Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Texas House Bill HR4 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	H.R. No. 4
	1	+	84R5229 TJB/MAW/BEF/JRJ-F
	2	+	By: Smithee H.R. No. 4
2	3
3	4
4	5		R E S O L U T I O N
5	6		BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the State of
6	7		Texas, That the following are adopted as the permanent rules of the
7	8		House of Representatives of the 84th [83rd] Legislature:
8	9		RULES OF
9	10		THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
10	11		OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE
11	12		TABLE OF CONTENTS
12	13		RULE
13	14		1. DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE SPEAKER 2
14	15		2. EMPLOYEES 10
15		-	3. STANDING COMMITTEES 23
	16	+	3. STANDING COMMITTEES 22
16	17		4. ORGANIZATION, POWERS, AND DUTIES OF
17		-	COMMITTEES 54
18		-	5. FLOOR PROCEDURE 90
19		-	6. ORDER OF BUSINESS AND CALENDARS ~~113~~
20		-	7. MOTIONS ~~132~~
21		-	8. BILLS ~~148~~
22		-	9. JOINT RESOLUTIONS ~~164~~
	18	+	COMMITTEES 53
	19	+	5. FLOOR PROCEDURE 88
	20	+	6. ORDER OF BUSINESS AND CALENDARS 111
	21	+	7. MOTIONS 130
	22	+	8. BILLS 146
	23	+	9. JOINT RESOLUTIONS 161
23	24		10. HOUSE RESOLUTIONS AND CONCURRENT
24		-	RESOLUTIONS ~~166~~
25		-	11. AMENDMENTS ~~169~~
26		-	12. PRINTING ~~177~~
	25	+	RESOLUTIONS 163
	26	+	11. AMENDMENTS 166
	27	+	12. PRINTING 174
27	28		13. INTERACTIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR
28		-	AND SENATE ~~181~~
29		-	14. GENERAL PROVISIONS ~~194~~
	29	+	AND SENATE 178
	30	+	14. GENERAL PROVISIONS 191
30	31		STATEMENT OF AUTHORIZATION AND PRECEDENCE
31	32		Pursuant to and under the authority of Section 11, Article
32	33		III, Texas Constitution, and notwithstanding any provision of
33	34		statute, the House of Representatives adopts the following rules to
34	35		govern its operations and procedures. The provisions of these
35	36		rules shall be deemed the only requirements binding on the House of
36	37		Representatives under Section 11, Article III, Texas Constitution,
37	38		notwithstanding any other requirements expressed in statute.
38	39		RULE 1. DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE SPEAKER
39	40		CHAPTER A. DUTIES AS PRESIDING OFFICER
40	41		Sec. 1. ENFORCEMENT OF THE RULES. The speaker shall
41	42		enforce, apply, and interpret the rules of the house in all
42	43		deliberations of the house and shall enforce the legislative rules
43	44		prescribed by the statutes and the Constitution of Texas.
44	45		Sec. 2. CALL TO ORDER. The speaker shall take the chair on
45	46		each calendar day precisely at the hour to which the house adjourned
46	47		or recessed at its last sitting and shall immediately call the
47	48		members to order.
48	49		Sec. 3. LAYING BUSINESS BEFORE THE HOUSE. The speaker
49	50		shall lay before the house its business in the order indicated by
50	51		the rules and shall receive propositions made by members and put
51	52		them to the house.
52	53		Sec. 4. REFERRAL OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO COMMITTEE. All
53	54		proposed legislation shall be referred by the speaker to an
54	55		appropriate standing or select committee with jurisdiction,
55	56		subject to correction by a majority vote of the house. A bill or
56	57		resolution may not be referred simultaneously to more than one
57	58		committee.
58	59		Sec. 5. PRESERVATION OF ORDER AND DECORUM. The speaker
59	60		shall preserve order and decorum. In case of disturbance or
60	61		disorderly conduct in the galleries or in the lobby, the speaker may
61	62		order that these areas be cleared. No signs, placards, or other
62	63		objects of similar nature shall be permitted in the rooms, lobby,
63	64		gallery, and hall of the house. The speaker shall see that the
64	65		members of the house conduct themselves in a civil manner in
65	66		accordance with accepted standards of parliamentary conduct and
66	67		may, when necessary, order the sergeant-at-arms to clear the aisles
67	68		and seat the members of the house so that business may be conducted
68	69		in an orderly manner.
69	70		Sec. 6. RECOGNITION OF GALLERY VISITORS. On written
70	71		request of a member, the speaker may recognize persons in the
71	72		gallery. The speaker shall afford that recognition at a convenient
72	73		place in the order of business, considering the need for order and
73	74		decorum and the need for continuity of debate. The request must be
74	75		made on a form prescribed by the Committee on House Administration.
75	76		The speaker may recognize, at a time he or she considers appropriate
76	77		during floor proceedings, the person serving as physician of the
77	78		day.
78	79		Sec. 7. STATING AND VOTING ON QUESTIONS. The speaker shall
79	80		rise to put a question but may state it sitting. The question shall
80	81		be put substantially in this form: "The question occurs on
81	82		______" (here state the question or proposition under
82	83		consideration). "All in favor say 'Aye,'" and after the affirmative
83	84		vote is expressed, "All opposed say 'No.'" If the speaker is in
84	85		doubt as to the result, or if a division is called for, the house
85	86		shall divide: those voting in the affirmative on the question
86	87		shall register "Aye" on the voting machine, and those voting in the
87	88		negative on the question shall register "No." The decision of the
88	89		house on the question shall be printed in the journal and shall
89	90		include the yeas and nays if a record of the yeas and nays is ordered
90	91		in accordance with the rules.
91	92		Sec. 8. VOTING RIGHTS OF THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The
92	93		speaker shall have the same right as other members to vote. If the
93	94		speaker, or a member temporarily presiding, has not voted, he or she
94	95		may cast the deciding vote at the time such opportunity becomes
95	96		official, whether to make or break a tie. If a verification of the
96	97		vote is called for and granted, the decision of the speaker, or a
97	98		member temporarily presiding, to cast the deciding vote need not be
98	99		made until the verification has been completed. In case of error in
99	100		a vote, if the correction leaves decisive effect to the vote of the
100	101		speaker, or a member temporarily presiding, the deciding vote may
101	102		be cast even though the result has been announced.
102	103		Sec. 9. QUESTIONS OF ORDER. (a) The speaker shall decide
103	104		on all questions of order; however, such decisions are subject to an
104	105		appeal to the house made by any 10 members. Pending an appeal, the
105	106		speaker shall call a member to the chair, who shall not have the
106	107		authority to entertain or decide any other matter or proposition
107	108		until the appeal has first been determined by the house. The
108	109		question on appeal is, "Shall the chair be sustained?"
109	110		(b) No member shall speak more than once on an appeal unless
110	111		given leave by a majority of the house. No motion shall be in order,
111	112		pending an appeal, except a motion to adjourn, a motion to lay on
112	113		the table, a motion for the previous question, or a motion for a
113	114		call of the house. Responses to parliamentary inquiries and
114	115		decisions of recognition made by the chair may not be appealed,
115	116		except as provided by Rule 5, Section 24.
116	117		(c) Further consideration of the matter or proposition that
117	118		is the subject of a question of order is prohibited until the
118	119		speaker decides the question of order and any appeal of that
119	120		decision has been determined by the house. Consideration of any
120	121		other matter or proposition is also prohibited while a question of
121	122		order is pending, unless the question of order is temporarily
122	123		withdrawn and the matter or proposition that is the subject of the
123	124		question of order is postponed. Withdrawal of the question of order
124	125		does not prevent any member from raising that question of order when
125	126		the matter or proposition is again before the house.
126	127		(d) A point of order raised as to a violation of a section of
127	128		the rules governing committee reports, committee minutes, or
128	129		accompanying documentation may be overruled if the purpose of that
129	130		section of the rules has been substantially fulfilled and the
130	131		violation does not deceive or mislead.
131	132		Sec. 10. APPOINTMENT OF SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE AND TEMPORARY
132	133		CHAIR. The speaker shall have the right to name any member to
133	134		perform the duties of the chair and may name a member to serve as
134	135		speaker pro tempore by delivering a written order to the chief clerk
135	136		and a copy to the journal clerk. A permanent speaker pro tempore
136	137		shall, in the absence or inability of the speaker, call the house to
137	138		order and perform all other duties of the chair in presiding over
138	139		the deliberations of the house and perform other duties and
139	140		exercise other responsibilities as may be assigned by the speaker.
140	141		If the house is not in session, and a permanent speaker pro tempore
141	142		has not been named, or if the speaker pro tempore is not available
142	143		or for any reason is not able to function, the speaker may deliver a
143	144		written order to the chief clerk, with a copy to the journal clerk,
144	145		naming the member who shall call the house to order and preside
145	146		during the speaker's absence. The speaker pro tempore shall serve
146	147		at the pleasure of the speaker.
147	148		Sec. 11. EMERGENCY ADJOURNMENT. In the event of an
148	149		emergency of such compelling nature that the speaker must adjourn
149	150		the house without fixing a date and hour of reconvening, the speaker
150	151		shall have authority to determine the date and hour of reconvening
151	152		and to notify the members of the house by any means the speaker
152	153		considers adequate. Should the speaker be disabled or otherwise
153	154		unable to exercise these emergency powers, the permanent speaker
154	155		pro tempore, if one has been named, shall have authority to act. If
155	156		there is no permanent speaker pro tempore, or if that officer is
156	157		unable to act, authority shall be exercised by the chair of the
157	158		Committee on State Affairs, who shall preside until the house can
158	159		proceed to the selection of a temporary presiding officer to
159	160		function until the speaker or the speaker pro tempore is again able
160	161		to exercise the duties and responsibilities of the office.
161	162		Sec. 12. POSTPONEMENT OF RECONVENING. When the house is
162	163		not in session, if the speaker determines that it would be a hazard
163	164		to the safety of the members, officers, employees, and others
164	165		attending the legislature to reconvene at the time determined by
165	166		the house at its last sitting, the speaker may clear the area of the
166	167		capitol under the control of the house and postpone the reconvening
167	168		of the house for a period of not more than 12 hours. On making that
168	169		determination, the speaker shall order the sergeant-at-arms to post
169	170		an assistant at each first floor entrance to the capitol and other
170	171		places and advise all persons entering of the determination and the
171	172		time set for the house to reconvene. The speaker shall also notify
172	173		the journal clerk and the news media of the action, and the action
173	174		shall be entered in the house journal.
174	175		Sec. 13. SIGNING BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS. All bills, joint
175	176		resolutions, and concurrent resolutions shall be signed by the
176	177		speaker in the presence of the house, as required by the
177	178		constitution; and all writs, warrants, and subpoenas issued by
178	179		order of the house shall be signed by the speaker and attested by
179	180		the chief clerk, or the person acting as chief clerk.
180	181		CHAPTER B. ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES
181	182		Sec. 14. CONTROL OVER HALL OF THE HOUSE. The speaker shall
182	183		have general control, except as otherwise provided by law, of the
183	184		hall of the house, its lobbies, galleries, corridors, and passages,
184	185		and other rooms in those parts of the capitol assigned to the use of
185	186		the house; except that the hall of the house shall not be used for
186	187		any meeting other than legislative meetings during any regular or
187	188		special session of the legislature unless specifically authorized
188	189		by resolution.
189	190		Sec. 15. STANDING COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS. (a) The
190	191		speaker shall designate the chair and vice-chair of each standing
191	192		substantive committee and shall also appoint membership of the
192	193		committee, subject to the provisions of Rule 4, Section 2.
193	194		(b) If members of equal seniority request the same
194	195		committee, the speaker shall decide which among them shall be
195	196		assigned to that committee.
196	197		(c) In announcing the membership of the standing
197	198		substantive committees, the speaker shall designate which are
198	199		appointees and which acquire membership by seniority.
199	200		(d) The speaker shall appoint the chair and vice-chair of
200	201		each standing procedural committee and the remaining membership of
201	202		the committee.
202	203		Sec. 16. APPOINTMENT OF SELECT AND CONFERENCE
203	204		COMMITTEES. (a) The speaker shall appoint all conference
204	205		committees. The speaker shall name the chair of each conference
205	206		committee, and may also name the vice-chair thereof.
206	207		(b) The speaker may at any time by proclamation create a
207	208		select committee. The speaker shall name the chair and vice-chair
208	209		thereof. A select committee has the jurisdiction, authority, and
209	210		duties and exists for the period of time specified in the
210	211		proclamation. A select committee has the powers granted by these
211	212		rules to a standing committee except as limited by the
212	213		proclamation. A copy of each proclamation creating a select
213	214		committee shall be filed with the chief clerk.
214	215		(c) If a new speaker is elected to fill a vacancy in the
215	216		office after the appointment of standing committees, the new
216	217		speaker may not alter the composition of any standing committee
217	218		before the end of the session, except that the new speaker may:
218	219		(1) vacate the new speaker's membership on any
219	220		committee;
220	221		(2) make committee appointments for the member who was
221	222		removed as speaker;
222	223		(3) designate a different member of a standing
223	224		committee as committee chair; and
224	225		(4) fill vacancies that occur on a committee.
225	226		Sec. 17. INTERIM STUDIES. When the legislature is not in
226	227		session, the speaker shall have the authority to direct committees
227	228		to make interim studies for such purposes as the speaker may
228	229		designate, and the committees shall meet as often as necessary to
229	230		transact effectively the business assigned to them. The speaker
230	231		shall provide to the chief clerk a copy of interim charges made to a
231	232		standing or select committee.
232	233		CHAPTER C. CAMPAIGNS FOR SPEAKER
233	234		Sec. 18. PLEDGES FOR SPEAKER PROHIBITED DURING REGULAR
234	235		SESSION. During a regular session of the legislature a member may
235	236		not solicit written pledges from other members for their support of
236	237		or promise to vote for any person for the office of speaker.
237	238		RULE 2. EMPLOYEES
238	239		CHAPTER A. DUTIES OF EMPLOYEES OF THE HOUSE
239	240		Sec. 1. CHIEF CLERK. (a) The chief clerk shall:
240	241		(1) be the custodian of all bills, resolutions, and
241	242		amendments;
242	243		(2) number in the order of their filing, with a
243	244		separate sequence for each category, all bills, joint resolutions,
244	245		concurrent resolutions, and house resolutions;
245	246		(3) provide for the keeping of a complete record of
246	247		introduction and action on all bills and resolutions, including the
247	248		number, author, brief description of the subject matter, committee
248	249		reference, and the time sequence of action taken on all bills and
249	250		resolutions to reflect at all times their status in the legislative
250	251		process;
251	252		(4) on the day of numbering a bill relating to a
252	253		conservation and reclamation district created under Article XVI,
253	254		Section 59, of the Texas Constitution, send two copies of the bill,
254	255		with two copies of the notice of intention to introduce the bill, to
255	256		the governor and notify the journal clerk of the action;
256	257		(5) receive the recommendations of the Texas
257	258		Commission on Environmental Quality on a bill forwarded to the
258	259		commission under Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas
259	260		Constitution, attach them to the bill to which they apply, and
260	261		notify the journal clerk that the recommendations have been filed;
261	262		(6) forward to a [the] committee chair in an
262	263		electronic or other format determined by the chief clerk a
263	264		certified copy of each legislative document referred to the [a]
264	265		committee, including [along with certified copies of] all official
265	266		attachments to the document;
266	267		(7) have printed and distributed correct copies of all
267	268		legislative documents, as provided in the subchapter on printing,
268	269		and keep an exact record of the date and hour of transmittal to the
269	270		printer, return from the printer, and distribution of the document
270	271		to members of the house with that information time-stamped on the
271	272		originals of the document;
272	273		(8) certify the passage of bills and resolutions,
273	274		noting on them the date of passage and the vote by which passed,
274	275		including the yeas and nays if a record of the yeas and nays is
275	276		ordered;
276	277		(9) be responsible for engrossing all house bills and
277	278		resolutions that have passed second reading and those that have
278	279		passed third reading, and for enrolling all house bills and
279	280		resolutions that have passed both houses.
280	281		All engrossed and enrolled documents shall be prepared
281	282		without erasures, interlineations, or additions in the margin.
282	283		House concurrent resolutions passed without amendment
283	284		shall not be engrossed but shall be certified and forwarded
284	285		directly to the senate.
285	286		Engrossed riders may be used in lieu of full engrossment
286	287		on second reading passage;
287	288		(10) be authorized to amend the caption to conform to
288	289		the body of each house bill and joint resolution ordered engrossed
289	290		or enrolled;
290	291		(11) be responsible for noting on each house bill or
291	292		joint resolution, for certification by the speaker of the house,
292	293		the lieutenant governor, the chief clerk of the house, and the
293	294		secretary of the senate, the following information:
294	295		(A) date of final passage, and the vote on final
295	296		passage, including the yeas and nays if a record of the yeas and
296	297		nays is ordered. If the bill was amended in the senate, this fact
297	298		shall also be noted;
298	299		(B) date of concurrence by the house in senate
299	300		amendments, and the vote on concurrence, including the yeas and
300	301		nays if a record of the yeas and nays is ordered;
301	302		(C) date of adoption by each house of a
302	303		conference committee report and the vote on adoption, including the
303	304		yeas and nays if a record of the yeas and nays is ordered;
304	305		(D) that a bill containing an appropriation was
305	306		passed subject to the provisions of Article III, Section 49a, of the
306	307		Texas Constitution; and
307	308		(E) that a concurrent resolution was adopted by
308	309		both houses directing the correction of an enrolled bill, if
309	310		applicable;
310	311		(12) transmit over signature all messages from the
311	312		house to the senate, including typewritten copies of amendments to
312	313		senate bills;
313	314		(13) prepare copies of senate amendments to house
314	315		bills for the journal before the amendments and the bill or
315	316		resolution to which they relate are sent to the printer or to the
316	317		speaker;
317	318		(14) notify the speaker in writing that the senate did
318	319		not concur in house amendments to a bill or resolution and requests
319	320		a conference committee, and include in this notice the names of the
320	321		senate conferees;
321	322		(15) provide a certified copy of a house bill or
322	323		resolution which may be lost showing each parliamentary step taken
323	324		on the bill; and
324	325		(16) request fiscal notes on house bills and joint
325	326		resolutions with senate amendments and distribute fiscal notes on
326	327		house bills and joint resolutions with senate amendments and
327	328		conference committee reports as required by Rule 13, Sections 5 and
328	329		10.
329	330		(b) The chief clerk shall also:
330	331		(1) attest all writs, warrants and subpoenas issued by
331	332		order of the house;
332	333		(2) receive reports of select committees and forward
333	334		copies to the speaker and journal clerk;
334	335		(3) not later than 30 days after the close of each
335	336		session, acquire from each of the various clerks of the house,
336	337		except the journal clerk, all reports, records, bills, papers, and
337	338		other documents remaining in their possession and file them with
338	339		the Legislative Reference Library, unless otherwise provided by
339	340		law;
340	341		(4) receive and file all other documents required by
341	342		law or by the rules of the house;
342	343		(5) prepare a roster of members in order of seniority
343	344		showing the number of years of service of each member, as provided
344	345		in Rule 4, Section 2; and
345	346		(6) have posted the list of Items Eligible for
346	347		Consideration as required by the rules.
347	348		(c) The chief clerk shall also provide for the following to
348	349		be made available on the electronic legislative information system:
349	350		(1) all house calendars and lists of items eligible
350	351		for consideration and the time-stamp information for those
351	352		calendars and lists; and
352	353		(2) the time-stamp information for all official
353	354		printings of bills and resolutions.
354	355		(d) The chief clerk shall provide notice to a Capitol e-mail
355	356		address designated by each member when a new house calendar or list
356	357		of items eligible for consideration is posted on the electronic
357	358		legislative information system. If a member informs the chief
358	359		clerk that the member also desires to receive a paper copy of house
359	360		calendars or lists of items eligible for consideration, the chief
360	361		clerk shall place paper copies of those documents designated by the
361	362		member in the newspaper box of the member as soon as practicable
362	363		after the electronic copies are posted.
363	364		Sec. 2. JOURNAL CLERK. (a) The journal clerk shall:
364	365		(1) keep a journal of the proceedings of the house,
365	366		except when the house is acting as a committee of the whole, and
366	367		enter the following:
367	368		(A) the number, author, and caption of every bill
368	369		introduced;
369	370		(B) descriptions of all congratulatory and
370	371		memorial resolutions on committee report, motions, amendments,
371	372		questions of order and decisions on them, messages from the
372	373		governor, and messages from the senate;
373	374		(C) the summaries of congratulatory and memorial
374	375		resolutions, as printed on the congratulatory and memorial
375	376		calendar;
376	377		(D) the number of each bill, joint resolution,
377	378		and concurrent resolution signed in the presence of the house;
378	379		(E) a listing of reports made by standing
379	380		committees;
380	381		(F) reports of select committees, when ordered by
381	382		the house;
382	383		(G) every vote where a record of the yeas and nays
383	384		is ordered or registration of the house with a concise statement of
384	385		the action and the result;
385	386		(H) the names of all absentees, both excused and
386	387		not excused;
387	388		(I) senate amendments to house bills or
388	389		resolutions, when concurred in by the house;
389	390		(J) the date each bill is transmitted to the
390	391		governor;
391	392		(K) the date recommendations of the Texas
392	393		Commission on Environmental Quality on each bill subject to Article
393	394		XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution, are filed with the chief
394	395		clerk;
395	396		(L) all pairs as a part of a vote where a record
396	397		of the yeas and nays is ordered;
397	398		(M) reasons for a vote;
398	399		(N) the vote of a member on any question where a
399	400		record of the yeas and nays has not been ordered;
400	401		(O) the statement of a member who was absent when
401		-	a vote was taken indicating how the member would have voted; [and]
	402	+	a vote was taken indicating how the member would have voted; and
402	403		(P) official state documents, reports, and other
403		-	matters, when ordered by the house; and
404		-	(Q) the parliamentarian's written explanation on
405		-	the final ruling on a point of order, which includes the citation of
406		-	any house or congressional precedents used in determining the
407		-	ruling, as provided in Rule 14, Section 8;
	404	+	matters, when ordered by the house;
408	405		(2) prepare a daily journal for each calendar day that
409	406		the house is in session and distribute on the succeeding calendar
410	407		day or the earliest possible date copies to the members of the house
411	408		who have submitted requests to the journal clerk to receive a copy;
412	409		and
413	410		(3) prepare and have printed a permanent house journal
414	411		of regular and special sessions in accordance with the law and the
415	412		following provisions:
416	413		(A) When completed, no more than 300 copies shall
417	414		be bound and distributed as follows:
418	415		(i) one copy to each member of the house of
419	416		representatives who submitted a request to the journal clerk to
420	417		receive a copy;
421	418		(ii) one copy to each member of the senate
422	419		who submitted a request to the journal clerk to receive a copy; and
423	420		(iii) the remainder of the copies to be
424	421		distributed by the Committee on House Administration.
425	422		(B) The journal clerk shall not receive or
426	423		receipt for the permanent house journal until it has been correctly
427	424		published.
428	425		(b) The journal clerk shall lock the voting machine of each
429	426		member who is excused or who is otherwise known to be absent when
430	427		the house is in session until the member personally requests that
431	428		the machine be unlocked.
432		-	(c) The journal clerk shall determine and enter in the
433		-	journal the clock of record for the house and that clock may not be
434		-	delayed, set back, or otherwise tampered with to deviate from the
435		-	standard time, as provided by statute, for the place where the house
436		-	is meeting. The journal clerk shall enter in the journal the time
437		-	according to the clock of record when the house convenes, recesses,
438		-	and adjourns. A motion to suspend this rule must be decided by a
439		-	record vote.
440	429		Sec. 3. READING CLERKS. The reading clerks, under the
441	430		supervision of the speaker, shall:
442	431		(1) call the roll of the house in alphabetical order
443	432		when ordered to do so by the speaker; and
444	433		(2) read all bills, resolutions, motions, and other
445	434		matters required by the rules or directed by the speaker.
446	435		Sec. 4. SERGEANT-AT-ARMS. The sergeant-at-arms shall:
447	436		(1) under the direction of the speaker, have charge of
448	437		and maintain order in the hall of the house, its lobbies and
449	438		galleries, and all other rooms in the capitol assigned for the use
450	439		of the house of representatives;
451	440		(2) attend the house and the committee of the whole
452	441		during all meetings and maintain order under the direction of the
453	442		speaker or other presiding officer;
454	443		(3) execute the commands of the house and serve the
455	444		writs and processes issued by the authority of the house and
456	445		directed by the speaker;
457	446		(4) supervise assistants to the sergeant-at-arms who
458	447		shall aid in the performance of prescribed duties and have the same
459	448		authority, subject to the control of the speaker;
460	449		(5) clear the floor of the house of all persons not
461	450		entitled to the privileges of the floor at least 30 minutes prior to
462	451		the convening of each session of the house;
463	452		(6) bring in absent members when so directed under a
464	453		call of the house;
465	454		(7) not allow the distribution of any printed matter
466	455		in the hall of the house, other than newspapers that have been
467	456		published at least once a week for a period of one year, unless it
468	457		first has been authorized in writing by at least one member of the
469	458		house and the name of the member appears on the printed matter. The
470	459		sergeant-at-arms shall refuse to accept for distribution any
471	460		printed matter which does not bear the name of the member or members
472	461		authorizing the distribution;
473	462		(8) keep a copy of written authorization and a record
474	463		of the matter distributed in the permanent files of the house;
475	464		(9) enforce parking regulations applicable to areas of
476	465		the capitol complex under the control of the house and supervise
477	466		parking attendants;
478	467		(10) provide for issuance of an identification card to
479	468		each member and employee of the house; and
480	469		(11) supervise the doorkeeper.
481	470		Sec. 5. DOORKEEPER. The doorkeeper, under the supervision
482	471		of the sergeant-at-arms, shall:
483	472		(1) enforce strictly the rules of the house relating
484	473		to privileges of the floor and perform other duties as directed by
485	474		the speaker;
486	475		(2) close the main entrance and permit no member to
487	476		leave the house without written permission from the speaker when a
488	477		call of the house or a call of the committee of the whole is ordered,
489	478		take up permission cards as members leave the hall, and take up
490	479		permission cards of those who are admitted to the floor of the house
491	480		under the rules and practice of the house;
492	481		(3) obtain recognition from the speaker and announce a
493	482		messenger from the governor or the senate on arrival at the bar of
494	483		the house; and
495	484		(4) obtain recognition from the speaker and announce
496	485		the arrival of the governor or the senate on arrival at the bar of
497	486		the house for official proceedings in the house.
498	487		Sec. 6. CHAPLAIN. The chaplain shall open the first
499	488		session on each calendar day with a prayer and shall perform such
500	489		other duties as directed by the Committee on House Administration.
501	490		Sec. 7. VOTING CLERK. The voting clerk, under the
502	491		supervision of the speaker, shall:
503	492		(1) open and close the voting machine on registrations
504	493		and record votes as ordered by the speaker;
505	494		(2) record votes from the floor as directed by the
506	495		speaker;
507	496		(3) prepare official copies of all record votes for
508	497		the journal; and
509	498		(4) make no additions, subtractions, or other changes
510	499		in any registration or record vote unless specifically granted
511	500		permission by the house or directed by the speaker prior to the
512	501		announcement of the final result.
513		-	Sec. 8. COMMITTEE COORDINATOR. ~~(a)~~ The committee
514		-	~~coordinator~~ shall:
	502	+	Sec. 8. COMMITTEE COORDINATOR. The committee coordinator
	503	+	shall:
515	504		(1) under the direction of the Committee on House
516	505		Administration, prepare a schedule for regular meetings of all
517	506		standing committees as provided by Rule 4, Section 8(a);
518	507		(2) post committee meeting notices, as directed by the
519	508		chair of a committee, in accordance with Rule 4, Section 11(a);
520	509		(3) maintain duplicate originals of committee minutes
521	510		as required by Rule 4, Sections 18(c) and (d);
522	511		(4) direct the maintenance of sworn statements either
523	512		in electronic or paper format and, under the direction of the
524	513		Committee on House Administration, prescribe the form of those
525	514		statements, as required by Rule 4, Sections 20(a) and (c);
526	515		(5) receive and forward impact statements as required
527	516		by Rule 4, Section 34(e);
528	517		(6) receive committee reports as required by Rule 4,
529	518		Section 37, and refer them for printing as provided by Rule 6,
530	519		Section 19; and
531	520		(7) receive and distribute the recommendations and
532	521		final reports of interim study committees as provided by Rule 4,
533	522		Section 61.
534		-	(b) The committee coordinator may exclude from the
535		-	committee coordinator's office or refuse to interact with a member
536		-	or a member's staff if the member or member's staff engages in
537		-	abusive, harassing, or threatening behavior.
538	523		Sec. 9. PARLIAMENTARIAN. (a) The parliamentarian is an
539	524		officer of the house who serves at the pleasure of the speaker. The
540	525		parliamentarian shall advise and assist the presiding officer and
541	526		the members of the house on matters of procedure. The
542	527		parliamentarian has a duty of confidentiality to the speaker and to
543	528		each member of the house and shall keep confidential all requests
544	529		made by members of the house for advice or guidance regarding
545	530		procedure unless the parties otherwise agree.
546	531		(b) After the initial appointment of a parliamentarian by
547	532		the speaker, the appointment of a new parliamentarian to fill a
548	533		vacancy must be approved by a majority of the membership of the
549	534		house if the appointment is made during a regular or special
550	535		session. If the appointment to fill the vacancy is made when the
551	536		house is not in session, the appointment must be approved by a
552	537		majority of the membership not later than the third day of the first
553	538		special session that occurs after the date the appointment is made.
554	539		If no special session occurs after the appointment, approval by the
555	540		membership is not required.
556	541		(c) In the event of a conflict between this section and the
557	542		housekeeping resolution, this section controls.
558	543		CHAPTER B. OTHER EMPLOYEES
559	544		Sec. 10. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL EMPLOYEES: CONFIDENTIALITY.
560	545		(a) Communications between an attorney employed by the Texas
561	546		Legislative Council and the speaker, another member of the house,
562	547		or an employee of a member or committee of the house are
563	548		confidential in accordance with the rules and laws concerning
564	549		attorney-client privilege.
565	550		(b) Communications between any employee of the Texas
566	551		Legislative Council and the speaker, another member of the house,
567	552		or an employee of a member or committee of the house are
568		-	confidential. The General Investigating and Ethics Committee of
569		-	the House may investigate an alleged violation of this subsection.
	553	+	confidential. The General Investigating, Transparency in
	554	+	Government Operations, and Ethics Committee of the House may
	555	+	investigate an alleged violation of this subsection.
570	556		(c) This section does not prohibit the speaker, member, or
571	557		committee from waiving a privilege as otherwise permitted by law or
572	558		from waiving confidentiality under this section.
573	559		RULE 3. STANDING COMMITTEES
574	560		Sec. 1. AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK. The committee shall
575	561		have seven members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining
576	562		to:
577	563		(1) agriculture, horticulture, and farm husbandry;
578	564		(2) livestock and stock raising, and the livestock
579	565		industry;
580	566		(3) the development and preservation of forests, and
581	567		the regulation, control, and promotion of the lumber industry;
582	568		(4) problems and issues particularly affecting rural
583	569		areas of the state, including issues related to rural economic
584	570		development and the provision of and access to infrastructure,
585	571		education, and health services; and
586	572		(5) the following state agencies: the Department of
587	573		Agriculture, the Texas Animal Health Commission, the State Soil and
588	574		Water Conservation Board, the Texas A&M Forest Service, the Office
589	575		of South Central Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact, the
590	576		Office of Chief Apiary Inspector, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the
591	577		Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, the Food and Fibers Research
592	578		Council, the State Seed and Plant Board, the State Board of
593	579		Veterinary Medical Examiners, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical
594	580		Diagnostic Laboratory, the Produce Recovery Fund Board, the board
595	581		of directors of the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation, Inc.,
596	582		and the Texas Wildlife Services [Damage Management Service].
597	583		Sec. 2. APPROPRIATIONS. (a) The committee shall have 27
598	584		members, with jurisdiction over:
599	585		(1) all bills and resolutions appropriating money from
600	586		the state treasury;
601	587		(2) all bills and resolutions containing provisions
602	588		resulting in automatic allocation of funds from the state treasury;
603	589		(3) all bills and resolutions diverting funds from
604	590		the state treasury or preventing funds from going in that otherwise
605	591		would be placed in the state treasury; and
606	592		(4) all matters pertaining to claims and accounts
607	593		filed with the legislature against the state unless jurisdiction
608	594		over those bills and resolutions is specifically granted by these
609	595		rules to some other standing committee.
610	596		(b) The appropriations committee may comment upon any bill
611	597		or resolution containing a provision resulting in an automatic
612	598		allocation of funds.
613	599		Sec. 3. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY. The committee shall have
614	600		seven members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
615	601		(1) industry and manufacturing;
616	602		(2) industrial safety and adequate and safe working
617	603		conditions, and the regulation and control of those conditions;
618	604		(3) hours, wages, collective bargaining, and the
619	605		relationship between employers and employees;
620	606		(4) the regulation of business transactions and
621	607		transactions involving property interests;
622	608		(5) the organization, incorporation, management, and
623	609		regulation of private corporations and professional associations
624	610		and the Uniform Commercial Code and the Business Organizations Code
625	611		[Texas Revised Limited Partnership Act];
626	612		(6) the protection of consumers, governmental
627	613		regulations incident thereto, the agencies of government
628	614		authorized to regulate such activities, and the role of the
629	615		government in consumer protection;
630	616		(7) privacy and identity theft;
631	617		(8) homeowners' associations;
632	618		(9) oversight and regulation of the construction
633	619		industry; and
634	620		(10) the following state agencies: the State Office of
635	621		Risk Management, the Risk Management Board, the Division of
636	622		Workers' Compensation of the Texas Department of Insurance, the
637	623		workers' compensation research and evaluation group in the Texas
638	624		Department of Insurance, the Office of Injured Employee Counsel,
639	625		including the ombudsman program of that office, and the Texas
640	626		Mutual Insurance Company Board of Directors.
641	627		Sec. 4. CALENDARS (PROCEDURAL). The committee shall have
642	628		15 members, with jurisdiction over:
643	629		(1) the placement of bills and resolutions on
644	630		appropriate calendars, except those within the jurisdiction of the
645	631		Committee on Rules and Resolutions;
646	632		(2) the determination of priorities and proposal of
647	633		rules for floor consideration of such bills and resolutions; and
648	634		(3) all other matters concerning the calendar system
649	635		and the expediting of the business of the house as may be assigned
650	636		by the speaker.
651	637		Sec. 5. CORRECTIONS. The committee shall have seven
652	638		members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
653	639		(1) the incarceration and rehabilitation of convicted
654	640		felons;
655	641		(2) the establishment and maintenance of programs that
656	642		provide alternatives to incarceration; and
657	643		(3) [the commitment and rehabilitation of youths;
658	644		[(4) the construction, operation, and management of
659	645		correctional facilities of the state and facilities used for the
660	646		commitment and rehabilitation of youths;
661	647		[(5) juvenile delinquency and gang violence;
662	648		[(6) criminal law, prohibitions, standards, and
663	649		penalties as applied to juveniles;
664	650		[(7) criminal procedure in the courts of Texas as it
665	651		relates to juveniles; and
666	652		[(8)] the following state agencies: the Texas
667	653		Department of Criminal Justice, the Special Prosecution Unit, the
668	654		Board of Pardons and Paroles, [the Texas Juvenile Justice Board,
669	655		the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, the Office of Independent
670		-	Ombudsman for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department,] the Office of
671		-	Violent Sex Offender Management [Council on Sex Offender
672		-	Treatment], and the Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with
673		-	Medical or Mental Impairments[, and the Advisory Council on
674		-	Juvenile Services].
	656	+	Ombudsman for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department,] the Council
	657	+	on Sex Offender Treatment, and the Texas Correctional Office on
	658	+	Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments[, and the Advisory
	659	+	Council on Juvenile Services].
675	660		Sec. 6. COUNTY AFFAIRS. The committee shall have nine
676	661		members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
677	662		(1) counties, including their organization, creation,
678	663		boundaries, government, and finance and the compensation and duties
679	664		of their officers and employees;
680	665		(2) establishing districts for the election of
681	666		governing bodies of counties;
682	667		(3) regional councils of governments;
683	668		(4) multicounty boards or commissions;
684	669		(5) relationships or contracts between counties;
685	670		(6) other units of local government; and
686	671		(7) the following state agency: the Commission on
687	672		Jail Standards.
688	673		Sec. 7. CRIMINAL JURISPRUDENCE. The committee shall have
689	674		seven [nine] members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining
690	675		to:
691	676		(1) criminal law, prohibitions, standards, and
692	677		penalties;
693	678		(2) probation and parole;
694	679		(3) criminal procedure in the courts of Texas;
695	680		(4) revision or amendment of the Penal Code; and
696	681		(5) the following state agencies: the Office of State
697	682		Prosecuting Attorney and the Texas State Council for Interstate
698	683		Adult Offender Supervision.
