	278	+	in order except when a motion to adjourn, or to lay on the table, or for the previous question, or 23
	279	+	to recess is before the House. However, after one motion to postpone indefinitely has been 24
	280	+	decided, another motion to postpone indefinitely shall not be allowed at the same stage of the bill 25
	281	+	or proposition. When a question has been postponed indefinitely, it shall not thereafter be 26
	282	+	considered, except on motion to reconsider under Rule 18 or to place on the favorable calendar 27
	283	+	approved by a two-thirds vote. 28
	284	+	RULE 18. Motion to Reconsider. – (a) When a question has been decided, it is in 29
	285	+	order for any member to move for the reconsideration thereof on the same or the succeeding 30
	286	+	legislative day; provided that if the vote by which the motion was originally decided was taken 31
	287	+	by a recorded vote, only a member of the prevailing side may move for reconsideration. 32
	288	+	(b) A motion to reconsider shall be determined by a majority vote, except all of 33
	289	+	the following shall require a two-thirds vote: 34
	290	+	(1) A motion to reconsider not made on the same or the succeeding legislative 35
	291	+	day when a question has been decided. 36
	292	+	(2) A second or subsequent motion to reconsider. 37
	293	+	(3) A motion to reconsider: 38
	294	+	a. A vote upon a motion to table. 39
	295	+	b. A motion to postpone indefinitely. 40
	296	+	c. A motion to remove a bill from the unfavorable calendar. 41
	297	+	d. A motion that a bill be read twice on the same day. 42
	298	+	e. A motion to remove from the table. 43
	299	+	(c) A motion to reconsider the vote by which a person has been elected as Speaker 44
	300	+	or Speaker Pro Tempore shall not be in order. This subsection of this rule cannot be suspended 45
	301	+	except by a vote of three-fifths of all the members of the House. 46
	302	+	RULE 19. Previous Question. – (a) The previous question may be called only by: 47
	303	+	(1) The Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House; 48
	304	+	(1a) The Vice-Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the 49
	305	+	House if the Chair is not in the Chamber or able to participate in debate; 50
	306	+	(2) The Majority Leader; 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	307	+	House Resolution 563-First Edition Page 7
	308	+	(3) The member submitting the report on the bill or other matter under 1
	309	+	consideration; 2
	310	+	(4) The member introducing the bill or other matter under consideration; 3
	311	+	(5) The member in charge of the measure, who shall be designated by the chair 4
	312	+	of the standing committee reporting the same to the House at the time the bill 5
	313	+	or other matter under consideration is reported to the House or taken up for 6
	314	+	consideration. 7
	315	+	(b) When the call for the previous question has been decided in the affirmative by 8
	316	+	a majority vote of the House, the question is on the passage of the bill, resolution, or other matter 9
	317	+	under consideration. 10
	318	+	(c) The call for the previous question shall preclude all motions, amendments, 11
	319	+	and debate, except the motion to adjourn, motion to recess, or motion to table. 12
	320	+	(d) If the previous question is decided in the negative, the question remains under 13
	321	+	debate. 14
	322	+	(e) After the previous question is ordered by the House on the main question of 15
	323	+	second reading, third reading, or a vote on overriding a gubernatorial veto, the Majority Leader 16
	324	+	and the Minority Leader may each allocate three minutes of debate on the question. The Majority 17
	325	+	Leader and the Minority Leader may each designate another member to act under this subsection. 18
	326	+	IV. Voting 19
	327	+	RULE 20. Use of Electronic Voting System. – (a) Votes on the following questions 20
	328	+	shall be taken on the electronic voting system, and the ayes and noes shall be recorded on the 21
	329	+	Journal: 22
	330	+	(1) The passage as required by Section 23 of Article II of the North Carolina 23
	331	+	Constitution on second and third readings of any bill: 24
	332	+	a. Raising money on the credit of the State, 25
	333	+	b. Pledging the faith of the State for the payment of a debt, 26
	334	+	c. Imposing a State tax, or 27
	335	+	d. Authorizing a county, municipality, or other local governmental unit 28
	336	+	to: 29
	337	+	1. Raise money on its credit, 30
	338	+	2. Pledge its faith for the payment of a debt, or 31
	339	+	3. Impose a local tax. 32
	340	+	(2) All questions on which a call for the ayes and noes under Rule 24(a) and 33
	341	+	Section 19 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution has been sustained. 34
	342	+	(3) Both second and third readings of bills proposing amendment of the North 35
	343	+	Carolina Constitution or ratifying resolutions amending the United States 36
	344	+	Constitution. 37
	345	+	(4) The passage of a bill, notwithstanding the Governor's veto thereof, pursuant 38
	346	+	to Section 22 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution. 39
	347	+	(b) Votes on the following questions shall be taken on the electronic voting 40
	348	+	system: 41
	349	+	(1) Second reading of all public bills except resolutions, all amendments to public 42
	350	+	bills, third reading if a public bill was amended after second reading or if the 43
	351	+	reading occurs on a day or days following the second reading, all conference 44
	352	+	reports on public bills, all motions to lay public bills on the table, and all 45
	353	+	motions to postpone public bills indefinitely. 46
	354	+	(2) Upon a call for division. 47
	355	+	(3) Any other question upon direction of the Speaker or upon motion of any 48
	356	+	member supported by one-fifth of the members present. 49 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	357	+	Page 8 House Resolution 563-First Edition
	358	+	(c) When the electronic voting system is used, 15 seconds shall be allowed for 1
	359	+	voting on the question before the House, unless the Chair shall direct otherwise. Once the system 2
	360	+	is locked, the vote shall be recorded and printed. 3
	361	+	(d) The voting station at each member's desk in the Chamber shall be used only 4
	362	+	by the member to which the station is assigned. Under no circumstances shall any other person 5
	363	+	vote at a member's station. It is a breach of the ethical obligation of a member either to request 6
	364	+	that another person vote at the requesting member's station or to vote at another member's station. 7
	365	+	The Speaker shall enforce this rule without exception. 8
	366	+	(e) When the electronic voting system is used, the Speaker shall state the question 9
	367	+	and shall then state substantially the following: "All in favor vote 'aye'; all opposed vote 'no'; the 10
	368	+	Clerk will open the vote." In order to have the vote recorded, the member must vote by the 11
	369	+	electronic voting system within the time allowed for that vote, unless the voting station assigned 12
	370	+	to a member is malfunctioning. The Speaker shall enforce this rule without exception. After the 13
	371	+	allotted time for voting has elapsed, the Speaker shall say: "The Clerk will now lock the machine 14
	372	+	and record the vote." After the machine is locked and the vote recorded, the Speaker shall 15
	373	+	announce the vote and declare the result. 16
	374	+	(f) One copy of the machine printout of the vote record of all votes taken on the 17
	375	+	electronic voting system shall be filed in the office of the Principal Clerk, and two copies shall 18
	376	+	be filed in the Legislative Library where the copies shall be open to public inspection. A legible 19
	377	+	copy of the bill, amendment, or motion on which the vote was taken shall be filed with the 20
	378	+	printout of the vote in the Legislative Library. 21
	379	+	(g) When the Speaker ascertains that the electronic voting system is inoperative 22
	380	+	before a vote is taken or while a vote is being taken on the electronic voting system, the Speaker 23
	381	+	shall announce that fact to the House, and any partial electronic voting system voting record shall 24
	382	+	be voided. In such a case, if the North Carolina Constitution or the Rules of the House require a 25
	383	+	call of the ayes and noes, the Clerk shall call the roll of the House, and the ayes and noes shall 26
	384	+	be taken manually and shall be recorded on the Journal. All roll call votes shall be taken 27
	385	+	alphabetically. If, after a vote is taken on the electronic voting system, it is discovered that a 28
	386	+	malfunction caused an error in the electronic voting system printout, the Speaker shall direct the 29
	387	+	Reading Clerk and the Principal Clerk to verify and correct the printout record and so advise the 30
	388	+	House. 31
	389	+	(h) For the purpose of identifying motions on which the vote is taken on the 32
	390	+	electronic voting system, the motions are coded as follows: 33
	391	+	(1) To adjourn. 34
	392	+	(2) To recess. 35
	393	+	(3) To lay on the table. 36
	394	+	(4) Previous question. 37
	395	+	(5) To postpone indefinitely. 38
	396	+	(6) To reconsider. 39
	397	+	(7) To postpone to a day certain. 40
	398	+	(8) To re-refer. 41
	399	+	(9) To amend an amendment. 42
	400	+	(10) To amend. 43
	401	+	(11) To concur or not concur. 44
	402	+	(12) Miscellaneous. 45
	403	+	RULE 21. Voice Votes; Stating Questions. – (a) All other votes except those 46
	404	+	required to be taken on the electronic voting system may be taken by voice vote. 47
	405	+	(b) When a voice vote is taken, the Speaker shall put the question substantially as 48
	406	+	follows: "Those in favor (as the question may be) will say 'aye,'" and after the affirmative voice 49
	407	+	has been expressed, "Those opposed will say 'no.'" 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	408	+	House Resolution 563-First Edition Page 9
	409	+	(c) No statement, explanation, debate, motion, parliamentary inquiry, or point of 1
	410	+	order shall be allowed once the voice vote has begun. Any point of order or parliamentary inquiry 2
	411	+	may be raised, however, after the completion of the vote. 3
	412	+	RULE 22. Determining Questions. – (a) Unless otherwise provided by the North 4
	413	+	Carolina Constitution or by these rules, all questions shall be determined by a simple majority of 5
	414	+	the members present and voting. 6
	415	+	(b) No member may vote unless the member is in the Chamber between the time 7
	416	+	when the question is put and the time the vote is locked. This subsection of this rule cannot be 8
	417	+	suspended. 9
	418	+	RULE 23. Voting by Division. – Any member may call for a division of the members 10
	419	+	upon the question before the result of the vote has been announced. Upon a call for a division, 11
	420	+	the Speaker shall cause the number voting in the affirmative and in the negative to be determined. 12
	421	+	Upon a division and count of the House on any question, no member away from the member's 13
	422	+	seat shall be counted. 14
	423	+	RULE 24. Roll Call Vote. – (a) Before a question is put, any member may call for 15
	424	+	the ayes and noes. If the call is sustained by one-fifth of the members present, the question shall 16
	425	+	be decided by the ayes and noes upon a roll call vote. 17
	426	+	(b) Every member who is in the Hall of the House when the question is put shall 18
	427	+	vote upon a call of the ayes and noes, unless excused pursuant to Rule 24.1A. 19
	428	+	(c) No member may change a vote without leave of the House, but such leave 20
	429	+	shall not be granted if it affects the result or if the session in which the vote was taken has been 21
	430	+	adjourned. The Speaker may, at his discretion, set written procedures to carry out this subsection. 22
	431	+	RULE 24.1A. Excuse From Deliberations and Voting on a Bill. – (a) Any member 23
	432	+	shall, upon request, be excused in advance from the deliberations and voting on a particular bill 24
	433	+	at any time that the reason for the request arises in the proceedings on the bill. 25
	434	+	(b) The member may make a brief oral statement of the reasons for making the 26
	435	+	request. The member shall provide to the Principal Clerk, on a form provided by the Clerk, a 27
	436	+	concise written statement of the reason for the request, and the Clerk shall include this statement 28
	437	+	in the Journal. 29
	438	+	(c) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this rule, the member so excused shall 30
	439	+	not debate the bill or any amendment to the bill, vote on the bill, offer or vote on any amendment 31
	440	+	to the bill, or offer or vote on any motion concerning the bill, in committee or on the floor of the 32
	441	+	House at any reading, or any subsequent consideration of the bill. 33
	442	+	(d) A member may request that his or her excuse from deliberations on a 34
	443	+	particular bill be withdrawn. 35
	444	+	(e) By leave of the House, a member who has been excused from deliberations 36
	445	+	and voting on a bill may participate in deliberations and votes on amendments to which that 37
	446	+	member does not have any conflict that requires excusal. 38
	447	+	RULE 24.1B. Division of Amendments and Questions. – (a) Any member may call 39
	448	+	for an amendment to be divided into two or more amendments to be voted on separately. The 40
	449	+	motion shall be in writing, must be submitted to the Principal Clerk at the time the motion is 41
	450	+	made, and must clearly state how the question is to be divided. The Speaker shall determine 42
	451	+	whether the amendment admits of such a division. Upon a majority vote of the members present 43
	452	+	and voting, the motion shall be adopted and the body shall debate and vote each amendment 44
	453	+	separately. 45
	454	+	(b) Any member may call for a bill to be divided into two or more propositions to 46
	455	+	be voted on separately, provided the bill is subject to division into separate parts so that each part 47
	456	+	states a separate and distinct proposition capable of standing alone. The motion shall be in 48
	457	+	writing, must be submitted to the Principal Clerk at the time the motion is made, and must clearly 49
	458	+	state how the question is to be divided. The Speaker shall then determine whether the bill admits 50
	459	+	of such a division. Upon a majority vote of the members present and voting, the motion shall be 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	460	+	Page 10 House Resolution 563-First Edition
	461	+	adopted and there shall be no further amendment or debate as to further division of the distinct 1
	462	+	propositions. If the question is divided, the body shall debate and vote each proposition 2
	463	+	separately. If any proposition fails, the bill shall be removed from the calendar and re-referred to 3
	464	+	the committee from which the bill was reported. If all parts of the divided question pass, the 4
	465	+	Speaker shall announce that the entire measure has passed second or third reading. No conference 5
	466	+	report and no Current Operations Appropriations Bill is eligible to be divided under this 6
	467	+	subsection. 7
	468	+	RULE 25. Voting by Speaker. – In all elections, the Speaker may vote. In all other 8
	469	+	instances, the Speaker may vote or may reserve this right until there is a tie, in which event the 9
	470	+	Speaker may vote; but in no instance may the Speaker vote twice on the same question. 10
	471	+	V. Committees 11
	472	+	RULE 26. Standing Committees Generally. – (a) The Speaker shall appoint a chair, 12
	473	+	or cochairs, of every standing committee, and select committee, if any. In the construction of 13
	474	+	these rules, the word "chair," as applied to a committee, extends to and includes a cochair of the 14
	475	+	committee. The Speaker shall have the exclusive right and authority to establish select 15
	476	+	committees, but this does not exclude the right of the House by resolution to establish select 16
	477	+	committees. 17
	478	+	(b) The Speaker shall establish the number of members of each standing 18
	479	+	committee and appoint the members in a manner to reflect the partisan membership of the House, 19
	480	+	except that the Committee on Ethics shall have an equal number of members of the majority and 20
	481	+	minority. 21
	482	+	(c) Before appointing members of committees, the Speaker shall consult with the 22
	483	+	Minority Leader. The Speaker and Minority Leader shall consider members' committee 23
	484	+	preferences in making appointments and recommendations. 24
	485	+	(d) The Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, 25
	486	+	the Speaker Pro Tempore, the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, and the Deputy Majority 26
	487	+	Leader are ex officio members of each standing committee with the right to vote. The previous 27
	488	+	sentence does not apply to the Standing Committee on Ethics. Up to two chairs of the 28
	489	+	Appropriations Committee are entitled to vote in all other Appropriations Committees 29
	490	+	(Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, Capital and Information Technology, 30
	491	+	Education, General Government, Health and Human Services, Justice and Public Safety, and 31
	492	+	Transportation). 32
	493	+	(e) Either the chair or acting chair, designated by the chair or by the Speaker, and 33
	494	+	five other members of the standing committee, or a majority of the standing committee, 34
	495	+	whichever is fewer, shall constitute a quorum of that standing committee. A quorum of less than 35
	496	+	a majority of all the members must include at least one member of the minority party. For 36
	497	+	purposes of determining a quorum, the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 37
	498	+	Operations of the House, the Speaker Pro Tempore, the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, 38
	499	+	and the Deputy Majority Leader, when serving only as ex officio members under subsection (d) 39
	500	+	of this rule, shall be counted among the membership of the committee only when present. 40
	501	+	(f) In any joint meeting of the Senate and House committees, the House standing 41
	502	+	committee reserves the right to vote separately. 42
	503	+	RULE 26.1. Mentions of Standing Committee Includes Select Committee. – Any 43
	504	+	reference in these rules to standing committees shall extend to select committees unless the 44
	505	+	context requires otherwise. 45
	506	+	RULE 27. List of Standing Committees. – The standing committees are: 46
	507	+	47
	508	+	Agriculture and Environment 48
	509	+	49
	510	+	Alcoholic Beverage Control 50
	511	+	51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	512	+	House Resolution 563-First Edition Page 11
	513	+	Appropriations 1
	514	+	2
	515	+	Appropriations, Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources 3
	516	+	4
	517	+	Appropriations, Capital and Information Technology 5
	518	+	6
	519	+	Appropriations, Education 7
	520	+	8
	521	+	Appropriations, General Government 9
	522	+	10
	523	+	Appropriations, Health and Human Services 11
	524	+	12
	525	+	Appropriations, Justice and Public Safety 13
	526	+	14
	527	+	Appropriations, Transportation 15
	528	+	16
	529	+	Commerce and Economic Development 17
	530	+	18
	531	+	Education – K-12 19
	532	+	20
	533	+	Election Law 21
	534	+	22
	535	+	Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery 23
	536	+	24
	537	+	Energy and Public Utilities 25
	538	+	26
	539	+	Ethics 27
	540	+	28
	541	+	Federal Relations and American Indian Affairs 29
	542	+	30
	543	+	Finance 31
	544	+	32
	545	+	Health 33
	546	+	34
	547	+	Higher Education 35
	548	+	36
	549	+	Homeland Security and Military and Veterans Affairs 37
	550	+	38
	551	+	Housing and Development 39
	552	+	40
	553	+	Insurance 41
	554	+	42
	555	+	Judiciary 1 43
	556	+	44
	557	+	Judiciary 2 45
	558	+	46
	559	+	Judiciary 3 47
	560	+	48
	561	+	Oversight 49
509	562		50
510		-	~~Agriculture~~ and ~~Environment~~ 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
511		-	House Resolution 563 ~~Page 11~~
	563	+	Pensions and Retirement 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	564	+	Page 12 House Resolution 563-First Edition
512	565		1
513		-	~~Alcoholic Beverage Control~~ 2
	566	+	Regulatory Reform 2
514	567		3
515		-	~~Appropriations~~ 4
	568	+	Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House 4
516	569		5
517		-	~~Appropriations, Agriculture~~ and ~~Natural and Economic Resources~~ 6
	570	+	State and Local Government 6
518	571		7
519		-	~~Appropriations, Capital and Information Technology~~ 8
	572	+	Transportation 8
520	573		9
521		-	Appropriations, Education 10
522		-	11
523		-	Appropriations, General Government 12
524		-	13
525		-	Appropriations, Health and Human Services 14
526		-	15
527		-	Appropriations, Justice and Public Safety 16
528		-	17
529		-	Appropriations, Transportation 18
530		-	19
531		-	Commerce and Economic Development 20
532		-	21
