Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas House Bill HR4 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	H.R. No. 4
	1	+	86R6638 ESC/HLB
	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 86th [85th] 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. OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES 11
15	16		3. STANDING COMMITTEES 24
16	17		4. ORGANIZATION, POWERS, AND DUTIES OF
17		-	COMMITTEES 59
18		-	5. FLOOR PROCEDURE 94
19		-	6. ORDER OF BUSINESS AND CALENDARS ~~116~~
20		-	7. MOTIONS ~~136~~
21		-	8. BILLS ~~152~~
22		-	9. JOINT RESOLUTIONS ~~168~~
	18	+	COMMITTEES 58
	19	+	5. FLOOR PROCEDURE 93
	20	+	6. ORDER OF BUSINESS AND CALENDARS 115
	21	+	7. MOTIONS 135
	22	+	8. BILLS 151
	23	+	9. JOINT RESOLUTIONS 167
23	24		10. HOUSE RESOLUTIONS AND CONCURRENT
24		-	RESOLUTIONS ~~170~~
25		-	11. AMENDMENTS ~~173~~
26		-	12. PRINTING ~~182~~
	25	+	RESOLUTIONS 169
	26	+	11. AMENDMENTS 172
	27	+	12. PRINTING 181
27	28		13. INTERACTIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR
28		-	AND SENATE ~~186~~
29		-	14. GENERAL PROVISIONS ~~199~~
30		-	15. APPROPRIATE WORKPLACE CONDUCT ~~202~~
	29	+	AND SENATE 185
	30	+	14. GENERAL PROVISIONS 198
	31	+	15. APPROPRIATE WORKPLACE CONDUCT 201
31	32		STATEMENT OF AUTHORIZATION AND PRECEDENCE
32	33		Pursuant to and under the authority of Section 11, Article
33	34		III, Texas Constitution, and notwithstanding any provision of
34	35		statute, the House of Representatives adopts the following rules to
35	36		govern its operations and procedures. The provisions of these
36	37		rules shall be deemed the only requirements binding on the House of
37	38		Representatives under Section 11, Article III, Texas Constitution,
38	39		notwithstanding any other requirements expressed in statute.
39	40		RULE 1. DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE SPEAKER
40	41		CHAPTER A. DUTIES AS PRESIDING OFFICER
41	42		Sec. 1. ENFORCEMENT OF THE RULES. The speaker shall
42	43		enforce, apply, and interpret the rules of the house in all
43	44		deliberations of the house and shall enforce the legislative rules
44	45		prescribed by the statutes and the Constitution of Texas.
45	46		Sec. 2. CALL TO ORDER. The speaker shall take the chair on
46	47		each calendar day precisely at the hour to which the house adjourned
47	48		or recessed at its last sitting and shall immediately call the
48	49		members to order.
49	50		Sec. 3. LAYING BUSINESS BEFORE THE HOUSE. The speaker
50	51		shall lay before the house its business in the order indicated by
51	52		the rules and shall receive propositions made by members and put
52	53		them to the house.
53	54		Sec. 4. REFERRAL OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO COMMITTEE. All
54	55		proposed legislation shall be referred by the speaker to an
55	56		appropriate standing or select committee with jurisdiction,
56	57		subject to correction by a majority vote of the house. A bill or
57	58		resolution may not be referred simultaneously to more than one
58	59		committee.
59	60		Sec. 5. PRESERVATION OF ORDER AND DECORUM. The speaker
60	61		shall preserve order and decorum. In case of disturbance or
61	62		disorderly conduct in the galleries or in the lobby, the speaker may
62	63		order that these areas be cleared. No signs, placards, or other
63	64		objects of similar nature shall be permitted in the rooms, lobby,
64	65		gallery, and hall of the house. The speaker shall see that the
65	66		members of the house conduct themselves in a civil manner in
66	67		accordance with accepted standards of parliamentary conduct and
67	68		may, when necessary, order the sergeant-at-arms to clear the aisles
68	69		and seat the members of the house so that business may be conducted
69	70		in an orderly manner.
70	71		Sec. 6. RECOGNITION OF GALLERY VISITORS. On written
71	72		request of a member, the speaker may recognize persons in the
72	73		gallery. The speaker shall afford that recognition at a convenient
73	74		place in the order of business, considering the need for order and
74	75		decorum and the need for continuity of debate. The request must be
75	76		made on a form prescribed by the Committee on House Administration.
76	77		The speaker may recognize, at a time he or she considers appropriate
77	78		during floor proceedings, the person serving as physician of the
78	79		day.
79	80		Sec. 7. STATING AND VOTING ON QUESTIONS. The speaker shall
80	81		rise to put a question but may state it sitting. The question shall
81	82		be put substantially in this form: "The question occurs on
82	83		______" (here state the question or proposition under
83	84		consideration). "All in favor say 'Aye,'" and after the affirmative
84	85		vote is expressed, "All opposed say 'No.'" If the speaker is in
85	86		doubt as to the result, or if a division is called for, the house
86	87		shall divide: those voting in the affirmative on the question
87	88		shall register "Aye" on the voting machine, and those voting in the
88	89		negative on the question shall register "No." The decision of the
89	90		house on the question shall be printed in the journal and shall
90	91		include the yeas and nays if a record of the yeas and nays is ordered
91	92		in accordance with the rules.
92	93		Sec. 8. VOTING RIGHTS OF THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The
93	94		speaker shall have the same right as other members to vote. If the
94	95		speaker, or a member temporarily presiding, has not voted, he or she
95	96		may cast the deciding vote at the time such opportunity becomes
96	97		official, whether to make or break a tie. If a verification of the
97	98		vote is called for and granted, the decision of the speaker, or a
98	99		member temporarily presiding, to cast the deciding vote need not be
99	100		made until the verification has been completed. In case of error in
100	101		a vote, if the correction leaves decisive effect to the vote of the
101	102		speaker, or a member temporarily presiding, the deciding vote may
102	103		be cast even though the result has been announced.
103	104		Sec. 9. QUESTIONS OF ORDER. (a) The speaker shall decide
104	105		on all questions of order; however, such decisions are subject to an
105	106		appeal to the house made by any 10 members. Pending an appeal, the
106	107		speaker shall call a member to the chair, who shall not have the
107	108		authority to entertain or decide any other matter or proposition
108	109		until the appeal has first been determined by the house. The
109	110		question on appeal is, "Shall the chair be sustained?"
110	111		(b) No member shall speak more than once on an appeal unless
111	112		given leave by a majority of the house. No motion shall be in order,
112	113		pending an appeal, except a motion to adjourn, a motion to lay on
113	114		the table, a motion for the previous question, or a motion for a
114	115		call of the house. Responses to parliamentary inquiries and
115	116		decisions of recognition made by the chair may not be appealed,
116	117		except as provided by Rule 5, Section 24.
117	118		(c) Further consideration of the matter or proposition that
118	119		is the subject of a question of order is prohibited until the
119	120		speaker decides the question of order and any appeal of that
120	121		decision has been determined by the house. Consideration of any
121	122		other matter or proposition is also prohibited while a question of
122	123		order is pending, unless the question of order is temporarily
123	124		withdrawn and the matter or proposition that is the subject of the
124	125		question of order is postponed. Withdrawal of the question of order
125	126		does not prevent any member from raising that question of order when
126	127		the matter or proposition is again before the house.
127	128		(d) A point of order raised as to a violation of a section of
128	129		the rules governing committee reports, committee minutes, or
129	130		accompanying documentation may be overruled if the purpose of that
130	131		section of the rules has been substantially fulfilled and the
131	132		violation does not deceive or mislead.
132		-	(e) When a question of order is pending before the house,
133		-	only the member who raised the question of order, and one other
134		-	member designated by that member, and the primary proponent of the
135		-	matter or proposition to which the question of order applies, and
136		-	one other member designated by the proponent, may present arguments
137		-	to the speaker or parliamentarian regarding the question of order.
138		-	This subsection does not limit any remarks that a member may make
139		-	before the full house if the member is recognized for that purpose.
140	133		Sec. 10. APPOINTMENT OF SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE AND TEMPORARY
141	134		CHAIR. The speaker shall have the right to name any member to
142	135		perform the duties of the chair and may name a member to serve as
143	136		speaker pro tempore by delivering a written order to the chief clerk
144	137		and a copy to the journal clerk. A permanent speaker pro tempore
145	138		shall, in the absence or inability of the speaker, call the house to
146	139		order and perform all other duties of the chair in presiding over
147	140		the deliberations of the house and perform other duties and
148	141		exercise other responsibilities as may be assigned by the speaker.
149	142		If the house is not in session, and a permanent speaker pro tempore
150	143		has not been named, or if the speaker pro tempore is not available
151	144		or for any reason is not able to function, the speaker may deliver a
152	145		written order to the chief clerk, with a copy to the journal clerk,
153	146		naming the member who shall call the house to order and preside
154	147		during the speaker's absence. The speaker pro tempore shall serve
155	148		at the pleasure of the speaker.
156	149		Sec. 11. EMERGENCY ADJOURNMENT. In the event of an
157	150		emergency of such compelling nature that the speaker must adjourn
158	151		the house without fixing a date and hour of reconvening, the speaker
159	152		shall have authority to determine the date and hour of reconvening
160	153		and to notify the members of the house by any means the speaker
161	154		considers adequate. Should the speaker be disabled or otherwise
162	155		unable to exercise these emergency powers, the permanent speaker
163	156		pro tempore, if one has been named, shall have authority to act. If
164	157		there is no permanent speaker pro tempore, or if that officer is
165	158		unable to act, authority shall be exercised by the chair of the
166	159		Committee on State Affairs, who shall preside until the house can
167	160		proceed to the selection of a temporary presiding officer to
168	161		function until the speaker or the speaker pro tempore is again able
169	162		to exercise the duties and responsibilities of the office.
170	163		Sec. 12. POSTPONEMENT OF RECONVENING. When the house is
171	164		not in session, if the speaker determines that it would be a hazard
172	165		to the safety of the members, officers, employees, and others
173	166		attending the legislature to reconvene at the time determined by
174	167		the house at its last sitting, the speaker may clear the area of the
175	168		capitol under the control of the house and postpone the reconvening
176	169		of the house for a period of not more than 12 hours. On making that
177	170		determination, the speaker shall order the sergeant-at-arms to post
178	171		an assistant at each first floor entrance to the capitol and other
179	172		places and advise all persons entering of the determination and the
180	173		time set for the house to reconvene. The speaker shall also notify
181	174		the journal clerk and the news media of the action, and the action
182	175		shall be entered in the house journal.
183	176		Sec. 13. SIGNING BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS. All bills, joint
184	177		resolutions, and concurrent resolutions shall be signed by the
185	178		speaker in the presence of the house, as required by the
186	179		constitution; and all writs, warrants, and subpoenas issued by
187	180		order of the house shall be signed by the speaker and attested by
188	181		the chief clerk, or the person acting as chief clerk.
189	182		CHAPTER B. ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES
190	183		Sec. 14. CONTROL OVER HALL OF THE HOUSE. The speaker shall
191	184		have general control, except as otherwise provided by law, of the
192	185		hall of the house, its lobbies, galleries, corridors, and passages,
193	186		and other rooms in those parts of the capitol assigned to the use of
194	187		the house; except that the hall of the house shall not be used for
195	188		any meeting other than legislative meetings during any regular or
196	189		special session of the legislature unless specifically authorized
197	190		by resolution.
198	191		Sec. 15. STANDING COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS. (a) The
199	192		speaker shall designate the chair and vice-chair of each standing
200	193		substantive committee and shall also appoint membership of the
201	194		committee, subject to the provisions of Rule 4, Section 2.
202	195		(b) If members of equal seniority request the same
203	196		committee, the speaker shall decide which among them shall be
204	197		assigned to that committee.
205	198		(c) In announcing the membership of the standing
206	199		substantive committees, the speaker shall designate which are
207	200		appointees and which acquire membership by seniority.
208	201		(d) The speaker shall appoint the chair and vice-chair of
209	202		each standing procedural committee and the remaining membership of
210	203		the committee.
211	204		(e) If a new speaker is elected to fill a vacancy in the
212	205		office after the appointment of standing committees, the new
213	206		speaker may not alter the composition of any standing committee
214	207		before the end of the session, except that the new speaker may:
215	208		(1) vacate the new speaker's membership on any
216	209		committee;
217	210		(2) make committee appointments for the member who was
218	211		removed as speaker;
219	212		(3) designate a different member of a standing
220	213		committee as committee chair; and
221	214		(4) fill vacancies that occur on a committee.
222	215		Sec. 16. APPOINTMENT OF SELECT AND CONFERENCE
223	216		COMMITTEES. (a) The speaker shall appoint all conference
224	217		committees. The speaker shall name the chair of each conference
225	218		committee, and may also name the vice-chair thereof.
226	219		(b) The speaker may at any time by proclamation create a
227	220		select committee. The speaker shall name the chair and vice-chair
228	221		thereof. A select committee has the jurisdiction, authority, and
229	222		duties and exists for the period of time specified in the
230	223		proclamation. A select committee has the powers granted by these
231	224		rules to a standing committee except as limited by the
232	225		proclamation. A copy of each proclamation creating a select
233	226		committee shall be filed with the chief clerk.
234	227		[(c) If a new speaker is elected to fill a vacancy in the
235	228		office after the appointment of standing committees, the new
236	229		speaker may not alter the composition of any standing committee
237	230		before the end of the session, except that the new speaker may:
238	231		[(1) vacate the new speaker's membership on any
239	232		committee;
240	233		[(2) make committee appointments for the member who
241	234		was removed as speaker;
242	235		[(3) designate a different member of a standing
243	236		committee as committee chair; and
244	237		[(4) fill vacancies that occur on a committee.]
245	238		Sec. 17. INTERIM STUDIES. When the legislature is not in
246	239		session, the speaker shall have the authority to direct committees
247	240		to make interim studies for such purposes as the speaker may
248	241		designate, and the committees shall meet as often as necessary to
249	242		transact effectively the business assigned to them. The speaker
250	243		shall provide to the chief clerk a copy of interim charges made to a
251	244		standing or select committee.
252	245		CHAPTER C. CAMPAIGNS FOR SPEAKER
253	246		Sec. 18. PLEDGES FOR SPEAKER PROHIBITED DURING REGULAR
254	247		SESSION. During a regular session of the legislature a member may
255	248		not solicit written pledges from other members for their support of
256	249		or promise to vote for any person for the office of speaker.
257	250		RULE 2. OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
258	251		CHAPTER A. DUTIES OF OFFICERS [EMPLOYEES] OF THE HOUSE
259	252		Sec. 1. CHIEF CLERK. (a) The chief clerk shall:
260	253		(1) be the custodian of all bills, resolutions, and
261	254		amendments;
262	255		(2) number in the order of their filing, with a
263	256		separate sequence for each category, all bills, joint resolutions,
264	257		concurrent resolutions, and house resolutions;
265	258		(3) provide for the keeping of a complete record of
266	259		introduction and action on all bills and resolutions, including the
267	260		number, author, brief description of the subject matter, committee
268	261		reference, and the time sequence of action taken on all bills and
269	262		resolutions to reflect at all times their status in the legislative
270	263		process;
271	264		(4) on the day of numbering a bill relating to a
272	265		conservation and reclamation district created under Article XVI,
273	266		Section 59, of the Texas Constitution, send two copies of the bill,
274	267		with two copies of the notice of intention to introduce the bill, to
275	268		the governor and notify the journal clerk of the action;
276	269		(5) receive the recommendations of the Texas
277	270		Commission on Environmental Quality on a bill forwarded to the
278	271		commission under Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas
279	272		Constitution, attach them to the bill to which they apply, and
280	273		notify the journal clerk that the recommendations have been filed;
281	274		(6) forward to a committee chair in an electronic or
282	275		other format determined by the chief clerk a certified copy of each
283	276		legislative document referred to the committee, including all
284	277		official attachments to the document;
285	278		(7) have printed and distributed correct copies of all
286	279		legislative documents, as provided in the subchapter on printing,
287	280		and keep an exact record of the date and hour of transmittal to the
288	281		printer, return from the printer, and distribution of the document
289	282		to members of the house with that information time-stamped on the
290	283		originals of the document;
291	284		(8) certify the passage of bills and resolutions,
292	285		noting on them the date of passage and the vote by which passed,
293	286		including the yeas and nays if a record of the yeas and nays is
294	287		ordered;
295	288		(9) be responsible for engrossing all house bills and
296	289		resolutions that have passed second reading and those that have
297	290		passed third reading, and for enrolling all house bills and
298	291		resolutions that have passed both houses.
299	292		All engrossed and enrolled documents shall be prepared
300	293		without erasures, interlineations, or additions in the margin.
301	294		House concurrent resolutions passed without amendment
302	295		shall not be engrossed but shall be certified and forwarded
303	296		directly to the senate.
304	297		Engrossed riders may be used in lieu of full engrossment
305	298		on second reading passage;
306	299		(10) be authorized to amend the caption to conform to
307	300		the body of each house bill and joint resolution ordered engrossed
308	301		or enrolled;
309	302		(11) be responsible for noting on each house bill or
310	303		joint resolution, for certification by the speaker of the house,
311	304		the lieutenant governor, the chief clerk of the house, and the
312	305		secretary of the senate, the following information:
313	306		(A) date of final passage, and the vote on final
314	307		passage, including the yeas and nays if a record of the yeas and
315	308		nays is ordered. If the bill was amended in the senate, this fact
316	309		shall also be noted;
317	310		(B) date of concurrence by the house in senate
318	311		amendments, and the vote on concurrence, including the yeas and
319	312		nays if a record of the yeas and nays is ordered;
320	313		(C) date of adoption by each house of a
321	314		conference committee report and the vote on adoption, including the
322	315		yeas and nays if a record of the yeas and nays is ordered;
323	316		(D) that a bill containing an appropriation was
324	317		passed subject to the provisions of Article III, Section 49a, of the
325	318		Texas Constitution; and
326	319		(E) that a concurrent resolution was adopted by
327	320		both houses directing the correction of an enrolled bill, if
328	321		applicable;
329	322		(12) transmit over signature all messages from the
330	323		house to the senate, including typewritten copies of amendments to
331	324		senate bills;
332	325		(13) prepare copies of senate amendments to house
333	326		bills for the journal before the amendments and the bill or
334	327		resolution to which they relate are sent to the printer or to the
335	328		speaker;
336	329		(14) notify the speaker in writing that the senate did
337	330		not concur in house amendments to a bill or resolution and requests
338	331		a conference committee, and include in this notice the names of the
339	332		senate conferees;
340	333		(15) provide a certified copy of a house bill or
341	334		resolution which may be lost showing each parliamentary step taken
342	335		on the bill; and
343	336		(16) request fiscal notes on house bills and joint
344	337		resolutions with senate amendments and distribute fiscal notes on
345	338		house bills and joint resolutions with senate amendments and
346	339		conference committee reports as required by Rule 13, Sections 5 and
347	340		10.
348	341		(b) The chief clerk shall also:
349	342		(1) attest all writs, warrants and subpoenas issued by
350	343		order of the house;
351	344		(2) receive reports of select committees and forward
352	345		copies to the speaker and journal clerk;
353	346		(3) not later than 30 days after the close of each
354	347		session, acquire from each of the various clerks of the house,
355	348		except the journal clerk, all reports, records, bills, papers, and
356	349		other documents remaining in their possession and file them with
357	350		the Legislative Reference Library, unless otherwise provided by
358	351		law;
359	352		(4) receive and file all other documents required by
360	353		law or by the rules of the house;
361	354		(5) prepare a roster of members in order of seniority
362	355		showing the number of years of service of each member, as provided
363	356		in Rule 4, Section 2; and
364	357		(6) have posted the list of Items Eligible for
365	358		Consideration as required by the rules.
366	359		(c) The chief clerk shall also provide for the following to
367	360		be made available on the electronic legislative information system:
368	361		(1) all house calendars and lists of items eligible
369	362		for consideration and the time-stamp information for those
370	363		calendars and lists; and
371	364		(2) the time-stamp information for all official
372	365		printings of bills and resolutions.
373	366		(d) The chief clerk shall provide notice to a Capitol e-mail
374	367		address designated by each member when a new house calendar or list
375	368		of items eligible for consideration is posted on the electronic
376	369		legislative information system. If a member informs the chief
377	370		clerk that the member also desires to receive a paper copy of house
378	371		calendars or lists of items eligible for consideration, the chief
379	372		clerk shall place paper copies of those documents designated by the
380	373		member in the newspaper box of the member as soon as practicable
381	374		after the electronic copies are posted.
382	375		Sec. 2. JOURNAL CLERK. (a) The journal clerk shall:
383	376		(1) keep a journal of the proceedings of the house,
384	377		except when the house is acting as a committee of the whole, and
385	378		enter the following:
386	379		(A) the number, author, and caption of every bill
387	380		introduced;
388	381		(B) descriptions of all congratulatory and
389	382		memorial resolutions on committee report, motions, amendments,
390	383		questions of order and decisions on them, messages from the
391	384		governor, and messages from the senate;
392	385		(C) the summaries of congratulatory and memorial
393	386		resolutions, as printed on the congratulatory and memorial
394	387		calendar;
395	388		(D) the number of each bill, joint resolution,
396	389		and concurrent resolution signed in the presence of the house;
397	390		(E) a listing of reports made by standing
398	391		committees;
399	392		(F) reports of select committees, when ordered by
400	393		the house;
401	394		(G) every vote where a record of the yeas and nays
402	395		is ordered or registration of the house with a concise statement of
403	396		the action and the result;
404	397		(H) the names of all absentees, both excused and
405	398		not excused;
406	399		(I) senate amendments to house bills or
407	400		resolutions, when concurred in by the house;
408	401		(J) the date each bill is transmitted to the
409	402		governor;
410	403		(K) the date recommendations of the Texas
411	404		Commission on Environmental Quality on each bill subject to Article
412	405		XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution, are filed with the chief
413	406		clerk;
414	407		(L) all pairs as a part of a vote where a record
415	408		of the yeas and nays is ordered;
416	409		(M) reasons for a vote;
417	410		(N) the vote of a member on any question where a
418	411		record of the yeas and nays has not been ordered;
419	412		(O) the statement of a member who was absent when
420	413		a vote was taken indicating how the member would have voted;
421	414		(P) official state documents, reports, and other
422	415		matters, when ordered by the house; and
423	416		(Q) the [parliamentarian's] written copy of the
424	417		speaker's [explanation on the final] ruling on a point of order,
425	418		which includes the citation of the authorities relied upon [any
426	419		house or congressional precedents used] in [determining] the
427	420		grounds for decision [ruling], as provided in Section 9(b-1) of
428	421		this rule [Rule 14, Section 8];
429	422		(2) prepare a daily journal for each calendar day that
430	423		the house is in session and distribute on the succeeding calendar
431	424		day or the earliest possible date copies to the members of the house
432	425		who have submitted requests to the journal clerk to receive a copy;
433	426		and
434	427		(3) prepare and have printed a permanent house journal
435	428		of regular and special sessions in accordance with the law and the
436	429		following provisions:
437	430		(A) When completed, no more than 300 copies shall
438	431		be bound and distributed as follows:
439	432		(i) one copy to each member of the house of
440	433		representatives who submitted a request to the journal clerk to
441	434		receive a copy;
442	435		(ii) one copy to each member of the senate
443	436		who submitted a request to the journal clerk to receive a copy; and
444	437		(iii) the remainder of the copies to be
445	438		distributed by the Committee on House Administration.
446	439		(B) The journal clerk shall not receive or
447	440		receipt for the permanent house journal until it has been correctly
448	441		published.
449	442		(b) The journal clerk shall lock the voting machine of each
450	443		member who is excused or who is otherwise known to be absent when
451	444		the house is in session until the member personally requests that
452	445		the machine be unlocked.
453	446		(c) The journal clerk shall determine and enter in the
454	447		journal the clock of record for the house and that clock may not be
455	448		delayed, set back, or otherwise tampered with to deviate from the
456	449		standard time, as provided by statute, for the place where the house
457	450		is meeting. The journal clerk shall enter in the journal the time
458	451		according to the clock of record when the house convenes, recesses,
459	452		and adjourns. A motion to suspend this rule must be decided by a
460	453		record vote.
461	454		Sec. 3. READING CLERKS. The reading clerks, under the
462	455		supervision of the speaker, shall:
463	456		(1) call the roll of the house in alphabetical order
464	457		when ordered to do so by the speaker; and
465	458		(2) read all bills, resolutions, motions, and other
466	459		matters required by the rules or directed by the speaker.
467	460		Sec. 4. SERGEANT-AT-ARMS. The sergeant-at-arms shall:
468	461		(1) under the direction of the speaker, have charge of
469	462		and maintain order in the hall of the house, its lobbies and
470	463		galleries, and all other rooms in the capitol assigned for the use
471	464		of the house of representatives;
472	465		(2) attend the house and the committee of the whole
473	466		during all meetings and maintain order under the direction of the
474	467		speaker or other presiding officer;
475	468		(3) execute the commands of the house and serve the
476	469		writs and processes issued by the authority of the house and
477	470		directed by the speaker;
478	471		(4) supervise assistants to the sergeant-at-arms who
479	472		shall aid in the performance of prescribed duties and have the same
480	473		authority, subject to the control of the speaker;
481	474		(5) clear the floor of the house of all persons not
482	475		entitled to the privileges of the floor at least 30 minutes prior to
483	476		the convening of each session of the house;
484	477		(6) bring in absent members when so directed under a
485	478		call of the house;
486	479		(7) not allow the distribution of any printed matter
487	480		in the hall of the house, other than newspapers that have been
488	481		published at least once a week for a period of one year, unless it
489	482		first has been authorized in writing by at least one member of the
490	483		house and the name of the member appears on the printed matter. The
491	484		sergeant-at-arms shall refuse to accept for distribution any
492	485		printed matter which does not bear the name of the member or members
493	486		authorizing the distribution;
494	487		(8) keep a copy of written authorization and a record
495	488		of the matter distributed in the permanent files of the house;
496	489		(9) enforce parking regulations applicable to areas of
497	490		the capitol complex under the control of the house and supervise
498	491		parking attendants;
499	492		(10) provide for issuance of an identification card to
500	493		each member and employee of the house; and
501	494		(11) supervise the doorkeeper.
502	495		Sec. 5. DOORKEEPER. The doorkeeper, under the supervision
503	496		of the sergeant-at-arms, shall:
504	497		(1) enforce strictly the rules of the house relating
505	498		to privileges of the floor and perform other duties as directed by
506	499		the speaker;
507	500		(2) close the main entrance and permit no member to
508	501		leave the house without written permission from the speaker when a
509	502		call of the house or a call of the committee of the whole is ordered,
510	503		take up permission cards as members leave the hall, and take up
511	504		permission cards of those who are admitted to the floor of the house
512	505		under the rules and practice of the house;
513	506		(3) obtain recognition from the speaker and announce a
514	507		messenger from the governor or the senate on arrival at the bar of
515	508		the house; and
516	509		(4) obtain recognition from the speaker and announce
517	510		the arrival of the governor or the senate on arrival at the bar of
518	511		the house for official proceedings in the house.
519	512		Sec. 6. CHAPLAIN. The chaplain shall open the first
520	513		session on each calendar day with a prayer and shall perform such
521	514		other duties as directed by the Committee on House Administration.
522	515		Sec. 7. VOTING CLERK. The voting clerk, under the
523	516		supervision of the speaker, shall:
524	517		(1) open and close the voting machine on registrations
525	518		and record votes as ordered by the speaker;
526	519		(2) record votes from the floor as directed by the
527	520		speaker;
528	521		(3) prepare official copies of all record votes for
529	522		the journal; and
530	523		(4) make no additions, subtractions, or other changes
531	524		in any registration or record vote unless specifically granted
532	525		permission by the house or directed by the speaker prior to the
533	526		announcement of the final result.
534	527		Sec. 8. COMMITTEE COORDINATOR. (a) The committee
535	528		coordinator shall:
536	529		(1) under the direction of the Committee on House
537	530		Administration, prepare a schedule for regular meetings of all
538	531		standing committees as provided by Rule 4, Section 8(a);
539	532		(2) post committee meeting notices, as directed by the
540	533		chair of a committee, in accordance with Rule 4, Section 11(a);
541	534		(3) maintain duplicate originals of committee minutes
542	535		as required by Rule 4, Sections 18(c) and (d);
543	536		(4) direct the maintenance of sworn statements either
544	537		in electronic or paper format and, under the direction of the
545	538		Committee on House Administration, prescribe the form of those
546	539		statements, as required by Rule 4, Sections 20(a) and (c);
547	540		(5) receive and forward impact statements as required
548	541		by Rule 4, Section 34(e);
549	542		(6) receive committee reports as required by Rule 4,
550	543		Section 37, and refer them for printing as provided by Rule 6,
551	544		Section 19; and
552	545		(7) receive and distribute the recommendations and
553	546		final reports of interim study committees as provided by Rule 4,
554	547		Section 61.
555	548		(b) The committee coordinator may exclude from the
556	549		committee coordinator's office or refuse to interact with a member
557	550		or a member's staff if the member or member's staff engages in
558	551		abusive, harassing, or threatening behavior.
559	552		Sec. 9. PARLIAMENTARIAN. (a) The speaker may appoint not
560	553		more than two individuals to serve as parliamentarians. The
561	554		parliamentarians are officers [parliamentarian is an officer] of
562	555		the house who serve [serves] at the pleasure of the speaker. The
563	556		parliamentarians [parliamentarian] shall advise and assist the
564	557		presiding officer and the members of the house on matters of
565	558		procedure. The parliamentarians have [parliamentarian has] a duty
566	559		of confidentiality to the speaker and to each member of the house
567	560		and shall keep confidential all requests made by members of the
568	561		house for advice or guidance regarding procedure unless the parties
569	562		otherwise agree.
570	563		(b) After the initial appointment of the parliamentarians
571	564		[a parliamentarian] by the speaker, the appointment of a new
572	565		parliamentarian to fill a vacancy must be approved by a majority of
573	566		the membership of the house if the appointment is made during a
574	567		regular or special session. If the appointment to fill the vacancy
575	568		is made when the house is not in session, the appointment must be
576	569		approved by a majority of the membership not later than the third
577	570		day of the first special session that occurs after the date the
578	571		appointment is made. If no special session occurs after the
579	572		appointment, approval by the membership is not required.
580	573		(b-1) The speaker shall instruct the parliamentarians to
581	574		provide to each member a written copy of the speaker's ruling on a
582	575		point of order, including the citation of the authorities relied
583	576		upon in the grounds for decision. The written ruling shall be
584	577		provided to each member through the electronic legislative
585	578		information system not later than 24 hours after the ruling is
586	579		announced in the house.
587	580		(c) In the event of a conflict between this section and the
588	581		housekeeping resolution, this section controls.
589	582		CHAPTER B. OTHER EMPLOYEES
590	583		Sec. 10. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL EMPLOYEES: CONFIDENTIALITY.
591	584		(a) Communications between an attorney employed by the Texas
592	585		Legislative Council and the speaker, another member of the house,
593	586		or an employee of a member or committee of the house are
594	587		confidential in accordance with the rules and laws concerning
595	588		attorney-client privilege.
596	589		(b) Communications between any employee of the Texas
597	590		Legislative Council and the speaker, another member of the house,
598	591		or an employee of a member or committee of the house are
599	592		confidential. The General Investigating [and Ethics] Committee of
600	593		the House may investigate an alleged violation of this subsection.
601	594		(c) This section does not prohibit the speaker, member, or
602	595		committee from waiving a privilege as otherwise permitted by law or
603	596		from waiving confidentiality under this section.
604	597		RULE 3. STANDING COMMITTEES
605	598		Sec. 1. AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK. The committee shall
606	599		have nine [seven] members, with jurisdiction over all matters
607	600		pertaining to:
608	601		(1) agriculture, horticulture, and farm husbandry;
609	602		(2) livestock and stock raising, and the livestock
610	603		industry;
611	604		(3) the development and preservation of forests, and
612	605		the regulation, control, and promotion of the lumber industry;
613	606		(4) problems and issues particularly affecting rural
614	607		areas of the state, including issues related to rural economic
615	608		development and the provision of and access to infrastructure,
616	609		education, and health services; and
617	610		(5) the following state agencies: the Department of
618	611		Agriculture, the Texas Animal Health Commission, the State Soil and
619	612		Water Conservation Board, the Texas A&M Forest Service, the Texas
620	613		administrator for the South Central Interstate Forest Fire
621	614		Protection Compact, the Texas Apiary Inspection Service, Texas A&M
622	615		AgriLife Research, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, the
623	616		Food and Fibers Research Council, the State Seed and Plant Board,
624	617		the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, the Texas A&M
625	618		Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, the Produce Recovery
626	619		Fund Board, the board of directors of the Texas Boll Weevil
627	620		Eradication Foundation, Inc., and the Texas Wildlife Services.
