North Carolina House Bill H563 Latest Draft

                            GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA 
SESSION 2025 
H 	Simple 
 	Resolution 
 	Adopted 
HOUSE RESOLUTION 563 
Committee Substitute Favorable 3/31/25 
Adopted 4/1/25 
 
Sponsors:  
Referred to:  
March 31, 2025 
*H563 -v-3* 
A HOUSE RESOLUTION A DOPTING THE PERMANEN T RULES OF THE HOUSE OF 1 
REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE 2025 REGULAR SESSION. 2 
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives: 3 
SECTION 1. The permanent rules of the Regular Session of the House of 4 
Representatives of the 2025 General Assembly are: 5 
PERMANENT RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE 6 
REGULAR SESSION OF THE 2025 GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA 7 
I. Order of Business, 1-5.1 8 
II. Conduct of Debate, 6-12 9 
III. Motions, 13-19 10 
IV. Voting, 20-25 11 
V. Committees, 26-30 12 
VI. Handling of Bills, 31-44.2 13 
VII. Legislative Officers and Employees, 45-49 14 
VIII. Privileges of the Hall, 50-53 15 
IX. General Rules, 54-62 16 
I. Order of Business 17 
RULE 1. Convening Hour, Limitation on Legislative Sessions. – The House shall 18 
convene each legislative day at the hour fixed by the House. In the event the House adjourns on 19 
the preceding legislative day without having fixed an hour for reconvening, the House shall 20 
convene on the next legislative day at 2:00 P.M. During January and February of 2025, no 21 
sessions may be held on Friday. Without leave of the House, no session shall continue after 10:00 22 
P.M. on Monday nor after 9:00 P.M. on any other days, and the Speaker shall adjourn the House 23 
without motion at that point, except that a motion may be made as to the time and day of next 24 
convening. Except for votes on motions to approve the Journal and to adjourn, no votes may be 25 
held on any Sunday. 26 
RULE 1.1. Emergencies. – (a) In the event of a disaster, natural or otherwise, that 27 
precludes the General Assembly from meeting in the Legislative Building, the members will be 28 
notified by the Speaker where and when the House will convene. 29 
(b) In the event of a State of Emergency that threatens the health and safety of 30 
members, the Speaker may invoke the modifications to these rules contained in and pursuant to 31 
Rule 58.1. The Speaker may terminate the use of the modifications upon 24 hours' written notice 32 
to the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, and the Principal Clerk. 33 
RULE 2. Opening the Session. – (a) The Sergeant-at-Arms shall clear the House 10 34 
minutes before the convening hour. At the convening hour on each legislative day, the Speaker 35  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
Page 2  	House Resolution 563 
shall call the members to order and shall have the session opened with prayer. At the convening 1 
hour, the Speaker, or the Speaker's designee, shall lead the members in the Pledge of Allegiance 2 
to the American Flag. 3 
(b) If session is convened with a pro forma session pursuant to Rule 5.1, the prayer 4 
and pledge may be delayed until a session that is not a pro forma session is convened. 5 
RULE 3. Quorum. – (a) A quorum consists of a majority of the qualified members 6 
of the House. 7 
(b) Should the point of a quorum be raised, the doors shall be closed, and the 8 
Clerk shall call the roll of the House, after which the names of those not responding shall again 9 
be called. In the absence of a quorum, 15 members are authorized to compel the attendance of 10 
absent members and may order that absentees for whom no sufficient excuses are made be taken 11 
into custody wherever they may be found by special messenger appointed for that purpose. 12 
RULE 4. Approval of Journal. – (a) The Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, 13 
Calendar, and Operations of the House shall cause the Journal of the House to be examined daily 14 
before the hour of convening to determine if the proceedings of the previous day have been 15 
correctly recorded. 16 
(b) Immediately following the Pledge of Allegiance, the Speaker shall call for the 17 
Journal report by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the 18 
House, or by a Representative designated by the Chair, as to whether the proceedings of the 19 
previous day have been correctly recorded. Without objection, the Speaker shall cause the Journal 20 
to stand approved. 21 
RULE 5. Order of Business of the Day. – After the approval of the Journal of the 22 
preceding day, unless the Speaker varies or alters the order, the House shall proceed to business 23 
in the following order: 24 
(1) The receiving of petitions, memorials, and papers addressed to the General 25 
Assembly or to the House; 26 
(2) Messages from the Governor; 27 
(3) Ratification of bills; 28 
(4) Reports of standing committees; 29 
(5) Reports of select committees; 30 
(6) First reading and referral to committee of bills and resolutions; 31 
(7) Messages from the Senate; 32 
(8) Concurrence with Senate amendments or Senate committee substitutes; 33 
(9) The unfinished business of the preceding day; 34 
(10) Calendar (each category in accordance with Rule 40 – House bills first): 35 
a. Resolutions for adoption 36 
b. Conference reports for adoption 37 
c. Local bills (roll call), third reading 38 
d. Local bills (roll call), second reading 39 
e. Local bills, third reading 40 
f. Local bills, second reading 41 
g. Public bills (roll call), third reading 42 
h. Public bills (roll call), second reading 43 
i. Public bills and resolutions, third reading 44 
j. Public bills and resolutions, second reading; 45 
(11) Reading of notices and announcements; 46 
(12) Reading of Representative Statements. 47 
RULE 5.1. Pro Forma Sessions. – (a) The following motions, votes, and matters and 48 
no others are in order during a pro forma session: 49 
(1) A motion and vote to approve the Journal; 50  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
House Resolution 563  	Page 3 
(2) The receiving of petitions, memorials, and papers addressed to the General 1 
Assembly or to the House; 2 
(3) Messages from the Governor; 3 
(4) Ratification of bills; 4 
(5) Reports of standing committees; 5 
(6) First reading and referral to committee of bills and resolutions; 6 
(7) Re-referral to committee of bills and resolutions; 7 
(8) Reading of Representative Statements approved, in writing, for presentation 8 
during the pro forma session by the Chair of the Standing Committee on 9 
Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House; 10 
(9) Messages from the Senate; 11 
(10) Submission of conference reports; 12 
(11) A motion and vote to adjourn subject to the standard stipulations under Rule 13 
15.1. 14 
(b) As used in these rules, a pro forma session occurs when the Speaker notifies 15 
the body, either by announcement in the chamber or electronically using the General Assembly 16 
email system, that no motions, votes, or matters other than those allowed under subsection (a) of 17 
this rule will be taken during a future designated session. 18 
II. Conduct of Debate 19 
RULE 6. Duties and Powers of the Speaker. – The Speaker shall have general 20 
direction of the Hall, subject to more specific provisions of these rules. The Speaker may name 21 
any member to perform the duties of the chair, but substitution shall not extend beyond one day, 22 
except in the case of sickness or by leave of the House. If the Speaker is absent and has not 23 
designated a member or the Principal Clerk to perform the duties of the chair, the Speaker Pro 24 
Tempore shall preside during such absence. In the case of a vacancy in the office of the Speaker 25 
of the House of Representatives, the Principal Clerk shall preside over the House until the House 26 
elects a Speaker. 27 
RULE 7. Obtaining Floor. – (a) When any member desires recognition for any 28 
purpose, the member shall rise and respectfully address the Speaker. No member shall proceed 29 
until recognized by the Speaker for a purpose. 30 
(b) When a member desires to interrupt a member having the floor, the member 31 
shall first obtain recognition by the Speaker and permission of the member occupying the floor, 32 
and when such recognition and permission have been obtained, he or she may propound a 33 
question to the member occupying the floor; but he or she shall not otherwise interrupt the 34 
member having the floor, except as provided in subsection (c) of this rule; and the Speaker shall, 35 
without the point of order being raised, enforce this rule. 36 
(c) A member who has obtained the floor may be interrupted only for the 37 
following reasons: 38 
(1) A request that the member speaking yield for a question, 39 
(2) A point of order, 40 
(3) A parliamentary inquiry, or 41 
(4) A question of privilege. 42 
RULE 8. Questions of Privilege. – Upon recognition by the Speaker for that purpose, 43 
any member may speak to a question of privilege for a time not to exceed three minutes. 44 
Questions of privilege shall be those affecting, first, the rights of the House collectively, its 45 
safety, dignity, and the integrity of its proceedings; second, the rights, reputation, and conduct of 46 
members, individually, in their representative capacity only; and shall have precedence over all 47 
other questions, except motions to adjourn. Privilege may not be used to explain a vote or debate 48 
a bill. The Speaker shall determine if the question is one of privilege and shall, without the point 49 
of order being raised, enforce this rule. 50  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
Page 4  	House Resolution 563 
RULE 8.1. Points of Personal Privilege; Representative Statements; Explanation 1 
of Vote. – (a) In session and upon recognition by the Speaker for that purpose, unless otherwise 2 
provided by the Speaker, any member may speak to a point of personal privilege for a time not 3 
exceeding one minute to a matter of immediate importance that concerns the House collectively. 4 
The Speaker shall determine if the question raised is one of personal privilege and shall, without 5 
the point of order being raised, enforce this rule. 6 
(b) Outside of session and during business hours designated by the Principal 7 
Clerk, members may reserve time to speak from the Well of the House on a point of personal 8 
privilege for a time not exceeding 10 minutes. The video system will be used to record members 9 
and duplicates may be requested and fulfilled by the Principal Clerk within one week of 10 
presentation, after which the recording will be deleted. 11 
(c) A member may use some or all of the applicable time allotted under subsection 12 
(b) of this rule to explain to the House a "Representative Statement." Upon request, that statement 13 
shall be spread upon the Journal. Neither personal privilege nor a Representative Statement may 14 
be used to explain a vote, debate a bill, speak to policy or politics, advocate or advise on political 15 
issues or ideologies, or in any way disrupt the regular business of the House, nor shall such 16 
opportunities be used to solicit support or sponsors for any bill. The format of a Representative 17 
Statement shall be prescribed by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 18 
Operations of the House, but in any case shall speak only in the voice of the member submitting 19 
it. 20 
RULE 9. Points of Order. – (a) The Speaker shall decide questions of order, which 21 
once raised, are not debatable. Any member may appeal from the ruling of the chair on questions 22 
of order; on such appeal no member may speak more than once, unless by leave of the House. A 23 
three-fifths vote of the members present shall be necessary to sustain any appeal from the ruling 24 
of the chair. 25 
(b) When the Speaker calls a member to order, the member shall be seated, except 26 
that a member called to order may clear a matter of fact, or explain, but shall not proceed in 27 
debate so long as the decision stands. If the member appeals from the ruling of the chair and the 28 
decision by a three-fifths vote of the members present be in favor of the member called to order, 29 
the member may proceed; if otherwise, the member shall not; and if the case, in the judgment of 30 
the House, requires it, the member shall be liable to censure by the House. 31 
RULE 10. Limitations on Debate. – (a) No member shall speak on, debate, or solicit 32 
cosponsors for a bill or resolution at its first reading. 33 
(b) No member shall speak more than twice on the main question nor longer than 34 
15 minutes for the first speech and five minutes for the second speech; nor shall the member 35 
speak more than twice upon an amendment or a motion to reconsider, re-refer, or postpone or 36 
any motion on concurrence, and then not longer than 10 minutes for the first speech and five 37 
minutes for the second speech. 38 
(c) A member may speak only once and for not more than 10 minutes on the 39 
question of the adoption of a minority report. 40 
(d) In computing the time allowed for argument, the time consumed in answering 41 