533		-	Education – K-12 22
534		-	23
535		-	Election Law 24
536		-	25
537		-	Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery 26
538		-	27
539		-	Energy and Public Utilities 28
540		-	29
541		-	Ethics 30
542		-	31
543		-	Federal Relations and American Indian Affairs 32
544		-	33
545		-	Finance 34
546		-	35
547		-	Health 36
548		-	37
549		-	Higher Education 38
550		-	39
551		-	Homeland Security and Military and Veterans Affairs 40
552		-	41
553		-	Housing and Development 42
554		-	43
555		-	Insurance 44
556		-	45
557		-	Judiciary 1 46
558		-	47
559		-	Judiciary 2 48
560		-	49
561		-	Judiciary 3 50
562		-	51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
563		-	Page 12 House Resolution 563
564		-	Oversight 1
565		-	2
566		-	Pensions and Retirement 3
567		-	4
568		-	Regulatory Reform 5
569		-	6
570		-	Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House 7
571		-	8
572		-	State and Local Government 9
573		-	10
574		-	Transportation 11
575		-	12
576		-	Wildlife Resources 13
577		-	RULE 28. Standing Committee Meetings. – (a) Standing committees shall be 14
578		-	furnished with suitable meeting places pursuant to a schedule established by the Chair of the 15
579		-	Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House. Select committees shall 16
580		-	be furnished with suitable meeting places as their needs require by the Chair of the Standing 17
581		-	Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House. 18
582		-	(b) Subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this rule, standing committees 19
583		-	thereof shall permit other members of the General Assembly, the press, and the general public to 20
584		-	attend all sessions of said standing committees. 21
585		-	(c) The chair or other presiding officer shall have general direction of the meeting 22
586		-	place of the standing committee, and, in case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct therein, or 23
587		-	if the peace, good order, and proper conduct of the legislative business is hindered by any person 24
588		-	or persons, the chair or presiding officer shall have power to exclude from the session any 25
589		-	individual or individuals so hindering the legislative business. 26
590		-	(d) Procedure in the standing committees shall be governed by the rules of the 27
591		-	House, so far as the same may be applicable to such procedure. Before a question is put, any 28
592		-	member may call for the ayes and noes. The chair shall ask, "Is the call sustained?" If the call is 29
593		-	sustained by one-fifth of the members present and standing, the question shall be decided by the 30
594		-	ayes and noes upon a roll call vote. All roll call votes shall be taken alphabetically and shall be 31
595		-	subject to Rule 21(c). 32
596		-	(d1) The committee chair shall set the agenda for each committee meeting. After 33
597		-	April 1, 2025, a committee may, provided there is a written request signed by at least two-thirds 34
598		-	of the members of the committee, place a bill on the committee's agenda for the next regularly 35
599		-	scheduled meeting of the committee. 36
600		-	(e) No standing committee shall meet on any day when the House shall not 37
601		-	convene except by permission of the Speaker or by approval of the House by resolution adopted 38
602		-	by a majority vote of the House. 39
603		-	(f) No standing committee shall meet during any session of the House that is not 40
604		-	a pro forma session. Standing committees shall meet at their regularly scheduled hour. Standing 41
605		-	committees may meet at other times as authorized by the Chair of the Standing Committee on 42
606		-	Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House in order to assure the availability of the meeting 43
607		-	room and that no conflicts will exist with the meetings of other bodies. Except for a meeting of 44
608		-	a standing committee for which the Speaker has given notice that the House will be at ease until 45
609		-	the adjournment of that standing committee, all standing committee meetings shall adjourn no 46
610		-	later than: 47
611		-	(1) 15 minutes preceding a regular session of the House, and 48
612		-	(2) 10 minutes preceding the hour of the next regularly scheduled standing 49
613		-	committee meeting. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
614		-	House Resolution 563 Page 13
615		-	Action taken by a committee in violation of this rule is voidable unless taken by 1
616		-	unanimous consent at a meeting at which a majority of all the members of the committee are 2
617		-	present and at which at least one member present is of the minority party. 3
618		-	(g) Any call or notice of a standing committee meeting between legislative 4
619		-	sessions shall be sent by electronic mail to each member of the standing committee at least five 5
620		-	days prior to such meeting. If a member of the body so requests in writing to the chair of the 6
621		-	standing committee, the member shall also be notified of the meetings by mail at a designated 7
622		-	address. 8
623		-	(h) During standing committee meetings, the chair may exercise the right to vote, 9
624		-	or may reserve this right until there is a tie, in which event the chair may vote, but in no instance 10
625		-	may the chair vote twice on the same question. 11
626		-	RULE 28.1. Ethics Committee Investigations Into Violations of the Open 12
627		-	Meetings Law. – (a) On its own motion, or in response to signed and sworn complaint of any 13
628		-	individual filed with the Standing Committee on Ethics, the Committee shall inquire into any 14
629		-	alleged violation by members of the House of the Open Meetings Law (Article 33C of Chapter 15
630		-	143 of the General Statutes), as the same may be amended in the future. 16
631		-	(b) If, after such preliminary investigation as it may make, the Committee 17
632		-	determines to proceed with an inquiry into the conduct of any individual, the Committee shall 18
633		-	notify the individual as to the fact of the inquiry and the charges against the individual and shall 19
634		-	schedule one or more hearings on the matter. The individual shall have the right to present 20
635		-	evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and be represented by counsel at any hearings. 21
636		-	(c) After the Committee has concluded its inquiries into the alleged violations, 22
637		-	the Committee shall dispose of the matter by taking one of the following actions: 23
638		-	(1) Dismiss the complaint and take no further action. 24
639		-	(2) Issue a private letter of reprimand to the legislator, if the legislator 25
640		-	unintentionally violated the provisions of the Open Meetings Law. 26
641		-	(3) Issue a public letter of reprimand if the violation of the Open Meetings Law 27
642		-	was intentional or if the legislator has previously received a private letter of 28
643		-	reprimand. The Chair of the Committee on Ethics shall have the public letter 29
644		-	of reprimand spread on the pages of the House Journal. 30
645		-	(4) Refer the matter to the House for appropriate action. 31
646		-	RULE 28.2. Committee Meetings; Use of Remote Participation. – (a) At times 32
647		-	when Rule 58.1 is not in effect, a standing committee may conduct meetings with members 33
648		-	participating remotely provided all of the following requirements are met: 34
649		-	(1) The Speaker has not disallowed remote participation for the standing 35
650		-	committee. 36
651		-	(2) Each member is able to communicate, in real time, with all other members by 37
652		-	(i) in-person communication, (ii) remote communication using devices or 38
653		-	programs that transmit audio or audio and video, or (iii) both. 39
654		-	(3) All documents considered by the committee are provided to members. 40
655		-	(4) The committee otherwise complies with G.S. 143-318.13(a). 41
656		-	(b) A committee member who is participating remotely shall be counted as 42
657		-	present for quorum purposes and may vote on any measure or motion before the committee. An 43
658		-	ex officio member under Rule 26(d) shall be counted among the membership of the committee 44
659		-	only when present or participating remotely. 45
660		-	RULE 29. Notice of Standing Committee Meetings and Hearings. – (a) Notice of 46
661		-	meetings of standing committees that will occur at the regularly scheduled meeting times shall 47
662		-	be given by one or both of the following methods: 48
663		-	(1) Notice given openly at a session of the House; or 49 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
664		-	Page 14 House Resolution 563
665		-	(2) Notice mailed or sent by electronic mail to those who have requested notice 1
666		-	and to the Legislative Services Office, which shall post the notice on the 2
667		-	General Assembly website. 3
668		-	(b) Notice of all other meetings shall be given in the House. If the meeting is 4
669		-	scheduled to occur after adjournment, notice shall also be given by electronic mail and posting 5
670		-	on the General Assembly website. 6
671		-	(c) The chair of the standing committee shall notify or cause to be notified the 7
672		-	sponsor of each bill that is set for hearing or consideration before the standing committee as to 8
673		-	the date, time, and place of that meeting. 9
674		-	RULE 29.1. Public Hearings. – (a) The chair of the standing committee may 10
675		-	schedule a time to receive public comments for the standing committee as a whole during the 11
676		-	meeting of the standing committee or after the adjournment of a regular daily House session. 12
677		-	(b) Persons desiring to provide public comments during a meeting of a standing 13
678		-	committee shall submit their requests to the chair of the standing committee. The standing 14
679		-	committee chair may designate one or more members to arrange the order of appearance of 15
680		-	interested parties. A brief written statement of testimony may be submitted without oral 16
681		-	presentation and shall be incorporated into the minutes of the public hearing. 17
682		-	RULE 29.2. Minutes to Legislative Library. – The chair of a standing committee 18
683		-	shall ensure that written minutes are compiled for each of the body's meetings. The minutes shall 19
684		-	indicate the members present and the actions taken at the meeting. Not later than 10 days after 20
685		-	the adjournment of each session of the General Assembly, the chair or the chair's designee shall 21
686		-	deliver the minutes to the Legislative Library. The Speaker of the House may grant a reasonable 22
687		-	extension of time for filing said minutes upon written application of the chair. 23
688		-	RULE 30. Committee of the Whole House. – (a) A Committee of the Whole House 24
689		-	shall not be formed, except by leave of the House. 25
690		-	(b) After passage of a motion to form a Committee of the Whole House, the 26
691		-	Speaker shall appoint a chair to preside in the committee and the Speaker shall leave the dais. 27
692		-	(c) The rules of procedure in the House shall be observed in the Committee of the 28
693		-	Whole House, so far as they may be applicable, except the rule limiting the time of speaking and 29
694		-	the previous question. 30
695		-	(d) In the Committee of the Whole House, a motion that the standing committee 31
696		-	rise shall always be in order, except when a member is speaking, and shall be decided without 32
697		-	debate. 33
698		-	(e) When a bill is submitted to the Committee of the Whole House, it shall be 34
699		-	read and debated by sections, leaving the preamble to be last considered. The body of the bill 35
700		-	shall not be defaced or interlined, but all amendments, noting the page and line, shall be duly 36
701		-	entered by the Principal Clerk on a separate paper as the same shall be agreed to by the standing 37
702		-	committee and be so reported to the House. After report, the bill shall again be subject to be 38
703		-	debated and amended by sections before a question on its passage be taken. 39
704		-	VI. Handling of Bills 40
705		-	RULE 31. Introduction of Bills and Resolutions. – (a) All bills and resolutions shall 41
706		-	be introduced by submitting same to the Principal Clerk's office by 3:00 P.M. on the legislative 42
707		-	day prior to the first reading and referral thereof. The Clerk shall number all bills and resolutions 43
708		-	in the order in which they are introduced. 44
709		-	(b) Bills shall not become resolutions provided the Senate has a similar rule. 45
710		-	Resolutions shall not become bills. Resolutions are not law but may be used when a law is not 46
711		-	necessary for the purpose contained therein. Resolutions shall not be used to appropriate funds 47
712		-	for any purpose, but may be used to create study commissions or committees or establish 48
713		-	investigative committees, to honor deceased members of the General Assembly, to express to 49
714		-	Congress the opinions of the House and the General Assembly, and to adopt House rules and 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
715		-	House Resolution 563 Page 15
716		-	internal affairs. Resolutions cannot amend, repeal, or modify a statute; nor do they have life 1
717		-	beyond the term of the session during which they are adopted. 2
718		-	(c) Every bill or resolution shall be read in regular order of business, except upon 3
719		-	permission of the Speaker or on the report of a standing committee. 4
720		-	(d) All bills and resolutions shall show in their captions a brief descriptive 5
721		-	statement of the true substance of same, which captions may thereafter be amended. Amendments 6
722		-	to captions of bills are in order only if the amendment is germane to the bill. Third reading shall 7
723		-	not be had on any bill or resolution on the same day that such caption is amended. 8
724		-	(e) A Substitute Bill shall be covered with the same color jacket as the original 9
725		-	bill and shall be prefaced as follows: "House Committee Substitute for______." 10
726		-	(f) House resolutions need not be read more than twice. 11
727		-	(g) All memorializing, celebration, commendation, and commemoration 12
728		-	resolutions, except those honoring the memory of deceased members of the General Assembly 13
729		-	or expressing to Congress the opinions of the House or the General Assembly, shall be excluded 14
730		-	from introduction and consideration in the House. The mention of a deceased member of the 15
731		-	General Assembly as a pretext to honor an institution or a living person is prohibited. Members 16
732		-	should utilize a Representative Statement, as provided in Rule 8.1, as the preferred alternative to 17
733		-	House simple resolutions that memorialize, celebrate, commend, and commemorate, other than 18
734		-	for those relating to deceased members of the General Assembly or expressing to Congress the 19
735		-	opinions of the House or the General Assembly. 20
736		-	(h) Any reference in these rules to bills shall extend to resolutions unless the 21
737		-	context requires otherwise. 22
738		-	RULE 31.1. Deadlines on Introduction and Receipt; No Blank Bills; 15 Bill Limit. 23
739		-	– (a) All local bills must be submitted to the Legislative Drafting Division or the Legislative 24
740		-	Analysis Division of the Legislative Services Office by 4:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 20, 25
741		-	2025, and must be introduced not later than 3:00 P.M. on Thursday, March 6, 2025. 26
742		-	(b) All public bills or resolutions must be submitted to the Legislative Drafting 27
743		-	Division or the Legislative Analysis Division of the Legislative Services Office by 4:00 P.M. on 28
744		-	Thursday, March 6, 2025, and must be introduced not later than 3:00 P.M. on Thursday, April 3, 29
745		-	2025. 30
746		-	(c) A bill containing no substantive provisions may not be introduced in the 31
747		-	House. 32
748		-	(d) No member may introduce more than 15 public bills. For the purpose of this 33
749		-	subsection, the introducer is the member who is listed as the first sponsor. A member may assign 34
750		-	a portion of this limit to another member electronically using the procedures established and 35
751		-	published by the Principal Clerk. This subsection does not apply to the following: 36
752		-	(1) Bills or resolutions recommended by commissions or committees authorized 37
753		-	or directed by act or resolution of the General Assembly (i) to report to the 38
754		-	2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly, or to report prior to convening 39
755		-	of that session, or (ii) that are recommended to the Regular Session of the 40
756		-	General Assembly by a commission or committee established directly by 41
757		-	Chapter 120 of the General Statutes. 42
758		-	(2) Joint resolutions or House resolutions. 43
759		-	(3) Bills introduced by the Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 44
760		-	Operations of the House providing for action on gubernatorial nominations or 45
761		-	appointments or for action on appointments by the General Assembly 46
762		-	pursuant to G.S. 120-121. 47
763		-	(e) In order to be eligible for consideration by the House during the first Regular 48
764		-	Session, all Senate bills other than (i) finance or appropriations bills that would be required to be 49
765		-	re-referred to the Appropriations or Finance Committee under Rule 38, (ii) those providing for 50
766		-	action on gubernatorial nominations or appointments, (iii) those providing for action on 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
767		-	Page 16 House Resolution 563
768		-	appointments by the General Assembly pursuant to G.S. 120-121, (iv) those providing for 1
769		-	amendments to the North Carolina Constitution, (v) those containing statutory amendments 2
770		-	necessary to implement proposed amendments to the North Carolina Constitution, (vi) those 3
771		-	establishing districts for Congress or State or local entities, (vii) those addressing election laws, 4
772		-	(viii) those ratifying an amendment or amendments to the Constitution of the United States, and 5
773		-	(ix) adjournment resolutions must be received and read on the floor of the House as a message 6
774		-	from the Senate no later than Thursday, May 8, 2025; provided that a message from the Senate 7
775		-	received by the next legislative day stating that a bill has passed its third reading and is being 8
776		-	engrossed shall comply with the requirements of this subsection and provided that the Senate has 9
777		-	a similar rule. 10
778		-	(f) This rule, other than subsections (c) and (d), does not apply to bills (i) 11
779		-	establishing districts for Congress or State or local entities, (ii) introduced on the report of the 12
780		-	Committees on Appropriations, Finance, or Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, (iii) 13
781		-	ratifying an amendment or amendments to the Constitution of the United States, (iv) providing 14
782		-	for action on gubernatorial nominations or appointments, or (v) providing for action on 15
783		-	appointments by the General Assembly pursuant to G.S. 120-121. This rule does not apply to 16
784		-	resolutions pertaining to the internal affairs of the House or adjourning the General Assembly 17
785		-	sine die or to a day certain. 18
786		-	RULE 32. Referral to Standing Committees; Serial Referrals; Re-referral of Bills 19
787		-	From One Standing Committee to Another Standing Committee; Re-referral to Committee 20
788		-	on Rules. – (a) Each bill not introduced on the report of a standing committee shall immediately 21
789		-	upon its first reading be referred by the Speaker to such standing committee, select committee, 22
790		-	or committee of the whole as the Speaker deems appropriate. The Speaker at the same time may 23
791		-	order that, if the bill is reported with any favorable recommendation or without prejudice, it be 24
792		-	re-referred automatically upon the committee report to another committee designated in the 25
793		-	order. Each joint resolution or House resolution not introduced on the report of a standing 26
794		-	committee shall immediately upon its first reading either be referred by the Speaker to a standing 27
795		-	committee or be calendared on the date designated by the Speaker, as the Speaker deems 28
796		-	appropriate. 29
797		-	(a1) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this rule, any bill establishing districts for 30
798		-	Congress or State Senators or State Representatives may be placed on the calendar without being 31
799		-	referred by the Speaker to a committee and on the same legislative day of its introduction or 32
800		-	receipt from the Senate. 33
801		-	(b) Upon consent of the sponsor of the bill, the Speaker, the chair of the standing 34
802		-	committee from which the bill is to be re-referred, and the chair of the standing committee to 35