628	621		Sec. 2. APPROPRIATIONS. (a) The committee shall have 27
629	622		members, with jurisdiction over:
630	623		(1) all bills and resolutions appropriating money from
631	624		the state treasury;
632	625		(2) all bills and resolutions containing provisions
633	626		resulting in automatic allocation of funds from the state treasury;
634	627		(3) all bills and resolutions diverting funds from
635	628		the state treasury or preventing funds from going in that otherwise
636	629		would be placed in the state treasury; and
637	630		(4) all matters pertaining to claims and accounts
638	631		filed with the legislature against the state unless jurisdiction
639	632		over those bills and resolutions is specifically granted by these
640	633		rules to some other standing committee.
641	634		(b) The appropriations committee may comment upon any bill
642	635		or resolution containing a provision resulting in an automatic
643	636		allocation of funds.
644	637		Sec. 3. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY. The committee shall have
645	638		nine [seven] members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining
646	639		to:
647	640		(1) industry and manufacturing;
648	641		(2) industrial safety and adequate and safe working
649	642		conditions, and the regulation and control of those conditions;
650	643		(3) hours, wages, collective bargaining, and the
651	644		relationship between employers and employees;
652	645		(4) unemployment compensation, including coverage,
653	646		benefits, taxes, and eligibility;
654	647		(5) labor unions and their organization, control,
655	648		management, and administration;
656	649		(6) the regulation of business transactions and
657	650		transactions involving property interests;
658	651		(7) [(5)] the organization, incorporation,
659	652		management, and regulation of private corporations and
660	653		professional associations and the Uniform Commercial Code and the
661	654		Business Organizations Code;
662	655		(8) [(6)] the protection of consumers, governmental
663	656		regulations incident thereto, the agencies of government
664	657		authorized to regulate such activities, and the role of the
665	658		government in consumer protection;
666	659		(9) [(7)] privacy and identity theft;
667	660		(10) [(8)] homeowners' associations;
668	661		(11) [(9)] oversight and regulation of the
669	662		construction industry; and
670	663		(12) [(10)] the following state agencies: the State
671	664		Office of Risk Management, the Risk Management Board, the Division
672	665		of Workers' Compensation of the Texas Department of Insurance, the
673	666		Workers' compensation research and evaluation group in the Texas
674	667		Department of Insurance, the Office of Injured Employee Counsel,
675	668		including the ombudsman program of that office, and the Texas
676	669		Mutual Insurance Company Board of Directors.
677	670		Sec. 4. CALENDARS (PROCEDURAL). The committee shall have
678	671		11 [15] members, with jurisdiction over:
679	672		(1) the placement of bills and resolutions on
680	673		appropriate calendars, except those within the jurisdiction of the
681	674		Committee on [Rules and] Resolutions Calendars;
682	675		(2) the determination of priorities and proposal of
683	676		rules for floor consideration of such bills and resolutions; and
684	677		(3) all other matters concerning the calendar system
685	678		and the expediting of the business of the house as may be assigned
686	679		by the speaker.
687	680		Sec. 5. CORRECTIONS. The committee shall have nine [seven]
688	681		members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
689	682		(1) the incarceration and rehabilitation of convicted
690	683		felons;
691	684		(2) the establishment and maintenance of programs that
692	685		provide alternatives to incarceration; and
693	686		(3) the following state agencies: the Texas
694	687		Department of Criminal Justice, the Special Prosecution Unit, the
695	688		Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Texas Civil Commitment Office,
696	689		and the Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or
697	690		Mental Impairments.
698	691		Sec. 6. COUNTY AFFAIRS. The committee shall have nine
699	692		members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
700	693		(1) counties, including their organization, creation,
701	694		boundaries, government, and finance and the compensation and duties
702	695		of their officers and employees;
703	696		(2) establishing districts for the election of
704	697		governing bodies of counties;
705	698		(3) regional councils of governments;
706	699		(4) multicounty boards or commissions;
707	700		(5) relationships or contracts between counties;
708	701		(6) other units of local government; and
709	702		(7) the following state agency: the Commission on
710	703		Jail Standards.
711	704		Sec. 7. CRIMINAL JURISPRUDENCE. The committee shall have
712	705		nine [seven] members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining
713	706		to:
714	707		(1) criminal law, prohibitions, standards, and
715	708		penalties;
716	709		(2) probation and parole;
717	710		(3) criminal procedure in the courts of Texas;
718	711		(4) revision or amendment of the Penal Code; and
719	712		(5) the following state agencies: the Office of State
720	713		Prosecuting Attorney and the Texas State Council for Interstate
721	714		Adult Offender Supervision.
722	715		Sec. 8. CULTURE, RECREATION, AND TOURISM. The committee
723	716		shall have nine [seven] members, with jurisdiction over:
724	717		(1) the creation, operation, and control of state
725	718		parks, including the development, maintenance, and operation of
726	719		state parks in connection with the sales and use tax imposed on
727	720		sporting goods, but not including any matter within the
728	721		jurisdiction of the Committee on Appropriations;
729	722		(2) the regulation and control of the propagation and
730	723		preservation of wildlife and fish in the state;
731	724		(3) the development and regulation of the fish and
732	725		oyster industries of the state;
733	726		(4) hunting and fishing in the state, and the
734	727		regulation and control thereof, including the imposition of fees,
735	728		fines, and penalties relating to that regulation;
736	729		(5) the regulation of other recreational activities;
737	730		(6) cultural resources and their promotion,
738	731		development, and regulation;
739	732		(7) historical resources and their promotion,
740	733		development, and regulation;
741	734		(8) promotion and development of Texas' image and
742	735		heritage;
743	736		(9) preservation and protection of Texas' shrines,
744	737		monuments, and memorials;
745	738		(10) international and interstate tourist promotion
746	739		and development;
747	740		(11) the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office
748	741		as it relates to the subject-matter jurisdiction of this committee;
749	742		(12) the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Compact; and
750	743		(13) the following state agencies: the Parks and
751	744		Wildlife Department, the Texas Commission on the Arts, the State
752	745		Cemetery Committee, the Texas State Library and Archives
753	746		Commission, the Texas Historical Commission, the State
754	747		Preservation Board, the San Jacinto Historical Advisory Board, and
755	748		an office of state government to the extent the office promotes the
756	749		Texas music industry.
757	750		Sec. 9. DEFENSE AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS. The committee shall
758	751		have nine [seven] members, with jurisdiction over all matters
759	752		pertaining to:
760	753		(1) the relations between the State of Texas and the
761	754		federal government involving defense, emergency preparedness, and
762	755		veterans issues;
763	756		(2) the various branches of the military service of
764	757		the United States;
765	758		(3) the realignment or closure of military bases;
766	759		(4) the defense of the state and nation, including
767	760		terrorism response;
768	761		(5) emergency preparedness;
769	762		(6) veterans of military and related services; and
770	763		(7) the following state agencies: the Texas Military
771	764		Department, the Texas Veterans Commission, the Veterans' Land
772	765		Board, the Texas Military Preparedness Commission, the Texas
773	766		Division of Emergency Management, and the Emergency Management
774	767		Council.
775	768		Sec. 10. [ECONOMIC AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. (a) The
776	769		committee shall have nine members, with jurisdiction over all
777	770		matters pertaining to:
778	771		[(1) workforce training;
779	772		[(2) commerce, trade, and manufacturing;
780	773		[(3) economic and industrial development;
781	774		[(4) development and support of small businesses;
782	775		[(5) job creation and job-training programs;
783	776		[(6) hours, wages, collective bargaining, and the
784	777		relationship between employers and employees;
785	778		[(7) unemployment compensation, including coverage,
786	779		benefits, taxes, and eligibility;
787	780		[(8) labor unions and their organization, control,
788	781		management, and administration;
789	782		[(9) weights and measures; and
790	783		[(10) the following state agencies: the Texas Economic
791	784		Development and Tourism Office, the Texas Workforce Commission, and
792	785		the Texas Workforce Investment Council.
793	786		[(b) The chair of the committee shall appoint a permanent
794	787		subcommittee on small business development consisting of not fewer
795	788		than five members to consider all matters pertaining to:
796	789		[(1) the establishment, operation, and well-being of
797	790		small businesses and their employees in the state; and
798	791		[(2) identifying and addressing federal, state, and
799	792		local regulatory barriers or impediments to the establishment,
800	793		operation, and well-being of small businesses and their employees
801	794		in the state.
802	795		[Sec. 11.] ELECTIONS. The committee shall have nine
803	796		[seven] members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
804	797		(1) the right of suffrage in Texas;
805	798		(2) primary, special, and general elections;
806	799		(3) revision, modification, amendment, or change of
807	800		the Election Code;
808	801		(4) the secretary of state in relation to elections;
809	802		(5) campaign finance; and
810	803		(6) [the duties and conduct of candidates for public
811	804		office and of persons with an interest in influencing public
812	805		policy; and
813	806		[(7)] the following state agency [agencies]: the
814	807		Office of the Secretary of State [and the Texas Ethics Commission].
815	808		Sec. 11 [12]. ENERGY RESOURCES. The committee shall have 11
816	809		[13] members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
817	810		(1) the conservation of the energy resources of Texas;
818	811		(2) the production, regulation, transportation, and
819	812		development of oil, gas, and other energy resources;
820	813		(3) mining and the development of mineral deposits
821	814		within the state;
822	815		(4) the leasing and regulation of mineral rights under
823	816		public lands;
824	817		(5) pipelines, pipeline companies, and all others
825	818		operating as common carriers in the state;
826	819		(6) electric utility regulation as it relates to
827	820		energy production and consumption;
828	821		(7) identifying, developing, and using alternative
829	822		energy sources;
830	823		(8) increasing energy efficiency throughout the
831	824		state;
832	825		(9) the coordination of the state's efforts related to
833	826		the federal designation of threatened and endangered species as it
834	827		relates to energy resources in the state; and
835	828		(10) the following state agencies: the Railroad
836	829		Commission of Texas, the Texas representative for the Interstate
837	830		Oil and Gas Compact Commission, the Office of Interstate Mining
838	831		Compact Commissioner for Texas, the State Energy Conservation
839	832		Office, and the Office of Southern States Energy Board Member for
840	833		Texas.
841	834		Sec. 12 [13]. ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION. The committee
842	835		shall have nine members, with jurisdiction over all matters
843	836		pertaining to:
844	837		(1) air, land, and water pollution, including the
845	838		environmental regulation of industrial development;
846	839		(2) the regulation of waste disposal;
847	840		(3) environmental matters that are regulated by the
848	841		Department of State Health Services or the Texas Commission on
849	842		Environmental Quality;
850	843		(4) oversight of the Texas Commission on Environmental
851	844		Quality as it relates to environmental regulation; and
852	845		(5) the following state agency: the Texas Low-Level
853	846		Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission.
854	847		Sec. 13 [14]. GENERAL INVESTIGATING [AND ETHICS]
855	848		(PROCEDURAL). (a) The committee shall have five [seven] members of
856	849		the house appointed by the speaker. The speaker shall appoint the
857	850		chair and the vice-chair of the committee.
858	851		(b) The committee has all the powers and duties of a general
859	852		investigating committee and shall operate as the general
860	853		investigating committee of the house according to the procedures
861	854		prescribed by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government Code, and the
862	855		rules of the house, as applicable.
863		-	(b-1) The committee may begin work as soon as it desires
864		-	after its members are appointed. The committee shall meet,
865		-	organize, and adopt rules of evidence and procedure and any other
866		-	necessary rules. The committee rules may not conflict with Section
867		-	301.025, Government Code.
868		-	(b-2) Whether or not the legislature is in session, the
869		-	committee may meet at any time or place in the state determined
870		-	necessary by the committee.
871		-	(b-3) If the committee decides not to conduct joint hearings
872		-	as provided by Section 301.019, Government Code, the committee
873		-	shall establish a liaison to fully inform the chair of the senate
874		-	committee of the nature and progress of any inquiry by the other
875		-	committee.
876		-	(b-4) On a majority vote of the committee, the committee may
877		-	conduct joint hearings and investigations.
878		-	(b-5) The committee may:
879		-	(1) initiate or continue inquiries and hearings
880		-	concerning:
881		-	(A) state government;
882		-	(B) any agency or subdivision of government
883		-	within the state;
884		-	(C) the expenditure of public funds at any level
885		-	of government within the state; and
886		-	(D) any other matter the committee considers
887		-	necessary for the information of the legislature or for the welfare
888		-	and protection of state citizens; and
889		-	(2) inspect the records, documents, and files and may
890		-	examine the duties, responsibilities, and activities of each state
891		-	department, agency, and officer and of each municipality, county,
892		-	or other political subdivision of the state.
893		-	(b-6) If a person disobeys a subpoena or other process that
894		-	the committee lawfully issues, the committee may cite the person
895		-	for contempt and cause the person to be prosecuted for contempt
896		-	according to the procedure prescribed by Subchapter B, Chapter 301,
897		-	Government Code, or by other law.
898		-	(b-7) The committee shall make reports to members of the
899		-	legislature that the committee determines are necessary and
900		-	appropriate.
901		-	(b-8) Information held by the committee that if held by a
902		-	law enforcement agency or prosecutor would be excepted from the
903		-	requirements of Section 552.021, Government Code, under Section
904		-	552.108 of that code is confidential and not subject to public
905		-	disclosure.
906		-	(b-9) If for any reason it is necessary to obtain assistance
907		-	in addition to the services provided by the state auditor, attorney
908		-	general, Texas Legislative Council, or Department of Public Safety,
909		-	the committee may employ and compensate assistants to assist in any
910		-	investigation, audit, or legal matter.
911	856		(c) The committee may investigate a matter related to the
912	857		misconduct, malfeasance, misfeasance, abuse of office, or
913	858		incompetency of an individual or officer under Chapter 665,
914	859		Government Code. The committee has all the powers and duties
915	860		conferred by that chapter for the purpose of conducting the
916	861		investigation, including the authority to propose articles of
917	862		impeachment.
918	863		(d) The committee has original jurisdiction over the
919	864		receipt, processing, investigation, and resolution of complaints
920	865		related to appropriate workplace conduct under Rule 15, the
921	866		housekeeping resolution, and policies adopted by the Committee on
922	867		House Administration. If a complaint relates to the conduct of a
923	868		member of the committee, that member's employee, or an individual
924	869		related to the member or the member's employee within the third
925	870		degree by consanguinity or within the second degree by affinity as
926	871		determined under Chapter 573, Government Code:
927	872		(1) the member shall not participate in any committee
928	873		proceedings related to the complaint; and
929	874		(2) the speaker shall designate a member of the house
930	875		drawn by lot under Subsection (e) of this section to act in the
931	876		place of the disqualified member. The designation of a member under
932	877		this subsection ends when the committee makes its final disposition
933	878		of the complaint [The committee has jurisdiction over all matters
934	879		pertaining to the conduct of and ethical standards applicable to
935	880		state and local government officers and employees, including
936	881		individuals appointed to offices of the executive branch of state
937	882		government for the purpose of ensuring that an appointed officer is
938	883		acting in the best interests of the State of Texas].
939	884		(e) When a member of the committee is disqualified under
940	885		Subsection (d) of this section, the chief clerk shall prepare a list
941	886		of the currently qualified members of the house, omitting the names
942	887		of the speaker, the disqualified member, each other member of the
943	888		committee, and any member elected from the same county as the
944	889		disqualified member. The chief clerk shall write on a separate
945	890		piece of paper of uniform size and color the name of each member
946	891		that appears on the prepared list. The chief clerk shall deposit
947	892		the pieces of paper in an opaque container that is designed to
948	893		permit the random distribution of the pieces of paper after their
949	894		initial deposit and to prevent the viewing of any of the pieces of
950	895		paper at any time. After the pieces of paper are randomly
951	896		distributed in the container, the sergeant-at-arms shall draw a
952	897		single piece of paper and deliver that piece of paper to the chief
953	898		clerk. The chief clerk shall inform the speaker of the name drawn
954	899		by the sergeant-at-arms for designation under Subsection (d) [The
955	900		committee has jurisdiction over the operation of, including
956	901		transparency in the reporting of financial transactions by,
957	902		agencies of the judicial and executive branches of state government
958	903		and affiliated entities or foundations].
959	904		[Sec. 15. GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY AND OPERATION. The
960	905		committee shall have seven members, with jurisdiction over all
961	906		matters pertaining to:
962	907		[(1) the organization, operation, powers,
963	908		regulations, and management of state departments, agencies,
964	909		institutions, and advisory committees;
965	910		[(2) elimination of inefficiencies in the provision of
966	911		state services;
967	912		[(3) open government matters, including open records
968	913		and open meetings;
969	914		[(4) advances in science and technology, including
970	915		telecommunications, electronic technology, or automated data
971	916		processing, by state agencies, including institutions of higher
972	917		education;
973	918		[(5) the promotion within the state of an advance
974	919		described by Subdivision (4);
975	920		[(6) cooperation between the state or a local
976	921		governmental entity and the scientific and technological
977	922		community, including private businesses, institutions of higher
978	923		education, and federal governmental laboratories;
979	924		[(7) cybersecurity; and
980	925		[(8) the Sunset Advisory Commission.]
981	926		Sec. 14 [16]. HIGHER EDUCATION. [(a)] The committee shall
982	927		have 11 [nine] members, with jurisdiction over all matters
983	928		pertaining to:
984	929		(1) education beyond high school;
985	930		(2) the colleges and universities of the State of
986	931		Texas; and
987	932		(3) the following state agencies: the Texas A&M
988	933		Engineering Experiment Station, the Texas A&M Engineering
989	934		Extension Service, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board,
990	935		the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation, the Prepaid Higher
991	936		Education Tuition Board, and the Texas A&M Transportation
992	937		Institute.
993	938		[(b) The chair of the committee shall appoint a permanent
994	939		subcommittee on postsecondary education and workforce readiness
995	940		consisting of not fewer than five members to consider all matters
996	941		pertaining to the availability of postsecondary educational
997	942		opportunities in the state, including opportunities at:
998	943		[(1) public or private institutions of higher
999	944		education;
1000	945		[(2) nonprofit colleges or universities; and
1001	946		[(3) career schools or colleges, or any other
1002	947		postsecondary educational providers in the state.]
1003	948		Sec. 15 [17]. HOMELAND SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY. The
1004	949		committee shall have nine members, with jurisdiction over all
1005	950		matters pertaining to:
1006	951		(1) law enforcement;
1007	952		(2) the prevention of crime and the apprehension of
1008	953		criminals;
1009	954		(3) the provision of security services by private
1010	955		entities;
1011	956		(4) homeland security, including:
1012	957		(A) the defense of the state and nation,
1013	958		including terrorism response; and
1014	959		(B) disaster mitigation, preparedness, response,
1015	960		and recovery; and
1016	961		(5) the following state agencies: the Texas Commission
1017	962		on Law Enforcement, the Department of Public Safety, the Texas
1018	963		Division of Emergency Management, the Emergency Management
1019	964		Council, the Texas Forensic Science Commission, the Texas Military
1020	965		Preparedness Commission, the Texas Private Security Board, the
1021	966		Commission on State Emergency Communications, and the Texas Crime
1022	967		Stoppers Council.
1023	968		Sec. 16 [18]. HOUSE ADMINISTRATION (PROCEDURAL). (a) The
1024	969		committee shall have 11 members, with jurisdiction over:
1025	970		(1) administrative operation of the house and its
1026	971		employees;
1027	972		(2) the adoption of policies and procedures for
1028	973		appropriate workplace conduct under Rule 15 and the housekeeping
1029	974		resolution, including policies and procedures relating to the
1030	975		training of members, officers, and employees;
1031	976		(3) the general house fund, with full control over all
1032	977		expenditures from the fund;
1033	978		(4) [(3)] all property, equipment, and supplies
1034	979		obtained by the house for its use and the use of its members;
1035	980		(5) [(4)] all office space available for the use of
1036	981		the house and its members;
1037	982		(6) [(5)] the assignment of vacant office space,
1038	983		vacant parking spaces, and vacant desks on the house floor to
1039	984		members with seniority based on cumulative years of service in the
1040	985		house, except that the committee may make these assignments based
1041	986		on physical disability of a member where it deems proper;
1042	987		(7) [(6)] all admissions to the floor during sessions
1043	988		of the house;
1044	989		(8) [(7)] all proposals to invite nonmembers to appear
1045	990		before or address the house or a joint session;
1046	991		(9) [(8)] all radio, television, and Internet
1047	992		broadcasting, live or recorded, of sessions of the house;
1048	993		(10) [(9)] the electronic recording of the
1049	994		proceedings of the house of representatives and the custody of the
1050	995		recordings of testimony before house committees, with authority to
1051	996		promulgate reasonable rules, regulations, and conditions
1052	997		concerning the safekeeping, reproducing, and transcribing of the
1053	998		recordings, and the defraying of costs for transcribing the
1054	999		recordings, subject to other provisions of these rules;
1055	1000		(11) [(10)] all witnesses appearing before the house
1056	1001		or any committee thereof in support of or in opposition to any
1057	1002		pending legislative proposal;
1058	1003		(12) the Rules of Procedure of the House of
1059	1004		Representatives, Joint Rules of the House and Senate, and all
1060	1005		proposed amendments;
1061	1006		(13) other matters concerning the rules, procedures,
1062	1007		and operation of the house assigned by the speaker; and
1063	1008		(14) [(11)] the following state agency: the State
1064	1009		Preservation Board.
1065	1010		(b) The committee must vote to adopt the annual budget for
1066	1011		each house department.
1067	1012		Sec. 17 [19]. HUMAN SERVICES. The committee shall have nine
1068	1013		members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1069	1014		(1) welfare and rehabilitation programs and their
1070	1015		development, administration, and control;
1071	1016		(2) oversight of the Health and Human Services
1072	1017		Commission as it relates to the subject matter jurisdiction of this
1073	1018		committee;
1074	1019		(3) intellectual disabilities and the development of
1075	1020		programs incident thereto;
1076	1021		(4) the prevention and treatment of intellectual
1077	1022		disabilities; and
1078	1023		(5) the following state agencies: the [Department of
1079	1024		Aging and Disability Services, the] Department of Family and
1080	1025		Protective Services, the Texas State Board of Social Worker
1081	1026		Examiners, and the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional
1082	1027		Counselors.
1083	1028		Sec. 18 [20]. INSURANCE. The committee shall have nine
1084	1029		members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1085	1030		(1) insurance and the insurance industry;
1086	1031		(2) all insurance companies and other organizations of
1087	1032		any type writing or issuing policies of insurance in the State of
1088	1033		Texas, including their organization, incorporation, management,
1089	1034		powers, and limitations; and
1090	1035		(3) the following state agencies: the Texas
1091	1036		Department of Insurance, the Texas Health Benefits Purchasing
1092	1037		Cooperative, and the Office of Public Insurance Counsel.
1093	1038		Sec. 19 [21]. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND ECONOMIC
1094	1039		DEVELOPMENT [TRADE AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS]. The committee
1095	1040		shall have nine [seven] members, with jurisdiction over all matters
1096	1041		pertaining to:
1097	1042		(1) the relations between the State of Texas and other
1098	1043		nations, including matters related to trade relations and
1099	1044		international trade zones;
1100	1045		(2) the relations between the State of Texas and the
1101	1046		federal government other than matters involving defense, emergency
1102	1047		preparedness, and veterans issues;
1103	1048		(3) the relations between the State of Texas and other
1104	1049		states of the United States;
1105	1050		(4) commerce, trade, and manufacturing, including
1106	1051		international commerce and trade and[, including] the regulation of
1107	1052		persons participating in international commerce and trade;
1108	1053		(5) cooperation between the state or a local
1109	1054		governmental entity and the scientific and technological
1110	1055		community, including private businesses, institutions of higher
1111	1056		education, and federal governmental laboratories;
1112	1057		(6) weights and measures;
1113	1058		(7) workforce training;
1114	1059		(8) economic and industrial development;
1115	1060		(9) development and support of small businesses;
1116	1061		(10) job creation and job-training programs;
1117	1062		(11) hours, wages, collective bargaining, and the
1118	1063		relationship between employers and employees;
1119	1064		(12) international and border regions (as described in
1120	1065		Sections 2056.002(e)(2) and (3), Government Code) economic
1121	1066		development, public health and safety issues affecting the border,
1122	1067		tourist development, and goodwill, and economic development,
1123	1068		tourist development, and goodwill in other areas of the state that
1124	1069		have experienced a significant increase in the percentage of the
1125	1070		population that consists of immigrants from other nations,
1126	1071		according to the last two federal decennial censuses or another
1127	1072		reliable measure;
1128	1073		(13) [(6)] the provision of public services to persons
1129	1074		residing in proximity to Texas' international border or in other
1130	1075		areas of the state that have experienced a significant increase in
1131	1076		the percentage of the population that consists of immigrants from
1132	1077		other nations, according to the last two federal decennial censuses
1133	1078		or another reliable measure; and
1134	1079		(14) [(7)] the following state agencies [agency]: the
1135	1080		Office of State-Federal Relations, the Texas Economic Development
1136	1081		and Tourism Office, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Texas
1137	1082		Workforce Investment Council.
1138	1083		[Sec. 22. INVESTMENTS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES. (a) The
1139	1084		committee shall have seven members, with jurisdiction over all
1140	1085		matters pertaining to:
1141	1086		[(1) banking and the state banking system;
1142	1087		[(2) savings and loan associations;
1143	1088		[(3) credit unions;
1144	1089		[(4) the regulation of state and local bonded
1145	1090		indebtedness;
1146	1091		[(5) the lending of money;
1147	1092		[(6) the regulation of securities and investments;
1148	1093		[(7) privacy and identity theft; and
1149	1094		[(8) the following state agencies: the Finance
1150	1095		Commission of Texas, the Credit Union Commission, the Office of
1151	1096		Consumer Credit Commissioner, the Office of Banking Commissioner,
1152	1097		the Texas Department of Banking, the Department of Savings and
1153	1098		Mortgage Lending, the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company, the
1154	1099		Texas Public Finance Authority, the Bond Review Board, and the
1155	1100		State Securities Board.
1156	1101		[(b) The chair of the committee shall appoint a permanent
1157	1102		subcommittee on state and local bonded indebtedness consisting of
1158	1103		not fewer than five members to consider all matters pertaining to
1159	1104		bonded indebtedness by a state or local governmental entity,
1160	1105		including:
1161	1106		[(1) the authority to issue bonds and the effects of
1162	1107		issuing bonds;
1163	1108		[(2) the economic impact of bonded indebtedness; and
1164	1109		[(3) the transparency of, and information provided to
1165	1110		taxpayers regarding, transactions related to the issuance of
1166	1111		bonds.]
1167	1112		Sec. 20 [23]. JUDICIARY AND CIVIL JURISPRUDENCE. The
1168	1113		committee shall have nine members, with jurisdiction over all
1169	1114		matters pertaining to:
1170	1115		(1) fines and penalties arising under civil laws;
1171	1116		(2) civil law, including rights, duties, remedies, and
1172	1117		procedures thereunder, and including probate and guardianship
1173	1118		matters;
1174	1119		(3) civil procedure in the courts of Texas;
1175	1120		(4) administrative law and the adjudication of rights
1176	1121		by administrative agencies;
1177	1122		(5) permission to sue the state;
1178	1123		(6) uniform state laws;
1179	1124		(7) creating, changing, or otherwise affecting courts
1180	1125		of judicial districts of the state;
1181	1126		(8) establishing districts for the election of
1182	1127		judicial officers;
1183	1128		(9) [the State Commission on Judicial Conduct;
1184	1129		[(10) the Office of the Attorney General, including
1185	1130		its organization, powers, functions, and responsibilities;
1186	1131		[(11)] courts and court procedures except where
1187	1132		jurisdiction is specifically granted to some other standing
1188	1133		committee; and
1189	1134		(10) [(12)] the following state agencies: the Supreme
1190	1135		Court, the courts of appeals, the Court of Criminal Appeals, the
1191	1136		State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the Office of Court
1192	1137		Administration of the Texas Judicial System, the State Law Library,
1193	1138		the Texas Judicial Council, the Judicial Branch Certification
1194	1139		Commission, the Office of the Attorney General, the Board of Law
1195	1140		Examiners, the State Bar of Texas, and the State Office of
1196	1141		Administrative Hearings.
1197	1142		Sec. 21 [24]. JUVENILE JUSTICE AND FAMILY ISSUES. The
1198	1143		committee shall have nine [seven] members, with jurisdiction over
1199	1144		all matters pertaining to:
1200	1145		(1) the commitment and rehabilitation of youths;
1201	1146		(2) the construction, operation, and management of
1202	1147		correctional facilities of the state and facilities used for the
1203	1148		commitment and rehabilitation of youths;
1204	1149		(3) juvenile delinquency and gang violence;
1205	1150		(4) criminal law, prohibitions, standards, and
1206	1151		penalties as applied to juveniles;
1207	1152		(5) criminal procedure in the courts of Texas as it
1208	1153		relates to juveniles;
1209	1154		(6) civil law as it relates to familial relationships,
1210	1155		including rights, duties, remedies, and procedures; and
1211	1156		(7) the following state agencies: the Texas Juvenile
1212	1157		Justice Board, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, the Office of
1213	1158		Independent Ombudsman for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department,
1214	1159		and the Advisory Council on Juvenile Services.
1215	1160		Sec. 22 [25]. LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. The committee
1216	1161		shall have nine [seven] members, with jurisdiction over all matters
1217	1162		pertaining to:
1218	1163		(1) the management of public lands;
1219	1164		(2) the power of eminent domain;
1220	1165		(3) the creation, modification, and regulation of
1221	1166		municipal utility districts;
1222	1167		(4) annexation, zoning, and other governmental
1223	1168		regulation of land use; and
1224	1169		(5) [(4)] the following state agencies: the School
1225	1170		Land Board, the Board for Lease of University Lands, and the General
1226	1171		Land Office.
1227	1172		Sec. 23 [26]. LICENSING AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. The
1228	1173		committee shall have 11 [nine] members, with jurisdiction over all
1229	1174		matters pertaining to:
1230	1175		(1) the oversight of businesses, industries, general
1231	1176		trades, and occupations regulated by this state;
1232	1177		(2) the regulation of greyhound and horse racing and
1233	1178		other gaming industries;
1234	1179		(3) regulation of the sale of intoxicating beverages
1235	1180		and local option control;
1236	1181		(4) the Alcoholic Beverage Code; and
1237	1182		(5) the following state agencies: the Texas
1238	1183		Department of Licensing and Regulation, the State Office of
1239	1184		Administrative Hearings, the Texas Board of Architectural
1240	1185		Examiners, the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, the Texas
1241	1186		Real Estate Commission, the Texas State Board of Plumbing
1242	1187		Examiners, the Texas Board of Professional Engineers, the Real
1243	1188		Estate Center at Texas A&M University, the Texas Board of
1244	1189		Professional Land Surveying, the Texas Racing Commission, the Texas
1245	1190		Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board, the Texas Lottery
1246	1191		Commission, and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
1247	1192		Sec. 24 [27]. LOCAL AND CONSENT CALENDARS (PROCEDURAL).
1248	1193		The committee shall have 11 [13] members, with jurisdiction over:
1249	1194		(1) the placement on appropriate calendars of bills
1250	1195		and resolutions that, in the opinion of the committee, are in fact
1251	1196		local or will be uncontested, and have been recommended as such by
1252	1197		the standing committee of original jurisdiction; and
1253	1198		(2) the determination of priorities for floor
1254	1199		consideration of bills and resolutions except those within the
1255	1200		jurisdiction of the Committee on Calendars and the Committee on
1256	1201		Resolutions Calendars.
1257	1202		Sec. 25 [28]. NATURAL RESOURCES. [(a)] The committee
1258	1203		shall have 11 members, with jurisdiction over all matters
1259	1204		pertaining to:
1260	1205		(1) the conservation of the natural resources of
1261	1206		Texas;
1262	1207		(2) the control and development of land and water and
1263	1208		land and water resources, including the taking, storing, control,
1264	1209		and use of all water in the state, and its appropriation and
1265	1210		allocation;
1266	1211		(3) irrigation, irrigation companies, and irrigation
1267	1212		districts, and their incorporation, management, and powers;
1268	1213		(4) the creation, modification, and regulation of
1269	1214		groundwater conservation districts, [and the modification and
1270	1215		regulation of] water supply districts, water control and
1271	1216		improvement districts, conservation and reclamation districts, and
1272	1217		all similar organs of local government dealing with water and water
1273	1218		supply not otherwise assigned by these rules to another standing
1274	1219		committee;
1275	1220		(5) oversight of the Texas Commission on Environmental
1276	1221		Quality as it relates to the regulation of water resources; and
1277	1222		(6) the following state agencies: the Office of
1278	1223		Canadian River Compact Commissioner for Texas, the Office of Pecos
1279	1224		River Compact Commissioner for Texas, the Office of Red River
1280	1225		Compact Commissioner for Texas, the Office of Rio Grande Compact
1281	1226		Commissioner for Texas, the Office of Sabine River Compact
1282	1227		Commissioners [Commissioner] for Texas, the Southwestern States
1283	1228		Water Commission, and the Texas Water Development Board.