699	684		Sec. 8. CULTURE, RECREATION, AND TOURISM. The committee
700	685		shall have seven members, with jurisdiction over:
701	686		(1) the creation, operation, and control of state
702	687		parks, including the development, maintenance, and operation of
703	688		state parks in connection with the sales and use tax imposed on
704	689		sporting goods, but not including any matter within the
705	690		jurisdiction of the Committee on Appropriations;
706	691		(2) the regulation and control of the propagation and
707	692		preservation of wildlife and fish in the state;
708	693		(3) the development and regulation of the fish and
709	694		oyster industries of the state;
710	695		(4) hunting and fishing in the state, and the
711	696		regulation and control thereof, including the imposition of fees,
712	697		fines, and penalties relating to that regulation;
713	698		(5) the regulation of other recreational activities;
714	699		(6) cultural resources and their promotion,
715	700		development, and regulation;
716	701		(7) historical resources and their promotion,
717	702		development, and regulation;
718	703		(8) promotion and development of Texas' image and
719	704		heritage;
720	705		(9) preservation and protection of Texas' shrines,
721	706		monuments, and memorials;
722	707		(10) international and interstate tourist promotion
723	708		and development;
724	709		(11) the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office
725	710		as it relates to the subject-matter jurisdiction of this committee;
726	711		(12) the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Compact; and
727	712		(13) the following state agencies: the Parks and
728	713		Wildlife Department, the Texas Commission on the Arts, the State
729	714		Cemetery Committee, the Texas State Library and Archives
730	715		Commission, the Texas Historical Commission, the State
731	716		Preservation Board, the San Jacinto Historical Advisory Board, and
732	717		an office of state government to the extent the office promotes the
733	718		Texas music industry.
734	719		Sec. 9. DEFENSE AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS. The committee shall
735	720		have seven [nine] members, with jurisdiction over all matters
736	721		pertaining to:
737	722		(1) the relations between the State of Texas and the
738	723		federal government involving defense, emergency preparedness, and
739	724		veterans issues;
740	725		(2) the various branches of the military service of
741	726		the United States;
742	727		(3) the realignment or closure of military bases;
743	728		(4) the defense of the state and nation, including
744	729		terrorism response;
745	730		(5) emergency preparedness;
746	731		(6) veterans of military and related services; and
747	732		(7) the following state agencies: the Texas Military
748	733		[Adjutant General's] Department, the Texas Veterans Commission,
749	734		the Veterans' Land Board, the Texas Military Preparedness
750	735		Commission, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and the
751	736		Emergency Management Council.
752	737		Sec. 10. ECONOMIC AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. (a) The
753	738		committee shall have nine members, with jurisdiction over all
754	739		matters pertaining to:
755	740		(1) workforce training;
756	741		(2) commerce, trade, and manufacturing;
757	742		(3) economic and industrial development;
758	743		(4) development and support of small businesses;
759	744		(5) job creation and job-training programs;
760	745		(6) hours, wages, collective bargaining, and the
761	746		relationship between employers and employees;
762	747		(7) unemployment compensation, including coverage,
763	748		benefits, taxes, and eligibility;
764	749		(8) labor unions and their organization, control,
765	750		management, and administration;
766	751		(9) weights and measures; and
767	752		(10) the following state agencies: the Texas Economic
768	753		Development and Tourism Office, the Texas Workforce Commission, and
769	754		the Texas Workforce Investment Council.
770	755		(b) The chair of the committee shall appoint a permanent
771	756		subcommittee on small business development [manufacturing]
772	757		consisting of not fewer than five members to consider all matters
773	758		pertaining to:
774	759		(1) the establishment, operation, and well-being of
775	760		small businesses and their employees in the state [manufacturing in
776	761		the state, including the state's manufacturing capability]; and
777	762		(2) identifying and addressing federal, state, and
778	763		local regulatory barriers or impediments to the establishment,
779	764		operation, and well-being of small businesses and their employees
780	765		in the state [advances in manufacturing science and technology;
781	766		[(3) the promotion of manufacturing research,
782	767		development, and technology transfers in the state; and
783	768		[(4) matters related to cooperation of state and local
784	769		governments with the scientific, educational, and manufacturing
785	770		communities, including industry, institutions of higher education,
786	771		and federal or state experiment stations and laboratories].
787	772		Sec. 11. ELECTIONS. The committee shall have seven
788	773		members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
789	774		(1) the right of suffrage in Texas;
790	775		(2) primary, special, and general elections;
791	776		(3) revision, modification, amendment, or change of
792	777		the Election Code;
793	778		(4) the secretary of state in relation to elections;
794	779		(5) campaign finance;
795	780		(6) the duties and conduct of candidates for public
796	781		office and of persons with an interest in influencing public
797	782		policy; and
798	783		(7) the following state agencies: the Office of the
799	784		Secretary of State and the Texas Ethics Commission.
800	785		Sec. 12. ENERGY RESOURCES. The committee shall have 13 [11]
801	786		members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
802	787		(1) the conservation of the energy resources of Texas;
803	788		(2) the production, regulation, transportation, and
804	789		development of oil, gas, and other energy resources;
805	790		(3) mining and the development of mineral deposits
806	791		within the state;
807	792		(4) the leasing and regulation of mineral rights under
808	793		public lands;
809	794		(5) pipelines, pipeline companies, and all others
810	795		operating as common carriers in the state;
811	796		(6) electric utility regulation as it relates to
812	797		energy production and consumption;
813	798		(7) identifying, developing, and using alternative
814	799		energy sources;
815	800		(8) increasing energy efficiency throughout the
816		-	state; [and]
817		-	(9) the coordination of the state's efforts related to
818		-	the federal designation of threatened and endangered species as it
819		-	relates to energy resources in the state; and
820		-	(10) [(9)] the following state agencies: the Railroad
	801	+	state; and
	802	+	(9) the following state agencies: the Railroad
821	803		Commission of Texas, the Office of Interstate Oil and Gas Compact
822	804		Commissioner for Texas, the Office of Interstate Mining Compact
823	805		Commissioner for Texas, the State Energy Conservation Office, and
824	806		the Office of Southern States Energy Board Member for Texas.
825	807		Sec. 13. ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION. The committee shall
826	808		have nine members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining
827	809		to:
828	810		(1) air, land, and water pollution, including the
829	811		environmental regulation of industrial development;
830	812		(2) the regulation of waste disposal;
831	813		(3) environmental matters that are regulated by the
832	814		Department of State Health Services or the Texas Commission on
833	815		Environmental Quality;
834	816		(4) oversight of the Texas Commission on Environmental
835	817		Quality as it relates to environmental regulation; and
836	818		(5) the following state agency: the Texas Low-Level
837	819		Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission.
838		-	Sec. 14. GENERAL INVESTIGATING ~~AND ETHICS (PROCEDURAL).~~
839		-	(a) The committee [General ~~Investigating and Ethics Committee]~~
840		-	shall have seven [five] members ~~of the house appointed by the~~
841		-	speaker. The speaker shall appoint ~~the chair and the vice-chair of~~
842		-	the committee.
	820	+	Sec. 14. GENERAL INVESTIGATING, TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT
	821	+	OPERATIONS, AND ETHICS (PROCEDURAL). (a) The committee [General
	822	+	Investigating and Ethics Committee] shall have seven [five] members
	823	+	of the house appointed by the speaker. The speaker shall appoint
	824	+	the chair and the vice-chair of the committee.
843	825		(b) The committee has all the powers and duties of a general
844	826		investigating committee and shall operate as the general
845	827		investigating committee of the house according to the procedures
846	828		prescribed by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government Code, and the
847	829		rules of the house, as applicable.
848	830		(c) The committee may investigate a matter related to the
849	831		misconduct, malfeasance, misfeasance, abuse of office, or
850	832		incompetency of an individual or officer under Chapter 665,
851	833		Government Code. The committee has all the powers and duties
852	834		conferred by that chapter for the purpose of conducting the
853	835		investigation, including the authority to propose articles of
854	836		impeachment.
855	837		(d) The committee has jurisdiction over all matters
856	838		pertaining to the conduct of and ethical standards applicable to
857	839		state and local government officers and employees, including
858	840		individuals appointed to offices of the executive branch of state
859	841		government for the purpose of ensuring that an appointed officer is
860		-	acting in the best interests of the State of Texas.
	842	+	acting in the best interests of the state agency or institution for
	843	+	which the officer is appointed.
861	844		(e) The committee has jurisdiction over the operation of,
862	845		including transparency in the reporting of financial transactions
863	846		by, agencies of the judicial and executive branches of state
864		-	government and affiliated entities or foundations.
	847	+	government and affiliated entities, foundations, or related
	848	+	support groups.
865	849		Sec. 15. GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY [EFFICIENCY] AND
866	850		OPERATION [REFORM]. The committee shall have seven members, with
867	851		jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
868	852		(1) the organization, operation, powers, regulations,
869	853		and management of state departments, agencies, institutions, and
870	854		advisory committees;
871	855		(2) elimination of inefficiencies in the provision of
872	856		state services;
873	857		(3) open government matters, including open records
874	858		and open meetings; [and]
875	859		(4) advances in science and technology, including
876	860		telecommunications, electronic technology, or automated data
877	861		processing, by state agencies, including institutions of higher
878	862		education;
879	863		(5) the promotion within the state of an advance
880	864		described by Subdivision (4);
881	865		(6) cooperation between the state or a local
882	866		governmental entity and the scientific and technological
883	867		community, including private businesses, institutions of higher
884	868		education, and federal governmental laboratories; and
885	869		(7) the Texas Emerging Technology Advisory Committee
886	870		and the Sunset Advisory Commission.
887	871		Sec. 16. HIGHER EDUCATION. (a) The committee shall have
888	872		nine members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
889	873		(1) education beyond high school;
890	874		(2) the colleges and universities of the State of
891	875		Texas; and
892	876		(3) the following state agencies: the Texas A&M
893	877		Engineering Experiment Station, the Texas A&M Engineering
894	878		Extension Service, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board,
895	879		the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation, [the State Medical
896	880		Education Board,] the Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board, and
897	881		the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.
898	882		(b) The chair of the committee shall appoint a permanent
899	883		subcommittee on postsecondary education and workforce readiness
900	884		consisting of not fewer than five members to consider all matters
901	885		pertaining to the availability of postsecondary educational
902	886		opportunities in the state, including opportunities at:
903	887		(1) public or private institutions of higher
904	888		education;
905	889		(2) nonprofit colleges or universities; and
906	890		(3) career schools or colleges, or any other
907	891		postsecondary educational providers in the state.
908	892		Sec. 17. HOMELAND SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY. The
909	893		committee shall have nine members, with jurisdiction over all
910	894		matters pertaining to:
911	895		(1) law enforcement;
912	896		(2) the prevention of crime and the apprehension of
913	897		criminals;
914	898		(3) the provision of security services by private
915	899		entities;
916	900		(4) homeland security, including:
917	901		(A) the defense of the state and nation,
918	902		including terrorism response; and
919	903		(B) disaster mitigation, preparedness, response,
920	904		and recovery; and
921	905		(5) the following state agencies: the Texas Commission
922	906		on Law Enforcement [Officer Standards and Education], the
923	907		Department of Public Safety, the Texas Division of Emergency
924	908		Management, the Emergency Management Council, the Texas Forensic
925	909		Science Commission, the Texas Military Preparedness Commission,
926	910		the Texas Private Security Board, the Commission on State Emergency
927	911		Communications, and the Texas Crime Stoppers Council.
928	912		Sec. 18. HOUSE ADMINISTRATION (PROCEDURAL). (a) The
929	913		committee shall have 11 members, with jurisdiction over:
930	914		(1) administrative operation of the house and its
931	915		employees;
932	916		(2) the general house fund, with full control over all
933	917		expenditures from the fund;
934	918		(3) all property, equipment, and supplies obtained by
935	919		the house for its use and the use of its members;
936	920		(4) all office space available for the use of the house
937	921		and its members;
938	922		(5) the assignment of vacant office space, vacant
939	923		parking spaces, and vacant desks on the house floor to members with
940	924		seniority based on cumulative years of service in the house, except
941	925		that the committee may make these assignments based on physical
942	926		disability of a member where it deems proper;
943	927		(6) all admissions to the floor during sessions of the
944	928		house;
945	929		(7) all proposals to invite nonmembers to appear
946	930		before or address the house or a joint session;
947	931		(8) all radio, television, and Internet broadcasting
948	932		[and televising], live or recorded, of sessions of the house;
949	933		(9) the electronic recording of the proceedings of the
950	934		house of representatives and the custody of the recordings of
951	935		testimony before house committees, with authority to promulgate
952	936		reasonable rules, regulations, and conditions concerning the
953	937		safekeeping, reproducing, and transcribing of the recordings, and
954	938		the defraying of costs for transcribing the recordings, subject to
955	939		other provisions of these rules;
956	940		(10) all witnesses appearing before the house or any
957	941		committee thereof in support of or in opposition to any pending
958	942		legislative proposal; and
959	943		(11) the following state agency: the State
960	944		Preservation Board.
961	945		(b) The committee must vote to adopt the annual budget for
962	946		each house department.
963	947		Sec. 19. HUMAN SERVICES. The committee shall have nine
964	948		members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
965	949		(1) welfare and rehabilitation programs and their
966	950		development, administration, and control;
967	951		(2) oversight of the Health and Human Services
968	952		Commission as it relates to the subject matter jurisdiction of this
969	953		committee;
970	954		(3) intellectual disabilities and the development of
971	955		programs incident thereto;
972	956		(4) the prevention and treatment of intellectual
973	957		disabilities; and
974	958		(5) the following state agencies: the Department of
975	959		Aging and Disability Services, the Department of Assistive and
976	960		Rehabilitative Services, the Department of Family and Protective
977	961		Services, the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners, the
978	962		Texas Council on Purchasing from People with Disabilities, and the
979	963		Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors.
980	964		Sec. 20. INSURANCE. The committee shall have nine members,
981	965		with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
982	966		(1) insurance and the insurance industry;
983	967		(2) all insurance companies and other organizations of
984	968		any type writing or issuing policies of insurance in the State of
985	969		Texas, including their organization, incorporation, management,
986	970		powers, and limitations; and
987	971		(3) the following state agencies: the Texas
988	972		Department of Insurance, the Texas Health Benefits Purchasing
989	973		Cooperative, and the Office of Public Insurance Counsel.
990	974		Sec. 21. INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL
991	975		AFFAIRS. The committee shall have seven members, with
992	976		jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
993	977		(1) the relations between the State of Texas and other
994	978		nations, including matters related to trade relations and
995	979		international trade zones;
996	980		(2) the relations between the State of Texas and the
997	981		federal government other than matters involving defense, emergency
998	982		preparedness, and veterans issues;
999	983		(3) the relations between the State of Texas and other
1000	984		states of the United States;
1001	985		(4) international commerce and trade, including the
1002	986		regulation of persons participating in international commerce and
1003	987		trade;
1004	988		(5) international and border regions (as described in
1005	989		Sections 2056.002(e)(2) and (3), Government Code) economic
1006	990		development, public health and safety issues affecting the border,
1007	991		tourist development, and goodwill, and economic development,
1008	992		tourist development, and goodwill in other areas of the state that
1009	993		have experienced a significant increase in the percentage of the
1010	994		population that consists of immigrants from other nations,
1011	995		according to the last two federal decennial censuses or another
1012	996		reliable measure;
1013	997		(6) the provision of public services to persons
1014	998		residing in proximity to Texas' international border or in other
1015	999		areas of the state that have experienced a significant increase in
1016	1000		the percentage of the population that consists of immigrants from
1017	1001		other nations, according to the last two federal decennial censuses
1018	1002		or another reliable measure; and
1019	1003		(7) the following state agency: the Office of
1020	1004		State-Federal Relations.
1021	1005		Sec. 22. INVESTMENTS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES. (a) The
1022	1006		committee shall have seven members, with jurisdiction over all
1023	1007		matters pertaining to:
1024	1008		(1) banking and the state banking system;
1025	1009		(2) savings and loan associations;
1026	1010		(3) credit unions;
1027	1011		(4) the regulation of state and local bonded
1028	1012		indebtedness;
1029	1013		(5) the lending of money;
1030	1014		(6) the regulation of securities and investments;
1031	1015		(7) privacy and identity theft; and
1032	1016		(8) the following state agencies: the Finance
1033	1017		Commission of Texas, the Credit Union Commission, the Office of
1034	1018		Consumer Credit Commissioner, the Office of Banking Commissioner,
1035	1019		the Texas Department of Banking, the Department of Savings and
1036	1020		Mortgage Lending, the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company, the
1037	1021		Texas Public Finance Authority, the Bond Review Board, and the
1038	1022		State Securities Board.
1039	1023		(b) The chair of the committee shall appoint a permanent
1040	1024		subcommittee on state and local bonded indebtedness consisting of
1041	1025		not fewer than five members to consider all matters pertaining to
1042	1026		bonded indebtedness by a state or local governmental entity,
1043	1027		including:
1044	1028		(1) the authority to issue bonds and the effects of
1045	1029		issuing bonds;
1046	1030		(2) the economic impact of bonded indebtedness; and
1047	1031		(3) the transparency of, and information provided to
1048	1032		taxpayers regarding, transactions related to the issuance of bonds.
1049	1033		Sec. 23. JUDICIARY AND CIVIL JURISPRUDENCE. The committee
1050	1034		shall have nine members, with jurisdiction over all matters
1051	1035		pertaining to:
1052	1036		(1) fines and penalties arising under civil laws;
1053	1037		(2) civil law, including rights, duties, remedies, and
1054	1038		procedures thereunder, and including probate and guardianship
1055	1039		matters;
1056	1040		(3) civil procedure in the courts of Texas;
1057	1041		(4) administrative law and the adjudication of rights
1058	1042		by administrative agencies;
1059	1043		(5) permission to sue the state;
1060	1044		(6) [civil law as it relates to familial
1061	1045		relationships, including rights, duties, remedies, and procedures
1062	1046		thereunder;
1063	1047		[(7)] uniform state laws;
1064	1048		(7) [(8)] creating, changing, or otherwise affecting
1065	1049		courts of judicial districts of the state;
1066	1050		(8) [(9)] establishing districts for the election of
1067	1051		judicial officers;
1068	1052		(9) [(10)] the State Commission on Judicial Conduct;
1069	1053		(10) [(11)] the Office of the Attorney General,
1070	1054		including its organization, powers, functions, and
1071	1055		responsibilities;
1072	1056		(11) [(12)] courts and court procedures except where
1073	1057		jurisdiction is specifically granted to some other standing
1074	1058		committee; and
1075	1059		(12) [(13)] the following state agencies: the Supreme
1076	1060		Court, the Courts of Appeals, the Court of Criminal Appeals, the
1077	1061		State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the Office of Court
1078	1062		Administration of the Texas Judicial System, the State Law Library,
1079	1063		the Texas Judicial Council, the Judicial Branch Certification
1080	1064		Commission [Guardianship Certification Board], the Office of the
1081	1065		Attorney General, [the Court Reporters Certification Board,] the
1082	1066		Board of Law Examiners, the State Bar of Texas, and the State Office
1083	1067		of Administrative Hearings.
1084	1068		Sec. 24. JUVENILE JUSTICE AND FAMILY ISSUES. The committee
1085	1069		shall have seven members, with jurisdiction over all matters
1086	1070		pertaining to:
1087	1071		(1) the commitment and rehabilitation of youths;
1088	1072		(2) the construction, operation, and management of
1089	1073		correctional facilities of the state and facilities used for the
1090	1074		commitment and rehabilitation of youths;
1091	1075		(3) juvenile delinquency and gang violence;
1092	1076		(4) criminal law, prohibitions, standards, and
1093	1077		penalties as applied to juveniles;
1094	1078		(5) criminal procedure in the courts of Texas as it
1095	1079		relates to juveniles;
1096	1080		(6) civil law as it relates to familial relationships,
1097	1081		including rights, duties, remedies, and procedures; and
1098	1082		(7) the following state agencies: the Texas Juvenile
1099	1083		Justice Board, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, the Office of
1100	1084		Independent Ombudsman for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department,
1101	1085		and the Advisory Council on Juvenile Services.
1102	1086		Sec. 25 [24]. LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. The committee
1103	1087		shall have seven [nine] members, with jurisdiction over all matters
1104	1088		pertaining to:
1105	1089		(1) the management of public lands;
1106	1090		(2) the power of eminent domain;
1107	1091		(3) annexation, zoning, and other governmental
1108	1092		regulation of land use; and
1109	1093		(4) the following state agencies: the School Land
1110	1094		Board, the Board for Lease of University Lands, and the General Land
1111	1095		Office.
1112	1096		Sec. 26 [25]. LICENSING AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. The
1113	1097		committee shall have nine members, with jurisdiction over all
1114	1098		matters pertaining to:
1115	1099		(1) the oversight of businesses, industries, general
1116	1100		trades, and occupations regulated by this state;
1117	1101		(2) the regulation of greyhound and horse racing and
1118	1102		other gaming industries;
1119	1103		(3) regulation of the sale of intoxicating beverages
1120	1104		and local option control;
1121	1105		(4) the Alcoholic Beverage Code; and
1122	1106		(5) the following state agencies: the Texas
1123	1107		Department of Licensing and Regulation, the State Office of
1124	1108		Administrative Hearings, the Texas Board of Architectural
1125	1109		Examiners, the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, the Texas
1126	1110		Real Estate Commission, the Texas State Board of Plumbing
1127	1111		Examiners, the Texas Board of Professional Engineers, the Real
1128	1112		Estate [Research] Center, the Texas Board of Professional Land
1129	1113		Surveying, the Texas Racing Commission, the Texas Appraiser
1130	1114		Licensing and Certification Board, the Texas Lottery Commission,
1131	1115		and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
1132	1116		Sec. 27 [26]. LOCAL AND CONSENT CALENDARS (PROCEDURAL).
1133	1117		The committee shall have 13 members, with jurisdiction over:
1134	1118		(1) the placement on appropriate calendars of bills
1135	1119		and resolutions that, in the opinion of the committee, are in fact
1136	1120		local or will be uncontested, and have been recommended as such by
1137	1121		the standing committee of original jurisdiction; and
1138	1122		(2) the determination of priorities for floor
1139	1123		consideration of bills and resolutions except those within the
1140	1124		jurisdiction of the Committee on Calendars.
1141	1125		Sec. 28 [27]. NATURAL RESOURCES. (a) The committee shall
1142	1126		have 11 members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1143	1127		(1) the conservation of the natural resources of
1144	1128		Texas;
1145	1129		(2) the control and development of land and water and
1146	1130		land and water resources, including the taking, storing, control,
1147	1131		and use of all water in the state, and its appropriation and
1148	1132		allocation;
1149	1133		(3) irrigation, irrigation companies, and irrigation
1150	1134		districts, and their incorporation, management, and powers;
1151	1135		(4) the creation, modification, and regulation of
1152	1136		groundwater conservation districts and the modification and
1153	1137		regulation of water supply districts, water control and improvement
1154	1138		districts, conservation and reclamation districts, and all similar
1155	1139		organs of local government dealing with water and water supply;
1156	1140		(5) oversight of the Texas Commission on Environmental
1157	1141		Quality as it relates to the regulation of water resources; and
1158	1142		(6) the following state agencies: the Office of
1159	1143		Canadian River Compact Commissioner for Texas, the Office of Pecos
1160	1144		River Compact Commissioner for Texas, the Office of Red River
1161	1145		Compact Commissioner for Texas, the Office of Rio Grande Compact
1162	1146		Commissioner for Texas, the Office of Sabine River Compact
1163	1147		Commissioner [Administrator] for Texas, the Multi-State Water
1164	1148		Resources Planning Commission, and the Texas Water Development
1165	1149		Board.
1166	1150		(b) The chair of the committee shall appoint a permanent
1167	1151		subcommittee on special water districts consisting of not fewer
1168	1152		than five members to consider all matters pertaining to special
1169	1153		water districts within the jurisdiction of the committee,
1170	1154		including:
1171	1155		(1) the organization and operation of the districts;
1172	1156		(2) the powers and duties of the districts; and
1173	1157		(3) the districts' role in the conservation of natural
1174	1158		resources and the control and development of land and water in the
1175	1159		state.
1176	1160		Sec. 29 [28]. PENSIONS. The committee shall have seven
1177	1161		members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1178	1162		(1) benefits or participation in benefits of a public
1179	1163		retirement system and the financial obligations of a public
1180	1164		retirement system; and
1181	1165		(2) the following state agencies: the Texas Emergency
1182	1166		Services Retirement System [Office of Fire Fighters' Pension
1183	1167		Commissioner], the Board of Trustees of the Teacher Retirement
1184	1168		System of Texas, the Board of Trustees of the Employees Retirement
1185	1169		System of Texas, the Board of Trustees of the Texas County and
1186	1170		District Retirement System, the Board of Trustees of the Texas
1187	1171		Municipal Retirement System, and the State Pension Review Board.
1188	1172		Sec. 30 [29]. PUBLIC EDUCATION. (a) The committee shall
1189	1173		have 11 members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1190	1174		(1) the public schools and the public school system of
1191	1175		Texas and the financing thereof;
1192	1176		(2) the state programming of elementary and secondary
1193	1177		education for the public school system of Texas;
1194	1178		(3) proposals to create, change, or otherwise alter
1195	1179		school districts of the state; and
1196	1180		(4) the following state agencies: the State Board of
1197	1181		Education, the Texas Education Agency, the Office of Compact for
1198	1182		Education Commissioner for Texas, the Office of Southern Regional
1199	1183		Education Compact Commissioner for Texas, the Texas School for the
1200	1184		Blind and Visually Impaired, the State Board for Educator
1201	1185		Certification, and the Texas School for the Deaf.
1202	1186		(b) The chair of the committee shall appoint a permanent
1203	1187		subcommittee on educator quality consisting of not fewer than five
1204	1188		members to consider all matters pertaining to ensuring the high
1205	1189		quality of teachers in the state, including:
1206	1190		(1) ways to improve the quality of the existing
1207	1191		teacher workforce and recruit well-qualified individuals into the
1208	1192		workforce; and
1209	1193		(2) the adequacy of existing certification programs
1210	1194		for new teachers.
1211	1195		Sec. 31 [30]. PUBLIC HEALTH. The committee shall have 11
1212	1196		members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1213	1197		(1) the protection of public health, including
1214	1198		supervision and control of the practice of medicine and dentistry
1215	1199		and other allied health services;
1216	1200		(2) mental health and the development of programs
1217	1201		incident thereto;
1218	1202		(3) the prevention and treatment of mental illness;
1219	1203		(4) oversight of the Health and Human Services
1220	1204		Commission as it relates to the subject matter jurisdiction of this
1221	1205		committee; and
1222	1206		(5) the following state agencies: the Department of
1223	1207		State Health Services, the Anatomical Board of the State of Texas,
1224	1208		the Texas Funeral Service Commission, the State Committee of
1225	1209		Examiners in the Fitting and Dispensing of Hearing Instruments, the
1226	1210		Texas Health Services Authority, the Texas Optometry Board, the
1227	1211		Radiation Advisory Board, the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, the
1228	1212		Interagency Obesity Council, the Texas Board of Nursing, the Texas
1229	1213		Board of Chiropractic Examiners, the Texas Board of Physical
1230	1214		Therapy Examiners, the Texas State Board of Podiatric Medical
1231	1215		Examiners, the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the
1232	1216		State Board of Dental Examiners, the Texas Medical Board, the
1233	1217		Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers, the Dental Hygiene Advisory
1234	1218		Committee, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas,
1235	1219		the Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners, the Health
1236	1220		Professions Council, the Office of Patient Protection, and the
1237	1221		Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners.
1238	1222		Sec. 32 [31]. REDISTRICTING (PROCEDURAL). The committee
1239	1223		shall have nine members, with jurisdiction over all matters
1240	1224		pertaining to:
1241	1225		(1) legislative districts, both house and senate, and
1242	1226		any changes or amendments;
1243	1227		(2) congressional districts, their creation, and any
1244	1228		changes or amendments;
1245	1229		(3) establishing districts for the election of
1246	1230		judicial officers or of governing bodies or representatives of
1247	1231		political subdivisions or state agencies as required by law; and
1248	1232		(4) preparations for the redistricting process.
1249	1233		Sec. 33 [32]. RULES AND RESOLUTIONS (PROCEDURAL). The
1250	1234		committee shall have 11 members, with jurisdiction over:
1251	1235		(1) Rules of Procedure of the House of
1252	1236		Representatives, and all proposed amendments;
1253	1237		(2) Joint Rules of the House and Senate, and all
1254	1238		proposed amendments;
1255	1239		(3) all procedures for expediting the business of the
1256	1240		house in an orderly and efficient manner;
1257	1241		(4) all resolutions to congratulate, memorialize, or
1258	1242		name mascots of the house; and
1259	1243		(5) other matters concerning rules, procedures, and
1260	1244		operation of the house assigned by the speaker.
1261	1245		Sec. 34 [33]. SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS. (a) The
1262	1246		committee shall have seven [nine] members, with jurisdiction over
1263	1247		all matters pertaining to:
1264	1248		(1) the creation of any special purpose district not
1265	1249		otherwise assigned by these rules to other standing committees,
1266	1250		including a crime control and prevention district, library
1267	1251		district, public improvement district, municipal management
1268	1252		district, municipal development district, irrigation district,
1269	1253		water improvement district, water control and improvement
1270	1254		district, river authority, or navigation district; and
1271	1255		(2) any other local government special purpose
1272	1256		district authorized or created under law that as the result of its
1273	1257		creation may levy or impose a tax, assessment, or fee for a special
1274	1258		purpose.
1275	1259		(b) In this section, "local government" means a political
1276	1260		subdivision of this state, other than a county, and includes a
1277	1261		corporation or other entity created by a political subdivision of
1278	1262		this state other than a county.
1279	1263		Sec. 35 [34]. STATE AFFAIRS. The committee shall have 13
1280	1264		members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1281	1265		(1) questions and matters of state policy;
1282	1266		(2) the administration of state government;
1283	1267		(3) the organization, operation, powers, regulation,
1284	1268		and management of state departments, agencies, and institutions;
1285	1269		(4) the operation and regulation of public lands and
1286	1270		state buildings;
1287	1271		(5) the duties and conduct of officers and employees
1288	1272		of the state government;
1289	1273		(6) the operation of state government and its agencies
1290	1274		and departments; all of above except where jurisdiction is
1291	1275		specifically granted to some other standing committee;
1292	1276		(7) access of the state agencies to scientific and
1293	1277		technological information;
1294	1278		(8) the regulation and deregulation of electric
1295	1279		utilities and the electric industry;
1296	1280		(9) the regulation and deregulation of
1297	1281		telecommunications utilities and the telecommunications industry;
1298	1282		(10) electric utility regulation as it relates to
1299	1283		energy production and consumption;
1300	1284		(11) pipelines, pipeline companies, and all others
1301	1285		operating as common carriers in the state;
1302	1286		(12) the regulation and deregulation of other
1303	1287		industries jurisdiction of which is not specifically assigned to
1304	1288		another committee under these rules; and
1305	1289		(13) the following organizations and state agencies:
1306	1290		the Council of State Governments, the National Conference of State
1307	1291		Legislatures, the Office of the Governor, the Texas Facilities
1308	1292		Commission, the Department of Information Resources, the Inaugural
1309	1293		Endowment Fund Committee, the Sunset Advisory Commission, the
1310	1294		Public Utility Commission of Texas, and the Office of Public
1311	1295		Utility Counsel.
1312	1296		[Sec. 35. TECHNOLOGY. The committee shall have five
1313	1297		members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1314	1298		[(1) advances in science and technology, including in
1315	1299		telecommunications, electronic technology, and automated data
1316	1300		processing;
1317	1301		[(2) the promotion of scientific research,
1318	1302		technological development, and technology transfer in the state;
1319	1303		[(3) matters relating to cooperation of state and
1320	1304		local governments with the scientific and technological community,
1321	1305		including industry, institutions of higher education, and federal
1322	1306		governmental laboratories; and
1323	1307		[(4) the Texas Emerging Technology Advisory
1324	1308		Committee.]
1325	1309		Sec. 36. TRANSPORTATION. (a) The committee shall have 13
1326	1310		[11] members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1327	1311		(1) commercial motor vehicles, both bus and truck, and
1328	1312		their control, regulation, licensing, and operation;
1329	1313		(2) the Texas highway system, including all roads,
1330	1314		bridges, and ferries constituting a part of the system;
1331	1315		(3) the licensing of private passenger vehicles to
1332	1316		operate on the roads and highways of the state;
1333	1317		(4) the regulation and control of traffic on the
1334	1318		public highways of the State of Texas;
1335	1319		(5) railroads, street railway lines, interurban
1336	1320		railway lines, steamship companies, and express companies;
1337	1321		(6) airports, air traffic, airlines, and other
1338	1322		organizations engaged in transportation by means of aerial flight;
1339	1323		(7) water transportation in the State of Texas, and
1340	1324		the rivers, harbors, and related facilities used in water
1341	1325		transportation and the agencies of government exercising
1342	1326		supervision and control thereover;
1343	1327		(8) the regulation of metropolitan transit; and
1344	1328		(9) the following state agencies: the Texas Department
1345	1329		of Motor Vehicles, the Texas Department of Transportation, and the
1346	1330		Texas Transportation Commission.
1347	1331		(b) The chair of the committee shall appoint a permanent
1348	1332		subcommittee on long-term transportation infrastructure planning
1349	1333		consisting of not fewer than seven members to consider all matters
1350	1334		pertaining to the transportation needs of the state during the next
1351	1335		10 years and funding mechanisms to provide for meeting those needs.
1352	1336		Sec. 37. URBAN AFFAIRS. The committee shall have seven
1353	1337		members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1354	1338		(1) municipalities, including their creation,
1355	1339		organization, powers, government, and finance, and the
1356	1340		compensation and duties of their officers and employees;
1357	1341		(2) home-rule municipalities, their relationship to
1358	1342		the state, and their powers, authority, and limitations;
1359	1343		(3) the creation or change of metropolitan areas and
1360	1344		the form of government under which those areas operate;
1361	1345		(4) problems and issues particularly affecting
1362	1346		metropolitan areas of the state;
1363	1347		(5) other units of local government not otherwise
1364	1348		assigned by these rules to other standing committees;
1365	1349		(6) establishing districts for the election of
1366	1350		governing bodies of municipalities;
1367	1351		(7) land use regulation by municipalities; and
1368	1352		(8) the following state agencies: the Texas
1369	1353		Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the Texas
1370	1354		Commission on Fire Protection.
1371	1355		Sec. 38. WAYS AND MEANS. (a) The committee shall have 11
1372	1356		[nine] members, with jurisdiction over:
1373	1357		(1) all bills and resolutions proposing to raise state
1374	1358		revenue;
1375	1359		(2) all bills or resolutions proposing to levy state
1376	1360		taxes or other fees;
1377	1361		(3) all proposals to modify, amend, or change any
1378	1362		existing state tax or revenue statute;
1379	1363		(4) all proposals to regulate the manner of collection
1380	1364		of state revenues and taxes;
1381	1365		(5) all bills and resolutions containing provisions
1382	1366		resulting in automatic allocation of funds from the state treasury;
1383	1367		(6) all bills and resolutions diverting funds from the
1384	1368		state treasury or preventing funds from going in that otherwise
1385	1369		would be placed in the state treasury;
1386	1370		(7) all bills and resolutions proposing to permit a
1387	1371		local government to raise revenue;
1388	1372		(8) all bills and resolutions proposing to permit a
1389	1373		local government to levy or impose property taxes, sales and use
1390	1374		taxes, or other taxes and fees;
1391	1375		(9) all proposals to modify, amend, or change any
1392	1376		existing local government tax or revenue statute;
1393	1377		(10) all proposals to regulate the manner of
1394	1378		collection of local government revenues and taxes;
1395	1379		(11) all bills and resolutions relating to the
1396	1380		appraisal of property for taxation;
1397	1381		(12) all bills and resolutions relating to the Tax
1398	1382		Code; and
1399	1383		(13) the following state agencies: the Office of
1400	1384		Multistate Tax Compact Commissioner for Texas and the [State]
1401	1385		Comptroller of Public Accounts.
1402	1386		(b) The chair of the committee shall appoint one or more
1403	1387		subcommittees consisting of not fewer than five members each, with
1404	1388		each subcommittee focusing on a specific method of taxation and all
1405	1389		matters pertaining to that method. One subcommittee must be
1406	1390		appointed to consider property taxation.
1407	1391		RULE 4. ORGANIZATION, POWERS, AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEES
1408	1392		CHAPTER A. ORGANIZATION
1409	1393		Sec. 1. COMMITTEES, MEMBERSHIP, AND JURISDICTION. Standing
1410	1394		committees of the house, and the number of members and general
1411	1395		jurisdiction of each, shall be as enumerated in Rule 3.
1412	1396		Sec. 2. DETERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP. (a) Membership on
1413	1397		the standing committees shall be determined at the beginning of
1414	1398		each regular session in the following manner:
1415	1399		(1) For each standing substantive committee, a maximum
1416	1400		of one-half of the membership, exclusive of the chair and
1417	1401		vice-chair, shall be determined by seniority. The remaining
1418	1402		membership of the committee shall be appointed by the speaker.