803		-	which the bill is to be re-referred, the chair of the standing committee from which the bill is to 36
804		-	be re-referred or the Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House 37
805		-	may move for a re-referral to another standing committee, and the bill shall be re-referred upon 38
806		-	vote of the majority present during a regular session of the House. 39
807		-	(c) The Speaker may remove a bill from the committee to which the bill has been 40
808		-	referred and may re-refer the bill to another committee. 41
809		-	(d) All public bills and resolutions reported by any standing committee must have 42
810		-	also been reported by the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House prior to 43
811		-	being calendared for consideration by the House. This rule may be waived by leave of the House. 44
812		-	RULE 33. Papers Addressed to the House. – Petitions, memorials, and other papers 45
813		-	addressed to the House shall be presented by the Speaker. A brief statement of the contents 46
814		-	thereof may be made orally by the introducer before referral to a committee, but such papers shall 47
815		-	not be debated or decided on the day of their first being read unless the House shall direct 48
816		-	otherwise. 49 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
817		-	House Resolution 563 Page 17
818		-	RULE 34. Introduction of Resolutions and Bills. – (a) House Bills shall be 1
819		-	designated as "H.B.___." (No. following). A Joint Resolution shall be designated as "H.J.R.___." 2
820		-	(No. following). A House Resolution shall be designated as "H.R.___." (No. following). 3
821		-	Whenever any resolution or bill is filed for introduction, it shall comply with the 4
822		-	procedures established and published by the Principal Clerk. 5
823		-	(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this rule, no bill may be filed for 6
824		-	introduction if the draft contains names preprinted on the bill jacket and body of the bill (either 7
825		-	as primary sponsors or cosponsors) unless each such member has signed or initialed the jacket. 8
826		-	(c) A bill may be filed for introduction without the signature or initial of each 9
827		-	member whose name appears on the preprinted bill jacket as a primary sponsor if each such 10
828		-	member has approved being included as a primary sponsor using the member's electronic 11
829		-	dashboard. 12
830		-	RULE 35. Public and Local Bills. – (a) The Legislative Services Officer shall cause 13
831		-	such bills as are introduced to be duplicated in such numbers as may be specified by the Speaker. 14
832		-	Copies shall be available in the Printed Bills Room and made available to the committees to 15
833		-	which the bill is referred, to individual members on request, and to the general public. 16
834		-	(b) A public bill is a bill affecting 15 or more counties. A local bill is one affecting 17
835		-	fewer than 15 counties. 18
836		-	RULE 36. Report by Standing Committee. – (a) Reports. – Bills and resolutions 19
837		-	may be reported from the standing committee to which referred with such recommendations as 20
838		-	the standing committee may desire to make. 21
839		-	(b) Favorable Report. – When a standing committee reports a bill with the 22
840		-	recommendation that it be passed, the bill shall be placed on the favorable calendar on the day 23
841		-	designated by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the 24
842		-	House, but not on the same day that it is reported except by leave of the House, and no later than 25
843		-	the fourth legislative day after submission of the report or Senate message under Rule 43.2 or 26
844		-	Rule 43.3(a), unless: 27
845		-	(1) The bill is re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations or Committee on 28
846		-	Finance under Rule 38 or was serially referred under Rule 32; or 29
847		-	(2) The bill has not yet been placed on the calendar, and the Speaker refers the 30
848		-	bill to another committee. 31
849		-	In order to place a bill on the calendar for a legislative day, notice shall be given by the Chair of 32
850		-	the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House orally in the House or 33
851		-	in writing to the Principal Clerk. When a committee substitute is adopted and receives a favorable 34
852		-	report by the standing committee, the chair shall submit to the standing committee the question 35
853		-	of an unfavorable report on the original bill. The standing committee's action, if any, on the 36
854		-	original bill shall be reported at the same time the committee substitute is reported. 37
855		-	(b1) Favorable Report of Bills Proposing Congressional or State Districts. – 38
856		-	Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this rule, a bill establishing districts for Congress or State 39
857		-	Senators or State Representatives that is reported favorably by a committee may be placed on the 40
858		-	favorable calendar on the same day it is reported. 41
859		-	(c) Report Without Prejudice. – When a standing committee reports a bill 42
860		-	without prejudice, the bill shall be placed on the favorable calendar in the same manner as 43
861		-	provided in subsection (b) of this rule. 44
862		-	(d) Postponed Indefinitely. – When a standing committee reports a bill with the 45
863		-	recommendation that it be postponed indefinitely and no minority report accompanies it, the bill 46
864		-	shall be placed on the unfavorable calendar. 47
865		-	(e) Unfavorable Report. – When a standing committee reports a bill with the 48
866		-	recommendation that it not be passed and no minority report accompanies it, the bill shall be 49
867		-	placed on the unfavorable calendar. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
868		-	Page 18 House Resolution 563
869		-	(f) Minority Report. – When a bill is reported by a standing committee with a 1
870		-	recommendation that it not be passed or that it be postponed indefinitely but it is accompanied 2
871		-	by a minority report signed by at least one-fourth of the members of the standing committee who 3
872		-	were present and voting when the bill was considered in standing committee, the question before 4
873		-	the House shall be: "The adoption of the minority report." If the minority report is adopted by 5
874		-	majority vote, the bill shall be placed on the favorable calendar for consideration. If the minority 6
875		-	report fails of adoption by a majority vote, the bill shall be placed on the unfavorable calendar. 7
876		-	RULE 36.1. Fiscal Notes. – (a) The Chair or Cochair of the Appropriations 8
877		-	Committee, of the Finance Committee, or of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 9
878		-	Operations of the House, upon the floor of the House, may request that a fiscal analysis be made 10
879		-	of a bill, a resolution, or an amendment to a bill or resolution which is in the possession of the 11
880		-	House and that a fiscal note be attached to the measure, which request shall be allowed when, in 12
881		-	the opinion of the Speaker, the fiscal effects of that measure are not apparent from the language 13
882		-	of the measure. When a request is properly made under this subsection, the bill is removed from 14
883		-	the calendar until such time that the fiscal note is attached to the measure. 15
884		-	(b) The fiscal note shall be filed and attached to the bill or amendment within two 16
885		-	legislative days of the request, and a copy shall be sent by electronic mail to each member. If it 17
886		-	is impossible to prepare a fiscal note within two legislative days, the Director of Fiscal Research 18
887		-	shall, in writing, so advise the Speaker, the Principal Clerk, the Majority Leader, the Minority 19
888		-	Leader, and the member introducing or proposing the measure and shall indicate the time when 20
889		-	the fiscal note will be ready. 21
890		-	(c) The fiscal note shall be prepared by the Fiscal Research Division on a form 22
891		-	approved by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the 23
892		-	House as to content and form and signed by the staff member or members preparing it. If no 24
893		-	estimate in dollars is possible, the fiscal note shall indicate the reasons that no estimate is 25
894		-	provided. The fiscal note shall not comment on the merit, but may identify technical problems. 26
895		-	The Fiscal Research Division shall make the fiscal note available to the membership of the 27
	574	+	Wildlife Resources 10
	575	+	RULE 28. Standing Committee Meetings. – (a) Standing committees shall be 11
	576	+	furnished with suitable meeting places pursuant to a schedule established by the Chair of the 12
	577	+	Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House. Select committees shall 13
	578	+	be furnished with suitable meeting places as their needs require by the Chair of the Standing 14
	579	+	Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House. 15
	580	+	(b) Subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this rule, standing committees 16
	581	+	thereof shall permit other members of the General Assembly, the press, and the general public to 17
	582	+	attend all sessions of said standing committees. 18
	583	+	(c) The chair or other presiding officer shall have general direction of the meeting 19
	584	+	place of the standing committee, and, in case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct therein, or 20
	585	+	if the peace, good order, and proper conduct of the legislative business is hindered by any person 21
	586	+	or persons, the chair or presiding officer shall have power to exclude from the session any 22
	587	+	individual or individuals so hindering the legislative business. 23
	588	+	(d) Procedure in the standing committees shall be governed by the rules of the 24
	589	+	House, so far as the same may be applicable to such procedure. Before a question is put, any 25
	590	+	member may call for the ayes and noes. The chair shall ask, "Is the call sustained?" If the call is 26
	591	+	sustained by one-fifth of the members present and standing, the question shall be decided by the 27
	592	+	ayes and noes upon a roll call vote. All roll call votes shall be taken alphabetically and shall be 28
	593	+	subject to Rule 21(c). 29
	594	+	(d1) The committee chair shall set the agenda for each committee meeting. After 30
	595	+	April 1, 2025, a committee may, provided there is a written request signed by at least two-thirds 31
	596	+	of the members of the committee, place a bill on the committee's agenda for the next regularly 32
	597	+	scheduled meeting of the committee. 33
	598	+	(e) No standing committee shall meet on any day when the House shall not 34
	599	+	convene except by permission of the Speaker or by approval of the House by resolution adopted 35
	600	+	by a majority vote of the House. 36
	601	+	(f) No standing committee shall meet during any session of the House that is not 37
	602	+	a pro forma session. Standing committees shall meet at their regularly scheduled hour. Standing 38
	603	+	committees may meet at other times as authorized by the Chair of the Standing Committee on 39
	604	+	Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House in order to assure the availability of the meeting 40
	605	+	room and that no conflicts will exist with the meetings of other bodies. Except for a meeting of 41
	606	+	a standing committee for which the Speaker has given notice that the House will be at ease until 42
	607	+	the adjournment of that standing committee, all standing committee meetings shall adjourn no 43
	608	+	later than: 44
	609	+	(1) 15 minutes preceding a regular session of the House, and 45
	610	+	(2) 10 minutes preceding the hour of the next regularly scheduled standing 46
	611	+	committee meeting. 47
	612	+	Action taken by a committee in violation of this rule is voidable unless taken by 48
	613	+	unanimous consent at a meeting at which a majority of all the members of the committee are 49
	614	+	present and at which at least one member present is of the minority party. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	615	+	House Resolution 563-First Edition Page 13
	616	+	(g) Any call or notice of a standing committee meeting between legislative 1
	617	+	sessions shall be sent by electronic mail to each member of the standing committee at least five 2
	618	+	days prior to such meeting. If a member of the body so requests in writing to the chair of the 3
	619	+	standing committee, the member shall also be notified of the meetings by mail at a designated 4
	620	+	address. 5
	621	+	(h) During standing committee meetings, the chair may exercise the right to vote, 6
	622	+	or may reserve this right until there is a tie, in which event the chair may vote, but in no instance 7
	623	+	may the chair vote twice on the same question. 8
	624	+	RULE 28.1. Ethics Committee Investigations Into Violations of the Open 9
	625	+	Meetings Law. – (a) On its own motion, or in response to signed and sworn complaint of any 10
	626	+	individual filed with the Standing Committee on Ethics, the Committee shall inquire into any 11
	627	+	alleged violation by members of the House of the Open Meetings Law (Article 33C of Chapter 12
	628	+	143 of the General Statutes), as the same may be amended in the future. 13
	629	+	(b) If, after such preliminary investigation as it may make, the Committee 14
	630	+	determines to proceed with an inquiry into the conduct of any individual, the Committee shall 15
	631	+	notify the individual as to the fact of the inquiry and the charges against the individual and shall 16
	632	+	schedule one or more hearings on the matter. The individual shall have the right to present 17
	633	+	evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and be represented by counsel at any hearings. 18
	634	+	(c) After the Committee has concluded its inquiries into the alleged violations, 19
	635	+	the Committee shall dispose of the matter by taking one of the following actions: 20
	636	+	(1) Dismiss the complaint and take no further action. 21
	637	+	(2) Issue a private letter of reprimand to the legislator, if the legislator 22
	638	+	unintentionally violated the provisions of the Open Meetings Law. 23
	639	+	(3) Issue a public letter of reprimand if the violation of the Open Meetings Law 24
	640	+	was intentional or if the legislator has previously received a private letter of 25
	641	+	reprimand. The Chair of the Committee on Ethics shall have the public letter 26
	642	+	of reprimand spread on the pages of the House Journal. 27
	643	+	(4) Refer the matter to the House for appropriate action. 28
	644	+	RULE 28.2. Committee Meetings; Use of Remote Participation. – (a) At times 29
	645	+	when Rule 58.1 is not in effect, a standing committee may conduct meetings with members 30
	646	+	participating remotely provided all of the following requirements are met: 31
	647	+	(1) The Speaker has not disallowed remote participation for the standing 32
	648	+	committee. 33
	649	+	(2) Each member is able to communicate, in real time, with all other members by 34
	650	+	(i) in-person communication, (ii) remote communication using devices or 35
	651	+	programs that transmit audio or audio and video, or (iii) both. 36
	652	+	(3) All documents considered by the committee are provided to members. 37
	653	+	(4) The committee otherwise complies with G.S. 143-318.13(a). 38
	654	+	(b) A committee member who is participating remotely shall be counted as 39
	655	+	present for quorum purposes and may vote on any measure or motion before the committee. An 40
	656	+	ex officio member under Rule 26(d) shall be counted among the membership of the committee 41
	657	+	only when present or participating remotely. 42
	658	+	RULE 29. Notice of Standing Committee Meetings and Hearings. – (a) Notice of 43
	659	+	meetings of standing committees that will occur at the regularly scheduled meeting times shall 44
	660	+	be given by one or both of the following methods: 45
	661	+	(1) Notice given openly at a session of the House; or 46
	662	+	(2) Notice mailed or sent by electronic mail to those who have requested notice 47
	663	+	and to the Legislative Services Office, which shall post the notice on the 48
	664	+	General Assembly website. 49 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	665	+	Page 14 House Resolution 563-First Edition
	666	+	(b) Notice of all other meetings shall be given in the House. If the meeting is 1
	667	+	scheduled to occur after adjournment, notice shall also be given by electronic mail and posting 2
	668	+	on the General Assembly website. 3
	669	+	(c) The chair of the standing committee shall notify or cause to be notified the 4
	670	+	sponsor of each bill that is set for hearing or consideration before the standing committee as to 5
	671	+	the date, time, and place of that meeting. 6
	672	+	RULE 29.1. Public Hearings. – (a) The chair of the standing committee may 7
	673	+	schedule a time to receive public comments for the standing committee as a whole during the 8
	674	+	meeting of the standing committee or after the adjournment of a regular daily House session. 9
	675	+	(b) Persons desiring to provide public comments during a meeting of a standing 10
	676	+	committee shall submit their requests to the chair of the standing committee. The standing 11
	677	+	committee chair may designate one or more members to arrange the order of appearance of 12
	678	+	interested parties. A brief written statement of testimony may be submitted without oral 13
	679	+	presentation and shall be incorporated into the minutes of the public hearing. 14
	680	+	RULE 29.2. Minutes to Legislative Library. – The chair of a standing committee 15
	681	+	shall ensure that written minutes are compiled for each of the body's meetings. The minutes shall 16
	682	+	indicate the members present and the actions taken at the meeting. Not later than 10 days after 17
	683	+	the adjournment of each session of the General Assembly, the chair or the chair's designee shall 18
	684	+	deliver the minutes to the Legislative Library. The Speaker of the House may grant a reasonable 19
	685	+	extension of time for filing said minutes upon written application of the chair. 20
	686	+	RULE 30. Committee of the Whole House. – (a) A Committee of the Whole House 21
	687	+	shall not be formed, except by leave of the House. 22
	688	+	(b) After passage of a motion to form a Committee of the Whole House, the 23
	689	+	Speaker shall appoint a chair to preside in the committee and the Speaker shall leave the dais. 24
	690	+	(c) The rules of procedure in the House shall be observed in the Committee of the 25
	691	+	Whole House, so far as they may be applicable, except the rule limiting the time of speaking and 26
	692	+	the previous question. 27
	693	+	(d) In the Committee of the Whole House, a motion that the standing committee 28
	694	+	rise shall always be in order, except when a member is speaking, and shall be decided without 29
	695	+	debate. 30
	696	+	(e) When a bill is submitted to the Committee of the Whole House, it shall be 31
	697	+	read and debated by sections, leaving the preamble to be last considered. The body of the bill 32
	698	+	shall not be defaced or interlined, but all amendments, noting the page and line, shall be duly 33
	699	+	entered by the Principal Clerk on a separate paper as the same shall be agreed to by the standing 34
	700	+	committee and be so reported to the House. After report, the bill shall again be subject to be 35
	701	+	debated and amended by sections before a question on its passage be taken. 36
	702	+	VI. Handling of Bills 37
	703	+	RULE 31. Introduction of Bills and Resolutions. – (a) All bills and resolutions shall 38
	704	+	be introduced by submitting same to the Principal Clerk's office by 3:00 P.M. on the legislative 39
	705	+	day prior to the first reading and referral thereof. The Clerk shall number all bills and resolutions 40
	706	+	in the order in which they are introduced. 41
	707	+	(b) Bills shall not become resolutions provided the Senate has a similar rule. 42
	708	+	Resolutions shall not become bills. Resolutions are not law but may be used when a law is not 43
	709	+	necessary for the purpose contained therein. Resolutions shall not be used to appropriate funds 44
	710	+	for any purpose, but may be used to create study commissions or committees or establish 45
	711	+	investigative committees, to honor deceased members of the General Assembly, to express to 46
	712	+	Congress the opinions of the House and the General Assembly, and to adopt House rules and 47
	713	+	internal affairs. Resolutions cannot amend, repeal, or modify a statute; nor do they have life 48
	714	+	beyond the term of the session during which they are adopted. 49
	715	+	(c) Every bill or resolution shall be read in regular order of business, except upon 50
	716	+	permission of the Speaker or on the report of a standing committee. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	717	+	House Resolution 563-First Edition Page 15