1284	1229		[(b) The chair of the committee shall appoint a permanent
1285	1230		subcommittee on special water districts consisting of not fewer
1286	1231		than five members to consider all matters pertaining to special
1287	1232		water districts within the jurisdiction of the committee,
1288	1233		including:
1289	1234		[(1) the organization and operation of the districts;
1290	1235		[(2) the powers and duties of the districts; and
1291	1236		[(3) the districts' role in the conservation of
1292	1237		natural resources and the control and development of land and water
1293	1238		in the state.]
1294	1239		Sec. 26 [29]. PENSIONS, INVESTMENTS, AND FINANCIAL
1295	1240		SERVICES. The committee shall have 11 [seven] members, with
1296	1241		jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1297	1242		(1) banking and the state banking system;
1298	1243		(2) savings and loan associations;
1299	1244		(3) credit unions;
1300	1245		(4) the regulation of state and local bonded
1301	1246		indebtedness;
1302	1247		(5) the lending of money;
1303	1248		(6) benefits or participation in benefits of a public
1304	1249		retirement system and the financial obligations of a public
1305	1250		retirement system;
1306	1251		(7) the regulation of securities and investments;
1307	1252		(8) privacy and identity theft; and
1308	1253		(9) [(2)] the following state agencies: the Finance
1309	1254		Commission of Texas, the Credit Union Commission, the Office of
1310	1255		Consumer Credit Commissioner, the Office of Banking Commissioner,
1311	1256		the Texas Department of Banking, the Department of Savings and
1312	1257		Mortgage Lending, the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company, the
1313	1258		Texas Public Finance Authority, the Bond Review Board, the Texas
1314	1259		Emergency Services Retirement System, the Board of Trustees of the
1315	1260		Teacher Retirement System of Texas, the Board of Trustees of the
1316	1261		Employees Retirement System of Texas, the Board of Trustees of the
1317	1262		Texas County and District Retirement System, the Board of Trustees
1318	1263		of the Texas Municipal Retirement System, [and] the State Pension
1319	1264		Review Board, and the State Securities Board.
1320	1265		Sec. 27 [30]. PUBLIC EDUCATION. [(a)] The committee shall
1321	1266		have 13 [11] members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining
1322	1267		to:
1323	1268		(1) the public schools and the public school system of
1324	1269		Texas and the financing thereof;
1325	1270		(2) the state programming of elementary and secondary
1326	1271		education for the public school system of Texas;
1327	1272		(3) proposals to create, change, or otherwise alter
1328	1273		school districts of the state; and
1329	1274		(4) the following state agencies: the State Board of
1330	1275		Education, the Texas Education Agency, the Texas representatives to
1331	1276		the Education Commission of the States, the Office of Southern
1332	1277		Regional Education Compact Commissioner for Texas, the Texas School
1333	1278		for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the State Board for Educator
1334	1279		Certification, and the Texas School for the Deaf.
1335	1280		[(b) The chair of the committee shall appoint a permanent
1336	1281		subcommittee on educator quality consisting of not fewer than five
1337	1282		members to consider all matters pertaining to ensuring the high
1338	1283		quality of teachers in the state, including:
1339	1284		[(1) ways to improve the quality of the existing
1340	1285		teacher workforce and recruit well-qualified individuals into the
1341	1286		workforce; and
1342	1287		[(2) the adequacy of existing certification programs
1343	1288		for new teachers.]
1344	1289		Sec. 28 [31]. PUBLIC HEALTH. The committee shall have 11
1345	1290		members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1346	1291		(1) the protection of public health, including
1347	1292		supervision and control of the practice of medicine and dentistry
1348	1293		and other allied health services;
1349	1294		(2) mental health and the development of programs
1350	1295		incident thereto;
1351	1296		(3) the prevention and treatment of mental illness;
1352	1297		(4) oversight of the Health and Human Services
1353	1298		Commission as it relates to the subject matter jurisdiction of this
1354	1299		committee; and
1355	1300		(5) the following state agencies: the Department of
1356	1301		State Health Services, the Anatomical Board of the State of Texas,
1357	1302		the Texas Funeral Service Commission, the Hearing Instrument
1358	1303		Fitters and Dispensers Advisory Board, the Texas Health Services
1359	1304		Authority, the Texas Optometry Board, the Texas Radiation Advisory
1360	1305		Board, the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, the Interagency Obesity
1361	1306		Council, the Texas Board of Nursing, the Texas Board of
1362	1307		Chiropractic Examiners, the Texas Board of Physical Therapy
1363	1308		Examiners, the Massage Therapy Advisory Board, the [Texas State
1364	1309		Board of] Podiatric Medical Examiners Advisory Board, the Texas
1365	1310		State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the Behavior Analyst
1366	1311		Advisory Board, the State Board of Dental Examiners, the Texas
1367	1312		Medical Board, the Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers, [the Dental
1368	1313		Hygiene Advisory Committee,] the Cancer Prevention and Research
1369	1314		Institute of Texas, the Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners,
1370	1315		the Health Professions Council, the Office of Patient Protection,
1371	1316		and the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners.
1372	1317		Sec. 29 [32]. REDISTRICTING (PROCEDURAL). The committee
1373	1318		shall have 15 [nine] members, with jurisdiction over all matters
1374	1319		pertaining to:
1375	1320		(1) legislative districts, both house and senate, and
1376	1321		any changes or amendments;
1377	1322		(2) congressional districts, their creation, and any
1378	1323		changes or amendments;
1379	1324		(3) establishing districts for the election of
1380	1325		judicial officers or of governing bodies or representatives of
1381	1326		political subdivisions or state agencies as required by law; and
1382	1327		(4) preparations for the redistricting process.
1383	1328		Sec. 30 [33]. [RULES AND] RESOLUTIONS CALENDARS
1384	1329		(PROCEDURAL). The committee shall have 11 members, with
1385	1330		jurisdiction over:
1386	1331		(1) the placement on appropriate calendars of
1387	1332		resolutions that, in the opinion of the committee, are in fact
1388	1333		congratulatory or memorial [Rules of Procedure of the House of
1389	1334		Representatives, and all proposed amendments];
1390	1335		(2) the determination of priorities for floor
1391	1336		consideration of resolutions except those within the jurisdiction
1392	1337		of the Committee on Calendars and the Committee on Local and Consent
1393	1338		Calendars [Joint Rules of the House and Senate, and all proposed
1394	1339		amendments];
1395	1340		(3) all procedures for expediting the business of the
1396	1341		house in expressing concern or commendation in an orderly and
1397	1342		efficient manner;
1398	1343		(4) all resolutions to congratulate, memorialize, or
1399	1344		name mascots of the house; and
1400	1345		(5) other matters concerning rules, procedures, and
1401	1346		operation of the house in expressing concern or commendation
1402	1347		assigned by the speaker.
1403	1348		[Sec. 34. SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS. (a) The committee
1404	1349		shall have seven members, with jurisdiction over all matters
1405	1350		pertaining to:
1406	1351		[(1) the creation of any special purpose district not
1407	1352		otherwise assigned by these rules to other standing committees,
1408	1353		including a crime control and prevention district, library
1409	1354		district, public improvement district, municipal management
1410	1355		district, municipal development district, irrigation district,
1411	1356		water improvement district, water control and improvement
1412	1357		district, river authority, or navigation district; and
1413	1358		[(2) any other local government special purpose
1414	1359		district authorized or created under law that as the result of its
1415	1360		creation may levy or impose a tax, assessment, or fee for a special
1416	1361		purpose.
1417	1362		[(b) In this section, "local government" means a political
1418	1363		subdivision of this state, other than a county, and includes a
1419	1364		corporation or other entity created by a political subdivision of
1420	1365		this state other than a county.]
1421	1366		Sec. 31 [35]. STATE AFFAIRS. The committee shall have 13
1422	1367		members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1423	1368		(1) questions and matters of state policy;
1424	1369		(2) the administration of state government;
1425	1370		(3) the organization, operation, powers, regulation,
1426	1371		and management of state departments, agencies, and institutions;
1427	1372		(4) the operation and regulation of public lands and
1428	1373		state buildings;
1429	1374		(5) the duties and conduct of officers and employees
1430	1375		of the state government;
1431	1376		(6) the duties and conduct of candidates for public
1432	1377		office and of persons with an interest in influencing public
1433	1378		policy;
1434	1379		(7) the operation of state government and its agencies
1435	1380		and departments; all of above except where jurisdiction is
1436	1381		specifically granted to some other standing committee;
1437	1382		(8) [(7)] access of the state agencies to scientific
1438	1383		and technological information;
1439	1384		(9) [(8)] the regulation and deregulation of electric
1440	1385		utilities and the electric industry;
1441	1386		(10) [(9)] the regulation and deregulation of
1442	1387		telecommunications utilities and the telecommunications industry;
1443	1388		(11) [(10)] electric utility regulation as it relates
1444	1389		to energy production and consumption;
1445	1390		(12) [(11)] pipelines, pipeline companies, and all
1446	1391		others operating as common carriers in the state;
1447	1392		(13) [(12)] the regulation and deregulation of other
1448	1393		industries jurisdiction of which is not specifically assigned to
1449	1394		another committee under these rules;
1450	1395		(14) advances in science and technology, including
1451	1396		telecommunications, electronic technology, or automated data
1452	1397		processing, by state agencies, including institutions of higher
1453	1398		education;
1454	1399		(15) the promotion within the state of an advance
1455	1400		described by Subdivision (14) of this section;
1456	1401		(16) cybersecurity; and
1457	1402		(17) [(13)] the following organizations and state
1458	1403		agencies: the Council of State Governments, the National
1459	1404		Conference of State Legislatures, the Office of the Governor, the
1460	1405		Texas Ethics Commission, the Texas Facilities Commission, the
1461	1406		Department of Information Resources, the Inaugural Endowment Fund
1462	1407		Committee, the Sunset Advisory Commission, the Public Utility
1463	1408		Commission of Texas, and the Office of Public Utility Counsel.
1464	1409		Sec. 32 [36]. TRANSPORTATION. [(a)] The committee shall
1465	1410		have 13 members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1466	1411		(1) commercial motor vehicles, both bus and truck, and
1467	1412		their control, regulation, licensing, and operation;
1468	1413		(2) the Texas highway system, including all roads,
1469	1414		bridges, and ferries constituting a part of the system;
1470	1415		(3) the licensing of private passenger vehicles to
1471	1416		operate on the roads and highways of the state;
1472	1417		(4) the regulation and control of traffic on the
1473	1418		public highways of the State of Texas;
1474	1419		(5) railroads, street railway lines, interurban
1475	1420		railway lines, steamship companies, and express companies;
1476	1421		(6) airports, air traffic, airlines, and other
1477	1422		organizations engaged in transportation by means of aerial flight;
1478	1423		(7) water transportation in the State of Texas, and
1479	1424		the rivers, harbors, and related facilities used in water
1480	1425		transportation and the agencies of government exercising
1481	1426		supervision and control thereover;
1482	1427		(8) the regulation of metropolitan transit; and
1483	1428		(9) the following state agencies: the Texas Department
1484	1429		of Motor Vehicles, the Texas Department of Transportation, and the
1485	1430		Texas Transportation Commission.
1486	1431		[(b) The chair of the committee shall appoint a permanent
1487	1432		subcommittee on long-term transportation infrastructure planning
1488	1433		consisting of not fewer than seven members to consider all matters
1489	1434		pertaining to the transportation needs of the state during the next
1490	1435		10 years and funding mechanisms to provide for meeting those
1491	1436		needs.]
1492	1437		Sec. 33 [37]. URBAN AFFAIRS. The committee shall have nine
1493	1438		[seven] members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1494	1439		(1) municipalities, including their creation,
1495	1440		organization, powers, government, and finance, and the
1496	1441		compensation and duties of their officers and employees;
1497	1442		(2) home-rule municipalities, their relationship to
1498	1443		the state, and their powers, authority, and limitations;
1499	1444		(3) the creation or change of metropolitan areas and
1500	1445		the form of government under which those areas operate;
1501	1446		(4) problems and issues particularly affecting
1502	1447		metropolitan areas of the state;
1503	1448		(5) other units of local government not otherwise
1504	1449		assigned by these rules to other standing committees;
1505	1450		(6) establishing districts for the election of
1506	1451		governing bodies of municipalities;
1507	1452		(7) land use regulation by municipalities; and
1508	1453		(8) the following state agencies: the Texas
1509	1454		Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the Texas
1510	1455		Commission on Fire Protection.
1511	1456		Sec. 34 [38]. WAYS AND MEANS. [(a)] The committee shall
1512	1457		have 11 members, with jurisdiction over:
1513	1458		(1) all bills and resolutions proposing to raise state
1514	1459		revenue;
1515	1460		(2) all bills or resolutions proposing to levy state
1516	1461		taxes or other fees;
1517	1462		(3) all proposals to modify, amend, or change any
1518	1463		existing state tax or revenue statute;
1519	1464		(4) all proposals to regulate the manner of collection
1520	1465		of state revenues and taxes;
1521	1466		(5) all bills and resolutions containing provisions
1522	1467		resulting in automatic allocation of funds from the state treasury;
1523	1468		(6) all bills and resolutions diverting funds from the
1524	1469		state treasury or preventing funds from going in that otherwise
1525	1470		would be placed in the state treasury;
1526	1471		(7) all bills and resolutions proposing to permit a
1527	1472		local government to raise revenue;
1528	1473		(8) all bills and resolutions proposing to permit a
1529	1474		local government to levy or impose property taxes, sales and use
1530	1475		taxes, or other taxes and fees;
1531	1476		(9) all proposals to modify, amend, or change any
1532	1477		existing local government tax or revenue statute;
1533	1478		(10) all proposals to regulate the manner of
1534	1479		collection of local government revenues and taxes;
1535	1480		(11) all bills and resolutions relating to the
1536	1481		appraisal of property for taxation;
1537	1482		(12) all bills and resolutions relating to the Tax
1538	1483		Code; and
1539	1484		(13) the following state agencies: the Office of
1540	1485		Multistate Tax Compact Commissioner for Texas and the Comptroller
1541	1486		of Public Accounts.
1542	1487		[(b) The chair of the committee shall appoint one or more
1543	1488		subcommittees consisting of not fewer than five members each, with
1544	1489		each subcommittee focusing on a specific method of taxation and all
1545	1490		matters pertaining to that method. One subcommittee must be
1546	1491		appointed to consider property taxation.]
1547	1492		RULE 4. ORGANIZATION, POWERS, AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEES
1548	1493		CHAPTER A. ORGANIZATION
1549	1494		Sec. 1. COMMITTEES, MEMBERSHIP, AND JURISDICTION. Standing
1550	1495		committees of the house, and the number of members and general
1551	1496		jurisdiction of each, shall be as enumerated in Rule 3.
1552	1497		Sec. 2. DETERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP. (a) Membership on
1553	1498		the standing committees shall be determined at the beginning of
1554	1499		each regular session in the following manner:
1555	1500		(1) For each standing substantive committee, a maximum
1556	1501		of one-half of the membership, exclusive of the chair and
1557	1502		vice-chair, shall be determined by seniority. The remaining
1558	1503		membership of the committee shall be appointed by the speaker.
1559	1504		(2) Each member of the house, in order of seniority,
1560	1505		may designate three committees on which he or she desires to serve,
1561	1506		listed in order of preference. The member is entitled to become a
1562	1507		member of the committee of his or her highest preference on which
1563	1508		there remains a vacant seniority position.
1564	1509		(3) If members of equal seniority request the same
1565	1510		committee, the speaker shall appoint the member from among those
1566	1511		requesting that committee. Seniority, as the term is used in this
1567	1512		subsection, shall mean years of cumulative service as a member of
1568	1513		the house of representatives.
1569	1514		(4) After each member of the house has selected one
1570	1515		committee on the basis of seniority, the remaining membership on
1571	1516		each standing committee shall be filled by appointment of the
1572	1517		speaker, subject to the limitations imposed in this chapter.
1573	1518		(5) Seniority shall not apply to a procedural
1574	1519		committee. For purposes of these rules, the procedural committees
1575	1520		are the Committee on Calendars, the Committee on Local and Consent
1576	1521		Calendars, the Committee on [Rules and] Resolutions Calendars, the
1577	1522		General Investigating [and Ethics] Committee, the Committee on
1578	1523		House Administration, and the Committee on Redistricting. The
1579	1524		entire membership of these committees shall be appointed by the
1580	1525		speaker.
1581	1526		(6) In announcing the membership of committees, the
1582	1527		speaker shall designate those appointed by the speaker and those
1583	1528		acquiring membership by seniority.
1584	1529		(7) The speaker shall designate the chair and
1585	1530		vice-chair from the total membership of the committee.
1586	1531		(b) In the event of a vacancy in a representative district
1587	1532		that has not been filled at the time of the determination of the
1588	1533		membership of standing committees, the representative of the
1589	1534		district who fills that vacancy shall not be entitled to select a
1590	1535		committee on the basis of seniority. Committee appointments on
1591	1536		behalf of that district shall be designated by the district number.
1592	1537		(c) In the event that a member-elect of the current
1593	1538		legislature has not taken the oath of office by the end of the ninth
1594	1539		day of the regular session, the representative of that district
1595	1540		shall not be entitled to select a committee on the basis of
1596	1541		seniority. If the member-elect has not taken the oath of office by
1597	1542		the time committee appointments are announced, committee
1598	1543		appointments on behalf of that district shall be designated by
1599	1544		district number.
1600	1545		Sec. 3. RANKING OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS. Except for the chair
1601	1546		and vice-chair, members of a standing committee shall rank
1602	1547		according to their seniority.
1603	1548		Sec. 4. MEMBERSHIP RESTRICTIONS. (a) No member shall serve
1604	1549		concurrently on more than two standing substantive committees.
1605	1550		(b) A member serving as chair of the Committee on
1606	1551		Appropriations or the Committee on State Affairs may not serve on
1607	1552		any other substantive committee.
1608	1553		Sec. 5. VACANCIES ON COMMITTEES. Should a vacancy occur on
1609	1554		a standing, select, or interim committee subsequent to its
1610	1555		organization, the speaker shall appoint an eligible member to fill
1611	1556		the vacancy.
1612	1557		Sec. 6. DUTIES OF THE CHAIR. The chair of each committee
1613	1558		shall:
1614	1559		(1) be responsible for the effective conduct of the
1615	1560		business of the committee;
1616	1561		(2) appoint all subcommittees and determine the number
1617	1562		of members to serve on each subcommittee;
1618	1563		(3) in consultation with members of the committee,
1619	1564		schedule the work of the committee and determine the order in which
1620	1565		the committee shall consider and act on bills, resolutions, and
1621	1566		other matters referred to the committee;
1622	1567		(4) have authority to employ and discharge the staff
1623	1568		and employees authorized for the committee and have supervision and
1624	1569		control over all the staff and employees;
1625	1570		(5) direct the preparation of all committee reports.
1626	1571		No committee report shall be official until signed by the chair of
1627	1572		the committee, or by the person acting as chair, or by a majority of
1628	1573		the membership of the committee;
1629	1574		(6) determine the necessity for public hearings,
1630	1575		schedule hearings, and be responsible for directing the posting of
1631	1576		notice of hearings as required by the rules;
1632	1577		(7) preside at all meetings of the committee and
1633	1578		control its deliberations and activities in accordance with
1634	1579		acceptable parliamentary procedure; and
1635	1580		(8) have authority to direct the sergeant-at-arms to
1636	1581		assist, where necessary, in enforcing the will of the committee.
1637	1582		Sec. 7. BILL ANALYSES. Except for the general
1638	1583		appropriations bill, for each bill or joint resolution referred to
1639	1584		the committee, the staff of the committee shall be responsible for
1640	1585		distributing a copy of a bill analysis to each member of the
1641	1586		committee and the author of a house measure at the earliest possible
1642	1587		opportunity but not later than the first time the measure is laid
1643	1588		out in a committee meeting.
1644	1589		CHAPTER B. PROCEDURE
1645	1590		Sec. 8. MEETINGS. (a) As soon as practicable after
1646	1591		standing committees are constituted and organized, the committee
1647	1592		coordinator, under the direction of the Committee on House
1648	1593		Administration, shall prepare a schedule for regular meetings of
1649	1594		all standing committees. This schedule shall be published in the
1650	1595		house journal and posted in a convenient and conspicuous place near
1651	1596		the entrance to the house and on other posting boards for committee
1652	1597		meeting notices, as determined necessary by the Committee on House
1653	1598		Administration. To the extent practicable during each regular
1654	1599		session, standing committees shall conduct regular committee
1655	1600		meetings in accordance with the schedule of meetings prepared by
1656	1601		the committee coordinator under the supervision of the Committee on
1657	1602		House Administration.
1658	1603		(b) Standing committees shall meet at other times as may be
1659	1604		determined by the committee, or as may be called by the chair.
1660	1605		Subcommittees of standing committees shall likewise meet at other
1661	1606		times as may be determined by the committee, or as may be called by
1662	1607		the chair of the committee or subcommittee.
1663	1608		(c) Committees shall also meet in such places and at such
1664	1609		times as the speaker may designate.
1665	1610		Sec. 9. MEETING WHILE HOUSE IN SESSION. No standing
1666	1611		committee or subcommittee shall meet during the time the house is in
1667	1612		session without permission being given by a majority vote of the
1668	1613		house. No standing committee or subcommittee shall conduct its
1669	1614		meeting on the floor of the house or in the house chamber while the
1670	1615		house is in session, but shall, if given permission to meet while
1671	1616		the house is in session, retire to a designated committee room for
1672	1617		the conduct of its meeting.
1673	1618		Sec. 10. PURPOSES FOR MEETING. A committee or a
1674	1619		subcommittee may be assembled for:
1675	1620		(1) a public hearing where testimony is to be heard,
1676	1621		and where official action may be taken, on bills, resolutions, or
1677	1622		other matters;
1678	1623		(2) a formal meeting where the committee may discuss
1679	1624		and take official action on bills, resolutions, or other matters
1680	1625		without testimony; and
1681	1626		(3) a work session where the committee may discuss
1682	1627		bills, resolutions, or other matters but take no formal action.
1683	1628		Sec. 11. POSTING NOTICE. (a) No committee or
1684	1629		subcommittee, including a calendars committee, shall assemble for
1685	1630		the purpose of a public hearing during a regular session unless
1686	1631		notice of the hearing has been posted in accordance with the rules
1687	1632		at least five calendar days in advance of the hearing. No committee
1688	1633		or subcommittee, including a calendars committee, shall assemble
1689	1634		for the purpose of a public hearing during a special session unless
1690	1635		notice of the hearing has been posted in accordance with the rules
1691	1636		at least 24 hours in advance of the hearing. The committee minutes
1692	1637		shall reflect the date of each posting of notice. Notice shall not
1693	1638		be required for a public hearing or a formal meeting on a senate
1694	1639		bill which is substantially the same as a house bill that has
1695	1640		previously been the subject of a duly posted public hearing by the
1696	1641		committee.
1697	1642		(b) No committee or subcommittee, including a calendars
1698	1643		committee, shall assemble for the purpose of a formal meeting or
1699	1644		work session during a regular or special session unless written
1700	1645		notice has been posted and transmitted to each member of the
1701	1646		committee two hours in advance of the meeting or an announcement has
1702	1647		been filed with the journal clerk and read by the reading clerk
1703	1648		while the house is in session.
1704	1649		(c) All committees meeting during the interim for the
1705	1650		purpose of a formal meeting, work session, or public hearing shall
1706	1651		post notice in accordance with the rules and notify members of the
1707	1652		committee at least five calendar days in advance of the meeting.
1708	1653		Sec. 12. MEETINGS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. All meetings of a
1709	1654		committee or subcommittee, including a calendars committee, shall
1710	1655		be open to other members, the press, and the public unless
1711	1656		specifically provided otherwise by resolution adopted by the house.
1712	1657		However, the General Investigating [and Ethics] Committee or a
1713	1658		committee considering an impeachment, an address, the punishment of
1714	1659		a member of the house, or any other matter of a quasi-judicial
1715	1660		nature may meet in executive session for the limited purpose of
1716	1661		examining a witness or deliberating, considering, or debating a
1717	1662		decision, but no decision may be made or voted on except in a
1718	1663		meeting that is open to the public and otherwise in compliance with
1719	1664		the rules of the house.
1720	1665		Sec. 13. RULES GOVERNING OPERATIONS. (a) The Rules of
1721	1666		Procedure of the House of Representatives, and to the extent
1722	1667		applicable, the rules of evidence and procedure in the civil courts
1723	1668		of Texas, shall govern the hearings and operations of each
1724	1669		committee, including a calendars committee. Subject to the
1725	1670		foregoing, and to the extent necessary for orderly transaction of
1726	1671		business, each committee may promulgate and adopt additional rules
1727	1672		and procedures by which it will function.
1728	1673		(b) No standing committee, including a calendars committee,
1729	1674		or any subcommittee, shall adopt any rule of procedure, including
1730	1675		but not limited to an automatic subcommittee rule, which will have
1731	1676		the effect of thwarting the will of the majority of the committee or
1732	1677		subcommittee or denying the committee or subcommittee the right to
1733	1678		ultimately dispose of any pending matter by action of a majority of
1734	1679		the committee or subcommittee. A bill or resolution may not be laid
1735	1680		on the table subject to call in committee without a majority vote of
1736	1681		the committee.
1737	1682		Sec. 14. APPEALS FROM RULINGS OF THE CHAIR. Appeals from
1738	1683		rulings of the chair of a committee shall be in order if seconded by
1739	1684		three members of the committee, which may include the member making
1740	1685		the appeal. Procedure in committee following an appeal which has
1741	1686		been seconded shall be the same as the procedure followed in the
1742	1687		house in a similar situation.
1743	1688		Sec. 15. PREVIOUS QUESTION. Before the previous question
1744	1689		can be ordered in a committee, the motion therefor must be seconded
1745	1690		by not less than 4 members of a committee consisting of 21 or more
1746	1691		members, 3 members of a committee consisting of less than 21 members
1747	1692		and more than 10 members, or 2 members of a committee consisting of
1748	1693		10 members or less. If the motion is properly seconded and ordered
1749	1694		by a majority vote of the committee, further debate on the
1750	1695		proposition under consideration shall be terminated, and the
1751	1696		proposition shall be immediately put to a vote of the committee for
1752	1697		its action.
1753	1698		Sec. 16. QUORUM. A majority of a committee shall
1754	1699		constitute a quorum. No action or recommendation of a committee
1755	1700		shall be valid unless taken at a meeting of the committee with a
1756	1701		quorum actually present, and the committee minutes shall reflect
1757	1702		the names of those members of the committee who were actually
1758	1703		present. No committee report shall be made to the house nor shall
1759	1704		bills or resolutions be placed on a calendar unless ordered by a
1760	1705		majority of the membership of the committee, except as otherwise
1761	1706		provided in the rules, and a quorum of the committee must be present
1762	1707		when the vote is taken on reporting a bill or resolution, on placing
1763	1708		bills or resolutions on a calendar, or on taking any other formal
1764	1709		action within the authority of the committee. No committee report
1765	1710		shall be made nor shall bills or resolutions be placed on a calendar
1766	1711		except by record vote of the members of the committee, with the yeas
1767	1712		and nays to be recorded in the minutes of the committee. Proxies
1768	1713		cannot be used in committees.
1769	1714		Sec. 17. MOVING A CALL OF A COMMITTEE. (a) It shall be in
1770	1715		order to move a call of a committee at any time to secure and
1771	1716		maintain a quorum for any one or more of the following purposes:
1772	1717		(1) for the consideration of a specific bill,
1773	1718		resolution, or other matter;
1774	1719		(2) for a definite period of time; or
1775	1720		(3) for the consideration of any designated class of
1776	1721		bills or other matters.
1777	1722		(b) When a call of a committee is moved for one or more of
1778	1723		the foregoing purposes and seconded by two members, one of whom may
1779	1724		be the chair, and is ordered by a majority of the members present,
1780	1725		no member shall thereafter be permitted to leave the committee
1781	1726		meeting without written permission from the chair. After the call
1782	1727		is ordered, and in the absence of a quorum, the chair shall have the
1783	1728		authority to authorize the sergeant-at-arms to locate absent
1784	1729		members of the committee and to compel their attendance for the
1785	1730		duration of the call.
1786	1731		Sec. 18. MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS. (a) For each committee,
1787	1732		including a calendars committee, the chair, or the member acting as
1788	1733		chair, shall keep complete minutes of the proceedings in committee,
1789	1734		which shall include:
1790	1735		(1) the time and place of each meeting of the
1791	1736		committee;
1792	1737		(2) a roll call to determine the members present at
1793	1738		each meeting of the committee, whether that meeting follows an
1794	1739		adjournment or a recess from a previous committee meeting;
1795	1740		(3) an accurate record of all votes taken, including a
1796	1741		listing of the yeas and nays cast on a record vote;
1797	1742		(4) the date of posting of notice of the meeting; and
1798	1743		(5) other information that the chair shall determine.
1799	1744		(b) The minutes for each public hearing of a committee shall
1800	1745		also include an attachment listing the names of the persons, other
1801	1746		than members of the legislature, and the persons or entities
1802	1747		represented by those persons, who were recognized by the chair to
1803	1748		address the committee. The attachment shall also list the name of
1804	1749		each person, other than a member of the legislature, who submitted
1805	1750		to the committee a sworn statement indicating that the person was
1806	1751		present in favor of, in opposition to, or without taking a position
1807	1752		on the measure or other matter, but who because of the person's
1808	1753		departure or other reason was not recognized by the chair to address
1809	1754		the committee; provided that the omission of the name of such a
1810	1755		person is not subject to a point [sustainable question] of order.
1811	1756		(c) Committee minutes shall be corrected only at the
1812	1757		direction of the chair as authorized by a majority vote of the
1813	1758		committee. Duplicate originals of committee minutes shall be
1814	1759		maintained, one to remain with the committee chair and the other to
1815	1760		be filed with the committee coordinator. The committee minutes of a
1816	1761		meeting of the Appropriations Committee on the general
1817	1762		appropriations bill must be filed with the committee coordinator
1818	1763		within five days of the committee meeting. All other committee
1819	1764		minutes must be filed with the committee coordinator within three
1820	1765		days of the committee meeting for a substantive committee, and
1821	1766		within one day of the committee meeting for a procedural committee.
1822	1767		If the date on which the committee minutes are due occurs on a
1823	1768		Saturday, Sunday, or holiday on which the house is not in session,
1824	1769		the committee minutes shall be filed on the following working day.
1825	1770		The time at which the minutes are filed shall be time-stamped on the
1826	1771		duplicate originals of the minutes that are filed with the
1827	1772		committee coordinator. The duplicate originals shall be available
1828	1773		at all reasonable business hours for inspection by members or the
1829	1774		public.
1830	1775		(d) The committee coordinator shall maintain the minutes
1831	1776		and records safe from loss, destruction, and alteration at all
1832	1777		times, and may, at any time, turn them, or any portion, over to the
1833	1778		Committee on House Administration.
1834	1779		Sec. 18A. INTERNET ACCESS TO COMMITTEE DOCUMENTS. (a) The
1835	1780		committee coordinator shall establish procedures for making
1836	1781		available to the public on the Internet documents relating to the
1837	1782		proceedings of substantive committees.
1838	1783		(b) A substantive committee shall make available to the
1839	1784		public on the Internet:
1840	1785		(1) any committee substitute or amendment laid before
1841	1786		the committee; and
1842	1787		(2) any nonconfidential written testimony submitted
1843	1788		by a state agency for consideration by the committee that relates to
1844	1789		a measure referred to the committee.
1845	1790		(c) A committee's failure to comply with this section is not
1846	1791		subject to a point of order.
1847	1792		Sec. 19. RECORDING OF TESTIMONY. All testimony before
1848	1793		committees and subcommittees shall be electronically recorded
1849	1794		under the direction of the Committee on House Administration.
1850	1795		Copies of the testimony may be released under guidelines
1851	1796		promulgated by the Committee on House Administration.
1852	1797		Sec. 19A. RECORDING OF APPROPRIATIONS MEETINGS. (a) The
1853	1798		Committee on House Administration shall ensure that an audio and
1854	1799		video recording of any public hearing, formal meeting, or work
1855	1800		session of the Committee on Appropriations or a subcommittee of the
1856	1801		Committee on Appropriations is made available to the public on the
1857	1802		Internet in a timely manner.
1858	1803		(b) To the extent that current technological capabilities
1859	1804		prohibit immediate implementation of this section, the Committee on
1860	1805		House Administration shall use the committee's best efforts to
1861	1806		conform to the requirements of this section as soon as practicable.