1419	1403		(2) Each member of the house, in order of seniority,
1420	1404		may designate three committees on which he or she desires to serve,
1421	1405		listed in order of preference. The member is entitled to become a
1422	1406		member of the committee of his or her highest preference on which
1423	1407		there remains a vacant seniority position.
1424	1408		(3) If members of equal seniority request the same
1425	1409		committee, the speaker shall appoint the member from among those
1426	1410		requesting that committee. Seniority, as the term is used in this
1427	1411		subsection, shall mean years of cumulative service as a member of
1428	1412		the house of representatives.
1429	1413		(4) After each member of the house has selected one
1430	1414		committee on the basis of seniority, the remaining membership on
1431	1415		each standing committee shall be filled by appointment of the
1432	1416		speaker, subject to the limitations imposed in this chapter.
1433	1417		(5) Seniority shall not apply to a procedural
1434	1418		committee. For purposes of these rules, the procedural committees
1435	1419		are the Committee on Calendars, the Committee on Local and Consent
1436	1420		Calendars, the Committee on Rules and Resolutions, the General
1437		-	Investigating and Ethics Committee, the Committee on House
1438		-	Administration, and the Committee on Redistricting. The entire
1439		-	membership of these committees shall be appointed by the speaker.
	1421	+	Investigating, Transparency in Government Operations, and Ethics
	1422	+	Committee, the Committee on House Administration, and the Committee
	1423	+	on Redistricting. The entire membership of these committees shall
	1424	+	be appointed by the speaker.
1440	1425		(6) In announcing the membership of committees, the
1441	1426		speaker shall designate those appointed by the speaker and those
1442	1427		acquiring membership by seniority.
1443	1428		(7) The speaker shall designate the chair and
1444	1429		vice-chair from the total membership of the committee.
1445	1430		(b) In the event of a vacancy in a representative district
1446	1431		that has not been filled at the time of the determination of the
1447	1432		membership of standing committees, the representative of the
1448	1433		district who fills that vacancy shall not be entitled to select a
1449	1434		committee on the basis of seniority. Committee appointments on
1450	1435		behalf of that district shall be designated by the district number.
1451	1436		(c) In the event that a member-elect of the current
1452	1437		legislature has not taken the oath of office by the end of the ninth
1453	1438		day of the regular session, the representative of that district
1454	1439		shall not be entitled to select a committee on the basis of
1455	1440		seniority. If the member-elect has not taken the oath of office by
1456	1441		the time committee appointments are announced, committee
1457	1442		appointments on behalf of that district shall be designated by
1458	1443		district number.
1459	1444		Sec. 3. RANKING OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS. Except for the chair
1460	1445		and vice-chair, members of a standing committee shall rank
1461	1446		according to their seniority.
1462	1447		Sec. 4. MEMBERSHIP RESTRICTIONS. (a) No member shall serve
1463	1448		concurrently on more than two standing substantive committees.
1464	1449		(b) A member serving as chair of the Committee on
1465	1450		Appropriations or the Committee on State Affairs may not serve on
1466	1451		any other substantive committee.
1467	1452		Sec. 5. VACANCIES ON COMMITTEES. Should a vacancy occur on
1468	1453		a standing, select, or interim committee subsequent to its
1469	1454		organization, the speaker shall appoint an eligible member to fill
1470	1455		the vacancy.
1471	1456		Sec. 6. DUTIES OF THE CHAIR. The chair of each committee
1472	1457		shall:
1473	1458		(1) be responsible for the effective conduct of the
1474	1459		business of the committee;
1475	1460		(2) appoint all subcommittees and determine the number
1476	1461		of members to serve on each subcommittee;
1477	1462		(3) in consultation with members of the committee,
1478	1463		schedule the work of the committee and determine the order in which
1479	1464		the committee shall consider and act on bills, resolutions, and
1480	1465		other matters referred to the committee;
1481	1466		(4) have authority to employ and discharge the staff
1482	1467		and employees authorized for the committee and have supervision and
1483	1468		control over all the staff and employees;
1484	1469		(5) direct the preparation of all committee reports.
1485	1470		No committee report shall be official until signed by the chair of
1486	1471		the committee, or by the person acting as chair, or by a majority of
1487	1472		the membership of the committee;
1488	1473		(6) determine the necessity for public hearings,
1489	1474		schedule hearings, and be responsible for directing the posting of
1490	1475		notice of hearings as required by the rules;
1491	1476		(7) preside at all meetings of the committee and
1492	1477		control its deliberations and activities in accordance with
1493	1478		acceptable parliamentary procedure; and
1494	1479		(8) have authority to direct the sergeant-at-arms to
1495	1480		assist, where necessary, in enforcing the will of the committee.
1496		-	Sec. 7. BILL ANALYSES. ~~(a)~~ Except for the general
	1481	+	Sec. 7. BILL ANALYSES. Except for the general
1497	1482		appropriations bill, for each bill or joint resolution referred to
1498	1483		the committee, the staff of the committee shall be responsible for
1499		-	distributing a copy of a bill analysis to:
1500		-	(1) each member of the committee [and to the author of
1501		-	a house measure or sponsor of a senate measure] at the earliest
1502		-	possible opportunity but not later than the first time the measure
1503		-	is laid out in a committee meeting; and
1504		-	(2) except for an analysis prepared by the Texas
1505		-	Legislative Council, the author of a house measure or sponsor of a
	1484	+	distributing a copy of a bill analysis to each member of the
	1485	+	committee and to the author of a house measure or sponsor of a
1506	1486		senate measure at the earliest possible opportunity but not later
1507		-	than 48 hours before the first time the measure is laid out in a
1508		-	committee meeting.
1509		-	(b) The author of the bill or joint resolution may request
1510		-	the Texas Legislative Council to prepare an analysis for purposes
1511		-	of this section suitable for distribution by committee staff to
1512		-	each member of the committee.
1513		-	(c) The Texas Legislative Council shall provide to the
1514		-	author of a house measure or sponsor of a senate measure a copy of an
1515		-	analysis at the time the analysis is provided to the staff of the
1516		-	committee.
1517		-	(d) The author of a bill or joint resolution may request
1518		-	that an analysis prepared for purposes of this section include a
1519		-	statement written by the author that includes any additional
1520		-	information that the author considers appropriate.
	1487	+	than the first time the measure is laid out in a committee meeting.
	1488	+	The author of the bill or joint resolution may request the Texas
	1489	+	Legislative Council to prepare an analysis for purposes of this
	1490	+	section suitable for distribution by committee staff to each member
	1491	+	of the committee.
1521	1492		CHAPTER B. PROCEDURE
1522	1493		Sec. 8. MEETINGS. (a) As soon as practicable after
1523	1494		standing committees are constituted and organized, the committee
1524	1495		coordinator, under the direction of the Committee on House
1525	1496		Administration, shall prepare a schedule for regular meetings of
1526	1497		all standing committees. This schedule shall be published in the
1527	1498		house journal and posted in a convenient and conspicuous place near
1528	1499		the entrance to the house and on other posting boards for committee
1529	1500		meeting notices, as determined necessary by the Committee on House
1530	1501		Administration. To the extent practicable during each regular
1531	1502		session, standing committees shall conduct regular committee
1532	1503		meetings in accordance with the schedule of meetings prepared by
1533	1504		the committee coordinator under the supervision of the Committee on
1534	1505		House Administration.
1535	1506		(b) Standing committees shall meet at other times as may be
1536	1507		determined by the committee, or as may be called by the chair.
1537	1508		Subcommittees of standing committees shall likewise meet at other
1538	1509		times as may be determined by the committee, or as may be called by
1539	1510		the chair of the committee or subcommittee.
1540	1511		(c) Committees shall also meet in such places and at such
1541	1512		times as the speaker may designate.
1542	1513		Sec. 9. MEETING WHILE HOUSE IN SESSION. No standing
1543	1514		committee or subcommittee shall meet during the time the house is in
1544	1515		session without permission being given by a majority vote of the
1545	1516		house. No standing committee or subcommittee shall conduct its
1546	1517		meeting on the floor of the house or in the house chamber while the
1547	1518		house is in session, but shall, if given permission to meet while
1548	1519		the house is in session, retire to a designated committee room for
1549	1520		the conduct of its meeting.
1550	1521		Sec. 10. PURPOSES FOR MEETING. A committee or a
1551	1522		subcommittee may be assembled for:
1552	1523		(1) a public hearing where testimony is to be heard,
1553	1524		and where official action may be taken, on bills, resolutions, or
1554	1525		other matters;
1555	1526		(2) a formal meeting where the committee may discuss
1556	1527		and take official action on bills, resolutions, or other matters
1557	1528		without testimony; and
1558	1529		(3) a work session where the committee may discuss
1559	1530		bills, resolutions, or other matters but take no formal action.
1560	1531		Sec. 11. POSTING NOTICE. (a) No committee or
1561	1532		subcommittee, including a calendars committee, shall assemble for
1562	1533		the purpose of a public hearing during a regular session unless
1563	1534		notice of the hearing has been posted in accordance with the rules
1564	1535		at least five calendar days in advance of the hearing. No committee
1565	1536		or subcommittee, including a calendars committee, shall assemble
1566	1537		for the purpose of a public hearing during a special session unless
1567	1538		notice of the hearing has been posted in accordance with the rules
1568	1539		at least 24 hours in advance of the hearing. The committee minutes
1569	1540		shall reflect the date of each posting of notice. Notice shall not
1570	1541		be required for a public hearing on a senate bill which is
1571	1542		substantially the same as a house bill that has previously been the
1572	1543		subject of a duly posted public hearing by the committee.
1573	1544		(b) No committee or subcommittee, including a calendars
1574	1545		committee, shall assemble for the purpose of a formal meeting or
1575	1546		work session during a regular or special session unless written
1576	1547		notice has been posted and transmitted to each member of the
1577	1548		committee two hours in advance of the meeting or an announcement has
1578	1549		been filed with the journal clerk and read by the reading clerk
1579	1550		while the house is in session.
1580	1551		(c) All committees meeting during the interim for the
1581	1552		purpose of a formal meeting, work session, or public hearing shall
1582	1553		post notice in accordance with the rules and notify members of the
1583	1554		committee at least five calendar days in advance of the meeting.
1584	1555		Sec. 12. MEETINGS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. All meetings of a
1585	1556		committee or subcommittee, including a calendars committee, shall
1586	1557		be open to other members, the press, and the public unless
1587	1558		specifically provided otherwise by resolution adopted by the house.
1588		-	However, the General Investigating ~~and Ethics Committee or a~~
1589		-	committee considering an ~~impeachment, an address, the punishment of~~
1590		-	a member of the house, or ~~any other matter of a quasi-judicial~~
1591		-	nature may meet in executive ~~session for the limited purpose of~~
1592		-	examining a witness or ~~deliberating, considering, or debating a~~
1593		-	decision, but no decision ~~may be made or voted on except in a~~
1594		-	meeting that is open to the ~~public and otherwise in compliance with~~
1595		-	the rules of the house.
	1559	+	However, the General Investigating, Transparency in Government
	1560	+	Operations, and Ethics Committee or a committee considering an
	1561	+	impeachment, an address, the punishment of a member of the house, or
	1562	+	any other matter of a quasi-judicial nature may meet in executive
	1563	+	session for the limited purpose of examining a witness or
	1564	+	deliberating, considering, or debating a decision, but no decision
	1565	+	may be made or voted on except in a meeting that is open to the
	1566	+	public and otherwise in compliance with the rules of the house.
1596	1567		Sec. 13. RULES GOVERNING OPERATIONS. (a) The Rules of
1597	1568		Procedure of the House of Representatives, and to the extent
1598	1569		applicable, the rules of evidence and procedure in the civil courts
1599	1570		of Texas, shall govern the hearings and operations of each
1600	1571		committee, including a calendars committee. Subject to the
1601	1572		foregoing, and to the extent necessary for orderly transaction of
1602	1573		business, each committee may promulgate and adopt additional rules
1603	1574		and procedures by which it will function.
1604	1575		(b) No standing committee, including a calendars committee,
1605	1576		or any subcommittee, shall adopt any rule of procedure, including
1606	1577		but not limited to an automatic subcommittee rule, which will have
1607	1578		the effect of thwarting the will of the majority of the committee or
1608	1579		subcommittee or denying the committee or subcommittee the right to
1609	1580		ultimately dispose of any pending matter by action of a majority of
1610	1581		the committee or subcommittee. A bill or resolution may not be laid
1611	1582		on the table subject to call in committee without a majority vote of
1612	1583		the committee.
1613	1584		Sec. 14. APPEALS FROM RULINGS OF THE CHAIR. Appeals from
1614	1585		rulings of the chair of a committee shall be in order if seconded by
1615	1586		three members of the committee, which may include the member making
1616	1587		the appeal. Procedure in committee following an appeal which has
1617	1588		been seconded shall be the same as the procedure followed in the
1618	1589		house in a similar situation.
1619	1590		Sec. 15. PREVIOUS QUESTION. Before the previous question
1620	1591		can be ordered in a committee, the motion therefor must be seconded
1621	1592		by not less than 4 members of a committee consisting of 21 or more
1622	1593		members, 3 members of a committee consisting of less than 21 members
1623	1594		and more than 10 members, or 2 members of a committee consisting of
1624	1595		10 members or less. If the motion is properly seconded and ordered
1625	1596		by a majority vote of the committee, further debate on the
1626	1597		proposition under consideration shall be terminated, and the
1627	1598		proposition shall be immediately put to a vote of the committee for
1628	1599		its action.
1629	1600		Sec. 16. QUORUM. A majority of a committee shall
1630	1601		constitute a quorum. No action or recommendation of a committee
1631	1602		shall be valid unless taken at a meeting of the committee with a
1632	1603		quorum actually present, and the committee minutes shall reflect
1633	1604		the names of those members of the committee who were actually
1634	1605		present. No committee report shall be made to the house nor shall
1635	1606		bills or resolutions be placed on a calendar unless ordered by a
1636	1607		majority of the membership of the committee, except as otherwise
1637	1608		provided in the rules, and a quorum of the committee must be present
1638	1609		when the vote is taken on reporting a bill or resolution, on placing
1639	1610		bills or resolutions on a calendar, or on taking any other formal
1640	1611		action within the authority of the committee. No committee report
1641	1612		shall be made nor shall bills or resolutions be placed on a calendar
1642	1613		except by record vote of the members of the committee, with the yeas
1643	1614		and nays to be recorded in the minutes of the committee. Proxies
1644	1615		cannot be used in committees.
1645	1616		Sec. 17. MOVING A CALL OF A COMMITTEE. (a) It shall be in
1646	1617		order to move a call of a committee at any time to secure and
1647	1618		maintain a quorum for any one or more of the following purposes:
1648	1619		(1) for the consideration of a specific bill,
1649	1620		resolution, or other matter;
1650	1621		(2) for a definite period of time; or
1651	1622		(3) for the consideration of any designated class of
1652	1623		bills or other matters.
1653	1624		(b) When a call of a committee is moved for one or more of
1654	1625		the foregoing purposes and seconded by two members, one of whom may
1655	1626		be the chair, and is ordered by a majority of the members present,
1656	1627		no member shall thereafter be permitted to leave the committee
1657	1628		meeting without written permission from the chair. After the call
1658	1629		is ordered, and in the absence of a quorum, the chair shall have the
1659	1630		authority to authorize the sergeant-at-arms to locate absent
1660	1631		members of the committee and to compel their attendance for the
1661	1632		duration of the call.
1662	1633		Sec. 18. MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS. (a) For each committee,
1663	1634		including a calendars committee, the chair, or the member acting as
1664	1635		chair, shall keep complete minutes of the proceedings in committee,
1665	1636		which shall include:
1666	1637		(1) the time and place of each meeting of the
1667	1638		committee;
1668	1639		(2) a roll call to determine the members present at
1669	1640		each meeting of the committee, whether that meeting follows an
1670	1641		adjournment or a recess from a previous committee meeting;
1671	1642		(3) an accurate record of all votes taken, including a
1672	1643		listing of the yeas and nays cast on a record vote;
1673	1644		(4) the date of posting of notice of the meeting; and
1674	1645		(5) other information that the chair shall determine.
1675	1646		(b) The minutes for each public hearing of a committee shall
1676	1647		also include an attachment listing the names of the persons, other
1677	1648		than members of the legislature, and the persons or entities
1678	1649		represented by those persons, who were recognized by the chair to
1679	1650		address the committee. The attachment shall also list the name of
1680	1651		each person, other than a member of the legislature, who submitted
1681	1652		to the committee a sworn statement indicating that the person was
1682	1653		present in favor of, in opposition to, or without taking a position
1683	1654		on the measure or other matter, but who because of the person's
1684	1655		departure or other reason was not recognized by the chair to address
1685	1656		the committee; provided that the omission of the name of such a
1686	1657		person is not a sustainable question of order.
1687	1658		(c) Committee minutes shall be corrected only at the
1688	1659		direction of the chair as authorized by a majority vote of the
1689	1660		committee. Duplicate originals of committee minutes shall be
1690	1661		maintained, one to remain with the committee chair and the other to
1691	1662		be filed with the committee coordinator. The committee minutes of a
1692	1663		meeting of the Appropriations Committee on the general
1693	1664		appropriations bill must be filed with the committee coordinator
1694	1665		within five days of the committee meeting. All other committee
1695	1666		minutes must be filed with the committee coordinator within three
1696	1667		days of the committee meeting for a substantive committee, and
1697	1668		within one day of the committee meeting for a procedural committee.
1698	1669		If the date on which the committee minutes are due occurs on a
1699	1670		Saturday, Sunday, or holiday on which the house is not in session,
1700	1671		the committee minutes shall be filed on the following working day.
1701	1672		The time at which the minutes are filed shall be time-stamped on the
1702	1673		duplicate originals of the minutes that are filed with the
1703	1674		committee coordinator. The duplicate originals shall be available
1704	1675		at all reasonable business hours for inspection by members or the
1705	1676		public.
1706	1677		(d) The committee coordinator shall maintain the minutes
1707	1678		and records safe from loss, destruction, and alteration at all
1708	1679		times, and may, at any time, turn them, or any portion, over to the
1709	1680		Committee on House Administration.
1710	1681		Sec. 18A. INTERNET ACCESS TO COMMITTEE DOCUMENTS. (a) The
1711	1682		committee coordinator may establish procedures for making
1712	1683		available to the public on the Internet documents relating to the
1713	1684		proceedings of substantive committees.
1714	1685		(b) A substantive committee may make available to the public
1715	1686		on the Internet:
1716	1687		(1) any committee substitute or amendment laid before
1717	1688		the committee; and
1718	1689		(2) any nonconfidential written testimony submitted
1719	1690		by a state agency for consideration by the committee that relates to
1720	1691		a measure referred to the committee.
1721	1692		(c) A committee's failure to comply with this section is not
1722	1693		subject to a point of order.
1723	1694		Sec. 19. RECORDING OF TESTIMONY. All testimony before
1724	1695		committees and subcommittees shall be electronically recorded
1725	1696		under the direction of the Committee on House Administration.
1726	1697		Copies of the testimony may be released under guidelines
1727	1698		promulgated by the Committee on House Administration.
1728	1699		Sec. 20. SWORN STATEMENT OF WITNESSES. (a) The committee
1729	1700		coordinator, under the direction of the Committee on House
1730	1701		Administration, shall prescribe the form of a sworn statement,
1731	1702		which may be in electronic or paper format, to be executed by all
1732	1703		persons, other than members, who wish to be recognized by the chair
1733	1704		to address the committee. The statement shall provide for showing
1734	1705		at least:
1735	1706		(1) the committee or subcommittee;
1736	1707		(2) the name, address, and telephone number of the
1737	1708		person appearing;
1738	1709		(3) the person, firm, corporation, class, or group
1739	1710		represented;
1740	1711		(4) the type of business, profession, or occupation in
1741	1712		which the person is engaged, if the person is representing himself
1742	1713		or herself; and
1743	1714		(5) the matter before the committee on which the
1744	1715		person wishes to be recognized to address the committee and whether
1745	1716		for, against, or neutral on the matter.
1746	1717		(b) No person shall be recognized by the chair to address
1747	1718		the committee in favor of, in opposition to, or without taking a
1748	1719		position on a matter until the sworn statement has been filed with
1749	1720		the chair of the committee. The chair of the committee shall
1750	1721		indicate whether the person completing the statement was recognized
1751	1722		to address the committee.
1752	1723		(c) Sworn statements submitted in paper format for those
1753	1724		persons recognized by the chair to address the committee shall
1754	1725		accompany the copy of the minutes of the meeting filed with the
1755	1726		committee coordinator.
1756	1727		(d) All persons, other than members, recognized by the chair
1757	1728		to address the committee shall give their testimony under oath, and
1758	1729		each committee may avail itself of additional powers and
1759	1730		prerogatives authorized by law.
1760	1731		(e) The committee shall ensure that an individual who is
1761	1732		blind receives any necessary assistance in executing the sworn
1762	1733		statement.
1763	1734		(f) The committee shall inform a witness who is blind which
1764	1735		members of the committee are present when the witness begins to
1765	1736		testify and shall inform the witness during the testimony of the
1766	1737		departure and arrival of committee members.
1767	1738		(g) The chair may recognize a witness who has been invited
1768	1739		by the committee to attend the meeting but is not present in the
1769	1740		same physical location as the committee to testify before the
1770	1741		committee through an Internet or other videoconferencing system if:
1771	1742		(1) the witness has executed a sworn statement, in
1772	1743		electronic or paper format, under this section;
1773	1744		(2) the witness has filed the statement or a copy of
1774	1745		the statement with the chair before testifying; and
1775	1746		(3) two-way communication has been enabled to allow
1776	1747		the witness to be clearly visible and audible to the committee
1777	1748		members and the committee members to be clearly visible and audible
1778	1749		to the witness.
1779		-	(h) A person who serves as an interpreter for a witness
1780		-	before a committee must execute a form prescribed by the committee
1781		-	coordinator, under the direction of the Committee on House
1782		-	Administration. The form must at least include the name of the
1783		-	interpreter and the name of the witness whom the interpreter is
1784		-	serving.
1785	1750		Sec. 20A. VIDEO TESTIMONY. The committee coordinator shall
1786	1751		examine the feasibility of, and to the extent practicable at the
1787	1752		time the committee coordinator determines appropriate, establish
1788	1753		procedures to permit a person to submit testimony relating to
1789	1754		measures under consideration by a committee to the committee in the
1790	1755		form of an online video. The procedures established must ensure
1791	1756		that testimony submitted in the form of a video is available to the
1792	1757		public on the Internet. Online video testimony submitted to the
1793	1758		committee may not exceed three minutes. Unless the person
1794	1759		testifies as a witness in a public hearing, a person appearing in
1795	1760		online video testimony may not submit a witness affirmation form
1796	1761		and the person's name may not appear on a witness list.
1797	1762		Sec. 21. POWER TO ISSUE PROCESS AND SUMMON WITNESSES. (a)
1798	1763		By a record vote of not less than two-thirds of those present and
1799	1764		voting, a quorum being present, each standing committee shall have
1800	1765		the power and authority to issue process to witnesses at any place
1801	1766		in the State of Texas, to compel their attendance, and to compel the
1802	1767		production of all books, records, and instruments. If necessary to
1803	1768		obtain compliance with subpoenas or other process, the committee
1804	1769		shall have the power to issue writs of attachment. All process
1805	1770		issued by the committee may be addressed to and served by an agent
1806	1771		of the committee or a sergeant-at-arms appointed by the committee
1807	1772		or by any peace officer of the State of Texas. The committee shall
1808	1773		also have the power to cite and have prosecuted for contempt, in the
1809	1774		manner provided by law, anyone disobeying the subpoenas or other
1810	1775		process lawfully issued by the committee. The chair of the
1811	1776		committee shall issue, in the name of the committee, the subpoenas
1812	1777		and other process as the committee may direct.
1813	1778		(b) The chair may summon the governing board or other
1814	1779		representatives of a state agency to appear and testify before the
1815	1780		committee without issuing process under Subsection (a) of this
1816	1781		section. The summons may be communicated in writing, orally, or
1817	1782		electronically. If the persons summoned fail or refuse to appear,
1818	1783		the committee may issue process under Subsection (a) of this
1819	1784		section.
1820	1785		Sec. 22. MILEAGE AND PER DIEM FOR WITNESSES. Subject to
1821	1786		prior approval by the Committee on House Administration, witnesses
1822	1787		attending proceedings of any committee under process of the
1823	1788		committee shall be allowed the same mileage and per diem as are
1824	1789		allowed members of the committee when in a travel status, to be paid
1825	1790		out of the contingent expense fund of the house of representatives
1826	1791		on vouchers approved by the chair of the committee, the chair of the
1827	1792		Committee on House Administration, and the speaker of the house.
1828	1793		Sec. 23. POWER TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE OF STATE AGENCIES.
1829	1794		Each committee is authorized to request the assistance, when
1830	1795		needed, of all state departments, agencies, and offices, and it
1831	1796		shall be the duty of the departments, agencies, and offices to
1832	1797		assist the committee when requested to do so. Each committee shall
1833	1798		have the power and authority to inspect the records, documents, and
1834	1799		files of every state department, agency, and office, to the extent
1835	1800		necessary to the discharge of its duties within the area of its
1836	1801		jurisdiction.
1837	1802		Sec. 23A. ASSISTANCE OF OTHER MEMBERS OF LEGISLATURE. At a
1838	1803		meeting of a committee, the chair may recognize a member of the
1839	1804		house who is not a member of the committee to provide information to
1840	1805		the committee, and may recognize a member of the senate for that
1841	1806		purpose. Recognition is solely within the discretion of the chair
1842	1807		and is not subject to appeal by that member.
1843	1808		CHAPTER C. COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS
1844	1809		Sec. 24. INTERIM STUDIES. Standing committees, en banc or
1845	1810		by subcommittees, are hereby authorized to conduct studies that are
1846	1811		authorized by the speaker pursuant to Rule 1, Section 17. Studies
1847	1812		may not be authorized by resolution. The speaker may appoint public
1848	1813		citizens and officials of state and local governments to standing
1849	1814		committees to augment the membership for the purpose of interim
1850	1815		studies and shall provide a list of such appointments to the chief
1851	1816		clerk. The chair of the standing committee shall have authority to
1852	1817		name the subcommittees necessary and desirable for the conduct of
1853	1818		the interim studies and shall also prepare a budget for interim
1854	1819		studies for approval by the Committee on House Administration.
1855	1820		Sec. 25. MOTION PREVENTING REPORTING OR PLACEMENT ON A
1856	1821		CALENDAR. No motion is in order in a committee considering a bill,
1857	1822		resolution, or other matter that would prevent the committee from
1858	1823		reporting it back to the house or placing it on a calendar in
1859	1824		accordance with the Rules of the House.
1860	1825		Sec. 26. FINAL ACTION IN FORM OF REPORT. No action by a
1861	1826		committee on bills or resolutions referred to it shall be
1862	1827		considered as final unless it is in the form of a favorable report,
1863	1828		an unfavorable report, or a report of inability to recommend a
1864	1829		course of action.
1865	1830		Sec. 27. VOTE ON MOTION TO REPORT. Motions made in
1866	1831		committee to report favorably or unfavorably must receive
1867	1832		affirmative majority votes, majority negative votes to either
1868	1833		motion being insufficient to report. If a committee is unable to
1869	1834		agree on a recommendation for action, as in the case of a tie vote,
1870	1835		it should submit a statement of this fact as its report, and the
1871	1836		house shall decide, by a majority vote, the disposition of the
1872	1837		matter by one of the following alternatives:
1873	1838		(1) leave the bill in the committee for further
1874	1839		consideration;
1875	1840		(2) refer the bill to some other committee; or
1876	1841		(3) order the bill printed, in which case the bill
1877	1842		shall go to the Committee on Calendars for placement on a calendar
1878	1843		and for proposal of an appropriate rule for house consideration.
1879	1844		Sec. 28. MINORITY REPORTS. The report of a minority of a
1880	1845		committee shall be made in the same general form as a majority
1881	1846		report. No minority report shall be recognized by the house unless
1882	1847		it has been signed by not less than 4 members of a committee
1883	1848		consisting of 21 or more members, 3 members of a committee
1884	1849		consisting of less than 21 members and more than 10 members, or 2
1885	1850		members of a committee consisting of 10 or less members. Only
1886	1851		members who were present when the vote was taken on the bill,
1887	1852		resolution, or other matter being reported, and who voted on the
1888	1853		losing side, may sign a minority report. Notice of intention to
1889	1854		file a minority report shall be given to the assembled committee
1890	1855		after the vote on the bill, resolution, or other matter, and before
1891	1856		the recess or adjournment of the committee, provided ample
1892	1857		opportunity is afforded for the giving of notice; otherwise, notice
1893	1858		may be given in writing to the chief clerk within 24 hours after the
1894	1859		recess or adjournment of the committee.
1895	1860		Sec. 29. ACTION ON BILLS REPORTED UNFAVORABLY. If the
1896	1861		majority report on a bill is unfavorable, and a favorable minority
1897	1862		report is not signed in accordance with Section 28 of this rule and
1898	1863		filed with the chief clerk within two calendar days, exclusive of
1899	1864		Sunday and the date of committee action, the chief clerk shall file
1900	1865		the bill away as dead; except during the last 15 calendar days of a
1901	1866		regular session, or the last 7 calendar days of a special session,
1902	1867		when the chief clerk shall hold a bill only one calendar day,
1903	1868		exclusive of Sunday and the date of committee action, awaiting the
1904	1869		filing of a minority report before the bill is filed away as dead.
1905	1870		If the favorable minority report is properly signed and filed, the
1906	1871		chief clerk shall hold the bill for five legislative days,
1907	1872		exclusive of the legislative day in which the minority report was
1908	1873		filed, awaiting adoption by the house of a motion to print the bill
1909	1874		on minority report. If the motion to print is carried, the bill
1910	1875		shall be printed as if it had been reported favorably, and shall
1911	1876		then be immediately forwarded to the Committee on Calendars for
1912	1877		placement on a calendar and for proposal of an appropriate rule for
1913	1878		house consideration. If a motion to print a bill on minority report
1914	1879		is not made within the five legislative days authorized above, the
1915	1880		chief clerk shall file the bill away as dead. It shall not be in
1916	1881		order to move to recommit a bill adversely reported with no minority
1917	1882		report, except as provided in Section 30 of this rule. A two-thirds
1918	1883		vote of the house shall be required to print on minority report a
1919	1884		joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of
1920	1885		Texas.
1921	1886		Sec. 30. MAKING ADVERSE REPORTS WITHOUT HEARING THE
1922	1887		AUTHOR. No adverse report shall be made on any bill or resolution
1923	1888		by any committee without first giving the author or sponsor of the
1924	1889		bill an opportunity to be heard. If it becomes evident to the house
1925	1890		that a bill has been reported adversely without the author or
1926	1891		sponsor having had an opportunity to be heard as provided in this
1927	1892		section, the house may, by a majority vote, order the bill
1928	1893		recommitted even though no minority report was filed in the manner
1929	1894		prescribed by the rules. This provision shall have precedence over
1930	1895		Rule 7, Section 20.
1931	1896		Sec. 31. ADVERSE REPORTS ON LOCAL BILLS. If a local bill is
1932	1897		reported adversely, it shall be subject to the same rules that
1933	1898		govern other bills reported adversely.
1934	1899		Sec. 32. FORM OF REPORTS. (a) Reports of standing
1935	1900		committees on bills and resolutions shall be made in duplicate,
1936	1901		with one copy to be filed with the journal clerk for printing in the
1937	1902		journal and the other to accompany the original bill.
1938	1903		(b) All committee reports must be in writing and shall:
1939	1904		(1) be signed by the chair, or the member acting as
1940	1905		chair, or a majority of the membership of the committee;
1941	1906		(2) be addressed to the speaker;
1942	1907		(3) contain a statement of the recommendations of the
1943	1908		committee with reference to the matter which is the subject of the
1944	1909		report;
1945	1910		(4) contain the date the committee made its
1946	1911		recommendation;
1947	1912		(5) indicate whether a copy of a bill or resolution was
1948	1913		forwarded to the Legislative Budget Board for preparation of a
1949	1914		fiscal note or other impact statement, if applicable;
1950	1915		(6) contain the record vote by which the report was
1951	1916		adopted, including the vote of each member of the committee;
1952	1917		(7) contain the recommendation that the bill or
1953	1918		resolution be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars
1954	1919		for placement on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar if
1955	1920		applicable;
1956	1921		(8) state the name of the primary house sponsor of all
1957	1922		senate bills and resolutions and indicate the names of all joint
1958	1923		sponsors or cosponsors;
1959	1924		(9) include a summary of the committee hearing on the
1960	1925		bill or resolution;
1961	1926		(10) include a list of the names of the persons, other
1962	1927		than members of the legislature, and persons or entities
1963	1928		represented by those persons, who submitted to the committee sworn
1964	1929		statements indicating that the persons were present in favor of, in
1965	1930		opposition to, or without taking a position on the bill or
1966	1931		resolution. The omission from the list of the name of a person who
1967	1932		submitted a sworn statement regarding a bill or resolution but who
1968	1933		was not recognized by the chair to address the committee is not a
1969	1934		sustainable question of order;
1970	1935		(11) for a joint resolution proposing a constitutional
1971	1936		amendment, include the bill number of any enabling legislation for
1972	1937		the constitutional amendment designated as such by the author or
1973		-	sponsor of the joint resolution; [and]
	1938	+	sponsor of the joint resolution; and
1974	1939		(12) for a bill that is designated by the author or
1975	1940		sponsor of the bill as enabling legislation for a constitutional
1976	1941		amendment proposed by a joint resolution, include the number of the
1977		-	joint resolution; and
1978		-	(13) contain a copy of each form executed by an
1979		-	interpreter for a witness as required by Section 20(h) of this rule.
	1942	+	joint resolution.
1980	1943		(c) Except for the general appropriations bill, each
1981	1944		committee report on a bill or joint resolution, including a
1982	1945		complete committee substitute, and, to the extent considered
1983	1946		necessary by the committee, a committee report on any other
1984	1947		resolution, must include in summary or section-by-section form a
1985	1948		detailed analysis of the subject matter of the bill or resolution,
1986	1949		specifically including:
1987	1950		(1) background information on the proposal and
1988	1951		information on what the bill or resolution proposes to do;
1989	1952		(2) an analysis of the content of the bill or
1990	1953		resolution, including a separate statement that lists each statute
1991	1954		or constitutional provision that is expressly repealed by the bill
1992	1955		or resolution;
1993	1956		(3) a statement indicating whether or not any
1994	1957		rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to a state officer,
1995	1958		department, agency, or institution, and, if so, identifying the
1996	1959		sections of the measure in which that rulemaking authority is
1997	1960		delegated;
1998	1961		(4) a statement indicating whether or not the bill or
1999		-	resolution ~~expressly~~ creates a criminal offense, ~~expressly~~
2000		-	~~increases the punishment for~~ an existing criminal offense or
2001		-	~~category of offenses, or expressly changes~~ the eligibility of a
2002		-	~~person for community~~ supervision, ~~parole~~, ~~or mandatory~~
2003		-	~~supervision~~;
	1962	+	resolution creates a criminal offense, increases the punishment for
	1963	+	an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or changes
	1964	+	the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or
	1965	+	mandatory supervision, and, if so, indicating the general effect of
	1966	+	the bill or resolution on the offense, punishment, or eligibility;
2004	1967		(5) a statement of substantial differences between a
2005	1968		complete committee substitute and the original bill; and
2006	1969		(6) [(5)] a brief explanation of each amendment
2007	1970		adopted by the committee.
2008	1971		(d) The author of a bill or resolution for which an analysis
2009	1972		is required by Subsection (c) of this section and the committee to
2010	1973		which the bill or resolution is referred may request the Texas
2011	1974		Legislative Council to prepare the analysis required by Subsection
2012		-	(c) of this section. The Texas Legislative Council shall provide to
2013		-	the author of a house measure or sponsor of a senate measure a copy
2014		-	of an analysis requested under this subsection at the time the
2015		-	analysis is provided to the staff of the committee.
2016		-	(e) Except for an analysis prepared by the Texas Legislative
2017		-	Council, a [A] committee chair shall provide to the author of a
2018		-	house measure or sponsor of a senate measure a copy of the analysis
	1975	+	(c) of this section.
	1976	+	(e) A committee chair shall provide to the author of a house
	1977	+	measure or sponsor of a senate measure a copy of the analysis
2019	1978		required by Subsection (c) of this section as soon as the analysis
2020	1979		is complete.
2021		-	(f) The author of a bill or resolution may request that an
2022		-	analysis prepared for purposes of this section include a statement
2023		-	written by the author that includes any additional information that
2024		-	the author considers appropriate.