	718	+	(d) All bills and resolutions shall show in their captions a brief descriptive 1
	719	+	statement of the true substance of same, which captions may thereafter be amended. Amendments 2
	720	+	to captions of bills are in order only if the amendment is germane to the bill. Third reading shall 3
	721	+	not be had on any bill or resolution on the same day that such caption is amended. 4
	722	+	(e) A Substitute Bill shall be covered with the same color jacket as the original 5
	723	+	bill and shall be prefaced as follows: "House Committee Substitute for______." 6
	724	+	(f) House resolutions need not be read more than twice. 7
	725	+	(g) All memorializing, celebration, commendation, and commemoration 8
	726	+	resolutions, except those honoring the memory of deceased members of the General Assembly 9
	727	+	or expressing to Congress the opinions of the House or the General Assembly, shall be excluded 10
	728	+	from introduction and consideration in the House. The mention of a deceased member of the 11
	729	+	General Assembly as a pretext to honor an institution or a living person is prohibited. Members 12
	730	+	should utilize a Representative Statement, as provided in Rule 8.1, as the preferred alternative to 13
	731	+	House simple resolutions that memorialize, celebrate, commend, and commemorate, other than 14
	732	+	for those relating to deceased members of the General Assembly or expressing to Congress the 15
	733	+	opinions of the House or the General Assembly. 16
	734	+	(h) Any reference in these rules to bills shall extend to resolutions unless the 17
	735	+	context requires otherwise. 18
	736	+	RULE 31.1. Deadlines on Introduction and Receipt; No Blank Bills; 15 Bill Limit. 19
	737	+	– (a) All local bills must be submitted to the Legislative Drafting Division or the Legislative 20
	738	+	Analysis Division of the Legislative Services Office by 4:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 20, 21
	739	+	2025, and must be introduced not later than 3:00 P.M. on Thursday, March 6, 2025. 22
	740	+	(b) All public bills or resolutions must be submitted to the Legislative Drafting 23
	741	+	Division or the Legislative Analysis Division of the Legislative Services Office by 4:00 P.M. on 24
	742	+	Thursday, March 6, 2025, and must be introduced not later than 3:00 P.M. on Thursday, April 3, 25
	743	+	2025. 26
	744	+	(c) A bill containing no substantive provisions may not be introduced in the 27
896	745		House. 28
897		-	(d) A sponsor of a bill or amendment may deliver a copy of the bill or amendment 29
898		-	to the Fiscal Research Division for the preparation of a fiscal note. The sponsor shall attach the 30
899		-	fiscal note to the bill when filed or to the amendment when its adoption is moved. 31
900		-	(e) The sponsor of a bill or amendment to which a fiscal note is attached who 32
901		-	objects to the estimates and information provided may reduce to writing the objections. These 33
902		-	objections shall be appended to the fiscal note attached to the bill or amendment and to the copies 34
903		-	of the fiscal note available to the membership. 35
904		-	(f) Subsection (a) of this rule shall not apply to the Current Operations 36
905		-	Appropriations Bill or the Capital Improvement Appropriations Bill. This rule shall not apply to 37
906		-	a bill or amendment requiring an actuarial note under these rules. 38
907		-	RULE 36.1A. Distribution of Proposed Committee Substitutes. – (a) No proposed 39
908		-	committee substitute may be considered by a standing committee unless the proposed committee 40
909		-	substitute shall have been distributed electronically no later than 9:00 P.M. of the preceding 41
910		-	calendar day to the members of the committee and to the member who is listed as the first primary 42
911		-	sponsor. This requirement may be waived by leave of the standing committee. 43
912		-	(b) Subsection (a) of this rule does not apply to a proposed committee substitute 44
913		-	establishing districts for Congress or State Senators or State Representatives. 45
914		-	RULE 36.2. Actuarial Notes. – If required by State law: 46
915		-	(a) Every bill proposing any change in the law relative to any: 47
916		-	(1) State, municipal, or other retirement system funded in whole or in part out of 48
917		-	public funds; or 49
918		-	(2) Program of hospital, medical, disability, or related benefits provided for 50
919		-	teachers and State employees, funded in whole or in part by State funds; 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
920		-	House Resolution 563 Page 19
921		-	shall have available at the time of its consideration by any committee a brief explanatory 1
922		-	statement or note which shall include a reliable estimate of the financial and actuarial effect of 2
923		-	the proposed change, as provided in G.S. 120-114. The actuarial note shall be attached to the 3
924		-	jacket of each proposed bill which is reported favorably by any committee and shall be clearly 4
925		-	designated as an actuarial note. A bill described in subdivision (a)(1) of this rule shall be referred 5
926		-	to the Committee on Pensions and Retirement upon its introduction in accordance with 6
927		-	G.S. 120-111.3. 7
928		-	(b) The sponsor of the bill may present a copy of the bill with a request for an 8
929		-	actuarial note to the Fiscal Research Division. The Fiscal Research Division, at the request of the 9
930		-	sponsor of the bill or in its own discretion, shall request the chief administrative officer of the 10
931		-	system or program affected by the bill to have the actuary of the system or program prepare an 11
932		-	actuarial note on the bill and to transmit the note to the sponsor of the bill and the Fiscal Research 12
933		-	Division not later than two weeks after the request is received, unless an extension of time is 13
934		-	agreed to by the sponsor as being necessary in the preparation of the note. The actuarial note 14
935		-	shall be attached to the jacket of the bill. The provisions of this subsection may be waived by the 15
936		-	sponsor of a bill affecting local government retirement or pension plans not administered by the 16
937		-	State or any local government program of hospital, medical, disability, or related benefits for 17
938		-	local government employees not administered by the State. 18
939		-	(c) The note shall be factual and shall, if possible, provide a reliable estimate of 19
940		-	both the immediate effect and, if determinable, the long-range fiscal and actuarial effect of the 20
941		-	bill. If, after careful investigation, it is determined that no dollar estimate is possible, the note 21
942		-	shall contain a statement to that effect, setting forth the reasons why no dollar estimate can be 22
943		-	given. No comment or opinion shall be included in the actuarial note with regard to the merits of 23
944		-	the bill for which the note is prepared. Technical and mechanical defects in the bill may be noted. 24
945		-	(d) When any standing committee reports a bill to which an actuarial note is 25
946		-	attached at the time of committee consideration, with any amendment of such nature as would 26
947		-	substantially affect the cost to or the revenues of any system or program, the chair of the 27
948		-	committee reporting the measure shall obtain from the administrator of the affected system or 28
949		-	program an actuarial note of the fiscal and actuarial effect of the proposed amendment. The 29
950		-	actuarial note shall be attached to the jacket of the bill. An amendment to any bill shall not be in 30
951		-	order if the amendment affects the costs to or the revenues of a State-administered retirement or 31
952		-	pension system, or program of hospital, medical, disability, or related benefits for teachers or 32
953		-	State employees, unless an actuarial note as to the actuarial effect of the amendment has been 33
954		-	made available. 34
955		-	RULE 36.3. Local Legislation Affecting State Highway System. – A local bill 35
956		-	affecting the State Highway System shall be referred to the Committee on Transportation. 36
957		-	RULE 36.4. Content of Appropriations Bills. – No provision shall be contained in 37
958		-	any of the following bills unless it pertains to the appropriation of money or the raising or 38
959		-	reducing of revenue: (i) the Current Operations Appropriations Bill; (ii) the Capital Improvement 39
960		-	Appropriations Bill; (iii) any bill generally revising appropriations for the second fiscal year of 40
961		-	a biennium. If a point of order is made against such a provision and is sustained, the presiding 41
962		-	officer shall refer the bill to the committee from which it came, with instructions for the chair of 42
963		-	the committee to immediately report out a substitute or amendment removing the offending 43
964		-	provision. 44
965		-	RULE 37. Removing Bill From Unfavorable Calendar. – A bill may be removed 45
966		-	from the unfavorable calendar upon motion carried by a two-thirds vote. A motion to remove a 46
967		-	bill from the unfavorable calendar is debatable. 47
968		-	RULE 38. Reports on Appropriation and Revenue Bills. – (a) All standing 48
969		-	committees, other than the Standing Committees on Appropriations, when favorably reporting 49
970		-	any bill or resolution that: 50
971		-	(1) Carries an appropriation from the State; or 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
972		-	Page 20 House Resolution 563
973		-	(2) Requires or will require in the future substantial additional State monies from 1
974		-	the General Fund or Highway Fund to implement its provisions shall indicate 2
975		-	same in the report, and said bill or resolution shall be referred to the Standing 3
976		-	Committees on Appropriations for a further report before being acted upon by 4
977		-	the House. 5
978		-	(b) All standing committees, other than the Standing Committee on Finance, 6
979		-	when favorably reporting any bill that in any way or manner raises revenue, reduces revenue, 7
980		-	levies a tax, authorizes the levying of a tax, an assessment, or a fee, or authorizes the issue of 8
981		-	bonds or notes, whether public or local, shall indicate same in the report, and said bill shall be 9
982		-	referred to the Standing Committee on Finance for a further report before being acted upon by 10
983		-	the House. This subsection shall not apply to bills only imposing fines, forfeitures, or penalties. 11
984		-	RULE 39. Discharge Petition. – (a) A motion to discharge a committee from 12
985		-	consideration of a bill may be filed with the Principal Clerk by a primary sponsor of that measure 13
986		-	if accompanied by a petition asking that the committee be discharged from further consideration 14
987		-	of the bill. No motion may be filed until 10 legislative days after the bill has been referred to the 15
988		-	committee. No petition may be filed until notice has been given on the floor of the House that 16
989		-	the petition is to be filed and the primary sponsor giving notice has obtained a fiscal note from 17
990		-	the Fiscal Research Division on the bill, which note shall be attached to the petition. Members 18
991		-	may sign the petition only in the office of the Principal Clerk, and when the signatures of 61 19
992		-	members appear on the petition, the Principal Clerk shall place that motion on the calendar for 20
993		-	the next legislative day as a special order of business. Members may withdraw their names at any 21
994		-	time until 61 names appear. If the motion is adopted by the House, then the committee to which 22
995		-	the bill or resolution has been referred is discharged from further consideration of the bill, and 23
996		-	that bill is placed on the calendar for the next legislative day as a special order of business. The 24
997		-	Principal Clerk shall provide a form for discharge petitions. 25
998		-	(b) This rule shall not be temporarily suspended without one day's notice on the 26
999		-	motion given in the House and delivered in writing to the chair of the standing committee, and 27
1000		-	to sustain that motion two-thirds of the members shall be required. 28
1001		-	RULE 40. Calendars and Schedules of Business. – The Clerk of the House shall 29
1002		-	prepare a daily schedule of business, including the Calendar of Bills and Resolutions for 30
1003		-	consideration and debate that day, in accordance with the Order of Business of the Day (Rule 5). 31
1004		-	RULE 41. Reading of Bills. – (a) Every bill shall receive three readings in the House 32
1005		-	prior to its passage. The Speaker shall give notice at each subsequent reading whether it is the 33
1006		-	second or third reading. 34
1007		-	(a1) The first reading and referral to standing committee of a House bill shall occur 35
1008		-	on the next legislative day following its introduction. The first reading and referral to standing 36
1009		-	committee of a Senate bill shall occur on the next legislative day following its receipt on 37
1010		-	messages from the Senate. This subsection does not apply to any bill establishing districts for 38
1011		-	Congress or State Senators or State Representatives. 39
1012		-	(b) Except for bills establishing districts for Congress or State Senators or State 40
1013		-	Representatives, no bill shall be read more than once on the same day without the concurrence 41
1014		-	of two-thirds of the members present and voting; provided, no bill governed by Section 23 of 42
1015		-	Article II of the North Carolina Constitution herein shall be read twice on one day under any 43
1016		-	circumstance. 44
1017		-	RULE 42. Effect of a Defeated Bill. – (a) Subject to the provisions of subsections 45
1018		-	(b) and (c) of this rule, after a bill has: 46
1019		-	(1) Been tabled, 47
1020		-	(2) Been postponed indefinitely, 48
1021		-	(3) Failed to pass on any of its readings, or 49
1022		-	(4) Been placed on the unfavorable calendar, 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
1023		-	House Resolution 563 Page 21
1024		-	the contents of that bill or the principal provisions of its subject matter shall not be considered in 1
1025		-	any other measure originating in the Senate or originating thereafter in the House. Upon the point 2
1026		-	of order being raised and sustained by the chair, that measure shall be laid upon the table and 3
1027		-	shall not be taken therefrom except by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting. 4
1028		-	(b) No local bill shall be held by the chair to embody the contents of or the 5
1029		-	principal provisions of the subject matter of any statewide measure which has been laid on the 6
1030		-	table, has failed to pass on any of its readings, or has been placed on the unfavorable calendar. 7
1031		-	(c) Subsection (a) of this rule does not apply to a bill that has received an 8
1032		-	unfavorable report from a committee if the committee has also in the same report reported 9
1033		-	favorable to the bill as amended or to a proposed committee substitute to the bill. 10
1034		-	RULE 43. Amendments. – (a) No amendment to a measure before the House shall 11
1035		-	be in order unless the amendment is germane to the measure under consideration. 12
1036		-	A House amendment deleting a previously adopted House amendment shall not be in 13
1037		-	order. No amendment that is clearly unconstitutional shall be in order. 14
1038		-	Only one principal (first degree) amendment shall be pending at any one time. If a 15
1039		-	subsequent or substitute principal amendment shall be offered, the Speaker shall rule it out of 16
1040		-	order. However, any member desiring to offer a subsequent or substitute principal amendment in 17
1041		-	opposition to the pending amendment may inform the House by way of argument against the 18
1042		-	pending amendment that if it is defeated the member proposes to offer another principal 19
1043		-	amendment, and the member may then read and explain such proposed amendment. 20
1044		-	Perfecting (or second degree) amendments may be offered and considered without 21
1045		-	limitation as to number, and in the event of multiple perfecting amendments, they shall be voted 22
1046		-	upon in inverse order. 23
1047		-	(b) The following rules apply when considering (i) the Current Operations 24
1048		-	Appropriations Bill; (ii) the Capital Improvement Appropriations Bill; (iii) any bill generally 25
1049		-	revising appropriations for the second fiscal year of a biennium: 26
1050		-	(1) Amendments cannot increase total spending within a committee area beyond 27
1051		-	the total for that committee as shown in the committee report. 28
1052		-	(2) Amendments can only affect appropriations within the departments, agencies, 29
1053		-	or programs within the jurisdiction of the committee. 30
1054		-	(3) Amendments cannot increase total spending, from any source, beyond the 31
1055		-	total amount shown in the committee report. 32
1056		-	(4) Amendments that cause the budget to be unbalanced are not in order. 33
1057		-	(5) Amendments cannot spend reversions. 34
1058		-	(6) Amendments cannot make nonrecurring reductions to fund recurring items. 35
1059		-	(c) When offering an amendment, the member shall deliver the signed original 36
1060		-	amendment to the Principal Clerk and a copy to the Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, 37
1061		-	and Operations of the House. 38
1062		-	RULE 43.1. Engrossment. – Bills and resolutions which originate in the House and 39
1063		-	which are amended shall be engrossed before being sent to the Senate. 40
1064		-	RULE 43.2. House Concurrence in Senate Amendments to House Bills. – When 41
1065		-	the House receives a Senate amendment to a bill originating in the House, it shall be placed on 42
1066		-	the calendar in accordance with Rule 36(b). 43
1067		-	RULE 43.3. Committee Substitutes Adopted by the Senate to Bills Originating in 44
1068		-	the House; Procedure for Treatment of Material Amendments Thereto. – (a) Whenever the 45
1069		-	Senate has adopted a committee substitute for a bill originating in the House and has returned the 46
1070		-	bill to the House for concurrence in that committee substitute, it shall be placed on the calendar 47
1071		-	in accordance with Rule 36(b). 48
1072		-	(b) The Speaker shall rule whether the committee substitute is a material 49
1073		-	amendment under Section 23 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution which reads: 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
1074		-	Page 22 House Resolution 563
1075		-	"Revenue bills. – No law shall be enacted to raise money on the credit of the State, or to 1
1076		-	pledge the faith of the State directly or indirectly for the payment of any debt, or to impose any 2
1077		-	tax upon the people of the State, or to allow the counties, cities, or towns to do so, unless the bill 3
1078		-	for the purpose shall have been read three several times in each house of the General Assembly 4
1079		-	and passed three several readings, which readings shall have been on three different days, and 5
1080		-	shall have been agreed to by each house respectively, and unless the yeas and nays on the second 6
1081		-	and third readings of the bill shall have been entered on the journal." 7
1082		-	If the committee substitute was referred to standing committee, the standing 8
1083		-	committee shall: 9
1084		-	(1) Report the bill with the recommendation either that the House do concur or 10
1085		-	that the House do not concur; and 11
1086		-	(2) Advise the Speaker as to whether or not that committee substitute is a material 12
1087		-	amendment under Section 23 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution. 13
1088		-	(c) If the committee substitute for a bill is not a material amendment, the question 14
1089		-	before the House shall be concurrence. 15
1090		-	(d) If the committee substitute for a bill is a material amendment, the receiving of 16
1091		-	that bill on messages shall constitute first reading, and the question before the House shall be 17
1092		-	concurrence on second reading. If the motion is passed, the question then shall be concurrence 18
1093		-	on third reading on the next legislative day. 19
1094		-	(e) No committee substitute adopted by the Senate for a bill originating in the 20
1095		-	House may be amended by the House. 21
1096		-	RULE 44. Conference Standing Committees. – (a) Whenever the House shall 22
1097		-	decline or refuse to concur in amendments put by the Senate to a bill originating in the House, or 23
1098		-	shall refuse to concur in a substitute adopted by the Senate for a bill originating in the House, or 24
1099		-	whenever the Senate shall decline or refuse to concur in amendments put by the House to a bill 25
1100		-	originating in the Senate, or shall refuse to concur in a substitute adopted by the House for a bill 26