1862	1807		Sec. 20. SWORN STATEMENT OF WITNESSES. (a) The committee
1863	1808		coordinator, under the direction of the Committee on House
1864	1809		Administration, shall prescribe the form of a sworn statement,
1865	1810		which may be in electronic or paper format, to be executed by all
1866	1811		persons, other than members, who wish to be recognized by the chair
1867	1812		to address the committee. The statement shall provide for showing
1868	1813		at least:
1869	1814		(1) the committee or subcommittee;
1870	1815		(2) the name, address, and telephone number of the
1871	1816		person appearing;
1872	1817		(3) the person, firm, corporation, class, or group
1873	1818		represented;
1874	1819		(4) the type of business, profession, or occupation in
1875	1820		which the person is engaged, if the person is representing himself
1876	1821		or herself; and
1877	1822		(5) the matter before the committee on which the
1878	1823		person wishes to be recognized to address the committee and whether
1879	1824		for, against, or neutral on the matter.
1880	1825		(b) No person shall be recognized by the chair to address
1881	1826		the committee in favor of, in opposition to, or without taking a
1882	1827		position on a matter until the sworn statement has been filed with
1883	1828		the chair of the committee. The chair of the committee shall
1884	1829		indicate whether the person completing the statement was recognized
1885	1830		to address the committee.
1886	1831		(c) Sworn statements submitted in paper format for those
1887	1832		persons recognized by the chair to address the committee shall
1888	1833		accompany the copy of the minutes of the meeting filed with the
1889	1834		committee coordinator.
1890	1835		(d) All persons, other than members, recognized by the chair
1891	1836		to address the committee shall give their testimony under oath, and
1892	1837		each committee may avail itself of additional powers and
1893	1838		prerogatives authorized by law.
1894	1839		(e) The committee shall ensure that an individual who is
1895	1840		blind receives any necessary assistance in executing the sworn
1896	1841		statement.
1897	1842		(f) The committee shall inform a witness who is blind which
1898	1843		members of the committee are present when the witness begins to
1899	1844		testify and shall inform the witness during the testimony of the
1900	1845		departure and arrival of committee members.
1901	1846		(g) The chair may recognize a witness who has been invited
1902	1847		by the committee to attend the meeting but is not present in the
1903	1848		same physical location as the committee to testify before the
1904	1849		committee through an Internet or other videoconferencing system if:
1905	1850		(1) the witness has executed a sworn statement, in
1906	1851		electronic or paper format, under this section;
1907	1852		(2) the witness has filed the statement or a copy of
1908	1853		the statement with the chair before testifying; and
1909	1854		(3) two-way communication has been enabled to allow
1910	1855		the witness to be clearly visible and audible to the committee
1911	1856		members and the committee members to be clearly visible and audible
1912	1857		to the witness.
1913	1858		(h) A person who serves as a translator, including an
1914	1859		interpreter, for a witness before a committee must execute a form
1915	1860		prescribed by the committee coordinator, under the direction of the
1916	1861		Committee on House Administration. The form must at least include
1917	1862		the name of the translator and the name of the witness whom the
1918	1863		translator is serving.
1919	1864		Sec. 21. POWER TO ISSUE PROCESS AND SUMMON WITNESSES. (a)
1920	1865		By a record vote of not less than two-thirds of those present and
1921	1866		voting, a quorum being present, each standing committee shall have
1922	1867		the power and authority to issue process to witnesses at any place
1923	1868		in the State of Texas, to compel their attendance, and to compel the
1924	1869		production of all books, records, and instruments. If necessary to
1925	1870		obtain compliance with subpoenas or other process, the committee
1926	1871		shall have the power to issue writs of attachment. All process
1927	1872		issued by the committee may be addressed to and served by an agent
1928	1873		of the committee or a sergeant-at-arms appointed by the committee
1929	1874		or by any peace officer of the State of Texas. The committee shall
1930	1875		also have the power to cite and have prosecuted for contempt, in the
1931	1876		manner provided by law, anyone disobeying the subpoenas or other
1932	1877		process lawfully issued by the committee. The chair of the
1933	1878		committee shall issue, in the name of the committee, the subpoenas
1934	1879		and other process as the committee may direct.
1935	1880		(b) The chair may summon the governing board or other
1936	1881		representatives of a state agency to appear and testify before the
1937	1882		committee without issuing process under Subsection (a) of this
1938	1883		section. The summons may be communicated in writing, orally, or
1939	1884		electronically. If the persons summoned fail or refuse to appear,
1940	1885		the committee may issue process under Subsection (a) of this
1941	1886		section.
1942	1887		Sec. 22. MILEAGE AND PER DIEM FOR WITNESSES. Subject to
1943	1888		prior approval by the Committee on House Administration, witnesses
1944	1889		attending proceedings of any committee under process of the
1945	1890		committee shall be allowed the same mileage and per diem as are
1946	1891		allowed members of the committee when in a travel status, to be paid
1947	1892		out of the contingent expense fund of the house of representatives
1948	1893		on vouchers approved by the chair of the committee, the chair of the
1949	1894		Committee on House Administration, and the speaker of the house.
1950	1895		Sec. 23. POWER TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE OF STATE AGENCIES.
1951	1896		Each committee is authorized to request the assistance, when
1952	1897		needed, of all state departments, agencies, and offices, and it
1953	1898		shall be the duty of the departments, agencies, and offices to
1954	1899		assist the committee when requested to do so. Each committee shall
1955	1900		have the power and authority to inspect the records, documents, and
1956	1901		files of every state department, agency, and office, to the extent
1957	1902		necessary to the discharge of its duties within the area of its
1958	1903		jurisdiction.
1959	1904		Sec. 23A. ASSISTANCE OF OTHER MEMBERS OF LEGISLATURE. At a
1960	1905		meeting of a committee, the chair may recognize a member of the
1961	1906		house who is not a member of the committee to provide information to
1962	1907		the committee, and may recognize a member of the senate for that
1963	1908		purpose. Recognition is solely within the discretion of the chair
1964	1909		and is not subject to appeal by that member.
1965	1910		CHAPTER C. COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS
1966	1911		Sec. 24. INTERIM STUDIES. Standing committees, en banc or
1967	1912		by subcommittees, are hereby authorized to conduct studies that are
1968	1913		authorized by the speaker pursuant to Rule 1, Section 17. Studies
1969	1914		may not be authorized by resolution. The speaker may appoint public
1970	1915		citizens and officials of state and local governments to standing
1971	1916		committees to augment the membership for the purpose of interim
1972	1917		studies and shall provide a list of such appointments to the chief
1973	1918		clerk. The chair of the standing committee shall have authority to
1974	1919		name the subcommittees necessary and desirable for the conduct of
1975	1920		the interim studies and shall also prepare a budget for interim
1976	1921		studies for approval by the Committee on House Administration.
1977	1922		Sec. 25. MOTION PREVENTING REPORTING OR PLACEMENT ON A
1978	1923		CALENDAR. No motion is in order in a committee considering a bill,
1979	1924		resolution, or other matter that would prevent the committee from
1980	1925		reporting it back to the house or placing it on a calendar in
1981	1926		accordance with the Rules of the House.
1982	1927		Sec. 26. FINAL ACTION IN FORM OF REPORT. No action by a
1983	1928		committee on bills or resolutions referred to it shall be
1984	1929		considered as final unless it is in the form of a favorable report,
1985	1930		an unfavorable report, or a report of inability to recommend a
1986	1931		course of action.
1987	1932		Sec. 27. VOTE ON MOTION TO REPORT. Motions made in
1988	1933		committee to report favorably or unfavorably must receive
1989	1934		affirmative majority votes, majority negative votes to either
1990	1935		motion being insufficient to report. If a committee is unable to
1991	1936		agree on a recommendation for action, as in the case of a tie vote,
1992	1937		it should submit a statement of this fact as its report, and the
1993	1938		house shall decide, by a majority vote, the disposition of the
1994	1939		matter by one of the following alternatives:
1995	1940		(1) leave the bill in the committee for further
1996	1941		consideration;
1997	1942		(2) refer the bill to some other committee; or
1998	1943		(3) order the bill printed, in which case the bill
1999	1944		shall go to the Committee on Calendars for placement on a calendar
2000	1945		and for proposal of an appropriate rule for house consideration.
2001	1946		Sec. 28. MINORITY REPORTS. The report of a minority of a
2002	1947		committee shall be made in the same general form as a majority
2003	1948		report. No minority report shall be recognized by the house unless
2004	1949		it has been signed by not less than 4 members of a committee
2005	1950		consisting of 21 or more members, 3 members of a committee
2006	1951		consisting of less than 21 members and more than 10 members, or 2
2007	1952		members of a committee consisting of 10 or less members. Only
2008	1953		members who were present when the vote was taken on the bill,
2009	1954		resolution, or other matter being reported, and who voted on the
2010	1955		losing side, may sign a minority report. Notice of intention to
2011	1956		file a minority report shall be given to the assembled committee
2012	1957		after the vote on the bill, resolution, or other matter, and before
2013	1958		the recess or adjournment of the committee, provided ample
2014	1959		opportunity is afforded for the giving of notice; otherwise, notice
2015	1960		may be given in writing to the chief clerk within 24 hours after the
2016	1961		recess or adjournment of the committee.
2017	1962		Sec. 29. ACTION ON BILLS REPORTED UNFAVORABLY. If the
2018	1963		majority report on a bill is unfavorable, and a favorable minority
2019	1964		report is not signed in accordance with Section 28 of this rule and
2020	1965		filed with the chief clerk within two calendar days, exclusive of
2021	1966		Sunday and the date of committee action, the chief clerk shall file
2022	1967		the bill away as dead; except during the last 15 calendar days of a
2023	1968		regular session, or the last 7 calendar days of a special session,
2024	1969		when the chief clerk shall hold a bill only one calendar day,
2025	1970		exclusive of Sunday and the date of committee action, awaiting the
2026	1971		filing of a minority report before the bill is filed away as dead.
2027	1972		If the favorable minority report is properly signed and filed, the
2028	1973		chief clerk shall hold the bill for five legislative days,
2029	1974		exclusive of the legislative day in which the minority report was
2030	1975		filed, awaiting adoption by the house of a motion to print the bill
2031	1976		on minority report. If the motion to print is carried, the bill
2032	1977		shall be printed as if it had been reported favorably, and shall
2033	1978		then be immediately forwarded to the Committee on Calendars for
2034	1979		placement on a calendar and for proposal of an appropriate rule for
2035	1980		house consideration. If a motion to print a bill on minority report
2036	1981		is not made within the five legislative days authorized above, the
2037	1982		chief clerk shall file the bill away as dead. It shall not be in
2038	1983		order to move to recommit a bill adversely reported with no minority
2039	1984		report, except as provided in Section 30 of this rule. A two-thirds
2040	1985		vote of the house shall be required to print on minority report a
2041	1986		joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of
2042	1987		Texas.
2043	1988		Sec. 30. MAKING ADVERSE REPORTS WITHOUT HEARING THE
2044	1989		AUTHOR. No adverse report shall be made on any bill or resolution
2045	1990		by any committee without first giving the author or sponsor of the
2046	1991		bill an opportunity to be heard. If it becomes evident to the house
2047	1992		that a bill has been reported adversely without the author or
2048	1993		sponsor having had an opportunity to be heard as provided in this
2049	1994		section, the house may, by a majority vote, order the bill
2050	1995		recommitted even though no minority report was filed in the manner
2051	1996		prescribed by the rules. This provision shall have precedence over
2052	1997		Rule 7, Section 20.
2053	1998		Sec. 31. ADVERSE REPORTS ON LOCAL BILLS. If a local bill is
2054	1999		reported adversely, it shall be subject to the same rules that
2055	2000		govern other bills reported adversely.
2056	2001		Sec. 32. FORM OF REPORTS. (a) Reports of standing
2057	2002		committees on bills and resolutions shall be made in duplicate,
2058	2003		with one copy to be filed with the journal clerk for printing in the
2059	2004		journal and the other to accompany the original bill.
2060	2005		(b) All committee reports must be in writing and shall:
2061	2006		(1) be signed by the chair, or the member acting as
2062	2007		chair, or a majority of the membership of the committee;
2063	2008		(2) be addressed to the speaker;
2064	2009		(3) contain a statement of the recommendations of the
2065	2010		committee with reference to the matter which is the subject of the
2066	2011		report;
2067	2012		(4) contain the date the committee made its
2068	2013		recommendation;
2069	2014		(5) indicate whether a copy of a bill or resolution was
2070	2015		forwarded to the Legislative Budget Board for preparation of a
2071	2016		fiscal note or other impact statement, if applicable;
2072	2017		(6) contain the record vote by which the report was
2073	2018		adopted, including the vote of each member of the committee;
2074	2019		(7) contain the recommendation that the bill or
2075	2020		resolution be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars
2076	2021		for placement on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar if
2077	2022		applicable;
2078	2023		(8) state the name of the primary house sponsor of all
2079	2024		senate bills and resolutions and indicate the names of all joint
2080	2025		sponsors or cosponsors;
2081	2026		(9) include a summary of the committee hearing on the
2082	2027		bill or resolution;
2083	2028		(10) include a list of the names of the persons, other
2084	2029		than members of the legislature, and persons or entities
2085	2030		represented by those persons, who submitted to the committee sworn
2086	2031		statements indicating that the persons were present in favor of, in
2087	2032		opposition to, or without taking a position on the bill or
2088	2033		resolution. The omission from the list of the name of a person who
2089	2034		submitted a sworn statement regarding a bill or resolution but who
2090	2035		was not recognized by the chair to address the committee is not
2091	2036		subject to a point [sustainable question] of order;
2092	2037		(11) for a joint resolution proposing a constitutional
2093	2038		amendment, include the bill number of any enabling legislation for
2094	2039		the constitutional amendment designated as such by the author or
2095	2040		sponsor of the joint resolution;
2096	2041		(12) for a bill that is designated by the author or
2097	2042		sponsor of the bill as enabling legislation for a constitutional
2098	2043		amendment proposed by a joint resolution, include the number of the
2099	2044		joint resolution; and
2100	2045		(13) contain a copy of each form executed by a
2101	2046		translator for a witness as required by Section 20(h) of this rule.
2102	2047		(c) Except for the general appropriations bill, each
2103	2048		committee report on a bill or joint resolution, including a
2104	2049		complete committee substitute, and, to the extent considered
2105	2050		necessary by the committee, a committee report on any other
2106	2051		resolution, must include in summary or section-by-section form a
2107	2052		detailed analysis of the subject matter of the bill or resolution,
2108	2053		specifically including:
2109	2054		(1) background information on the proposal and
2110	2055		information on what the bill or resolution proposes to do;
2111	2056		(2) an analysis of the content of the bill or
2112	2057		resolution, including a separate statement that lists each statute
2113	2058		or constitutional provision that is expressly repealed by the bill
2114	2059		or resolution;
2115	2060		(3) a statement indicating whether or not any
2116	2061		rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to a state officer,
2117	2062		department, agency, or institution, and, if so, identifying the
2118	2063		sections of the measure in which that rulemaking authority is
2119	2064		delegated;
2120	2065		(4) a statement indicating whether or not the bill or
2121	2066		resolution expressly creates a criminal offense, expressly
2122	2067		increases the punishment for an existing criminal offense or
2123	2068		category of offenses, or expressly changes the eligibility of a
2124	2069		person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory
2125	2070		supervision;
2126	2071		(5) a statement of substantial differences between a
2127	2072		complete committee substitute and the original bill; and
2128	2073		(6) a brief explanation of each amendment adopted by
2129	2074		the committee.
2130	2075		(d) The committee to which the bill or resolution is
2131	2076		referred may request the Texas Legislative Council to prepare the
2132	2077		analysis required by Subsection (c) of this section.
2133	2078		(e) A committee chair shall provide to the author of a house
2134	2079		measure a copy of the analysis required by Subsection (c) of this
2135	2080		section as soon as the analysis is complete.
2136	2081		(f) The author of a bill or resolution may request that an
2137	2082		analysis prepared for purposes of this section include a statement
2138	2083		written by the author that includes any additional information that
2139	2084		the author considers appropriate.
2140	2085		(g) It shall be the duty of the committee chair, on all
2141	2086		matters reported by the committee, to see that all provisions of
2142	2087		Rule 12 are satisfied. The chair shall strictly construe this
2143	2088		provision to achieve the desired purposes.
2144	2089		Sec. 33. FISCAL NOTES. (a) If the chair of a standing
2145	2090		committee determines that a bill or joint resolution, other than
2146	2091		the general appropriations bill, authorizes or requires the
2147	2092		expenditure or diversion of state funds for any purpose, the chair
2148	2093		shall send a copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget Board for
2149	2094		the preparation of a fiscal note outlining the fiscal implications
2150	2095		and probable cost of the measure.
2151	2096		(b) If the chair of a standing committee determines that a
2152	2097		bill or joint resolution has statewide impact on units of local
2153	2098		government of the same type or class and authorizes or requires the
2154	2099		expenditure or diversion of local funds, or creates or impacts a
2155	2100		local tax, fee, license charge, or penalty, the chair shall send a
2156	2101		copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget Board for the
2157	2102		preparation of a fiscal note outlining the fiscal implications and
2158	2103		probable cost of the measure.
2159	2104		(c) In preparing a fiscal note, the director of the
2160	2105		Legislative Budget Board may utilize information or data supplied
2161	2106		by any person, agency, organization, or governmental unit that the
2162	2107		director deems reliable. If the director determines that the fiscal
2163	2108		implications of the measure cannot be ascertained, the director
2164	2109		shall so state in the fiscal note, shall when reasonably
2165	2110		ascertainable provide an estimated range of the fiscal
2166	2111		implications, and shall include in the note a statement of the
2167	2112		reasons the director is unable to ascertain the fiscal implications
2168	2113		of the measure, in which case the fiscal note shall be in full
2169	2114		compliance with the rules. If the director of the Legislative
2170	2115		Budget Board is unable to acquire or develop sufficient information
2171	2116		to prepare the fiscal note within 15 days of receiving the measure
2172	2117		from the chair of a committee, the director shall so state in the
2173	2118		fiscal note, shall when reasonably ascertainable provide an
2174	2119		estimated range of the fiscal implications, and shall include in
2175	2120		the note a statement of the reasons the director is unable to
2176	2121		acquire or develop sufficient information, in which case the note
2177	2122		shall be in full compliance with the rules.
2178	2123		(d) If the chair determines that a fiscal note is required,
2179	2124		copies of the fiscal note must be distributed to the members of the
2180	2125		committee not later than the first time the measure is laid out in a
2181	2126		committee meeting. The fiscal note shall be attached to the measure
2182	2127		on first printing. If the measure is amended by the committee so as
2183	2128		to alter its fiscal implications, the chair shall obtain an updated
2184	2129		fiscal note, which shall also be attached to the measure on first
2185	2130		printing.
2186	2131		(e) All fiscal notes shall remain with the measure
2187	2132		throughout the entire legislative process, including submission to
2188	2133		the governor.
2189	2134		(f) All fiscal notes must include in the summary box on the
2190	2135		first page of the fiscal note a statement that indicates whether the
2191	2136		bill or joint resolution will have fiscal implications or probable
2192	2137		costs in any year.
2193	2138		Sec. 34. OTHER IMPACT STATEMENTS. (a) It is the intent of
2194	2139		this section that all members of the house are timely informed as to
2195	2140		the impact of proposed legislation on the state or other unit of
2196	2141		government.
2197	2142		(a-1) The chair of the appropriations committee shall send a
2198	2143		copy of the general appropriations bill to the Legislative Budget
2199	2144		Board for the preparation of a dynamic economic impact statement,
2200	2145		specifically including the number of state employees to be affected
2201	2146		and the estimated impact on employment by the private sector and
2202	2147		local governments in Texas as a result of any change in state
2203	2148		expenditures made by the bill as compared to the biennium preceding
2204	2149		the biennium to which the bill applies.
2205	2150		(b) If the chair of a standing committee determines that a
2206	2151		bill or joint resolution:
2207	2152		(1) authorizes or requires a change in the sanctions
2208	2153		applicable to adults convicted of felony crimes, the chair shall
2209	2154		send a copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget Board for the
2210	2155		preparation of a criminal justice policy impact statement;
2211	2156		(2) authorizes or requires a change in the public
2212	2157		school finance system, the chair shall send a copy of the measure to
2213	2158		the Legislative Budget Board for the preparation of an equalized
2214	2159		education funding impact statement;
2215	2160		(3) proposes to change benefits or participation in
2216	2161		benefits of a public retirement system or change the financial
2217	2162		obligations of a public retirement system, the chair shall send a
2218	2163		copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget Board for the
2219	2164		preparation of an actuarial impact statement in cooperation with
2220	2165		the State Pension Review Board;
2221	2166		(4) proposes to create a water district under the
2222	2167		authority of Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution,
2223	2168		the chair shall send a copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget
2224	2169		Board for the preparation of a water development policy impact
2225	2170		statement; or
2226	2171		(5) creates or impacts a state tax or fee, the chair
2227	2172		shall send a copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget Board for
2228	2173		the preparation of a tax equity note that estimates the general
2229	2174		effects of the proposal on the distribution of tax and fee burdens
2230	2175		among individuals and businesses.
2231	2176		(c) In preparing an impact statement, the director of the
2232	2177		Legislative Budget Board may utilize information or data supplied
2233	2178		by any person, agency, organization, or governmental unit that the
2234	2179		director deems reliable. If the director determines that the
2235	2180		particular implications of the measure cannot be ascertained, the
2236	2181		director shall so state in the impact statement, in which case the
2237	2182		impact statement shall be in full compliance with the rules.
2238	2183		(d) An impact statement is not required to be present before
2239	2184		a measure is laid out in a committee meeting. If timely received,
2240	2185		the impact statement shall be attached to the measure on first
2241	2186		printing. If the measure is amended by the committee so as to alter
2242	2187		its particular implications, the chair shall obtain an updated
2243	2188		impact statement. If timely received, the updated impact statement
2244	2189		shall also be attached to the measure on first printing.
2245	2190		(e) An impact statement that is received after the first
2246	2191		printing of a measure has been distributed to the members shall be
2247	2192		forwarded by the chair of the committee to the committee
2248	2193		coordinator. The committee coordinator shall have the impact
2249	2194		statement printed and distributed to the members.
2250	2195		(f) All impact statements received shall remain with the
2251	2196		measure throughout the entire legislative process, including
2252	2197		submission to the governor.
2253	2198		Sec. 35. REPORTS ON HOUSE AND CONCURRENT
2254	2199		RESOLUTIONS. Committee reports on house and concurrent
2255	2200		resolutions shall be made in the same manner and shall follow the
2256	2201		same procedure as provided for bills, subject to any differences
2257	2202		otherwise authorized or directed by the rules.
2258	2203		Sec. 36. ACTION BY HOUSE ON REPORTS NOT REQUIRED. No
2259	2204		action by the house is necessary on the report of a standing
2260	2205		committee. The bill, resolution, or proposition recommended or
2261	2206		reported by the committee shall automatically be before the house
2262	2207		for its consideration after the bill or resolution has been
2263	2208		referred to the appropriate calendars committee for placement on a
2264	2209		calendar and for proposal of an appropriate rule for house
2265	2210		consideration.
2266	2211		Sec. 37. REFERRAL OF REPORTS TO COMMITTEE COORDINATOR. All
2267	2212		committee reports on bills or resolutions shall be immediately
2268	2213		referred to the committee coordinator. The chair of the committee
2269	2214		shall be responsible for delivery of the report to the committee
2270	2215		coordinator.
2271	2216		Sec. 38. DELIVERY OF REPORTS TO CALENDARS
2272	2217		COMMITTEES. After printing, the chief clerk shall be responsible
2273	2218		for delivery of a certified copy of the committee report to the
2274	2219		appropriate calendars committee, which committee shall immediately
2275	2220		accept the bill or resolution for placement on a calendar and for
2276	2221		the proposal of an appropriate rule for house consideration.
2277	2222		Sec. 38A. NOTIFICATION OF SUNSET BILLS. The chief clerk
2278	2223		shall provide notice to each member at the member's designated
2279	2224		Capitol e-mail address when a committee report under Section 38 of
2280	2225		this rule on a bill extending an agency, commission, or advisory
2281	2226		committee under the Texas Sunset Act has been printed or posted and
2282	2227		is available to be distributed to the appropriate calendars
2283	2228		committee.
2284	2229		Sec. 39. COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS. No committee shall have the
2285	2230		power to amend, delete, or change in any way the nature, purpose, or
2286	2231		content of any bill or resolution referred to it, but may draft and
2287	2232		recommend amendments to it, which shall become effective only if
2288	2233		adopted by a majority vote of the house.
2289	2234		Sec. 40. SUBSTITUTES. The committee may adopt and report a
2290	2235		complete germane committee substitute containing the title,
2291	2236		enacting clause, and text of the bill in lieu of an original bill,
2292	2237		in which event the complete substitute bill on committee report
2293	2238		shall be laid before the house and shall be the matter then before
2294	2239		the house for its consideration, instead of the original bill. If
2295	2240		the substitute bill is defeated at any legislative stage, the bill
2296	2241		is considered not passed.
2297	2242		Sec. 41. GERMANENESS OF SUBSTITUTE. If a point of order is
2298	2243		raised that a complete committee substitute is not germane, in
2299	2244		whole or in part, and the point of order is sustained, the committee
2300	2245		substitute shall be returned to the Committee on Calendars, which
2301	2246		may have the original bill printed and distributed and placed on a
2302	2247		calendar in lieu of the substitute or may return the original bill
2303	2248		to the committee from which it was reported for further action.
2304	2249		Sec. 42. AUTHOR'S RIGHT TO OFFER AMENDMENTS TO
2305	2250		REPORT. Should the author or sponsor of the bill, resolution, or
2306	2251		other proposal not be satisfied with the final recommendation or
2307	2252		form of the committee report, the member shall have the privilege of
2308	2253		offering on the floor of the house such amendments or changes as he
2309	2254		or she considers necessary and desirable, and those amendments or
2310	2255		changes shall be given priority during the periods of time when
2311	2256		original amendments are in order under the provisions of Rule 11,
2312	2257		Section 7.
2313	2258		CHAPTER D. SUBCOMMITTEES
2314	2259		Sec. 43. JURISDICTION. Each committee is authorized to
2315	2260		conduct its activities and perform its work through the use of
2316	2261		subcommittees as shall be determined by the chair of the committee.
2317	2262		Subcommittees shall be created, organized, and operated in such a
2318	2263		way that the subject matter and work area of each subcommittee shall
2319	2264		be homogeneous and shall pertain to related governmental
2320	2265		activities. The size and jurisdiction of each subcommittee shall
2321	2266		be determined by the chair of the committee.
2322	2267		Sec. 44. MEMBERSHIP. The chair of each standing committee
2323	2268		shall appoint from the membership of the committee the members who
2324	2269		are to serve on each subcommittee. Any vacancy on a subcommittee
2325	2270		shall be filled by appointment of the chair of the standing
2326	2271		committee. The chair and vice-chair of each subcommittee shall be
2327	2272		named by the chair of the committee.
2328	2273		Sec. 45. RULES GOVERNING OPERATIONS. The Rules of
2329	2274		Procedure of the House of Representatives, to the extent
2330	2275		applicable, shall govern the hearings and operations of each
2331	2276		subcommittee. Subject to the foregoing, and to the extent
2332	2277		necessary for orderly transaction of business, each subcommittee
2333	2278		may promulgate and adopt additional rules and procedures by which
2334	2279		it will function.
2335	2280		Sec. 46. QUORUM. A majority of a subcommittee shall
2336	2281		constitute a quorum, and no action or recommendation of a
2337	2282		subcommittee shall be valid unless taken at a meeting with a quorum
2338	2283		actually present. All reports of a subcommittee must be approved by
2339	2284		record vote by a majority of the membership of the subcommittee.
2340	2285		Minutes of the subcommittee shall be maintained in a manner similar
2341	2286		to that required by the rules for standing committees. Proxies
2342	2287		cannot be used in subcommittees.
2343	2288		Sec. 47. POWER AND AUTHORITY. Each subcommittee, within
2344	2289		the area of its jurisdiction, shall have all of the power,
2345	2290		authority, and rights granted by the Rules of Procedure of the House
2346	2291		of Representatives to the standing committee, except subpoena
2347	2292		power, to the extent necessary to discharge the duties and
2348	2293		responsibilities of the subcommittee.
2349	2294		Sec. 48. REFERRAL OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO
2350	2295		SUBCOMMITTEE. All bills and resolutions referred to a standing
2351	2296		committee shall be reviewed by the chair to determine appropriate
2352	2297		disposition of the bills and resolutions. All bills and
2353	2298		resolutions shall be considered by the entire standing committee
2354	2299		unless the chair of that standing committee determines to refer the
2355	2300		bills and resolutions to subcommittee. If a bill or resolution is
2356	2301		referred by the chair of the standing committee to a subcommittee,
2357	2302		it shall be considered by the subcommittee in the same form in which
2358	2303		the measure was referred to the standing committee, and any action
2359	2304		taken by the standing committee on a proposed amendment or
2360	2305		committee substitute before a measure is referred to subcommittee
2361	2306		is therefore voided at the time the measure is referred to
2362	2307		subcommittee. The subcommittee shall be charged with the duty and
2363	2308		responsibility of conducting the hearing, doing research, and
2364	2309		performing such other functions as the subcommittee or its parent
2365	2310		standing committee may determine. All meetings of the subcommittee
2366	2311		shall be scheduled by the subcommittee chair, with appropriate
2367	2312		public notice and notification of each member of the subcommittee
2368	2313		under the same rules of procedure as govern the conduct of the
2369	2314		standing committee.
2370	2315		Sec. 49. REPORT BY SUBCOMMITTEE. At the conclusion of its
2371	2316		deliberations on a bill, resolution, or other matter referred to
2372	2317		it, the subcommittee may prepare a written report, comprehensive
2373	2318		in nature, for submission to the full committee. The report shall
2374	2319		include background material as well as recommended action and shall
2375	2320		be accompanied by a complete draft of the bill, resolution, or other
2376	2321		proposal in such form as the subcommittee shall determine.
2377	2322		Sec. 50. ACTION ON SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS. Subcommittee
2378	2323		reports shall be directed to the chair of the committee, who shall
2379	2324		schedule meetings of the standing committee from time to time as
2380	2325		necessary and appropriate for the reception of subcommittee reports
2381	2326		and for action on reports by the standing committee. No
2382	2327		subcommittee report shall be scheduled for action by the standing
2383	2328		committee until at least 24 hours after a copy of the subcommittee
2384	2329		report is provided to each member of the standing committee.
2385	2330		CHAPTER E. COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE HOUSE
2386	2331		Sec. 51. RESOLUTION INTO A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
2387	2332		HOUSE. The house may resolve itself into a committee of the whole
2388	2333		house to consider any matter referred to it by the house. In
2389	2334		forming a committee of the whole house, the speaker shall vacate the
2390	2335		chair and shall appoint a chair to preside in committee.
2391	2336		Sec. 52. RULES GOVERNING OPERATIONS. The rules governing
2392	2337		the proceedings of the house and those governing committees shall
2393	2338		be observed in committees of the whole, to the extent that they are
2394	2339		applicable.
2395	2340		Sec. 53. MOTION FOR A CALL OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE
2396	2341		WHOLE. (a) It shall be in order to move a call of the committee of
2397	2342		the whole at any time to secure and maintain a quorum for the
2398	2343		following purposes:
2399	2344		(1) for the consideration of a certain or specific
2400	2345		matter; or
2401	2346		(2) for a definite period of time; or
2402	2347		(3) for the consideration of any designated class of
2403	2348		bills.
2404	2349		(b) When a call of the committee of the whole is moved and
2405	2350		seconded by 10 members, of whom the chair may be one, and is ordered
2406	2351		by majority vote, the main entrance of the hall and all other doors
2407	2352		leading out of the hall shall be locked, and no member shall be
2408	2353		permitted to leave the hall without written permission. Other
2409	2354		proceedings under a call of the committee shall be the same as under
2410	2355		a call of the house.
2411	2356		Sec. 54. HANDLING OF A BILL. A bill committed to a
2412	2357		committee of the whole house shall be handled in the same manner as
2413	2358		in any other committee. The body of the bill shall not be defaced or
2414	2359		interlined, but all amendments shall be duly endorsed by the chief
2415	2360		clerk as they are adopted by the committee, and so reported to the
2416	2361		house. When a bill is reported by the committee of the whole house
2417	2362		it shall be referred immediately to the appropriate calendars
2418	2363		committee for placement on the appropriate calendar and shall
2419	2364		follow the same procedure as any other bill on committee report.