2025		-	(g) It shall be the duty of the committee chair, on all
	1980	+	(f) It shall be the duty of the committee chair, on all
2026	1981		matters reported by the committee, to see that all provisions of
2027	1982		Rule 12 are satisfied. The chair shall strictly construe this
2028	1983		provision to achieve the desired purposes.
2029	1984		Sec. 33. FISCAL NOTES. (a) If the chair of a standing
2030	1985		committee determines that a bill or joint resolution, other than
2031	1986		the general appropriations bill, authorizes or requires the
2032	1987		expenditure or diversion of state funds for any purpose, the chair
2033	1988		shall send a copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget Board for
2034	1989		the preparation of a fiscal note outlining the fiscal implications
2035	1990		and probable cost of the measure.
2036	1991		(b) If the chair of a standing committee determines that a
2037	1992		bill or joint resolution has statewide impact on units of local
2038	1993		government of the same type or class and authorizes or requires the
2039	1994		expenditure or diversion of local funds, or creates or impacts a
2040	1995		local tax, fee, license charge, or penalty, the chair shall send a
2041	1996		copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget Board for the
2042	1997		preparation of a fiscal note outlining the fiscal implications and
2043	1998		probable cost of the measure.
2044	1999		(c) In preparing a fiscal note, the director of the
2045	2000		Legislative Budget Board may utilize information or data supplied
2046	2001		by any person, agency, organization, or governmental unit that the
2047	2002		director deems reliable. If the director determines that the fiscal
2048	2003		implications of the measure cannot be ascertained, the director
2049	2004		shall so state in the fiscal note, shall when reasonably
2050	2005		ascertainable provide an estimated range of the fiscal
2051	2006		implications, and shall include in the note a statement of the
2052	2007		reasons the director is unable to ascertain the fiscal implications
2053	2008		of the measure, in which case the fiscal note shall be in full
2054	2009		compliance with the rules. If the director of the Legislative
2055	2010		Budget Board is unable to acquire or develop sufficient information
2056	2011		to prepare the fiscal note within 15 days of receiving the measure
2057	2012		from the chair of a committee, the director shall so state in the
2058	2013		fiscal note, shall when reasonably ascertainable provide an
2059	2014		estimated range of the fiscal implications, and shall include in
2060	2015		the note a statement of the reasons the director is unable to
2061	2016		acquire or develop sufficient information, in which case the note
2062	2017		shall be in full compliance with the rules.
2063	2018		(d) If the chair determines that a fiscal note is required,
2064	2019		copies of the fiscal note must be distributed to the members of the
2065	2020		committee not later than the first time the measure is laid out in a
2066	2021		committee meeting. The fiscal note shall be attached to the measure
2067	2022		on first printing. If the measure is amended by the committee so as
2068	2023		to alter its fiscal implications, the chair shall obtain an updated
2069	2024		fiscal note, which shall also be attached to the measure on first
2070	2025		printing.
2071	2026		(e) All fiscal notes shall remain with the measure
2072	2027		throughout the entire legislative process, including submission to
2073	2028		the governor.
2074	2029		(f) All fiscal notes must include in the summary box on the
2075	2030		first page of the fiscal note a statement that indicates whether the
2076	2031		bill or joint resolution will have fiscal implications or probable
2077	2032		costs in any year.
2078	2033		Sec. 34. OTHER IMPACT STATEMENTS. (a) It is the intent of
2079	2034		this section that all members of the house are timely informed as to
2080	2035		the impact of proposed legislation on the state or other unit of
2081	2036		government.
2082	2037		(a-1) The chair of the appropriations committee shall send a
2083	2038		copy of the general appropriations bill to the Legislative Budget
2084	2039		Board for the preparation of a dynamic economic impact statement,
2085	2040		specifically including the number of state employees to be affected
2086		-	and the estimated impact on [private-sector] employment ~~by the~~
2087		-	~~private sector and local governments in Texas as a~~ result of any
2088		-	~~change in state expenditures made by the bill as~~ compared to the
2089		-	~~biennium preceding the biennium to which the bill~~ applies.
	2041	+	and the estimated impact on private-sector employment in Texas as a
	2042	+	result of any change in state expenditures made by the bill as
	2043	+	compared to the biennium preceding the biennium to which the bill
	2044	+	applies.
2090	2045		(b) If the chair of a standing committee determines that a
2091	2046		bill or joint resolution:
2092	2047		(1) authorizes or requires a change in the sanctions
2093	2048		applicable to adults convicted of felony crimes, the chair shall
2094	2049		send a copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget Board for the
2095	2050		preparation of a criminal justice policy impact statement;
2096	2051		(2) authorizes or requires a change in the public
2097	2052		school finance system, the chair shall send a copy of the measure to
2098	2053		the Legislative Budget Board for the preparation of an equalized
2099	2054		education funding impact statement;
2100	2055		(3) proposes to change benefits or participation in
2101	2056		benefits of a public retirement system or change the financial
2102	2057		obligations of a public retirement system, the chair shall send a
2103	2058		copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget Board for the
2104	2059		preparation of an actuarial impact statement in cooperation with
2105	2060		the State Pension Review Board;
2106	2061		(4) proposes to create a water district under the
2107	2062		authority of Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution,
2108	2063		the chair shall send a copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget
2109	2064		Board for the preparation of a water development policy impact
2110	2065		statement; or
2111	2066		(5) creates or impacts a state tax or fee, the chair
2112	2067		shall send a copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget Board for
2113	2068		the preparation of a tax equity note that estimates the general
2114	2069		effects of the proposal on the distribution of tax and fee burdens
2115	2070		among individuals and businesses.
2116	2071		(c) In preparing an impact statement, the director of the
2117	2072		Legislative Budget Board may utilize information or data supplied
2118	2073		by any person, agency, organization, or governmental unit that the
2119	2074		director deems reliable. If the director determines that the
2120	2075		particular implications of the measure cannot be ascertained, the
2121	2076		director shall so state in the impact statement, in which case the
2122	2077		impact statement shall be in full compliance with the rules.
2123	2078		(d) An impact statement is not required to be present before
2124	2079		a measure is laid out in a committee meeting. If timely received,
2125	2080		the impact statement shall be attached to the measure on first
2126	2081		printing. If the measure is amended by the committee so as to alter
2127	2082		its particular implications, the chair shall obtain an updated
2128	2083		impact statement. If timely received, the updated impact statement
2129	2084		shall also be attached to the measure on first printing.
2130	2085		(e) An impact statement that is received after the first
2131	2086		printing of a measure has been distributed to the members shall be
2132	2087		forwarded by the chair of the committee to the committee
2133	2088		coordinator. The committee coordinator shall have the impact
2134	2089		statement printed and distributed to the members.
2135	2090		(f) All impact statements received shall remain with the
2136	2091		measure throughout the entire legislative process, including
2137	2092		submission to the governor.
2138	2093		Sec. 35. REPORTS ON HOUSE AND CONCURRENT
2139	2094		RESOLUTIONS. Committee reports on house and concurrent
2140	2095		resolutions shall be made in the same manner and shall follow the
2141	2096		same procedure as provided for bills, subject to any differences
2142	2097		otherwise authorized or directed by the rules.
2143	2098		Sec. 36. ACTION BY HOUSE ON REPORTS NOT REQUIRED. No
2144	2099		action by the house is necessary on the report of a standing
2145	2100		committee. The bill, resolution, or proposition recommended or
2146	2101		reported by the committee shall automatically be before the house
2147	2102		for its consideration after the bill or resolution has been
2148	2103		referred to the appropriate calendars committee for placement on a
2149	2104		calendar and for proposal of an appropriate rule for house
2150	2105		consideration.
2151	2106		Sec. 37. REFERRAL OF REPORTS TO COMMITTEE COORDINATOR. All
2152	2107		committee reports on bills or resolutions shall be immediately
2153	2108		referred to the committee coordinator. The chair of the committee
2154	2109		shall be responsible for delivery of the report to the committee
2155	2110		coordinator.
2156	2111		Sec. 38. DELIVERY OF REPORTS TO CALENDARS
2157	2112		COMMITTEES. After printing, the chief clerk shall be responsible
2158	2113		for delivery of a certified copy of the committee report to the
2159	2114		appropriate calendars committee, which committee shall immediately
2160	2115		accept the bill or resolution for placement on a calendar and for
2161	2116		the proposal of an appropriate rule for house consideration.
2162	2117		Sec. 38A. NOTIFICATION OF SUNSET BILLS. The chief clerk
2163	2118		shall provide notice to each member at the member's designated
2164	2119		Capitol e-mail address when a committee report under Section 38 of
2165	2120		this rule on a bill extending an agency, commission, or advisory
2166	2121		committee under the Texas Sunset Act has been printed or posted and
2167	2122		is available to be distributed to the appropriate calendars
2168	2123		committee.
2169	2124		Sec. 39. COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS. No committee shall have the
2170	2125		power to amend, delete, or change in any way the nature, purpose, or
2171	2126		content of any bill or resolution referred to it, but may draft and
2172	2127		recommend amendments to it, which shall become effective only if
2173	2128		adopted by a majority vote of the house.
2174	2129		Sec. 40. SUBSTITUTES. The committee may adopt and report a
2175	2130		complete germane committee substitute containing the title,
2176	2131		enacting clause, and text of the bill in lieu of an original bill,
2177	2132		in which event the complete substitute bill on committee report
2178	2133		shall be laid before the house and shall be the matter then before
2179	2134		the house for its consideration, instead of the original bill. If
2180	2135		the substitute bill is defeated at any legislative stage, the bill
2181	2136		is considered not passed.
2182	2137		Sec. 41. GERMANENESS OF SUBSTITUTE. If a point of order is
2183	2138		raised that a complete committee substitute is not germane, in
2184	2139		whole or in part, and the point of order is sustained, the committee
2185	2140		substitute shall be returned to the Committee on Calendars, which
2186	2141		may have the original bill printed and distributed and placed on a
2187	2142		calendar in lieu of the substitute or may return the original bill
2188	2143		to the committee from which it was reported for further action.
2189	2144		Sec. 42. AUTHOR'S RIGHT TO OFFER AMENDMENTS TO
2190	2145		REPORT. Should the author or sponsor of the bill, resolution, or
2191	2146		other proposal not be satisfied with the final recommendation or
2192	2147		form of the committee report, the member shall have the privilege of
2193	2148		offering on the floor of the house such amendments or changes as he
2194	2149		or she considers necessary and desirable, and those amendments or
2195	2150		changes shall be given priority during the periods of time when
2196	2151		original amendments are in order under the provisions of Rule 11,
2197	2152		Section 7.
2198	2153		CHAPTER D. SUBCOMMITTEES
2199	2154		Sec. 43. JURISDICTION. Each committee is authorized to
2200	2155		conduct its activities and perform its work through the use of
2201	2156		subcommittees as shall be determined by the chair of the committee.
2202	2157		Subcommittees shall be created, organized, and operated in such a
2203	2158		way that the subject matter and work area of each subcommittee shall
2204	2159		be homogeneous and shall pertain to related governmental
2205	2160		activities. The size and jurisdiction of each subcommittee shall
2206	2161		be determined by the chair of the committee.
2207	2162		Sec. 44. MEMBERSHIP. The chair of each standing committee
2208	2163		shall appoint from the membership of the committee the members who
2209	2164		are to serve on each subcommittee. Any vacancy on a subcommittee
2210	2165		shall be filled by appointment of the chair of the standing
2211	2166		committee. The chair and vice-chair of each subcommittee shall be
2212	2167		named by the chair of the committee.
2213	2168		Sec. 45. RULES GOVERNING OPERATIONS. The Rules of
2214	2169		Procedure of the House of Representatives, to the extent
2215	2170		applicable, shall govern the hearings and operations of each
2216	2171		subcommittee. Subject to the foregoing, and to the extent
2217	2172		necessary for orderly transaction of business, each subcommittee
2218	2173		may promulgate and adopt additional rules and procedures by which
2219	2174		it will function.
2220	2175		Sec. 46. QUORUM. A majority of a subcommittee shall
2221	2176		constitute a quorum, and no action or recommendation of a
2222	2177		subcommittee shall be valid unless taken at a meeting with a quorum
2223	2178		actually present. All reports of a subcommittee must be approved by
2224	2179		record vote by a majority of the membership of the subcommittee.
2225	2180		Minutes of the subcommittee shall be maintained in a manner similar
2226	2181		to that required by the rules for standing committees. Proxies
2227	2182		cannot be used in subcommittees.
2228	2183		Sec. 47. POWER AND AUTHORITY. Each subcommittee, within
2229	2184		the area of its jurisdiction, shall have all of the power,
2230	2185		authority, and rights granted by the Rules of Procedure of the House
2231	2186		of Representatives to the standing committee, except subpoena
2232	2187		power, to the extent necessary to discharge the duties and
2233	2188		responsibilities of the subcommittee.
2234	2189		Sec. 48. REFERRAL OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO
2235	2190		SUBCOMMITTEE. All bills and resolutions referred to a standing
2236	2191		committee shall be reviewed by the chair to determine appropriate
2237	2192		disposition of the bills and resolutions. All bills and
2238	2193		resolutions shall be considered by the entire standing committee
2239	2194		unless the chair of that standing committee determines to refer the
2240	2195		bills and resolutions to subcommittee. If a bill or resolution is
2241	2196		referred by the chair of the standing committee to a subcommittee,
2242	2197		it shall be considered by the subcommittee in the same form in which
2243	2198		the measure was referred to the standing committee, and any action
2244	2199		taken by the standing committee on a proposed amendment or
2245	2200		committee substitute before a measure is referred to subcommittee
2246	2201		is therefore voided at the time the measure is referred to
2247	2202		subcommittee. The subcommittee shall be charged with the duty and
2248	2203		responsibility of conducting the hearing, doing research, and
2249	2204		performing such other functions as the subcommittee or its parent
2250	2205		standing committee may determine. All meetings of the subcommittee
2251	2206		shall be scheduled by the subcommittee chair, with appropriate
2252	2207		public notice and notification of each member of the subcommittee
2253	2208		under the same rules of procedure as govern the conduct of the
2254	2209		standing committee.
2255	2210		Sec. 49. REPORT BY SUBCOMMITTEE. At the conclusion of its
2256	2211		deliberations on a bill, resolution, or other matter referred to
2257	2212		it, the subcommittee may prepare a written report, comprehensive
2258	2213		in nature, for submission to the full committee. The report shall
2259	2214		include background material as well as recommended action and shall
2260	2215		be accompanied by a complete draft of the bill, resolution, or other
2261	2216		proposal in such form as the subcommittee shall determine.
2262	2217		Sec. 50. ACTION ON SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS. Subcommittee
2263	2218		reports shall be directed to the chair of the committee, who shall
2264	2219		schedule meetings of the standing committee from time to time as
2265	2220		necessary and appropriate for the reception of subcommittee reports
2266	2221		and for action on reports by the standing committee. No
2267	2222		subcommittee report shall be scheduled for action by the standing
2268	2223		committee until at least 24 hours after a copy of the subcommittee
2269	2224		report is provided to each member of the standing committee.
2270	2225		CHAPTER E. COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE HOUSE
2271	2226		Sec. 51. RESOLUTION INTO A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
2272	2227		HOUSE. The house may resolve itself into a committee of the whole
2273	2228		house to consider any matter referred to it by the house. In
2274	2229		forming a committee of the whole house, the speaker shall vacate the
2275	2230		chair and shall appoint a chair to preside in committee.
2276	2231		Sec. 52. RULES GOVERNING OPERATIONS. The rules governing
2277	2232		the proceedings of the house and those governing committees shall
2278	2233		be observed in committees of the whole, to the extent that they are
2279	2234		applicable.
2280	2235		Sec. 53. MOTION FOR A CALL OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE
2281	2236		WHOLE. (a) It shall be in order to move a call of the committee of
2282	2237		the whole at any time to secure and maintain a quorum for the
2283	2238		following purposes:
2284	2239		(1) for the consideration of a certain or specific
2285	2240		matter; or
2286	2241		(2) for a definite period of time; or
2287	2242		(3) for the consideration of any designated class of
2288	2243		bills.
2289	2244		(b) When a call of the committee of the whole is moved and
2290	2245		seconded by 10 members, of whom the chair may be one, and is ordered
2291	2246		by majority vote, the main entrance of the hall and all other doors
2292	2247		leading out of the hall shall be locked, and no member shall be
2293	2248		permitted to leave the hall without written permission. Other
2294	2249		proceedings under a call of the committee shall be the same as under
2295	2250		a call of the house.
2296	2251		Sec. 54. HANDLING OF A BILL. A bill committed to a
2297	2252		committee of the whole house shall be handled in the same manner as
2298	2253		in any other committee. The body of the bill shall not be defaced or
2299	2254		interlined, but all amendments shall be duly endorsed by the chief
2300	2255		clerk as they are adopted by the committee, and so reported to the
2301	2256		house. When a bill is reported by the committee of the whole house
2302	2257		it shall be referred immediately to the appropriate calendars
2303	2258		committee for placement on the appropriate calendar and shall
2304	2259		follow the same procedure as any other bill on committee report.
2305	2260		Sec. 55. FAILURE TO COMPLETE WORK AT ANY SITTING. In the
2306	2261		event that the committee of the whole, at any sitting, fails to
2307	2262		complete its work on any bill or resolution under consideration for
2308	2263		lack of time, or desires to take any action on that measure that is
2309	2264		permitted under the rules for other committees, it may, on a motion
2310	2265		made and adopted by majority vote, rise, report progress, and ask
2311	2266		leave of the house to sit again generally, or at a time certain.
2312	2267		Sec. 56. REPORTS OF SELECT COMMITTEES. Reports of select
2313	2268		committees made during a session shall be filed with the chief clerk
2314	2269		and printed in the journal, unless otherwise determined by the
2315	2270		house.
2316	2271		CHAPTER F. INTERIM STUDY COMMITTEES
2317	2272		Sec. 57. INTERIM STUDIES. Pursuant to Rule 1, Section 17,
2318	2273		the speaker may create interim study committees to conduct studies
2319	2274		by issuing a proclamation for each committee, which shall specify
2320	2275		the issue to be studied, committee membership, and any additional
2321	2276		authority and duties. A copy of each proclamation creating an
2322	2277		interim study committee shall be filed with the chief clerk. An
2323	2278		interim study committee expires on release of its final report or
2324	2279		when the next legislature convenes, whichever is earlier. An
2325	2280		interim study committee may not be created by resolution.
2326	2281		Sec. 58. APPOINTMENT AND MEMBERSHIP. The speaker shall
2327	2282		appoint all members of an interim study committee, which may
2328	2283		include public citizens and officials of state and local
2329	2284		governments. The speaker shall also designate the chair and
2330	2285		vice-chair and may authorize the chair to create subcommittees and
2331	2286		appoint citizen advisory committees.
2332	2287		Sec. 59. RULES GOVERNING OPERATIONS. The rules governing
2333	2288		the proceedings of the house and those governing standing
2334	2289		committees shall be observed by an interim study committee, to the
2335	2290		extent that they are applicable. An interim study committee shall
2336	2291		have the power to issue process and to request assistance of state
2337	2292		agencies as provided for a standing committee in Sections 21, 22,
2338	2293		and 23 of this rule.
2339	2294		Sec. 60. FUNDING AND STAFF. An interim study committee
2340	2295		shall use existing staff resources of its members, standing
2341	2296		committees, house offices, and legislative service agencies. The
2342	2297		chair of an interim study committee shall prepare a detailed budget
2343	2298		for approval by the speaker and the Committee on House
2344	2299		Administration. An interim study committee may accept gifts,
2345	2300		grants, and donations for the purpose of funding its activities as
2346	2301		provided by Sections 301.032(b) and (c), Government Code.
2347	2302		Sec. 61. STUDY REPORTS. (a) The final report or
2348	2303		recommendations of an interim study committee shall be approved by
2349	2304		a majority of the committee membership. Dissenting members may
2350	2305		attach statements to the final report.
2351	2306		(b) An interim study committee shall submit the committee's
2352	2307		final report to the committee coordinator in the manner prescribed
2353	2308		by the committee coordinator. The committee coordinator shall:
2354	2309		(1) distribute copies of the final report to the
2355	2310		speaker, the Legislative Reference Library, and other appropriate
2356	2311		agencies; and
2357	2312		(2) make a copy of the final report available on the
2358	2313		house's Internet website.
2359	2314		(c) This section shall also apply to interim study reports
2360	2315		of standing committees.
2361	2316		Sec. 62. JOINT HOUSE AND SENATE INTERIM
2362	2317		STUDIES. Procedures may be established by a concurrent resolution
2363	2318		adopted by both houses, by which the speaker may authorize and
2364	2319		appoint, jointly with the senate, committees to conduct interim
2365	2320		studies. A copy of the authorization for and the appointments to a
2366	2321		joint interim study committee shall be filed with the chief clerk.
2367	2322		Individual joint interim study committees may not be authorized or
2368	2323		created by resolution.
2369	2324		RULE 5. FLOOR PROCEDURE
2370	2325		CHAPTER A. QUORUM AND ATTENDANCE
2371	2326		Sec. 1. QUORUM. Two-thirds of the house shall constitute a
2372	2327		quorum to do business.
2373	2328		Sec. 2. ROLL CALLS. On every roll call or registration,
2374	2329		the names of the members shall be called or listed, as the case may
2375	2330		be, alphabetically by surname, except when two or more have the same
2376	2331		surname, in which case the initials of the members shall be added.
2377	2332		Sec. 3. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. (a) No member shall be absent
2378	2333		from the sessions of the house without leave, and no member shall be
2379	2334		excused on his or her own motion.
2380	2335		(b) A leave of absence may be granted by a majority vote of
2381	2336		the house and may be revoked at any time by a similar vote.
2382	2337		(c) Any member granted a leave of absence due to a meeting of
2383	2338		a committee or conference committee that has authority to meet
2384	2339		while the house is in session shall be so designated on each roll
2385	2340		call or registration for which that member is excused.
2386	2341		Sec. 4. FAILURE TO ANSWER ROLL CALL. Any member who is
2387	2342		present and fails or refuses to record on a roll call after being
2388	2343		requested to do so by the speaker shall be recorded as present by
2389	2344		the speaker and shall be counted for the purpose of making a quorum.
2390	2345		Sec. 5. POINT OF ORDER OF "NO QUORUM." (a) The point of
2391	2346		order of "No Quorum" shall not be accepted by the chair if the last
2392	2347		roll call showed the presence of a quorum, provided the last roll
2393	2348		call was taken within two hours of the time the point of order is
2394	2349		raised.
2395	2350		(b) If the last roll call was taken more than two hours
2396	2351		before the point of order is raised, it shall be in order for the
2397	2352		member who raised the point of order to request a roll call. Such a
2398	2353		request must be seconded by 25 members. If the request for a roll
2399	2354		call is properly seconded, the chair shall order a roll call.
2400	2355		(c) Once a point of order has been made that a quorum is not
2401	2356		present, it may not be withdrawn after the absence of a quorum has
2402	2357		been ascertained and announced.
2403	2358		Sec. 6. MOTIONS IN ORDER WHEN QUORUM NOT PRESENT. If a
2404	2359		registration or record vote reveals that a quorum is not present,
2405	2360		only a motion to adjourn or a motion for a call of the house and the
2406	2361		motions incidental thereto shall be in order.
2407	2362		Sec. 7. MOTION FOR CALL OF THE HOUSE. It shall be in order
2408	2363		to move a call of the house at any time to secure and maintain a
2409	2364		quorum for one of the following purposes:
2410	2365		(1) for the consideration of a specific bill,
2411	2366		resolution, motion, or other measure;
2412	2367		(2) for the consideration of any designated class of
2413	2368		bills; or
2414	2369		(3) for a definite period of time.
2415	2370		Motions for, and incidental to, a call of the house are not
2416	2371		debatable.
2417	2372		Sec. 8. SECURING A QUORUM. When a call of the house is moved
2418	2373		for one of the above purposes and seconded by 15 members (of whom
2419	2374		the speaker may be one) and ordered by a majority vote, the main
2420	2375		entrance to the hall and all other doors leading out of the hall
2421	2376		shall be locked and no member permitted to leave the house without
2422	2377		the written permission of the speaker. The names of members present
2423	2378		shall be recorded. All absentees for whom no sufficient excuse is
2424	2379		made may, by order of a majority of those present, be sent for and
2425	2380		arrested, wherever they may be found, by the sergeant-at-arms or an
2426	2381		officer appointed by the sergeant-at-arms for that purpose, and
2427	2382		their attendance shall be secured and retained. The house shall
2428	2383		determine on what conditions they shall be discharged. Members who
2429	2384		voluntarily appear shall, unless the house otherwise directs, be
2430	2385		immediately admitted to the hall of the house and shall report their
2431	2386		names to the clerk to be entered in the journal as present.
2432	2387		Until a quorum appears, should the roll call fail to show one
2433	2388		present, no business shall be transacted, except to compel the
2434	2389		attendance of absent members or to adjourn. It shall not be in
2435	2390		order to recess under a call of the house.
2436	2391		Sec. 9. FOLLOWING ACHIEVEMENT OF A QUORUM. When a quorum is
2437	2392		shown to be present, the house may proceed with the matters on which
2438	2393		the call was ordered, or may enforce the call and await the
2439	2394		attendance of as many of the absentees as it desires. When the
2440	2395		house proceeds to the business on which the call was ordered, it
2441	2396		may, by a majority vote, direct the sergeant-at-arms to cease
2442	2397		bringing in absent members.
2443	2398		Sec. 10. REPEATING A RECORD VOTE. When a record vote
2444	2399		reveals the lack of a quorum, and a call is ordered to secure one, a
2445	2400		record vote shall again be taken when the house resumes business
2446	2401		with a quorum present.
2447	2402		CHAPTER B. ADMITTANCE TO HOUSE CHAMBER
2448	2403		Sec. 11. PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE FLOOR. Only the following
2449	2404		persons shall be entitled to the privileges of the floor of the
2450	2405		house when the house is in session: members of the house; employees
2451	2406		of the house when performing their official duties as determined by
2452	2407		the Committee on House Administration; members of the senate;
2453	2408		employees of the senate when performing their official duties; the
2454	2409		Governor of Texas and the governor's executive and administrative
2455	2410		assistant; the lieutenant governor; the secretary of state; duly
2456	2411		accredited media representatives as permitted by Section 20
2457	2412		[reporters, photographers, correspondents, and commentators of
2458	2413		press, radio, and television who have complied with Sections 20(a),
2459	2414		(b), (c), and (d)] of this rule; contestants in election cases
2460	2415		pending before the house; and immediate families of the members of
2461	2416		the legislature on such special occasions as may be determined by
2462	2417		the Committee on House Administration.
2463	2418		Sec. 12. ADMITTANCE WITHIN THE RAILING. Only the following
2464	2419		persons shall be admitted to the area on the floor of the house
2465	2420		enclosed by the railing when the house is in session: members of the
2466	2421		house; members of the senate; the governor; the lieutenant
2467	2422		governor; officers and employees of the senate and house when those
2468	2423		officers and employees are actually engaged in performing their
2469	2424		official duties as determined by the Committee on House
2470	2425		Administration; spouses of members of the house on such occasions
2471	2426		as may be determined by the Committee on House Administration; and,
2472	2427		within the area specifically designated for media representatives,
2473	2428		duly accredited media representatives as permitted by Section 20
2474	2429		[reporters, photographers, correspondents, and commentators of
2475	2430		press, radio, and television who have complied with Sections 20(a),
2476	2431		(b), (c), and (d)] of this rule.
2477	2432		Sec. 13. SOLICITORS AND COLLECTORS PROHIBITED. Solicitors
2478	2433		and collectors shall not be admitted to the floor of the house while
2479	2434		the house is in session.
2480	2435		Sec. 14. INVITATION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE. A motion to
2481	2436		invite a person to address the house while it is in session shall be
2482	2437		in order only if the person invited is entitled to the privileges of
2483	2438		the floor as defined by Section 11 of this rule and if no business is
2484	2439		pending before the house.
2485	2440		Sec. 15. LOBBYING ON FLOOR. No one, except the governor or
2486	2441		a member of the legislature, who is lobbying or working for or
2487	2442		against any pending or prospective legislative measure shall be
2488	2443		permitted on the floor of the house or in the adjacent rooms while
2489	2444		the house is in session.
2490	2445		Sec. 16. SUSPENSION OF FLOOR PRIVILEGES. If any person
2491	2446		admitted to the floor of the house under the rules, except the
2492	2447		governor or a member of the legislature, lobbies or works for or
2493	2448		against any pending or prospective legislation or violates any of
2494	2449		the other rules of the house, the privileges extended to that person
2495	2450		under the rules shall be suspended by a majority vote of the
2496	2451		Committee on House Administration. The action of the committee
2497	2452		shall be reviewable by the house only if two members of the
2498	2453		committee request an appeal from the decision of the committee. The
2499	2454		request shall be in the form of a minority report and shall be
2500	2455		subject to the same rules that are applicable to minority reports on
2501	2456		bills. Suspension shall remain in force until the accused person
2502	2457		purges himself or herself and comes within the rules, or until the
2503	2458		house, by majority vote, reverses the action of the committee.
2504	2459		Sec. 17. MEMBERS LOUNGE PRIVILEGES. Only the following
2505	2460		persons shall be admitted to the members lounge at any
2506	2461		time: members of the house; members of the senate; and former
2507	2462		members of the house and senate who are not engaged in any form of
2508	2463		employment requiring them to lobby or work for or against any
2509	2464		pending or prospective legislative measures.
2510	2465		Sec. 18. FLOOR DUTIES OF HOUSE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES. It
2511	2466		shall be the duty of the Committee on House Administration to
2512	2467		determine what duties are to be discharged by officers and
2513	2468		employees of the house on the floor of the house, specifically in
2514	2469		the area enclosed by the railing, when the house is in session. It
2515	2470		shall be the duty of the speaker to see that the officers and
2516	2471		employees do not violate the regulations promulgated by the
2517	2472		Committee on House Administration.
2518	2473		Sec. 19. PROPER DECORUM. No person shall be admitted to,
2519	2474		or allowed to remain in, the house chamber while the house is in
2520	2475		session unless properly attired, and all gentlemen shall wear a
2521	2476		coat and tie. Food or beverage shall not be permitted in the house
2522	2477		chamber at any time, and no person carrying food or beverage shall
2523	2478		be admitted to the chamber, whether the house is in session or in
2524	2479		recess. Reading newspapers shall not be permitted in the house
2525	2480		chamber while the house is in session. Smoking is not permitted in
2526	2481		the member's lounge or bathrooms. The Committee on House
2527	2482		Administration shall designate an area for smoking that is easily
2528	2483		accessible to the house chamber.
2529	2484		Sec. 20. MEDIA ACCESS TO HOUSE CHAMBER. (a) When the house
2530	2485		is in session, no media representative shall be admitted to the
2531	2486		floor of the house or allowed its privileges unless the person is:
2532	2487		(1) employed by a print, broadcast, or Internet news
2533		-	organization~~, or by a wire service serving those organizations~~:
	2488	+	organization:
2534	2489		(A) whose principal business is the periodic
2535	2490		dissemination of original news and opinion of interest to a broad
2536	2491		segment of the public;
2537	2492		(B) which has published or operated continuously
2538	2493		for 18 months; and
2539	2494		(C) whose publications or operations are
2540	2495		editorially independent of any institution, foundation, or
2541	2496		interest group that lobbies the government or that is not
2542	2497		principally a general news organization; and
2543	2498		(2) not engaged in any lobbying or paid advocacy,
2544	2499		advertising, publicity, or promotion work for any individual,
2545	2500		political party, corporation, organization, or government agency
2546	2501		[a salaried staff correspondent, reporter, or photographer
2547	2502		regularly employed by a newspaper, a press association or news
2548	2503		service serving newspapers, a publication requiring telegraphic
2549	2504		coverage, or a duly licensed radio or television station or
2550	2505		network].
2551	2506		(b) Any media representative seeking admission to the floor
2552	2507		of the house under the provisions of [Subsection (a) of] this
2553	2508		section must submit [present] to the Committee on House
2554	2509		Administration:
2555	2510		(1) a notarized application in a form determined by
2556	2511		the committee; and
2557	2512		(2) a letter [fully accredited credentials] from the
2558	2513		media representative's [his or her] employer certifying that:
2559	2514		(A) the media representative is engaged
2560	2515		primarily in reporting the sessions of the legislature; and
2561	2516		(B) no part of the media representative's salary
2562	2517		for legislative coverage is paid from a source other than the news
2563	2518		organization that employs the media representative.
2564	2519		(c) Regularly accredited media representatives who have
2565	2520		duly qualified under the provisions of this section may, when
2566	2521		requested to do so, make recommendations through their professional
2567	2522		committees to the Committee on House Administration as to the
2568	2523		sufficiency or insufficiency of the credentials of any person
2569	2524		seeking admission to the floor of the house under this section.
2570	2525		(d) [Every media representative, before being admitted to
2571	2526		the floor of the house during its sessions, shall file with the
2572	2527		Committee on House Administration a written statement showing the
2573	2528		paper or papers, press association, news service, publication
2574	2529		requiring telegraphic coverage, or radio or television station or
2575	2530		network which he or she represents and certifying that no part of
2576	2531		his or her salary for legislative coverage is paid by any person,
2577	2532		firm, corporation, or association except the listed news media
2578	2533		which he or she represents.
2579	2534		[(c)] If the Committee on House Administration determines
2580	2535		that a person's media credentials meet the requirements of this
2581	2536		section, the committee shall issue a pass card to the person. The
2582	2537		committee may impose a fee to cover the costs of issuing a pass
2583	2538		card. This pass card must be presented to the doorkeeper each time
2584	2539		the person seeks admission to the floor of the house while the house
2585	2540		is in session. Pass cards issued under this section shall not be
2586	2541		transferable. The failure of a media representative to maintain the
2587	2542		requirements of this section may result in the revocation of the
2588	2543		pass card. Persons admitted to the floor of the house pursuant to
2589	2544		the provisions of this section shall work in appropriate convenient
2590	2545		seats or work stations in the house, which shall be designated for
2591	2546		that purpose by the Committee on House Administration.
2592	2547		(e) [(d)] Members of the house shall not engage in
2593	2548		interviews and press conferences on the house floor while the house
2594	2549		is in session. The Committee on House Administration is authorized
2595	2550		to enforce this provision and to prescribe such other regulations
2596	2551		as may be necessary and desirable to achieve these purposes.
2597	2552		[Persons governed by this subsection shall be subject to the
2598	2553		provisions of Section 15 of this rule.]
2599	2554		(f) [(e)] Permission to make live or recorded television,
2600	2555		[or] radio, or Internet broadcasts in or from the house chamber
2601	2556		while the house is in session may be granted only by the Committee
2602	2557		on House Administration. The committee shall promulgate
2603	2558		regulations governing television, [or] radio, or Internet
2604	2559		broadcasts, and such regulations shall be printed as an addendum to
2605	2560		the rules of the house. When [television or radio] broadcasts from
2606	2561		the floor of the house are recommended by the Committee on House
2607	2562		Administration, the recommendation shall identify those persons in
2608	2563		the technical crews to whom pass cards to the floor of the house and
2609	2564		galleries are to be issued. Passes granted under this authority
2610	2565		shall be subject to revocation on the recommendation of the
2611	2566		Committee on House Administration. Each committee of the house
2612	2567		shall have authority to determine whether or not to permit
2613	2568		television, [or] radio, or Internet broadcasts of any of its
2614	2569		proceedings.
2615	2570		(g) A member of the house who believes a media
2616	2571		representative granted privileges under this section does not meet
2617	2572		the requirements of this section or has abused the privileges may
2618	2573		submit a written complaint to the Committee on House
2619	2574		Administration. The committee shall investigate the complaint and
2620	2575		may temporarily suspend the media representative's privileges
2621	2576		pending the investigation. The committee shall notify the subject
2622	2577		of the complaint of the time and place of a hearing on the
2623	2578		complaint. Following the hearing, the media representative's
2624	2579		privileges granted under this section are revoked if the committee
2625	2580		determines that the allegations contained in the complaint are
2626	2581		valid.
2627	2582		Sec. 21. PUBLIC ADMISSION TO AND NONLEGISLATIVE USE OF THE
2628	2583		HOUSE CHAMBER. When the house is not in session, the floor of the
2629	2584		house shall remain open on days and hours determined by the
2630	2585		Committee on House Administration. By resolution, the house may
2631	2586		open the floor of the house during its sessions for the inauguration
2632	2587		of the governor and lieutenant governor and for such other public
2633	2588		ceremonies as may be deemed warranted.
2634	2589		CHAPTER C. SPEAKING AND DEBATE
2635	2590		Sec. 22. ADDRESSING THE HOUSE. When a member desires to
2636	2591		speak or deliver any matter to the house, the member shall rise and
2637	2592		respectfully address the speaker as "Mr. (or Madam) Speaker" and,
2638	2593		on being recognized, may address the house from the microphone at
2639	2594		the reading clerk's desk, and shall confine all remarks to the
2640	2595		question under debate, avoiding personalities.