1101		-	originating in the Senate, a conference committee may be appointed by the Speaker upon the 27
1102		-	Speaker's own motion and shall be appointed upon request by the principal sponsor of the original 28
1103		-	bill, the chair of the House standing committee that reported the bill, or the sponsor of the 29
1104		-	amendment in which the Senate refused to concur; and the bill under consideration shall 30
1105		-	thereupon go to and be considered by the joint conferees on the part of the House and Senate. In 31
1106		-	appointing members to conference committees, the Speaker shall appoint no less than a majority 32
1107		-	of members who generally supported the House position as determined by the Speaker. 33
1108		-	(b) The conference report may be made by a majority of the House members of 34
1109		-	such conference committee and shall not be amended. If the Senate has a similar rule, only such 35
1110		-	matters as are in difference between the two houses shall be considered by the conferees and the 36
1111		-	conference report shall deal only with such matters. If the Senate does not have a similar rule, a 37
1112		-	conference committee report which includes significant matters that were not in difference 38
1113		-	between the houses shall be referred to a standing committee for its recommendation before 39
1114		-	further action by the House. 40
1115		-	(c) If the conferees fail to agree or if either house fails to adopt the report of its 41
1116		-	conferees, new conferees may be appointed. 42
1117		-	(d) Except by leave of the House and except as otherwise provided in this 43
1118		-	subsection, no vote shall be taken on adoption of a conference report until the next legislative 44
1119		-	day following the report. Except by leave of the House, no vote shall be taken on adoption of a 45
1120		-	conference report on either the Current Operations Appropriations Bill or a bill generally revising 46
1121		-	the Current Operations Appropriations Act until the second legislative day following the report. 47
1122		-	(e) Notwithstanding subsection (d) of this rule, a conference report for a bill 48
1123		-	establishing districts for Congress or State Senators or State Representatives may be placed on 49
1124		-	the calendar for the legislative day the report is submitted. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
1125		-	House Resolution 563 Page 23
1126		-	RULE 44.1. Transmittal of Bills to Senate. – Unless ordered by the Speaker or 1
1127		-	two-thirds vote of the members present and voting, no bill shall be sent from the House on the 2
1128		-	day of its passage, except on the last day of the session. 3
1129		-	RULE 44.2. Veto Override. – A vote on overriding a gubernatorial veto may be taken 4
1130		-	up on the legislative day it is received in the House from the Senate or Governor or any other 5
1131		-	legislative day it is printed on the calendar published by the Clerk of the House pursuant to Rule 6
1132		-	40. 7
1133		-	VII. Legislative Officers and Employees 8
1134		-	RULE 45. Elected Officers. – (a) The House shall elect its Speaker from among its 9
1135		-	membership. 10
1136		-	(b) The House shall elect its Speaker Pro Tempore from among its membership 11
1137		-	who shall perform such duties as the Speaker may assign. 12
1138		-	(c) The House shall elect a Principal Clerk, who shall continue in office until 13
1139		-	another is elected. The Speaker may appoint a Reading Clerk and shall appoint a 14
1140		-	Sergeant-at-Arms, both of whom shall serve at the Speaker's pleasure. The Principal Clerk, 15
1141		-	Reading Clerk, and Sergeant-at-Arms shall have and perform duties and responsibilities, not 16
1142		-	inconsistent with these rules, as the Speaker may assign. Unless directed otherwise by the 17
1143		-	Speaker on behalf of the House, the Principal Clerk or an employee designated by the Principal 18
1144		-	Clerk shall receive House bills not approved by the Governor. 19
1145		-	RULE 46. Assistants to Principal Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms. – The Principal 20
1146		-	Clerk and the Sergeant-at-Arms may appoint, with the approval of the Speaker, such assistants 21
1147		-	as may be necessary to the efficient discharge of the duties of their respective offices. 22
1148		-	RULE 47. Speaker's Staff; Chaplain; and Pages. – (a) The Speaker may appoint 23
1149		-	one or more staff members to the Speaker, a Chaplain of the House, and pages to wait upon the 24
1150		-	sessions of the House. 25
1151		-	(b) When the House is not in session, the pages shall be under the supervision of 26
1152		-	the Supervisor of Pages. 27
1153		-	(c) The Speaker, at the request of a member, may appoint honorary pages. 28
1154		-	RULE 48. Member's Staff. – (a) Each standing committee shall have a committee 29
1155		-	assistant. The committee assistant to a standing committee shall serve as staff to the chair of the 30
1156		-	standing committee. 31
1157		-	(b) Each member shall be assigned a legislative assistant, unless the member has 32
1158		-	a committee assistant to serve as legislative assistant. 33
1159		-	(c) The selection and retention of legislative assistants shall be the sole 34
1160		-	prerogative of the individual member or members. Such staff shall file initial applications for 35
1161		-	employment with the Director of Legislative Assistants and shall receive compensation as 36
1162		-	prescribed by the Legislative Services Commission. Their period of employment shall comply 37
1163		-	with the period as established by the Legislative Services Commission unless employment for an 38
1164		-	extended period is approved by the Speaker. The legislative assistants shall adhere to such 39
1165		-	uniform rules and regulations not inconsistent with these rules regarding hours and other 40
1166		-	conditions of employment as the Legislative Services Commission shall fix by appropriate 41
1167		-	regulations. The Director of House Legislative Assistants shall be appointed by the Speaker. 42
1168		-	RULE 49. Compensation of Legislative Assistants. – No person employed, serving, 43
1169		-	or appointed under Rules 46, 47, and 48 shall receive during such employment, appointment, or 44
1170		-	service any compensation from any department of the State government, and there shall not be 45
1171		-	voted, paid, or awarded any additional pay, bonus, or gratuity to any of them; but they shall 46
1172		-	receive only the pay now provided by law for such duties and services. 47
1173		-	VIII. Privileges of the Hall 48
1174		-	RULE 50. Admittance to Floor. – (a) No person except members, officers, and 49
1175		-	designated employees of the General Assembly who have been issued identification tags as 50
1176		-	provided by this rule, and former members of the General Assembly who are not registered under 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
1177		-	Page 24 House Resolution 563
1178		-	the provisions of Article 2 of Chapter 120C of the General Statutes, shall be allowed on the floor 1
1179		-	of the House during its session, unless permitted by the Speaker or otherwise provided by law. 2
1180		-	Employees of the General Assembly shall wear identification tags, approved by the Legislative 3
1181		-	Services Officer, when on the floor of the House. 4
1182		-	(b) Except when a committee is meeting on the floor of the House, a person who 5
1183		-	is not authorized to be admitted to the floor under subsection (a) of this rule shall not be allowed 6
1184		-	to enter the Chamber until at least five minutes after adjournment or recess of the House. 7
1185		-	RULE 51. Admittance of Press. – Reporters wishing to take down debates may be 8
1186		-	admitted by the Speaker, who shall assign such places to them on the floor or elsewhere, to effect 9
1187		-	this object, as shall not interfere with the convenience of the House. Reporters admitted to the 10
1188		-	floor of the House shall observe the same requirements of attire for members contained in Rule 11
1189		-	12(h). 12
1190		-	RULE 52. Extending Courtesies. – Courtesies of the floor, galleries, or lobby shall 13
1191		-	be extended at the discretion of the Speaker and only by the Speaker. Requests by members to 14
1192		-	extend these courtesies shall be delivered to the Speaker. No member shall orally ask the Speaker 15
1193		-	to extend these courtesies during the daily session. 16
1194		-	RULE 53. Order in House Chamber, Galleries, and Lobby. – In case of any 17
1195		-	disturbance or disorderly conduct in the House Chamber, galleries, or lobby, the Speaker or other 18
1196		-	presiding officer is empowered to order the same to be cleared to the extent they deem necessary. 19
1197		-	IX. General Rules 20
1198		-	RULE 54. Attendance of Members. – Members and officers of the House shall 21
1199		-	request leaves from the service of the House with the Principal Clerk. 22
1200		-	RULE 55. Documents to Be Signed by the Speaker. – All acts, addresses, and 23
1201		-	resolutions and all warrants and subpoenas issued by order of the House shall be signed by the 24
1202		-	Speaker or other presiding officer. 25
1203		-	RULE 56. Printing or Reproducing Materials. – There shall be no printing or 26
1204		-	reproducing of paper(s) that are not legislative in essence except upon approval of the Speaker. 27
1205		-	RULE 57. Placement or Circulation of Materials. – Persons other than members of 28
1206		-	the House shall not place or cause to be placed any materials on members' desks in the House 29
1207		-	Chamber without obtaining approval of the Speaker. Any material placed on members' desks in 30
1208		-	the House Chamber, or circulated to House members anywhere in the Legislative Building or the 31
1209		-	Legislative Office Building, shall bear the name of the originator. 32
1210		-	RULE 58. Rescission and Alteration of the Rules. – (a) These rules shall not be 33
1211		-	permanently rescinded or altered except by House simple resolution passed by a two-thirds vote 34
1212		-	of the members present and voting. The introducer of the resolution must on the floor of the 35
1213		-	House give notice of intent to introduce the resolution on the legislative day preceding its 36
1214		-	introduction. 37
1215		-	(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, the House upon two-thirds vote of the 38
1216		-	members present and voting may temporarily suspend any rule. 39
1217		-	RULE 58.1. Temporary Modifications Due to State of Emergency. – (a) The 40
1218		-	following modifications to these rules shall apply 24 hours after receipt by the Majority Leader, 41
1219		-	the Minority Leader, and the Principal Clerk of written notification filed by the Speaker: 42
1220		-	(1) RULE 12(i) shall read as follows: "(i) The use of a mobile device or 43
1221		-	cellular phone for the purpose of making or receiving a phone call shall not 44
1222		-	be permitted in the House Chamber while the House is in session, except the 45
1223		-	Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, and a designee of a Leader under Rule 46
1224		-	22.1(c) may use a mobile device or cellular phone during a vote to 47
1225		-	communicate in real time with members who have filed a voting designation 48
1226		-	pursuant to Rule 22.1, provided the use does not otherwise disrupt the 49
1227		-	decorum of the chamber." 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
1228		-	House Resolution 563 Page 25
1229		-	(2) RULE 13(a) shall read as follows: "RULE 13. Motions Generally. – (a) A 1
1230		-	motion that is complex, complicated, or otherwise not easily understood shall 2
1231		-	be reduced to writing at the request of the Speaker or any member. No motion 3
1232		-	relating to a bill shall be in order that does not identify the bill by its number 4
1233		-	and short title. No motion may be made, nor business presented, by a member 5
1234		-	who has filed a voting designation pursuant to Rule 22.1 affirming the member 6
1235		-	will not be present in the House during the time the designation is in effect 7
1236		-	and has not been revoked." 8
1237		-	(3) The rules are amended by adding a new rule to read: "RULE 22.1. Designated 9
1238		-	Voting. – (a) A member who is not present may designate either the Majority 10
1239		-	or the Minority Leader to cast the member's vote if the member has filed a 11
1240		-	voting designation with the Principal Clerk and at least 61 members have 12
1241		-	voted in the House Chamber when the question is put, after which the Speaker 13
1242		-	shall call upon the Majority and Minority Leaders to cast the votes of members 14
1243		-	who have made a designation pursuant to this Rule. 15
1244		-	(b) A designation shall be in writing and on a form made available by the Principal 16
1245		-	Clerk. In order to be effective for that legislative day, the designation must be received by the 17
1246		-	Principal Clerk at least one hour prior to the time the House is scheduled to convene. The 18
1247		-	designation shall state the member will not be present in the House, shall identify either the 19
1248		-	Majority or Minority Leader as the member's voting designee, and shall include both a 20
1249		-	commencement and expiration date. A designation may be revoked at any time by notifying the 21
1250		-	Principal Clerk. 22
1251		-	(c) The designated Leader may appoint another member to cast all votes 23
1252		-	designated to that Leader." 24
1253		-	(4) RULE 22(b) shall read as follows: "(b) Except as provided in Rule 22.1, no 25
1254		-	member may vote unless the member is in the Chamber. This subsection of 26
1255		-	this rule cannot be suspended." 27
1256		-	(4a) RULE 24(c) shall read as follows: "(c) No member may change a vote 28
1257		-	without leave of the House, but such leave shall not be granted if it affects the 29
1258		-	result or if the session in which the vote was taken has been adjourned. 30
1259		-	No member who cast a vote using the designated voting procedure allowed 31
1260		-	under Rule 22.1 may change that vote without leave of the House, but such 32
1261		-	leave shall not be granted if it affects the result or if the session in which that 33
1262		-	vote was taken has been adjourned. A member who voted using the designated 34
1263		-	voting procedure allowed under Rule 22.1 may request a vote change by 35
1264		-	submitting a written request to the Leader the member originally designated 36
1265		-	who shall deliver the request to the Principal Clerk who shall officially receive 37
1266		-	it. The Principal Clerk shall provide a form to be used by members to request 38
1267		-	a change to a vote cast pursuant to Rule 22.1." 39
1268		-	(5) RULE 26(e) shall read as follows: "(e) The chair or acting chair, designated 40
1269		-	by the chair or by the Speaker, and five other members of the standing 41
1270		-	committee, or a majority of the standing committee, whichever is fewer, shall 42
1271		-	constitute a quorum of that standing committee. A quorum of less than a 43
1272		-	majority of all the members must include at least one member of the minority 44
1273		-	party. For purposes of determining a quorum, the Chair of the Standing 45
1274		-	Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House; the Speaker Pro 46
1275		-	Tempore; the Majority Leader; the Minority Leader; and the Deputy Majority 47
1276		-	Leader, when serving only as ex officio members under subsection (d) of this 48
1277		-	rule, shall be counted among the membership of the committee only when 49
1278		-	present or participating remotely pursuant to Rule 28(a). A committee member 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
1279		-	Page 26 House Resolution 563
1280		-	who is participating remotely under Rule 28(a) shall be counted as present for 1
1281		-	quorum purposes." 2
1282		-	(6) RULE 28(a) shall read as follows: "RULE 28. Standing Committee 3
1283		-	Meetings. – (a) Standing committees shall be furnished with suitable meeting 4
1284		-	places pursuant to a schedule established by the Chair of the Standing 5
1285		-	Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House. Select 6
1286		-	committees shall be furnished with suitable meeting places as their needs 7
1287		-	require by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 8
1288		-	Operations of the House. Committees may conduct meetings with members 9
1289		-	participating remotely and such members may vote on any measure or motion 10
1290		-	before the committee provided all of the following requirements are met: 11
1291		-	(1) Each member is able to communicate, in real time, with all other 12
1292		-	members by (i) in-person communication, (ii) remote communication 13
1293		-	using devices or programs that transmit audio or audio and video, or 14
1294		-	(iii) both. 15
1295		-	(2) All documents considered by the committee are provided to members. 16
1296		-	(3) The committee otherwise complies with G.S. 143-318.13(a)." 17
1297		-	(7) RULE 36(b) shall read as follows: "(b) Favorable Report. – When a 18
1298		-	standing committee reports a bill with the recommendation that it be passed, 19
1299		-	the bill shall be placed on the favorable calendar on the day designated by the 20
1300		-	Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the 21
1301		-	House, and no later than the fourth legislative day after submission of the 22
1302		-	report or Senate message under Rule 43.2 or Rule 43.3(a), unless: 23
1303		-	(1) The bill is re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations or 24
1304		-	Committee on Finance under Rule 38 or was serially referred under 25
1305		-	Rule 32; or 26
1306		-	(2) The bill has not yet been placed on the calendar, and the Speaker refers 27
1307		-	the bill to another committee. 28
1308		-	In order to place a bill on the calendar for a legislative day, notice shall be 29
1309		-	given by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 30
1310		-	Operations of the House orally in the House or in writing to the Principal 31
1311		-	Clerk. When a committee substitute is adopted and receives a favorable report 32
1312		-	by the standing committee, the chair shall submit to the standing committee 33
1313		-	the question of an unfavorable report on the original bill. The standing 34
1314		-	committee's action, if any, on the original bill shall be reported at the same 35
1315		-	time the committee substitute is reported." 36
1316		-	(8) RULE 41 shall read as follows: "RULE 41. Reading of Bills. – Every bill 37
1317		-	shall receive three readings in the House prior to its passage. The Speaker 38
1318		-	shall give notice at each subsequent reading whether it is the second or third; 39
1319		-	provided, no bill governed by Section 23 of Article II of the North Carolina 40
1320		-	Constitution herein shall be read twice on one day under any circumstance." 41
1321		-	(9) Notwithstanding Rule 44(d), a conference report may be placed on the 42
1322		-	calendar for the legislative day on which the report is received. The Speaker 43
1323		-	shall provide notice as soon as practicable to the Majority Leader and the 44
1324		-	Minority Leader if the Speaker anticipates a conference report will be placed 45
1325		-	on the favorable calendar the same day the report is received. 46
1326		-	RULE 59. Cosponsorship of Bills and Resolutions, Removal of Sponsorship. – (a) 47
1327		-	Except by leave of the primary sponsor, or as provided in subsection (d) of this rule, no member 48
1328		-	may be listed as an additional primary sponsor on a bill after the bill has been filed. Except as 49
1329		-	provided in subsection (d) of this rule, any member not listed as a preprinted cosponsor on the 50
1330		-	computer-generated draft edition who wishes to cosponsor a bill or resolution which has been 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
1331		-	House Resolution 563 Page 27
1332		-	introduced may do so by 5:00 P.M. of the calendar day following the adjournment of the session 1
1333		-	during which such bill or resolution was first read and referred, but only electronically under 2
1334		-	procedures approved by the Principal Clerk. 3
1335		-	(b) Members wishing to cosponsor legislation prior to preparation of the draft 4
1336		-	should indicate such to the drafter at the time the bill is requested and before filing the bill with 5
1337		-	the Principal Clerk's office. The names of the members who are the primary sponsors shall be 6
1338		-	listed in the order requested by them, followed by the words (Primary Sponsors); and the 7
1339		-	remaining names of such members cosponsoring shall follow on the draft edition and first edition. 8
1340		-	No more than four members may be listed as primary sponsors. Names of persons cosponsoring 9
1341		-	bills thereafter under subsection (a) of this rule do not appear on subsequent editions but shall be 10
1342		-	listed in the bill status system as cosponsors. 11
1343		-	(c) No member shall permit anyone, other than that member's committee 12