2420	2365		Sec. 55. FAILURE TO COMPLETE WORK AT ANY SITTING. In the
2421	2366		event that the committee of the whole, at any sitting, fails to
2422	2367		complete its work on any bill or resolution under consideration for
2423	2368		lack of time, or desires to take any action on that measure that is
2424	2369		permitted under the rules for other committees, it may, on a motion
2425	2370		made and adopted by majority vote, rise, report progress, and ask
2426	2371		leave of the house to sit again generally, or at a time certain.
2427	2372		Sec. 56. REPORTS OF SELECT COMMITTEES. Reports of select
2428	2373		committees made during a session shall be filed with the chief clerk
2429	2374		and printed in the journal, unless otherwise determined by the
2430	2375		house.
2431	2376		CHAPTER F. INTERIM STUDY COMMITTEES
2432	2377		Sec. 57. INTERIM STUDIES. Pursuant to Rule 1, Section 17,
2433	2378		the speaker may create interim study committees to conduct studies
2434	2379		by issuing a proclamation for each committee, which shall specify
2435	2380		the issue to be studied, committee membership, and any additional
2436	2381		authority and duties. A copy of each proclamation creating an
2437	2382		interim study committee shall be filed with the chief clerk. An
2438	2383		interim study committee expires on release of its final report or
2439	2384		when the next legislature convenes, whichever is earlier. An
2440	2385		interim study committee may not be created by resolution.
2441	2386		Sec. 58. APPOINTMENT AND MEMBERSHIP. The speaker shall
2442	2387		appoint all members of an interim study committee, which may
2443	2388		include public citizens and officials of state and local
2444	2389		governments. The speaker shall also designate the chair and
2445	2390		vice-chair and may authorize the chair to create subcommittees and
2446	2391		appoint citizen advisory committees.
2447	2392		Sec. 59. RULES GOVERNING OPERATIONS. The rules governing
2448	2393		the proceedings of the house and those governing standing
2449	2394		committees shall be observed by an interim study committee, to the
2450	2395		extent that they are applicable. An interim study committee shall
2451	2396		have the power to issue process and to request assistance of state
2452	2397		agencies as provided for a standing committee in Sections 21, 22,
2453	2398		and 23 of this rule.
2454	2399		Sec. 60. FUNDING AND STAFF. An interim study committee
2455	2400		shall use existing staff resources of its members, standing
2456	2401		committees, house offices, and legislative service agencies. The
2457	2402		chair of an interim study committee shall prepare a detailed budget
2458	2403		for approval by the speaker and the Committee on House
2459	2404		Administration. An interim study committee may accept gifts,
2460	2405		grants, and donations for the purpose of funding its activities as
2461	2406		provided by Sections 301.032(b) and (c), Government Code.
2462	2407		Sec. 61. STUDY REPORTS. (a) The final report or
2463	2408		recommendations of an interim study committee shall be approved by
2464	2409		a majority of the committee membership. Dissenting members may
2465	2410		attach statements to the final report.
2466	2411		(b) An interim study committee shall submit the committee's
2467	2412		final report to the committee coordinator in the manner prescribed
2468	2413		by the committee coordinator. The committee coordinator shall:
2469	2414		(1) distribute copies of the final report to the
2470	2415		speaker, the Legislative Reference Library, and other appropriate
2471	2416		agencies; and
2472	2417		(2) make a copy of the final report available on the
2473	2418		house's Internet website.
2474	2419		(c) This section shall also apply to interim study reports
2475	2420		of standing committees.
2476	2421		Sec. 62. JOINT HOUSE AND SENATE INTERIM
2477	2422		STUDIES. Procedures may be established by a concurrent resolution
2478	2423		adopted by both houses, by which the speaker may authorize and
2479	2424		appoint, jointly with the senate, committees to conduct interim
2480	2425		studies. A copy of the authorization for and the appointments to a
2481	2426		joint interim study committee shall be filed with the chief clerk.
2482	2427		Individual joint interim study committees may not be authorized or
2483	2428		created by resolution.
2484	2429		RULE 5. FLOOR PROCEDURE
2485	2430		CHAPTER A. QUORUM AND ATTENDANCE
2486	2431		Sec. 1. QUORUM. Two-thirds of the house shall constitute a
2487	2432		quorum to do business.
2488	2433		Sec. 2. ROLL CALLS. On every roll call or registration,
2489	2434		the names of the members shall be called or listed, as the case may
2490	2435		be, alphabetically by surname, except when two or more have the same
2491	2436		surname, in which case the initials of the members shall be added.
2492	2437		Sec. 3. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. (a) No member shall be absent
2493	2438		from the sessions of the house without leave, and no member shall be
2494	2439		excused on his or her own motion.
2495	2440		(b) A leave of absence may be granted by a majority vote of
2496	2441		the house and may be revoked at any time by a similar vote.
2497	2442		(c) Any member granted a leave of absence due to a meeting of
2498	2443		a committee or conference committee that has authority to meet
2499	2444		while the house is in session shall be so designated on each roll
2500	2445		call or registration for which that member is excused.
2501	2446		Sec. 4. FAILURE TO ANSWER ROLL CALL. Any member who is
2502	2447		present and fails or refuses to record on a roll call after being
2503	2448		requested to do so by the speaker shall be recorded as present by
2504	2449		the speaker and shall be counted for the purpose of making a quorum.
2505	2450		Sec. 5. POINT OF ORDER OF "NO QUORUM." (a) The point of
2506	2451		order of "No Quorum" shall not be accepted by the chair if the last
2507	2452		roll call showed the presence of a quorum, provided the last roll
2508	2453		call was taken within two hours of the time the point of order is
2509	2454		raised.
2510	2455		(b) If the last roll call was taken more than two hours
2511	2456		before the point of order is raised, it shall be in order for the
2512	2457		member who raised the point of order to request a roll call. Such a
2513	2458		request must be seconded by 25 members. If the request for a roll
2514	2459		call is properly seconded, the chair shall order a roll call.
2515	2460		(c) Once a point of order has been made that a quorum is not
2516	2461		present, it may not be withdrawn after the absence of a quorum has
2517	2462		been ascertained and announced.
2518	2463		Sec. 6. MOTIONS IN ORDER WHEN QUORUM NOT PRESENT. If a
2519	2464		registration or record vote reveals that a quorum is not present,
2520	2465		only a motion to adjourn or a motion for a call of the house and the
2521	2466		motions incidental thereto shall be in order.
2522	2467		Sec. 7. MOTION FOR CALL OF THE HOUSE. It shall be in order
2523	2468		to move a call of the house at any time to secure and maintain a
2524	2469		quorum for one of the following purposes:
2525	2470		(1) for the consideration of a specific bill,
2526	2471		resolution, motion, or other measure;
2527	2472		(2) for the consideration of any designated class of
2528	2473		bills; or
2529	2474		(3) for a definite period of time.
2530	2475		Motions for, and incidental to, a call of the house are not
2531	2476		debatable.
2532	2477		Sec. 8. SECURING A QUORUM. When a call of the house is moved
2533	2478		for one of the above purposes and seconded by 15 members (of whom
2534	2479		the speaker may be one) and ordered by a majority vote, the main
2535	2480		entrance to the hall and all other doors leading out of the hall
2536	2481		shall be locked and no member permitted to leave the house without
2537	2482		the written permission of the speaker. The names of members present
2538	2483		shall be recorded. All absentees for whom no sufficient excuse is
2539	2484		made may, by order of a majority of those present, be sent for and
2540	2485		arrested, wherever they may be found, by the sergeant-at-arms or an
2541	2486		officer appointed by the sergeant-at-arms for that purpose, and
2542	2487		their attendance shall be secured and retained. The house shall
2543	2488		determine on what conditions they shall be discharged. Members who
2544	2489		voluntarily appear shall, unless the house otherwise directs, be
2545	2490		immediately admitted to the hall of the house and shall report their
2546	2491		names to the clerk to be entered in the journal as present.
2547	2492		Until a quorum appears, should the roll call fail to show one
2548	2493		present, no business shall be transacted, except to compel the
2549	2494		attendance of absent members or to adjourn. It shall not be in
2550	2495		order to recess under a call of the house.
2551	2496		Sec. 9. FOLLOWING ACHIEVEMENT OF A QUORUM. When a quorum is
2552	2497		shown to be present, the house may proceed with the matters on which
2553	2498		the call was ordered, or may enforce the call and await the
2554	2499		attendance of as many of the absentees as it desires. When the
2555	2500		house proceeds to the business on which the call was ordered, it
2556	2501		may, by a majority vote, direct the sergeant-at-arms to cease
2557	2502		bringing in absent members.
2558	2503		Sec. 10. REPEATING A RECORD VOTE. When a record vote
2559	2504		reveals the lack of a quorum, and a call is ordered to secure one, a
2560	2505		record vote shall again be taken when the house resumes business
2561	2506		with a quorum present.
2562	2507		CHAPTER B. ADMITTANCE TO HOUSE CHAMBER
2563	2508		Sec. 11. PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE FLOOR. Only the following
2564	2509		persons shall be entitled to the privileges of the floor of the
2565	2510		house when the house is in session: members of the house; employees
2566	2511		of the house when performing their official duties as determined by
2567	2512		the Committee on House Administration; members of the senate;
2568	2513		employees of the senate when performing their official duties; the
2569	2514		Governor of Texas and the governor's chief of staff and director of
2570	2515		legislative affairs [executive and administrative assistant]; the
2571	2516		lieutenant governor; the secretary of state; duly accredited media
2572	2517		representatives as permitted by Section 20 of this rule;
2573	2518		contestants in election cases pending before the house; and
2574	2519		immediate families of the members of the legislature on such
2575	2520		special occasions as may be determined by the Committee on House
2576	2521		Administration.
2577	2522		Sec. 12. ADMITTANCE WITHIN THE RAILING. Only the following
2578	2523		persons shall be admitted to the area on the floor of the house
2579	2524		enclosed by the railing when the house is in session: members of the
2580	2525		house; members of the senate; the governor; the lieutenant
2581	2526		governor; officers and employees of the senate and house when those
2582	2527		officers and employees are actually engaged in performing their
2583	2528		official duties as determined by the Committee on House
2584	2529		Administration; spouses of members of the house on such occasions
2585	2530		as may be determined by the Committee on House Administration; and,
2586	2531		within the area specifically designated for media representatives,
2587	2532		duly accredited media representatives as permitted by Section 20
2588	2533		of this rule.
2589	2534		Sec. 13. SOLICITORS AND COLLECTORS PROHIBITED. Solicitors
2590	2535		and collectors shall not be admitted to the floor of the house while
2591	2536		the house is in session.
2592	2537		Sec. 14. INVITATION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE. A motion to
2593	2538		invite a person to address the house while it is in session shall be
2594	2539		in order only if the person invited is entitled to the privileges of
2595	2540		the floor as defined by Section 11 of this rule and if no business is
2596	2541		pending before the house.
2597	2542		Sec. 15. LOBBYING ON FLOOR. No one, except the governor or
2598	2543		a member of the legislature, who is lobbying or working for or
2599	2544		against any pending or prospective legislative measure shall be
2600	2545		permitted on the floor of the house or in the adjacent rooms while
2601	2546		the house is in session.
2602	2547		Sec. 16. SUSPENSION OF FLOOR PRIVILEGES. If any person
2603	2548		admitted to the floor of the house under the rules, except the
2604	2549		governor or a member of the legislature, lobbies or works for or
2605	2550		against any pending or prospective legislation or violates any of
2606	2551		the other rules of the house, the privileges extended to that person
2607	2552		under the rules shall be suspended by a majority vote of the
2608	2553		Committee on House Administration. The action of the committee
2609	2554		shall be reviewable by the house only if two members of the
2610	2555		committee request an appeal from the decision of the committee. The
2611	2556		request shall be in the form of a minority report and shall be
2612	2557		subject to the same rules that are applicable to minority reports on
2613	2558		bills. Suspension shall remain in force until the accused person
2614	2559		purges himself or herself and comes within the rules, or until the
2615	2560		house, by majority vote, reverses the action of the committee.
2616	2561		Sec. 17. MEMBERS LOUNGE PRIVILEGES. Only the following
2617	2562		persons shall be admitted to the members lounge at any
2618	2563		time: members of the house; members of the senate; and former
2619	2564		members of the house and senate who are not engaged in any form of
2620	2565		employment requiring them to lobby or work for or against any
2621	2566		pending or prospective legislative measures.
2622	2567		Sec. 18. FLOOR DUTIES OF HOUSE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES. It
2623	2568		shall be the duty of the Committee on House Administration to
2624	2569		determine what duties are to be discharged by officers and
2625	2570		employees of the house on the floor of the house, specifically in
2626	2571		the area enclosed by the railing, when the house is in session. It
2627	2572		shall be the duty of the speaker to see that the officers and
2628	2573		employees do not violate the regulations promulgated by the
2629	2574		Committee on House Administration.
2630	2575		Sec. 19. PROPER DECORUM. No person shall be admitted to,
2631	2576		or allowed to remain in, the house chamber while the house is in
2632	2577		session unless properly attired, and all gentlemen shall wear a
2633	2578		coat and tie. Food or beverage shall not be permitted in the house
2634	2579		chamber at any time, and no person carrying food or beverage shall
2635	2580		be admitted to the chamber, whether the house is in session or in
2636	2581		recess. Reading newspapers shall not be permitted in the house
2637	2582		chamber while the house is in session. Smoking is not permitted in
2638	2583		the member's lounge or bathrooms. The Committee on House
2639	2584		Administration shall designate an area for smoking that is easily
2640	2585		accessible to the house chamber.
2641	2586		Sec. 20. MEDIA ACCESS TO HOUSE CHAMBER. (a) When the house
2642	2587		is in session, no media representative shall be admitted to the
2643	2588		floor of the house or allowed its privileges unless the person is:
2644	2589		(1) employed by a print, broadcast, or Internet news
2645	2590		organization, or by a wire service serving those organizations:
2646	2591		(A) whose principal business is the periodic
2647	2592		dissemination of original news and opinion of interest to a broad
2648	2593		segment of the public;
2649	2594		(B) which has published or operated continuously
2650	2595		for 18 months; and
2651	2596		(C) whose publications or operations are
2652	2597		editorially independent of any institution, foundation, or
2653	2598		interest group that lobbies the government or that is not
2654	2599		principally a general news organization; and
2655	2600		(2) not engaged in any lobbying or paid advocacy,
2656	2601		advertising, publicity, or promotion work for any individual,
2657	2602		political party, corporation, organization, or government agency.
2658	2603		(b) Any media representative seeking admission to the floor
2659	2604		of the house under the provisions of this section must submit to the
2660	2605		Committee on House Administration:
2661	2606		(1) a notarized application in a form determined by
2662	2607		the committee; and
2663	2608		(2) a letter from the media representative's employer
2664	2609		certifying that:
2665	2610		(A) the media representative is engaged
2666	2611		primarily in reporting the sessions of the legislature; and
2667	2612		(B) no part of the media representative's salary
2668	2613		for legislative coverage is paid from a source other than the news
2669	2614		organization that employs the media representative.
2670	2615		(c) Regularly accredited media representatives who have
2671	2616		duly qualified under the provisions of this section may, when
2672	2617		requested to do so, make recommendations through their professional
2673	2618		committees to the Committee on House Administration as to the
2674	2619		sufficiency or insufficiency of the credentials of any person
2675	2620		seeking admission to the floor of the house under this section.
2676	2621		(d) If the Committee on House Administration determines
2677	2622		that a person's media credentials meet the requirements of this
2678	2623		section, the committee shall issue a pass card to the person. The
2679	2624		committee may impose a fee to cover the costs of issuing a pass
2680	2625		card. This pass card must be presented to the doorkeeper each time
2681	2626		the person seeks admission to the floor of the house while the house
2682	2627		is in session. Pass cards issued under this section shall not be
2683	2628		transferable. The failure of a media representative to maintain the
2684	2629		requirements of this section may result in the revocation of the
2685	2630		pass card. Persons admitted to the floor of the house pursuant to
2686	2631		the provisions of this section shall work in appropriate convenient
2687	2632		seats or work stations in the house, which shall be designated for
2688	2633		that purpose by the Committee on House Administration.
2689	2634		(e) Members of the house shall not engage in interviews and
2690	2635		press conferences on the house floor while the house is in session.
2691	2636		The Committee on House Administration is authorized to enforce this
2692	2637		provision and to prescribe such other regulations as may be
2693	2638		necessary and desirable to achieve these purposes.
2694	2639		(f) Permission to make live or recorded television, radio,
2695	2640		or Internet broadcasts in or from the house chamber while the house
2696	2641		is in session may be granted only by the Committee on House
2697	2642		Administration. The committee shall promulgate regulations
2698	2643		governing television, radio, or Internet broadcasts, and such
2699	2644		regulations shall be printed as an addendum to the rules of the
2700	2645		house. When broadcasts from the floor of the house are recommended
2701	2646		by the Committee on House Administration, the recommendation shall
2702	2647		identify those persons in the technical crews to whom pass cards to
2703	2648		the floor of the house and galleries are to be issued. Passes
2704	2649		granted under this authority shall be subject to revocation on the
2705	2650		recommendation of the Committee on House Administration. Each
2706	2651		committee of the house shall have authority to determine whether or
2707	2652		not to permit television, radio, or Internet broadcasts of any of
2708	2653		its proceedings.
2709	2654		(g) A member of the house who believes a media
2710	2655		representative granted privileges under this section does not meet
2711	2656		the requirements of this section or has abused the privileges may
2712	2657		submit a written complaint to the Committee on House
2713	2658		Administration. The committee shall investigate the complaint and
2714	2659		may temporarily suspend the media representative's privileges
2715	2660		pending the investigation. The committee shall notify the subject
2716	2661		of the complaint of the time and place of a hearing on the
2717	2662		complaint. Following the hearing, the media representative's
2718	2663		privileges granted under this section are revoked if the committee
2719	2664		determines that the allegations contained in the complaint are
2720	2665		valid.
2721	2666		Sec. 21. PUBLIC ADMISSION TO AND NONLEGISLATIVE USE OF THE
2722	2667		HOUSE CHAMBER. When the house is not in session, the floor of the
2723	2668		house shall remain open on days and hours determined by the
2724	2669		Committee on House Administration. By resolution, the house may
2725	2670		open the floor of the house during its sessions for the inauguration
2726	2671		of the governor and lieutenant governor and for such other public
2727	2672		ceremonies as may be deemed warranted.
2728	2673		CHAPTER C. SPEAKING AND DEBATE
2729	2674		Sec. 22. ADDRESSING THE HOUSE. When a member desires to
2730	2675		speak or deliver any matter to the house, the member shall rise and
2731	2676		respectfully address the speaker as "Mr. (or Madam) Speaker" and,
2732	2677		on being recognized, may address the house from the microphone at
2733	2678		the reading clerk's desk, and shall confine all remarks to the
2734	2679		question under debate, avoiding personalities.
2735	2680		Sec. 23. WHEN TWO MEMBERS RISE AT ONCE. When two or more
2736	2681		members rise at once, the speaker shall name the one who is to speak
2737	2682		first. This decision shall be final and not open to debate or
2738	2683		appeal.
2739	2684		Sec. 24. RECOGNITION. (a) Except as otherwise provided
2740	2685		by this section, there shall be no appeal from the speaker's
2741	2686		recognition, but the speaker shall be governed by rules and usage in
2742	2687		priority of entertaining motions from the floor. When a member
2743	2688		seeks recognition, the speaker may ask, "For what purpose does the
2744	2689		member rise?" or "For what purpose does the member seek
2745	2690		recognition?" and may then decide if recognition is to be granted,
2746	2691		except that the speaker shall recognize a member who seeks
2747	2692		recognition on a question of privilege.
2748	2693		(b) If the speaker denies recognition of a member who seeks
2749	2694		recognition on a question of privilege, other than a question of
2750	2695		privilege relating to the right of the house to remove the speaker
2751	2696		and elect a new speaker, the decision of recognition may be appealed
2752	2697		using the procedures provided in Rule 1, Section 9.
2753	2698		(c) If the speaker denies recognition of a member who seeks
2754	2699		recognition on a question of privilege relating to the right of the
2755	2700		house to remove the speaker and elect a new speaker, the member may
2756	2701		appeal the speaker's denial of recognition if the member submits to
2757	2702		the speaker a written request, signed by at least 76 members of the
2758	2703		house, to appeal the decision of recognition. Upon receiving a
2759	2704		request for appeal in accordance with this subsection, the speaker
2760	2705		shall announce the request to the house. The names of the members
2761	2706		who signed the request and the time that the announcement was made
2762	2707		shall be entered in the journal. The appeal of a decision of
2763	2708		recognition under this subsection is eligible for consideration 24
2764	2709		hours after the request for appeal has been announced in accordance
2765	2710		with this subsection. The appeal and consideration of the question
2766	2711		of privilege, if the appeal is successful, takes precedence over
2767	2712		all other questions except motions to adjourn.
2768	2713		Sec. 25. INTERRUPTION OF A MEMBER WHO HAS THE FLOOR. A
2769	2714		member who has the floor shall not be interrupted by another member
2770	2715		for any purpose, unless he or she consents to yield to the other
2771	2716		member. A member desiring to interrupt another in debate should
2772	2717		first address the speaker for the permission of the member
2773	2718		speaking. The speaker shall then ask the member who has the floor
2774	2719		if he or she wishes to yield, and then announce the decision of that
2775	2720		member. The member who has the floor may exercise personal
2776	2721		discretion as to whether or not to yield, and it is entirely within
2777	2722		the member's discretion to determine who shall interrupt and when.
2778	2723		Sec. 26. YIELDING THE FLOOR. A member who obtains the
2779	2724		floor on recognition of the speaker may not be taken off the floor
2780	2725		by a motion, even the highly privileged motion to adjourn, but if
2781	2726		the member yields to another to make a motion or to offer an
2782	2727		amendment, he or she thereby loses the floor.
2783	2728		Sec. 27. RIGHT TO OPEN AND CLOSE DEBATE. The mover of any
2784	2729		proposition, or the member reporting any measure from a committee,
2785	2730		or, in the absence of either of them, any other member designated by
2786	2731		such absentee, shall have the right to open and close the debate,
2787	2732		and for this purpose may speak each time not more than 20 minutes.
2788	2733		Sec. 28. TIME LIMITS ON SPEECHES. All speeches shall be
2789	2734		limited to 10 minutes in duration, except as provided in Section 27
2790	2735		of this rule, and the speaker shall call the members to order at the
2791	2736		expiration of their time. If the house by a majority vote extends
2792	2737		the time of any member, the extension shall be for 10 minutes only.
2793	2738		A second extension of time shall be granted only by unanimous
2794	2739		consent. During the last 10 calendar days of the regular session,
2795	2740		and the last 5 calendar days of a special session, Sundays excepted,
2796	2741		all speeches shall be limited to 10 minutes and shall not be
2797	2742		extended. The time limits established by this rule shall include
2798	2743		time consumed in yielding to questions from the floor.
2799	2744		Sec. 29. LIMIT ON NUMBER OF TIMES TO SPEAK. No member shall
2800	2745		speak more than twice on the same question without leave of the
2801	2746		house, nor more than once until every member choosing to speak has
2802	2747		spoken, nor shall any member be permitted to consume the time of
2803	2748		another member without leave of the house being given by a majority
2804	2749		vote.
2805	2750		Sec. 30. EFFECT OF ADJOURNMENT ON SPEAKING LIMIT. If a
2806	2751		pending question is not disposed of because of an adjournment of the
2807	2752		house, a member who has spoken twice on the subject shall not be
2808	2753		allowed to speak again without leave of the house.
2809	2754		Sec. 31. OBJECTION TO READING A PAPER. When the reading of
2810	2755		a paper is called for, and objection is made, the matter shall be
2811	2756		determined by a majority vote of the house, without debate.
2812	2757		Sec. 32. PASSING BETWEEN MICROPHONES DURING DEBATE. No
2813	2758		person shall pass between the front and back microphones during
2814	2759		debate or when a member has the floor and is addressing the house.
2815	2760		Sec. 33. TRANSGRESSION OF RULES WHILE SPEAKING. If any
2816	2761		member, in speaking or otherwise, transgresses the rules of the
2817	2762		house, the speaker shall, or any member may, call the member to
2818	2763		order, in which case the member so called to order shall immediately
2819	2764		be seated; however, that member may move for an appeal to the house,
2820	2765		and if appeal is duly seconded by 10 members, the matter shall be
2821	2766		submitted to the house for decision by majority vote. In such
2822	2767		cases, the speaker shall not be required to relinquish the chair, as
2823	2768		is required in cases of appeals from the speaker's decisions. The
2824	2769		house shall, if appealed to, decide the matter without debate. If
2825	2770		the decision is in favor of the member called to order, the member
2826	2771		shall be at liberty to proceed; but if the decision is against the
2827	2772		member, he or she shall not be allowed to proceed, and, if the case
2828	2773		requires it, shall be liable to the censure of the house, or such
2829	2774		other punishment as the house may consider proper.
2830	2775		Sec. 34. ELECTRONIC RECORDING OF ALL HOUSE PROCEEDINGS. (a)
2831	2776		All proceedings of the house of representatives shall be
2832	2777		electronically recorded under the direction of the Committee on
2833	2778		House Administration. Copies of the proceedings may be released
2834	2779		under guidelines promulgated by the Committee on House
2835	2780		Administration.
2836	2781		(b) Archived video broadcasts of proceedings in the house
2837	2782		chamber that are available through the house's Internet or intranet
2838	2783		website may, under the direction of the Committee on House
2839	2784		Administration, include a link to the point in time in the video
2840	2785		where each measure under consideration by the house is laid out.
2841	2786		Such a link shall be provided as soon as the committee determines is
2842	2787		practical.
2843	2788		CHAPTER D. QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE
2844	2789		Sec. 35. QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE DEFINED. Questions of
2845	2790		privilege shall be:
2846	2791		(1) those affecting the rights of the house
2847	2792		collectively, its safety and dignity, and the integrity of its
2848	2793		proceedings, including the right of the house to remove the speaker
2849	2794		and elect a new speaker; and
2850	2795		(2) those affecting the rights, reputation, and
2851	2796		conduct of members individually in their representative capacity
2852	2797		only.
2853	2798		Sec. 36. PRECEDENCE OF QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE. Questions
2854	2799		of privilege shall have precedence over all other questions except
2855	2800		motions to adjourn. When in order, a member may address the house
2856	2801		on a question of privilege, or may at any time print it in the
2857	2802		journal, provided it contains no reflection on any member of the
2858	2803		house.
2859	2804		Sec. 37. WHEN QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE NOT IN ORDER. (a) It
2860	2805		shall not be in order for a member to address the house on a question
2861	2806		of privilege:
2862	2807		(1) between the time an undebatable motion is offered
2863	2808		and the vote is taken on the motion;
2864	2809		(2) between the time the previous question is ordered
2865	2810		and the vote is taken on the last proposition included under the
2866	2811		previous question; or
2867	2812		(3) between the time a motion to table is offered and
2868	2813		the vote is taken on the motion.
2869	2814		(b) If a question of privilege relating to removal of the
2870	2815		speaker and election of a new speaker fails, a subsequent attempt to
2871	2816		remove the same speaker can be made only by reconsidering the vote
2872	2817		by which the original question of privilege failed. Such
2873	2818		reconsideration shall be subject to the rules of the house
2874	2819		governing reconsideration.
2875	2820		Sec. 38. CONFINING REMARKS TO QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE;
2876	2821		INTERRUPTIONS PROHIBITED. (a) When speaking on privilege,
2877	2822		members must confine their remarks within the limits of Section 35
2878	2823		of this rule, which will be strictly construed to achieve the
2879	2824		purposes hereof.
2880	2825		(b) When a member is speaking on privilege, the member shall
2881	2826		not be interrupted by another member for any purpose. While the
2882	2827		member is speaking, another member may submit a question of order to
2883	2828		the speaker in writing or by approaching the podium in person. The
2884	2829		member submitting the question of order shall not interrupt the
2885	2830		member who is speaking. The speaker may interrupt the member who is
2886	2831		speaking if the speaker determines it is appropriate to address the
2887	2832		question of order at that time.
2888	2833		Sec. 39. DISCUSSION OF MERITS OF MOTION FORBIDDEN. Merits
2889	2834		of a main or subsidiary motion shall not be discussed or debated
2890	2835		under the guise of speaking to a question of privilege.
2891	2836		CHAPTER E. VOTING
2892	2837		Sec. 40. RECORDING ALL VOTES ON VOTING MACHINE. On all
2893	2838		votes, except viva voce votes, members shall record their votes on
2894	2839		the voting machine and shall not be recognized by the chair to cast
2895	2840		their votes from the floor. If a member attempts to vote from the
2896	2841		floor, the speaker shall sustain a point of order directed against
2897	2842		the member's so doing. This rule shall not be applicable to the
2898	2843		mover or the principal opponent of the proposition being voted on
2899	2844		nor to a member whose voting machine is out of order. If a member
2900	2845		demands strict enforcement of this section, Section 47 shall not
2901	2846		apply to the taking of a vote, and the house may discipline a member
2902	2847		in violation of this rule pursuant to its inherent authority.
2903	2848		Sec. 41. REGISTRATION EQUIVALENT TO ROLL CALL VOTE. A
2904	2849		registration or vote taken on the voting machine of the house shall
2905	2850		in all instances be considered the equivalent of a roll call or yea
2906	2851		and nay vote, which might be had for the same purpose.
2907	2852		Sec. 42. DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL OR PRIVATE INTEREST. Any
2908	2853		member who has a personal or private interest in any measure or bill
2909	2854		proposed or pending before the house shall disclose the fact and not
2910	2855		vote thereon.
2911	2856		Sec. 43. DIVIDING THE QUESTION. By a majority vote of the
2912	2857		house, a quorum being present, the question shall be divided, if it
2913	2858		includes propositions so distinct in substance that, one being
2914	2859		taken away, a substantive proposition remains. A motion for a
2915	2860		division vote cannot be made after the previous question has been
2916	2861		ordered, after a motion to table has been offered, after the
2917	2862		question has been put, nor after the yeas and nays have been
2918	2863		ordered. Under this subsection, the speaker may divide the
2919	2864		question into groups of propositions that are closely related.
2920	2865		Sec. 44. FAILURE OR REFUSAL TO VOTE. Any member who is
2921	2866		present and fails or refuses to vote after being requested to do so
2922	2867		by the speaker shall be recorded as present but not voting, and
2923	2868		shall be counted for the purpose of making a quorum.
2924	2869		Sec. 45. PRESENCE IN HOUSE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO VOTE. A
2925	2870		member must be on the floor of the house or in an adjacent room or
2926	2871		hallway on the same level as the house floor, in order to vote.
2927	2872		Sec. 46. LOCKING VOTING MACHINES OF ABSENT MEMBERS. During
2928	2873		each calendar day in which the house is in session, it shall be the
2929	2874		duty of the journal clerk to lock the voting machine of each member
2930	2875		who is excused or who is otherwise known to be absent. Each such
2931	2876		machine shall remain locked until the member in person contacts the
2932	2877		journal clerk and personally requests the unlocking of the machine.
2933	2878		Unless otherwise directed by the speaker, the journal clerk shall
2934	2879		not unlock any machine except at the personal request of the member
2935	2880		to whom the machine is assigned. Any violation, or any attempt by a
2936	2881		member or employee to circumvent the letter or spirit of this
2937	2882		section, shall be reported immediately to the speaker for such
2938	2883		disciplinary action by the speaker, or by the house, as may be
2939	2884		warranted under the circumstances.
2940	2885		Sec. 47. VOTING FOR ANOTHER MEMBER. Any member found
2941	2886		guilty by the house of knowingly voting for another member on the
2942	2887		voting machine without that other member's permission shall be
2943	2888		subject to discipline deemed appropriate by the house.
2944	2889		Sec. 48. INTERRUPTION OF A ROLL CALL. Once a roll call has
2945	2890		begun, it may not be interrupted for any reason. While a yea and nay
2946	2891		vote is being taken, or the vote is being counted, no member shall
2947	2892		visit the reading clerk's desk or the voting clerk's desk.
2948	2893		Sec. 49. EXPLANATION OF VOTE. (a) No member shall be
2949	2894		allowed to interrupt the vote or to make any explanation of a vote
2950	2895		that the member is about to give after the voting machine has been
2951	2896		opened, but may record in the journal the reasons for giving such a
2952	2897		vote.
2953	2898		(b) A "Reason for Vote" must be in writing and filed with the
2954	2899		journal clerk. If timely received, the "Reason for Vote" shall be
2955	2900		printed immediately following the results of the vote in the
2956	2901		journal. Otherwise, "Reasons for Vote" shall be printed in a
2957	2902		separate section at the end of the journal for the day on which the
2958	2903		reasons were recorded with the journal clerk. Such "Reason for
2959	2904		Vote" shall not deal in personalities or contain any personal
2960	2905		reflection on any member of the legislature, the speaker, the
2961	2906		lieutenant governor, or the governor, and shall not in any other
2962	2907		manner transgress the rules of the house relating to decorum and
2963	2908		debate.