2641	2596		Sec. 23. WHEN TWO MEMBERS RISE AT ONCE. When two or more
2642	2597		members rise at once, the speaker shall name the one who is to speak
2643	2598		first. This decision shall be final and not open to debate or
2644	2599		appeal.
2645	2600		Sec. 24. RECOGNITION. (a) Except as otherwise provided
2646	2601		by this section, there shall be no appeal from the speaker's
2647	2602		recognition, but the speaker shall be governed by rules and usage in
2648	2603		priority of entertaining motions from the floor. When a member
2649	2604		seeks recognition, the speaker may ask, "For what purpose does the
2650	2605		member rise?" or "For what purpose does the member seek
2651	2606		recognition?" and may then decide if recognition is to be granted,
2652	2607		except that the speaker shall recognize a member who seeks
2653	2608		recognition on a question of privilege.
2654	2609		(b) If the speaker denies recognition of a member who seeks
2655	2610		recognition on a question of privilege, other than a question of
2656	2611		privilege relating to the right of the house to remove the speaker
2657	2612		and elect a new speaker, the decision of recognition may be appealed
2658	2613		using the procedures provided in Rule 1, Section 9.
2659	2614		(c) If the speaker denies recognition of a member who seeks
2660	2615		recognition on a question of privilege relating to the right of the
2661	2616		house to remove the speaker and elect a new speaker, the member may
2662	2617		appeal the speaker's denial of recognition if the member submits to
2663	2618		the speaker a written request, signed by at least 76 members of the
2664	2619		house, to appeal the decision of recognition. Upon receiving a
2665	2620		request for appeal in accordance with this subsection, the speaker
2666	2621		shall announce the request to the house. The names of the members
2667	2622		who signed the request and the time that the announcement was made
2668	2623		shall be entered in the journal. The appeal of a decision of
2669	2624		recognition under this subsection is eligible for consideration 24
2670	2625		hours after the request for appeal has been announced in accordance
2671	2626		with this subsection. The appeal and consideration of the question
2672	2627		of privilege, if the appeal is successful, takes precedence over
2673	2628		all other questions except motions to adjourn.
2674	2629		Sec. 25. INTERRUPTION OF A MEMBER WHO HAS THE FLOOR. A
2675	2630		member who has the floor shall not be interrupted by another member
2676	2631		for any purpose, unless he or she consents to yield to the other
2677	2632		member. A member desiring to interrupt another in debate should
2678	2633		first address the speaker for the permission of the member
2679	2634		speaking. The speaker shall then ask the member who has the floor
2680	2635		if he or she wishes to yield, and then announce the decision of that
2681	2636		member. The member who has the floor may exercise personal
2682	2637		discretion as to whether or not to yield, and it is entirely within
2683	2638		the member's discretion to determine who shall interrupt and when.
2684	2639		Sec. 26. YIELDING THE FLOOR. A member who obtains the
2685	2640		floor on recognition of the speaker may not be taken off the floor
2686	2641		by a motion, even the highly privileged motion to adjourn, but if
2687	2642		the member yields to another to make a motion or to offer an
2688	2643		amendment, he or she thereby loses the floor.
2689	2644		Sec. 27. RIGHT TO OPEN AND CLOSE DEBATE. The mover of any
2690	2645		proposition, or the member reporting any measure from a committee,
2691	2646		or, in the absence of either of them, any other member designated by
2692	2647		such absentee, shall have the right to open and close the debate,
2693	2648		and for this purpose may speak each time not more than 20 minutes.
2694	2649		Sec. 28. TIME LIMITS ON SPEECHES. All speeches shall be
2695	2650		limited to 10 minutes in duration, except as provided in Section 27
2696	2651		of this rule, and the speaker shall call the members to order at the
2697	2652		expiration of their time. If the house by a majority vote extends
2698	2653		the time of any member, the extension shall be for 10 minutes only.
2699	2654		A second extension of time shall be granted only by unanimous
2700	2655		consent. During the last 10 calendar days of the regular session,
2701	2656		and the last 5 calendar days of a special session, Sundays excepted,
2702	2657		all speeches shall be limited to 10 minutes and shall not be
2703	2658		extended. The time limits established by this rule shall include
2704	2659		time consumed in yielding to questions from the floor.
2705	2660		Sec. 29. LIMIT ON NUMBER OF TIMES TO SPEAK. No member shall
2706	2661		speak more than twice on the same question without leave of the
2707	2662		house, nor more than once until every member choosing to speak has
2708	2663		spoken, nor shall any member be permitted to consume the time of
2709	2664		another member without leave of the house being given by a majority
2710	2665		vote.
2711	2666		Sec. 30. EFFECT OF ADJOURNMENT ON SPEAKING LIMIT. If a
2712	2667		pending question is not disposed of because of an adjournment of the
2713	2668		house, a member who has spoken twice on the subject shall not be
2714	2669		allowed to speak again without leave of the house.
2715	2670		Sec. 31. OBJECTION TO READING A PAPER. When the reading of
2716	2671		a paper is called for, and objection is made, the matter shall be
2717	2672		determined by a majority vote of the house, without debate.
2718	2673		Sec. 32. PASSING BETWEEN MICROPHONES DURING DEBATE. No
2719	2674		person shall pass between the front and back microphones during
2720	2675		debate or when a member has the floor and is addressing the house.
2721	2676		Sec. 33. TRANSGRESSION OF RULES WHILE SPEAKING. If any
2722	2677		member, in speaking or otherwise, transgresses the rules of the
2723	2678		house, the speaker shall, or any member may, call the member to
2724	2679		order, in which case the member so called to order shall immediately
2725	2680		be seated; however, that member may move for an appeal to the house,
2726	2681		and if appeal is duly seconded by 10 members, the matter shall be
2727	2682		submitted to the house for decision by majority vote. In such
2728	2683		cases, the speaker shall not be required to relinquish the chair, as
2729	2684		is required in cases of appeals from the speaker's decisions. The
2730	2685		house shall, if appealed to, decide the matter without debate. If
2731	2686		the decision is in favor of the member called to order, the member
2732	2687		shall be at liberty to proceed; but if the decision is against the
2733	2688		member, he or she shall not be allowed to proceed, and, if the case
2734	2689		requires it, shall be liable to the censure of the house, or such
2735	2690		other punishment as the house may consider proper.
2736	2691		Sec. 34. ELECTRONIC RECORDING OF ALL HOUSE PROCEEDINGS. (a)
2737	2692		All proceedings of the house of representatives shall be
2738	2693		electronically recorded under the direction of the Committee on
2739	2694		House Administration. Copies of the proceedings may be released
2740	2695		under guidelines promulgated by the Committee on House
2741	2696		Administration.
2742	2697		(b) Archived video broadcasts of proceedings in the house
2743	2698		chamber that are available through the house's Internet or intranet
2744	2699		website may, under the direction of the Committee on House
2745	2700		Administration, include a link to the point in time in the video
2746	2701		where each measure under consideration by the house is laid out.
2747	2702		Such a link shall be provided as soon as the committee determines is
2748	2703		practical.
2749	2704		CHAPTER D. QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE
2750	2705		Sec. 35. QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE DEFINED. Questions of
2751	2706		privilege shall be:
2752	2707		(1) those affecting the rights of the house
2753	2708		collectively, its safety and dignity, and the integrity of its
2754	2709		proceedings, including the right of the house to remove the speaker
2755	2710		and elect a new speaker; and
2756	2711		(2) those affecting the rights, reputation, and
2757	2712		conduct of members individually in their representative capacity
2758	2713		only.
2759	2714		Sec. 36. PRECEDENCE OF QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE. Questions
2760	2715		of privilege shall have precedence over all other questions except
2761	2716		motions to adjourn. When in order, a member may address the house
2762	2717		on a question of privilege, or may at any time print it in the
2763	2718		journal, provided it contains no reflection on any member of the
2764	2719		house.
2765	2720		Sec. 37. WHEN QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE NOT IN ORDER. (a) It
2766	2721		shall not be in order for a member to address the house on a question
2767	2722		of privilege:
2768	2723		(1) between the time an undebatable motion is offered
2769	2724		and the vote is taken on the motion;
2770	2725		(2) between the time the previous question is ordered
2771	2726		and the vote is taken on the last proposition included under the
2772	2727		previous question; or
2773	2728		(3) between the time a motion to table is offered and
2774	2729		the vote is taken on the motion.
2775	2730		(b) If a question of privilege relating to removal of the
2776	2731		speaker and election of a new speaker fails, a subsequent attempt to
2777	2732		remove the same speaker can be made only by reconsidering the vote
2778	2733		by which the original question of privilege failed. Such
2779	2734		reconsideration shall be subject to the rules of the house
2780	2735		governing reconsideration.
2781	2736		Sec. 38. CONFINING REMARKS TO QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE;
2782	2737		INTERRUPTIONS PROHIBITED. (a) When speaking on privilege,
2783	2738		members must confine their remarks within the limits of Section 35
2784	2739		of this rule, which will be strictly construed to achieve the
2785	2740		purposes hereof.
2786	2741		(b) When a member is speaking on privilege, the member shall
2787	2742		not be interrupted by another member for any purpose. While the
2788	2743		member is speaking, another member may submit a question of order to
2789	2744		the speaker in writing or by approaching the podium in person. The
2790	2745		member submitting the question of order shall not interrupt the
2791	2746		member who is speaking. The speaker may interrupt the member who is
2792	2747		speaking if the speaker determines it is appropriate to address the
2793	2748		question of order at that time.
2794	2749		Sec. 39. DISCUSSION OF MERITS OF MOTION FORBIDDEN. Merits
2795	2750		of a main or subsidiary motion shall not be discussed or debated
2796	2751		under the guise of speaking to a question of privilege.
2797	2752		CHAPTER E. VOTING
2798	2753		Sec. 40. RECORDING ALL VOTES ON VOTING MACHINE. On all
2799	2754		votes, except viva voce votes, members shall record their votes on
2800	2755		the voting machine and shall not be recognized by the chair to cast
2801	2756		their votes from the floor. If a member attempts to vote from the
2802	2757		floor, the speaker shall sustain a point of order directed against
2803	2758		the member's so doing. This rule shall not be applicable to the
2804	2759		mover or the principal opponent of the proposition being voted on
2805	2760		nor to a member whose voting machine is out of order. If a member
2806	2761		demands strict enforcement of this section, Section 47 shall not
2807	2762		apply to the taking of a vote, and the house may discipline a member
2808	2763		in violation of this rule pursuant to its inherent authority.
2809	2764		Sec. 41. REGISTRATION EQUIVALENT TO ROLL CALL VOTE. A
2810	2765		registration or vote taken on the voting machine of the house shall
2811	2766		in all instances be considered the equivalent of a roll call or yea
2812	2767		and nay vote, which might be had for the same purpose.
2813	2768		Sec. 42. DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL OR PRIVATE INTEREST. Any
2814	2769		member who has a personal or private interest in any measure or bill
2815	2770		proposed or pending before the house shall disclose the fact and not
2816	2771		vote thereon.
2817	2772		Sec. 43. DIVIDING THE QUESTION. By a majority vote of the
2818	2773		house, a quorum being present, the question shall be divided, if it
2819	2774		includes propositions so distinct in substance that, one being
2820	2775		taken away, a substantive proposition remains. A motion for a
2821	2776		division vote cannot be made after the previous question has been
2822	2777		ordered, after a motion to table has been offered, after the
2823	2778		question has been put, nor after the yeas and nays have been
2824	2779		ordered. Under this subsection, the speaker may divide the
2825	2780		question into groups of propositions that are closely related.
2826	2781		Sec. 44. FAILURE OR REFUSAL TO VOTE. Any member who is
2827	2782		present and fails or refuses to vote after being requested to do so
2828	2783		by the speaker shall be recorded as present but not voting, and
2829	2784		shall be counted for the purpose of making a quorum.
2830	2785		Sec. 45. PRESENCE IN HOUSE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO VOTE. A
2831	2786		member must be on the floor of the house or in an adjacent room or
2832	2787		hallway on the same level as the house floor, in order to vote.
2833	2788		Sec. 46. LOCKING VOTING MACHINES OF ABSENT MEMBERS. During
2834	2789		each calendar day in which the house is in session, it shall be the
2835	2790		duty of the journal clerk to lock the voting machine of each member
2836	2791		who is excused or who is otherwise known to be absent. Each such
2837	2792		machine shall remain locked until the member in person contacts the
2838	2793		journal clerk and personally requests the unlocking of the machine.
2839	2794		Unless otherwise directed by the speaker, the journal clerk shall
2840	2795		not unlock any machine except at the personal request of the member
2841	2796		to whom the machine is assigned. Any violation, or any attempt by a
2842	2797		member or employee to circumvent the letter or spirit of this
2843	2798		section, shall be reported immediately to the speaker for such
2844	2799		disciplinary action by the speaker, or by the house, as may be
2845	2800		warranted under the circumstances.
2846	2801		Sec. 47. VOTING FOR ANOTHER MEMBER. Any member found
2847	2802		guilty by the house of knowingly voting for another member on the
2848	2803		voting machine without that other member's permission shall be
2849	2804		subject to discipline deemed appropriate by the house.
2850	2805		Sec. 48. INTERRUPTION OF A ROLL CALL. Once a roll call has
2851	2806		begun, it may not be interrupted for any reason. While a yea and nay
2852	2807		vote is being taken, or the vote is being counted, no member shall
2853	2808		visit the reading clerk's desk or the voting clerk's desk.
2854	2809		Sec. 49. EXPLANATION OF VOTE. (a) No member shall be
2855	2810		allowed to interrupt the vote or to make any explanation of a vote
2856	2811		that the member is about to give after the voting machine has been
2857	2812		opened, but may record in the journal the reasons for giving such a
2858	2813		vote.
2859	2814		(b) A "Reason for Vote" must be in writing and filed with the
2860	2815		journal clerk. If timely received, the "Reason for Vote" shall be
2861	2816		printed immediately following the results of the vote in the
2862	2817		journal. Otherwise, "Reasons for Vote" shall be printed in a
2863	2818		separate section at the end of the journal for the day on which the
2864	2819		reasons were recorded with the journal clerk. Such "Reason for
2865	2820		Vote" shall not deal in personalities or contain any personal
2866	2821		reflection on any member of the legislature, the speaker, the
2867	2822		lieutenant governor, or the governor, and shall not in any other
2868	2823		manner transgress the rules of the house relating to decorum and
2869	2824		debate.
2870	2825		(c) A member absent when a vote was taken may file with the
2871	2826		journal clerk while the house is in session a statement of how the
2872	2827		member would have voted if present. If timely received, the
2873	2828		statement shall be printed immediately following the results of the
2874	2829		vote in the journal. Otherwise, statements shall be printed in a
2875	2830		separate section at the end of the journal for the day on which the
2876	2831		statements were recorded with the journal clerk.
2877	2832		Sec. 50. PAIRS. (a) All pairs must be announced before the
2878	2833		vote is declared by the speaker, and a written statement sent to the
2879	2834		journal clerk. The statement must be signed by the absent member to
2880	2835		the pair, or the member's signature must have been authorized in
2881	2836		writing or by telephone, and satisfactory evidence presented to the
2882	2837		speaker if deemed necessary. If authorized in writing, the writing
2883	2838		shall be delivered to the chief clerk by personal delivery or by
2884	2839		commercially acceptable means of delivery, including electronic
2885	2840		transmission by PDF or similar secure format that is capable of
2886	2841		transmitting an accurate image of the member's signature. If
2887	2842		authorized by telephone, the call must be to and confirmed by the
2888	2843		chief clerk in advance of the vote to which it applies. Pairs shall
2889	2844		be entered in the journal, and the member present shall be counted
2890	2845		to make a quorum.
2891	2846		(b) The speaker may not refuse to recognize a pair that
2892	2847		complies with the requirements of Subsection (a), if both members
2893	2848		consent to the pair.
2894	2849		Sec. 51. ENTRY OF YEA AND NAY VOTE IN JOURNAL. (a) At the
2895	2850		desire of any member present, the yeas and nays of the members of
2896	2851		the house on any question shall be taken and entered in the journal.
2897	2852		No member or members shall be allowed to call for a yea and nay vote
2898	2853		after a vote has been declared by the speaker.
2899	2854		(b) A motion to expunge a yea and nay vote from the journal
2900	2855		shall not be in order.
2901	2856		(c) The yeas and nays of the members of the house on final
2902	2857		passage of any bill, and on any joint resolution proposing or
2903	2858		ratifying a constitutional amendment, shall be taken and entered in
2904	2859		the journal. For purposes of this subsection, a vote on final
2905	2860		passage means a vote on:
2906	2861		(1) third reading;
2907	2862		(2) second reading if the house suspends or otherwise
2908	2863		dispenses with the requirement for three readings;
2909	2864		(3) whether to concur in the senate's amendments; or
2910	2865		(4) whether to adopt a conference committee report.
2911	2866		Sec. 51A. REAL-TIME ACCESS BY PUBLIC TO YEAS AND NAYS. The
2912	2867		Committee on House Administration shall ensure that:
2913	2868		(1) the recorded yeas and nays are available to the
2914	2869		public on the Internet and on any televised broadcast of the house
2915	2870		proceedings produced by or under the direction of the house; and
2916	2871		(2) members of the public may view the yeas and nays in
2917	2872		real time to the extent possible on the Internet and on any
2918	2873		televised broadcast of the house proceedings produced by or under
2919	2874		the direction of the house.
2920	2875		Sec. 52. JOURNAL RECORDING OF VOTES ON ANY QUESTION. On
2921	2876		any question where a record of the yeas and nays has not been
2922	2877		ordered, members may have their votes recorded in the journal as
2923	2878		"yea" or "nay" by filing such information with the journal clerk
2924	2879		before adjournment or recess to another calendar day.
2925	2880		Sec. 53. CHANGING A VOTE. Before the result of a vote has
2926	2881		been finally and conclusively pronounced by the chair, but not
2927	2882		thereafter, a member may change his or her vote; however, if a
2928	2883		member's vote is erroneous, the member shall be allowed to change
2929	2884		that vote at a later time provided:
2930	2885		(1) the result of the record vote is not changed
2931	2886		thereby;
2932	2887		(2) the request is made known to the house by the chair
2933	2888		and permission for the change is granted by unanimous consent; and
2934	2889		(3) a notation is made in the journal that the member's
2935	2890		vote was changed.
2936	2891		Sec. 54. TIE VOTE. All matters on which a vote may be taken
2937	2892		by the house shall require for adoption a favorable affirmative
2938	2893		vote as required by these rules, and in the case of a tie vote, the
2939	2894		matter shall be considered lost.
2940	2895		Sec. 55. VERIFICATION OF A YEA AND NAY VOTE. When the
2941	2896		result of a yea and nay vote is close, the speaker may on the request
2942	2897		of any member order a verification vote, or the speaker may order a
2943	2898		verification on his or her own initiative. During verification, no
2944	2899		member shall change a vote unless it was erroneously recorded, nor
2945	2900		may any member not having voted cast a vote; however, when the clerk
2946	2901		errs in reporting the yeas and nays, and correction thereof leaves
2947	2902		decisive effect to the speaker's vote, the speaker may exercise the
2948	2903		right to vote, even though the result has been announced. A
2949	2904		verification shall be called for immediately after the vote is
2950	2905		announced. The speaker shall not entertain a request for
2951	2906		verification after the house has proceeded to the next question, or
2952	2907		after a recess or an adjournment. A vote to recess or adjourn, like
2953	2908		any other proposition, may be verified. Only one vote verification
2954	2909		can be pending at a time. A verification may be dispensed with by a
2955	2910		two-thirds vote.
2956	2911		Sec. 56. VERIFICATION OF A REGISTRATION. The speaker may
2957	2912		allow the verification of a registration (as differentiated from a
2958	2913		record vote) if in the speaker's opinion there is serious doubt as
2959	2914		to the presence of a quorum.
2960	2915		Sec. 57. MOTION FOR A CALL OF THE HOUSE PENDING
2961	2916		VERIFICATION. A motion for a call of the house, and all incidental
2962	2917		motions relating to it, shall be in order pending the verification
2963	2918		of a vote. These motions must be made before the roll call on
2964	2919		verification begins, and it shall not be in order to break into the
2965	2920		roll call to make them.
2966	2921		Sec. 58. ERRONEOUS ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE RESULT OF A
2967	2922		VOTE. If, by an error of the voting clerk or reading clerk in
2968	2923		reporting the yeas and nays from a registration or verification,
2969	2924		the speaker announces a result different from that shown by the
2970	2925		registration or verification, the status of the question shall be
2971	2926		determined by the vote as actually recorded. If the vote is
2972	2927		erroneously announced in such a way as to change the true result,
2973	2928		all subsequent proceedings in connection therewith shall fail, and
2974	2929		the journal shall be amended accordingly.
2975	2930		RULE 6. ORDER OF BUSINESS AND CALENDARS
2976	2931		Sec. 1. DAILY ORDER OF BUSINESS. (a) When the house
2977	2932		convenes on a new legislative day, the daily order of business shall
2978	2933		be as follows:
2979	2934		(1) Call to order by speaker.
2980	2935		(2) Registration of members.
2981	2936		(3) Prayer by chaplain, unless the invocation has been
2982	2937		given previously on the particular calendar day.
2983	2938		(4) Pledge of allegiance to the United States flag.
2984	2939		(5) Pledge of allegiance to the Texas flag.
2985	2940		(6) Excuses for absence of members and officers.
2986	2941		(7) First reading and reference to committee of bills
2987	2942		filed with the chief clerk; and motions to introduce bills, when
2988	2943		such motions are required.
2989	2944		(8) Requests to print bills and other papers; requests
2990	2945		of committees for further time to consider papers referred to them;
2991	2946		and all other routine motions and business not otherwise provided
2992	2947		for, all of which shall be undebatable except that the mover and one
2993	2948		opponent of the motion shall be allowed three minutes each.
2994	2949		The mover of a routine motion shall be allowed his or her
2995	2950		choice of making the opening or the closing speech under this rule.
2996	2951		If the house, under a suspension of the rules, extends the time of a
2997	2952		member under this rule, such extensions shall be for three minutes.
2998	2953		Subsidiary motions that are applicable to routine motions shall be
2999	2954		in order, but the makers of such subsidiary motions shall not be
3000	2955		entitled to speak thereon in the routine motion period, nor shall
3001	2956		the authors of the original routine motions be allowed any
3002	2957		additional time because of subsidiary motions.
3003	2958		(9) Unfinished business.
3004	2959		(10) Third reading calendars of the house in their
3005	2960		order of priority in accordance with Section 7 of this rule, unless
3006	2961		a different order is determined under other provisions of these
3007	2962		rules.
3008	2963		(11) Postponed matters to be laid before the house in
3009	2964		accordance with Rule 7, Section 15.
3010	2965		(12) Second reading calendars of the house in their
3011	2966		order of priority in accordance with Section 7 of this rule, unless
3012	2967		a different order is determined under other provisions of these
3013	2968		rules.
3014	2969		(b) When the house reconvenes for the first time on a new
3015	2970		calendar day following a recess, the daily order of business shall
3016	2971		be:
3017	2972		(1) Call to order by the speaker.
3018	2973		(2) Registration of members.
3019	2974		(3) Prayer by the chaplain.
3020	2975		(4) Pledge of allegiance to the United States flag.
3021	2976		(5) Pledge of allegiance to the Texas flag.
3022	2977		(6) Excuses for absence of members and officers.
3023	2978		(7) Pending business.
3024	2979		(8) Calendars of the house in their order of priority
3025	2980		in accordance with Section 7 of this rule, unless a different order
3026	2981		is determined under other provisions of these rules.
3027	2982		Sec. 2. SPECIAL ORDERS. (a) Any bill, resolution, or
3028	2983		other measure may on any day be made a special order for the same day
3029	2984		or for a future day of the session by an affirmative vote of
3030	2985		two-thirds of the members present. A motion to set a special order
3031	2986		shall be subject to the three-minute pro and con debate rule. When
3032	2987		once established as a special order, a bill, resolution, or other
3033	2988		measure shall be considered from day to day until disposed of; and
3034	2989		until it has been disposed of, no further special orders shall be
3035	2990		made.
3036	2991		A three-fourths vote of the members present shall be required
3037	2992		to suspend the portion of this rule which specifies that only one
3038	2993		special order may be made and pending at a time.
3039	2994		(b) After the first eight items under the daily order of
3040	2995		business for a legislative day have been passed, a special order
3041	2996		shall have precedence when the hour for its consideration has
3042	2997		arrived, except as provided in Section 9 of this rule.
3043	2998		(c) After the 115th day of a regular session, if a joint
3044	2999		resolution has appeared on a daily house calendar and is adopted,
3045	3000		and a bill that is enabling legislation for the joint resolution is
3046	3001		either on or eligible to be placed on a calendar, the author or
3047	3002		sponsor of the bill or another member may immediately be recognized
3048	3003		for a motion to set the bill that is the enabling legislation as a
3049	3004		special order pursuant to this section. For purposes of this
3050	3005		subsection, the bill must have been designated as the enabling
3051	3006		legislation for the joint resolution in writing filed with the
3052	3007		chief clerk not later than the date the committee report for the
3053	3008		enabling legislation is printed and distributed.
3054	3009		Sec. 3. POSTPONEMENT OF A SPECIAL ORDER. A special order
3055	3010		may be postponed to a day certain by a two-thirds vote of those
3056	3011		present, and when so postponed, shall be considered as disposed of
3057	3012		so far as its place as a special order is concerned.
3058	3013		Sec. 4. TABLED MEASURES AS SPECIAL ORDERS. A bill or
3059	3014		resolution laid on the table subject to call may be made a special
3060	3015		order.
3061	3016		Sec. 5. SUBSTITUTION IN MOTION FOR A SPECIAL ORDER. When a
3062	3017		motion is pending to set a particular bill or resolution as a
3063	3018		special order, it shall not be in order to move as a substitute to
3064	3019		set another bill or resolution as a special order. It shall be in
3065	3020		order, however, to substitute, by majority vote, a different time
3066	3021		for the special order consideration than that given in the original
3067	3022		motion.
3068	3023		Sec. 6. MEMBER'S SUSPENSION AND SPECIAL ORDER PRIVILEGES.
3069	3024		If a member moves to set a bill or joint resolution as a special
3070	3025		order, or moves to suspend the rules to take up a bill or joint
3071	3026		resolution out of its regular order, and the motion prevails, the
3072	3027		member shall not have the right to make either of these motions
3073	3028		again until every other member has had an opportunity, via either of
3074	3029		these motions, to have some bill or joint resolution considered out
3075	3030		of its regular order during that session of the legislature. A
3076	3031		member shall not lose the suspension privilege if the motion to
3077	3032		suspend or set for special order does not prevail.
3078	3033		Sec. 7. SYSTEM OF CALENDARS. (a) Legislative business of
3079	3034		the house shall be controlled by a system of calendars, consisting
3080	3035		of the following:
3081	3036		(1) EMERGENCY CALENDAR, on which shall appear bills
3082	3037		considered to be of such pressing and imperative import as to demand
3083	3038		immediate action, bills to raise revenue and levy taxes, and the
3084	3039		general appropriations bill. A bill submitted as an emergency
3085	3040		matter by the governor may also be placed on this calendar.
3086	3041		(2) MAJOR STATE CALENDAR, on which shall appear bills
3087	3042		of statewide effect, not emergency in nature, which establish or
3088	3043		change state policy in a major field of governmental activity and
3089	3044		which will have a major impact in application throughout the state
3090	3045		without regard to class, area, or other limiting factors.
3091	3046		(3) CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS CALENDAR, on which
3092	3047		shall appear joint resolutions proposing amendments to the Texas
3093	3048		Constitution, joint resolutions proposing the ratification of
3094	3049		amendments to the Constitution of the United States, and joint
3095	3050		resolutions applying to Congress for a convention to amend the
3096	3051		Constitution of the United States.
3097	3052		(4) GENERAL STATE CALENDAR, on which shall appear
3098	3053		bills of statewide effect, not emergency in nature, which establish
3099	3054		or change state law and which have application to all areas but are
3100	3055		limited in legal effect by classification or other factors which
3101	3056		minimize the impact to something less than major state policy, and
3102	3057		bills, not emergency in nature, which are not on the local, consent,
3103	3058		and resolutions calendar.
3104	3059		(5) LOCAL, CONSENT, AND RESOLUTIONS CALENDAR, on which
3105	3060		shall appear bills, house resolutions, and concurrent resolutions,
3106	3061		not emergency in nature, regardless of extent and scope, on which
3107	3062		there is such general agreement as to render improbable any
3108	3063		opposition to the consideration and passage thereof, and which have
3109	3064		been recommended by the appropriate standing committee for
3110	3065		placement on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar by the
3111	3066		Committee on Local and Consent Calendars.
3112	3067		(6) RESOLUTIONS CALENDAR, on which shall appear house
3113	3068		resolutions and concurrent resolutions, not emergency in nature and
3114	3069		not privileged.
3115	3070		(7) CONGRATULATORY AND MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS CALENDAR,
3116	3071		on which shall appear congratulatory and memorial resolutions whose
3117	3072		sole intent is to congratulate, memorialize, or otherwise express
3118	3073		concern or commendation. The Committee on Rules and Resolutions
3119	3074		may provide separate categories for congratulatory and memorial
3120	3075		resolutions.
3121	3076		(b) A calendars committee shall strictly construe and the
3122	3077		speaker shall strictly enforce this system of calendars.
3123	3078		Sec. 8. SENATE BILL CALENDARS. (a) Senate bills and
3124	3079		resolutions pending in the house shall follow the same procedure
3125	3080		with regard to calendars as house bills and resolutions, but
3126	3081		separate calendars shall be maintained for senate bills and
3127	3082		resolutions, and consideration of them on senate bill days shall
3128	3083		have priority in the manner and order specified in this rule.
3129	3084		(b) No other business shall be considered on days devoted to
3130	3085		the consideration of senate bills when there remain any bills on any
3131	3086		of the senate calendars, except with the consent of the senate. When
3132	3087		all senate calendars are clear, the house may proceed to
3133	3088		consideration of house calendars on senate bill days.
3134	3089		Sec. 9. SENATE BILL DAYS. (a) On calendar Wednesday and
3135	3090		on calendar Thursday of each week, only senate bills and senate
3136	3091		resolutions shall be taken up and considered, until disposed of.
3137	3092		Senate bills and senate resolutions shall be considered in the
3138	3093		order prescribed in Section 7 of this rule on separate senate
3139	3094		calendars prepared by the Committee on Calendars. In case a senate
3140	3095		bill or senate resolution is pending at adjournment on calendar
3141	3096		Thursday, it shall go over to the succeeding calendar Wednesday as
3142	3097		unfinished business.
3143	3098		(b) Precedence given in Rule 8 to certain classes of bills
3144	3099		during the first 60 calendar days of a regular session shall also
3145	3100		apply to senate bills on senate bill days.
3146	3101		Sec. 10. CONSIDERATION OF SENATE BILL ON SAME
3147	3102		SUBJECT. When any house bill is reached on the calendar or is
3148	3103		before the house for consideration, it shall be the duty of the
3149	3104		speaker to give the place on the calendar of the house bill to any
3150	3105		senate bill containing the same subject that has been referred to
3151	3106		and reported from a committee of the house and to lay the senate
3152	3107		bill before the house, to be considered in lieu of the house bill.
3153	3108		Sec. 11. PERIODS FOR CONSIDERATION OF CONGRATULATORY AND
3154	3109		MEMORIAL CALENDARS. As the volume of legislation shall warrant,
3155	3110		the chair of the Committee on Rules and Resolutions shall move to
3156	3111		designate periods for the consideration of congratulatory and
3157	3112		memorial calendars. Each such motion shall require a two-thirds
3158	3113		vote for its adoption. In each instance, the Committee on Rules and
3159	3114		Resolutions shall prepare and post on the electronic legislative
3160	3115		information system a calendar at least 24 hours in advance of the
3161	3116		hour set for consideration. No memorial or congratulatory
3162	3117		resolution will be heard by the full house without having first been
3163	3118		approved, at least 24 hours in advance, by a majority of the
3164	3119		membership of the Committee on Rules and Resolutions, in accordance
3165	3120		with Rule 4, Section 16. It shall not be necessary for the
3166	3121		Committee on Rules and Resolutions to report a memorial or
3167	3122		congratulatory resolution from committee in order to place the
3168	3123		resolution on a congratulatory and memorial calendar. If the
3169	3124		Committee on Rules and Resolutions determines that a resolution is
3170	3125		not eligible for placement on the congratulatory and memorial
3171	3126		calendar the measure shall be sent to the Committee on Calendars for
3172	3127		further action. A congratulatory and memorial calendar will
3173	3128		contain the resolution number, the author's name, and a brief
3174	3129		description of the intent of the resolution. On the congratulatory
3175	3130		and memorial calendar, congratulatory resolutions may be listed
3176	3131		separately from memorial resolutions. Once a calendar is posted,
3177	3132		no additional resolutions will be added to it, and the requirements
3178	3133		of this section shall not be subject to suspension.
3179	3134		Sec. 12. PROCEDURE FOR CONSIDERATION OF CONGRATULATORY AND
3180	3135		MEMORIAL CALENDARS. During the consideration of a congratulatory
3181	3136		and memorial calendar, resolutions shall not be read in full unless
3182	3137		they pertain to members or former members of the legislature, or
3183	3138		unless the intended recipient of the resolution is present on the
3184	3139		house floor or in the gallery. All other such resolutions shall be
3185	3140		read only by number, type of resolution, and name of the person or
3186	3141		persons designated in the resolutions. Members shall notify the
3187	3142		chair, in advance of consideration of the calendar, of any
3188	3143		resolutions that will be required to be read in full. In addition,
3189	3144		the following procedures shall be observed:
3190	3145		(1) The chair shall recognize the reading clerk to
3191	3146		read the resolutions within each category on the calendar only by
3192	3147		number, type of resolution, author or sponsor, and name of the
3193	3148		person or persons designated in the resolutions, except for those
3194	3149		resolutions that have been withdrawn or that are required to be read
3195	3150		in full. The resolutions read by the clerk shall then be adopted in
3196	3151		one motion for each category.
3197	3152		(2) Subsequent to the adoption of the resolutions read
3198	3153		by the clerk, the chair shall proceed to lay before the house the
3199	3154		resolutions on the calendar that are required to be read in full.
3200	3155		Each such resolution shall be read and adopted individually.
3201	3156		(3) If it develops that any resolution on the
3202	3157		congratulatory and memorial calendar does not belong on that
3203	3158		calendar, the chair shall withdraw the resolution from further
3204	3159		consideration, remove it from the calendar, and refer it to the
3205	3160		appropriate calendars committee for placement on the proper
3206	3161		calendar.
3207	3162		Sec. 13. PERIODS FOR CONSIDERATION OF LOCAL, CONSENT, AND
3208	3163		RESOLUTIONS CALENDARS. (a) As the volume of legislation shall
3209	3164		warrant, the chair of the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars
3210	3165		shall move to designate periods for the consideration of local,
3211	3166		consent, and resolutions calendars. Each such motion shall require
3212	3167		a two-thirds vote for its adoption. In each instance, the Committee
3213	3168		on Local and Consent Calendars shall prepare and post on the
3214	3169		electronic legislative information system a calendar at least 48
3215	3170		hours in advance of the hour set for consideration. Once a calendar
3216	3171		is posted, no additional bills or resolutions will be added to it.
3217	3172		This requirement can be suspended only by unanimous consent. No
3218	3173		local, consent, and resolutions calendar may be considered by the
3219	3174		house if it is determined that the rules of the house were not
3220	3175		complied with by the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars in
3221	3176		preparing that calendar.
3222	3177		(b) The period designated for the consideration of a local,
3223	3178		consent, and resolutions calendar under this section or under a
3224	3179		special order under Section 2 of this rule may not exceed one
3225	3180		calendar day.
3226	3181		Sec. 14. PROCEDURE FOR CONSIDERATION OF LOCAL, CONSENT, AND
3227	3182		RESOLUTIONS CALENDARS. During the consideration of a local,
3228	3183		consent, and resolutions calendar set by the Committee on Local and
3229	3184		Consent Calendars the following procedures shall be observed:
3230	3185		(1) The chair shall allow the sponsor of each bill or
3231	3186		resolution three minutes to explain the measure, and the time shall
3232	3187		not be extended except by unanimous consent of the house. This rule
3233	3188		shall have precedence over all other rules limiting time for
3234	3189		debate.
3235	3190		(2) If it develops that any bill or resolution on a
3236	3191		local, consent, and resolutions calendar is to be contested on the
3237	3192		floor of the house, the chair shall withdraw the bill or resolution
3238	3193		from further consideration and remove it from the calendar.
3239	3194		(3) Any bill or resolution on a local, consent, and
3240	3195		resolutions calendar shall be considered contested if notice is
3241	3196		given by five or more members that they intend to oppose the bill or
3242	3197		resolution, either by a raising of hands or the delivery of written
3243	3198		notice to the chair.
3244	3199		(4) Any bill or resolution on a local, consent, and
3245	3200		resolutions calendar shall be considered contested if debate
3246	3201		exceeds 10 minutes. The chair shall strictly enforce this time
3247	3202		limit and automatically withdraw the bill from further
3248	3203		consideration if the time limit herein imposed is exceeded.