1344		-	assistant, legislative assistant, office assistant, or another member, to have possession of and 13
1345		-	solicit for bill or resolution sponsorship, the jacket of a bill or resolution. 14
1346		-	(d) Should any member wish to remove the member's sponsorship of a bill that is 15
1347		-	substantially changed by a Senate amendment or a Senate committee substitute, the member shall 16
1348		-	notify the House Principal Clerk before the bill is considered for concurrence. If no sponsors 17
1349		-	remain on the bill, the House Principal Clerk shall notify the Chair of the Standing Committee 18
1350		-	on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House who may request that other members sponsor 19
1351		-	the bill. Removal of the first primary sponsor's name from a bill does not reduce the total number 20
1352		-	of bills introduced by the member under Rule 31.1(d), and sponsorship of a bill after removal of 21
1353		-	all sponsors is subject to Rule 31.1(d). 22
1354		-	RULE 60. Correcting of Typographical Errors. – The Legislative Services Officer 23
1355		-	may correct typographical errors appearing in House bills or resolutions or House amendments 24
1356		-	to Senate bills provided that such corrections are made before ratification and do not conflict 25
1357		-	with any actions or rules of the Senate and provided further that such correction be approved by 26
1358		-	the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, the 27
1359		-	Speaker, or other presiding officer. 28
1360		-	RULE 61. Assignment of Seats. – After initial assignment of seats, a member shall 29
1361		-	continue to occupy the seat to which initially assigned until assigned a permanent seat; once 30
1362		-	assigned a permanent seat, the member shall occupy it for the entire biennial session. In event of 31
1363		-	vacancy, the Speaker or the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations 32
1364		-	of the House may assign such permanent seats as are necessary to maintain seating. 33
1365		-	RULE 61.1. Office Assignments. – The Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, 34
1366		-	Calendar, and Operations of the House shall assign to each member an office space. When 35
1367		-	available, chairs of standing committees shall be assigned an office adjacent to the room in which 36
1368		-	the standing committee generally meets if the Chair so desires. The Speaker shall be assigned an 37
1369		-	office of his or her choice. 38
1370		-	RULE 61.2. Convening and Assigning Seats in the New House. – (a) The Principal 39
1371		-	Clerk of the previous House of Representatives shall convene the House of Representatives at 40
1372		-	12:00 P.M. on the date established by law for the convening of each regular session and preside 41
1373		-	over the body until the members elect a Speaker. In the case of a vacancy, inability, or refusal to 42
1374		-	so serve, the duty shall devolve upon the Sergeant-at-Arms of the prior House, and in the case of 43
1375		-	a vacancy in that office, or inability or refusal to so serve, the duty shall devolve upon the Reading 44
1376		-	Clerk of the prior House. 45
1377		-	(b) It shall be the duty of the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, 46
1378		-	and Operations of the House of the prior House to assign temporary seats to the members of the 47
1379		-	House of Representatives in its Chamber. In the case of the inability or refusal to serve of the 48
1380		-	Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, the Speaker 49
1381		-	of the prior House of Representatives shall appoint a person to assign seats to members of the 50
1382		-	House of Representatives in its Chamber. In the event that the party that had a majority of 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
1383		-	Page 28 House Resolution 563
1384		-	members in the prior House will no longer have a majority of members in the new House, then 1
1385		-	the duty assigned in this subsection to the Chair of the Committee of the prior House shall instead 2
1386		-	be the duty of the person nominated as Speaker by the majority party caucus for the new House, 3
1387		-	or some member-elect designated by the Speaker-nominee. In the event no party will have a 4
1388		-	majority, then the duty assigned in this subsection to the Chair of the Committee of the prior 5
1389		-	House shall instead be the joint duty of one person chosen each by the caucuses of the two parties 6
1390		-	having the greatest numbers of members. 7
1391		-	RULE 61.3. Livestreaming Sessions. – To the extent any session of the House is 8
1392		-	livestreamed, the methods used for the livestreaming shall comply with the policies and 9
1393		-	procedures established and published by the Principal Clerk. 10
1394		-	RULE 62. Matters Not Covered in These Rules. – Except as herein set out, the rules 11
1395		-	of Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure shall govern the operation of the House. 12
1396		-	SECTION 2. This resolution is effective upon adoption. 13
	746	+	(d) No member may introduce more than 15 public bills. For the purpose of this 29
	747	+	subsection, the introducer is the member who is listed as the first sponsor. A member may assign 30
	748	+	a portion of this limit to another member electronically using the procedures established and 31
	749	+	published by the Principal Clerk. This subsection does not apply to the following: 32
	750	+	(1) Bills or resolutions recommended by commissions or committees authorized 33
	751	+	or directed by act or resolution of the General Assembly (i) to report to the 34
	752	+	2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly, or to report prior to convening 35
	753	+	of that session, or (ii) that are recommended to the Regular Session of the 36
	754	+	General Assembly by a commission or committee established directly by 37
	755	+	Chapter 120 of the General Statutes. 38
	756	+	(2) Joint resolutions or House resolutions. 39
	757	+	(3) Bills introduced by the Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 40
	758	+	Operations of the House providing for action on gubernatorial nominations or 41
	759	+	appointments or for action on appointments by the General Assembly 42
	760	+	pursuant to G.S. 120-121. 43
	761	+	(e) In order to be eligible for consideration by the House during the first Regular 44
	762	+	Session, all Senate bills other than (i) finance or appropriations bills that would be required to be 45
	763	+	re-referred to the Appropriations or Finance Committee under Rule 38, (ii) those providing for 46
	764	+	action on gubernatorial nominations or appointments, (iii) those providing for action on 47
	765	+	appointments by the General Assembly pursuant to G.S. 120-121, (iv) those providing for 48
	766	+	amendments to the North Carolina Constitution, (v) those containing statutory amendments 49
	767	+	necessary to implement proposed amendments to the North Carolina Constitution, (vi) those 50
	768	+	establishing districts for Congress or State or local entities, (vii) those addressing election laws, 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	769	+	Page 16 House Resolution 563-First Edition
	770	+	(viii) those ratifying an amendment or amendments to the Constitution of the United States, and 1
	771	+	(ix) adjournment resolutions must be received and read on the floor of the House as a message 2
	772	+	from the Senate no later than Thursday, May 8, 2025; provided that a message from the Senate 3
	773	+	received by the next legislative day stating that a bill has passed its third reading and is being 4
	774	+	engrossed shall comply with the requirements of this subsection and provided that the Senate has 5
	775	+	a similar rule. 6
	776	+	(f) This rule, other than subsections (c) and (d), does not apply to bills (i) 7
	777	+	establishing districts for Congress or State or local entities, (ii) introduced on the report of the 8
	778	+	Committees on Appropriations, Finance, or Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, (iii) 9
	779	+	ratifying an amendment or amendments to the Constitution of the United States, (iv) providing 10
	780	+	for action on gubernatorial nominations or appointments, or (v) providing for action on 11
	781	+	appointments by the General Assembly pursuant to G.S. 120-121. This rule does not apply to 12
	782	+	resolutions pertaining to the internal affairs of the House or adjourning the General Assembly 13
	783	+	sine die or to a day certain. 14
	784	+	RULE 32. Referral to Standing Committees; Serial Referrals; Re-referral of Bills 15
	785	+	From One Standing Committee to Another Standing Committee; Re-referral to Committee 16
	786	+	on Rules. – (a) Each bill not introduced on the report of a standing committee shall immediately 17
	787	+	upon its first reading be referred by the Speaker to such standing committee, select committee, 18
	788	+	or committee of the whole as the Speaker deems appropriate. The Speaker at the same time may 19
	789	+	order that, if the bill is reported with any favorable recommendation or without prejudice, it be 20
	790	+	re-referred automatically upon the committee report to another committee designated in the 21
	791	+	order. Each joint resolution or House resolution not introduced on the report of a standing 22
	792	+	committee shall immediately upon its first reading either be referred by the Speaker to a standing 23
	793	+	committee or be calendared on the date designated by the Speaker, as the Speaker deems 24
	794	+	appropriate. 25
	795	+	(a1) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this rule, any bill establishing districts for 26
	796	+	Congress or State Senators or State Representatives may be placed on the calendar without being 27
	797	+	referred by the Speaker to a committee and on the same legislative day of its introduction or 28
	798	+	receipt from the Senate. 29
	799	+	(b) Upon consent of the sponsor of the bill, the Speaker, the chair of the standing 30
	800	+	committee from which the bill is to be re-referred, and the chair of the standing committee to 31
	801	+	which the bill is to be re-referred, the chair of the standing committee from which the bill is to 32
	802	+	be re-referred or the Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House 33
	803	+	may move for a re-referral to another standing committee, and the bill shall be re-referred upon 34
	804	+	vote of the majority present during a regular session of the House. 35
	805	+	(c) The Speaker may remove a bill from the committee to which the bill has been 36
	806	+	referred and may re-refer the bill to another committee. 37
	807	+	RULE 33. Papers Addressed to the House. – Petitions, memorials, and other papers 38
	808	+	addressed to the House shall be presented by the Speaker. A brief statement of the contents 39
	809	+	thereof may be made orally by the introducer before referral to a committee, but such papers shall 40
	810	+	not be debated or decided on the day of their first being read unless the House shall direct 41
	811	+	otherwise. 42
	812	+	RULE 34. Introduction of Resolutions and Bills. – (a) House Bills shall be 43
	813	+	designated as "H.B.___." (No. following). A Joint Resolution shall be designated as "H.J.R.___." 44
	814	+	(No. following). A House Resolution shall be designated as "H.R.___." (No. following). 45
	815	+	Whenever any resolution or bill is filed for introduction, it shall comply with the 46
	816	+	procedures established and published by the Principal Clerk. 47
	817	+	(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this rule, no bill may be filed for 48
	818	+	introduction if the draft contains names preprinted on the bill jacket and body of the bill (either 49
	819	+	as primary sponsors or cosponsors) unless each such member has signed or initialed the jacket. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	820	+	House Resolution 563-First Edition Page 17
	821	+	(c) A bill may be filed for introduction without the signature or initial of each 1
	822	+	member whose name appears on the preprinted bill jacket as a primary sponsor if each such 2
	823	+	member has approved being included as a primary sponsor using the member's electronic 3
	824	+	dashboard. 4
	825	+	RULE 35. Public and Local Bills. – (a) The Legislative Services Officer shall cause 5
	826	+	such bills as are introduced to be duplicated in such numbers as may be specified by the Speaker. 6
	827	+	Copies shall be available in the Printed Bills Room and made available to the committees to 7
	828	+	which the bill is referred, to individual members on request, and to the general public. 8
	829	+	(b) A public bill is a bill affecting 15 or more counties. A local bill is one affecting 9
	830	+	fewer than 15 counties. 10
	831	+	RULE 36. Report by Standing Committee. – (a) Reports. – Bills and resolutions 11
	832	+	may be reported from the standing committee to which referred with such recommendations as 12
	833	+	the standing committee may desire to make. 13
	834	+	(b) Favorable Report. – When a standing committee reports a bill with the 14
	835	+	recommendation that it be passed, the bill shall be placed on the favorable calendar on the day 15
	836	+	designated by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the 16
	837	+	House, but not on the same day that it is reported except by leave of the House, and no later than 17
	838	+	the fourth legislative day after submission of the report or Senate message under Rule 43.2 or 18
	839	+	Rule 43.3(a), unless: 19
	840	+	(1) The bill is re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations or Committee on 20
	841	+	Finance under Rule 38 or was serially referred under Rule 32; or 21
	842	+	(2) The bill has not yet been placed on the calendar, and the Speaker refers the 22
	843	+	bill to another committee. 23
	844	+	In order to place a bill on the calendar for a legislative day, notice shall be given by the Chair of 24
	845	+	the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House orally in the House or 25
	846	+	in writing to the Principal Clerk. When a committee substitute is adopted and receives a favorable 26
	847	+	report by the standing committee, the chair shall submit to the standing committee the question 27
	848	+	of an unfavorable report on the original bill. The standing committee's action, if any, on the 28
	849	+	original bill shall be reported at the same time the committee substitute is reported. 29
	850	+	(b1) Favorable Report of Bills Proposing Congressional or State Districts. – 30
	851	+	Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this rule, a bill establishing districts for Congress or State 31
	852	+	Senators or State Representatives that is reported favorably by a committee may be placed on the 32
	853	+	favorable calendar on the same day it is reported. 33
	854	+	(c) Report Without Prejudice. – When a standing committee reports a bill 34
	855	+	without prejudice, the bill shall be placed on the favorable calendar in the same manner as 35
	856	+	provided in subsection (b) of this rule. 36
	857	+	(d) Postponed Indefinitely. – When a standing committee reports a bill with the 37
	858	+	recommendation that it be postponed indefinitely and no minority report accompanies it, the bill 38
	859	+	shall be placed on the unfavorable calendar. 39
	860	+	(e) Unfavorable Report. – When a standing committee reports a bill with the 40
	861	+	recommendation that it not be passed and no minority report accompanies it, the bill shall be 41
	862	+	placed on the unfavorable calendar. 42
	863	+	(f) Minority Report. – When a bill is reported by a standing committee with a 43
	864	+	recommendation that it not be passed or that it be postponed indefinitely but it is accompanied 44
	865	+	by a minority report signed by at least one-fourth of the members of the standing committee who 45
	866	+	were present and voting when the bill was considered in standing committee, the question before 46
	867	+	the House shall be: "The adoption of the minority report." If the minority report is adopted by 47
	868	+	majority vote, the bill shall be placed on the favorable calendar for consideration. If the minority 48
	869	+	report fails of adoption by a majority vote, the bill shall be placed on the unfavorable calendar. 49
	870	+	RULE 36.1. Fiscal Notes. – (a) The Chair or Cochair of the Appropriations 50
	871	+	Committee, of the Finance Committee, or of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	872	+	Page 18 House Resolution 563-First Edition
	873	+	Operations of the House, upon the floor of the House, may request that a fiscal analysis be made 1
	874	+	of a bill, a resolution, or an amendment to a bill or resolution which is in the possession of the 2
	875	+	House and that a fiscal note be attached to the measure, which request shall be allowed when, in 3
	876	+	the opinion of the Speaker, the fiscal effects of that measure are not apparent from the language 4
	877	+	of the measure. When a request is properly made under this subsection, the bill is removed from 5
	878	+	the calendar until such time that the fiscal note is attached to the measure. 6
	879	+	(b) The fiscal note shall be filed and attached to the bill or amendment within two 7
	880	+	legislative days of the request, and a copy shall be sent by electronic mail to each member. If it 8
	881	+	is impossible to prepare a fiscal note within two legislative days, the Director of Fiscal Research 9
	882	+	shall, in writing, so advise the Speaker, the Principal Clerk, the Majority Leader, the Minority 10
	883	+	Leader, and the member introducing or proposing the measure and shall indicate the time when 11
	884	+	the fiscal note will be ready. 12
	885	+	(c) The fiscal note shall be prepared by the Fiscal Research Division on a form 13
	886	+	approved by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the 14
	887	+	House as to content and form and signed by the staff member or members preparing it. If no 15
	888	+	estimate in dollars is possible, the fiscal note shall indicate the reasons that no estimate is 16
	889	+	provided. The fiscal note shall not comment on the merit, but may identify technical problems. 17
	890	+	The Fiscal Research Division shall make the fiscal note available to the membership of the 18
	891	+	House. 19
	892	+	(d) A sponsor of a bill or amendment may deliver a copy of the bill or amendment 20
	893	+	to the Fiscal Research Division for the preparation of a fiscal note. The sponsor shall attach the 21
	894	+	fiscal note to the bill when filed or to the amendment when its adoption is moved. 22
	895	+	(e) The sponsor of a bill or amendment to which a fiscal note is attached who 23
	896	+	objects to the estimates and information provided may reduce to writing the objections. These 24
	897	+	objections shall be appended to the fiscal note attached to the bill or amendment and to the copies 25
	898	+	of the fiscal note available to the membership. 26
	899	+	(f) Subsection (a) of this rule shall not apply to the Current Operations 27
	900	+	Appropriations Bill or the Capital Improvement Appropriations Bill. This rule shall not apply to 28
	901	+	a bill or amendment requiring an actuarial note under these rules. 29
	902	+	RULE 36.1A. Distribution of Proposed Committee Substitutes. – (a) No proposed 30
	903	+	committee substitute may be considered by a standing committee unless the proposed committee 31
	904	+	substitute shall have been distributed electronically no later than 9:00 P.M. of the preceding 32
	905	+	calendar day to the members of the committee and to the member who is listed as the first primary 33
	906	+	sponsor. This requirement may be waived by leave of the standing committee. 34
	907	+	(b) Subsection (a) of this rule does not apply to a proposed committee substitute 35
	908	+	establishing districts for Congress or State Senators or State Representatives. 36
	909	+	RULE 36.2. Actuarial Notes. – If required by State law: 37
	910	+	(a) Every bill proposing any change in the law relative to any: 38
	911	+	(1) State, municipal, or other retirement system funded in whole or in part out of 39
	912	+	public funds; or 40
	913	+	(2) Program of hospital, medical, disability, or related benefits provided for 41
	914	+	teachers and State employees, funded in whole or in part by State funds; 42
	915	+	shall have available at the time of its consideration by any committee a brief explanatory 43
	916	+	statement or note which shall include a reliable estimate of the financial and actuarial effect of 44
	917	+	the proposed change, as provided in G.S. 120-114. The actuarial note shall be attached to the 45
	918	+	jacket of each proposed bill which is reported favorably by any committee and shall be clearly 46
	919	+	designated as an actuarial note. A bill described in subdivision (a)(1) of this rule shall be referred 47
	920	+	to the Committee on Pensions and Retirement upon its introduction in accordance with 48
	921	+	G.S. 120-111.3. 49