2964	2909		(c) A member absent when a vote was taken may file with the
2965	2910		journal clerk while the house is in session a statement of how the
2966	2911		member would have voted if present. If timely received, the
2967	2912		statement shall be printed immediately following the results of the
2968	2913		vote in the journal. Otherwise, statements shall be printed in a
2969	2914		separate section at the end of the journal for the day on which the
2970	2915		statements were recorded with the journal clerk.
2971	2916		Sec. 50. PAIRS. (a) All pairs must be announced before the
2972	2917		vote is declared by the speaker, and a written statement sent to the
2973	2918		journal clerk. The statement must be signed by the absent member to
2974	2919		the pair, or the member's signature must have been authorized in
2975	2920		writing or by telephone, and satisfactory evidence presented to the
2976	2921		speaker if deemed necessary. If authorized in writing, the writing
2977	2922		shall be delivered to the chief clerk by personal delivery or by
2978	2923		commercially acceptable means of delivery, including electronic
2979	2924		transmission by PDF or similar secure format that is capable of
2980	2925		transmitting an accurate image of the member's signature. If
2981	2926		authorized by telephone, the call must be to and confirmed by the
2982	2927		chief clerk in advance of the vote to which it applies. Pairs shall
2983	2928		be entered in the journal, and the member present shall be counted
2984	2929		to make a quorum.
2985	2930		(b) The speaker may not refuse to recognize a pair that
2986	2931		complies with the requirements of Subsection (a), if both members
2987	2932		consent to the pair.
2988	2933		Sec. 51. ENTRY OF YEA AND NAY VOTE IN JOURNAL. (a) At the
2989	2934		desire of any member present, the yeas and nays of the members of
2990	2935		the house on any question shall be taken and entered in the journal.
2991	2936		No member or members shall be allowed to call for a yea and nay vote
2992	2937		after a vote has been declared by the speaker.
2993	2938		(b) A motion to expunge a yea and nay vote from the journal
2994	2939		shall not be in order.
2995	2940		(c) The yeas and nays of the members of the house on final
2996	2941		passage of any bill, [and on] any joint resolution proposing or
2997	2942		ratifying a constitutional amendment, and any other resolution,
2998	2943		other than a resolution of a purely ceremonial or honorary nature,
2999	2944		shall be taken and entered in the journal. For purposes of this
3000	2945		subsection, a vote on final passage includes [means] a vote on:
3001	2946		(1) third reading;
3002	2947		(2) second reading if the house suspends or otherwise
3003	2948		dispenses with the requirement for three readings;
3004	2949		(3) whether to concur in the senate's amendments; or
3005	2950		(4) whether to adopt a conference committee report.
3006	2951		Sec. 51A. REAL-TIME ACCESS BY PUBLIC TO YEAS AND NAYS. The
3007	2952		Committee on House Administration shall ensure that:
3008	2953		(1) the recorded yeas and nays are available to the
3009	2954		public on the Internet and on any televised broadcast of the house
3010	2955		proceedings produced by or under the direction of the house; and
3011	2956		(2) members of the public may view the yeas and nays in
3012	2957		real time to the extent possible on the Internet and on any
3013	2958		televised broadcast of the house proceedings produced by or under
3014	2959		the direction of the house.
3015	2960		Sec. 52. JOURNAL RECORDING OF VOTES ON ANY QUESTION. On
3016	2961		any question where a record of the yeas and nays has not been
3017	2962		ordered, members may have their votes recorded in the journal as
3018	2963		"yea" or "nay" by filing such information with the journal clerk
3019	2964		before adjournment or recess to another calendar day.
3020	2965		Sec. 53. CHANGING A VOTE. Before the result of a vote has
3021	2966		been finally and conclusively pronounced by the chair, but not
3022	2967		thereafter, a member may change his or her vote; however, if a
3023	2968		member's vote is erroneous, the member shall be allowed to change
3024	2969		that vote at a later time provided:
3025	2970		(1) the result of the record vote is not changed
3026	2971		thereby;
3027	2972		(2) the request is made known to the house by the chair
3028	2973		and permission for the change is granted by unanimous consent; and
3029	2974		(3) a notation is made in the journal that the member's
3030	2975		vote was changed.
3031	2976		Sec. 54. TIE VOTE. All matters on which a vote may be taken
3032	2977		by the house shall require for adoption a favorable affirmative
3033	2978		vote as required by these rules, and in the case of a tie vote, the
3034	2979		matter shall be considered lost.
3035	2980		Sec. 55. VERIFICATION OF A YEA AND NAY VOTE. When the
3036	2981		result of a yea and nay vote is close, the speaker may on the request
3037	2982		of any member order a verification vote, or the speaker may order a
3038	2983		verification on his or her own initiative. During verification, no
3039	2984		member shall change a vote unless it was erroneously recorded, nor
3040	2985		may any member not having voted cast a vote; however, when the clerk
3041	2986		errs in reporting the yeas and nays, and correction thereof leaves
3042	2987		decisive effect to the speaker's vote, the speaker may exercise the
3043	2988		right to vote, even though the result has been announced. A
3044	2989		verification shall be called for immediately after the vote is
3045	2990		announced. The speaker shall not entertain a request for
3046	2991		verification after the house has proceeded to the next question, or
3047	2992		after a recess or an adjournment. A vote to recess or adjourn, like
3048	2993		any other proposition, may be verified. Only one vote verification
3049	2994		can be pending at a time. A verification may be dispensed with by a
3050	2995		two-thirds vote.
3051	2996		Sec. 56. VERIFICATION OF A REGISTRATION. The speaker may
3052	2997		allow the verification of a registration (as differentiated from a
3053	2998		record vote) if in the speaker's opinion there is serious doubt as
3054	2999		to the presence of a quorum.
3055	3000		Sec. 57. MOTION FOR A CALL OF THE HOUSE PENDING
3056	3001		VERIFICATION. A motion for a call of the house, and all incidental
3057	3002		motions relating to it, shall be in order pending the verification
3058	3003		of a vote. These motions must be made before the roll call on
3059	3004		verification begins, and it shall not be in order to break into the
3060	3005		roll call to make them.
3061	3006		Sec. 58. ERRONEOUS ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE RESULT OF A
3062	3007		VOTE. If, by an error of the voting clerk or reading clerk in
3063	3008		reporting the yeas and nays from a registration or verification,
3064	3009		the speaker announces a result different from that shown by the
3065	3010		registration or verification, the status of the question shall be
3066	3011		determined by the vote as actually recorded. If the vote is
3067	3012		erroneously announced in such a way as to change the true result,
3068	3013		all subsequent proceedings in connection therewith shall fail, and
3069	3014		the journal shall be amended accordingly.
3070	3015		RULE 6. ORDER OF BUSINESS AND CALENDARS
3071	3016		Sec. 1. DAILY ORDER OF BUSINESS. (a) When the house
3072	3017		convenes on a new legislative day, the daily order of business shall
3073	3018		be as follows:
3074	3019		(1) Call to order by speaker.
3075	3020		(2) Registration of members.
3076	3021		(3) Prayer by chaplain, unless the invocation has been
3077	3022		given previously on the particular calendar day.
3078	3023		(4) Pledge of allegiance to the United States flag.
3079	3024		(5) Pledge of allegiance to the Texas flag.
3080	3025		(6) Excuses for absence of members and officers.
3081	3026		(7) First reading and reference to committee of bills
3082	3027		filed with the chief clerk; and motions to introduce bills, when
3083	3028		such motions are required.
3084	3029		(8) Requests to print bills and other papers; requests
3085	3030		of committees for further time to consider papers referred to them;
3086	3031		and all other routine motions and business not otherwise provided
3087	3032		for, all of which shall be undebatable except that the mover and one
3088	3033		opponent of the motion shall be allowed three minutes each.
3089	3034		The mover of a routine motion shall be allowed his or her
3090	3035		choice of making the opening or the closing speech under this rule.
3091	3036		If the house, under a suspension of the rules, extends the time of a
3092	3037		member under this rule, such extensions shall be for three minutes.
3093	3038		Subsidiary motions that are applicable to routine motions shall be
3094	3039		in order, but the makers of such subsidiary motions shall not be
3095	3040		entitled to speak thereon in the routine motion period, nor shall
3096	3041		the authors of the original routine motions be allowed any
3097	3042		additional time because of subsidiary motions.
3098	3043		(9) Unfinished business.
3099	3044		(10) Third reading calendars of the house in their
3100	3045		order of priority in accordance with Section 7 of this rule, unless
3101	3046		a different order is determined under other provisions of these
3102	3047		rules.
3103	3048		(11) Postponed matters to be laid before the house in
3104	3049		accordance with Rule 7, Section 15.
3105	3050		(12) Second reading calendars of the house in their
3106	3051		order of priority in accordance with Section 7 of this rule, unless
3107	3052		a different order is determined under other provisions of these
3108	3053		rules.
3109	3054		(b) When the house reconvenes for the first time on a new
3110	3055		calendar day following a recess, the daily order of business shall
3111	3056		be:
3112	3057		(1) Call to order by the speaker.
3113	3058		(2) Registration of members.
3114	3059		(3) Prayer by the chaplain.
3115	3060		(4) Pledge of allegiance to the United States flag.
3116	3061		(5) Pledge of allegiance to the Texas flag.
3117	3062		(6) Excuses for absence of members and officers.
3118	3063		(7) Pending business.
3119	3064		(8) Calendars of the house in their order of priority
3120	3065		in accordance with Section 7 of this rule, unless a different order
3121	3066		is determined under other provisions of these rules.
3122	3067		Sec. 2. SPECIAL ORDERS. (a) Any bill, resolution, or
3123	3068		other measure may on any day be made a special order for the same day
3124	3069		or for a future day of the session by an affirmative vote of
3125	3070		two-thirds of the members present. A motion to set a special order
3126	3071		shall be subject to the three-minute pro and con debate rule. When
3127	3072		once established as a special order, a bill, resolution, or other
3128	3073		measure shall be considered from day to day until disposed of; and
3129	3074		until it has been disposed of, no further special orders shall be
3130	3075		made.
3131	3076		A three-fourths vote of the members present shall be required
3132	3077		to suspend the portion of this rule which specifies that only one
3133	3078		special order may be made and pending at a time.
3134	3079		(b) After the first eight items under the daily order of
3135	3080		business for a legislative day have been passed, a special order
3136	3081		shall have precedence when the hour for its consideration has
3137	3082		arrived, except as provided in Section 9 of this rule.
3138	3083		(c) After the 115th day of a regular session, if a joint
3139	3084		resolution has appeared on a daily house calendar and is adopted,
3140	3085		and a bill that is enabling legislation for the joint resolution is
3141	3086		either on or eligible to be placed on a calendar, the author or
3142	3087		sponsor of the bill or another member may immediately be recognized
3143	3088		for a motion to set the bill that is the enabling legislation as a
3144	3089		special order pursuant to this section. For purposes of this
3145	3090		subsection, the bill must have been designated as the enabling
3146	3091		legislation for the joint resolution in writing filed with the
3147	3092		chief clerk not later than the date the committee report for the
3148	3093		enabling legislation is printed and distributed.
3149	3094		Sec. 3. POSTPONEMENT OF A SPECIAL ORDER. A special order
3150	3095		may be postponed to a day certain by a two-thirds vote of those
3151	3096		present, and when so postponed, shall be considered as disposed of
3152	3097		so far as its place as a special order is concerned.
3153	3098		Sec. 4. TABLED MEASURES AS SPECIAL ORDERS. A bill or
3154	3099		resolution laid on the table subject to call may be made a special
3155	3100		order.
3156	3101		Sec. 5. SUBSTITUTION IN MOTION FOR A SPECIAL ORDER. When a
3157	3102		motion is pending to set a particular bill or resolution as a
3158	3103		special order, it shall not be in order to move as a substitute to
3159	3104		set another bill or resolution as a special order. It shall be in
3160	3105		order, however, to substitute, by majority vote, a different time
3161	3106		for the special order consideration than that given in the original
3162	3107		motion.
3163	3108		Sec. 6. MEMBER'S SUSPENSION AND SPECIAL ORDER PRIVILEGES.
3164	3109		If a member moves to set a bill or joint resolution as a special
3165	3110		order, or moves to suspend the rules to take up a bill or joint
3166	3111		resolution out of its regular order, and the motion prevails, the
3167	3112		member shall not have the right to make either of these motions
3168	3113		again until every other member has had an opportunity, via either of
3169	3114		these motions, to have some bill or joint resolution considered out
3170	3115		of its regular order during that session of the legislature. A
3171	3116		member shall not lose the suspension privilege if the motion to
3172	3117		suspend or set for special order does not prevail.
3173	3118		Sec. 7. SYSTEM OF CALENDARS. (a) Legislative business of
3174	3119		the house shall be controlled by a system of calendars, consisting
3175	3120		of the following:
3176	3121		(1) EMERGENCY CALENDAR, on which shall appear bills
3177	3122		considered to be of such pressing and imperative import as to demand
3178	3123		immediate action, bills to raise revenue and levy taxes, and the
3179	3124		general appropriations bill. A bill submitted as an emergency
3180	3125		matter by the governor may also be placed on this calendar.
3181	3126		(2) MAJOR STATE CALENDAR, on which shall appear bills
3182	3127		of statewide effect, not emergency in nature, which establish or
3183	3128		change state policy in a major field of governmental activity and
3184	3129		which will have a major impact in application throughout the state
3185	3130		without regard to class, area, or other limiting factors.
3186	3131		(3) CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS CALENDAR, on which
3187	3132		shall appear joint resolutions proposing amendments to the Texas
3188	3133		Constitution, joint resolutions proposing the ratification of
3189	3134		amendments to the Constitution of the United States, and joint
3190	3135		resolutions applying to Congress for a convention to amend the
3191	3136		Constitution of the United States.
3192	3137		(4) GENERAL STATE CALENDAR, on which shall appear
3193	3138		bills of statewide effect, not emergency in nature, which establish
3194	3139		or change state law and which have application to all areas but are
3195	3140		limited in legal effect by classification or other factors which
3196	3141		minimize the impact to something less than major state policy, and
3197	3142		bills, not emergency in nature, which are not on the local, consent,
3198	3143		and resolutions calendar.
3199	3144		(5) LOCAL, CONSENT, AND RESOLUTIONS CALENDAR, on which
3200	3145		shall appear bills, house resolutions, and concurrent resolutions,
3201	3146		not emergency in nature, regardless of extent and scope, on which
3202	3147		there is such general agreement as to render improbable any
3203	3148		opposition to the consideration and passage thereof, and which have
3204	3149		been recommended by the appropriate standing committee for
3205	3150		placement on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar by the
3206	3151		Committee on Local and Consent Calendars.
3207	3152		(6) RESOLUTIONS CALENDAR, on which shall appear house
3208	3153		resolutions and concurrent resolutions, not emergency in nature and
3209	3154		not privileged.
3210	3155		(7) CONGRATULATORY AND MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS CALENDAR,
3211	3156		on which shall appear congratulatory and memorial resolutions whose
3212	3157		sole intent is to congratulate, memorialize, or otherwise express
3213	3158		concern or commendation. The Committee on [Rules and] Resolutions
3214	3159		Calendars may provide separate categories for congratulatory and
3215	3160		memorial resolutions.
3216	3161		(b) A calendars committee shall strictly construe and the
3217	3162		speaker shall strictly enforce this system of calendars.
3218	3163		Sec. 8. SENATE BILL CALENDARS. (a) Senate bills and
3219	3164		resolutions pending in the house shall follow the same procedure
3220	3165		with regard to calendars as house bills and resolutions, but
3221	3166		separate calendars shall be maintained for senate bills and
3222	3167		resolutions, and consideration of them on senate bill days shall
3223	3168		have priority in the manner and order specified in this rule.
3224	3169		(b) No other business shall be considered on days devoted to
3225	3170		the consideration of senate bills when there remain any bills on any
3226	3171		of the senate calendars, except with the consent of the senate. When
3227	3172		all senate calendars are clear, the house may proceed to
3228	3173		consideration of house calendars on senate bill days.
3229	3174		Sec. 9. SENATE BILL DAYS. (a) On calendar Wednesday and
3230	3175		on calendar Thursday of each week, only senate bills and senate
3231	3176		resolutions shall be taken up and considered, until disposed of.
3232	3177		Senate bills and senate resolutions shall be considered in the
3233	3178		order prescribed in Section 7 of this rule on separate senate
3234	3179		calendars prepared by the Committee on Calendars. In case a senate
3235	3180		bill or senate resolution is pending at adjournment on calendar
3236	3181		Thursday, it shall go over to the succeeding calendar Wednesday as
3237	3182		unfinished business.
3238	3183		(b) Precedence given in Rule 8 to certain classes of bills
3239	3184		during the first 60 calendar days of a regular session shall also
3240	3185		apply to senate bills on senate bill days.
3241	3186		Sec. 10. CONSIDERATION OF SENATE BILL ON SAME
3242	3187		SUBJECT. When any house bill is reached on the calendar or is
3243	3188		before the house for consideration, it shall be the duty of the
3244	3189		speaker to give the place on the calendar of the house bill to any
3245	3190		senate bill containing the same subject that has been referred to
3246	3191		and reported from a committee of the house and to lay the senate
3247	3192		bill before the house, to be considered in lieu of the house bill.
3248	3193		Sec. 11. PERIODS FOR CONSIDERATION OF CONGRATULATORY AND
3249	3194		MEMORIAL CALENDARS. As the volume of legislation shall warrant,
3250	3195		the chair of the Committee on [Rules and] Resolutions Calendars
3251	3196		shall move to designate periods for the consideration of
3252	3197		congratulatory and memorial calendars. Each such motion shall
3253	3198		require a two-thirds vote for its adoption. In each instance, the
3254	3199		Committee on [Rules and] Resolutions Calendars shall prepare and
3255	3200		post on the electronic legislative information system a calendar at
3256	3201		least 24 hours in advance of the hour set for consideration. No
3257	3202		memorial or congratulatory resolution will be heard by the full
3258	3203		house without having first been approved, at least 24 hours in
3259	3204		advance, by a majority of the membership of the Committee on [Rules
3260	3205		and] Resolutions Calendars, in accordance with Rule 4, Section 16.
3261	3206		It shall not be necessary for the Committee on [Rules and]
3262	3207		Resolutions Calendars to report a memorial or congratulatory
3263	3208		resolution from committee in order to place the resolution on a
3264	3209		congratulatory and memorial calendar. If the Committee on [Rules
3265	3210		and] Resolutions Calendars determines that a resolution is not
3266	3211		eligible for placement on the congratulatory and memorial calendar
3267	3212		the measure shall be sent to the Committee on Calendars for further
3268	3213		action. A congratulatory and memorial calendar will contain the
3269	3214		resolution number, the author's name, and a brief description of
3270	3215		the intent of the resolution. On the congratulatory and memorial
3271	3216		calendar, congratulatory resolutions may be listed separately from
3272	3217		memorial resolutions. Once a calendar is posted, no additional
3273	3218		resolutions will be added to it, and the requirements of this
3274	3219		section shall not be subject to suspension.
3275	3220		Sec. 12. PROCEDURE FOR CONSIDERATION OF CONGRATULATORY AND
3276	3221		MEMORIAL CALENDARS. During the consideration of a congratulatory
3277	3222		and memorial calendar, resolutions shall not be read in full unless
3278	3223		they pertain to members or former members of the legislature, or
3279	3224		unless the intended recipient of the resolution is present on the
3280	3225		house floor or in the gallery. All other such resolutions shall be
3281	3226		read only by number, type of resolution, and name of the person or
3282	3227		persons designated in the resolutions. Members shall notify the
3283	3228		chair, in advance of consideration of the calendar, of any
3284	3229		resolutions that will be required to be read in full. In addition,
3285	3230		the following procedures shall be observed:
3286	3231		(1) The chair shall recognize the reading clerk to
3287	3232		read the resolutions within each category on the calendar only by
3288	3233		number, type of resolution, author or sponsor, and name of the
3289	3234		person or persons designated in the resolutions, except for those
3290	3235		resolutions that have been withdrawn or that are required to be read
3291	3236		in full. The resolutions read by the clerk shall then be adopted in
3292	3237		one motion for each category.
3293	3238		(2) Subsequent to the adoption of the resolutions read
3294	3239		by the clerk, the chair shall proceed to lay before the house the
3295	3240		resolutions on the calendar that are required to be read in full.
3296	3241		Each such resolution shall be read and adopted individually.
3297	3242		(3) If it develops that any resolution on the
3298	3243		congratulatory and memorial calendar does not belong on that
3299	3244		calendar, the chair shall withdraw the resolution from further
3300	3245		consideration, remove it from the calendar, and refer it to the
3301	3246		appropriate calendars committee for placement on the proper
3302	3247		calendar.
3303	3248		Sec. 13. PERIODS FOR CONSIDERATION OF LOCAL, CONSENT, AND
3304	3249		RESOLUTIONS CALENDARS. (a) As the volume of legislation shall
3305	3250		warrant, the chair of the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars
3306	3251		shall move to designate periods for the consideration of local,
3307	3252		consent, and resolutions calendars. Each such motion shall require
3308	3253		a two-thirds vote for its adoption. In each instance, the Committee
3309	3254		on Local and Consent Calendars shall prepare and post on the
3310	3255		electronic legislative information system a calendar at least 48
3311	3256		hours in advance of the hour set for consideration. Once a calendar
3312	3257		is posted, no additional bills or resolutions will be added to it.
3313	3258		This requirement can be suspended only by unanimous consent. No
3314	3259		local, consent, and resolutions calendar may be considered by the
3315	3260		house if it is determined that the rules of the house were not
3316	3261		complied with by the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars in
3317	3262		preparing that calendar.
3318	3263		(b) The period designated for the consideration of a local,
3319	3264		consent, and resolutions calendar under this section or under a
3320	3265		special order under Section 2 of this rule may not exceed one
3321	3266		calendar day.
3322	3267		Sec. 14. PROCEDURE FOR CONSIDERATION OF LOCAL, CONSENT, AND
3323	3268		RESOLUTIONS CALENDARS. During the consideration of a local,
3324	3269		consent, and resolutions calendar set by the Committee on Local and
3325	3270		Consent Calendars the following procedures shall be observed:
3326	3271		(1) The chair shall allow the sponsor of each bill or
3327	3272		resolution three minutes to explain the measure, and the time shall
3328	3273		not be extended except by unanimous consent of the house. This rule
3329	3274		shall have precedence over all other rules limiting time for
3330	3275		debate.
3331	3276		(2) If it develops that any bill or resolution on a
3332	3277		local, consent, and resolutions calendar is to be contested on the
3333	3278		floor of the house under Subdivision (3) or (4) of this section, the
3334	3279		chair shall withdraw the bill or resolution from further
3335	3280		consideration and remove it from the calendar.
3336	3281		(3) Any bill or resolution on a local, consent, and
3337	3282		resolutions calendar shall be considered contested if notice is
3338		-	given by five or more members present in the house under Rule 5,
3339		-	Section 45, that they intend to oppose the bill or resolution,
	3283	+	given by 10 [five] or more members present in the house under Rule
	3284	+	5, Section 45, that they intend to oppose the bill or resolution,
3340	3285		either by a raising of hands or the delivery of written notice to
3341	3286		the chair.
3342	3287		(4) Any bill or resolution on a local, consent, and
3343	3288		resolutions calendar shall be considered contested if debate
3344	3289		exceeds 10 minutes, after the chair lays out the bill or resolution
3345	3290		following the sponsor's explanation under Subdivision (1) of this
3346	3291		section. The chair shall strictly enforce this time limit and
3347	3292		automatically withdraw the bill from further consideration if the
3348	3293		time limit herein imposed is exceeded.
3349	3294		(5) Any bill or resolution on a local, consent, and
3350	3295		resolutions calendar that is not reached for floor consideration
3351	3296		because of the expiration of the calendar day period for
3352	3297		consideration established by Section 13 of this rule shall carry
3353	3298		over onto the next local, consent, and resolutions calendar. Bills
3354	3299		or resolutions that carry over must appear in the same relative
3355	3300		order as on the calendar on which the bills or resolutions initially
3356	3301		appeared, and bills or resolutions originally from older calendars
3357	3302		must appear before those originally from more recent calendars.
3358	3303		(6) A motion to postpone a bill or resolution on a
3359	3304		local, consent, and resolutions calendar to a subsequent
3360	3305		legislative or calendar day requires an affirmative vote of
3361	3306		two-thirds of the members present.
3362	3307		Sec. 15. ORDER OF CONSIDERATION OF CALENDARS. Except for
3363	3308		local, consent, and resolutions calendars and congratulatory and
3364	3309		memorial calendars, consideration of calendars shall be in the
3365	3310		order named in Section 7 of this rule, subject to any exceptions
3366	3311		ordered by the Committee on Calendars. Bills and resolutions on
3367	3312		third reading shall have precedence over bills and resolutions on
3368	3313		second reading.
3369	3314		Sec. 16. DAILY CALENDARS, SUPPLEMENTAL CALENDARS, AND LISTS
3370	3315		OF ITEMS ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION. (a) Calendars shall be
3371	3316		prepared daily when the house is in session. A calendar must be
3372	3317		posted on the electronic legislative information system at least 36
3373	3318		hours if convened in regular session and 24 hours if convened in
3374	3319		special session before the calendar may be considered by the house,
3375	3320		except as otherwise provided by these rules for the calendar on
3376	3321		which the general appropriations bill is first eligible for
3377	3322		consideration on second reading when convened in regular session.
3378	3323		A calendar that contains a bill extending an agency, commission, or
3379	3324		advisory committee under the Texas Sunset Act must be posted at
3380	3325		least 48 hours if convened in regular or special session before the
3381	3326		calendar may be considered by the house. Deviations from the
3382	3327		calendars as posted shall not be permitted except that the
3383	3328		Committee on Calendars shall be authorized to prepare and post, not
3384	3329		later than two hours before the house convenes, a supplemental
3385	3330		daily house calendar, on which shall appear:
3386	3331		(1) bills or resolutions which were passed to third
3387	3332		reading on the previous legislative day, except as provided by
3388	3333		Section 24(b) of this rule;
3389	3334		(2) bills or resolutions which appeared on the Daily
3390	3335		House Calendar for a previous calendar day which were not reached
3391	3336		for floor consideration;
3392	3337		(3) postponed business from a previous calendar day;
3393	3338		and
3394	3339		(4) notice to take from the table a bill or resolution
3395	3340		which was laid on the table subject to call on a previous
3396	3341		legislative day.
3397	3342		In addition to the items listed above, the bills and
3398	3343		resolutions from a daily house calendar that will be eligible for
3399	3344		consideration may be incorporated, in their proper order as
3400	3345		determined by these rules, into the supplemental daily house
3401	3346		calendar.
3402	3347		(a-1) If the house is convened in regular session, the
3403	3348		calendar on which the general appropriations bill is first eligible
3404	3349		for consideration on second reading must be posted on the
3405	3350		electronic legislative information system at least 144 hours before
3406	3351		the calendar may be considered by the house. The posted calendar
3407	3352		must indicate the date and time at which the calendar is scheduled
3408	3353		for consideration by the house, which date and time must be in
3409	3354		accordance with Rule 8, Section 14.
3410	3355		(b) In addition, when the volume of legislation shall
3411	3356		warrant, and upon request of the speaker, the chief clerk shall have
3412	3357		prepared a list of Items Eligible for Consideration, on which shall
3413	3358		appear only:
3414	3359		(1) house bills with senate amendments that are
3415	3360		eligible for consideration under Rule 13, Section 5, including the
3416	3361		number of senate amendments and the total number of pages of senate
3417	3362		amendments;
3418	3363		(2) senate bills for which the senate has requested
3419	3364		appointment of a conference committee; and
3420	3365		(3) conference committee reports that are eligible for
3421	3366		consideration under Rule 13, Section 10.
3422	3367		(c) The list of Items Eligible for Consideration must be
3423	3368		posted on the electronic legislative information system at least
3424	3369		six hours before the list may be considered by the house.
3425	3370		(d) The time at which a calendar or list is posted on the
3426	3371		electronic legislative information system shall be time-stamped on
3427	3372		the originals of the calendar or list.
3428	3373		(e) No house calendar shall be eligible for consideration if
3429	3374		it is determined that the rules of the house were not complied with
3430	3375		by the Committee on Calendars in preparing that calendar.
3431	3376		(f) If the Committee on Calendars has proposed a rule for
3432	3377		floor consideration of a bill or resolution that is eligible to be
3433	3378		placed on a calendar of the daily house calendar, the rule must be
3434	3379		printed and a copy distributed to each member. If the bill or
3435	3380		resolution to which the rule will apply has already been placed on a
3436	3381		calendar of the daily house calendar, a copy of the rule must also
3437	3382		be posted with the calendar on which the bill or resolution appears.
3438	3383		The speaker shall lay a proposed rule before the house prior to the
3439	3384		consideration of the bill or resolution to which the rule will
3440	3385		apply. The rule shall be laid before the house not earlier than six
3441	3386		hours after a copy of the rule has been distributed to each member
3442	3387		in accordance with this subsection. The rule shall not be subject
3443	3388		to amendment, but to be effective, the rule must be approved by the
3444	3389		house by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of those members present
3445	3390		and voting, except that the rule must be approved by an affirmative
3446	3391		vote of a majority of those members present and voting if the rule
3447	3392		applies to a tax bill, an appropriations bill, or a redistricting
3448	3393		bill. If approved by the house in accordance with this subsection,
3449	3394		the rule will be effective for the consideration of the bill or
3450	3395		resolution on both second and third readings.
3451	3396		Sec. 17. POSITION ON A CALENDAR. (a) Unless removed from
3452	3397		the calendar under Subsection (b) of this section, once a bill or
3453	3398		resolution is placed on its appropriate calendar under these rules,
3454	3399		and has appeared on a house calendar, as posted on the electronic
3455	3400		legislative information system, the bill shall retain its relative
3456	3401		position on the calendar until reached for floor consideration, and
3457	3402		the calendars committee with jurisdiction over the bill or
3458	3403		resolution shall have no authority to place other bills on the
3459	3404		calendar ahead of that bill, but all additions to the calendar shall
3460	3405		appear subsequent to the bill.
3461	3406		(b) If a bill or resolution that has been placed on a house
3462	3407		calendar, as posted on the electronic legislative information
3463	3408		system, is recommitted or withdrawn from further consideration, the
3464	3409		bill or resolution relinquishes its position on the calendar, and
3465	3410		the bill or resolution shall be removed from the calendar.
3466	3411		Sec. 18. REQUIREMENTS FOR PLACEMENT ON A CALENDAR. Except
3467	3412		as provided in Section 11 of this rule as it relates to
3468	3413		congratulatory and memorial resolutions, no bill or resolution
3469	3414		shall be placed on a calendar until:
3470	3415		(1) it has been referred to and reported from its
3471	3416		appropriate standing committee by favorable committee action; or
3472	3417		(2) it is ordered printed on minority report or after a
3473	3418		committee has reported its inability to recommend a course of
3474	3419		action.
3475	3420		Sec. 19. REFERRAL TO CALENDARS COMMITTEES. All bills and
3476	3421		resolutions, on being reported from committee, shall be referred
3477	3422		immediately to the committee coordinator for printing and then to
3478	3423		the appropriate calendars committee for placement on the
3479	3424		appropriate calendar.
3480	3425		Sec. 20. TIME LIMIT FOR VOTE TO PLACE ON A CALENDAR. Within
3481	3426		30 calendar days after a bill or resolution has been referred to the
3482	3427		appropriate calendars committee, the committee must vote on whether
3483	3428		to place the bill or resolution on one of the calendars of the daily
3484	3429		house calendar or the local, consent, and resolutions calendar, as
3485	3430		applicable. A vote against placement of the bill or resolution on a
3486	3431		calendar does not preclude a calendars committee from later voting
3487	3432		in favor of placement of the bill or resolution on a calendar.
3488	3433		Sec. 21. MOTION TO PLACE ON A CALENDAR. (a) When a bill or
3489	3434		resolution has been in the appropriate calendars committee for 30
3490	3435		calendar days, exclusive of the calendar day on which it was
3491	3436		referred, awaiting placement on one of the calendars of the daily
3492	3437		house calendar or on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar,
3493	3438		it shall be in order for a member to move that the bill or resolution
3494	3439		be placed on a specific calendar of the daily house calendar or on
3495	3440		the local, consent, and resolutions calendar without action by the
3496	3441		committee. This motion must be seconded by five members and shall
3497	3442		require a majority vote for adoption.
3498	3443		(b) A motion to place a bill or resolution on a specific
3499	3444		calendar of the daily house calendar or on the local, consent, and
3500	3445		resolutions calendar is not a privileged motion and must be made
3501	3446		during the routine motion period unless made under a suspension of
3502	3447		the rules.