questions should be considered and is taken out of any time allowed that member. 42 
(e) The House, by consent of a majority of the members present, may suspend the 43 
operation of subsections (b) through (d) of this rule during any debate on any particular question 44 
before the House. 45 
RULE 11. Reading of Papers. – When there is a call for the reading of the text of a 46 
paper which has been presented to the House and there is objection to such reading, the question 47 
shall be determined by a majority vote of the members of the House present. Except for protests 48 
permitted by the Constitution, no member may have material printed in the Journal until said 49 
material has been presented to the House and the printing approved by the House, and said 50 
material shall not exceed 1,000 words. 51  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
House Resolution 563  	Page 5 
RULE 12. General Decorum. – (a) The Speaker shall preserve order and decorum. 1 
(b) Decency of speech shall be observed and disrespect to personalities carefully 2 
avoided. 3 
(c) When the Speaker is putting any question or addressing the House, no person 4 
shall speak, stand up, walk out of, or cross the House, nor, when a member is speaking, engage 5 
in disruptive discourse or pass between the member and the chair. 6 
(d) Food shall not be permitted on the floor of the House during the first hour of 7 
the daily session. 8 
(e) The reading of newspapers shall not be permitted on the floor of the House 9 
while the House is in session. 10 
(f) The consumption of food or beverages shall not be permitted in the galleries 11 
at any time. 12 
(g) Special recitals and performances by musicians or other groups shall not be 13 
permitted on the floor of the House, and special guests of members of the House shall not be 14 
permitted on the floor of the House. 15 
(h) Members shall observe appropriate attire: coat and tie for male members and 16 
dignified dress for female members. 17 
(i) The use of a mobile device or cellular phone for the purpose of making or 18 
receiving a phone call shall not be permitted in the House Chamber while the House is in session. 19 
(j) Placards, stickers, or signs are not permitted in the House Chamber. 20 
III. Motions 21 
RULE 13. Motions Generally. – (a) A motion that is complex, complicated, or 22 
otherwise not easily understood shall be reduced to writing at the request of the Speaker or any 23 
member. No motion relating to a bill shall be in order that does not identify the bill by its number 24 
and short title. 25 
(b) When a motion is made, it shall be stated by the Speaker or, if written, it shall 26 
be handed to the chair and read aloud by the Speaker or Clerk before debate. 27 
(c) After a motion has been stated by the Speaker or read by the Speaker or Clerk, 28 
it shall be in the possession of the House; but it may be withdrawn before a decision or 29 
amendment, except in case of a motion to reconsider, which motion, when made by a member, 30 
shall be in possession of the House and shall not be withdrawn without leave of the House. 31 
RULE 14. Motions, Order of Precedence. – When there are motions before the 32 
House, the order of precedence is as follows: 33 
To adjourn. 34 
To recess. 35 
To lay on the table. 36 
Previous question. 37 
To postpone indefinitely. 38 
To reconsider. 39 
To postpone to a day certain. 40 
To re-refer. 41 
To amend an amendment. 42 
To amend. 43 
To pass the bill. 44 
No motion to lay on the table, to postpone indefinitely, to postpone to a day certain, 45 
to re-refer, to divide the question, or to make a particular amendment, being decided, shall be 46 
again allowed at the same stage of the bill or proposition. 47 
RULE 15. Motion to Adjourn. – (a) A motion to adjourn shall be seconded before 48 
the motion is put to the vote of the House. 49 
(b) A motion to adjourn shall be decided without debate and shall always be in 50 
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 
Page 6  	House Resolution 563 
shall not follow a motion to adjourn until debate or some other business of the House has 1 
intervened. 2 
RULE 15.1. Motion to Adjourn or Stand in Recess; Standard Stipulations. – A 3 
motion to adjourn or stand in recess subject to the standard stipulations shall constitute a motion 4 
to adjourn or stand in recess subject to the ratification of bills, messages from the Senate, 5 
committee reports, conference reports, referral and re-referral of bills and resolutions, 6 
appointment of conferees, introduction of bills and resolutions, committee appointments, and the 7 
reading of Representative Statements. 8 
RULE 16. Motion to Table. – (a) A motion to table shall be seconded before the 9 
motion is put to the vote of the House and is in order except when a motion to adjourn or to recess 10 
is before the House. 11 
(b) A motion to table shall be decided without debate; however, the proponent of 12 
the matter that is subject of the motion to table shall be given up to two minutes to explain the 13 
matter subject to the motion to table if the proponent has not previously explained the matter 14 
prior to the motion to table. 15 
(c) A motion to table a bill shall constitute a motion to table the bill and all 16 
amendments thereto. 17 
(d) When the question before the House is the adoption of an amendment to a bill 18 
or resolution, a motion to table the bill is not in order; and a motion to table an amendment applies 19 
to the amendment only, and the motion may not expressly or by implication or construction be 20 
expanded to include a motion to table the bill also. 21 
(e) When a question has been tabled, it shall not thereafter be considered, except 22 
on motion to reconsider under Rule 18 or to remove from the table approved by a two-thirds vote. 23 
RULE 17. Motion to Postpone Indefinitely. – A motion to postpone indefinitely is 24 
in order except when a motion to adjourn, or to lay on the table, or for the previous question, or 25 
to recess is before the House. However, after one motion to postpone indefinitely has been 26 
decided, another motion to postpone indefinitely shall not be allowed at the same stage of the bill 27 
or proposition. When a question has been postponed indefinitely, it shall not thereafter be 28 
considered, except on motion to reconsider under Rule 18 or to place on the favorable calendar 29 
approved by a two-thirds vote. 30 
RULE 18. Motion to Reconsider. – (a) When a question has been decided, it is in 31 
order for any member to move for the reconsideration thereof on the same or the succeeding 32 
legislative day; provided that if the vote by which the motion was originally decided was taken 33 
by a recorded vote, only a member of the prevailing side may move for reconsideration. 34 
(b) A motion to reconsider shall be determined by a majority vote, except all of 35 
the following shall require a two-thirds vote: 36 
(1) A motion to reconsider not made on the same or the succeeding legislative 37 
day when a question has been decided. 38 
(2) A second or subsequent motion to reconsider. 39 
(3) A motion to reconsider: 40 
a. A vote upon a motion to table. 41 
b. A motion to postpone indefinitely. 42 
c. A motion to remove a bill from the unfavorable calendar. 43 
d. A motion that a bill be read twice on the same day. 44 
e. A motion to remove from the table. 45 
(c) A motion to reconsider the vote by which a person has been elected as Speaker 46 
or Speaker Pro Tempore shall not be in order. This subsection of this rule cannot be suspended 47 
except by a vote of three-fifths of all the members of the House. 48 
RULE 19. Previous Question. – (a) The previous question may be called only by: 49 
(1) The Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House; 50  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
House Resolution 563  	Page 7 
(1a) The Vice-Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the 1 
House if the Chair is not in the Chamber or able to participate in debate; 2 
(2) The Majority Leader; 3 
(3) The member submitting the report on the bill or other matter under 4 
consideration; 5 
(4) The member introducing the bill or other matter under consideration; 6 
(5) The member in charge of the measure, who shall be designated by the chair 7 
of the standing committee reporting the same to the House at the time the bill 8 
or other matter under consideration is reported to the House or taken up for 9 
consideration. 10 
(b) When the call for the previous question has been decided in the affirmative by 11 
a majority vote of the House, the question is on the passage of the bill, resolution, or other matter 12 
under consideration. 13 
(c) The call for the previous question shall preclude all motions, amendments, 14 
and debate, except the motion to adjourn, motion to recess, or motion to table. 15 
(d) If the previous question is decided in the negative, the question remains under 16 
debate. 17 
(e) After the previous question is ordered by the House on the main question of 18 
second reading, third reading, or a vote on overriding a gubernatorial veto, the Majority Leader 19 
and the Minority Leader may each allocate three minutes of debate on the question. The Majority 20 
Leader and the Minority Leader may each designate another member to act under this subsection. 21 
IV. Voting 22 
RULE 20. Use of Electronic Voting System. – (a) Votes on the following questions 23 
shall be taken on the electronic voting system, and the ayes and noes shall be recorded on the 24 
Journal: 25 
(1) The passage as required by Section 23 of Article II of the North Carolina 26 
Constitution on second and third readings of any bill: 27 
a. Raising money on the credit of the State, 28 
b. Pledging the faith of the State for the payment of a debt, 29 
c. Imposing a State tax, or 30 
d. Authorizing a county, municipality, or other local governmental unit 31 
to: 32 
1. Raise money on its credit, 33 
2. Pledge its faith for the payment of a debt, or 34 
3. Impose a local tax. 35 
(2) All questions on which a call for the ayes and noes under Rule 24(a) and 36 
Section 19 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution has been sustained. 37 
(3) Both second and third readings of bills proposing amendment of the North 38 
Carolina Constitution or ratifying resolutions amending the United States 39 
Constitution. 40 
(4) The passage of a bill, notwithstanding the Governor's veto thereof, pursuant 41 
to Section 22 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution. 42 
(b) Votes on the following questions shall be taken on the electronic voting 43 
system: 44 
(1) Second reading of all public bills except resolutions, all amendments to public 45 
bills, third reading if a public bill was amended after second reading or if the 46 
reading occurs on a day or days following the second reading, all conference 47 
reports on public bills, all motions to lay public bills on the table, and all 48 
motions to postpone public bills indefinitely. 49 
(2) Upon a call for division. 50  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
Page 8  	House Resolution 563 
(3) Any other question upon direction of the Speaker or upon motion of any 1 
member supported by one-fifth of the members present. 2 
(c) When the electronic voting system is used, 15 seconds shall be allowed for 3 
voting on the question before the House, unless the Chair shall direct otherwise. Once the system 4 
is locked, the vote shall be recorded and printed. 5 
(d) The voting station at each member's desk in the Chamber shall be used only 6 
by the member to which the station is assigned. Under no circumstances shall any other person 7 
vote at a member's station. It is a breach of the ethical obligation of a member either to request 8 
that another person vote at the requesting member's station or to vote at another member's station. 9 
The Speaker shall enforce this rule without exception. 10 
(e) When the electronic voting system is used, the Speaker shall state the question 11 
and shall then state substantially the following: "All in favor vote 'aye'; all opposed vote 'no'; the 12 
Clerk will open the vote." In order to have the vote recorded, the member must vote by the 13 
electronic voting system within the time allowed for that vote, unless the voting station assigned 14 
to a member is malfunctioning. The Speaker shall enforce this rule without exception. After the 15 
allotted time for voting has elapsed, the Speaker shall say: "The Clerk will now lock the machine 16 
and record the vote." After the machine is locked and the vote recorded, the Speaker shall 17 
announce the vote and declare the result. 18 
(f) One copy of the machine printout of the vote record of all votes taken on the 19 
electronic voting system shall be filed in the office of the Principal Clerk, and two copies shall 20 
be filed in the Legislative Library where the copies shall be open to public inspection. A legible 21 
copy of the bill, amendment, or motion on which the vote was taken shall be filed with the 22 