	922	+	(b) The sponsor of the bill may present a copy of the bill with a request for an 50
	923	+	actuarial note to the Fiscal Research Division. The Fiscal Research Division, at the request of the 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	924	+	House Resolution 563-First Edition Page 19
	925	+	sponsor of the bill or in its own discretion, shall request the chief administrative officer of the 1
	926	+	system or program affected by the bill to have the actuary of the system or program prepare an 2
	927	+	actuarial note on the bill and to transmit the note to the sponsor of the bill and the Fiscal Research 3
	928	+	Division not later than two weeks after the request is received, unless an extension of time is 4
	929	+	agreed to by the sponsor as being necessary in the preparation of the note. The actuarial note 5
	930	+	shall be attached to the jacket of the bill. The provisions of this subsection may be waived by the 6
	931	+	sponsor of a bill affecting local government retirement or pension plans not administered by the 7
	932	+	State or any local government program of hospital, medical, disability, or related benefits for 8
	933	+	local government employees not administered by the State. 9
	934	+	(c) The note shall be factual and shall, if possible, provide a reliable estimate of 10
	935	+	both the immediate effect and, if determinable, the long-range fiscal and actuarial effect of the 11
	936	+	bill. If, after careful investigation, it is determined that no dollar estimate is possible, the note 12
	937	+	shall contain a statement to that effect, setting forth the reasons why no dollar estimate can be 13
	938	+	given. No comment or opinion shall be included in the actuarial note with regard to the merits of 14
	939	+	the bill for which the note is prepared. Technical and mechanical defects in the bill may be noted. 15
	940	+	(d) When any standing committee reports a bill to which an actuarial note is 16
	941	+	attached at the time of committee consideration, with any amendment of such nature as would 17
	942	+	substantially affect the cost to or the revenues of any system or program, the chair of the 18
	943	+	committee reporting the measure shall obtain from the administrator of the affected system or 19
	944	+	program an actuarial note of the fiscal and actuarial effect of the proposed amendment. The 20
	945	+	actuarial note shall be attached to the jacket of the bill. An amendment to any bill shall not be in 21
	946	+	order if the amendment affects the costs to or the revenues of a State-administered retirement or 22
	947	+	pension system, or program of hospital, medical, disability, or related benefits for teachers or 23
	948	+	State employees, unless an actuarial note as to the actuarial effect of the amendment has been 24
	949	+	made available. 25
	950	+	RULE 36.3. Local Legislation Affecting State Highway System. – A local bill 26
	951	+	affecting the State Highway System shall be referred to the Committee on Transportation. 27
	952	+	RULE 36.4. Content of Appropriations Bills. – No provision shall be contained in 28
	953	+	any of the following bills unless it pertains to the appropriation of money or the raising or 29
	954	+	reducing of revenue: (i) the Current Operations Appropriations Bill; (ii) the Capital Improvement 30
	955	+	Appropriations Bill; (iii) any bill generally revising appropriations for the second fiscal year of 31
	956	+	a biennium. If a point of order is made against such a provision and is sustained, the presiding 32
	957	+	officer shall refer the bill to the committee from which it came, with instructions for the chair of 33
	958	+	the committee to immediately report out a substitute or amendment removing the offending 34
	959	+	provision. 35
	960	+	RULE 37. Removing Bill From Unfavorable Calendar. – A bill may be removed 36
	961	+	from the unfavorable calendar upon motion carried by a two-thirds vote. A motion to remove a 37
	962	+	bill from the unfavorable calendar is debatable. 38
	963	+	RULE 38. Reports on Appropriation and Revenue Bills. – (a) All standing 39
	964	+	committees, other than the Standing Committees on Appropriations, when favorably reporting 40
	965	+	any bill or resolution that: 41
	966	+	(1) Carries an appropriation from the State; or 42
	967	+	(2) Requires or will require in the future substantial additional State monies from 43
	968	+	the General Fund or Highway Fund to implement its provisions shall indicate 44
	969	+	same in the report, and said bill or resolution shall be referred to the Standing 45
	970	+	Committees on Appropriations for a further report before being acted upon by 46
	971	+	the House. 47
	972	+	(b) All standing committees, other than the Standing Committee on Finance, 48
	973	+	when favorably reporting any bill that in any way or manner raises revenue, reduces revenue, 49
	974	+	levies a tax, authorizes the levying of a tax, an assessment, or a fee, or authorizes the issue of 50
	975	+	bonds or notes, whether public or local, shall indicate same in the report, and said bill shall be 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	976	+	Page 20 House Resolution 563-First Edition
	977	+	referred to the Standing Committee on Finance for a further report before being acted upon by 1
	978	+	the House. This subsection shall not apply to bills only imposing fines, forfeitures, or penalties. 2
	979	+	RULE 39. Discharge Petition. – (a) A motion to discharge a committee from 3
	980	+	consideration of a bill may be filed with the Principal Clerk by a primary sponsor of that measure 4
	981	+	if accompanied by a petition asking that the committee be discharged from further consideration 5
	982	+	of the bill. No motion may be filed until 10 legislative days after the bill has been referred to the 6
	983	+	committee. No petition may be filed until notice has been given on the floor of the House that 7
	984	+	the petition is to be filed and the primary sponsor giving notice has obtained a fiscal note from 8
	985	+	the Fiscal Research Division on the bill, which note shall be attached to the petition. Members 9
	986	+	may sign the petition only in the office of the Principal Clerk, and when the signatures of 61 10
	987	+	members appear on the petition, the Principal Clerk shall place that motion on the calendar for 11
	988	+	the next legislative day as a special order of business. Members may withdraw their names at any 12
	989	+	time until 61 names appear. If the motion is adopted by the House, then the committee to which 13
	990	+	the bill or resolution has been referred is discharged from further consideration of the bill, and 14
	991	+	that bill is placed on the calendar for the next legislative day as a special order of business. The 15
	992	+	Principal Clerk shall provide a form for discharge petitions. 16
	993	+	(b) This rule shall not be temporarily suspended without one day's notice on the 17
	994	+	motion given in the House and delivered in writing to the chair of the standing committee, and 18
	995	+	to sustain that motion two-thirds of the members shall be required. 19
	996	+	RULE 40. Calendars and Schedules of Business. – The Clerk of the House shall 20
	997	+	prepare a daily schedule of business, including the Calendar of Bills and Resolutions for 21
	998	+	consideration and debate that day, in accordance with the Order of Business of the Day (Rule 5). 22
	999	+	RULE 41. Reading of Bills. – (a) Every bill shall receive three readings in the House 23
	1000	+	prior to its passage. The Speaker shall give notice at each subsequent reading whether it is the 24
	1001	+	second or third reading. 25
	1002	+	(a1) The first reading and referral to standing committee of a House bill shall occur 26
	1003	+	on the next legislative day following its introduction. The first reading and referral to standing 27
	1004	+	committee of a Senate bill shall occur on the next legislative day following its receipt on 28
	1005	+	messages from the Senate. This subsection does not apply to any bill establishing districts for 29
	1006	+	Congress or State Senators or State Representatives. 30
	1007	+	(b) Except for bills establishing districts for Congress or State Senators or State 31
	1008	+	Representatives, no bill shall be read more than once on the same day without the concurrence 32
	1009	+	of two-thirds of the members present and voting; provided, no bill governed by Section 23 of 33
	1010	+	Article II of the North Carolina Constitution herein shall be read twice on one day under any 34
	1011	+	circumstance. 35
	1012	+	RULE 42. Effect of a Defeated Bill. – (a) Subject to the provisions of subsections 36
	1013	+	(b) and (c) of this rule, after a bill has: 37
	1014	+	(1) Been tabled, 38
	1015	+	(2) Been postponed indefinitely, 39
	1016	+	(3) Failed to pass on any of its readings, or 40
	1017	+	(4) Been placed on the unfavorable calendar, 41
	1018	+	the contents of that bill or the principal provisions of its subject matter shall not be considered in 42
	1019	+	any other measure originating in the Senate or originating thereafter in the House. Upon the point 43
	1020	+	of order being raised and sustained by the chair, that measure shall be laid upon the table and 44
	1021	+	shall not be taken therefrom except by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting. 45
	1022	+	(b) No local bill shall be held by the chair to embody the contents of or the 46
	1023	+	principal provisions of the subject matter of any statewide measure which has been laid on the 47
	1024	+	table, has failed to pass on any of its readings, or has been placed on the unfavorable calendar. 48
	1025	+	(c) Subsection (a) of this rule does not apply to a bill that has received an 49
	1026	+	unfavorable report from a committee if the committee has also in the same report reported 50
	1027	+	favorable to the bill as amended or to a proposed committee substitute to the bill. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	1028	+	House Resolution 563-First Edition Page 21
	1029	+	RULE 43. Amendments. – (a) No amendment to a measure before the House shall 1
	1030	+	be in order unless the amendment is germane to the measure under consideration. 2
	1031	+	A House amendment deleting a previously adopted House amendment shall not be in 3
	1032	+	order. No amendment that is clearly unconstitutional shall be in order. 4
	1033	+	Only one principal (first degree) amendment shall be pending at any one time. If a 5
	1034	+	subsequent or substitute principal amendment shall be offered, the Speaker shall rule it out of 6
	1035	+	order. However, any member desiring to offer a subsequent or substitute principal amendment in 7
	1036	+	opposition to the pending amendment may inform the House by way of argument against the 8
	1037	+	pending amendment that if it is defeated the member proposes to offer another principal 9
	1038	+	amendment, and the member may then read and explain such proposed amendment. 10
	1039	+	Perfecting (or second degree) amendments may be offered and considered without 11
	1040	+	limitation as to number, and in the event of multiple perfecting amendments, they shall be voted 12
	1041	+	upon in inverse order. 13
	1042	+	(b) The following rules apply when considering (i) the Current Operations 14
	1043	+	Appropriations Bill; (ii) the Capital Improvement Appropriations Bill; (iii) any bill generally 15
	1044	+	revising appropriations for the second fiscal year of a biennium: 16
	1045	+	(1) Amendments cannot increase total spending within a committee area beyond 17
	1046	+	the total for that committee as shown in the committee report. 18
	1047	+	(2) Amendments can only affect appropriations within the departments, agencies, 19
	1048	+	or programs within the jurisdiction of the committee. 20
	1049	+	(3) Amendments cannot increase total spending, from any source, beyond the 21
	1050	+	total amount shown in the committee report. 22
	1051	+	(4) Amendments that cause the budget to be unbalanced are not in order. 23
	1052	+	(5) Amendments cannot spend reversions. 24
	1053	+	(6) Amendments cannot make nonrecurring reductions to fund recurring items. 25
	1054	+	(c) When offering an amendment, the member shall deliver the signed original 26
	1055	+	amendment to the Principal Clerk and a copy to the Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, 27
	1056	+	and Operations of the House. 28
	1057	+	RULE 43.1. Engrossment. – Bills and resolutions which originate in the House and 29
	1058	+	which are amended shall be engrossed before being sent to the Senate. 30
	1059	+	RULE 43.2. House Concurrence in Senate Amendments to House Bills. – When 31
	1060	+	the House receives a Senate amendment to a bill originating in the House, it shall be placed on 32
	1061	+	the calendar in accordance with Rule 36(b). 33
	1062	+	RULE 43.3. Committee Substitutes Adopted by the Senate to Bills Originating in 34
	1063	+	the House; Procedure for Treatment of Material Amendments Thereto. – (a) Whenever the 35
	1064	+	Senate has adopted a committee substitute for a bill originating in the House and has returned the 36
	1065	+	bill to the House for concurrence in that committee substitute, it shall be placed on the calendar 37
	1066	+	in accordance with Rule 36(b). 38
	1067	+	(b) The Speaker shall rule whether the committee substitute is a material 39
	1068	+	amendment under Section 23 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution which reads: 40
	1069	+	"Revenue bills. – No law shall be enacted to raise money on the credit of the State, or to 41
	1070	+	pledge the faith of the State directly or indirectly for the payment of any debt, or to impose any 42
	1071	+	tax upon the people of the State, or to allow the counties, cities, or towns to do so, unless the bill 43
	1072	+	for the purpose shall have been read three several times in each house of the General Assembly 44
	1073	+	and passed three several readings, which readings shall have been on three different days, and 45
	1074	+	shall have been agreed to by each house respectively, and unless the yeas and nays on the second 46
	1075	+	and third readings of the bill shall have been entered on the journal." 47
	1076	+	If the committee substitute was referred to standing committee, the standing 48
	1077	+	committee shall: 49
	1078	+	(1) Report the bill with the recommendation either that the House do concur or 50
	1079	+	that the House do not concur; and 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	1080	+	Page 22 House Resolution 563-First Edition
	1081	+	(2) Advise the Speaker as to whether or not that committee substitute is a material 1
	1082	+	amendment under Section 23 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution. 2
	1083	+	(c) If the committee substitute for a bill is not a material amendment, the question 3
	1084	+	before the House shall be concurrence. 4
	1085	+	(d) If the committee substitute for a bill is a material amendment, the receiving of 5
	1086	+	that bill on messages shall constitute first reading, and the question before the House shall be 6
	1087	+	concurrence on second reading. If the motion is passed, the question then shall be concurrence 7
	1088	+	on third reading on the next legislative day. 8
	1089	+	(e) No committee substitute adopted by the Senate for a bill originating in the 9
	1090	+	House may be amended by the House. 10
	1091	+	RULE 44. Conference Standing Committees. – (a) Whenever the House shall 11
	1092	+	decline or refuse to concur in amendments put by the Senate to a bill originating in the House, or 12
	1093	+	shall refuse to concur in a substitute adopted by the Senate for a bill originating in the House, or 13
	1094	+	whenever the Senate shall decline or refuse to concur in amendments put by the House to a bill 14
	1095	+	originating in the Senate, or shall refuse to concur in a substitute adopted by the House for a bill 15
	1096	+	originating in the Senate, a conference committee may be appointed by the Speaker upon the 16
	1097	+	Speaker's own motion and shall be appointed upon request by the principal sponsor of the original 17
	1098	+	bill, the chair of the House standing committee that reported the bill, or the sponsor of the 18
	1099	+	amendment in which the Senate refused to concur; and the bill under consideration shall 19
	1100	+	thereupon go to and be considered by the joint conferees on the part of the House and Senate. In 20
	1101	+	appointing members to conference committees, the Speaker shall appoint no less than a majority 21
	1102	+	of members who generally supported the House position as determined by the Speaker. 22
	1103	+	(b) The conference report may be made by a majority of the House members of 23
	1104	+	such conference committee and shall not be amended. If the Senate has a similar rule, only such 24
	1105	+	matters as are in difference between the two houses shall be considered by the conferees and the 25
	1106	+	conference report shall deal only with such matters. If the Senate does not have a similar rule, a 26
	1107	+	conference committee report which includes significant matters that were not in difference 27
	1108	+	between the houses shall be referred to a standing committee for its recommendation before 28
	1109	+	further action by the House. 29
	1110	+	(c) If the conferees fail to agree or if either house fails to adopt the report of its 30
	1111	+	conferees, new conferees may be appointed. 31
	1112	+	(d) Except by leave of the House and except as otherwise provided in this 32
	1113	+	subsection, no vote shall be taken on adoption of a conference report until the next legislative 33
	1114	+	day following the report. Except by leave of the House, no vote shall be taken on adoption of a 34
	1115	+	conference report on either the Current Operations Appropriations Bill or a bill generally revising 35
	1116	+	the Current Operations Appropriations Act until the second legislative day following the report. 36
	1117	+	(e) Notwithstanding subsection (d) of this rule, a conference report for a bill 37
	1118	+	establishing districts for Congress or State Senators or State Representatives may be placed on 38
	1119	+	the calendar for the legislative day the report is submitted. 39
	1120	+	RULE 44.1. Transmittal of Bills to Senate. – Unless ordered by the Speaker or 40
	1121	+	two-thirds vote of the members present and voting, no bill shall be sent from the House on the 41
	1122	+	day of its passage, except on the last day of the session. 42
	1123	+	RULE 44.2. Veto Override. – A vote on overriding a gubernatorial veto may be taken 43
	1124	+	up on the legislative day it is received in the House from the Senate or Governor or any other 44
	1125	+	legislative day it is printed on the calendar published by the Clerk of the House pursuant to Rule 45
	1126	+	40. 46
	1127	+	VII. Legislative Officers and Employees 47
	1128	+	RULE 45. Elected Officers. – (a) The House shall elect its Speaker from among its 48
	1129	+	membership. 49
	1130	+	(b) The House shall elect its Speaker Pro Tempore from among its membership 50
	1131	+	who shall perform such duties as the Speaker may assign. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	1132	+	House Resolution 563-First Edition Page 23
	1133	+	(c) The House shall elect a Principal Clerk, who shall continue in office until 1
	1134	+	another is elected. The Speaker may appoint a Reading Clerk and shall appoint a 2
	1135	+	Sergeant-at-Arms, both of whom shall serve at the Speaker's pleasure. The Principal Clerk, 3
	1136	+	Reading Clerk, and Sergeant-at-Arms shall have and perform duties and responsibilities, not 4
	1137	+	inconsistent with these rules, as the Speaker may assign. Unless directed otherwise by the 5
	1138	+	Speaker on behalf of the House, the Principal Clerk or an employee designated by the Principal 6
	1139	+	Clerk shall receive House bills not approved by the Governor. 7
	1140	+	RULE 46. Assistants to Principal Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms. – The Principal 8
	1141	+	Clerk and the Sergeant-at-Arms may appoint, with the approval of the Speaker, such assistants 9
	1142	+	as may be necessary to the efficient discharge of the duties of their respective offices. 10
	1143	+	RULE 47. Speaker's Staff; Chaplain; and Pages. – (a) The Speaker may appoint 11
	1144	+	one or more staff members to the Speaker, a Chaplain of the House, and pages to wait upon the 12
	1145	+	sessions of the House. 13
	1146	+	(b) When the House is not in session, the pages shall be under the supervision of 14
	1147	+	the Supervisor of Pages. 15
	1148	+	(c) The Speaker, at the request of a member, may appoint honorary pages. 16
	1149	+	RULE 48. Member's Staff. – (a) Each standing committee shall have a committee 17
	1150	+	assistant. The committee assistant to a standing committee shall serve as staff to the chair of the 18
	1151	+	standing committee. 19
	1152	+	(b) Each member shall be assigned a legislative assistant, unless the member has 20
	1153	+	a committee assistant to serve as legislative assistant. 21