3503	3448		Sec. 22. REQUEST FOR PLACEMENT ON LOCAL, CONSENT, AND
3504	3449		RESOLUTIONS CALENDAR. No bill or resolution shall be considered
3505	3450		for placement on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar by
3506	3451		the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars unless a request for
3507	3452		that placement has been made to the chair of the standing committee
3508	3453		from which the bill or resolution was reported and unless the
3509	3454		committee report of the standing committee recommends that the bill
3510	3455		or resolution be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent
3511	3456		Calendars for placement on the local, consent, and resolutions
3512	3457		calendar. The recommendation of the standing committee shall be
3513	3458		advisory only, and the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars
3514	3459		shall have final authority to determine whether or not a bill or
3515	3460		resolution shall be placed on the local, consent, and resolutions
3516	3461		calendar. If the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars
3517	3462		determines that the bill or resolution is not eligible for
3518	3463		placement on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar, the
3519	3464		measure shall be sent to the Committee on Calendars for further
3520	3465		action.
3521	3466		Sec. 23. QUALIFICATIONS FOR PLACEMENT ON THE LOCAL,
3522	3467		CONSENT, AND RESOLUTIONS CALENDAR. (a) No bill defined as a local
3523	3468		bill by Rule 8, Section 10(c), shall be placed on the local,
3524	3469		consent, and resolutions calendar unless:
3525	3470		(1) evidence of publication of notice in compliance
3526	3471		with the Texas Constitution and these rules is filed with the
3527	3472		Committee on Local and Consent Calendars; and
3528	3473		(2) it has been recommended unanimously by the present
3529	3474		and voting members of the committee from which it was reported that
3530	3475		the bill be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars for
3531	3476		placement on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar.
3532	3477		(b) No other bill or resolution shall be placed on the
3533	3478		local, consent, and resolutions calendar unless it has been
3534	3479		recommended unanimously by the present and voting members of the
3535	3480		committee from which it was reported that the bill be sent to the
3536	3481		Committee on Local and Consent Calendars for placement on the
3537	3482		local, consent, and resolutions calendar.
3538	3483		(c) No bill or resolution shall be placed on the local,
3539	3484		consent, and resolutions calendar that:
3540	3485		(1) directly or indirectly prevents from being
3541	3486		available for purposes of funding state government generally any
3542	3487		money that under existing law would otherwise be available for that
3543	3488		purpose, including a bill that transfers or diverts money in the
3544	3489		state treasury from the general revenue fund to another fund; or
3545	3490		(2) authorizes or requires the expenditure or
3546	3491		diversion of state funds for any purpose, as determined by a fiscal
3547	3492		note attached to the bill.
3548	3493		Sec. 24. REPLACEMENT OF CONTESTED BILLS AND
3549	3494		RESOLUTIONS. (a) A bill on second reading or a resolution once
3550	3495		removed from the local, consent, and resolutions calendar by being
3551	3496		contested on the floor of the house under Section 14(3) or (4) of
3552	3497		this rule shall be returned to the Committee on Local and Consent
3553	3498		Calendars for further action. The Committee on Local and Consent
3554	3499		Calendars, if it feels such action is warranted, may again place the
3555	3500		bill or resolution on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar,
3556	3501		provided, however, that if the bill or resolution is not placed on
3557	3502		the next local, consent, and resolutions calendar set by the
3558	3503		Committee on Local and Consent Calendars, the bill or resolution
3559	3504		shall immediately be referred to the Committee on Calendars for
3560	3505		further action. If a [the] bill on second reading or a resolution
3561	3506		is then removed from the calendar a second time by being contested
3562	3507		on the floor of the house under Section 14(3) or (4) of this rule,
3563	3508		the bill or resolution shall not again be placed on the local,
3564	3509		consent, and resolutions calendar by the Committee on Local and
3565	3510		Consent Calendars during that session of the legislature but shall
3566	3511		be returned to the Committee on Calendars for further action.
3567	3512		(b) A bill on third reading removed from the local, consent,
3568	3513		and resolutions calendar under Section 14(3) or (4) of this rule
3569	3514		shall appear on the supplemental daily house calendar for the next
3570	3515		legislative day for which a supplemental daily house calendar has
3571	3516		not already been distributed, pursuant to Section 16(a)(1) of this
3572	3517		rule.
3573	3518		(c) This section does not apply to a bill or resolution on
3574	3519		the local, consent, and resolutions calendar that is withdrawn from
3575	3520		the calendar at the request of the author or sponsor without being
3576	3521		contested under Section 14(3) or (4) of this rule. A bill or
3577	3522		resolution withdrawn under this subsection shall be returned to the
3578	3523		Committee on Local and Consent Calendars for further action. The
3579	3524		Committee on Local and Consent Calendars, if it feels such action is
3580	3525		warranted, may again place the bill or resolution on the local,
3581	3526		consent, and resolutions calendar or refer the bill or resolution
3582	3527		to the Committee on Calendars for further action.
3583	3528		Sec. 25. DISCRETION IN PLACEMENT ON CALENDARS. Subject to
3584	3529		the limitations contained in this rule, the Committee on Calendars
3585	3530		shall have full authority to make placements on calendars in
3586	3531		whatever order is necessary and desirable under the circumstances
3587	3532		then existing, except that bills on third reading shall have
3588	3533		precedence over bills on second reading. It is the intent of the
3589	3534		calendar system to give the Committee on Calendars wide discretion
3590	3535		to insure adequate consideration by the house of important
3591	3536		legislation.
3592	3537		RULE 7. MOTIONS
3593	3538		CHAPTER A. GENERAL MOTIONS
3594	3539		Sec. 1. MOTIONS DECIDED WITHOUT DEBATE. The following
3595	3540		motions, in addition to any elsewhere provided herein, shall be
3596	3541		decided without debate, except as otherwise provided in these
3597	3542		rules:
3598	3543		(1) to adjourn;
3599	3544		(2) to lay on the table;
3600	3545		(3) to lay on the table subject to call;
3601	3546		(4) to suspend the rule as to the time for introduction
3602	3547		of bills;
3603	3548		(5) to order a call of the house, and all motions
3604	3549		incidental thereto;
3605	3550		(6) an appeal by a member called to order;
3606	3551		(7) on questions relating to priority of business;
3607	3552		(8) to amend the caption of a bill or resolution;
3608	3553		(9) to extend the time of a member speaking under the
3609	3554		previous question or to allow a member who has the right to speak
3610	3555		after the previous question is ordered to yield the time, or a part
3611	3556		of it, to another;
3612	3557		(10) to reconsider and table.
3613	3558		Sec. 2. MOTIONS SUBJECT TO DEBATE. The speaker shall permit
3614	3559		the mover and one opponent of the motion three minutes each during
3615	3560		which to debate the following motions without debating the merits
3616	3561		of the bill, resolution, or other matter, and the mover of the
3617	3562		motion may elect to either open the debate or close the debate, but
3618	3563		the mover's time may not be divided:
3619	3564		(1) to suspend the regular order of business and take
3620	3565		up some measure out of its regular order;
3621	3566		(2) to instruct a committee to report a certain bill or
3622	3567		resolution;
3623	3568		(3) to rerefer a bill or resolution from one committee
3624	3569		to another;
3625	3570		(4) to place a bill or resolution on a specific
3626	3571		calendar without action by the appropriate calendars committee;
3627	3572		(5) to take up a bill or resolution laid on the table
3628	3573		subject to call;
3629	3574		(6) to set a special order;
3630	3575		(7) to suspend the rules;
3631	3576		(8) to suspend the constitutional rule requiring bills
3632	3577		to be read on three several days;
3633	3578		(9) to pass a resolution suspending the joint rules;
3634	3579		(10) to order the previous question;
3635	3580		(11) to order the limiting of amendments to a bill or
3636	3581		resolution;
3637	3582		(12) to print documents, reports, or other material in
3638	3583		the journal;
3639	3584		(13) to take any other action required or permitted
3640	3585		during the routine motion period by Rule 6, Section 1;
3641	3586		(14) to divide the question.
3642	3587		Sec. 3. MOTIONS ALLOWED DURING DEBATE. When a question is
3643	3588		under debate, the following motions, and none other, shall be in
3644	3589		order, and such motions shall have precedence in the following
3645	3590		order:
3646	3591		(1) to adjourn;
3647	3592		(2) to take recess;
3648	3593		(3) to lay on the table;
3649	3594		(4) to lay on the table subject to call;
3650	3595		(5) for the previous question;
3651	3596		(6) to postpone to a day certain;
3652	3597		(7) to commit, recommit, refer, or rerefer;
3653	3598		(8) to amend by striking out the enacting or resolving
3654	3599		clause, which, if carried, shall have the effect of defeating the
3655	3600		bill or resolution;
3656	3601		(9) to amend;
3657	3602		(10) to postpone indefinitely.
3658	3603		Sec. 4. STATEMENT OR READING OF A MOTION. When a motion has
3659	3604		been made, the speaker shall state it, or if it is in writing, order
3660	3605		it read by the clerk; and it shall then be in possession of the
3661	3606		house.
3662	3607		Sec. 5. ENTRY OF MOTIONS IN JOURNAL. Every motion made to
3663	3608		the house and entertained by the speaker shall be reduced to writing
3664	3609		on the demand of any member, and shall be entered on the journal
3665	3610		with the name of the member making it.
3666	3611		Sec. 6. WITHDRAWAL OF A MOTION. A motion may be withdrawn
3667	3612		by the mover at any time before a decision on the motion, even
3668	3613		though an amendment may have been offered and is pending. It cannot
3669	3614		be withdrawn, however, if the motion has been amended. After the
3670	3615		previous question has been ordered, a motion can be withdrawn only
3671	3616		by unanimous consent.
3672	3617		Sec. 7. MOTIONS TO ADJOURN OR RECESS. A motion to adjourn
3673	3618		or recess shall always be in order, except:
3674	3619		(1) when the house is voting on another motion;
3675	3620		(2) when the previous question has been ordered and
3676	3621		before the final vote on the main question, unless a roll call shows
3677	3622		the absence of a quorum;
3678	3623		(3) when a member entitled to the floor has not yielded
3679	3624		for that purpose; or
3680	3625		(4) when no business has been transacted since a
3681	3626		motion to adjourn or recess has been defeated.
3682	3627		Sec. 8. CONSIDERATION OF SEVERAL MOTIONS TO ADJOURN OR
3683	3628		RECESS. When several motions to recess or adjourn are made at the
3684	3629		same period, the motion to adjourn carrying the shortest time shall
3685	3630		be put first, then the next shortest time, and in that order until a
3686	3631		motion to adjourn has been adopted or until all have been voted on
3687	3632		and lost; and then the same procedure shall be followed for motions
3688	3633		to recess.
3689	3634		Sec. 9. WITHDRAWAL OR ADDITION OF A MOTION TO ADJOURN OR
3690	3635		RECESS. A motion to adjourn or recess may not be withdrawn when it
3691	3636		is one of a series upon which voting has commenced, nor may an
3692	3637		additional motion to adjourn or recess be made when voting has
3693	3638		commenced on a series of such motions.
3694	3639		Sec. 10. RECONSIDERATION OF VOTE TO ADJOURN OR RECESS. The
3695	3640		vote by which a motion to adjourn or recess is carried or lost shall
3696	3641		not be subject to a motion to reconsider.
3697	3642		Sec. 11. ADJOURNING WITH LESS THAN A QUORUM. A smaller
3698	3643		number of members than a quorum may adjourn from day to day, and may
3699	3644		compel the attendance of absent members.
3700	3645		Sec. 12. MOTION TO TABLE. A motion to lay on the table, if
3701	3646		carried, shall have the effect of killing the bill, resolution,
3702	3647		amendment, or other immediate proposition to which it was applied.
3703	3648		Such a motion shall not be debatable, but the mover of the
3704	3649		proposition to be tabled, or the member reporting it from
3705	3650		committee, shall be allowed to close the debate after the motion to
3706	3651		table is made and before it is put to a vote. When a motion to table
3707	3652		is made to a debatable main motion, the main motion mover shall be
3708	3653		allowed 20 minutes to close the debate, whereas the movers of other
3709	3654		debatable motions sought to be tabled shall be allowed only 10
3710	3655		minutes to close. The vote by which a motion to table is carried or
3711	3656		lost cannot be reconsidered. After the previous question has been
3712	3657		ordered, a motion to table is not in order. The provisions of this
3713	3658		section do not apply to motions to "lay on the table subject to
3714	3659		call"; however, a motion to lay on the table subject to call cannot
3715	3660		be made after the previous question has been ordered.
3716	3661		Sec. 13. MATTERS TABLED SUBJECT TO CALL. When a bill,
3717	3662		resolution, or other matter is pending before the house, it may be
3718	3663		laid on the table subject to call, and one legislative day's notice,
3719	3664		as provided on the Supplemental House Calendar, must be given
3720	3665		before the proposition can be taken from the table, unless it is on
3721	3666		the same legislative day, in which case it can be taken from the
3722	3667		table at any time except when there is another matter pending before
3723	3668		the house. A bill, resolution, or other matter can be taken from
3724	3669		the table only by a majority vote of the house. When a special order
3725	3670		is pending, a motion to take a proposition from the table cannot be
3726	3671		made unless the proposition is a privileged matter.
3727	3672		Sec. 14. MOTION TO POSTPONE. (a) A motion to postpone to a
3728	3673		day certain may be amended and is debatable within narrow limits,
3729	3674		but the merits of the proposition sought to be postponed cannot be
3730	3675		debated. A motion to postpone indefinitely opens to debate the
3731	3676		entire proposition to which it applies.
3732	3677		(b) A motion to postpone a bill or resolution on a local,
3733	3678		consent, and resolutions calendar to a subsequent legislative or
3734	3679		calendar day requires an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the
3735	3680		members present.
3736	3681		Sec. 15. POSTPONED MATTERS. [(a)] A bill or proposition
3737	3682		postponed to a day certain shall be laid before the house at the
3738	3683		time on the calendar day to which it was postponed, provided it is
3739	3684		otherwise eligible under the rules and no other business is then
3740	3685		pending. If business is pending, the postponed matter shall be
3741	3686		deferred until the pending business is disposed of without
3742	3687		prejudice otherwise to its right of priority. When a privileged
3743	3688		matter is postponed to a particular time, and that time arrives, the
3744	3689		matter, still retaining its privileged nature, shall be taken up
3745	3690		even though another matter is pending.
3746	3691		[(b) Consideration of a bill postponed to a day certain from
3747	3692		the local, consent, and resolutions calendar is governed on second
3748	3693		reading by the rules applicable to the calendar from which it was
3749	3694		postponed to the extent practicable.]
3750	3695		Sec. 16. ORDER OF CONSIDERATION OF POSTPONED MATTERS. If
3751	3696		two or more bills, resolutions, or other propositions are postponed
3752	3697		to the same time, and are otherwise eligible for consideration at
3753	3698		that time, they shall be considered in the chronological order of
3754	3699		their setting.
3755	3700		Sec. 17. MOTION TO REFER. When motions are made to refer a
3756	3701		subject to a select or standing committee, the question on the
3757	3702		subject's referral to a standing committee shall be put first.
3758	3703		Sec. 18. MOTION TO RECOMMIT. A motion to recommit a bill,
3759	3704		after being defeated at the routine motion period, may again be made
3760	3705		when the bill itself is under consideration; however, a motion to
3761	3706		recommit a bill shall not be in order at the routine motion period
3762	3707		if the bill is then before the house as either pending business or
3763	3708		unfinished business.
3764	3709		A motion to recommit a bill or resolution can be made and
3765	3710		voted on even though the author, sponsor, or principal proponent is
3766	3711		not present.
3767	3712		Sec. 19. TERMS OF DEBATE ON MOTIONS TO REFER, REREFER,
3768	3713		COMMIT, OR RECOMMIT. A motion to refer, rerefer, commit, or
3769	3714		recommit is debatable within narrow limits, but the merits of the
3770	3715		proposition may not be brought into the debate. A motion to refer,
3771	3716		rerefer, commit, or recommit with instructions is fully debatable.
3772	3717		Sec. 20. RECOMMITTING TO COMMITTEE FOR A SECOND TIME.
3773	3718		Except as provided in Rule 4, Section 30, when a bill has been
3774	3719		recommitted once at any reading and has been reported adversely by
3775	3720		the committee to which it was referred, it shall be in order to
3776	3721		again recommit the bill only if a minority report has been filed in
3777	3722		the time required by the rules of the house. A two-thirds vote of
3778	3723		those present shall be required to recommit a second time.
3779	3724		CHAPTER B. MOTION FOR THE PREVIOUS QUESTION
3780	3725		Sec. 21. MOTION FOR THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. There shall be a
3781	3726		motion for the previous question, which shall be admitted only when
3782	3727		seconded by 25 members. It shall be put by the chair in this manner:
3783	3728		"The motion has been seconded. Three minutes pro and con debate
3784	3729		will be allowed on the motion for ordering the previous question."
3785	3730		As soon as the debate has ended, the chair shall continue: "As many
3786	3731		as are in favor of ordering the previous question on (here state on
3787	3732		which question or questions) will say 'Aye,'" and then, "As many as
3788	3733		are opposed say 'Nay.'" As in all other propositions, a motion for
3789	3734		the previous question may be taken by a record vote if demanded by
3790	3735		any member. If ordered by a majority of the members voting, a
3791	3736		quorum being present, it shall have the effect of cutting off all
3792	3737		debate, except as provided in Section 23 of this rule, and bringing
3793	3738		the house to a direct vote on the immediate question or questions on
3794	3739		which it has been asked and ordered.
3795	3740		Sec. 22. DEBATE ON MOTION FOR PREVIOUS QUESTION. On the
3796	3741		motion for the previous question, there shall be no debate except as
3797	3742		provided in Sections 2 and 21 of this rule. All incidental
3798	3743		questions of order made pending decision on such motion shall be
3799	3744		decided, whether on appeal or otherwise, without debate.
3800	3745		Sec. 23. LIMITATION OF DEBATE AFTER PREVIOUS QUESTION
3801	3746		ORDERED. After the previous question has been ordered, there shall
3802	3747		be no debate upon the questions on which it has been ordered, or
3803	3748		upon the incidental questions, except that the mover of the
3804	3749		proposition or any of the pending amendments or any other motions,
3805	3750		or the member making the report from the committee, or, in the case
3806	3751		of the absence of either of them, any other member designated by
3807	3752		such absentee, shall have the right to close the debate on the
3808	3753		particular proposition or amendment. Then a vote shall be taken
3809	3754		immediately on the amendments or other motions, if any, and then on
3810	3755		the main question.
3811	3756		Sec. 24. SPEAKING AND VOTING AFTER THE PREVIOUS QUESTION
3812	3757		ORDERED. All members having the right to speak after the previous
3813	3758		question has been ordered shall speak before the question is put on
3814	3759		the first proposition covered by the previous question. All votes
3815	3760		shall then be taken in the correct order, and no vote or votes shall
3816	3761		be deferred to allow any member to close on any one of the
3817	3762		propositions separately after the voting has commenced.
3818	3763		Sec. 25. SPEAKING ON AN AMENDMENT AS SUBSTITUTED. When an
3819	3764		amendment has been substituted and the previous question is then
3820	3765		moved on the adoption of the amendment as substituted, the author of
3821	3766		the amendment as substituted shall have the right to close the
3822	3767		debate on that amendment in lieu of the author of the original
3823	3768		amendment.
3824	3769		Sec. 26. SPEAKING ON A MOTION TO POSTPONE OR AMEND. When
3825	3770		the previous question is ordered on a motion to postpone
3826	3771		indefinitely or to amend by striking out the enacting clause of a
3827	3772		bill, the member moving to postpone or amend shall have the right to
3828	3773		close the debate on that motion or amendment, after which the mover
3829	3774		of the proposition or bill proposed to be so postponed or amended,
3830	3775		or the member reporting it from the committee, or, in the absence of
3831	3776		either of them, any other member designated by the absentee, shall
3832	3777		be allowed to close the debate on the original proposition.
3833	3778		Sec. 27. APPLICATION OF THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. The
3834	3779		previous question may be asked and ordered on any debatable single
3835	3780		motion or series of motions, or any amendment or amendments
3836	3781		pending, or it may be made to embrace all authorized debatable
3837	3782		motions or amendments pending and include the bill, resolution, or
3838	3783		proposition that is on second or third reading. The previous
3839	3784		question cannot be ordered, however, on the main proposition
3840	3785		without including other pending motions of lower rank as given in
3841	3786		Section 3 of this rule.
3842	3787		Sec. 28. LIMIT OF APPLICATION. The previous question shall
3843	3788		not extend beyond the final vote on a motion or sequence of motions
3844	3789		to which the previous question has been ordered.
3845	3790		Sec. 29. AMENDMENTS NOT YET LAID BEFORE THE HOUSE.
3846	3791		Amendments on the speaker's desk for consideration which have not
3847	3792		actually been laid before the house and read cannot be included
3848	3793		under a motion for the previous question.
3849	3794		Sec. 30. MOVING THE PREVIOUS QUESTION AFTER A MOTION TO
3850	3795		TABLE. If a motion to table is made directly to a main motion, the
3851	3796		motion for the previous question is not in order. In a case where an
3852	3797		amendment to a main motion is pending, and a motion to table the
3853	3798		amendment is made, it is in order to move the previous question on
3854	3799		the main motion, the pending amendment, and the motion to table the
3855	3800		amendment.
3856	3801		Sec. 31. NO SUBSTITUTE FOR MOTION FOR THE PREVIOUS
3857	3802		QUESTION. There is no acceptable substitute for a motion for the
3858	3803		previous question, nor can other motions be applied to it.
3859	3804		Sec. 32. MOTION FOR THE PREVIOUS QUESTION NOT SUBJECT TO
3860	3805		TABLING. The motion for the previous question is not subject to a
3861	3806		motion to table.
3862	3807		Sec. 33. MOTION TO ADJOURN AFTER MOTION FOR PREVIOUS
3863	3808		QUESTION ACCEPTED. The motion to adjourn is not in order after a
3864	3809		motion for the previous question is accepted by the chair, or after
3865	3810		the seconding of such motion and before a vote is taken.
3866	3811		Sec. 34. MOTIONS IN ORDER AFTER PREVIOUS QUESTION ORDERED.
3867	3812		After the previous question has been ordered, no motion shall be in
3868	3813		order until the question or questions on which it was ordered have
3869	3814		been voted on, without debate, except:
3870	3815		(1) a motion for a call of the house, and motions
3871	3816		incidental thereto;
3872	3817		(2) a motion to extend the time of a member closing on
3873	3818		a proposition;
3874	3819		(3) a motion to permit a member who has the right to
3875	3820		speak to yield the time or a part thereof to another member;
3876	3821		(4) a request for and a verification of a vote;
3877	3822		(5) a motion to reconsider the vote by which the
3878	3823		previous question was ordered. A motion to reconsider may be made
3879	3824		only once and that must be before any vote under the previous
3880	3825		question has been taken;
3881	3826		(6) a motion to table a motion to reconsider the vote
3882	3827		by which the previous question has been ordered;
3883	3828		(7) a double motion to reconsider and table the vote by
3884	3829		which the previous question was ordered.
3885	3830		Sec. 35. MOTION TO ADJOURN OR RECESS AFTER PREVIOUS
3886	3831		QUESTION ORDERED. No motion for an adjournment or a recess shall be
3887	3832		in order after the previous question is ordered until the final vote
3888	3833		under the previous question has been taken, unless the roll call
3889	3834		shows the absence of a quorum.
3890	3835		Sec. 36. ADJOURNING WITHOUT A QUORUM. When the house
3891	3836		adjourns without a quorum under the previous question, the previous
3892	3837		question shall remain in force and effect when the bill,
3893	3838		resolution, or other proposition is again laid before the house.
3894	3839		CHAPTER C. RECONSIDERATION
3895	3840		Sec. 37. MOTION TO RECONSIDER A VOTE. (a) When a question
3896	3841		has been decided by the house and the yeas and nays have been called
3897	3842		for and recorded, any member voting with the prevailing side may, on
3898	3843		the same legislative day, or on the next legislative day, move a
3899	3844		reconsideration; however, if a reconsideration is moved on the next
3900	3845		legislative day, it must be done before the order of the day, as
3901	3846		designated in the 10th item of Rule 6, Section 1(a), is taken up.
3902	3847		If the house refuses to reconsider, or on reconsideration, affirms
3903	3848		its decision, no further action to reconsider shall be in order.
3904	3849		(b) Where the yeas and nays have not been called for and
3905	3850		recorded, any member, regardless of whether he or she voted on the
3906	3851		prevailing side or not, may make the motion to reconsider; however,
3907	3852		even when the yeas and nays have not been recorded, the following
3908	3853		shall not be eligible to make a motion to reconsider:
3909	3854		(1) a member who was absent;
3910	3855		(2) a member who was paired and, therefore, did not
3911	3856		vote; and
3912	3857		(3) a member who was recorded in the journal as having
3913	3858		voted on the losing side.
3914	3859		(c) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, a [A]
3915	3860		motion to reconsider the vote by which a bill, joint resolution, or
3916	3861		concurrent resolution was defeated is not in order unless a member
3917	3862		has previously provided at least one hour's notice of intent to make
3918	3863		the motion by addressing the house when the house is in session and
3919	3864		stating that a member intends to make a motion to reconsider the
3920	3865		vote by which the bill or resolution was defeated. It is not
3921	3866		necessary for the member providing the notice to be eligible to make
3922	3867		or to be the member who subsequently makes the motion to reconsider.
3923	3868		If notice of intent to make a motion to reconsider is given within
3924	3869		the period that the motion to reconsider may be made under
3925	3870		Subsection (a) of this section and that period expires during the
3926	3871		one-hour period required by this subsection, then the period within
3927	3872		which the motion may be made under Subsection (a) is extended by the
3928	3873		amount of time, not to exceed one hour during which the house is in
3929	3874		session, necessary to satisfy the one-hour notice required by this
3930	3875		subsection. This [For purposes of this] subsection does not apply
3931	3876		to[, a motion to reconsider includes] a motion to reconsider and
3932	3877		table or to [and] a motion to reconsider and spread on the journal,
3933	3878		if no business has been transacted after the defeat of the measure.
3934	3879		Sec. 38. DEBATE ON MOTION TO RECONSIDER. A motion to
3935	3880		reconsider shall be debatable only when the question to be
3936	3881		reconsidered is debatable. Even though the previous question was
3937	3882		in force before the vote on a debatable question was taken, debate
3938	3883		is permissible on the reconsideration of such debatable question.
3939	3884		Sec. 39. MAJORITY VOTE REQUIRED. Every motion to
3940	3885		reconsider shall be decided by a majority vote, even though the vote
3941	3886		on the original question requires a two-thirds vote for affirmative
3942	3887		action. If the motion to reconsider prevails, the question then
3943	3888		immediately recurs on the question reconsidered.
3944	3889		Sec. 40. WITHDRAWAL OF MOTION TO RECONSIDER. A motion to
3945	3890		reconsider cannot be withdrawn unless permission is given by a
3946	3891		majority vote of the house, and the motion may be called up by any
3947	3892		member.
3948	3893		Sec. 41. TABLING MOTION TO RECONSIDER. A motion to
3949	3894		reconsider shall be subject to a motion to table, which, if carried,
3950	3895		shall be a final disposition of the motion to reconsider.
3951	3896		Sec. 42. DOUBLE MOTION TO RECONSIDER AND TABLE. The double
3952	3897		motion to reconsider and table shall be in order. It shall be
3953	3898		undebatable. When carried, the motion to reconsider shall be
3954	3899		tabled. When it fails, the question shall then be on the motion to
3955	3900		reconsider, and the motion to reconsider shall, without further
3956	3901		action, be spread on the journal, but it may be called up by any
3957	3902		member, in accordance with the provisions of Section 43 of this
3958	3903		rule.
3959	3904		Sec. 43. DELAYED DISPOSITION OF MOTION TO RECONSIDER. (a)
3960	3905		If a motion to reconsider is not disposed of when made, it shall be
3961	3906		entered in the journal, and cannot, after that legislative day, be
3962	3907		called up and disposed of unless one legislative day's notice has
3963	3908		been given.
3964	3909		(b) Unless called up and disposed of prior to 72 hours
3965	3910		before final adjournment of the session, all motions to reconsider
3966	3911		shall be regarded as determined and lost.
3967	3912		(c) All motions to reconsider made during the last 72 hours
3968	3913		of the session shall be disposed of when made; otherwise, the motion
3969	3914		shall be considered as lost.
3970	3915		Sec. 44. MOTION TO RECONSIDER AND SPREAD ON JOURNAL. (a) A
3971	3916		member voting on the prevailing side may make a motion to reconsider
3972	3917		and spread on the journal, which does not require a vote, and on the
3973	3918		motion being made, it shall be entered on the journal. Any member,
3974	3919		regardless of whether he or she voted on the prevailing side or not,
3975	3920		who desires immediate action on a motion to reconsider which has
3976	3921		been spread on the journal, can call it up as soon as it is made, and
3977	3922		demand a vote on it, or can call it up and move to table it.
3978	3923		(b) If the motion to table the motion to reconsider is
3979	3924		defeated, the motion to reconsider remains spread on the journal
3980	3925		for future action; however, any member, regardless of whether he or
3981	3926		she voted on the prevailing side or not, can call the motion from
3982	3927		the journal for action by the house, and, once disposed of, no other
3983	3928		motion to reconsider can be made.
3984	3929		Sec. 45. MOTION TO REQUIRE COMMITTEE TO REPORT. (a) During
3985	3930		the first 76 calendar days of a regular session, when any bill,
3986	3931		resolution, or other paper has been in committee for 6 calendar
3987	3932		days, exclusive of the calendar day on which it was referred, it
3988	3933		shall be in order for a member to move that the committee be
3989	3934		required to report the same within 7 calendar days. This motion
3990	3935		shall require a two-thirds vote for passage.
3991	3936		(b) After the first 76 calendar days of a regular session,
3992	3937		when any bill, resolution, or other paper has been in committee for
3993	3938		6 calendar days, exclusive of the calendar day on which it was
3994	3939		referred, it shall be in order for a member to move that the
3995	3940		committee be required to report the same within 7 calendar days.
3996	3941		This motion shall require a majority vote for passage.
3997	3942		(c) A motion to instruct a committee to report is not a
3998	3943		privileged motion and must be made during the routine motion period
3999	3944		unless made under a suspension of the rules.
4000	3945		(d) The house shall have no authority to instruct a
4001	3946		subcommittee directly; however, instructions recognized under the
4002	3947		rules may be given to a committee and shall be binding on all
4003	3948		subcommittees.
4004	3949		Sec. 46. MOTION TO REREFER TO ANOTHER COMMITTEE. (a)
4005	3950		During the first 76 calendar days of a regular session, when any
4006	3951		bill, resolution, or other paper has been in committee for 7
4007	3952		calendar days after the committee was instructed by the house to
4008	3953		report that measure by a motion made under Section 45 of this rule,
4009	3954		it shall be in order for a member to move to rerefer the bill,
4010	3955		resolution, or other paper to a different committee. This motion
4011	3956		shall require a two-thirds vote for passage.
4012	3957		(b) After the first 76 calendar days of a regular session,
4013	3958		when any bill, resolution, or other paper has been in committee for
4014	3959		7 calendar days after the committee has been instructed to report
4015	3960		that measure by a motion made under Section 45 of this rule, it
4016	3961		shall be in order for a member to move to rerefer the bill,
4017	3962		resolution, or other paper to a different committee. This motion
4018	3963		shall require a majority vote for passage.
4019	3964		(c) A motion to rerefer a bill, resolution, or other paper
4020	3965		from one committee to another committee is not a privileged motion
4021	3966		and must be made during the routine motion period unless made under
4022	3967		a suspension of the rules.
4023	3968		RULE 8. BILLS
4024	3969		Sec. 1. CONTENTS OF BILLS. (a) Proposed laws or changes in
4025	3970		laws must be incorporated in bills, which shall consist of:
4026	3971		(1) a title or caption, beginning with the words "A
4027	3972		Bill to be Entitled An Act" and a brief statement that gives the
4028	3973		legislature and the public reasonable notice of the subject of the
4029	3974		proposed measure;
4030	3975		(2) an enacting clause, "Be It Enacted by the
4031	3976		Legislature of the State of Texas"; and
4032	3977		(3) the bill proper.
4033	3978		(b) A house bill that would impose, authorize, increase, or
4034	3979		change the rate or amount of a tax, assessment, surcharge, or fee
4035	3980		must include a short statement at the end of its title or caption
4036	3981		indicating the general effect of the bill on the tax, assessment,
4037	3982		surcharge, or fee, such as "imposing a tax (or assessment),"
4038	3983		"authorizing a surcharge (or fee)," or "increasing the rate (or
4039	3984		amount) of a tax."