printout of the vote in the Legislative Library. 23 
(g) When the Speaker ascertains that the electronic voting system is inoperative 24 
before a vote is taken or while a vote is being taken on the electronic voting system, the Speaker 25 
shall announce that fact to the House, and any partial electronic voting system voting record shall 26 
be voided. In such a case, if the North Carolina Constitution or the Rules of the House require a 27 
call of the ayes and noes, the Clerk shall call the roll of the House, and the ayes and noes shall 28 
be taken manually and shall be recorded on the Journal. All roll call votes shall be taken 29 
alphabetically. If, after a vote is taken on the electronic voting system, it is discovered that a 30 
malfunction caused an error in the electronic voting system printout, the Speaker shall direct the 31 
Reading Clerk and the Principal Clerk to verify and correct the printout record and so advise the 32 
House. 33 
(h) For the purpose of identifying motions on which the vote is taken on the 34 
electronic voting system, the motions are coded as follows: 35 
(1) To adjourn. 36 
(2) To recess. 37 
(3) To lay on the table. 38 
(4) Previous question. 39 
(5) To postpone indefinitely. 40 
(6) To reconsider. 41 
(7) To postpone to a day certain. 42 
(8) To re-refer. 43 
(9) To amend an amendment. 44 
(10) To amend. 45 
(11) To concur or not concur. 46 
(12) Miscellaneous. 47 
RULE 21. Voice Votes; Stating Questions. – (a) All other votes except those 48 
required to be taken on the electronic voting system may be taken by voice vote. 49  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
House Resolution 563  	Page 9 
(b) When a voice vote is taken, the Speaker shall put the question substantially as 1 
follows: "Those in favor (as the question may be) will say 'aye,'" and after the affirmative voice 2 
has been expressed, "Those opposed will say 'no.'" 3 
(c) No statement, explanation, debate, motion, parliamentary inquiry, or point of 4 
order shall be allowed once the voice vote has begun. Any point of order or parliamentary inquiry 5 
may be raised, however, after the completion of the vote. 6 
RULE 22. Determining Questions. – (a) Unless otherwise provided by the North 7 
Carolina Constitution or by these rules, all questions shall be determined by a simple majority of 8 
the members present and voting. 9 
(b) No member may vote unless the member is in the Chamber between the time 10 
when the question is put and the time the vote is locked. This subsection of this rule cannot be 11 
suspended. 12 
RULE 23. Voting by Division. – Any member may call for a division of the members 13 
upon the question before the result of the vote has been announced. Upon a call for a division, 14 
the Speaker shall cause the number voting in the affirmative and in the negative to be determined. 15 
Upon a division and count of the House on any question, no member away from the member's 16 
seat shall be counted. 17 
RULE 24. Roll Call Vote. – (a) Before a question is put, any member may call for 18 
the ayes and noes. If the call is sustained by one-fifth of the members present, the question shall 19 
be decided by the ayes and noes upon a roll call vote. 20 
(b) Every member who is in the Hall of the House when the question is put shall 21 
vote upon a call of the ayes and noes, unless excused pursuant to Rule 24.1A. 22 
(c) No member may change a vote without leave of the House, but such leave 23 
shall not be granted if it affects the result or if the session in which the vote was taken has been 24 
adjourned. The Speaker may, at his discretion, set written procedures to carry out this subsection. 25 
RULE 24.1A. Excuse From Deliberations and Voting on a Bill. – (a) Any member 26 
shall, upon request, be excused in advance from the deliberations and voting on a particular bill 27 
at any time that the reason for the request arises in the proceedings on the bill. 28 
(b) The member may make a brief oral statement of the reasons for making the 29 
request. The member shall provide to the Principal Clerk, on a form provided by the Clerk, a 30 
concise written statement of the reason for the request, and the Clerk shall include this statement 31 
in the Journal. 32 
(c) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this rule, the member so excused shall 33 
not debate the bill or any amendment to the bill, vote on the bill, offer or vote on any amendment 34 
to the bill, or offer or vote on any motion concerning the bill, in committee or on the floor of the 35 
House at any reading, or any subsequent consideration of the bill. 36 
(d) A member may request that his or her excuse from deliberations on a 37 
particular bill be withdrawn. 38 
(e) By leave of the House, a member who has been excused from deliberations 39 
and voting on a bill may participate in deliberations and votes on amendments to which that 40 
member does not have any conflict that requires excusal. 41 
RULE 24.1B. Division of Amendments and Questions. – (a) Any member may call 42 
for an amendment to be divided into two or more amendments to be voted on separately. The 43 
motion shall be in writing, must be submitted to the Principal Clerk at the time the motion is 44 
made, and must clearly state how the question is to be divided. The Speaker shall determine 45 
whether the amendment admits of such a division. Upon a majority vote of the members present 46 
and voting, the motion shall be adopted and the body shall debate and vote each amendment 47 
separately. 48 
(b) Any member may call for a bill to be divided into two or more propositions to 49 
be voted on separately, provided the bill is subject to division into separate parts so that each part 50 
states a separate and distinct proposition capable of standing alone. The motion shall be in 51  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
Page 10  	House Resolution 563 
writing, must be submitted to the Principal Clerk at the time the motion is made, and must clearly 1 
state how the question is to be divided. The Speaker shall then determine whether the bill admits 2 
of such a division. Upon a majority vote of the members present and voting, the motion shall be 3 
adopted and there shall be no further amendment or debate as to further division of the distinct 4 
propositions. If the question is divided, the body shall debate and vote each proposition 5 
separately. If any proposition fails, the bill shall be removed from the calendar and re-referred to 6 
the committee from which the bill was reported. If all parts of the divided question pass, the 7 
Speaker shall announce that the entire measure has passed second or third reading. No conference 8 
report and no Current Operations Appropriations Bill is eligible to be divided under this 9 
subsection. 10 
RULE 25. Voting by Speaker. – In all elections, the Speaker may vote. In all other 11 
instances, the Speaker may vote or may reserve this right until there is a tie, in which event the 12 
Speaker may vote; but in no instance may the Speaker vote twice on the same question. 13 
V. Committees 14 
RULE 26. Standing Committees Generally. – (a) The Speaker shall appoint a chair, 15 
or cochairs, of every standing committee, and select committee, if any. In the construction of 16 
these rules, the word "chair," as applied to a committee, extends to and includes a cochair of the 17 
committee. The Speaker shall have the exclusive right and authority to establish select 18 
committees, but this does not exclude the right of the House by resolution to establish select 19 
committees. 20 
(b) The Speaker shall establish the number of members of each standing 21 
committee and appoint the members in a manner to reflect the partisan membership of the House, 22 
except that the Committee on Ethics shall have an equal number of members of the majority and 23 
minority. 24 
(c) Before appointing members of committees, the Speaker shall consult with the 25 
Minority Leader. The Speaker and Minority Leader shall consider members' committee 26 
preferences in making appointments and recommendations. 27 
(d) The Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, 28 
the Speaker Pro Tempore, the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, and the Deputy Majority 29 
Leader are ex officio members of each standing committee with the right to vote. The previous 30 
sentence does not apply to the Standing Committee on Ethics. Up to two chairs of the 31 
Appropriations Committee are entitled to vote in all other Appropriations Committees 32 
(Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, Capital and Information Technology, 33 
Education, General Government, Health and Human Services, Justice and Public Safety, and 34 
Transportation). 35 
(e) Either the chair or acting chair, designated by the chair or by the Speaker, and 36 
five other members of the standing committee, or a majority of the standing committee, 37 
whichever is fewer, shall constitute a quorum of that standing committee. A quorum of less than 38 
a majority of all the members must include at least one member of the minority party. For 39 
purposes of determining a quorum, the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 40 
Operations of the House, the Speaker Pro Tempore, the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, 41 
and the Deputy Majority Leader, when serving only as ex officio members under subsection (d) 42 
of this rule, shall be counted among the membership of the committee only when present. 43 
(f) In any joint meeting of the Senate and House committees, the House standing 44 
committee reserves the right to vote separately. 45 
RULE 26.1. Mentions of Standing Committee Includes Select Committee. – Any 46 
reference in these rules to standing committees shall extend to select committees unless the 47 
context requires otherwise. 48 
RULE 27. List of Standing Committees. – The standing committees are: 49 
 50 
Agriculture and Environment 51  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
House Resolution 563  	Page 11 
 1 
Alcoholic Beverage Control 2 
 3 
Appropriations 4 
 5 
Appropriations, Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources 6 
 7 
Appropriations, Capital and Information Technology 8 
 9 
Appropriations, Education 10 
 11 
Appropriations, General Government 12 
 13 
Appropriations, Health and Human Services 14 
 15 
Appropriations, Justice and Public Safety 16 
 17 
Appropriations, Transportation 18 
 19 
Commerce and Economic Development 20 
 21 
Education – K-12 22 
 23 
Election Law 24 
 25 
Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery 26 
 27 
Energy and Public Utilities 28 
 29 
Ethics 30 
 31 
Federal Relations and American Indian Affairs 32 
 33 
Finance 34 
 35 
Health 36 
 37 
Higher Education 38 
 39 
Homeland Security and Military and Veterans Affairs 40 
 41 
Housing and Development 42 
 43 
Insurance 44 
 45 
Judiciary 1 46 
 47 
Judiciary 2 48 
 49 
Judiciary 3 50 
 51  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
Page 12  	House Resolution 563 
Oversight 1 
 2 
Pensions and Retirement 3 
 4 
Regulatory Reform 5 
 6 
Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House 7 
 8 
State and Local Government 9 
 10 
Transportation 11 
 12 
Wildlife Resources 13 
RULE 28. Standing Committee Meetings. – (a) Standing committees shall be 14 
furnished with suitable meeting places pursuant to a schedule established by the Chair of the 15 
Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House. Select committees shall 16 
be furnished with suitable meeting places as their needs require by the Chair of the Standing 17 
Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House. 18 
(b) Subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this rule, standing committees 19 
thereof shall permit other members of the General Assembly, the press, and the general public to 20 
attend all sessions of said standing committees. 21 
(c) The chair or other presiding officer shall have general direction of the meeting 22 
place of the standing committee, and, in case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct therein, or 23 
if the peace, good order, and proper conduct of the legislative business is hindered by any person 24 
or persons, the chair or presiding officer shall have power to exclude from the session any 25 
individual or individuals so hindering the legislative business. 26 
(d) Procedure in the standing committees shall be governed by the rules of the 27 
House, so far as the same may be applicable to such procedure. Before a question is put, any 28 
member may call for the ayes and noes. The chair shall ask, "Is the call sustained?" If the call is 29 
sustained by one-fifth of the members present and standing, the question shall be decided by the 30 
ayes and noes upon a roll call vote. All roll call votes shall be taken alphabetically and shall be 31 
subject to Rule 21(c). 32 
(d1) The committee chair shall set the agenda for each committee meeting. After 33 
April 1, 2025, a committee may, provided there is a written request signed by at least two-thirds 34 