3249	3204		(5) Any bill or resolution on a local, consent, and
3250	3205		resolutions calendar that is not reached for floor consideration
3251	3206		because of the expiration of the calendar day period for
3252	3207		consideration established by Section 13 of this rule shall carry
3253	3208		over onto the next local, consent, and resolutions calendar. Bills
3254	3209		or resolutions that carry over must appear in the same relative
3255	3210		order as on the calendar on which the bills or resolutions initially
3256	3211		appeared, and bills or resolutions originally from older calendars
3257	3212		must appear before those originally from more recent calendars.
3258	3213		Sec. 15. ORDER OF CONSIDERATION OF CALENDARS. Except for
3259	3214		local, consent, and resolutions calendars and congratulatory and
3260	3215		memorial calendars, consideration of calendars shall be in the
3261	3216		order named in Section 7 of this rule, subject to any exceptions
3262	3217		ordered by the Committee on Calendars. Bills and resolutions on
3263	3218		third reading shall have precedence over bills and resolutions on
3264	3219		second reading.
3265	3220		Sec. 16. DAILY CALENDARS, SUPPLEMENTAL CALENDARS, AND LISTS
3266	3221		OF ITEMS ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION. (a) Calendars shall be
3267	3222		prepared daily when the house is in session. A calendar must be
3268	3223		posted on the electronic legislative information system at least 36
3269	3224		hours if convened in regular session and 24 hours if convened in
3270	3225		special session before the calendar may be considered by the house,
3271	3226		except as otherwise provided by these rules for the calendar on
3272	3227		which the general appropriations bill is first eligible for
3273	3228		consideration on second reading when convened in regular session.
3274	3229		A calendar that contains a bill extending an agency, commission, or
3275	3230		advisory committee under the Texas Sunset Act must be posted at
3276	3231		least 48 hours if convened in regular or special session before the
3277	3232		calendar may be considered by the house. Deviations from the
3278	3233		calendars as posted shall not be permitted except that the
3279	3234		Committee on Calendars shall be authorized to prepare and post, not
3280	3235		later than two hours before the house convenes, a supplemental
3281	3236		daily house calendar, on which shall appear:
3282	3237		(1) bills or resolutions which were passed to third
3283	3238		reading on the previous legislative day;
3284	3239		(2) bills or resolutions which appeared on the Daily
3285	3240		House Calendar for a previous calendar day which were not reached
3286	3241		for floor consideration;
3287	3242		(3) postponed business from a previous calendar day;
3288	3243		and
3289	3244		(4) notice to take from the table a bill or resolution
3290	3245		which was laid on the table subject to call on a previous
3291	3246		legislative day.
3292	3247		In addition to the items listed above, the bills and
3293	3248		resolutions from a daily house calendar that will be eligible for
3294	3249		consideration may be incorporated, in their proper order as
3295	3250		determined by these rules, into the supplemental daily house
3296	3251		calendar.
3297	3252		(a-1) If the house is convened in regular session, the
3298	3253		calendar on which the general appropriations bill is first eligible
3299	3254		for consideration on second reading must be posted on the
3300	3255		electronic legislative information system at least 144 hours before
3301	3256		the calendar may be considered by the house. The posted calendar
3302	3257		must indicate the date and time at which the calendar is scheduled
3303	3258		for consideration by the house, which date and time must be in
3304	3259		accordance with Rule 8, Section 14.
3305	3260		(b) In addition, when the volume of legislation shall
3306	3261		warrant, and upon request of the speaker, the chief clerk shall have
3307	3262		prepared a list of Items Eligible for Consideration, on which shall
3308	3263		appear only:
3309	3264		(1) house bills with senate amendments that are
3310	3265		eligible for consideration under Rule 13, Section 5, including the
3311	3266		number of senate amendments and the total number of pages of senate
3312	3267		amendments;
3313	3268		(2) senate bills for which the senate has requested
3314	3269		appointment of a conference committee; and
3315	3270		(3) conference committee reports that are eligible for
3316	3271		consideration under Rule 13, Section 10.
3317	3272		(c) The list of Items Eligible for Consideration must be
3318	3273		posted on the electronic legislative information system at least
3319	3274		six hours before the list may be considered by the house.
3320	3275		(d) The time at which a calendar or list is posted on the
3321	3276		electronic legislative information system shall be time-stamped on
3322	3277		the originals of the calendar or list.
3323	3278		(e) No house calendar shall be eligible for consideration if
3324	3279		it is determined that the rules of the house were not complied with
3325	3280		by the Committee on Calendars in preparing that calendar.
3326	3281		(f) If the Committee on Calendars has proposed a rule for
3327	3282		floor consideration of a bill or resolution that is eligible to be
3328	3283		placed on a calendar of the daily house calendar, the rule must be
3329	3284		printed and a copy distributed to each member. If the bill or
3330	3285		resolution to which the rule will apply has already been placed on a
3331	3286		calendar of the daily house calendar, a copy of the rule must also
3332	3287		be posted with the calendar on which the bill or resolution appears.
3333	3288		The speaker shall lay a proposed rule before the house prior to the
3334	3289		consideration of the bill or resolution to which the rule will
3335	3290		apply. The rule shall be laid before the house not earlier than six
3336	3291		hours after a copy of the rule has been distributed to each member
3337	3292		in accordance with this subsection. The rule shall not be subject
3338	3293		to amendment, but to be effective, the rule must be approved by the
3339	3294		house by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of those members present
3340	3295		and voting, except that the rule must be approved by an affirmative
3341	3296		vote of a majority of those members present and voting if the rule
3342	3297		applies to a tax bill, an appropriations bill, or a redistricting
3343	3298		bill. If approved by the house in accordance with this subsection,
3344	3299		the rule will be effective for the consideration of the bill or
3345	3300		resolution on both second and third readings.
3346	3301		Sec. 17. POSITION ON A CALENDAR. (a) Unless removed from
3347	3302		the calendar under Subsection (b) of this section, once a bill or
3348	3303		resolution is placed on its appropriate calendar under these rules,
3349	3304		and has appeared on a house calendar, as posted on the electronic
3350	3305		legislative information system, the bill shall retain its relative
3351	3306		position on the calendar until reached for floor consideration, and
3352	3307		the calendars committee with jurisdiction over the bill or
3353	3308		resolution shall have no authority to place other bills on the
3354	3309		calendar ahead of that bill, but all additions to the calendar shall
3355	3310		appear subsequent to the bill.
3356	3311		(b) If a bill or resolution that has been placed on a house
3357	3312		calendar, as posted on the electronic legislative information
3358	3313		system, is recommitted or withdrawn from further consideration, the
3359	3314		bill or resolution relinquishes its position on the calendar, and
3360	3315		the bill or resolution shall be removed from the calendar.
3361	3316		Sec. 18. REQUIREMENTS FOR PLACEMENT ON A CALENDAR. Except
3362	3317		as provided in Section 11 of this rule as it relates to
3363	3318		congratulatory and memorial resolutions, no bill or resolution
3364	3319		shall be placed on a calendar until:
3365	3320		(1) it has been referred to and reported from its
3366	3321		appropriate standing committee by favorable committee action; or
3367	3322		(2) it is ordered printed on minority report or after a
3368	3323		committee has reported its inability to recommend a course of
3369	3324		action.
3370	3325		Sec. 19. REFERRAL TO CALENDARS COMMITTEES. All bills and
3371	3326		resolutions, on being reported from committee, shall be referred
3372	3327		immediately to the committee coordinator for printing and then to
3373	3328		the appropriate calendars committee for placement on the
3374	3329		appropriate calendar.
3375	3330		Sec. 20. TIME LIMIT FOR VOTE TO PLACE ON A CALENDAR. Within
3376	3331		30 calendar days after a bill or resolution has been referred to the
3377	3332		appropriate calendars committee, the committee must vote on whether
3378	3333		to place the bill or resolution on one of the calendars of the daily
3379	3334		house calendar or the local, consent, and resolutions calendar, as
3380	3335		applicable. A vote against placement of the bill or resolution on a
3381	3336		calendar does not preclude a calendars committee from later voting
3382	3337		in favor of placement of the bill or resolution on a calendar.
3383	3338		Sec. 21. MOTION TO PLACE ON A CALENDAR. (a) When a bill or
3384	3339		resolution has been in the appropriate calendars committee for 30
3385	3340		calendar days, exclusive of the calendar day on which it was
3386	3341		referred, awaiting placement on one of the calendars of the daily
3387	3342		house calendar or on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar,
3388	3343		it shall be in order for a member to move that the bill or resolution
3389	3344		be placed on a specific calendar of the daily house calendar or on
3390	3345		the local, consent, and resolutions calendar without action by the
3391	3346		committee. This motion must be seconded by five members and shall
3392	3347		require a majority vote for adoption.
3393	3348		(b) A motion to place a bill or resolution on a specific
3394	3349		calendar of the daily house calendar or on the local, consent, and
3395	3350		resolutions calendar is not a privileged motion and must be made
3396	3351		during the routine motion period unless made under a suspension of
3397	3352		the rules.
3398	3353		Sec. 22. REQUEST FOR PLACEMENT ON LOCAL, CONSENT, AND
3399	3354		RESOLUTIONS CALENDAR. No bill or resolution shall be considered
3400	3355		for placement on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar by
3401	3356		the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars unless a request for
3402	3357		that placement has been made to the chair of the standing committee
3403	3358		from which the bill or resolution was reported and unless the
3404	3359		committee report of the standing committee recommends that the bill
3405	3360		or resolution be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent
3406	3361		Calendars for placement on the local, consent, and resolutions
3407	3362		calendar. The recommendation of the standing committee shall be
3408	3363		advisory only, and the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars
3409	3364		shall have final authority to determine whether or not a bill or
3410	3365		resolution shall be placed on the local, consent, and resolutions
3411	3366		calendar. If the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars
3412	3367		determines that the bill or resolution is not eligible for
3413	3368		placement on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar, the
3414	3369		measure shall be sent to the Committee on Calendars for further
3415	3370		action.
3416	3371		Sec. 23. QUALIFICATIONS FOR PLACEMENT ON THE LOCAL,
3417	3372		CONSENT, AND RESOLUTIONS CALENDAR. (a) No bill defined as a local
3418	3373		bill by Rule 8, Section 10(c), shall be placed on the local,
3419	3374		consent, and resolutions calendar unless:
3420	3375		(1) evidence of publication of notice in compliance
3421	3376		with the Texas Constitution and these rules is filed with the
3422	3377		Committee on Local and Consent Calendars; and
3423	3378		(2) it has been recommended unanimously by the present
3424	3379		and voting members of the committee from which it was reported that
3425	3380		the bill be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars for
3426	3381		placement on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar.
3427	3382		(b) No other bill or resolution shall be placed on the
3428	3383		local, consent, and resolutions calendar unless it has been
3429	3384		recommended unanimously by the present and voting members of the
3430	3385		committee from which it was reported that the bill be sent to the
3431	3386		Committee on Local and Consent Calendars for placement on the
3432	3387		local, consent, and resolutions calendar.
3433	3388		(c) No bill or resolution shall be placed on the local,
3434	3389		consent, and resolutions calendar that:
3435	3390		(1) directly or indirectly prevents from being
3436	3391		available for purposes of funding state government generally any
3437	3392		money that under existing law would otherwise be available for that
3438	3393		purpose, including a bill that transfers or diverts money in the
3439	3394		state treasury from the general revenue fund to another fund; or
3440	3395		(2) authorizes or requires the expenditure or
3441	3396		diversion of state funds for any purpose, as determined by a fiscal
3442	3397		note attached to the bill.
3443	3398		Sec. 24. REPLACEMENT OF CONTESTED BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS. A
3444	3399		bill or resolution once removed from the local, consent, and
3445	3400		resolutions calendar shall be returned to the Committee on Local
3446	3401		and Consent Calendars for further action. The Committee on Local
3447	3402		and Consent Calendars, if it feels such action is warranted, may
3448	3403		again place the bill or resolution on the local, consent, and
3449	3404		resolutions calendar, provided, however, that if the bill or
3450	3405		resolution is not placed on the next local, consent, and
3451	3406		resolutions calendar set by the Committee on Local and Consent
3452	3407		Calendars, the bill or resolution shall immediately be referred to
3453	3408		the Committee on Calendars for further action. If the bill or
3454	3409		resolution is then removed from the calendar a second time by being
3455	3410		contested on the floor of the house, the bill or resolution shall
3456	3411		not again be placed on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar
3457	3412		by the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars during that session
3458	3413		of the legislature but shall be returned to the Committee on
3459	3414		Calendars for further action.
3460	3415		Sec. 25. DISCRETION IN PLACEMENT ON CALENDARS. Subject to
3461	3416		the limitations contained in this rule, the Committee on Calendars
3462	3417		shall have full authority to make placements on calendars in
3463	3418		whatever order is necessary and desirable under the circumstances
3464	3419		then existing, except that bills on third reading shall have
3465	3420		precedence over bills on second reading. It is the intent of the
3466	3421		calendar system to give the Committee on Calendars wide discretion
3467	3422		to insure adequate consideration by the house of important
3468	3423		legislation.
3469	3424		RULE 7. MOTIONS
3470	3425		CHAPTER A. GENERAL MOTIONS
3471	3426		Sec. 1. MOTIONS DECIDED WITHOUT DEBATE. The following
3472	3427		motions, in addition to any elsewhere provided herein, shall be
3473	3428		decided without debate, except as otherwise provided in these
3474	3429		rules:
3475	3430		(1) to adjourn;
3476	3431		(2) to lay on the table;
3477	3432		(3) to lay on the table subject to call;
3478	3433		(4) to suspend the rule as to the time for introduction
3479	3434		of bills;
3480	3435		(5) to order a call of the house, and all motions
3481	3436		incidental thereto;
3482	3437		(6) an appeal by a member called to order;
3483	3438		(7) on questions relating to priority of business;
3484	3439		(8) to amend the caption of a bill or resolution;
3485	3440		(9) to extend the time of a member speaking under the
3486	3441		previous question or to allow a member who has the right to speak
3487	3442		after the previous question is ordered to yield the time, or a part
3488	3443		of it, to another;
3489	3444		(10) to reconsider and table.
3490	3445		Sec. 2. MOTIONS SUBJECT TO DEBATE. The speaker shall permit
3491	3446		the mover and one opponent of the motion three minutes each during
3492	3447		which to debate the following motions without debating the merits
3493	3448		of the bill, resolution, or other matter, and the mover of the
3494	3449		motion may elect to either open the debate or close the debate, but
3495	3450		the mover's time may not be divided:
3496	3451		(1) to suspend the regular order of business and take
3497	3452		up some measure out of its regular order;
3498	3453		(2) to instruct a committee to report a certain bill or
3499	3454		resolution;
3500	3455		(3) to rerefer a bill or resolution from one committee
3501	3456		to another;
3502	3457		(4) to place a bill or resolution on a specific
3503	3458		calendar without action by the appropriate calendars committee;
3504	3459		(5) to take up a bill or resolution laid on the table
3505	3460		subject to call;
3506	3461		(6) to set a special order;
3507	3462		(7) to suspend the rules;
3508	3463		(8) to suspend the constitutional rule requiring bills
3509	3464		to be read on three several days;
3510	3465		(9) to pass a resolution suspending the joint rules;
3511	3466		(10) to order the previous question;
3512	3467		(11) to order the limiting of amendments to a bill or
3513	3468		resolution;
3514	3469		(12) to print documents, reports, or other material in
3515	3470		the journal;
3516	3471		(13) to take any other action required or permitted
3517	3472		during the routine motion period by Rule 6, Section 1;
3518	3473		(14) to divide the question.
3519	3474		Sec. 3. MOTIONS ALLOWED DURING DEBATE. When a question is
3520	3475		under debate, the following motions, and none other, shall be in
3521	3476		order, and such motions shall have precedence in the following
3522	3477		order:
3523	3478		(1) to adjourn;
3524	3479		(2) to take recess;
3525	3480		(3) to lay on the table;
3526	3481		(4) to lay on the table subject to call;
3527	3482		(5) for the previous question;
3528	3483		(6) to postpone to a day certain;
3529	3484		(7) to commit, recommit, refer, or rerefer;
3530	3485		(8) to amend by striking out the enacting or resolving
3531	3486		clause, which, if carried, shall have the effect of defeating the
3532	3487		bill or resolution;
3533	3488		(9) to amend;
3534	3489		(10) to postpone indefinitely.
3535	3490		Sec. 4. STATEMENT OR READING OF A MOTION. When a motion has
3536	3491		been made, the speaker shall state it, or if it is in writing, order
3537	3492		it read by the clerk; and it shall then be in possession of the
3538	3493		house.
3539	3494		Sec. 5. ENTRY OF MOTIONS IN JOURNAL. Every motion made to
3540	3495		the house and entertained by the speaker shall be reduced to writing
3541	3496		on the demand of any member, and shall be entered on the journal
3542	3497		with the name of the member making it.
3543	3498		Sec. 6. WITHDRAWAL OF A MOTION. A motion may be withdrawn
3544	3499		by the mover at any time before a decision on the motion, even
3545	3500		though an amendment may have been offered and is pending. It cannot
3546	3501		be withdrawn, however, if the motion has been amended. After the
3547	3502		previous question has been ordered, a motion can be withdrawn only
3548	3503		by unanimous consent.
3549	3504		Sec. 7. MOTIONS TO ADJOURN OR RECESS. A motion to adjourn
3550	3505		or recess shall always be in order, except:
3551	3506		(1) when the house is voting on another motion;
3552	3507		(2) when the previous question has been ordered and
3553	3508		before the final vote on the main question, unless a roll call shows
3554	3509		the absence of a quorum;
3555	3510		(3) when a member entitled to the floor has not yielded
3556	3511		for that purpose; or
3557	3512		(4) when no business has been transacted since a
3558	3513		motion to adjourn or recess has been defeated.
3559	3514		Sec. 8. CONSIDERATION OF SEVERAL MOTIONS TO ADJOURN OR
3560	3515		RECESS. When several motions to recess or adjourn are made at the
3561	3516		same period, the motion to adjourn carrying the shortest time shall
3562	3517		be put first, then the next shortest time, and in that order until a
3563	3518		motion to adjourn has been adopted or until all have been voted on
3564	3519		and lost; and then the same procedure shall be followed for motions
3565	3520		to recess.
3566	3521		Sec. 9. WITHDRAWAL OR ADDITION OF A MOTION TO ADJOURN OR
3567	3522		RECESS. A motion to adjourn or recess may not be withdrawn when it
3568	3523		is one of a series upon which voting has commenced, nor may an
3569	3524		additional motion to adjourn or recess be made when voting has
3570	3525		commenced on a series of such motions.
3571	3526		Sec. 10. RECONSIDERATION OF VOTE TO ADJOURN OR RECESS. The
3572	3527		vote by which a motion to adjourn or recess is carried or lost shall
3573	3528		not be subject to a motion to reconsider.
3574	3529		Sec. 11. ADJOURNING WITH LESS THAN A QUORUM. A smaller
3575	3530		number of members than a quorum may adjourn from day to day, and may
3576	3531		compel the attendance of absent members.
3577	3532		Sec. 12. MOTION TO TABLE. A motion to lay on the table, if
3578	3533		carried, shall have the effect of killing the bill, resolution,
3579	3534		amendment, or other immediate proposition to which it was applied.
3580	3535		Such a motion shall not be debatable, but the mover of the
3581	3536		proposition to be tabled, or the member reporting it from
3582	3537		committee, shall be allowed to close the debate after the motion to
3583	3538		table is made and before it is put to a vote. When a motion to table
3584	3539		is made to a debatable main motion, the main motion mover shall be
3585	3540		allowed 20 minutes to close the debate, whereas the movers of other
3586	3541		debatable motions sought to be tabled shall be allowed only 10
3587	3542		minutes to close. The vote by which a motion to table is carried or
3588	3543		lost cannot be reconsidered. After the previous question has been
3589	3544		ordered, a motion to table is not in order. The provisions of this
3590	3545		section do not apply to motions to "lay on the table subject to
3591	3546		call"; however, a motion to lay on the table subject to call cannot
3592	3547		be made after the previous question has been ordered.
3593	3548		Sec. 13. MATTERS TABLED SUBJECT TO CALL. When a bill,
3594	3549		resolution, or other matter is pending before the house, it may be
3595	3550		laid on the table subject to call, and one legislative day's notice,
3596	3551		as provided on the Supplemental House Calendar, must be given
3597	3552		before the proposition can be taken from the table, unless it is on
3598	3553		the same legislative day, in which case it can be taken from the
3599	3554		table at any time except when there is another matter pending before
3600	3555		the house. A bill, resolution, or other matter can be taken from
3601	3556		the table only by a majority vote of the house. When a special order
3602	3557		is pending, a motion to take a proposition from the table cannot be
3603	3558		made unless the proposition is a privileged matter.
3604	3559		Sec. 14. MOTION TO POSTPONE. A motion to postpone to a day
3605	3560		certain may be amended and is debatable within narrow limits, but
3606	3561		the merits of the proposition sought to be postponed cannot be
3607	3562		debated. A motion to postpone indefinitely opens to debate the
3608	3563		entire proposition to which it applies.
3609	3564		Sec. 15. POSTPONED MATTERS. (a) A bill or proposition
3610	3565		postponed to a day certain shall be laid before the house at the
3611	3566		time on the calendar day to which it was postponed, provided it is
3612	3567		otherwise eligible under the rules and no other business is then
3613	3568		pending. If business is pending, the postponed matter shall be
3614	3569		deferred until the pending business is disposed of without
3615	3570		prejudice otherwise to its right of priority. When a privileged
3616	3571		matter is postponed to a particular time, and that time arrives, the
3617	3572		matter, still retaining its privileged nature, shall be taken up
3618	3573		even though another matter is pending.
3619	3574		(b) Consideration of a bill postponed to a day certain from
3620	3575		the local, consent, and resolutions calendar is governed on second
3621	3576		reading by the rules applicable to the calendar from which it was
3622	3577		postponed to the extent practicable.
3623	3578		Sec. 16. ORDER OF CONSIDERATION OF POSTPONED MATTERS. If
3624	3579		two or more bills, resolutions, or other propositions are postponed
3625	3580		to the same time, and are otherwise eligible for consideration at
3626	3581		that time, they shall be considered in the chronological order of
3627	3582		their setting.
3628	3583		Sec. 17. MOTION TO REFER. When motions are made to refer a
3629	3584		subject to a select or standing committee, the question on the
3630	3585		subject's referral to a standing committee shall be put first.
3631	3586		Sec. 18. MOTION TO RECOMMIT. A motion to recommit a bill,
3632	3587		after being defeated at the routine motion period, may again be made
3633	3588		when the bill itself is under consideration; however, a motion to
3634	3589		recommit a bill shall not be in order at the routine motion period
3635	3590		if the bill is then before the house as either pending business or
3636	3591		unfinished business.
3637	3592		A motion to recommit a bill or resolution can be made and
3638	3593		voted on even though the author, sponsor, or principal proponent is
3639	3594		not present.
3640	3595		Sec. 19. TERMS OF DEBATE ON MOTIONS TO REFER, REREFER,
3641	3596		COMMIT, OR RECOMMIT. A motion to refer, rerefer, commit, or
3642	3597		recommit is debatable within narrow limits, but the merits of the
3643	3598		proposition may not be brought into the debate. A motion to refer,
3644	3599		rerefer, commit, or recommit with instructions is fully debatable.
3645	3600		Sec. 20. RECOMMITTING TO COMMITTEE FOR A SECOND TIME.
3646	3601		Except as provided in Rule 4, Section 30, when a bill has been
3647	3602		recommitted once at any reading and has been reported adversely by
3648	3603		the committee to which it was referred, it shall be in order to
3649	3604		again recommit the bill only if a minority report has been filed in
3650	3605		the time required by the rules of the house. A two-thirds vote of
3651	3606		those present shall be required to recommit a second time.
3652	3607		CHAPTER B. MOTION FOR THE PREVIOUS QUESTION
3653	3608		Sec. 21. MOTION FOR THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. There shall be a
3654	3609		motion for the previous question, which shall be admitted only when
3655	3610		seconded by 25 members. It shall be put by the chair in this manner:
3656	3611		"The motion has been seconded. Three minutes pro and con debate
3657	3612		will be allowed on the motion for ordering the previous question."
3658	3613		As soon as the debate has ended, the chair shall continue: "As many
3659	3614		as are in favor of ordering the previous question on (here state on
3660	3615		which question or questions) will say 'Aye,'" and then, "As many as
3661	3616		are opposed say 'Nay.'" As in all other propositions, a motion for
3662	3617		the previous question may be taken by a record vote if demanded by
3663	3618		any member. If ordered by a majority of the members voting, a
3664	3619		quorum being present, it shall have the effect of cutting off all
3665	3620		debate, except as provided in Section 23 of this rule, and bringing
3666	3621		the house to a direct vote on the immediate question or questions on
3667	3622		which it has been asked and ordered.
3668	3623		Sec. 22. DEBATE ON MOTION FOR PREVIOUS QUESTION. On the
3669	3624		motion for the previous question, there shall be no debate except as
3670	3625		provided in Sections 2 and 21 of this rule. All incidental
3671	3626		questions of order made pending decision on such motion shall be
3672	3627		decided, whether on appeal or otherwise, without debate.
3673	3628		Sec. 23. LIMITATION OF DEBATE AFTER PREVIOUS QUESTION
3674	3629		ORDERED. After the previous question has been ordered, there shall
3675	3630		be no debate upon the questions on which it has been ordered, or
3676	3631		upon the incidental questions, except that the mover of the
3677	3632		proposition or any of the pending amendments or any other motions,
3678	3633		or the member making the report from the committee, or, in the case
3679	3634		of the absence of either of them, any other member designated by
3680	3635		such absentee, shall have the right to close the debate on the
3681	3636		particular proposition or amendment. Then a vote shall be taken
3682	3637		immediately on the amendments or other motions, if any, and then on
3683	3638		the main question.
3684	3639		Sec. 24. SPEAKING AND VOTING AFTER THE PREVIOUS QUESTION
3685	3640		ORDERED. All members having the right to speak after the previous
3686	3641		question has been ordered shall speak before the question is put on
3687	3642		the first proposition covered by the previous question. All votes
3688	3643		shall then be taken in the correct order, and no vote or votes shall
3689	3644		be deferred to allow any member to close on any one of the
3690	3645		propositions separately after the voting has commenced.
3691	3646		Sec. 25. SPEAKING ON AN AMENDMENT AS SUBSTITUTED. When an
3692	3647		amendment has been substituted and the previous question is then
3693	3648		moved on the adoption of the amendment as substituted, the author of
3694	3649		the amendment as substituted shall have the right to close the
3695	3650		debate on that amendment in lieu of the author of the original
3696	3651		amendment.
3697	3652		Sec. 26. SPEAKING ON A MOTION TO POSTPONE OR AMEND. When
3698	3653		the previous question is ordered on a motion to postpone
3699	3654		indefinitely or to amend by striking out the enacting clause of a
3700	3655		bill, the member moving to postpone or amend shall have the right to
3701	3656		close the debate on that motion or amendment, after which the mover
3702	3657		of the proposition or bill proposed to be so postponed or amended,
3703	3658		or the member reporting it from the committee, or, in the absence of
3704	3659		either of them, any other member designated by the absentee, shall
3705	3660		be allowed to close the debate on the original proposition.
3706	3661		Sec. 27. APPLICATION OF THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. The
3707	3662		previous question may be asked and ordered on any debatable single
3708	3663		motion or series of motions, or any amendment or amendments
3709	3664		pending, or it may be made to embrace all authorized debatable
3710	3665		motions or amendments pending and include the bill, resolution, or
3711	3666		proposition that is on second or third reading. The previous
3712	3667		question cannot be ordered, however, on the main proposition
3713	3668		without including other pending motions of lower rank as given in
3714	3669		Section 3 of this rule.
3715	3670		Sec. 28. LIMIT OF APPLICATION. The previous question shall
3716	3671		not extend beyond the final vote on a motion or sequence of motions
3717	3672		to which the previous question has been ordered.
3718	3673		Sec. 29. AMENDMENTS NOT YET LAID BEFORE THE HOUSE.
3719	3674		Amendments on the speaker's desk for consideration which have not
3720	3675		actually been laid before the house and read cannot be included
3721	3676		under a motion for the previous question.
3722	3677		Sec. 30. MOVING THE PREVIOUS QUESTION AFTER A MOTION TO
3723	3678		TABLE. If a motion to table is made directly to a main motion, the
3724	3679		motion for the previous question is not in order. In a case where an
3725	3680		amendment to a main motion is pending, and a motion to table the
3726	3681		amendment is made, it is in order to move the previous question on
3727	3682		the main motion, the pending amendment, and the motion to table the
3728	3683		amendment.
3729	3684		Sec. 31. NO SUBSTITUTE FOR MOTION FOR THE PREVIOUS
3730	3685		QUESTION. There is no acceptable substitute for a motion for the
3731	3686		previous question, nor can other motions be applied to it.
3732	3687		Sec. 32. MOTION FOR THE PREVIOUS QUESTION NOT SUBJECT TO
3733	3688		TABLING. The motion for the previous question is not subject to a
3734	3689		motion to table.
3735	3690		Sec. 33. MOTION TO ADJOURN AFTER MOTION FOR PREVIOUS
3736	3691		QUESTION ACCEPTED. The motion to adjourn is not in order after a
3737	3692		motion for the previous question is accepted by the chair, or after
3738	3693		the seconding of such motion and before a vote is taken.
3739	3694		Sec. 34. MOTIONS IN ORDER AFTER PREVIOUS QUESTION ORDERED.
3740	3695		After the previous question has been ordered, no motion shall be in
3741	3696		order until the question or questions on which it was ordered have
3742	3697		been voted on, without debate, except:
3743	3698		(1) a motion for a call of the house, and motions
3744	3699		incidental thereto;
3745	3700		(2) a motion to extend the time of a member closing on
3746	3701		a proposition;
3747	3702		(3) a motion to permit a member who has the right to
3748	3703		speak to yield the time or a part thereof to another member;
3749	3704		(4) a request for and a verification of a vote;
3750	3705		(5) a motion to reconsider the vote by which the
3751	3706		previous question was ordered. A motion to reconsider may be made
3752	3707		only once and that must be before any vote under the previous
3753	3708		question has been taken;
3754	3709		(6) a motion to table a motion to reconsider the vote
3755	3710		by which the previous question has been ordered;
3756	3711		(7) a double motion to reconsider and table the vote by
3757	3712		which the previous question was ordered.
3758	3713		Sec. 35. MOTION TO ADJOURN OR RECESS AFTER PREVIOUS
3759	3714		QUESTION ORDERED. No motion for an adjournment or a recess shall be
3760	3715		in order after the previous question is ordered until the final vote
3761	3716		under the previous question has been taken, unless the roll call
3762	3717		shows the absence of a quorum.
3763	3718		Sec. 36. ADJOURNING WITHOUT A QUORUM. When the house
3764	3719		adjourns without a quorum under the previous question, the previous
3765	3720		question shall remain in force and effect when the bill,
3766	3721		resolution, or other proposition is again laid before the house.
3767	3722		CHAPTER C. RECONSIDERATION
3768	3723		Sec. 37. MOTION TO RECONSIDER A VOTE. (a) When a question
3769	3724		has been decided by the house and the yeas and nays have been called
3770	3725		for and recorded, any member voting with the prevailing side may, on
3771	3726		the same legislative day, or on the next legislative day, move a
3772	3727		reconsideration; however, if a reconsideration is moved on the next
3773	3728		legislative day, it must be done before the order of the day, as
3774	3729		designated in the 10th item of Rule 6, Section 1(a), is taken up.
3775	3730		If the house refuses to reconsider, or on reconsideration, affirms
3776	3731		its decision, no further action to reconsider shall be in order.
3777	3732		(b) Where the yeas and nays have not been called for and
3778	3733		recorded, any member, regardless of whether he or she voted on the
3779	3734		prevailing side or not, may make the motion to reconsider; however,
3780	3735		even when the yeas and nays have not been recorded, the following
3781	3736		shall not be eligible to make a motion to reconsider:
3782	3737		(1) a member who was absent;
3783	3738		(2) a member who was paired and, therefore, did not
3784	3739		vote; and
3785	3740		(3) a member who was recorded in the journal as having
3786	3741		voted on the losing side.
3787	3742		(c) A motion to reconsider the vote by which a bill, joint
3788	3743		resolution, or concurrent resolution was defeated is not in order
3789	3744		unless a member has previously provided at least one hour's notice
3790	3745		of intent to make the motion by addressing the house when the house
3791	3746		is in session and stating that a member intends to make a motion to
3792	3747		reconsider the vote by which the bill or resolution was defeated.
3793	3748		It is not necessary for the member providing the notice to be
3794	3749		eligible to make or to be the member who subsequently makes the
3795	3750		motion to reconsider. If notice of intent to make a motion to
3796	3751		reconsider is given within the period that the motion to reconsider
3797	3752		may be made under Subsection (a) of this section and that period
3798	3753		expires during the one-hour period required by this subsection,
3799	3754		then the period within which the motion may be made under Subsection
3800	3755		(a) is extended by the amount of time, not to exceed one hour during
3801	3756		which the house is in session, necessary to satisfy the one-hour
3802	3757		notice required by this subsection. For purposes of this
3803	3758		subsection, a motion to reconsider includes a motion to reconsider
3804	3759		and table and a motion to reconsider and spread on the journal.
3805	3760		Sec. 38. DEBATE ON MOTION TO RECONSIDER. A motion to
3806	3761		reconsider shall be debatable only when the question to be
3807	3762		reconsidered is debatable. Even though the previous question was
3808	3763		in force before the vote on a debatable question was taken, debate
3809	3764		is permissible on the reconsideration of such debatable question.
3810	3765		Sec. 39. MAJORITY VOTE REQUIRED. Every motion to
3811	3766		reconsider shall be decided by a majority vote, even though the vote
3812	3767		on the original question requires a two-thirds vote for affirmative
3813	3768		action. If the motion to reconsider prevails, the question then
3814	3769		immediately recurs on the question reconsidered.
3815	3770		Sec. 40. WITHDRAWAL OF MOTION TO RECONSIDER. A motion to
3816	3771		reconsider cannot be withdrawn unless permission is given by a
3817	3772		majority vote of the house, and the motion may be called up by any
3818	3773		member.
3819	3774		Sec. 41. TABLING MOTION TO RECONSIDER. A motion to
3820	3775		reconsider shall be subject to a motion to table, which, if carried,
3821	3776		shall be a final disposition of the motion to reconsider.
3822	3777		Sec. 42. DOUBLE MOTION TO RECONSIDER AND TABLE. The double
3823	3778		motion to reconsider and table shall be in order. It shall be
3824	3779		undebatable. When carried, the motion to reconsider shall be
3825	3780		tabled. When it fails, the question shall then be on the motion to
3826	3781		reconsider, and the motion to reconsider shall, without further
3827	3782		action, be spread on the journal, but it may be called up by any
3828	3783		member, in accordance with the provisions of Section 43 of this
3829	3784		rule.
3830	3785		Sec. 43. DELAYED DISPOSITION OF MOTION TO RECONSIDER. (a)
3831	3786		If a motion to reconsider is not disposed of when made, it shall be
3832	3787		entered in the journal, and cannot, after that legislative day, be
3833	3788		called up and disposed of unless one legislative day's notice has
3834	3789		been given.
3835	3790		(b) Unless called up and disposed of prior to 72 hours
3836	3791		before final adjournment of the session, all motions to reconsider
3837	3792		shall be regarded as determined and lost.
3838	3793		(c) All motions to reconsider made during the last 72 hours
3839	3794		of the session shall be disposed of when made; otherwise, the motion
3840	3795		shall be considered as lost.
3841	3796		Sec. 44. MOTION TO RECONSIDER AND SPREAD ON JOURNAL. (a) A
3842	3797		member voting on the prevailing side may make a motion to reconsider
3843	3798		and spread on the journal, which does not require a vote, and on the
3844	3799		motion being made, it shall be entered on the journal. Any member,
3845	3800		regardless of whether he or she voted on the prevailing side or not,
3846	3801		who desires immediate action on a motion to reconsider which has
3847	3802		been spread on the journal, can call it up as soon as it is made, and
3848	3803		demand a vote on it, or can call it up and move to table it.
3849	3804		(b) If the motion to table the motion to reconsider is
3850	3805		defeated, the motion to reconsider remains spread on the journal
3851	3806		for future action; however, any member, regardless of whether he or
3852	3807		she voted on the prevailing side or not, can call the motion from
3853	3808		the journal for action by the house, and, once disposed of, no other
3854	3809		motion to reconsider can be made.
3855	3810		Sec. 45. MOTION TO REQUIRE COMMITTEE TO REPORT. (a) During
3856	3811		the first 76 calendar days of a regular session, when any bill,
3857	3812		resolution, or other paper has been in committee for 6 calendar
3858	3813		days, exclusive of the calendar day on which it was referred, it
3859	3814		shall be in order for a member to move that the committee be
3860	3815		required to report the same within 7 calendar days. This motion
3861	3816		shall require a two-thirds vote for passage.