	1154	+	(c) The selection and retention of legislative assistants shall be the sole 22
	1155	+	prerogative of the individual member or members. Such staff shall file initial applications for 23
	1156	+	employment with the Director of Legislative Assistants and shall receive compensation as 24
	1157	+	prescribed by the Legislative Services Commission. Their period of employment shall comply 25
	1158	+	with the period as established by the Legislative Services Commission unless employment for an 26
	1159	+	extended period is approved by the Speaker. The legislative assistants shall adhere to such 27
	1160	+	uniform rules and regulations not inconsistent with these rules regarding hours and other 28
	1161	+	conditions of employment as the Legislative Services Commission shall fix by appropriate 29
	1162	+	regulations. The Director of House Legislative Assistants shall be appointed by the Speaker. 30
	1163	+	RULE 49. Compensation of Legislative Assistants. – No person employed, serving, 31
	1164	+	or appointed under Rules 46, 47, and 48 shall receive during such employment, appointment, or 32
	1165	+	service any compensation from any department of the State government, and there shall not be 33
	1166	+	voted, paid, or awarded any additional pay, bonus, or gratuity to any of them; but they shall 34
	1167	+	receive only the pay now provided by law for such duties and services. 35
	1168	+	VIII. Privileges of the Hall 36
	1169	+	RULE 50. Admittance to Floor. – (a) No person except members, officers, and 37
	1170	+	designated employees of the General Assembly who have been issued identification tags as 38
	1171	+	provided by this rule, and former members of the General Assembly who are not registered under 39
	1172	+	the provisions of Article 2 of Chapter 120C of the General Statutes, shall be allowed on the floor 40
	1173	+	of the House during its session, unless permitted by the Speaker or otherwise provided by law. 41
	1174	+	Employees of the General Assembly shall wear identification tags, approved by the Legislative 42
	1175	+	Services Officer, when on the floor of the House. 43
	1176	+	(b) Except when a committee is meeting on the floor of the House, a person who 44
	1177	+	is not authorized to be admitted to the floor under subsection (a) of this rule shall not be allowed 45
	1178	+	to enter the Chamber until at least five minutes after adjournment or recess of the House. 46
	1179	+	RULE 51. Admittance of Press. – Reporters wishing to take down debates may be 47
	1180	+	admitted by the Speaker, who shall assign such places to them on the floor or elsewhere, to effect 48
	1181	+	this object, as shall not interfere with the convenience of the House. Reporters admitted to the 49
	1182	+	floor of the House shall observe the same requirements of attire for members contained in Rule 50
	1183	+	12(h). 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	1184	+	Page 24 House Resolution 563-First Edition
	1185	+	RULE 52. Extending Courtesies. – Courtesies of the floor, galleries, or lobby shall 1
	1186	+	be extended at the discretion of the Speaker and only by the Speaker. Requests by members to 2
	1187	+	extend these courtesies shall be delivered to the Speaker. No member shall orally ask the Speaker 3
	1188	+	to extend these courtesies during the daily session. 4
	1189	+	RULE 53. Order in House Chamber, Galleries, and Lobby. – In case of any 5
	1190	+	disturbance or disorderly conduct in the House Chamber, galleries, or lobby, the Speaker or other 6
	1191	+	presiding officer is empowered to order the same to be cleared to the extent they deem necessary. 7
	1192	+	IX. General Rules 8
	1193	+	RULE 54. Attendance of Members. – Members and officers of the House shall 9
	1194	+	request leaves from the service of the House with the Principal Clerk. 10
	1195	+	RULE 55. Documents to Be Signed by the Speaker. – All acts, addresses, and 11
	1196	+	resolutions and all warrants and subpoenas issued by order of the House shall be signed by the 12
	1197	+	Speaker or other presiding officer. 13
	1198	+	RULE 56. Printing or Reproducing Materials. – There shall be no printing or 14
	1199	+	reproducing of paper(s) that are not legislative in essence except upon approval of the Speaker. 15
	1200	+	RULE 57. Placement or Circulation of Materials. – Persons other than members of 16
	1201	+	the House shall not place or cause to be placed any materials on members' desks in the House 17
	1202	+	Chamber without obtaining approval of the Speaker. Any material placed on members' desks in 18
	1203	+	the House Chamber, or circulated to House members anywhere in the Legislative Building or the 19
	1204	+	Legislative Office Building, shall bear the name of the originator. 20
	1205	+	RULE 58. Rescission and Alteration of the Rules. – (a) These rules shall not be 21
	1206	+	permanently rescinded or altered except by House simple resolution passed by a two-thirds vote 22
	1207	+	of the members present and voting. The introducer of the resolution must on the floor of the 23
	1208	+	House give notice of intent to introduce the resolution on the legislative day preceding its 24
	1209	+	introduction. 25
	1210	+	(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, the House upon two-thirds vote of the 26
	1211	+	members present and voting may temporarily suspend any rule. 27
	1212	+	RULE 58.1. Temporary Modifications Due to State of Emergency. – (a) The 28
	1213	+	following modifications to these rules shall apply 24 hours after receipt by the Majority Leader, 29
	1214	+	the Minority Leader, and the Principal Clerk of written notification filed by the Speaker: 30
	1215	+	(1) RULE 12(i) shall read as follows: "(i) The use of a mobile device or 31
	1216	+	cellular phone for the purpose of making or receiving a phone call shall not 32
	1217	+	be permitted in the House Chamber while the House is in session, except the 33
	1218	+	Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, and a designee of a Leader under Rule 34
	1219	+	22.1(c) may use a mobile device or cellular phone during a vote to 35
	1220	+	communicate in real time with members who have filed a voting designation 36
	1221	+	pursuant to Rule 22.1, provided the use does not otherwise disrupt the 37
	1222	+	decorum of the chamber." 38
	1223	+	(2) RULE 13(a) shall read as follows: "RULE 13. Motions Generally. – (a) A 39
	1224	+	motion that is complex, complicated, or otherwise not easily understood shall 40
	1225	+	be reduced to writing at the request of the Speaker or any member. No motion 41
	1226	+	relating to a bill shall be in order that does not identify the bill by its number 42
	1227	+	and short title. No motion may be made, nor business presented, by a member 43
	1228	+	who has filed a voting designation pursuant to Rule 22.1 affirming the member 44
	1229	+	will not be present in the House during the time the designation is in effect 45
	1230	+	and has not been revoked." 46
	1231	+	(3) The rules are amended by adding a new rule to read: "RULE 22.1. Designated 47
	1232	+	Voting. – (a) A member who is not present may designate either the Majority 48
	1233	+	or the Minority Leader to cast the member's vote if the member has filed a 49
	1234	+	voting designation with the Principal Clerk and at least 61 members have 50
	1235	+	voted in the House Chamber when the question is put, after which the Speaker 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	1236	+	House Resolution 563-First Edition Page 25
	1237	+	shall call upon the Majority and Minority Leaders to cast the votes of members 1
	1238	+	who have made a designation pursuant to this Rule. 2
	1239	+	(b) A designation shall be in writing and on a form made available by the Principal 3
	1240	+	Clerk. In order to be effective for that legislative day, the designation must be received by the 4
	1241	+	Principal Clerk at least one hour prior to the time the House is scheduled to convene. The 5
	1242	+	designation shall state the member will not be present in the House, shall identify either the 6
	1243	+	Majority or Minority Leader as the member's voting designee, and shall include both a 7
	1244	+	commencement and expiration date. A designation may be revoked at any time by notifying the 8
	1245	+	Principal Clerk. 9
	1246	+	(c) The designated Leader may appoint another member to cast all votes 10
	1247	+	designated to that Leader." 11
	1248	+	(4) RULE 22(b) shall read as follows: "(b) Except as provided in Rule 22.1, no 12
	1249	+	member may vote unless the member is in the Chamber. This subsection of 13
	1250	+	this rule cannot be suspended." 14
	1251	+	(4a) RULE 24(c) shall read as follows: "(c) No member may change a vote 15
	1252	+	without leave of the House, but such leave shall not be granted if it affects the 16
	1253	+	result or if the session in which the vote was taken has been adjourned. 17
	1254	+	No member who cast a vote using the designated voting procedure allowed 18
	1255	+	under Rule 22.1 may change that vote without leave of the House, but such 19
	1256	+	leave shall not be granted if it affects the result or if the session in which that 20
	1257	+	vote was taken has been adjourned. A member who voted using the designated 21
	1258	+	voting procedure allowed under Rule 22.1 may request a vote change by 22
	1259	+	submitting a written request to the Leader the member originally designated 23
	1260	+	who shall deliver the request to the Principal Clerk who shall officially receive 24
	1261	+	it. The Principal Clerk shall provide a form to be used by members to request 25
	1262	+	a change to a vote cast pursuant to Rule 22.1." 26
	1263	+	(5) RULE 26(e) shall read as follows: "(e) The chair or acting chair, designated 27
	1264	+	by the chair or by the Speaker, and five other members of the standing 28
	1265	+	committee, or a majority of the standing committee, whichever is fewer, shall 29
	1266	+	constitute a quorum of that standing committee. A quorum of less than a 30
	1267	+	majority of all the members must include at least one member of the minority 31
	1268	+	party. For purposes of determining a quorum, the Chair of the Standing 32
	1269	+	Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House; the Speaker Pro 33
	1270	+	Tempore; the Majority Leader; the Minority Leader; and the Deputy Majority 34
	1271	+	Leader, when serving only as ex officio members under subsection (d) of this 35
	1272	+	rule, shall be counted among the membership of the committee only when 36
	1273	+	present or participating remotely pursuant to Rule 28(a). A committee member 37
	1274	+	who is participating remotely under Rule 28(a) shall be counted as present for 38
	1275	+	quorum purposes." 39
	1276	+	(6) RULE 28(a) shall read as follows: "RULE 28. Standing Committee 40
	1277	+	Meetings. – (a) Standing committees shall be furnished with suitable meeting 41
	1278	+	places pursuant to a schedule established by the Chair of the Standing 42
	1279	+	Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House. Select 43
	1280	+	committees shall be furnished with suitable meeting places as their needs 44
	1281	+	require by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 45
	1282	+	Operations of the House. Committees may conduct meetings with members 46
	1283	+	participating remotely and such members may vote on any measure or motion 47
	1284	+	before the committee provided all of the following requirements are met: 48
	1285	+	(1) Each member is able to communicate, in real time, with all other 49
	1286	+	members by (i) in-person communication, (ii) remote communication 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	1287	+	Page 26 House Resolution 563-First Edition
	1288	+	using devices or programs that transmit audio or audio and video, or 1
	1289	+	(iii) both. 2
	1290	+	(2) All documents considered by the committee are provided to members. 3
	1291	+	(3) The committee otherwise complies with G.S. 143-318.13(a)." 4
	1292	+	(7) RULE 36(b) shall read as follows: "(b) Favorable Report. – When a 5
	1293	+	standing committee reports a bill with the recommendation that it be passed, 6
	1294	+	the bill shall be placed on the favorable calendar on the day designated by the 7
	1295	+	Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the 8
	1296	+	House, and no later than the fourth legislative day after submission of the 9
	1297	+	report or Senate message under Rule 43.2 or Rule 43.3(a), unless: 10
	1298	+	(1) The bill is re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations or 11
	1299	+	Committee on Finance under Rule 38 or was serially referred under 12
	1300	+	Rule 32; or 13
	1301	+	(2) The bill has not yet been placed on the calendar, and the Speaker refers 14
	1302	+	the bill to another committee. 15
	1303	+	In order to place a bill on the calendar for a legislative day, notice shall be 16
	1304	+	given by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 17
	1305	+	Operations of the House orally in the House or in writing to the Principal 18
	1306	+	Clerk. When a committee substitute is adopted and receives a favorable report 19
	1307	+	by the standing committee, the chair shall submit to the standing committee 20
	1308	+	the question of an unfavorable report on the original bill. The standing 21
	1309	+	committee's action, if any, on the original bill shall be reported at the same 22
	1310	+	time the committee substitute is reported." 23
	1311	+	(8) RULE 41 shall read as follows: "RULE 41. Reading of Bills. – Every bill 24
	1312	+	shall receive three readings in the House prior to its passage. The Speaker 25
	1313	+	shall give notice at each subsequent reading whether it is the second or third; 26
	1314	+	provided, no bill governed by Section 23 of Article II of the North Carolina 27
	1315	+	Constitution herein shall be read twice on one day under any circumstance." 28
	1316	+	(9) Notwithstanding Rule 44(d), a conference report may be placed on the 29
	1317	+	calendar for the legislative day on which the report is received. The Speaker 30
	1318	+	shall provide notice as soon as practicable to the Majority Leader and the 31
	1319	+	Minority Leader if the Speaker anticipates a conference report will be placed 32
	1320	+	on the favorable calendar the same day the report is received. 33
	1321	+	RULE 59. Cosponsorship of Bills and Resolutions, Removal of Sponsorship. – (a) 34
	1322	+	Except by leave of the primary sponsor, or as provided in subsection (d) of this rule, no member 35
	1323	+	may be listed as an additional primary sponsor on a bill after the bill has been filed. Except as 36
	1324	+	provided in subsection (d) of this rule, any member not listed as a preprinted cosponsor on the 37
	1325	+	computer-generated draft edition who wishes to cosponsor a bill or resolution which has been 38
	1326	+	introduced may do so by 5:00 P.M. of the calendar day following the adjournment of the session 39
	1327	+	during which such bill or resolution was first read and referred, but only electronically under 40
	1328	+	procedures approved by the Principal Clerk. 41
	1329	+	(b) Members wishing to cosponsor legislation prior to preparation of the draft 42
	1330	+	should indicate such to the drafter at the time the bill is requested and before filing the bill with 43
	1331	+	the Principal Clerk's office. The names of the members who are the primary sponsors shall be 44
	1332	+	listed in the order requested by them, followed by the words (Primary Sponsors); and the 45
	1333	+	remaining names of such members cosponsoring shall follow on the draft edition and first edition. 46
	1334	+	No more than four members may be listed as primary sponsors. Names of persons cosponsoring 47
	1335	+	bills thereafter under subsection (a) of this rule do not appear on subsequent editions but shall be 48
	1336	+	listed in the bill status system as cosponsors. 49 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	1337	+	House Resolution 563-First Edition Page 27
	1338	+	(c) No member shall permit anyone, other than that member's committee 1
	1339	+	assistant, legislative assistant, office assistant, or another member, to have possession of and 2
	1340	+	solicit for bill or resolution sponsorship, the jacket of a bill or resolution. 3
	1341	+	(d) Should any member wish to remove the member's sponsorship of a bill that is 4
	1342	+	substantially changed by a Senate amendment or a Senate committee substitute, the member shall 5
	1343	+	notify the House Principal Clerk before the bill is considered for concurrence. If no sponsors 6
	1344	+	remain on the bill, the House Principal Clerk shall notify the Chair of the Standing Committee 7
	1345	+	on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House who may request that other members sponsor 8
	1346	+	the bill. Removal of the first primary sponsor's name from a bill does not reduce the total number 9
	1347	+	of bills introduced by the member under Rule 31.1(d), and sponsorship of a bill after removal of 10
	1348	+	all sponsors is subject to Rule 31.1(d). 11
	1349	+	RULE 60. Correcting of Typographical Errors. – The Legislative Services Officer 12
	1350	+	may correct typographical errors appearing in House bills or resolutions or House amendments 13
	1351	+	to Senate bills provided that such corrections are made before ratification and do not conflict 14
	1352	+	with any actions or rules of the Senate and provided further that such correction be approved by 15
	1353	+	the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, the 16
	1354	+	Speaker, or other presiding officer. 17
	1355	+	RULE 61. Assignment of Seats. – After initial assignment of seats, a member shall 18
	1356	+	continue to occupy the seat to which initially assigned until assigned a permanent seat; once 19
	1357	+	assigned a permanent seat, the member shall occupy it for the entire biennial session. In event of 20
	1358	+	vacancy, the Speaker or the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations 21
	1359	+	of the House may assign such permanent seats as are necessary to maintain seating. 22
	1360	+	RULE 61.1. Office Assignments. – The Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, 23
	1361	+	Calendar, and Operations of the House shall assign to each member an office space. When 24
	1362	+	available, chairs of standing committees shall be assigned an office adjacent to the room in which 25
	1363	+	the standing committee generally meets if the Chair so desires. The Speaker shall be assigned an 26
	1364	+	office of his or her choice. 27
	1365	+	RULE 61.2. Convening and Assigning Seats in the New House. – (a) The Principal 28
	1366	+	Clerk of the previous House of Representatives shall convene the House of Representatives at 29
	1367	+	12:00 P.M. on the date established by law for the convening of each regular session and preside 30
	1368	+	over the body until the members elect a Speaker. In the case of a vacancy, inability, or refusal to 31
	1369	+	so serve, the duty shall devolve upon the Sergeant-at-Arms of the prior House, and in the case of 32
	1370	+	a vacancy in that office, or inability or refusal to so serve, the duty shall devolve upon the Reading 33
	1371	+	Clerk of the prior House. 34
	1372	+	(b) It shall be the duty of the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, 35
	1373	+	and Operations of the House of the prior House to assign temporary seats to the members of the 36
	1374	+	House of Representatives in its Chamber. In the case of the inability or refusal to serve of the 37
	1375	+	Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, the Speaker 38
	1376	+	of the prior House of Representatives shall appoint a person to assign seats to members of the 39
	1377	+	House of Representatives in its Chamber. In the event that the party that had a majority of 40
	1378	+	members in the prior House will no longer have a majority of members in the new House, then 41
	1379	+	the duty assigned in this subsection to the Chair of the Committee of the prior House shall instead 42
	1380	+	be the duty of the person nominated as Speaker by the majority party caucus for the new House, 43
	1381	+	or some member-elect designated by the Speaker-nominee. In the event no party will have a 44
	1382	+	majority, then the duty assigned in this subsection to the Chair of the Committee of the prior 45
	1383	+	House shall instead be the joint duty of one person chosen each by the caucuses of the two parties 46
	1384	+	having the greatest numbers of members. 47
	1385	+	RULE 61.3. Livestreaming Sessions. – To the extent any session of the House is 48
	1386	+	livestreamed, the methods used for the livestreaming shall comply with the policies and 49
	1387	+	procedures established and published by the Principal Clerk. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	1388	+	Page 28 House Resolution 563-First Edition
	1389	+	RULE 62. Matters Not Covered in These Rules. – Except as herein set out, the rules 1
	1390	+	of Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure shall govern the operation of the House. 2
	1391	+	SECTION 2. This resolution is effective upon adoption. 3