of the members of the committee, place a bill on the committee's agenda for the next regularly 35 
scheduled meeting of the committee. 36 
(e) No standing committee shall meet on any day when the House shall not 37 
convene except by permission of the Speaker or by approval of the House by resolution adopted 38 
by a majority vote of the House. 39 
(f) No standing committee shall meet during any session of the House that is not 40 
a pro forma session. Standing committees shall meet at their regularly scheduled hour. Standing 41 
committees may meet at other times as authorized by the Chair of the Standing Committee on 42 
Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House in order to assure the availability of the meeting 43 
room and that no conflicts will exist with the meetings of other bodies. Except for a meeting of 44 
a standing committee for which the Speaker has given notice that the House will be at ease until 45 
the adjournment of that standing committee, all standing committee meetings shall adjourn no 46 
later than: 47 
(1) 15 minutes preceding a regular session of the House, and 48 
(2) 10 minutes preceding the hour of the next regularly scheduled standing 49 
committee meeting. 50  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
House Resolution 563  	Page 13 
Action taken by a committee in violation of this rule is voidable unless taken by 1 
unanimous consent at a meeting at which a majority of all the members of the committee are 2 
present and at which at least one member present is of the minority party. 3 
(g) Any call or notice of a standing committee meeting between legislative 4 
sessions shall be sent by electronic mail to each member of the standing committee at least five 5 
days prior to such meeting. If a member of the body so requests in writing to the chair of the 6 
standing committee, the member shall also be notified of the meetings by mail at a designated 7 
address. 8 
(h) During standing committee meetings, the chair may exercise the right to vote, 9 
or may reserve this right until there is a tie, in which event the chair may vote, but in no instance 10 
may the chair vote twice on the same question. 11 
RULE 28.1. Ethics Committee Investigations Into Violations of the Open 12 
Meetings Law. – (a) On its own motion, or in response to signed and sworn complaint of any 13 
individual filed with the Standing Committee on Ethics, the Committee shall inquire into any 14 
alleged violation by members of the House of the Open Meetings Law (Article 33C of Chapter 15 
143 of the General Statutes), as the same may be amended in the future. 16 
(b) If, after such preliminary investigation as it may make, the Committee 17 
determines to proceed with an inquiry into the conduct of any individual, the Committee shall 18 
notify the individual as to the fact of the inquiry and the charges against the individual and shall 19 
schedule one or more hearings on the matter. The individual shall have the right to present 20 
evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and be represented by counsel at any hearings. 21 
(c) After the Committee has concluded its inquiries into the alleged violations, 22 
the Committee shall dispose of the matter by taking one of the following actions: 23 
(1) Dismiss the complaint and take no further action. 24 
(2) Issue a private letter of reprimand to the legislator, if the legislator 25 
unintentionally violated the provisions of the Open Meetings Law. 26 
(3) Issue a public letter of reprimand if the violation of the Open Meetings Law 27 
was intentional or if the legislator has previously received a private letter of 28 
reprimand. The Chair of the Committee on Ethics shall have the public letter 29 
of reprimand spread on the pages of the House Journal. 30 
(4) Refer the matter to the House for appropriate action. 31 
RULE 28.2. Committee Meetings; Use of Remote Participation. – (a) At times 32 
when Rule 58.1 is not in effect, a standing committee may conduct meetings with members 33 
participating remotely provided all of the following requirements are met: 34 
(1) The Speaker has not disallowed remote participation for the standing 35 
committee. 36 
(2) Each member is able to communicate, in real time, with all other members by 37 
(i) in-person communication, (ii) remote communication using devices or 38 
programs that transmit audio or audio and video, or (iii) both. 39 
(3) All documents considered by the committee are provided to members. 40 
(4) The committee otherwise complies with G.S. 143-318.13(a). 41 
(b) A committee member who is participating remotely shall be counted as 42 
present for quorum purposes and may vote on any measure or motion before the committee. An 43 
ex officio member under Rule 26(d) shall be counted among the membership of the committee 44 
only when present or participating remotely. 45 
RULE 29. Notice of Standing Committee Meetings and Hearings. – (a) Notice of 46 
meetings of standing committees that will occur at the regularly scheduled meeting times shall 47 
be given by one or both of the following methods: 48 
(1) Notice given openly at a session of the House; or 49  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
Page 14  	House Resolution 563 
(2) Notice mailed or sent by electronic mail to those who have requested notice 1 
and to the Legislative Services Office, which shall post the notice on the 2 
General Assembly website. 3 
(b) Notice of all other meetings shall be given in the House. If the meeting is 4 
scheduled to occur after adjournment, notice shall also be given by electronic mail and posting 5 
on the General Assembly website. 6 
(c) The chair of the standing committee shall notify or cause to be notified the 7 
sponsor of each bill that is set for hearing or consideration before the standing committee as to 8 
the date, time, and place of that meeting. 9 
RULE 29.1. Public Hearings. – (a) The chair of the standing committee may 10 
schedule a time to receive public comments for the standing committee as a whole during the 11 
meeting of the standing committee or after the adjournment of a regular daily House session. 12 
(b) Persons desiring to provide public comments during a meeting of a standing 13 
committee shall submit their requests to the chair of the standing committee. The standing 14 
committee chair may designate one or more members to arrange the order of appearance of 15 
interested parties. A brief written statement of testimony may be submitted without oral 16 
presentation and shall be incorporated into the minutes of the public hearing. 17 
RULE 29.2. Minutes to Legislative Library. – The chair of a standing committee 18 
shall ensure that written minutes are compiled for each of the body's meetings. The minutes shall 19 
indicate the members present and the actions taken at the meeting. Not later than 10 days after 20 
the adjournment of each session of the General Assembly, the chair or the chair's designee shall 21 
deliver the minutes to the Legislative Library. The Speaker of the House may grant a reasonable 22 
extension of time for filing said minutes upon written application of the chair. 23 
RULE 30. Committee of the Whole House. – (a) A Committee of the Whole House 24 
shall not be formed, except by leave of the House. 25 
(b) After passage of a motion to form a Committee of the Whole House, the 26 
Speaker shall appoint a chair to preside in the committee and the Speaker shall leave the dais. 27 
(c) The rules of procedure in the House shall be observed in the Committee of the 28 
Whole House, so far as they may be applicable, except the rule limiting the time of speaking and 29 
the previous question. 30 
(d) In the Committee of the Whole House, a motion that the standing committee 31 
rise shall always be in order, except when a member is speaking, and shall be decided without 32 
debate. 33 
(e) When a bill is submitted to the Committee of the Whole House, it shall be 34 
read and debated by sections, leaving the preamble to be last considered. The body of the bill 35 
shall not be defaced or interlined, but all amendments, noting the page and line, shall be duly 36 
entered by the Principal Clerk on a separate paper as the same shall be agreed to by the standing 37 
committee and be so reported to the House. After report, the bill shall again be subject to be 38 
debated and amended by sections before a question on its passage be taken. 39 
VI. Handling of Bills 40 
RULE 31. Introduction of Bills and Resolutions. – (a) All bills and resolutions shall 41 
be introduced by submitting same to the Principal Clerk's office by 3:00 P.M. on the legislative 42 
day prior to the first reading and referral thereof. The Clerk shall number all bills and resolutions 43 
in the order in which they are introduced. 44 
(b) Bills shall not become resolutions provided the Senate has a similar rule. 45 
Resolutions shall not become bills. Resolutions are not law but may be used when a law is not 46 
necessary for the purpose contained therein. Resolutions shall not be used to appropriate funds 47 
for any purpose, but may be used to create study commissions or committees or establish 48 
investigative committees, to honor deceased members of the General Assembly, to express to 49 
Congress the opinions of the House and the General Assembly, and to adopt House rules and 50  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
House Resolution 563  	Page 15 
internal affairs. Resolutions cannot amend, repeal, or modify a statute; nor do they have life 1 
beyond the term of the session during which they are adopted. 2 
(c) Every bill or resolution shall be read in regular order of business, except upon 3 
permission of the Speaker or on the report of a standing committee. 4 
(d) All bills and resolutions shall show in their captions a brief descriptive 5 
statement of the true substance of same, which captions may thereafter be amended. Amendments 6 
to captions of bills are in order only if the amendment is germane to the bill. Third reading shall 7 
not be had on any bill or resolution on the same day that such caption is amended. 8 
(e) A Substitute Bill shall be covered with the same color jacket as the original 9 
bill and shall be prefaced as follows: "House Committee Substitute for______." 10 
(f) House resolutions need not be read more than twice. 11 
(g) All memorializing, celebration, commendation, and commemoration 12 
resolutions, except those honoring the memory of deceased members of the General Assembly 13 
or expressing to Congress the opinions of the House or the General Assembly, shall be excluded 14 
from introduction and consideration in the House. The mention of a deceased member of the 15 
General Assembly as a pretext to honor an institution or a living person is prohibited. Members 16 
should utilize a Representative Statement, as provided in Rule 8.1, as the preferred alternative to 17 
House simple resolutions that memorialize, celebrate, commend, and commemorate, other than 18 
for those relating to deceased members of the General Assembly or expressing to Congress the 19 
opinions of the House or the General Assembly. 20 
(h) Any reference in these rules to bills shall extend to resolutions unless the 21 
context requires otherwise. 22 
RULE 31.1. Deadlines on Introduction and Receipt; No Blank Bills; 15 Bill Limit. 23 
– (a) All local bills must be submitted to the Legislative Drafting Division or the Legislative 24 
Analysis Division of the Legislative Services Office by 4:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 20, 25 
2025, and must be introduced not later than 3:00 P.M. on Thursday, March 6, 2025. 26 
(b) All public bills or resolutions must be submitted to the Legislative Drafting 27 
Division or the Legislative Analysis Division of the Legislative Services Office by 4:00 P.M. on 28 
Thursday, March 6, 2025, and must be introduced not later than 3:00 P.M. on Thursday, April 3, 29 
2025. 30 
(c) A bill containing no substantive provisions may not be introduced in the 31 
House. 32 
(d) No member may introduce more than 15 public bills. For the purpose of this 33 
subsection, the introducer is the member who is listed as the first sponsor. A member may assign 34 
a portion of this limit to another member electronically using the procedures established and 35 
published by the Principal Clerk. This subsection does not apply to the following: 36 
(1) Bills or resolutions recommended by commissions or committees authorized 37 
or directed by act or resolution of the General Assembly (i) to report to the 38 
2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly, or to report prior to convening 39 
of that session, or (ii) that are recommended to the Regular Session of the 40 
General Assembly by a commission or committee established directly by 41 
Chapter 120 of the General Statutes. 42 
(2) Joint resolutions or House resolutions. 43 
(3) Bills introduced by the Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 44 
Operations of the House providing for action on gubernatorial nominations or 45 
appointments or for action on appointments by the General Assembly 46 