3862	3817		(b) After the first 76 calendar days of a regular session,
3863	3818		when any bill, resolution, or other paper has been in committee for
3864	3819		6 calendar days, exclusive of the calendar day on which it was
3865	3820		referred, it shall be in order for a member to move that the
3866	3821		committee be required to report the same within 7 calendar days.
3867	3822		This motion shall require a majority vote for passage.
3868	3823		(c) A motion to instruct a committee to report is not a
3869	3824		privileged motion and must be made during the routine motion period
3870	3825		unless made under a suspension of the rules.
3871	3826		(d) The house shall have no authority to instruct a
3872	3827		subcommittee directly; however, instructions recognized under the
3873	3828		rules may be given to a committee and shall be binding on all
3874	3829		subcommittees.
3875	3830		Sec. 46. MOTION TO REREFER TO ANOTHER COMMITTEE. (a)
3876	3831		During the first 76 calendar days of a regular session, when any
3877	3832		bill, resolution, or other paper has been in committee for 7
3878	3833		calendar days after the committee was instructed by the house to
3879	3834		report that measure by a motion made under Section 45 of this rule,
3880	3835		it shall be in order for a member to move to rerefer the bill,
3881	3836		resolution, or other paper to a different committee. This motion
3882	3837		shall require a two-thirds vote for passage.
3883	3838		(b) After the first 76 calendar days of a regular session,
3884	3839		when any bill, resolution, or other paper has been in committee for
3885	3840		7 calendar days after the committee has been instructed to report
3886	3841		that measure by a motion made under Section 45 of this rule, it
3887	3842		shall be in order for a member to move to rerefer the bill,
3888	3843		resolution, or other paper to a different committee. This motion
3889	3844		shall require a majority vote for passage.
3890	3845		(c) A motion to rerefer a bill, resolution, or other paper
3891	3846		from one committee to another committee is not a privileged motion
3892	3847		and must be made during the routine motion period unless made under
3893	3848		a suspension of the rules.
3894	3849		RULE 8. BILLS
3895	3850		Sec. 1. CONTENTS OF BILLS. (a) Proposed laws or changes in
3896	3851		laws must be incorporated in bills, which shall consist of:
3897	3852		(1) a title or caption, beginning with the words "A
3898	3853		Bill to be Entitled An Act" and a brief statement that gives the
3899	3854		legislature and the public reasonable notice of the subject of the
3900	3855		proposed measure;
3901	3856		(2) an enacting clause, "Be It Enacted by the
3902	3857		Legislature of the State of Texas"; and
3903	3858		(3) the bill proper.
3904	3859		(b) A house bill that would impose, authorize, increase, or
3905	3860		change the rate or amount of a tax, assessment, surcharge, or fee
3906	3861		must include a short statement at the end of its title or caption
3907	3862		indicating the general effect of the bill on the tax, assessment,
3908	3863		surcharge, or fee, such as "imposing a tax (or assessment),"
3909	3864		"authorizing a surcharge (or fee)," or "increasing the rate (or
3910	3865		amount) of a tax."
3911	3866		(c) A house bill that would create a criminal offense,
3912	3867		increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or
3913	3868		category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for
3914	3869		community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision must
3915	3870		include a short statement at the end of its title or caption
3916	3871		indicating the general effect of the bill on the offense,
3917	3872		punishment, or eligibility, such as "creating a criminal offense,"
3918	3873		"increasing a criminal penalty," or "changing the eligibility for
3919	3874		community supervision (or parole or mandatory supervision)."
3920		-	(d) A house bill that would create a requirement that an
3921		-	individual or entity obtain a license, certificate, registration,
3922		-	permit, or other authorization before engaging in a particular
3923		-	occupation or profession or that would expand an existing
3924		-	requirement to additional individuals or entities must include a
3925		-	short statement at the end of its title or caption indicating the
3926		-	general effect of the bill on the occupation or profession, such as
3927		-	"requiring an occupational license" or "expanding the
3928		-	applicability of an occupational license (or permit or
3929		-	certificate)."
3930	3875		Sec. 2. PUBLISHING ACTS IN THEIR ENTIRETY. No law shall be
3931	3876		revived or amended by reference to its title. The act revived, or
3932	3877		the section or sections amended, shall be reenacted and published
3933	3878		at length. This rule does not apply to revisions adopted under
3934	3879		Article III, Section 43, of the Texas Constitution.
3935	3880		Sec. 3. LIMITING A BILL TO A SINGLE SUBJECT. Each bill
3936	3881		(except a general appropriations bill, which may embrace the
3937	3882		various subjects and accounts for which money is appropriated or a
3938	3883		revision adopted under Article III, Section 43, of the Texas
3939	3884		Constitution) shall contain only one subject.
3940	3885		Sec. 4. CHANGING GENERAL LAW THROUGH AN APPROPRIATIONS
3941	3886		BILL. A general law may not be changed by the provisions in an
3942	3887		appropriations bill.
3943	3888		Sec. 5. COAUTHORSHIP, JOINT AUTHORSHIP, SPONSORSHIP,
3944	3889		COSPONSORSHIP, AND JOINT SPONSORSHIP. (a) A house bill or
3945	3890		resolution may have only one primary author. The signature of the
3946	3891		primary author shall be the only signature that appears on the
3947	3892		[original] measure [and all copies] filed with the chief clerk. The
3948	3893		signatures of all coauthors or joint authors shall appear on the
3949	3894		appropriate forms in the chief clerk's office.
3950	3895		(b) Any member may become the coauthor of a bill or
3951	3896		resolution by securing permission from the author. If permission
3952	3897		is secured from the author prior to the time the measure is filed
3953	3898		with the chief clerk, the primary author and the coauthor shall sign
3954	3899		the appropriate form, which shall be included with the measure when
3955	3900		it is filed with the chief clerk. If a member wishes to become the
3956	3901		coauthor of a measure after it has been filed, no action shall be
3957	3902		required by the house, but it shall be the duty of the member
3958	3903		seeking to be a coauthor to obtain written authorization on the
3959	3904		appropriate form from the author. This authorization shall be
3960	3905		filed with the chief clerk before the coauthor signs the form for
3961	3906		the bill or resolution. The chief clerk shall report daily to the
3962	3907		journal clerk the names of members filed as coauthors of bills or
3963	3908		resolutions. If a coauthor of a bill or resolution desires to
3964	3909		withdraw from such status, the member shall notify the chief clerk,
3965	3910		who in turn shall notify the journal clerk.
3966	3911		(c) The primary author of a measure may designate up to four
3967	3912		joint authors by providing written authorization on the appropriate
3968	3913		form to the chief clerk. If a member designated as a joint author
3969	3914		has not already signed on the measure as a coauthor, that member
3970	3915		must also sign the form before the records will reflect the joint
3971	3916		author status of that member. The names of all joint authors shall
3972	3917		be shown immediately following the primary author's name on all
3973	3918		official printings of the measure, on all house calendars, in the
3974	3919		house journal, and in the electronic legislative information
3975	3920		system.
3976	3921		(d) The determination of the house sponsor of a senate
3977	3922		measure is made at the time the measure is reported from committee.
3978	3923		In the case of multiple requests for house sponsorship, the house
3979	3924		sponsor of a senate measure shall be determined by the chair of the
3980	3925		committee, in consultation with the senate author of the measure.
3981	3926		The chair of the committee must designate a primary sponsor and may
3982	3927		designate up to four joint sponsors or an unlimited number of
3983	3928		cosponsors. The names of all joint sponsors shall be shown
3984	3929		immediately following the primary sponsor's name on all official
3985	3930		printings of the measure, on all house calendars, in the house
3986	3931		journal, and in the electronic legislative information system.
3987	3932		Sec. 6. FILING, FIRST READING, AND REFERRAL TO COMMITTEE.
3988	3933		Each bill shall be filed with the chief clerk when introduced and
3989	3934		shall be numbered in its regular order. Each bill shall be read
3990	3935		first time by caption and referred by the speaker to the appropriate
3991	3936		committee with jurisdiction.
3992	3937		Sec. 7. PREFILING. Beginning the first Monday after the
3993	3938		general election preceding the next regular legislative session, or
3994	3939		within 30 days prior to any special session, it shall be in order to
3995	3940		file with the chief clerk bills and resolutions for introduction in
3996	3941		that session. On receipt of the bills or resolutions, the chief
3997	3942		clerk shall number them and make them a matter of public record,
3998	3943		available for distribution. Once a bill or resolution has been so
3999	3944		filed, it may not be recalled. This shall apply only to
4000	3945		members-elect of the succeeding legislative session.
4001	3946		Sec. 8. DEADLINE FOR INTRODUCTION. (a) Bills and joint
4002	3947		resolutions introduced during the first 60 calendar days of the
4003	3948		regular session may be considered by the committees and in the house
4004	3949		and disposed of at any time during the session, in accordance with
4005	3950		the rules of the house. After the first 60 calendar days of a
4006	3951		regular session, any bill or joint resolution, except local bills,
4007	3952		emergency appropriations, and all emergency matters submitted by
4008	3953		the governor in special messages to the legislature, shall require
4009	3954		an affirmative vote of four-fifths of those members present and
4010	3955		voting to be introduced.
4011	3956		(b) In addition to a bill defined as a "local bill" under
4012	3957		Section 10(c) of this rule, a bill is considered local for purposes
4013	3958		of this section if it relates to a specified district created under
4014	3959		Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution (water
4015	3960		districts, etc.), a specified hospital district, or another
4016	3961		specified special purpose district, even if neither these rules nor
4017	3962		the Texas Constitution require publication of notice for that bill.
4018	3963		Sec. 9. FILING [NUMBER OF COPIES FILED]. (a) A bill [Nine
4019	3964		copies of every bill, except bills relating to conservation and
4020	3965		reclamation districts and governed by the provisions of Article
4021	3966		XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution,] must be filed with the
4022	3967		chief clerk in the manner and in an electronic or other format
4023	3968		specified by the chief clerk at the time that the bill is
4024	3969		introduced.
4025	3970		(b) A [Eleven copies of every] bill relating to conservation
4026	3971		and reclamation districts and governed by the provisions of Article
4027	3972		XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution[, with copies of the
4028	3973		notice to introduce the bill attached,] must be filed with copies of
4029	3974		the notice to introduce the bill attached [the chief clerk at the
4030	3975		time that the bill is introduced] if the bill is intended to:
4031	3976		(1) create a particular conservation and reclamation
4032	3977		district; or
4033	3978		(2) amend the act of a particular conservation and
4034	3979		reclamation district to:
4035	3980		(A) add additional land to the district;
4036	3981		(B) alter the taxing authority of the district;
4037	3982		(C) alter the authority of the district with
4038	3983		respect to issuing bonds; or
4039	3984		(D) alter the qualifications or terms of office
4040	3985		of the members of the governing body of the district.
4041	3986		[(c) No bill may be laid before the house on first reading
4042	3987		until it is in compliance with the provisions of this section.]
4043	3988		Sec. 10. LOCAL BILLS. (a) The house may not consider a
4044	3989		local bill unless notice of intention to apply for the passage of
4045	3990		the bill was published as provided by law and evidence of the
4046	3991		publication is attached to the bill. If not attached to the bill on
4047	3992		filing with the chief clerk or receipt of the bill from the senate,
4048	3993		copies of the evidence of timely publication shall be filed with the
4049	3994		chief clerk and must be distributed to the members of the committee
4050	3995		not later than the first time the bill is laid out in a committee
4051	3996		meeting. The evidence shall be attached to the bill on first
4052	3997		printing and shall remain with the measure throughout the entire
4053	3998		legislative process, including submission to the governor.
4054	3999		(b) Neither the house nor a committee of the house may
4055	4000		consider a bill whose application is limited to one or more
4056	4001		political subdivisions by means of population brackets or other
4057	4002		artificial devices in lieu of identifying the political subdivision
4058	4003		or subdivisions by name. However, this subsection does not prevent
4059	4004		consideration of a bill that classifies political subdivisions
4060	4005		according to a minimum or maximum population or other criterion
4061	4006		that bears a reasonable relation to the purpose of the proposed
4062	4007		legislation or a bill that updates laws based on population
4063	4008		classifications to conform to a federal decennial census.
4064	4009		(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d) of this section,
4065	4010		"local bill" for purposes of this section means:
4066	4011		(1) a bill for which publication of notice is required
4067	4012		under Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution (water
4068	4013		districts, etc.);
4069	4014		(2) a bill for which publication of notice is required
4070	4015		under Article IX, Section 9, of the Texas Constitution (hospital
4071	4016		districts);
4072	4017		(3) a bill relating to hunting, fishing, or
4073	4018		conservation of wildlife resources of a specified locality;
4074	4019		(4) a bill creating or affecting a county court or
4075	4020		statutory court or courts of one or more specified counties or
4076	4021		municipalities;
4077	4022		(5) a bill creating or affecting the juvenile board or
4078	4023		boards of a specified county or counties; or
4079	4024		(6) a bill creating or affecting a road utility
4080	4025		district under the authority of Article III, Section 52, of the
4081	4026		Texas Constitution.
4082	4027		(d) A bill is not considered to be a local bill under
4083	4028		Subsection (c)(3), (4), or (5) if it affects a sufficient number of
4084	4029		localities, counties, or municipalities so as to be of general
4085	4030		application or of statewide importance.
4086	4031		Sec. 11. CONSIDERATION IN COMMITTEE. (a) No bill shall be
4087	4032		considered unless it first has been referred to a committee and
4088	4033		reported from it.
4089	4034		(b) After a bill has been recommitted, it shall be
4090	4035		considered by the committee as a new subject.
4091	4036		Sec. 12. ORDER OF CONSIDERATION. All bills and resolutions
4092	4037		before the house shall be taken up and acted on in the order in which
4093	4038		they appear on their respective calendars, and each calendar shall
4094	4039		have the priority accorded to it by the provisions of Rule 6,
4095	4040		Sections 7 and 8.
4096	4041		Sec. 13. DEADLINES FOR CONSIDERATION. (a) No house bill
4097	4042		that is local as defined by Section 10(c) of this rule and that
4098	4043		appears on a local, consent, and resolutions calendar shall be
4099	4044		considered for any purpose after the 130th day of a regular session,
4100	4045		except to:
4101	4046		(1) act on senate amendments;
4102	4047		(2) adopt a conference committee report;
4103	4048		(3) reconsider the bill to make corrections; or
4104	4049		(4) pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of
4105	4050		the governor.
4106	4051		(b) No other house bill or joint resolution shall be
4107	4052		considered on its second reading after the 122nd day of a regular
4108	4053		session if it appears on a daily or supplemental daily house
4109	4054		calendar, or for any purpose after the 123rd day of a regular
4110	4055		session, except to:
4111	4056		(1) act on senate amendments;
4112	4057		(2) adopt a conference committee report;
4113	4058		(3) reconsider the bill or resolution to make
4114	4059		corrections; or
4115	4060		(4) pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of
4116	4061		the governor.
4117	4062		(c) No senate bill or joint resolution shall be considered
4118	4063		on its second reading after the 134th day of a regular session if it
4119	4064		appears on a daily or supplemental daily house calendar, or for any
4120	4065		purpose after the 135th day of a regular session, except to:
4121	4066		(1) adopt a conference committee report;
4122	4067		(2) reconsider the bill or resolution to remove house
4123	4068		amendments;
4124	4069		(3) reconsider the bill or resolution to make
4125	4070		corrections; or
4126	4071		(4) pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of
4127	4072		the governor.
4128	4073		(d) The speaker shall not lay any bill or joint resolution
4129	4074		before the house or permit a vote to be taken on its passage on the
4130	4075		136th and 137th days of a regular session, except to:
4131	4076		(1) act on senate amendments;
4132	4077		(2) adopt a conference committee report;
4133	4078		(3) reconsider the bill or resolution to remove house
4134	4079		amendments;
4135	4080		(4) reconsider the bill or resolution to make
4136	4081		corrections; or
4137	4082		(5) pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of
4138	4083		the governor.
4139	4084		(e) The speaker shall not lay any bill or joint resolution
4140	4085		before the house or permit a vote to be taken on its passage on the
4141	4086		138th and 139th days of a regular session, except to:
4142	4087		(1) adopt a conference committee report;
4143	4088		(2) reconsider the bill or resolution to remove house
4144	4089		amendments;
4145	4090		(3) discharge house conferees and concur in senate
4146	4091		amendments;
4147	4092		(4) reconsider the bill or resolution to make
4148	4093		corrections; or
4149	4094		(5) pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of
4150	4095		the governor.
4151	4096		(f) No vote shall be taken upon the passage of any bill or
4152	4097		resolution within 24 hours of the final adjournment of a regular
4153	4098		session unless it be to reconsider the bill or resolution to make
4154	4099		corrections, or to adopt a corrective resolution.
4155		-	(g) The clock of record for the house, as determined under
4156		-	Rule 2, Section 2, shall be used to determine compliance with
4157		-	deadlines and other time requirements of the Texas Constitution and
4158		-	these rules. A motion to suspend this rule must be decided by a
4159		-	record vote.
4160	4100		Sec. 14. DELIVERY PRIOR TO CONSIDERATION. (a) Each bill or
4161	4101		resolution, except the general appropriations bill, shall be
4162	4102		delivered to each member by making a copy of the bill or resolution
4163	4103		available in an electronic format for viewing by the member and,
4164	4104		when the electronic format copy of the appropriate printing becomes
4165	4105		available, by sending notice of that fact to a Capitol e-mail
4166	4106		address designated by the member, at least 36 hours if convened in
4167	4107		regular session and 24 hours if convened in special session before
4168	4108		the bill can be considered by the house on second reading. If a
4169	4109		member informs the chief clerk in writing that the member desires to
4170	4110		receive paper copies of bills and resolutions under this section in
4171	4111		addition to delivery in an electronic format, the chief clerk shall
4172	4112		place a paper copy of the bill or resolution in the newspaper box of
4173	4113		the member as soon as practicable after the electronic copies of the
4174	4114		bill or resolution are made available for viewing.
4175	4115		(a-1) A printed copy of the general appropriations bill
4176	4116		shall be placed in the newspaper mailbox of each member at least 168
4177	4117		hours during a regular session and at least 72 hours during a
4178	4118		special session before the bill can be considered by the house on
4179	4119		second reading.
4180	4120		(b) By majority vote, the house may order both the original
4181	4121		bill or resolution and the complete committee substitute to be
4182	4122		printed. It shall not be necessary for the house to order complete
4183	4123		committee substitutes printed in lieu of original bills.
4184	4124		(c) A two-thirds vote of the house is necessary to order
4185	4125		that bills, other than local bills, be not printed. It shall not be
4186	4126		necessary for the house to order that local bills be not printed.
4187	4127		Sec. 15. REQUIREMENT FOR THREE READINGS. A bill shall not
4188	4128		have the force of law until it has been read on three several
4189	4129		legislative days in each house and free discussion allowed, unless
4190	4130		this provision is suspended by a vote of four-fifths of the members
4191	4131		present and voting, a quorum being present. The yeas and nays shall
4192	4132		be taken on the question of suspension and entered in the journal.
4193	4133		Sec. 16. CONSIDERATION SECTION BY SECTION. (a) During the
4194	4134		consideration of any bill or resolution, the house may, by a
4195	4135		majority vote, order the bill or resolution to be considered
4196	4136		section by section, or department by department, until each section
4197	4137		or department has been given separate consideration. If such a
4198	4138		procedure is ordered, only amendments to the section or department
4199	4139		under consideration at that time shall be in order. However, after
4200	4140		each section or department has been considered separately, the
4201	4141		entire bill or resolution shall be open for amendment, subject to
4202	4142		the provisions of Rule 11, Section 8(b). Once the consideration of
4203	4143		a bill section by section or department by department has been
4204	4144		ordered, it shall not be in order to move the previous question on
4205	4145		the entire bill, to recommit it, to lay it on the table, or to
4206	4146		postpone it, until each section or department has been given
4207	4147		separate consideration or until the vote by which section by
4208	4148		section consideration was ordered is reconsidered.
4209	4149		(b) A motion to consider a bill section by section is
4210	4150		debatable within narrow limits; that is, the pros and cons of the
4211	4151		proposed consideration can be debated but not the merits of the
4212	4152		bill.
4213	4153		Sec. 17. PASSAGE TO ENGROSSMENT OR THIRD READING. After a
4214	4154		bill or complete committee substitute for a bill has been taken up
4215	4155		and read, amendments shall be in order. If no amendment is made, or
4216	4156		if those proposed are disposed of, then the final question on its
4217	4157		second reading shall be, in the case of a house bill, whether it
4218	4158		shall be passed to engrossment, or, in the case of a senate bill,
4219	4159		whether it shall pass to its third reading. All bills ordered
4220	4160		passed to engrossment or passed to a third reading shall remain on
4221	4161		the calendar on which placed, but with future priority over bills
4222	4162		that have not passed second reading.
4223	4163		Sec. 18. CERTIFICATION OF FINAL PASSAGE. The chief clerk
4224	4164		shall certify the final passage of each bill, noting on the bill the
4225	4165		date of its passage, and the vote by which it passed, if by a yea and
4226	4166		nay vote.
4227	4167		Sec. 19. EFFECTIVE DATE. Every law passed by the
4228	4168		legislature, except the General Appropriations Act, shall take
4229	4169		effect or go into force on the 91st day after the adjournment of the
4230	4170		session at which it was enacted, unless the legislature provides
4231	4171		for an earlier effective date by a vote of two-thirds of all the
4232	4172		members elected to each house. The vote shall be taken by yeas and
4233	4173		nays and entered in the journals.
4234	4174		Sec. 20. BILLS CONTAINING SAME SUBSTANCE AS DEFEATED BILL.
4235	4175		After a bill or resolution has been considered and defeated by
4236	4176		either house of the legislature, no bill or resolution containing
4237	4177		the same substance shall be passed into law during the same session.
4238	4178		Sec. 21. CONSIDERATION OF BILLS INVOLVING STATE FUNDS. (a)
4239	4179		In order to assure the continuation of financial support of
4240	4180		existing state services through the passage of the general
4241	4181		appropriations bill, it shall not be in order during the first 118
4242	4182		days of the regular session for the speaker to lay before the house,
4243	4183		prior to the consideration, passage, and certification by the
4244	4184		comptroller of the general appropriations bill, any bill that
4245	4185		directly or indirectly prevents from being available for purposes
4246	4186		of funding state government generally any money that under existing
4247	4187		law would otherwise be available for that purpose, including a bill
4248	4188		that transfers or diverts money in the state treasury from the
4249	4189		general revenue fund to another fund.
4250	4190		(b) In order to assure compliance with the limitation on
4251	4191		appropriations of state tax revenue not dedicated by the
4252	4192		constitution as provided by Article VIII, Section 22, of the Texas
4253	4193		Constitution, it is not in order for the speaker to lay before the
4254	4194		house, prior to the time that the general appropriations bill has
4255	4195		been finally passed and sent to the comptroller, any bill that
4256	4196		appropriates funds from the state treasury that are not dedicated
4257	4197		by the constitution.
4258	4198		(c) When bills subject to the provisions of Subsection (a)
4259	4199		of this section become eligible for consideration, they shall be
4260	4200		considered for passage under the rules of the house and the joint
4261	4201		rules as any other bill but shall not be signed by the speaker as
4262	4202		required by the Constitution of Texas and the rules of the house
4263	4203		until the general appropriations bill has been signed by the
4264	4204		presiding officers of both houses of the legislature and
4265	4205		transmitted to the comptroller of public accounts for certification
4266	4206		as required by Article III, Section 49a, of the Constitution of
4267	4207		Texas.
4268	4208		(d) All bills subject to the provisions of Subsection (a) of
4269	4209		this section that have finally passed both houses shall be enrolled
4270	4210		as required by the rules and transmitted to the speaker. The
4271	4211		speaker shall note on each bill the date and hour of final
4272	4212		legislative action and shall withhold his or her signature and any
4273	4213		further action on all such bills until the general appropriations
4274	4214		bill has been signed by the presiding officers of both houses and
4275	4215		transmitted to the comptroller of public accounts for
4276	4216		certification. Immediately thereafter, the speaker shall sign in
4277	4217		the presence of the house all bills on which further action was
4278	4218		being withheld because the bills were subject to the provisions of
4279	4219		this section. After being signed by the speaker, the bills shall
4280	4220		then be transmitted to the comptroller of public accounts for
4281	4221		certification or to the governor, as the case may be, in the order
4282	4222		in which final legislative action was taken. "Final legislative
4283	4223		action," as that term is used in this subsection, shall mean the
4284	4224		last act of either house meeting in general session necessary to
4285	4225		place the bill in its final form preparatory to enrollment.
4286	4226		(e) Subsections (a)-(d) of this section shall not apply to
4287	4227		any bills providing for:
4288	4228		(1) the payment of expenses of the legislature;
4289	4229		(2) the payment of judgments against the state;
4290	4230		(3) any emergency matter when requested by the
4291	4231		governor in a formal message to the legislature; or
4292	4232		(4) the reduction of taxes.
4293		-	(e-1) Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to a
4294		-	bill that prevents the deposit into the general revenue fund of
4295		-	money received from the federal government or earnings on that
4296		-	money if the bill does not prevent that money from being available
4297		-	for the purpose of funding state government generally to the same
4298		-	extent as under existing law.
4299	4233		(f) Unless within the authority of a resolution or
4300	4234		resolutions adopted pursuant to Article VIII, Section 22(b), of the
4301	4235		Texas Constitution, it is not in order for the house to consider for
4302	4236		final passage on third reading, on motion to concur in senate
4303	4237		amendments, or on motion to adopt a conference committee report, a
4304	4238		bill appropriating funds from the state treasury in an amount that,
4305	4239		when added to amounts previously appropriated by bills finally
4306	4240		passed and sent or due to be sent to the comptroller, would exceed
4307	4241		the limit on appropriations established under Chapter 316,
4308	4242		Government Code.
4309	4243		(g) The general appropriations bill shall be reported to the
4310	4244		house by the Committee on Appropriations not later than the 90th
4311	4245		calendar day of the regular session. Should the Committee on
4312	4246		Appropriations fail to report by the deadline, Subsections (a)-(d)
4313	4247		of this section shall be suspended for the balance of that regular
4314	4248		session.
4315	4249		RULE 9. JOINT RESOLUTIONS
4316	4250		Sec. 1. AMENDMENTS TO THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION. (a) A
4317	4251		proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution shall take the form of
4318	4252		a joint resolution, which shall be subject to the rules that govern
4319	4253		the proceedings on bills, except as provided by this section.
4320	4254		(b) A joint resolution is not subject to the provisions of
4321	4255		Rule 8, Section 3, or Rule 11, Section 3.
4322	4256		(c) A joint resolution shall be adopted on any reading after
4323	4257		the first if it receives a two-thirds vote of the elected membership
4324	4258		of the house. If such a joint resolution receives only a majority
4325	4259		vote on second reading, it shall be passed to engrossment, and
4326	4260		subsequent proceedings shall be the same as those governing the
4327	4261		final passage of bills which have been passed to engrossment. If
4328	4262		such a joint resolution does not receive a two-thirds vote of the
4329	4263		elected membership of the house on third reading and final passage,
4330	4264		it shall fail of adoption.
4331	4265		Sec. 2. RATIFYING OR PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE
4332	4266		CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. Ratification by Texas of a
4333	4267		proposed amendment to or application to Congress for a convention
4334	4268		to amend the Constitution of the United States shall take the form
4335	4269		of a joint resolution, which shall be subject to the rules that
4336	4270		govern the proceedings on bills, except that it shall be adopted on
4337	4271		second reading if it receives a majority vote of the members present
4338	4272		and voting, a quorum being present. If such a joint resolution
4339	4273		fails to receive a majority vote, it shall fail of adoption and
4340	4274		shall not be considered again unless revived by a motion to
4341	4275		reconsider as otherwise provided in the rules.
4342	4276		Sec. 3. PLACEMENT OF JOINT RESOLUTIONS ON A CALENDAR. Joint
4343	4277		resolutions on committee report shall be referred to the Committee
4344	4278		on Calendars for placement on an appropriate calendar. The
4345	4279		Committee on Calendars shall maintain a separate calendar for house
4346	4280		joint resolutions and a separate calendar for senate joint
4347	4281		resolutions. Senate joint resolutions shall be considered on
4348	4282		calendar Wednesdays and calendar Thursdays along with senate bills.
4349	4283		RULE 10. HOUSE RESOLUTIONS AND CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS
4350	4284		Sec. 1. FILING. Resolutions shall be introduced by [the]
4351	4285		filing a resolution [of nine identical copies] with the chief clerk
4352	4286		in the manner and in an electronic or other format specified by the
4353	4287		chief clerk, who shall number and record house resolutions in one
4354	4288		series and concurrent resolutions in a separate series.
4355	4289		Sec. 2. REFERRAL TO COMMITTEE. (a) After numbering and
4356	4290		recording, all resolutions shall be sent to the speaker for
4357	4291		referral to the proper committee.
4358	4292		(b) Resolutions proposing the expenditure of money out of
4359	4293		the contingent expense fund of the legislature shall be referred to
4360	4294		the Committee on House Administration.
4361	4295		(c) All other resolutions shall be referred to the
4362	4296		appropriate committee with jurisdiction.
4363	4297		Sec. 3. REFERRAL TO CALENDARS COMMITTEES. All resolutions
4364	4298		on committee report, other than privileged resolutions, shall be
4365	4299		referred immediately to the appropriate calendars committee for
4366	4300		placement on the appropriate calendar.
4367	4301		Sec. 4. ORDER OF CONSIDERATION. Unless privileged,
4368	4302		resolutions shall be considered by the house only at the time
4369	4303		assigned for their consideration on the calendar, in accordance
4370	4304		with the provisions of Rule 6, Section 7.
4371	4305		Sec. 4A. RECORD VOTE REQUIRED BY TEXAS CONSTITUTION. A vote
4372	4306		on final passage of a resolution other than a resolution of a purely
4373	4307		ceremonial or honorary nature must be by record vote with the vote
4374	4308		of each member entered in the journal as required by Section 12(b),
4375	4309		Article III, Texas Constitution.
4376	4310		Sec. 5. SIGNING BY GOVERNOR. Concurrent resolutions shall
4377	4311		take the same course as house resolutions, except that they shall be
4378	4312		sent to the governor for signing when finally passed by both houses.
4379	4313		Sec. 6. MASCOT RESOLUTIONS. (a) All candidates for the
4380	4314		office of mascot shall be named in and elected by a single house
4381	4315		resolution.
4382	4316		(b) Only children of house members who are under the age of
4383	4317		12 years shall be eligible for election to the honorary office of
4384	4318		mascot. A child once named a mascot shall not be eligible for the
4385	4319		honor a second time.
4386	4320		(c) No separate classification or special title shall be
4387	4321		given to any mascot, but all shall receive the same title of
4388	4322		honorary mascot of the house of representatives.
4389	4323		(d) The speaker shall issue a certificate showing the
4390	4324		election of each mascot and deliver it to the parent member of the
4391	4325		child.
4392	4326		Pictures of mascots shall appear on the panel picture of the
4393	4327		house.
4394	4328		Sec. 7. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS DURING CALLED
4395	4329		SESSIONS. The subject matter of house resolutions and concurrent
4396	4330		resolutions does not have to be submitted by the governor in a
4397	4331		called session before they can be considered.
4398	4332		Sec. 8. RESOLUTIONS AUTHORIZING TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
4399	4333		Resolutions authorizing the enrolling clerk of the house or senate
4400	4334		to make technical corrections to a measure that has been finally
4401	4335		acted upon by both houses of the legislature shall be privileged in
4402	4336		nature and need not be referred to committee. Such resolutions
4403	4337		shall be eligible for consideration by the house upon introduction
4404	4338		in the house or receipt from the senate.
4405	4339		Sec. 9. AUTHOR'S SIGNATURE ON CONGRATULATORY OR MEMORIAL
4406	4340		RESOLUTION. The enrolled printing of a house congratulatory or
4407	4341		memorial resolution shall include a place for the signature of the
4408	4342		primary author of the resolution. The chief clerk shall provide the
4409	4343		primary author with the opportunity to sign the resolution after
4410	4344		the resolution is enrolled. The absence of the primary author's
4411	4345		signature does not affect the validity of the resolution as adopted
4412	4346		by the house.
4413	4347		RULE 11. AMENDMENTS
4414	4348		Sec. 1. ACCEPTABLE MOTIONS TO AMEND. When a bill,
4415	4349		resolution, motion, or proposition is under consideration, a motion
4416	4350		to amend and a motion to amend that amendment shall be in order. It
4417	4351		shall also be in order to offer a further amendment by way of a
4418	4352		substitute. Such a substitute may not be amended. If the
4419	4353		substitute is adopted, the question shall then be on the amendment
4420	4354		as substituted, and under this condition an amendment is not in
4421	4355		order.
4422	4356		Sec. 2. MOTIONS ON A DIFFERENT SUBJECT OFFERED AS
4423	4357		AMENDMENTS. No motion or proposition on a subject different from
4424	4358		the subject under consideration shall be admitted as an amendment
4425	4359		or as a substitute for the motion or proposition under debate.
4426	4360		"Proposition" as used in this section shall include a bill,
4427	4361		resolution, joint resolution, or any other motion which is
4428	4362		amendable.
4429	4363		Amendments pertaining to the organization, powers,
4430	4364		regulation, and management of the agency, commission, or advisory
4431	4365		committee under consideration are germane to bills extending state
4432	4366		agencies, commissions, or advisory committees under the provisions
4433	4367		of the Texas Sunset Act (Chapter 325, Government Code).
4434	4368		An amendment to a committee substitute laid before the house
4435	4369		in lieu of an original bill is germane if each subject of the
4436	4370		amendment is a subject that is included in the committee substitute
4437	4371		or was included in the original bill.
4438	4372		Sec. 3. AMENDING A BILL TO CHANGE ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE. No
4439	4373		bill shall be amended in its passage through either house so as to
4440	4374		change its original purpose.
4441	4375		Sec. 4. AMENDMENTS TO BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS ON LOCAL,
4442	4376		CONSENT, AND RESOLUTIONS CALENDARS. Amendments to a bill or
4443	4377		resolution shall not be in order during its consideration on a
4444	4378		local, consent, and resolutions calendar set by the Committee on
4445	4379		Local and Consent Calendars, unless the amendments have first been
4446	4380		submitted to and approved by the Committee on Local and Consent
4447	4381		Calendars, which shall be noted thereon by the chair of the
4448	4382		Committee on Local and Consent Calendars prior to the offering of
4449	4383		the amendments.
4450	4384		Sec. 5. AMENDMENTS ON THIRD READING. When a bill has been
4451	4385		taken up on its third reading, amendments shall be in order, but
4452	4386		shall require a two-thirds vote of the members present for their
4453	4387		adoption. A bill on third reading may be recommitted to a committee
4454	4388		and later reported to the house with amendments, in which case the
4455	4389		bill shall again take the course of a bill at its second reading.
4456	4390		Sec. 6. COPIES OF AN AMENDMENT. (a) Five copies of each
4457	4391		amendment shall be filed with the speaker. When the amendment is
4458	4392		read, two copies shall go to the chief clerk, one copy to the
4459	4393		journal clerk, one copy to the reading clerk, and one copy to the
4460	4394		speaker. No amendment offered from the floor shall be in order
4461	4395		unless the sponsoring member has complied with the provisions of
4462	4396		this section with respect to copies of the amendment. The chief
4463	4397		clerk shall retain one copy of each amendment filed with the speaker
4464	4398		under this section whether or not the amendment was offered by the
4465	4399		filing member.
4466	4400		(b) Prior to the time that an amendment is offered, if the
4467	4401		amendment exceeds one page in length, the sponsoring member must
4468	4402		provide to the chief clerk a minimum of five copies to be available
4469	4403		for distribution to those members requesting copies of the
4470	4404		amendment.
4471	4405		(c) If the amendment is only one page in length or less, the
4472	4406		sponsoring member must provide one additional copy of the amendment
4473	4407		to the chief clerk, who shall immediately proceed to have
4474	4408		additional copies made and available for those members requesting
4475	4409		copies of the amendment.
4476	4410		(d) The provisions of this section with respect to extra
4477	4411		copies shall not apply to committee amendments or to amendments
4478	4412		which do nothing more than delete material from the bill or
4479	4413		resolution.
4480	4414		(e) The speaker shall not recognize a member to offer an
4481	4415		original amendment that exceeds one page in length and that is in
4482	4416		the form of a complete substitute for the bill or resolution laid
4483	4417		before the house, or in the opinion of the speaker is a substantial
4484	4418		substitute, unless 10 copies of the amendment have been provided to
4485	4419		the chief clerk and were available in the chief clerk's office at
4486	4420		least 12 hours prior to the time the calendar on which the bill or
4487	4421		resolution to be amended is eligible for consideration.