pursuant to G.S. 120-121. 47 
(e) In order to be eligible for consideration by the House during the first Regular 48 
Session, all Senate bills other than (i) finance or appropriations bills that would be required to be 49 
re-referred to the Appropriations or Finance Committee under Rule 38, (ii) those providing for 50 
action on gubernatorial nominations or appointments, (iii) those providing for action on 51  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
Page 16  	House Resolution 563 
appointments by the General Assembly pursuant to G.S. 120-121, (iv) those providing for 1 
amendments to the North Carolina Constitution, (v) those containing statutory amendments 2 
necessary to implement proposed amendments to the North Carolina Constitution, (vi) those 3 
establishing districts for Congress or State or local entities, (vii) those addressing election laws, 4 
(viii) those ratifying an amendment or amendments to the Constitution of the United States, and 5 
(ix) adjournment resolutions must be received and read on the floor of the House as a message 6 
from the Senate no later than Thursday, May 8, 2025; provided that a message from the Senate 7 
received by the next legislative day stating that a bill has passed its third reading and is being 8 
engrossed shall comply with the requirements of this subsection and provided that the Senate has 9 
a similar rule. 10 
(f) This rule, other than subsections (c) and (d), does not apply to bills (i) 11 
establishing districts for Congress or State or local entities, (ii) introduced on the report of the 12 
Committees on Appropriations, Finance, or Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, (iii) 13 
ratifying an amendment or amendments to the Constitution of the United States, (iv) providing 14 
for action on gubernatorial nominations or appointments, or (v) providing for action on 15 
appointments by the General Assembly pursuant to G.S. 120-121. This rule does not apply to 16 
resolutions pertaining to the internal affairs of the House or adjourning the General Assembly 17 
sine die or to a day certain. 18 
RULE 32. Referral to Standing Committees; Serial Referrals; Re-referral of Bills 19 
From One Standing Committee to Another Standing Committee; Re-referral to Committee 20 
on Rules. – (a) Each bill not introduced on the report of a standing committee shall immediately 21 
upon its first reading be referred by the Speaker to such standing committee, select committee, 22 
or committee of the whole as the Speaker deems appropriate. The Speaker at the same time may 23 
order that, if the bill is reported with any favorable recommendation or without prejudice, it be 24 
re-referred automatically upon the committee report to another committee designated in the 25 
order. Each joint resolution or House resolution not introduced on the report of a standing 26 
committee shall immediately upon its first reading either be referred by the Speaker to a standing 27 
committee or be calendared on the date designated by the Speaker, as the Speaker deems 28 
appropriate. 29 
(a1) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this rule, any bill establishing districts for 30 
Congress or State Senators or State Representatives may be placed on the calendar without being 31 
referred by the Speaker to a committee and on the same legislative day of its introduction or 32 
receipt from the Senate. 33 
(b) Upon consent of the sponsor of the bill, the Speaker, the chair of the standing 34 
committee from which the bill is to be re-referred, and the chair of the standing committee to 35 
which the bill is to be re-referred, the chair of the standing committee from which the bill is to 36 
be re-referred or the Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House 37 
may move for a re-referral to another standing committee, and the bill shall be re-referred upon 38 
vote of the majority present during a regular session of the House. 39 
(c) The Speaker may remove a bill from the committee to which the bill has been 40 
referred and may re-refer the bill to another committee. 41 
(d) All public bills and resolutions reported by any standing committee must have 42 
also been reported by the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House prior to 43 
being calendared for consideration by the House. This rule may be waived by leave of the House. 44 
RULE 33. Papers Addressed to the House. – Petitions, memorials, and other papers 45 
addressed to the House shall be presented by the Speaker. A brief statement of the contents 46 
thereof may be made orally by the introducer before referral to a committee, but such papers shall 47 
not be debated or decided on the day of their first being read unless the House shall direct 48 
otherwise. 49  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
House Resolution 563  	Page 17 
RULE 34. Introduction of Resolutions and Bills. – (a) House Bills shall be 1 
designated as "H.B.___." (No. following). A Joint Resolution shall be designated as "H.J.R.___." 2 
(No. following). A House Resolution shall be designated as "H.R.___." (No. following). 3 
Whenever any resolution or bill is filed for introduction, it shall comply with the 4 
procedures established and published by the Principal Clerk. 5 
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this rule, no bill may be filed for 6 
introduction if the draft contains names preprinted on the bill jacket and body of the bill (either 7 
as primary sponsors or cosponsors) unless each such member has signed or initialed the jacket. 8 
(c) A bill may be filed for introduction without the signature or initial of each 9 
member whose name appears on the preprinted bill jacket as a primary sponsor if each such 10 
member has approved being included as a primary sponsor using the member's electronic 11 
dashboard. 12 
RULE 35. Public and Local Bills. – (a) The Legislative Services Officer shall cause 13 
such bills as are introduced to be duplicated in such numbers as may be specified by the Speaker. 14 
Copies shall be available in the Printed Bills Room and made available to the committees to 15 
which the bill is referred, to individual members on request, and to the general public. 16 
(b) A public bill is a bill affecting 15 or more counties. A local bill is one affecting 17 
fewer than 15 counties. 18 
RULE 36. Report by Standing Committee. – (a) Reports. – Bills and resolutions 19 
may be reported from the standing committee to which referred with such recommendations as 20 
the standing committee may desire to make. 21 
(b) Favorable Report. – When a standing committee reports a bill with the 22 
recommendation that it be passed, the bill shall be placed on the favorable calendar on the day 23 
designated by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the 24 
House, but not on the same day that it is reported except by leave of the House, and no later than 25 
the fourth legislative day after submission of the report or Senate message under Rule 43.2 or 26 
Rule 43.3(a), unless: 27 
(1) The bill is re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations or Committee on 28 
Finance under Rule 38 or was serially referred under Rule 32; or 29 
(2) The bill has not yet been placed on the calendar, and the Speaker refers the 30 
bill to another committee. 31 
In order to place a bill on the calendar for a legislative day, notice shall be given by the Chair of 32 
the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House orally in the House or 33 
in writing to the Principal Clerk. When a committee substitute is adopted and receives a favorable 34 
report by the standing committee, the chair shall submit to the standing committee the question 35 
of an unfavorable report on the original bill. The standing committee's action, if any, on the 36 
original bill shall be reported at the same time the committee substitute is reported. 37 
(b1) Favorable Report of Bills Proposing Congressional or State Districts. – 38 
Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this rule, a bill establishing districts for Congress or State 39 
Senators or State Representatives that is reported favorably by a committee may be placed on the 40 
favorable calendar on the same day it is reported. 41 
(c) Report Without Prejudice. – When a standing committee reports a bill 42 
without prejudice, the bill shall be placed on the favorable calendar in the same manner as 43 
provided in subsection (b) of this rule. 44 
(d) Postponed Indefinitely. – When a standing committee reports a bill with the 45 
recommendation that it be postponed indefinitely and no minority report accompanies it, the bill 46 
shall be placed on the unfavorable calendar. 47 
(e) Unfavorable Report. – When a standing committee reports a bill with the 48 
recommendation that it not be passed and no minority report accompanies it, the bill shall be 49 
placed on the unfavorable calendar. 50  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
Page 18  	House Resolution 563 
(f) Minority Report. – When a bill is reported by a standing committee with a 1 
recommendation that it not be passed or that it be postponed indefinitely but it is accompanied 2 
by a minority report signed by at least one-fourth of the members of the standing committee who 3 
were present and voting when the bill was considered in standing committee, the question before 4 
the House shall be: "The adoption of the minority report." If the minority report is adopted by 5 
majority vote, the bill shall be placed on the favorable calendar for consideration. If the minority 6 
report fails of adoption by a majority vote, the bill shall be placed on the unfavorable calendar. 7 
RULE 36.1. Fiscal Notes. – (a) The Chair or Cochair of the Appropriations 8 
Committee, of the Finance Committee, or of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 9 
Operations of the House, upon the floor of the House, may request that a fiscal analysis be made 10 
of a bill, a resolution, or an amendment to a bill or resolution which is in the possession of the 11 
House and that a fiscal note be attached to the measure, which request shall be allowed when, in 12 
the opinion of the Speaker, the fiscal effects of that measure are not apparent from the language 13 
of the measure. When a request is properly made under this subsection, the bill is removed from 14 
the calendar until such time that the fiscal note is attached to the measure. 15 
(b) The fiscal note shall be filed and attached to the bill or amendment within two 16 
legislative days of the request, and a copy shall be sent by electronic mail to each member. If it 17 
is impossible to prepare a fiscal note within two legislative days, the Director of Fiscal Research 18 
shall, in writing, so advise the Speaker, the Principal Clerk, the Majority Leader, the Minority 19 
Leader, and the member introducing or proposing the measure and shall indicate the time when 20 
the fiscal note will be ready. 21 
(c) The fiscal note shall be prepared by the Fiscal Research Division on a form 22 
approved by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the 23 
House as to content and form and signed by the staff member or members preparing it. If no 24 
estimate in dollars is possible, the fiscal note shall indicate the reasons that no estimate is 25 
provided. The fiscal note shall not comment on the merit, but may identify technical problems. 26 
The Fiscal Research Division shall make the fiscal note available to the membership of the 27 
House. 28 
(d) A sponsor of a bill or amendment may deliver a copy of the bill or amendment 29 
to the Fiscal Research Division for the preparation of a fiscal note. The sponsor shall attach the 30 
fiscal note to the bill when filed or to the amendment when its adoption is moved. 31 
(e) The sponsor of a bill or amendment to which a fiscal note is attached who 32 
objects to the estimates and information provided may reduce to writing the objections. These 33 
objections shall be appended to the fiscal note attached to the bill or amendment and to the copies 34 
of the fiscal note available to the membership. 35 
(f) Subsection (a) of this rule shall not apply to the Current Operations 36 
Appropriations Bill or the Capital Improvement Appropriations Bill. This rule shall not apply to 37 
a bill or amendment requiring an actuarial note under these rules. 38 
RULE 36.1A. Distribution of Proposed Committee Substitutes. – (a) No proposed 39 
committee substitute may be considered by a standing committee unless the proposed committee 40 
substitute shall have been distributed electronically no later than 9:00 P.M. of the preceding 41 
calendar day to the members of the committee and to the member who is listed as the first primary 42 
sponsor. This requirement may be waived by leave of the standing committee. 43 
(b) Subsection (a) of this rule does not apply to a proposed committee substitute 44 
establishing districts for Congress or State Senators or State Representatives. 45 
RULE 36.2. Actuarial Notes. – If required by State law: 46 
(a) Every bill proposing any change in the law relative to any: 47 
(1) State, municipal, or other retirement system funded in whole or in part out of 48 
public funds; or 49 
(2) Program of hospital, medical, disability, or related benefits provided for 50 
teachers and State employees, funded in whole or in part by State funds; 51  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
House Resolution 563  	Page 19 
shall have available at the time of its consideration by any committee a brief explanatory 1 
statement or note which shall include a reliable estimate of the financial and actuarial effect of 2 
the proposed change, as provided in G.S. 120-114. The actuarial note shall be attached to the 3 
jacket of each proposed bill which is reported favorably by any committee and shall be clearly 4 
designated as an actuarial note. A bill described in subdivision (a)(1) of this rule shall be referred 5 
to the Committee on Pensions and Retirement upon its introduction in accordance with 6 
G.S. 120-111.3. 7 
(b) The sponsor of the bill may present a copy of the bill with a request for an 8 
actuarial note to the Fiscal Research Division. The Fiscal Research Division, at the request of the 9 
sponsor of the bill or in its own discretion, shall request the chief administrative officer of the 10 
system or program affected by the bill to have the actuary of the system or program prepare an 11 
actuarial note on the bill and to transmit the note to the sponsor of the bill and the Fiscal Research 12 
Division not later than two weeks after the request is received, unless an extension of time is 13 
agreed to by the sponsor as being necessary in the preparation of the note. The actuarial note 14 
shall be attached to the jacket of the bill. The provisions of this subsection may be waived by the 15 
sponsor of a bill affecting local government retirement or pension plans not administered by the 16 
State or any local government program of hospital, medical, disability, or related benefits for 17 
local government employees not administered by the State. 18 
(c) The note shall be factual and shall, if possible, provide a reliable estimate of 19 
both the immediate effect and, if determinable, the long-range fiscal and actuarial effect of the 20 
bill. If, after careful investigation, it is determined that no dollar estimate is possible, the note 21 
shall contain a statement to that effect, setting forth the reasons why no dollar estimate can be 22 
given. No comment or opinion shall be included in the actuarial note with regard to the merits of 23 
the bill for which the note is prepared. Technical and mechanical defects in the bill may be noted. 24 
(d) When any standing committee reports a bill to which an actuarial note is 25 
attached at the time of committee consideration, with any amendment of such nature as would 26 
substantially affect the cost to or the revenues of any system or program, the chair of the 27 
committee reporting the measure shall obtain from the administrator of the affected system or 28 
program an actuarial note of the fiscal and actuarial effect of the proposed amendment. The 29 
actuarial note shall be attached to the jacket of the bill. An amendment to any bill shall not be in 30 
order if the amendment affects the costs to or the revenues of a State-administered retirement or 31 
pension system, or program of hospital, medical, disability, or related benefits for teachers or 32 
State employees, unless an actuarial note as to the actuarial effect of the amendment has been 33 
made available. 34 
RULE 36.3. Local Legislation Affecting State Highway System. – A local bill 35 
affecting the State Highway System shall be referred to the Committee on Transportation. 36 
RULE 36.4. Content of Appropriations Bills. – No provision shall be contained in 37 
any of the following bills unless it pertains to the appropriation of money or the raising or 38 
reducing of revenue: (i) the Current Operations Appropriations Bill; (ii) the Capital Improvement 39 
Appropriations Bill; (iii) any bill generally revising appropriations for the second fiscal year of 40 
a biennium. If a point of order is made against such a provision and is sustained, the presiding 41 
officer shall refer the bill to the committee from which it came, with instructions for the chair of 42 
the committee to immediately report out a substitute or amendment removing the offending 43 
provision. 44 
RULE 37. Removing Bill From Unfavorable Calendar. – A bill may be removed 45 
from the unfavorable calendar upon motion carried by a two-thirds vote. A motion to remove a 46 
bill from the unfavorable calendar is debatable. 47 
RULE 38. Reports on Appropriation and Revenue Bills. – (a) All standing 48 
committees, other than the Standing Committees on Appropriations, when favorably reporting 49 
any bill or resolution that: 50 
(1) Carries an appropriation from the State; or 51  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
Page 20  	House Resolution 563 
(2) Requires or will require in the future substantial additional State monies from 1 
the General Fund or Highway Fund to implement its provisions shall indicate 2 
same in the report, and said bill or resolution shall be referred to the Standing 3 
Committees on Appropriations for a further report before being acted upon by 4 
the House. 5 
(b) All standing committees, other than the Standing Committee on Finance, 6 
when favorably reporting any bill that in any way or manner raises revenue, reduces revenue, 7 
levies a tax, authorizes the levying of a tax, an assessment, or a fee, or authorizes the issue of 8 
bonds or notes, whether public or local, shall indicate same in the report, and said bill shall be 9 
referred to the Standing Committee on Finance for a further report before being acted upon by 10 
the House. This subsection shall not apply to bills only imposing fines, forfeitures, or penalties. 11 
RULE 39. Discharge Petition. – (a) A motion to discharge a committee from 12 
consideration of a bill may be filed with the Principal Clerk by a primary sponsor of that measure 13 
if accompanied by a petition asking that the committee be discharged from further consideration 14 
of the bill. No motion may be filed until 10 legislative days after the bill has been referred to the 15 
committee. No petition may be filed until notice has been given on the floor of the House that 16 
the petition is to be filed and the primary sponsor giving notice has obtained a fiscal note from 17 
the Fiscal Research Division on the bill, which note shall be attached to the petition. Members 18 
may sign the petition only in the office of the Principal Clerk, and when the signatures of 61 19 
members appear on the petition, the Principal Clerk shall place that motion on the calendar for 20 
the next legislative day as a special order of business. Members may withdraw their names at any 21 
time until 61 names appear. If the motion is adopted by the House, then the committee to which 22 
the bill or resolution has been referred is discharged from further consideration of the bill, and 23 
that bill is placed on the calendar for the next legislative day as a special order of business. The 24 
Principal Clerk shall provide a form for discharge petitions. 25 
(b) This rule shall not be temporarily suspended without one day's notice on the 26 
motion given in the House and delivered in writing to the chair of the standing committee, and 27 
to sustain that motion two-thirds of the members shall be required. 28 
RULE 40. Calendars and Schedules of Business. – The Clerk of the House shall 29 
prepare a daily schedule of business, including the Calendar of Bills and Resolutions for 30 
consideration and debate that day, in accordance with the Order of Business of the Day (Rule 5). 31 
RULE 41. Reading of Bills. – (a) Every bill shall receive three readings in the House 32 
prior to its passage. The Speaker shall give notice at each subsequent reading whether it is the 33 
second or third reading. 34 
(a1) The first reading and referral to standing committee of a House bill shall occur 35 
on the next legislative day following its introduction. The first reading and referral to standing 36 
committee of a Senate bill shall occur on the next legislative day following its receipt on 37 
messages from the Senate. This subsection does not apply to any bill establishing districts for 38 
Congress or State Senators or State Representatives. 39 
(b) Except for bills establishing districts for Congress or State Senators or State 40 
Representatives, no bill shall be read more than once on the same day without the concurrence 41 
of two-thirds of the members present and voting; provided, no bill governed by Section 23 of 42 
Article II of the North Carolina Constitution herein shall be read twice on one day under any 43 
circumstance. 44 
RULE 42. Effect of a Defeated Bill. – (a) Subject to the provisions of subsections 45 
(b) and (c) of this rule, after a bill has: 46 
(1) Been tabled, 47 
(2) Been postponed indefinitely, 48 
(3) Failed to pass on any of its readings, or 49 
(4) Been placed on the unfavorable calendar, 50  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
House Resolution 563  	Page 21 
the contents of that bill or the principal provisions of its subject matter shall not be considered in 1 
any other measure originating in the Senate or originating thereafter in the House. Upon the point 2 
of order being raised and sustained by the chair, that measure shall be laid upon the table and 3 
shall not be taken therefrom except by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting. 4 
(b) No local bill shall be held by the chair to embody the contents of or the 5 
principal provisions of the subject matter of any statewide measure which has been laid on the 6 
table, has failed to pass on any of its readings, or has been placed on the unfavorable calendar. 7 
(c) Subsection (a) of this rule does not apply to a bill that has received an 8 
unfavorable report from a committee if the committee has also in the same report reported 9 
favorable to the bill as amended or to a proposed committee substitute to the bill. 10 
RULE 43. Amendments. – (a) No amendment to a measure before the House shall 11 
be in order unless the amendment is germane to the measure under consideration. 12 
A House amendment deleting a previously adopted House amendment shall not be in 13 
order. No amendment that is clearly unconstitutional shall be in order. 14 
Only one principal (first degree) amendment shall be pending at any one time. If a 15 
subsequent or substitute principal amendment shall be offered, the Speaker shall rule it out of 16 
order. However, any member desiring to offer a subsequent or substitute principal amendment in 17 
opposition to the pending amendment may inform the House by way of argument against the 18 
pending amendment that if it is defeated the member proposes to offer another principal 19 
amendment, and the member may then read and explain such proposed amendment. 20 
Perfecting (or second degree) amendments may be offered and considered without 21 
limitation as to number, and in the event of multiple perfecting amendments, they shall be voted 22 
upon in inverse order. 23 
(b) The following rules apply when considering (i) the Current Operations 24 
Appropriations Bill; (ii) the Capital Improvement Appropriations Bill; (iii) any bill generally 25 
revising appropriations for the second fiscal year of a biennium: 26 
(1) Amendments cannot increase total spending within a committee area beyond 27 
the total for that committee as shown in the committee report. 28 
(2) Amendments can only affect appropriations within the departments, agencies, 29 
or programs within the jurisdiction of the committee. 30 
(3) Amendments cannot increase total spending, from any source, beyond the 31 
total amount shown in the committee report. 32 
(4) Amendments that cause the budget to be unbalanced are not in order. 33 
(5) Amendments cannot spend reversions. 34 
(6) Amendments cannot make nonrecurring reductions to fund recurring items. 35 
(c) When offering an amendment, the member shall deliver the signed original 36 
amendment to the Principal Clerk and a copy to the Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, 37 
and Operations of the House. 38 
RULE 43.1. Engrossment. – Bills and resolutions which originate in the House and 39 
which are amended shall be engrossed before being sent to the Senate. 40 
RULE 43.2. House Concurrence in Senate Amendments to House Bills. – When 41 
the House receives a Senate amendment to a bill originating in the House, it shall be placed on 42 
the calendar in accordance with Rule 36(b). 43 
RULE 43.3. Committee Substitutes Adopted by the Senate to Bills Originating in 44 
the House; Procedure for Treatment of Material Amendments Thereto. – (a) Whenever the 45 
Senate has adopted a committee substitute for a bill originating in the House and has returned the 46 
bill to the House for concurrence in that committee substitute, it shall be placed on the calendar 47 
in accordance with Rule 36(b). 48 