4488	4422		(f) An amendment may be typed, hand-printed, or
4489	4423		handwritten, but must be legible in order to be offered.
4490	4424		(g) The speaker shall not recognize a member to offer an
4491	4425		original amendment to a bill extending an agency, commission, or
4492	4426		advisory committee under the Texas Sunset Act unless 10 copies of
4493	4427		the amendment have been provided to the chief clerk and were
4494	4428		available in the chief clerk's office at least 24 hours prior to the
4495	4429		time the calendar on which the bill or resolution to be amended is
4496	4430		eligible for consideration.
4497	4431		(h) If the house is convened in regular session, the speaker
4498	4432		shall not recognize a member to offer an original amendment to the
4499	4433		general appropriations bill on second reading unless 10 copies of
4500	4434		the amendment have been provided to the chief clerk and were
4501	4435		available in the chief clerk's office at least 72 hours prior to the
4502	4436		time the calendar on which the general appropriations bill appears
4503	4437		for second reading is first eligible for consideration.
4504	4438		(i) The Committee on House Administration shall ensure
4505	4439		that:
4506	4440		(1) the floor amendment system through which members
4507	4441		of the house may view an electronic image of current or past
4508	4442		amendments, or the system's successor in function, is available to
4509	4443		the public on the Internet;
4510	4444		(2) members of the public using the system available
4511	4445		on the Internet may view the same information that members may view
4512	4446		at the same time that members may view the information; and
4513	4447		(3) members of the public using the system available
4514	4448		on the Internet may view any amendment required to be provided to
4515	4449		the chief clerk under Rule 11, Sections 6(e), (g), and (h) at least
4516	4450		10 hours prior to the time the calendar on which the bill or
4517	4451		resolution to be amended is eligible for consideration.
4518	4452		(j) To the extent practicable, an amendment must include the
4519	4453		page and line numbers of the text of the bill, resolution, or
4520	4454		amendment being amended. Failure to comply with the requirements of
4521	4455		this subsection is not a sustainable point of order.
4522	4456		Sec. 7. ORDER OF OFFERING MOTIONS TO AMEND. Classes of
4523	4457		motions to amend shall be offered in the following order:
4524	4458		(1) motions to amend by striking out the enacting
4525	4459		clause of a bill (or the resolving clause of a resolution), which
4526	4460		amendment cannot be amended or substituted;
4527	4461		(2) motions to amend an original bill, resolution,
4528	4462		motion, or proposition (other than substitute bills as provided for
4529	4463		in Subdivision (3) below), which shall have precedence as follows:
4530	4464		(A) original amendment;
4531	4465		(B) amendment to the amendment;
4532	4466		(C) substitute for the amendment to the
4533	4467		amendment.
4534	4468		Recognition for the offering of original amendments shall be
4535	4469		as follows: first, the main author; second, the member or members
4536	4470		offering the committee amendment; and third, members offering other
4537	4471		amendments from the floor;
4538	4472		(3) motions to amend an original bill by striking out
4539	4473		all after the enacting clause (substitute bills), which substitute
4540	4474		bills shall be subject to amendment as follows:
4541	4475		(A) amendment to the substitute bill;
4542	4476		(B) substitute for the amendment to the
4543	4477		substitute bill.
4544	4478		Recognition for offering such substitute bills shall be as
4545	4479		follows: first, the main author of the original bill, if the
4546	4480		member has not sought to perfect the bill by amendments as provided
4547	4481		for in Subdivision (2) above; second, the member or members
4548	4482		offering the committee amendment; and, third, members offering
4549	4483		amendments from the floor.
4550	4484		It shall be in order under the procedure described in this
4551	4485		subdivision to have as many as four complete measures pending
4552	4486		before the house at one time; that is, an original bill, an
4553	4487		amendment striking out all after the enacting clause of the bill and
4554	4488		inserting a new bill body, an amendment to the amendment striking
4555	4489		out all after the enacting clause of the bill and inserting a new
4556	4490		bill body, and a substitute for this amendment to the amendment to
4557	4491		the original bill which is also a new bill body. These "substitute
4558	4492		bills" shall be voted on in the reverse order of their offering;
4559	4493		(4) motions to amend the caption of a bill or joint
4560	4494		resolution, which may also be offered in accordance with Section
4561	4495		9(a) of this rule.
4562	4496		Sec. 8. STRIKE OUTS AND INSERTIONS. (a) A motion to strike
4563	4497		out and to insert new matter in lieu of that to be stricken out shall
4564	4498		be regarded as a substitute and shall be indivisible.
4565	4499		(b) Matter inserted or stricken out of an original bill by
4566	4500		way of amendment may not be taken out or reinserted at a later time
4567	4501		on the same reading except under the following conditions:
4568	4502		(1) reconsideration of the inserting or deleting
4569	4503		amendment;
4570	4504		(2) adoption of a "substitute bill" amendment;
4571	4505		(3) adoption of an amendment for a whole paragraph,
4572	4506		section or subdivision of a bill which so materially changes the
4573	4507		original text that the portion inserted or deleted is in fact of
4574	4508		minor importance.
4575	4509		Sec. 9. AMENDING CAPTIONS. (a) An amendment to the caption
4576	4510		of a bill or resolution shall not be in order until all other
4577	4511		proposed amendments have been acted on and the house is ready to
4578	4512		vote on the passage of the measure, and it shall then be decided
4579	4513		without debate.
4580	4514		(b) If the previous question has been ordered on a bill or
4581	4515		joint resolution at any reading, an amendment to the caption of that
4582	4516		bill or joint resolution may be offered and voted on immediately
4583	4517		preceding the final vote on the bill or joint resolution.
4584	4518		Sec. 10. MOTION TO LIMIT AMENDMENTS. (a) A motion to limit
4585	4519		amendments shall be admitted only when seconded by 25 members. The
4586	4520		motion may take either of two forms:
4587	4521		(1) to limit amendments to those pending before the
4588	4522		house; or
4589	4523		(2) to limit amendments to those pending on the
4590	4524		speaker's desk.
4591	4525		(b) The motion shall be put by the chair in this manner: "The
4592	4526		motion has been seconded. Three minutes pro and con debate will be
4593	4527		allowed on the motion to limit amendments." As soon as the debate
4594	4528		has ended, the chair shall continue: "As many as are in favor of
4595	4529		limiting amendments on (here state on which question or questions)
4596	4530		will say 'Aye,'" and then "As many as are opposed say 'Nay.'" As in
4597	4531		all other propositions, a motion to limit amendments shall be
4598	4532		decided by a record vote if demanded by any member. If ordered by a
4599	4533		majority of the members voting, a quorum being present, the motion
4600	4534		shall have the effect of confining further debate and consideration
4601	4535		to those amendments included within the motion, and thereafter the
4602	4536		chair will accept no more amendments to the proposition to which the
4603	4537		motion is applied.
4604	4538		(c) The motion to limit amendments, if adopted, shall not in
4605	4539		any way cut off or limit debate or other parliamentary maneuvers on
4606	4540		the pending proposition or propositions or amendment or amendments
4607	4541		included within the motion. The sole function of the motion is to
4608	4542		prevent the chair from accepting further amendments to the
4609	4543		proposition to which the motion is applied.
4610	4544		(d) Except as otherwise provided, the motion to limit
4611	4545		amendments shall have no effect on the parliamentary situation to
4612	4546		which the motion is applied, and the matter to which the motion is
4613	4547		applied shall continue to be considered by the house in all other
4614	4548		respects as though the motion had not been made.
4615	4549		(e) The amendments that are included within the motion to
4616	4550		limit amendments shall each be subject to amendment, if otherwise
4617	4551		permitted under the rules.
4618	4552		Sec. 11. MOTION TO TABLE A MOTION TO LIMIT AMENDMENTS. The
4619	4553		motion to limit amendments is not subject to a motion to table.
4620	4554		Sec. 12. ORDER OF VOTING ON AMENDMENTS. When an amendment
4621	4555		is offered, followed by an amendment to that amendment, and then a
4622	4556		substitute for the amendment to the amendment, these questions
4623	4557		shall be voted on in the reverse order of their offering.
4624	4558		Sec. 13. CERTIFICATION OF ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS. When an
4625	4559		amendment is adopted, such action shall be certified by the chief
4626	4560		clerk on the amendment, and the official copy of the amendment shall
4627	4561		then be securely attached to the bill or resolution which it amends.
4628	4562		RULE 12. PRINTING
4629	4563		Sec. 1. PRINTINGS OF BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS. (a)
4630	4564		Except as otherwise provided in this rule, all bills and joint
4631	4565		resolutions shall be printed and a copy provided to each member at
4632	4566		each of the following stages in the parliamentary progress of the
4633	4567		bill or joint resolution:
4634	4568		(1) at the time of the committee report on the bill or
4635	4569		joint resolution, which shall be known as "First Printing" and
4636	4570		which shall consist of:
4637	4571		(A) a complete text of the bill or joint
4638	4572		resolution as reported from committee;
4639	4573		(B) a complete copy of the bill analysis, a
4640	4574		complete copy of the summary of committee action, and a complete
4641	4575		copy of the witness list;
4642	4576		(C) the text of the committee report;
4643	4577		(D) the record vote by which the measure was
4644	4578		reported from committee, including the vote of individual members;
4645	4579		(E) a copy of the latest fiscal note; and
4646	4580		(F) a copy of each impact statement received by
4647	4581		the committee;
4648	4582		(2) at the time the bill or joint resolution, if
4649	4583		amended, finally passes the senate, senate amendments and house
4650	4584		engrossment text will be printed, which shall be known as "Second
4651	4585		Printing"; and
4652	4586		(3) at the time the conference committee, if any,
4653	4587		makes its report on the bill or joint resolution, which shall be
4654	4588		known as "Third Printing."
4655	4589		(b) In any section of the first printing of a bill or joint
4656	4590		resolution that proposes to amend an existing statute or
4657	4591		constitutional provision, language sought to be deleted must be
4658	4592		bracketed and stricken through, and language sought to be added
4659	4593		must be underlined. This requirement does not apply to:
4660	4594		(1) an appropriations bill;
4661	4595		(2) a local bill;
4662	4596		(3) a game bill;
4663	4597		(4) a recodification bill;
4664	4598		(5) a redistricting bill;
4665	4599		(6) a section of a bill or joint resolution not
4666	4600		purporting to amend an existing statute or constitutional
4667	4601		provision;
4668	4602		(7) a section of a bill or joint resolution that
4669	4603		revises the entire text of an existing statute or constitutional
4670	4604		provision, to the extent that it would confuse rather than clarify
4671	4605		to show deletions and additions; and
4672	4606		(8) a section of a bill or joint resolution providing
4673	4607		for severability, nonseverability, emergency, or repeal of an
4674	4608		existing statute or constitutional provision.
4675	4609		(c) The speaker may overrule a point of order raised as to a
4676	4610		violation of Subsection (b) of this section if the violation is
4677	4611		typographical or minor and does not tend to deceive or mislead.
4678	4612		(d) The requirement to provide a copy of a printing to each
4679	4613		member may be accomplished by making a copy of the printing
4680	4614		available in an electronic format for viewing by the member and,
4681	4615		when the electronic format copy of the appropriate printing becomes
4682	4616		available, sending notice of that fact to a Capitol e-mail address
4683	4617		designated by the member. If a member informs the chief clerk that
4684	4618		the member also desires to receive a paper copy of printings at
4685	4619		first, second, or third printing, the chief clerk shall place paper
4686	4620		copies of those printings designated by the member in the newspaper
4687	4621		box of the member as soon as practicable after the electronic copies
4688	4622		of the printings are made available for viewing.
4689	4623		(e) The provisions of Subsection (d) of this section
4690	4624		authorizing delivery of a printing by electronic means also apply
4691	4625		to any fiscal note, impact statement, analysis, or other item
4692	4626		required by these rules to be delivered or made available to each
4693	4627		member as an attachment to or in connection with the applicable
4694	4628		printing.
4695	4629		Sec. 2. LOCAL BILLS. Local bills shall not be reprinted
4696	4630		after the first printing except when ordered printed by a majority
4697	4631		vote of the house.
4698	4632		Sec. 3. CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS. A concurrent resolution
4699	4633		shall be printed only if the resolution:
4700	4634		(1) grants permission to sue the state;
4701	4635		(2) memorializes Congress to take or to refrain from
4702	4636		taking certain action;
4703	4637		(3) sets legislative policy or declares legislative
4704	4638		intent;
4705	4639		(4) makes corrective changes in any bill, joint
4706	4640		resolution, or conference committee report;
4707	4641		(5) establishes or interprets policy for a state
4708	4642		agency, department, or political subdivision;
4709	4643		(6) establishes, modifies, or changes internal
4710	4644		procedures or administration of the legislature or any component
4711	4645		part thereof;
4712	4646		(7) proposes an amendment to the Joint Rules of the
4713	4647		Senate and the House of Representatives; or
4714	4648		(8) is ordered printed by a majority vote of the house.
4715	4649		Sec. 4. HOUSE RESOLUTIONS. A house resolution shall be
4716	4650		printed only if the resolution:
4717	4651		(1) proposes an amendment to the rules of the house;
4718	4652		(2) establishes, modifies, or changes the internal
4719	4653		procedures and administration of the house;
4720	4654		(3) establishes legislative policy or interprets
4721	4655		legislative intent; or
4722	4656		(4) is ordered printed by a majority of the house.
4723	4657		Sec. 5. ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS OF COMPLIANCE WITH PRINTING
4724	4658		REQUIREMENTS. Except for matter to be printed in the journal, all
4725	4659		requirements contained in the rules with respect to the printing of
4726	4660		bills, resolutions, reports, and other matters shall be considered
4727	4661		complied with if the material is adequately and properly reproduced
4728	4662		by any acceptable means of reproduction.
4729	4663		RULE 13. INTERACTIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SENATE
4730	4664		CHAPTER A. MESSAGES
4731	4665		Sec. 1. MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR. Messages and
4732	4666		communications from the governor shall be received when announced,
4733	4667		and shall be read on the calendar day received.
4734	4668		Sec. 2. MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE. (a) All messages from
4735	4669		the senate shall be received when announced. Senate bills
4736	4670		announced as passed shall be read for the first time and referred to
4737	4671		the appropriate committee as soon as practicable.
4738	4672		(b) Messages from the senate announcing amendments to house
4739	4673		bills and resolutions, nonconcurrence in house amendments to senate
4740	4674		bills and resolutions, requests for conference committees, reports
4741	4675		of conference committees, and all other matters of disagreement,
4742	4676		amendments, and requests between the two houses, shall go to the
4743	4677		speaker's desk in their regular order, but may be called up for
4744	4678		action by the house at any time as a privileged matter, yielding
4745	4679		only to a motion to adjourn.
4746	4680		CHAPTER B. SENATE AMENDMENTS
4747	4681		Sec. 3. HOUSE ACTION ON SENATE AMENDMENTS. When a bill,
4748	4682		resolution, or other matter is returned to the house with senate
4749	4683		amendments, the house may:
4750	4684		(1) agree to the amendments; or
4751	4685		(2) disagree to all of the amendments and ask for a
4752	4686		conference committee; or
4753	4687		(3) agree to one or more of the amendments and disagree
4754	4688		as to the remainder and request a conference committee to consider
4755	4689		those in disagreement; or
4756	4690		(4) agree to one or more and disagree as to the
4757	4691		remainder; or
4758	4692		(5) disagree to all amendments.
4759	4693		Sec. 4. ADOPTION OF SENATE AMENDMENTS FOR BILLS WITH
4760	4694		IMMEDIATE EFFECT. If a bill is to go into immediate effect, senate
4761	4695		amendments thereto must be adopted by a vote of two-thirds of the
4762	4696		elected membership of the house.
4763	4697		Sec. 5. PRINTING SENATE AMENDMENTS. (a) Senate amendments
4764	4698		to house bills and resolutions must be printed and copies provided
4765	4699		to the members at least 24 hours before any action can be taken
4766	4700		thereon by the house during a regular or special session.
4767	4701		(b) When a house bill or joint resolution, other than the
4768	4702		general appropriations bill, with senate amendments is returned to
4769	4703		the house, the chief clerk shall request the Legislative Budget
4770	4704		Board to prepare a fiscal note outlining the fiscal implications
4771	4705		and probable cost of the measure as impacted by the senate
4772	4706		amendments. A copy of the fiscal note shall be distributed with the
4773	4707		senate amendments on their printing before any action can be taken
4774	4708		on the senate amendments by the house.
4775	4709		(c) When a house bill or joint resolution, other than the
4776	4710		general appropriations bill, with senate amendments is returned to
4777	4711		the house, the chief clerk shall request the Texas Legislative
4778	4712		Council to prepare an analysis that describes the substantive
4779	4713		changes made to the house version of the bill by the senate
4780	4714		amendments. A copy of the council's analysis of senate amendments
4781	4715		shall be provided to the members electronically or as a printed copy
4782	4716		at least 12 hours before action is taken on the senate amendments by
4783	4717		the house. The Texas Legislative Council shall make all reasonable
4784	4718		efforts to timely provide the analysis in as accurate a form as time
4785	4719		allows. However, an unavoidable inability to provide the analysis
4786	4720		or an inadvertent error in the analysis is not a sustainable
4787	4721		question of order.
4788	4722		(d) When a house bill or joint resolution for which a tax
4789	4723		equity note was required under Rule 4, Section 34(b)(5), is
4790	4724		returned to the house with senate amendments, the chief clerk shall
4791	4725		request the Legislative Budget Board to prepare a tax equity note
4792	4726		estimating the general effects of the senate amendments on the
4793	4727		distribution of tax and fee burdens among individuals and
4794	4728		businesses. A copy of the updated tax equity note shall be made
4795	4729		available to each member, in some format, before any vote on the
4796	4730		floor can be taken on the senate amendments by the house.
4797	4731		Sec. 5A. RETURN OF NONGERMANE SENATE AMENDMENTS BY SPEAKER.
4798	4732		When a house bill or joint resolution, other than the general
4799	4733		appropriations bill, with senate amendments is returned to the
4800	4734		house, the speaker, with the permission of the primary author of the
4801	4735		bill or resolution, may return the bill or resolution to the senate
4802	4736		if the speaker determines that the senate amendments are not
4803	4737		germane to the house version of the bill or resolution. The speaker
4804	4738		may act under this section without regard to whether the bill or
4805	4739		resolution is eligible for consideration by the house. If the
4806	4740		speaker returns a bill or resolution to the senate under this
4807	4741		section, the speaker shall attach to the bill or resolution a
4808	4742		statement of the speaker's action that includes an explanation of
4809	4743		the speaker's determination, and shall enter the statement in the
4810	4744		journal as soon as practicable.
4811	4745		CHAPTER C. CONFERENCE COMMITTEES
4812	4746		Sec. 6. MEMBERSHIP AND OPERATION. (a) In all conferences
4813	4747		between the senate and the house by committee, the number of
4814	4748		committee members from each house shall be five. All votes on
4815	4749		matters of difference shall be taken by each committee separately.
4816	4750		A majority of each committee shall be required to determine the
4817	4751		matter in dispute. Reports by conference committees must be signed
4818	4752		by a majority of each committee of the conference.
4819	4753		(b) A copy of the report signed by a majority of each
4820	4754		committee of the conference must be furnished to each member of the
4821	4755		committee in person or if unable to deliver in person by placing a
4822	4756		copy in the member's newspaper mailbox at least one hour before the
4823	4757		report is furnished to each member of the house under Section 10(a)
4824	4758		of this rule. The paper copies of the report submitted to the chief
4825	4759		clerk under Section 10(b) of this rule must contain a certificate
4826	4760		that the requirement of this subsection has been satisfied, and
4827	4761		that certificate must be attached to the copy of the report
4828	4762		furnished to each member under Section 10(d) of this rule. Failure
4829	4763		to comply with this subsection is not a sustainable point of order
4830	4764		under this rule.
4831	4765		Sec. 7. MEETINGS. (a) House conferees when meeting with
4832	4766		senate conferees to adjust differences shall meet in public and
4833	4767		shall give a reasonable amount of notice of the meeting in the place
4834	4768		designated for giving notice of meetings of house standing
4835	4769		committees. Any such meeting shall be open to the news media. Any
4836	4770		conference committee report adopted in private shall not be
4837	4771		considered by the house.
4838	4772		(b) At a meeting of the conferees to adjust differences on
4839	4773		the general appropriations bill, the chair of the house conferees
4840	4774		may request the assistance of any house member who serves on the
4841	4775		appropriations committee.
4842	4776		Sec. 8. INSTRUCTIONS. Instructions to a conference
4843	4777		committee shall be made after the conference is ordered and before
4844	4778		the conferees are appointed by the speaker, and not thereafter.
4845	4779		Sec. 9. LIMITATIONS ON JURISDICTION. (a) Conference
4846	4780		committees shall limit their discussions and their actions solely
4847	4781		to the matters in disagreement between the two houses. A conference
4848	4782		committee shall have no authority with respect to any bill or
4849	4783		resolution:
4850	4784		(1) to change, alter, or amend text which is not in
4851	4785		disagreement;
4852	4786		(2) to omit text which is not in disagreement;
4853	4787		(3) to add text on any matter which is not in
4854	4788		disagreement;
4855	4789		(4) to add text on any matter which is not included in
4856	4790		either the house or senate version of the bill or resolution.
4857	4791		This rule shall be strictly construed by the presiding
4858	4792		officer in each house to achieve these purposes.
4859	4793		(b) Conference committees on appropriations bills, like
4860	4794		other conference committees, shall limit their discussions and
4861	4795		their actions solely to the matters in disagreement between the two
4862	4796		houses. In addition to the limitations contained elsewhere in the
4863	4797		rules, a conference committee on appropriations bills shall be
4864	4798		strictly limited in its authority as follows:
4865	4799		(1) If an item of appropriation appears in both house
4866	4800		and senate versions of the bill, the item must be included in the
4867	4801		conference committee report.
4868	4802		(2) If an item of appropriation appears in both house
4869	4803		and senate versions of the bill, and in identical amounts, no change
4870	4804		can be made in the item or the amount.
4871	4805		(3) If an item of appropriation appears in both house
4872	4806		and senate versions of the bill but in different amounts, no change
4873	4807		can be made in the item, but the amount shall be at the discretion of
4874	4808		the conference committee, provided that the amount shall not exceed
4875	4809		the larger version and shall not be less than the smaller version.
4876	4810		(4) If an item of appropriation appears in one version
4877	4811		of the bill and not in the other, the item can be included or omitted
4878	4812		at the discretion of the conference committee. If the item is
4879	4813		included, the amount shall not exceed the sum specified in the
4880	4814		version containing the item.
4881	4815		(5) If an item of appropriation appears in neither the
4882	4816		house nor the senate version of the bill, the item must not be
4883	4817		included in the conference committee report. However, the
4884	4818		conference committee report may include appropriations for
4885	4819		purposes or programs authorized by bills that have been passed and
4886	4820		sent to the governor and may include contingent appropriations for
4887	4821		purposes or programs authorized by bills that have been passed by at
4888	4822		least one house.
4889	4823		This rule shall be strictly construed by the presiding
4890	4824		officer in each house to achieve these purposes.
4891	4825		(c) Conference committees on tax bills, like other
4892	4826		conference committees, shall limit their discussions and their
4893	4827		actions solely to the matters in disagreement between the two
4894	4828		houses. In addition to the limitations contained elsewhere in the
4895	4829		rules, a conference committee on a tax bill shall be strictly
4896	4830		limited in its authority as follows:
4897	4831		(1) If a tax item appears in both house and senate
4898	4832		versions of the bill, the item must be included in the conference
4899	4833		committee report.
4900	4834		(2) If a tax item appears in both house and senate
4901	4835		versions of the bill, and in identical form and with identical
4902	4836		rates, no change can be made in the item or the rate provided.
4903	4837		(3) If a tax item appears in both house and senate
4904	4838		versions of the bill but at differing rates, no change can be made
4905	4839		in the item, but the rate shall be at the discretion of the
4906	4840		conference committee, provided that the rate shall not exceed the
4907	4841		higher version and shall not be less than the lower version.
4908	4842		(4) If a tax item appears in one version of the bill
4909	4843		and not in the other, the item can be included or omitted at the
4910	4844		discretion of the conference committee. If the item is included,
4911	4845		the rate shall not exceed the rate specified in the version
4912	4846		containing the item.
4913	4847		(5) If a tax item appears in neither the house nor the
4914	4848		senate version of the bill, the item must not be included in the
4915	4849		conference committee report.
4916	4850		This rule shall be strictly construed by the presiding
4917	4851		officer in each house to achieve these purposes.
4918	4852		(d) Conference committees on reapportionment bills, to the
4919	4853		extent possible, shall limit their discussions and their actions to
4920	4854		the matters in disagreement between the two houses. Since the
4921	4855		adjustment of one district in a reapportionment bill will
4922	4856		inevitably affect other districts, the strict rule of construction
4923	4857		imposed on other conference committees must be relaxed somewhat
4924	4858		when reapportionment bills are involved. Accordingly, the
4925	4859		following authority and limitations shall apply only to conference
4926	4860		committees on reapportionment bills:
4927	4861		(1) If the matters in disagreement affect only certain
4928	4862		districts, and other districts are identical in both house and
4929	4863		senate versions of the bill, the conference committee shall make
4930	4864		adjustments only in those districts whose rearrangement is
4931	4865		essential to the effective resolving of the matters in
4932	4866		disagreement. All other districts shall remain unchanged.
4933	4867		(2) If the matters in disagreement permeate the entire
4934	4868		bill and affect most, if not all, of the districts, the conference
4935	4869		committee shall have wide discretion in rearranging the districts
4936	4870		to the extent necessary to resolve all differences between the two
4937	4871		houses.
4938	4872		(3) Insofar as the actual structure of the districts
4939	4873		is concerned, and only to that extent, the provisions of Subsection
4940	4874		(a) of this section shall not apply to conference committees on
4941	4875		reapportionment bills.
4942	4876		(e) Conference committees on recodification bills, like
4943	4877		other conference committees, shall limit their discussions and
4944	4878		their actions solely to the matters in disagreement between the two
4945	4879		houses. The comprehensive and complicated nature of recodification
4946	4880		bills makes necessary the relaxing of the strict rule of
4947	4881		construction imposed on other conference committees only to the
4948	4882		following extent:
4949	4883		(1) If it develops in conference committee that
4950	4884		material has been inadvertently included in both house and senate
4951	4885		versions which properly has no place in the recodification, that
4952	4886		material may be omitted from the conference committee report, if by
4953	4887		that omission the existing statute is not repealed, altered, or
4954	4888		amended.
4955	4889		(2) If it develops in conference committee that
4956	4890		material has been inadvertently omitted from both the house and
4957	4891		senate versions which properly should be included if the
4958	4892		recodification is to achieve its purpose of being all-inclusive of
4959	4893		the statutes being recodified, that material may be added to the
4960	4894		conference committee report, if by the addition the existing
4961	4895		statute is merely restated without substantive change in existing
4962	4896		law.
4963	4897		(f) Limitations imposed on certain conference committees by
4964	4898		the provisions of this section may be suspended in part by
4965	4899		permission of the house to allow consideration of and action on a
4966	4900		specific matter or matters which otherwise would be prohibited.
4967	4901		Permission shall be granted only by resolution passed by majority
4968	4902		vote of the house. All such resolutions shall be privileged in
4969	4903		nature and need not be referred to a committee. The introduction of
4970	4904		such a resolution shall be announced from the house floor and the
4971	4905		resolution shall be eligible for consideration by the house:
4972	4906		(1) three hours after a copy of the resolution has been
4973	4907		distributed to each member; or
4974	4908		(2) for a resolution suspending limitations on a
4975	4909		conference committee considering the general appropriations bill,
4976	4910		48 hours in a regular session and 24 hours in a special session
4977	4911		after a copy of the resolution has been distributed to each member.
4978	4912		(g) The time at which the copies of such a resolution are
4979	4913		distributed to the members shall be time-stamped on the originals
4980	4914		of the resolution. The resolution shall specify in detail:
4981	4915		(1) the exact language of the matter or matters
4982	4916		proposed to be considered;
4983	4917		(2) the specific limitation or limitations to be
4984	4918		suspended;
4985	4919		(3) the specific action contemplated by the conference
4986	4920		committee;
4987	4921		(4) except for a resolution suspending the limitations
4988	4922		on the conferees for the general appropriations bill, the reasons
4989	4923		that suspension of the limitations is being requested; and
4990	4924		(5) a fiscal note distributed with the resolution
4991	4925		outlining the fiscal implications and probable cost of the items to
4992	4926		be included in the conference committee report that would otherwise
4993	4927		be prohibited but for the passage of the resolution.
4994	4928		(h) In the application of Subsection (g) of this section to
4995	4929		appropriations bills, the resolution:
4996	4930		(1) need not include changes in amounts resulting from
4997	4931		a proposed salary plan or changes in format that do not affect the
4998	4932		amount of an appropriation or the method of finance of an
4999	4933		appropriation, but shall include a general statement describing the
5000	4934		salary plan or format change;
5001	4935		(2) need not include differences in language which do
5002	4936		not affect the substance of the bill;
5003	4937		(3) if suspending a limitation imposed by Subsection
5004	4938		(b)(2), (3), (4), or (5) of this section, must specify the amount by
5005	4939		which the appropriation in the conference committee report is less
5006	4940		than or greater than the amount permitted for that item of
5007	4941		appropriation under Subsection (b) of this section; and
5008	4942		(4) shall be available in its entirety on the
5009	4943		electronic legislative information system that is accessible by the
5010	4944		general public.
5011	4945		(i) Permission granted by a resolution under Subsection (f)
5012	4946		of this section shall suspend the limitations only for the matter or
5013	4947		matters clearly specified in the resolution, and the action of the
5014	4948		conference committee shall be in conformity with the resolution.
5015	4949		Sec. 10. PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF REPORTS. (a) All
5016	4950		conference committee reports must be printed and a copy furnished
5017	4951		to each member as provided by Rule 12, Section 1, at least 24 hours
5018	4952		before action can be taken on the report by the house during a
5019	4953		regular or special session.
5020	4954		(b) Three original copies of a conference committee report
5021	4955		shall be submitted to the chief clerk for printing. Each original
5022	4956		conference committee report shall contain the following:
5023	4957		(1) the signatures of the house conferees and senate
5024	4958		conferees who voted to adopt the conference committee report;
5025	4959		(2) the text of the bill or resolution as adopted by
5026	4960		the conference committee; and
5027	4961		(3) an analysis of the conference committee report as
5028	4962		required by Section 11 of this rule.
5029	4963		(c) Before action can be taken by the house on a conference
5030	4964		committee report on a bill or joint resolution, other than the
5031	4965		general appropriations bill, a fiscal note outlining the fiscal
5032	4966		implications and probable cost of the conference committee report
5033	4967		shall be submitted to the chief clerk, and a copy of the fiscal note
5034	4968		shall be distributed with the conference committee report on its
5035	4969		printing.
5036	4970		(d) Before a vote on the floor can be taken by the house on a
5037	4971		conference committee report on a bill or joint resolution for which
5038	4972		a tax equity note was required under Rule 4, Section 34(b)(5), a tax
5039	4973		equity note estimating the general effects of the conference
5040	4974		committee report on the distribution of tax and fee burdens among
5041	4975		individuals and businesses shall be submitted to the chief clerk,
5042	4976		and a copy of the tax equity note shall be made available to each
5043	4977		member.
5044	4978		Sec. 11. ANALYSIS OF REPORTS. (a) All reports of conference
5045	4979		committees shall include an analysis showing wherein the report
5046	4980		differs from the house and senate versions of the bill, resolution,
5047	4981		or other matter in disagreement. The analysis of appropriations
5048	4982		bills shall show in dollar amounts the differences between the
5049	4983		conference committee report and the house and senate versions. No
5050	4984		conference committee report shall be considered by the house unless
5051	4985		such an analysis has been prepared and distributed to each member.
5052	4986		(b) The analysis shall to the extent practical indicate any
5053	4987		instance wherein the conference committee in its report appears to
5054	4988		have exceeded the limitations imposed on its jurisdiction by
5055	4989		Section 9 of this rule. An analysis and the conference committee
5056	4990		report in which the analysis is included are not subject to a point
5057	4991		of order due to a failure to comply with this subsection or due to a
5058	4992		mistake made in complying with this subsection.
5059	4993		Sec. 12. CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS. A conference committee
5060	4994		report is not subject to amendment, but must be accepted or rejected
5061	4995		in its entirety. While a conference committee report is pending, a
5062	4996		motion to deal with individual amendments in disagreement is not in
5063	4997		order.
5064	4998		Sec. 13. WHEN REPORTS NOT ACCEPTABLE. When a conference
5065	4999		committee report is not acceptable to the house for any reason, it
5066	5000		may be recommitted to the same committee with the request for
5067	5001		further consideration, and the house may or may not give any
5068	5002		specific instructions on the report to the conference committee; or
5069	5003		the house may request the appointment by the senate of a new
5070	5004		conference committee and then proceed to empower the speaker to
5071	5005		name new conferees for the house.
5072	5006		RULE 14. GENERAL PROVISIONS
5073	5007		Sec. 1. WHEN RULES ARE SILENT. If the rules are silent or
5074	5008		inexplicit on any question of order or parliamentary practice, the
5075	5009		Rules of the House of Representatives of the United States
5076	5010		Congress, and its practice as reflected in published precedents,
5077	5011		and Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure shall be considered as
5078	5012		authority.
5079	5013		Sec. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES. (a) Amendments to the
5080	5014		rules of the house shall be proposed by house resolutions which
5081	5015		shall be referred at once, without debate, to the Committee on Rules
5082	5016		and Resolutions for study and recommendation.
5083	5017		(b) A resolution proposing an amendment to the rules shall
5084	5018		not be considered by the house until a printed copy of the
5085	5019		resolution has been provided to each member of the house at least 48
5086	5020		hours before consideration.
5087	5021		(c) Amendments to the rules shall require a majority vote of
5088	5022		the house for adoption.
5089	5023		Sec. 3. MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES. A motion to suspend
5090	5024		the rules shall be in order at any time, except when motions to
5091	5025		adjourn or recess are pending, even when the house is operating
5092	5026		under the previous question. A motion to "suspend all rules" shall
5093	5027		be sufficient to suspend every rule under which the house is
5094	5028		operating for a particular purpose except the provisions of the
5095	5029		constitution and the joint rules of the two houses. If the rules
5096	5030		have been suspended on a main motion for a given purpose, no other
5097	5031		motion to suspend the rules on a main motion shall be in order until
5098	5032		the original purpose has been accomplished.
5099	5033		Sec. 4. NOTICE OF PENDING MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES. It
5100	5034		shall not be in order to move to suspend the rules or the regular
5101	5035		order of business to take up a measure out of its regular order, and
5102	5036		the speaker shall not recognize anyone for either purpose, unless
5103	5037		the speaker has announced to the house in session that the speaker
5104	5038		would recognize a member for that purpose at least one hour before
5105	5039		the member is so recognized to make the motion. In making the
5106	5040		announcement to the house, the speaker shall advise the house of the
5107	5041		member's name and the bill number, and this information, together
5108	5042		with the time that the announcement was made, shall be entered in
5109	5043		the journal. This rule may be suspended only by unanimous consent.
5110	5044		Sec. 5. VOTE REQUIREMENTS FOR SUSPENSION. A standing rule
5111	5045		of the house may be suspended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds
5112	5046		of the members present. However, if a rule contains a specific
5113	5047		provision showing the vote by which that rule may be suspended, that
5114	5048		vote shall be required for the suspension of the rule. The specific
5115	5049		provision may not be suspended under the provisions of this
5116	5050		section.
5117	5051		Sec. 6. DISPOSAL OF MEASURES TAKEN UP UNDER SUSPENSION. Any
5118	5052		measure taken up under suspension and not disposed of on the same
5119	5053		day shall go over as pending or unfinished business to the next day
5120	5054		that the house is in session, and shall be considered thereafter
5121	5055		from day to day (except the days used for the consideration of
5122	5056		senate bills) until disposed of.
5123	5057		Sec. 7. COMMITTEE GIFTS. A member of the house may not
5124	5058		offer, confer, or agree to confer to a committee member one or more
5125	5059		gifts with a total value of more than $75 per year.
5126	5060		Sec. 8. EXPLANATION OF THE FINAL RULING OF A POINT OF ORDER.
5127	5061		The speaker shall instruct the parliamentarian to provide to each
5128	5062		member a written explanation of the final ruling on a point of
5129	5063		order, including providing the citation of any house or
5130	5064		congressional precedents used in determining the ruling. The
5131		-	explanation shall be provided to each member through the electronic
5132		-	legislative information system not later than 24 hours after the
5133		-	final ruling was announced before the house.
5134		-	Smithee
5135		-	______________________________
5136		-	Speaker of the House
5137		-	I certify that H.R. No. 4 was adopted by the House on January
5138		-	15, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 0, 1 present, not
5139		-	voting.
5140		-	______________________________
5141		-	Chief Clerk of the House
	5065	+	explanation shall be provided to each member not later than 24 hours
	5066	+	after the final ruling was announced before the house.