(b) The Speaker shall rule whether the committee substitute is a material 49 
amendment under Section 23 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution which reads: 50  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
Page 22  	House Resolution 563 
"Revenue bills. – No law shall be enacted to raise money on the credit of the State, or to 1 
pledge the faith of the State directly or indirectly for the payment of any debt, or to impose any 2 
tax upon the people of the State, or to allow the counties, cities, or towns to do so, unless the bill 3 
for the purpose shall have been read three several times in each house of the General Assembly 4 
and passed three several readings, which readings shall have been on three different days, and 5 
shall have been agreed to by each house respectively, and unless the yeas and nays on the second 6 
and third readings of the bill shall have been entered on the journal." 7 
If the committee substitute was referred to standing committee, the standing 8 
committee shall: 9 
(1) Report the bill with the recommendation either that the House do concur or 10 
that the House do not concur; and 11 
(2) Advise the Speaker as to whether or not that committee substitute is a material 12 
amendment under Section 23 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution. 13 
(c) If the committee substitute for a bill is not a material amendment, the question 14 
before the House shall be concurrence. 15 
(d) If the committee substitute for a bill is a material amendment, the receiving of 16 
that bill on messages shall constitute first reading, and the question before the House shall be 17 
concurrence on second reading. If the motion is passed, the question then shall be concurrence 18 
on third reading on the next legislative day. 19 
(e) No committee substitute adopted by the Senate for a bill originating in the 20 
House may be amended by the House. 21 
RULE 44. Conference Standing Committees. – (a) Whenever the House shall 22 
decline or refuse to concur in amendments put by the Senate to a bill originating in the House, or 23 
shall refuse to concur in a substitute adopted by the Senate for a bill originating in the House, or 24 
whenever the Senate shall decline or refuse to concur in amendments put by the House to a bill 25 
originating in the Senate, or shall refuse to concur in a substitute adopted by the House for a bill 26 
originating in the Senate, a conference committee may be appointed by the Speaker upon the 27 
Speaker's own motion and shall be appointed upon request by the principal sponsor of the original 28 
bill, the chair of the House standing committee that reported the bill, or the sponsor of the 29 
amendment in which the Senate refused to concur; and the bill under consideration shall 30 
thereupon go to and be considered by the joint conferees on the part of the House and Senate. In 31 
appointing members to conference committees, the Speaker shall appoint no less than a majority 32 
of members who generally supported the House position as determined by the Speaker. 33 
(b) The conference report may be made by a majority of the House members of 34 
such conference committee and shall not be amended. If the Senate has a similar rule, only such 35 
matters as are in difference between the two houses shall be considered by the conferees and the 36 
conference report shall deal only with such matters. If the Senate does not have a similar rule, a 37 
conference committee report which includes significant matters that were not in difference 38 
between the houses shall be referred to a standing committee for its recommendation before 39 
further action by the House. 40 
(c) If the conferees fail to agree or if either house fails to adopt the report of its 41 
conferees, new conferees may be appointed. 42 
(d) Except by leave of the House and except as otherwise provided in this 43 
subsection, no vote shall be taken on adoption of a conference report until the next legislative 44 
day following the report. Except by leave of the House, no vote shall be taken on adoption of a 45 
conference report on either the Current Operations Appropriations Bill or a bill generally revising 46 
the Current Operations Appropriations Act until the second legislative day following the report. 47 
(e) Notwithstanding subsection (d) of this rule, a conference report for a bill 48 
establishing districts for Congress or State Senators or State Representatives may be placed on 49 
the calendar for the legislative day the report is submitted. 50  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
House Resolution 563  	Page 23 
RULE 44.1. Transmittal of Bills to Senate. – Unless ordered by the Speaker or 1 
two-thirds vote of the members present and voting, no bill shall be sent from the House on the 2 
day of its passage, except on the last day of the session. 3 
RULE 44.2. Veto Override. – A vote on overriding a gubernatorial veto may be taken 4 
up on the legislative day it is received in the House from the Senate or Governor or any other 5 
legislative day it is printed on the calendar published by the Clerk of the House pursuant to Rule 6 
40. 7 
VII. Legislative Officers and Employees 8 
RULE 45. Elected Officers. – (a) The House shall elect its Speaker from among its 9 
membership. 10 
(b) The House shall elect its Speaker Pro Tempore from among its membership 11 
who shall perform such duties as the Speaker may assign. 12 
(c) The House shall elect a Principal Clerk, who shall continue in office until 13 
another is elected. The Speaker may appoint a Reading Clerk and shall appoint a 14 
Sergeant-at-Arms, both of whom shall serve at the Speaker's pleasure. The Principal Clerk, 15 
Reading Clerk, and Sergeant-at-Arms shall have and perform duties and responsibilities, not 16 
inconsistent with these rules, as the Speaker may assign. Unless directed otherwise by the 17 
Speaker on behalf of the House, the Principal Clerk or an employee designated by the Principal 18 
Clerk shall receive House bills not approved by the Governor. 19 
RULE 46. Assistants to Principal Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms. – The Principal 20 
Clerk and the Sergeant-at-Arms may appoint, with the approval of the Speaker, such assistants 21 
as may be necessary to the efficient discharge of the duties of their respective offices. 22 
RULE 47. Speaker's Staff; Chaplain; and Pages. – (a) The Speaker may appoint 23 
one or more staff members to the Speaker, a Chaplain of the House, and pages to wait upon the 24 
sessions of the House. 25 
(b) When the House is not in session, the pages shall be under the supervision of 26 
the Supervisor of Pages. 27 
(c) The Speaker, at the request of a member, may appoint honorary pages. 28 
RULE 48. Member's Staff. – (a) Each standing committee shall have a committee 29 
assistant. The committee assistant to a standing committee shall serve as staff to the chair of the 30 
standing committee. 31 
(b) Each member shall be assigned a legislative assistant, unless the member has 32 
a committee assistant to serve as legislative assistant. 33 
(c) The selection and retention of legislative assistants shall be the sole 34 
prerogative of the individual member or members. Such staff shall file initial applications for 35 
employment with the Director of Legislative Assistants and shall receive compensation as 36 
prescribed by the Legislative Services Commission. Their period of employment shall comply 37 
with the period as established by the Legislative Services Commission unless employment for an 38 
extended period is approved by the Speaker. The legislative assistants shall adhere to such 39 
uniform rules and regulations not inconsistent with these rules regarding hours and other 40 
conditions of employment as the Legislative Services Commission shall fix by appropriate 41 
regulations. The Director of House Legislative Assistants shall be appointed by the Speaker. 42 
RULE 49. Compensation of Legislative Assistants. – No person employed, serving, 43 
or appointed under Rules 46, 47, and 48 shall receive during such employment, appointment, or 44 
service any compensation from any department of the State government, and there shall not be 45 
voted, paid, or awarded any additional pay, bonus, or gratuity to any of them; but they shall 46 
receive only the pay now provided by law for such duties and services. 47 
VIII. Privileges of the Hall 48 
RULE 50. Admittance to Floor. – (a) No person except members, officers, and 49 
designated employees of the General Assembly who have been issued identification tags as 50 
provided by this rule, and former members of the General Assembly who are not registered under 51  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
Page 24  	House Resolution 563 
the provisions of Article 2 of Chapter 120C of the General Statutes, shall be allowed on the floor 1 
of the House during its session, unless permitted by the Speaker or otherwise provided by law. 2 
Employees of the General Assembly shall wear identification tags, approved by the Legislative 3 
Services Officer, when on the floor of the House. 4 
(b) Except when a committee is meeting on the floor of the House, a person who 5 
is not authorized to be admitted to the floor under subsection (a) of this rule shall not be allowed 6 
to enter the Chamber until at least five minutes after adjournment or recess of the House. 7 
RULE 51. Admittance of Press. – Reporters wishing to take down debates may be 8 
admitted by the Speaker, who shall assign such places to them on the floor or elsewhere, to effect 9 
this object, as shall not interfere with the convenience of the House. Reporters admitted to the 10 
floor of the House shall observe the same requirements of attire for members contained in Rule 11 
12(h). 12 
RULE 52. Extending Courtesies. – Courtesies of the floor, galleries, or lobby shall 13 
be extended at the discretion of the Speaker and only by the Speaker. Requests by members to 14 
extend these courtesies shall be delivered to the Speaker. No member shall orally ask the Speaker 15 
to extend these courtesies during the daily session. 16 
RULE 53. Order in House Chamber, Galleries, and Lobby. – In case of any 17 
disturbance or disorderly conduct in the House Chamber, galleries, or lobby, the Speaker or other 18 
presiding officer is empowered to order the same to be cleared to the extent they deem necessary. 19 
IX. General Rules 20 
RULE 54. Attendance of Members. – Members and officers of the House shall 21 
request leaves from the service of the House with the Principal Clerk. 22 
RULE 55. Documents to Be Signed by the Speaker. – All acts, addresses, and 23 
resolutions and all warrants and subpoenas issued by order of the House shall be signed by the 24 
Speaker or other presiding officer. 25 
RULE 56. Printing or Reproducing Materials. – There shall be no printing or 26 
reproducing of paper(s) that are not legislative in essence except upon approval of the Speaker. 27 
RULE 57. Placement or Circulation of Materials. – Persons other than members of 28 
the House shall not place or cause to be placed any materials on members' desks in the House 29 
Chamber without obtaining approval of the Speaker. Any material placed on members' desks in 30 
the House Chamber, or circulated to House members anywhere in the Legislative Building or the 31 
Legislative Office Building, shall bear the name of the originator. 32 
RULE 58. Rescission and Alteration of the Rules. – (a) These rules shall not be 33 
permanently rescinded or altered except by House simple resolution passed by a two-thirds vote 34 
of the members present and voting. The introducer of the resolution must on the floor of the 35 
House give notice of intent to introduce the resolution on the legislative day preceding its 36 
introduction. 37 
(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, the House upon two-thirds vote of the 38 
members present and voting may temporarily suspend any rule. 39 
RULE 58.1. Temporary Modifications Due to State of Emergency. – (a) The 40 
following modifications to these rules shall apply 24 hours after receipt by the Majority Leader, 41 
the Minority Leader, and the Principal Clerk of written notification filed by the Speaker: 42 
(1) RULE 12(i) shall read as follows: "(i) The use of a mobile device or 43 
cellular phone for the purpose of making or receiving a phone call shall not 44 
be permitted in the House Chamber while the House is in session, except the 45 
Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, and a designee of a Leader under Rule 46 
22.1(c) may use a mobile device or cellular phone during a vote to 47 
communicate in real time with members who have filed a voting designation 48 
pursuant to Rule 22.1, provided the use does not otherwise disrupt the 49 
decorum of the chamber." 50  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
House Resolution 563  	Page 25 
(2) RULE 13(a) shall read as follows: "RULE 13. Motions Generally. – (a) A 1 
motion that is complex, complicated, or otherwise not easily understood shall 2 
be reduced to writing at the request of the Speaker or any member. No motion 3 
relating to a bill shall be in order that does not identify the bill by its number 4 
and short title. No motion may be made, nor business presented, by a member 5 
who has filed a voting designation pursuant to Rule 22.1 affirming the member 6 
will not be present in the House during the time the designation is in effect 7 
and has not been revoked." 8 
(3) The rules are amended by adding a new rule to read: "RULE 22.1. Designated 9 
Voting. – (a) A member who is not present may designate either the Majority 10 
or the Minority Leader to cast the member's vote if the member has filed a 11 
voting designation with the Principal Clerk and at least 61 members have 12 
voted in the House Chamber when the question is put, after which the Speaker 13 
shall call upon the Majority and Minority Leaders to cast the votes of members 14 
who have made a designation pursuant to this Rule. 15 
(b) A designation shall be in writing and on a form made available by the Principal 16 
Clerk. In order to be effective for that legislative day, the designation must be received by the 17 
Principal Clerk at least one hour prior to the time the House is scheduled to convene. The 18 
designation shall state the member will not be present in the House, shall identify either the 19 
Majority or Minority Leader as the member's voting designee, and shall include both a 20 
commencement and expiration date. A designation may be revoked at any time by notifying the 21 
Principal Clerk. 22 
(c) The designated Leader may appoint another member to cast all votes 23 
designated to that Leader." 24 
(4) RULE 22(b) shall read as follows: "(b) Except as provided in Rule 22.1, no 25 
member may vote unless the member is in the Chamber. This subsection of 26 
this rule cannot be suspended." 27 
(4a) RULE 24(c) shall read as follows: "(c) No member may change a vote 28 
without leave of the House, but such leave shall not be granted if it affects the 29 
result or if the session in which the vote was taken has been adjourned. 30 
No member who cast a vote using the designated voting procedure allowed 31 
under Rule 22.1 may change that vote without leave of the House, but such 32 
leave shall not be granted if it affects the result or if the session in which that 33 
vote was taken has been adjourned. A member who voted using the designated 34 
voting procedure allowed under Rule 22.1 may request a vote change by 35 
submitting a written request to the Leader the member originally designated 36 
who shall deliver the request to the Principal Clerk who shall officially receive 37 
it. The Principal Clerk shall provide a form to be used by members to request 38 
a change to a vote cast pursuant to Rule 22.1." 39 
(5) RULE 26(e) shall read as follows: "(e) The chair or acting chair, designated 40 
by the chair or by the Speaker, and five other members of the standing 41 
committee, or a majority of the standing committee, whichever is fewer, shall 42 
constitute a quorum of that standing committee. A quorum of less than a 43 
majority of all the members must include at least one member of the minority 44 
party. For purposes of determining a quorum, the Chair of the Standing 45 
Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House; the Speaker Pro 46 
Tempore; the Majority Leader; the Minority Leader; and the Deputy Majority 47 
Leader, when serving only as ex officio members under subsection (d) of this 48 
rule, shall be counted among the membership of the committee only when 49 
present or participating remotely pursuant to Rule 28(a). A committee member 50  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
Page 26  	House Resolution 563 
who is participating remotely under Rule 28(a) shall be counted as present for 1 
quorum purposes." 2 
(6) RULE 28(a) shall read as follows: "RULE 28. Standing Committee 3 
Meetings. – (a) Standing committees shall be furnished with suitable meeting 4 
places pursuant to a schedule established by the Chair of the Standing 5 
Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House. Select 6 
committees shall be furnished with suitable meeting places as their needs 7 
require by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 8 
Operations of the House. Committees may conduct meetings with members 9 
participating remotely and such members may vote on any measure or motion 10 
before the committee provided all of the following requirements are met: 11 
(1) Each member is able to communicate, in real time, with all other 12 
members by (i) in-person communication, (ii) remote communication 13 
using devices or programs that transmit audio or audio and video, or 14 
(iii) both. 15 
(2) All documents considered by the committee are provided to members. 16 
(3) The committee otherwise complies with G.S. 143-318.13(a)." 17 
(7) RULE 36(b) shall read as follows: "(b) Favorable Report. – When a 18 
standing committee reports a bill with the recommendation that it be passed, 19 
the bill shall be placed on the favorable calendar on the day designated by the 20 
Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the 21 
House, and no later than the fourth legislative day after submission of the 22 
report or Senate message under Rule 43.2 or Rule 43.3(a), unless: 23 
(1) The bill is re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations or 24 
Committee on Finance under Rule 38 or was serially referred under 25 
Rule 32; or 26 
(2) The bill has not yet been placed on the calendar, and the Speaker refers 27 
the bill to another committee. 28 
In order to place a bill on the calendar for a legislative day, notice shall be 29 
given by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and 30 
Operations of the House orally in the House or in writing to the Principal 31 
Clerk. When a committee substitute is adopted and receives a favorable report 32 
by the standing committee, the chair shall submit to the standing committee 33 
the question of an unfavorable report on the original bill. The standing 34 
committee's action, if any, on the original bill shall be reported at the same 35 
time the committee substitute is reported." 36 
(8) RULE 41 shall read as follows: "RULE 41. Reading of Bills. – Every bill 37 
shall receive three readings in the House prior to its passage. The Speaker 38 
shall give notice at each subsequent reading whether it is the second or third; 39 
provided, no bill governed by Section 23 of Article II of the North Carolina 40 
Constitution herein shall be read twice on one day under any circumstance." 41 
(9) Notwithstanding Rule 44(d), a conference report may be placed on the 42 
calendar for the legislative day on which the report is received. The Speaker 43 
shall provide notice as soon as practicable to the Majority Leader and the 44 
Minority Leader if the Speaker anticipates a conference report will be placed 45 
on the favorable calendar the same day the report is received. 46 
RULE 59. Cosponsorship of Bills and Resolutions, Removal of Sponsorship. – (a) 47 
Except by leave of the primary sponsor, or as provided in subsection (d) of this rule, no member 48 
may be listed as an additional primary sponsor on a bill after the bill has been filed. Except as 49 
provided in subsection (d) of this rule, any member not listed as a preprinted cosponsor on the 50 
computer-generated draft edition who wishes to cosponsor a bill or resolution which has been 51  General Assembly Of North Carolina 	Session 2025 
House Resolution 563  	Page 27 
introduced may do so by 5:00 P.M. of the calendar day following the adjournment of the session 1 
during which such bill or resolution was first read and referred, but only electronically under 2 
procedures approved by the Principal Clerk. 3 
(b) Members wishing to cosponsor legislation prior to preparation of the draft 4 
should indicate such to the drafter at the time the bill is requested and before filing the bill with 5 
the Principal Clerk's office. The names of the members who are the primary sponsors shall be 6 
listed in the order requested by them, followed by the words (Primary Sponsors); and the 7 
remaining names of such members cosponsoring shall follow on the draft edition and first edition. 8 
No more than four members may be listed as primary sponsors. Names of persons cosponsoring 9 
bills thereafter under subsection (a) of this rule do not appear on subsequent editions but shall be 10 
listed in the bill status system as cosponsors. 11 
(c) No member shall permit anyone, other than that member's committee 12 
assistant, legislative assistant, office assistant, or another member, to have possession of and 13 
solicit for bill or resolution sponsorship, the jacket of a bill or resolution. 14 
(d) Should any member wish to remove the member's sponsorship of a bill that is 15 
substantially changed by a Senate amendment or a Senate committee substitute, the member shall 16 
notify the House Principal Clerk before the bill is considered for concurrence. If no sponsors 17 
remain on the bill, the House Principal Clerk shall notify the Chair of the Standing Committee 18 
on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House who may request that other members sponsor 19 
the bill. Removal of the first primary sponsor's name from a bill does not reduce the total number 20 
of bills introduced by the member under Rule 31.1(d), and sponsorship of a bill after removal of 21 
all sponsors is subject to Rule 31.1(d). 22 
RULE 60. Correcting of Typographical Errors. – The Legislative Services Officer 23 
may correct typographical errors appearing in House bills or resolutions or House amendments 24 
to Senate bills provided that such corrections are made before ratification and do not conflict 25 
with any actions or rules of the Senate and provided further that such correction be approved by 26 
the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, the 27 
Speaker, or other presiding officer. 28 
RULE 61. Assignment of Seats. – After initial assignment of seats, a member shall 29 
continue to occupy the seat to which initially assigned until assigned a permanent seat; once 30 
assigned a permanent seat, the member shall occupy it for the entire biennial session. In event of 31 
vacancy, the Speaker or the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations 32 
of the House may assign such permanent seats as are necessary to maintain seating. 33 
RULE 61.1. Office Assignments. – The Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, 34 
Calendar, and Operations of the House shall assign to each member an office space. When 35 
available, chairs of standing committees shall be assigned an office adjacent to the room in which 36 
the standing committee generally meets if the Chair so desires. The Speaker shall be assigned an 37 
office of his or her choice. 38 
RULE 61.2. Convening and Assigning Seats in the New House. – (a) The Principal 39 
Clerk of the previous House of Representatives shall convene the House of Representatives at 40 
12:00 P.M. on the date established by law for the convening of each regular session and preside 41 
over the body until the members elect a Speaker. In the case of a vacancy, inability, or refusal to 42 
so serve, the duty shall devolve upon the Sergeant-at-Arms of the prior House, and in the case of 43 
a vacancy in that office, or inability or refusal to so serve, the duty shall devolve upon the Reading 44 
Clerk of the prior House. 45 
(b) It shall be the duty of the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, 46 
and Operations of the House of the prior House to assign temporary seats to the members of the 47 
House of Representatives in its Chamber. In the case of the inability or refusal to serve of the 48 
Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, the Speaker 49 
of the prior House of Representatives shall appoint a person to assign seats to members of the 50 
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 
Page 28  	House Resolution 563 
members in the prior House will no longer have a majority of members in the new House, then 1 
the duty assigned in this subsection to the Chair of the Committee of the prior House shall instead 2 
be the duty of the person nominated as Speaker by the majority party caucus for the new House, 3 
or some member-elect designated by the Speaker-nominee. In the event no party will have a 4 
majority, then the duty assigned in this subsection to the Chair of the Committee of the prior 5 
House shall instead be the joint duty of one person chosen each by the caucuses of the two parties 6 
having the greatest numbers of members. 7 
RULE 61.3. Livestreaming Sessions. – To the extent any session of the House is 8 
livestreamed, the methods used for the livestreaming shall comply with the policies and 9 
procedures established and published by the Principal Clerk. 10 
RULE 62. Matters Not Covered in These Rules. – Except as herein set out, the rules 11 
of Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure shall govern the operation of the House. 12 
SECTION 2. This resolution is effective upon adoption. 13