4040	3985		(c) A house bill that would create a criminal offense,
4041	3986		increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or
4042	3987		category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for
4043	3988		community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision must
4044	3989		include a short statement at the end of its title or caption
4045	3990		indicating the general effect of the bill on the offense,
4046	3991		punishment, or eligibility, such as "creating a criminal offense,"
4047	3992		"increasing a criminal penalty," or "changing the eligibility for
4048	3993		community supervision (or parole or mandatory supervision)."
4049	3994		(d) A house bill that would create a requirement that an
4050	3995		individual or entity obtain a license, certificate, registration,
4051	3996		permit, or other authorization before engaging in a particular
4052	3997		occupation or profession or that would expand an existing
4053	3998		requirement to additional individuals or entities must include a
4054	3999		short statement at the end of its title or caption indicating the
4055	4000		general effect of the bill on the occupation or profession, such as
4056	4001		"requiring an occupational license" or "expanding the
4057	4002		applicability of an occupational license (or permit or
4058	4003		certificate)."
4059	4004		Sec. 2. PUBLISHING ACTS IN THEIR ENTIRETY. No law shall be
4060	4005		revived or amended by reference to its title. The act revived, or
4061	4006		the section or sections amended, shall be reenacted and published
4062	4007		at length. This rule does not apply to revisions adopted under
4063	4008		Article III, Section 43, of the Texas Constitution.
4064	4009		Sec. 3. LIMITING A BILL TO A SINGLE SUBJECT. Each bill
4065	4010		(except a general appropriations bill, which may embrace the
4066	4011		various subjects and accounts for which money is appropriated or a
4067	4012		revision adopted under Article III, Section 43, of the Texas
4068	4013		Constitution) shall contain only one subject.
4069	4014		Sec. 4. CHANGING GENERAL LAW THROUGH AN APPROPRIATIONS
4070	4015		BILL. A general law may not be changed by the provisions in an
4071	4016		appropriations bill.
4072	4017		Sec. 5. COAUTHORSHIP, JOINT AUTHORSHIP, SPONSORSHIP,
4073	4018		COSPONSORSHIP, AND JOINT SPONSORSHIP. (a) A house bill or
4074	4019		resolution may have only one primary author. The signature of the
4075	4020		primary author shall be the only signature that appears on the
4076	4021		measure filed with the chief clerk. The signatures of all coauthors
4077	4022		or joint authors shall appear on the appropriate forms in the chief
4078	4023		clerk's office.
4079	4024		(b) Any member may become the coauthor of a bill or
4080	4025		resolution by securing permission from the author. If permission
4081	4026		is secured from the author prior to the time the measure is filed
4082	4027		with the chief clerk, the primary author and the coauthor shall sign
4083	4028		the appropriate form, which shall be included with the measure when
4084	4029		it is filed with the chief clerk. If a member wishes to become the
4085	4030		coauthor of a measure after it has been filed, no action shall be
4086	4031		required by the house, but it shall be the duty of the member
4087	4032		seeking to be a coauthor to obtain written authorization on the
4088	4033		appropriate form from the author. This authorization shall be
4089	4034		filed with the chief clerk before the coauthor signs the form for
4090	4035		the bill or resolution. The chief clerk shall report daily to the
4091	4036		journal clerk the names of members filed as coauthors of bills or
4092	4037		resolutions. If a coauthor of a bill or resolution desires to
4093	4038		withdraw from such status, the member shall notify the chief clerk,
4094	4039		who in turn shall notify the journal clerk.
4095	4040		(c) The primary author of a measure may designate up to four
4096	4041		joint authors by providing written authorization on the appropriate
4097	4042		form to the chief clerk. If a member designated as a joint author
4098	4043		has not already signed on the measure as a coauthor, that member
4099	4044		must also sign the form before the records will reflect the joint
4100	4045		author status of that member. The names of all joint authors shall
4101	4046		be shown immediately following the primary author's name on all
4102	4047		official printings of the measure, on all house calendars, in the
4103	4048		house journal, and in the electronic legislative information
4104	4049		system.
4105	4050		(d) The determination of the house sponsor of a senate
4106	4051		measure is made at the time the measure is reported from committee.
4107	4052		In the case of multiple requests for house sponsorship, the house
4108	4053		sponsor of a senate measure shall be determined by the chair of the
4109	4054		committee, in consultation with the senate author of the measure.
4110	4055		The chair of the committee must designate a primary sponsor and may
4111	4056		designate up to four joint sponsors or an unlimited number of
4112	4057		cosponsors. The names of all joint sponsors shall be shown
4113	4058		immediately following the primary sponsor's name on all official
4114	4059		printings of the measure, on all house calendars, in the house
4115	4060		journal, and in the electronic legislative information system.
4116	4061		Sec. 6. FILING, FIRST READING, AND REFERRAL TO COMMITTEE.
4117	4062		Each bill shall be filed with the chief clerk when introduced and
4118	4063		shall be numbered in its regular order. Each bill shall be read
4119	4064		first time by caption and referred by the speaker to the appropriate
4120	4065		committee with jurisdiction.
4121	4066		Sec. 7. PREFILING. Beginning the first Monday after the
4122	4067		general election preceding the next regular legislative session, or
4123	4068		within 30 days prior to any special session, it shall be in order to
4124	4069		file with the chief clerk bills and resolutions for introduction in
4125	4070		that session. On receipt of the bills or resolutions, the chief
4126	4071		clerk shall number them and make them a matter of public record,
4127	4072		available for distribution. Once a bill or resolution has been so
4128	4073		filed, it may not be recalled. This shall apply only to
4129	4074		members-elect of the succeeding legislative session.
4130	4075		Sec. 8. DEADLINE FOR INTRODUCTION. (a) Bills and joint
4131	4076		resolutions introduced during the first 60 calendar days of the
4132	4077		regular session may be considered by the committees and in the house
4133	4078		and disposed of at any time during the session, in accordance with
4134	4079		the rules of the house. After the first 60 calendar days of a
4135	4080		regular session, any bill or joint resolution, except local bills,
4136	4081		emergency appropriations, and all emergency matters submitted by
4137	4082		the governor in special messages to the legislature, shall require
4138	4083		an affirmative vote of four-fifths of those members present and
4139	4084		voting to be introduced.
4140	4085		(b) In addition to a bill defined as a "local bill" under
4141	4086		Section 10(c) of this rule, a bill is considered local for purposes
4142	4087		of this section if it relates to a specified district created under
4143	4088		Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution (water
4144	4089		districts, etc.), a specified hospital district, or another
4145	4090		specified special purpose district, even if neither these rules nor
4146	4091		the Texas Constitution require publication of notice for that bill.
4147	4092		Sec. 9. FILING. (a) A bill must be filed with the chief
4148	4093		clerk in the manner and in an electronic or other format specified
4149	4094		by the chief clerk at the time that the bill is introduced.
4150	4095		(b) A bill relating to conservation and reclamation
4151	4096		districts and governed by the provisions of Article XVI, Section
4152	4097		59, of the Texas Constitution must be filed with copies of the
4153	4098		notice to introduce the bill attached if the bill is intended to:
4154	4099		(1) create a particular conservation and reclamation
4155	4100		district; or
4156	4101		(2) amend the act of a particular conservation and
4157	4102		reclamation district to:
4158	4103		(A) add additional land to the district;
4159	4104		(B) alter the taxing authority of the district;
4160	4105		(C) alter the authority of the district with
4161	4106		respect to issuing bonds; or
4162	4107		(D) alter the qualifications or terms of office
4163	4108		of the members of the governing body of the district.
4164	4109		Sec. 10. LOCAL BILLS. (a) The house may not consider a
4165	4110		local bill unless notice of intention to apply for the passage of
4166	4111		the bill was published as provided by law and evidence of the
4167	4112		publication is attached to the bill. If not attached to the bill on
4168	4113		filing with the chief clerk or receipt of the bill from the senate,
4169	4114		copies of the evidence of timely publication shall be filed with the
4170	4115		chief clerk and must be distributed to the members of the committee
4171	4116		not later than the first time the bill is laid out in a committee
4172	4117		meeting. The evidence shall be attached to the bill on first
4173	4118		printing and shall remain with the measure throughout the entire
4174	4119		legislative process, including submission to the governor.
4175	4120		(b) Neither the house nor a committee of the house may
4176	4121		consider a bill whose application is limited to one or more
4177	4122		political subdivisions by means of population brackets or other
4178	4123		artificial devices in lieu of identifying the political subdivision
4179	4124		or subdivisions by name. However, this subsection does not prevent
4180	4125		consideration of a bill that classifies political subdivisions
4181	4126		according to a minimum or maximum population or other criterion
4182	4127		that bears a reasonable relation to the purpose of the proposed
4183	4128		legislation or a bill that updates laws based on population
4184	4129		classifications to conform to a federal decennial census.
4185	4130		(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d) of this section,
4186	4131		"local bill" for purposes of this section means:
4187	4132		(1) a bill for which publication of notice is required
4188	4133		under Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution (water
4189	4134		districts, etc.);
4190	4135		(2) a bill for which publication of notice is required
4191	4136		under Article IX, Section 9, of the Texas Constitution (hospital
4192	4137		districts);
4193	4138		(3) a bill relating to hunting, fishing, or
4194	4139		conservation of wildlife resources of a specified locality;
4195	4140		(4) a bill creating or affecting a county court or
4196	4141		statutory court or courts of one or more specified counties or
4197	4142		municipalities;
4198	4143		(5) a bill creating or affecting the juvenile board or
4199	4144		boards of a specified county or counties; or
4200	4145		(6) a bill creating or affecting a road utility
4201	4146		district under the authority of Article III, Section 52, of the
4202	4147		Texas Constitution.
4203	4148		(d) A bill is not considered to be a local bill under
4204	4149		Subsection (c)(3), (4), or (5) if it affects a sufficient number of
4205	4150		localities, counties, or municipalities so as to be of general
4206	4151		application or of statewide importance.
4207	4152		Sec. 11. CONSIDERATION IN COMMITTEE. (a) No bill shall be
4208	4153		considered unless it first has been referred to a committee and
4209	4154		reported from it.
4210	4155		(b) After a bill has been recommitted, it shall be
4211	4156		considered by the committee as a new subject.
4212	4157		Sec. 12. ORDER OF CONSIDERATION. All bills and resolutions
4213	4158		before the house shall be taken up and acted on in the order in which
4214	4159		they appear on their respective calendars, and each calendar shall
4215	4160		have the priority accorded to it by the provisions of Rule 6,
4216	4161		Sections 7 and 8.
4217	4162		Sec. 13. DEADLINES FOR CONSIDERATION. (a) No house bill
4218	4163		that is local as defined by Section 10(c) of this rule and that
4219	4164		appears on a local, consent, and resolutions calendar shall be
4220	4165		considered for any purpose after the 130th day of a regular session,
4221	4166		except to:
4222	4167		(1) act on senate amendments;
4223	4168		(2) adopt a conference committee report;
4224	4169		(3) reconsider the bill to make corrections; or
4225	4170		(4) pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of
4226	4171		the governor.
4227	4172		(b) No other house bill or joint resolution shall be
4228	4173		considered on its second reading after the 122nd day of a regular
4229	4174		session if it appears on a daily or supplemental daily house
4230	4175		calendar, or for any purpose after the 123rd day of a regular
4231	4176		session, except to:
4232	4177		(1) act on senate amendments;
4233	4178		(2) adopt a conference committee report;
4234	4179		(3) reconsider the bill or resolution to make
4235	4180		corrections; or
4236	4181		(4) pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of
4237	4182		the governor.
4238	4183		(c) No senate bill or joint resolution shall be considered
4239	4184		on its second reading after the 134th day of a regular session if it
4240	4185		appears on a daily or supplemental daily house calendar, or for any
4241	4186		purpose after the 135th day of a regular session, except to:
4242	4187		(1) adopt a conference committee report;
4243	4188		(2) reconsider the bill or resolution to remove house
4244	4189		amendments;
4245	4190		(3) reconsider the bill or resolution to make
4246	4191		corrections; or
4247	4192		(4) pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of
4248	4193		the governor.
4249	4194		(d) The speaker shall not lay any bill or joint resolution
4250	4195		before the house or permit a vote to be taken on its passage on the
4251	4196		136th and 137th days of a regular session, except to:
4252	4197		(1) act on senate amendments;
4253	4198		(2) adopt a conference committee report;
4254	4199		(3) reconsider the bill or resolution to remove house
4255	4200		amendments;
4256	4201		(4) reconsider the bill or resolution to make
4257	4202		corrections; or
4258	4203		(5) pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of
4259	4204		the governor.
4260	4205		(e) The speaker shall not lay any bill or joint resolution
4261	4206		before the house or permit a vote to be taken on its passage on the
4262	4207		138th and 139th days of a regular session, except to:
4263	4208		(1) adopt a conference committee report;
4264	4209		(2) reconsider the bill or resolution to remove house
4265	4210		amendments;
4266	4211		(3) discharge house conferees and concur in senate
4267	4212		amendments;
4268	4213		(4) reconsider the bill or resolution to make
4269	4214		corrections; or
4270	4215		(5) pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of
4271	4216		the governor.
4272	4217		(f) No vote shall be taken upon the passage of any bill or
4273	4218		resolution within 24 hours of the final adjournment of a regular
4274	4219		session unless it be to reconsider the bill or resolution to make
4275	4220		corrections, or to adopt a corrective resolution.
4276	4221		(g) The clock of record for the house, as determined under
4277	4222		Rule 2, Section 2, shall be used to determine compliance with
4278	4223		deadlines and other time requirements of the Texas Constitution and
4279	4224		these rules. A motion to suspend this rule must be decided by a
4280	4225		record vote.
4281	4226		Sec. 14. DELIVERY PRIOR TO CONSIDERATION. (a) Each bill or
4282	4227		resolution, except the general appropriations bill, shall be
4283	4228		delivered to each member by making a copy of the bill or resolution
4284	4229		available in an electronic format for viewing by the member and,
4285	4230		when the electronic format copy of the appropriate printing becomes
4286	4231		available, by sending notice of that fact to a Capitol e-mail
4287	4232		address designated by the member, at least 36 hours if convened in
4288	4233		regular session and 24 hours if convened in special session before
4289	4234		the bill can be considered by the house on second reading. If a
4290	4235		member informs the chief clerk in writing that the member desires to
4291	4236		receive paper copies of bills and resolutions under this section in
4292	4237		addition to delivery in an electronic format, the chief clerk shall
4293	4238		place a paper copy of the bill or resolution in the newspaper box of
4294	4239		the member as soon as practicable after the electronic copies of the
4295	4240		bill or resolution are made available for viewing.
4296	4241		(a-1) A printed copy of the general appropriations bill
4297	4242		shall be placed in the newspaper mailbox of each member at least 168
4298	4243		hours during a regular session and at least 72 hours during a
4299	4244		special session before the bill can be considered by the house on
4300	4245		second reading.
4301	4246		(b) By majority vote, the house may order both the original
4302	4247		bill or resolution and the complete committee substitute to be
4303	4248		printed. It shall not be necessary for the house to order complete
4304	4249		committee substitutes printed in lieu of original bills.
4305	4250		(c) A two-thirds vote of the house is necessary to order
4306	4251		that bills, other than local bills, be not printed. It shall not be
4307	4252		necessary for the house to order that local bills be not printed.
4308	4253		Sec. 15. REQUIREMENT FOR THREE READINGS. A bill shall not
4309	4254		have the force of law until it has been read on three several
4310	4255		legislative days in each house and free discussion allowed, unless
4311	4256		this provision is suspended by a vote of four-fifths of the members
4312	4257		present and voting, a quorum being present. The yeas and nays shall
4313	4258		be taken on the question of suspension and entered in the journal.
4314	4259		Sec. 16. CONSIDERATION SECTION BY SECTION. (a) During the
4315	4260		consideration of any bill or resolution, the house may, by a
4316	4261		majority vote, order the bill or resolution to be considered
4317	4262		section by section, or department by department, until each section
4318	4263		or department has been given separate consideration. If such a
4319	4264		procedure is ordered, only amendments to the section or department
4320	4265		under consideration at that time shall be in order. However, after
4321	4266		each section or department has been considered separately, the
4322	4267		entire bill or resolution shall be open for amendment, subject to
4323	4268		the provisions of Rule 11, Section 8(b). Once the consideration of
4324	4269		a bill section by section or department by department has been
4325	4270		ordered, it shall not be in order to move the previous question on
4326	4271		the entire bill, to recommit it, to lay it on the table, or to
4327	4272		postpone it, until each section or department has been given
4328	4273		separate consideration or until the vote by which section by
4329	4274		section consideration was ordered is reconsidered.
4330	4275		(b) A motion to consider a bill section by section is
4331	4276		debatable within narrow limits; that is, the pros and cons of the
4332	4277		proposed consideration can be debated but not the merits of the
4333	4278		bill.
4334	4279		Sec. 17. PASSAGE TO ENGROSSMENT OR THIRD READING. After a
4335	4280		bill or complete committee substitute for a bill has been taken up
4336	4281		and read, amendments shall be in order. If no amendment is made, or
4337	4282		if those proposed are disposed of, then the final question on its
4338	4283		second reading shall be, in the case of a house bill, whether it
4339	4284		shall be passed to engrossment, or, in the case of a senate bill,
4340	4285		whether it shall pass to its third reading. All bills ordered
4341	4286		passed to engrossment or passed to a third reading shall remain on
4342	4287		the calendar on which placed, but with future priority over bills
4343	4288		that have not passed second reading.
4344	4289		Sec. 18. CERTIFICATION OF FINAL PASSAGE. The chief clerk
4345	4290		shall certify the final passage of each bill, noting on the bill the
4346	4291		date of its passage, and the vote by which it passed, if by a yea and
4347	4292		nay vote.
4348	4293		Sec. 19. EFFECTIVE DATE. Every law passed by the
4349	4294		legislature, except the General Appropriations Act, shall take
4350	4295		effect or go into force on the 91st day after the adjournment of the
4351	4296		session at which it was enacted, unless the legislature provides
4352	4297		for an earlier effective date by a vote of two-thirds of all the
4353	4298		members elected to each house. The vote shall be taken by yeas and
4354	4299		nays and entered in the journals.
4355	4300		Sec. 20. BILLS CONTAINING SAME SUBSTANCE AS DEFEATED BILL.
4356	4301		After a bill or resolution has been considered and defeated by
4357	4302		either house of the legislature, no bill or resolution containing
4358	4303		the same substance shall be passed into law during the same session.
4359	4304		Sec. 21. CONSIDERATION OF BILLS INVOLVING STATE FUNDS. (a)
4360	4305		In order to assure the continuation of financial support of
4361	4306		existing state services through the passage of the general
4362	4307		appropriations bill, it shall not be in order during the first 118
4363	4308		days of the regular session for the speaker to lay before the house,
4364	4309		prior to the consideration, passage, and certification by the
4365	4310		comptroller of the general appropriations bill, any bill that
4366	4311		directly or indirectly prevents from being available for purposes
4367	4312		of funding state government generally any money that under existing
4368	4313		law would otherwise be available for that purpose, including a bill
4369	4314		that transfers or diverts money in the state treasury from the
4370	4315		general revenue fund to another fund.
4371	4316		(b) In order to assure compliance with the limitation on
4372	4317		appropriations of state tax revenue not dedicated by the
4373	4318		constitution as provided by Article VIII, Section 22, of the Texas
4374	4319		Constitution, it is not in order for the speaker to lay before the
4375	4320		house, prior to the time that the general appropriations bill has
4376	4321		been finally passed and sent to the comptroller, any bill that
4377	4322		appropriates funds from the state treasury that are not dedicated
4378	4323		by the constitution.
4379	4324		(c) When bills subject to the provisions of Subsection (a)
4380	4325		of this section become eligible for consideration, they shall be
4381	4326		considered for passage under the rules of the house and the joint
4382	4327		rules as any other bill but shall not be signed by the speaker as
4383	4328		required by the Constitution of Texas and the rules of the house
4384	4329		until the general appropriations bill has been signed by the
4385	4330		presiding officers of both houses of the legislature and
4386	4331		transmitted to the comptroller of public accounts for certification
4387	4332		as required by Article III, Section 49a, of the Constitution of
4388	4333		Texas.
4389	4334		(d) All bills subject to the provisions of Subsection (a) of
4390	4335		this section that have finally passed both houses shall be enrolled
4391	4336		as required by the rules and transmitted to the speaker. The
4392	4337		speaker shall note on each bill the date and hour of final
4393	4338		legislative action and shall withhold his or her signature and any
4394	4339		further action on all such bills until the general appropriations
4395	4340		bill has been signed by the presiding officers of both houses and
4396	4341		transmitted to the comptroller of public accounts for
4397	4342		certification. Immediately thereafter, the speaker shall sign in
4398	4343		the presence of the house all bills on which further action was
4399	4344		being withheld because the bills were subject to the provisions of
4400	4345		this section. After being signed by the speaker, the bills shall
4401	4346		then be transmitted to the comptroller of public accounts for
4402	4347		certification or to the governor, as the case may be, in the order
4403	4348		in which final legislative action was taken. "Final legislative
4404	4349		action," as that term is used in this subsection, shall mean the
4405	4350		last act of either house meeting in general session necessary to
4406	4351		place the bill in its final form preparatory to enrollment.
4407	4352		(e) Subsections (a)-(d) of this section shall not apply to
4408	4353		any bills providing for:
4409	4354		(1) the payment of expenses of the legislature;
4410	4355		(2) the payment of judgments against the state;
4411	4356		(3) any emergency matter when requested by the
4412	4357		governor in a formal message to the legislature; or
4413	4358		(4) the reduction of taxes.
4414	4359		(e-1) Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to a
4415	4360		bill that prevents the deposit into the general revenue fund of
4416	4361		money received from the federal government or earnings on that
4417	4362		money if the bill does not prevent that money from being available
4418	4363		for the purpose of funding state government generally to the same
4419	4364		extent as under existing law.
4420	4365		(f) Unless within the authority of a resolution or
4421	4366		resolutions adopted pursuant to Article VIII, Section 22(b), of the
4422	4367		Texas Constitution, it is not in order for the house to consider for
4423	4368		final passage on third reading, on motion to concur in senate
4424	4369		amendments, or on motion to adopt a conference committee report, a
4425	4370		bill appropriating funds from the state treasury in an amount that,
4426	4371		when added to amounts previously appropriated by bills finally
4427	4372		passed and sent or due to be sent to the comptroller, would exceed
4428	4373		the limit on appropriations established under Chapter 316,
4429	4374		Government Code.
4430	4375		(g) The general appropriations bill shall be reported to the
4431	4376		house by the Committee on Appropriations not later than the 90th
4432	4377		calendar day of the regular session. Should the Committee on
4433	4378		Appropriations fail to report by the deadline, Subsections (a)-(d)
4434	4379		of this section shall be suspended for the balance of that regular
4435	4380		session.
4436	4381		RULE 9. JOINT RESOLUTIONS
4437	4382		Sec. 1. AMENDMENTS TO THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION. (a) A
4438	4383		proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution shall take the form of
4439	4384		a joint resolution, which shall be subject to the rules that govern
4440	4385		the proceedings on bills, except as provided by this section.
4441	4386		(b) A joint resolution is not subject to the provisions of
4442	4387		Rule 8, Section 3, or Rule 11, Section 3.
4443	4388		(c) A joint resolution shall be adopted on any reading after
4444	4389		the first if it receives a two-thirds vote of the elected membership
4445	4390		of the house. If such a joint resolution receives only a majority
4446	4391		vote on second reading, it shall be passed to engrossment, and
4447	4392		subsequent proceedings shall be the same as those governing the
4448	4393		final passage of bills which have been passed to engrossment. If
4449	4394		such a joint resolution does not receive a two-thirds vote of the
4450	4395		elected membership of the house on third reading and final passage,
4451	4396		it shall fail of adoption.
4452	4397		Sec. 2. RATIFYING OR PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE
4453	4398		CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. Ratification by Texas of a
4454	4399		proposed amendment to or application to Congress for a convention
4455	4400		to amend the Constitution of the United States shall take the form
4456	4401		of a joint resolution, which shall be subject to the rules that
4457	4402		govern the proceedings on bills, except that it shall be adopted on
4458	4403		second reading if it receives a majority vote of the members present
4459	4404		and voting, a quorum being present. If such a joint resolution
4460	4405		fails to receive a majority vote, it shall fail of adoption and
4461	4406		shall not be considered again unless revived by a motion to
4462	4407		reconsider as otherwise provided in the rules.
4463	4408		Sec. 3. PLACEMENT OF JOINT RESOLUTIONS ON A CALENDAR. Joint
4464	4409		resolutions on committee report shall be referred to the Committee
4465	4410		on Calendars for placement on an appropriate calendar. The
4466	4411		Committee on Calendars shall maintain a separate calendar for house
4467	4412		joint resolutions and a separate calendar for senate joint
4468	4413		resolutions. Senate joint resolutions shall be considered on
4469	4414		calendar Wednesdays and calendar Thursdays along with senate bills.
4470	4415		RULE 10. HOUSE RESOLUTIONS AND CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS
4471	4416		Sec. 1. FILING. Resolutions shall be introduced by filing a
4472	4417		resolution with the chief clerk in the manner and in an electronic
4473	4418		or other format specified by the chief clerk, who shall number and
4474	4419		record house resolutions in one series and concurrent resolutions
4475	4420		in a separate series.
4476	4421		Sec. 2. REFERRAL TO COMMITTEE. (a) After numbering and
4477	4422		recording, all resolutions shall be sent to the speaker for
4478	4423		referral to the proper committee.
4479	4424		(b) Resolutions proposing the expenditure of money out of
4480	4425		the contingent expense fund of the legislature shall be referred to
4481	4426		the Committee on House Administration.
4482	4427		(c) All other resolutions shall be referred to the
4483	4428		appropriate committee with jurisdiction.
4484	4429		Sec. 3. REFERRAL TO CALENDARS COMMITTEES. All resolutions
4485	4430		on committee report, other than privileged resolutions, shall be
4486	4431		referred immediately to the appropriate calendars committee for
4487	4432		placement on the appropriate calendar.
4488	4433		Sec. 4. ORDER OF CONSIDERATION. Unless privileged,
4489	4434		resolutions shall be considered by the house only at the time
4490	4435		assigned for their consideration on the calendar, in accordance
4491	4436		with the provisions of Rule 6, Section 7.
4492	4437		Sec. 4A. RECORD VOTE REQUIRED BY TEXAS CONSTITUTION. A vote
4493	4438		on final passage of a resolution other than a resolution of a purely
4494	4439		ceremonial or honorary nature must be by record vote with the vote
4495	4440		of each member entered in the journal as required by Section 12(b),
4496	4441		Article III, Texas Constitution.
4497	4442		Sec. 5. SIGNING BY GOVERNOR. Concurrent resolutions shall
4498	4443		take the same course as house resolutions, except that they shall be
4499	4444		sent to the governor for signing when finally passed by both houses.
4500	4445		Sec. 6. MASCOT RESOLUTIONS. (a) All candidates for the
4501	4446		office of mascot shall be named in and elected by a single house
4502	4447		resolution.
4503	4448		(b) Only children of house members who are under the age of
4504	4449		12 years shall be eligible for election to the honorary office of
4505	4450		mascot. A child once named a mascot shall not be eligible for the
4506	4451		honor a second time.
4507	4452		(c) No separate classification or special title shall be
4508	4453		given to any mascot, but all shall receive the same title of
4509	4454		honorary mascot of the house of representatives.
4510	4455		(d) The speaker shall issue a certificate showing the
4511	4456		election of each mascot and deliver it to the parent member of the
4512	4457		child.
4513	4458		Pictures of mascots shall appear on the panel picture of the
4514	4459		house.
4515	4460		Sec. 7. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS DURING CALLED
4516	4461		SESSIONS. The subject matter of house resolutions and concurrent
4517	4462		resolutions does not have to be submitted by the governor in a
4518	4463		called session before they can be considered.
4519	4464		Sec. 8. RESOLUTIONS AUTHORIZING TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
4520	4465		Resolutions authorizing the enrolling clerk of the house or senate
4521	4466		to make technical corrections to a measure that has been finally
4522	4467		acted upon by both houses of the legislature shall be privileged in
4523	4468		nature and need not be referred to committee. Such resolutions
4524	4469		shall be eligible for consideration by the house upon introduction
4525	4470		in the house or receipt from the senate.
4526	4471		Sec. 9. AUTHOR'S SIGNATURE ON CONGRATULATORY OR MEMORIAL
4527	4472		RESOLUTION. The enrolled printing of a house congratulatory or
4528	4473		memorial resolution shall include a place for the signature of the
4529	4474		primary author of the resolution. The chief clerk shall provide the
4530	4475		primary author with the opportunity to sign the resolution after
4531	4476		the resolution is enrolled. The absence of the primary author's
4532	4477		signature does not affect the validity of the resolution as adopted
4533	4478		by the house.
4534	4479		RULE 11. AMENDMENTS
4535	4480		Sec. 1. ACCEPTABLE MOTIONS TO AMEND. When a bill,
4536	4481		resolution, motion, or proposition is under consideration, a motion
4537	4482		to amend and a motion to amend that amendment shall be in order. It
4538	4483		shall also be in order to offer a further amendment by way of a
4539	4484		substitute. Such a substitute may not be amended. If the
4540	4485		substitute is adopted, the question shall then be on the amendment
4541	4486		as substituted, and under this condition an amendment is not in
4542	4487		order.
4543	4488		Sec. 2. MOTIONS ON A DIFFERENT SUBJECT OFFERED AS
4544	4489		AMENDMENTS. No motion or proposition on a subject different from
4545	4490		the subject under consideration shall be admitted as an amendment
4546	4491		or as a substitute for the motion or proposition under debate.
4547	4492		"Proposition" as used in this section shall include a bill,
4548	4493		resolution, joint resolution, or any other motion which is
4549	4494		amendable.
4550	4495		Amendments pertaining to the organization, powers,
4551	4496		regulation, and management of the agency, commission, or advisory
4552	4497		committee under consideration are germane to bills extending state
4553	4498		agencies, commissions, or advisory committees under the provisions
4554	4499		of the Texas Sunset Act (Chapter 325, Government Code).
4555	4500		An amendment to a committee substitute laid before the house
4556	4501		in lieu of an original bill is germane if each subject of the
4557	4502		amendment is a subject that is included in the committee substitute
4558	4503		or was included in the original bill.
4559	4504		Sec. 3. AMENDING A BILL TO CHANGE ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE. No
4560	4505		bill shall be amended in its passage through either house so as to
4561	4506		change its original purpose.
4562	4507		Sec. 4. AMENDMENTS TO BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS ON LOCAL,
4563	4508		CONSENT, AND RESOLUTIONS CALENDARS. Amendments to a bill or
4564	4509		resolution shall not be in order during its consideration on a
4565	4510		local, consent, and resolutions calendar set by the Committee on
4566	4511		Local and Consent Calendars, unless the amendments have first been
4567	4512		submitted to and approved by the Committee on Local and Consent
4568	4513		Calendars, which shall be noted thereon by the chair of the
4569	4514		Committee on Local and Consent Calendars prior to the offering of
4570	4515		the amendments.
4571	4516		Sec. 5. AMENDMENTS ON THIRD READING. When a bill has been
4572	4517		taken up on its third reading, amendments shall be in order, but
4573	4518		shall require a two-thirds vote of the members present for their
4574	4519		adoption. A bill on third reading may be recommitted to a committee
4575	4520		and later reported to the house with amendments, in which case the
4576	4521		bill shall again take the course of a bill at its second reading.
4577	4522		Sec. 6. COPIES OF AN AMENDMENT. (a) Five copies of each
4578	4523		amendment shall be filed with the speaker. When the amendment is
4579	4524		read, two copies shall go to the chief clerk, one copy to the
4580	4525		journal clerk, one copy to the reading clerk, and one copy to the
4581	4526		speaker. No amendment offered from the floor shall be in order
4582	4527		unless the sponsoring member has complied with the provisions of
4583	4528		this section with respect to copies of the amendment. The chief
4584	4529		clerk shall retain one copy of each amendment filed with the speaker
4585	4530		under this section whether or not the amendment was offered by the
4586	4531		filing member.
4587	4532		(b) Prior to the time that an amendment is offered, if the
4588	4533		amendment exceeds one page in length, the sponsoring member must
4589	4534		provide to the chief clerk a minimum of five copies to be available
4590	4535		for distribution to those members requesting copies of the
4591	4536		amendment.
4592	4537		(c) If the amendment is only one page in length or less, the
4593	4538		sponsoring member must provide one additional copy of the amendment
4594	4539		to the chief clerk, who shall immediately proceed to have
4595	4540		additional copies made and available for those members requesting
4596	4541		copies of the amendment.
4597	4542		(d) The provisions of this section with respect to extra
4598	4543		copies shall not apply to committee amendments or to amendments
4599	4544		which do nothing more than delete material from the bill or
4600	4545		resolution.
4601	4546		(e) The speaker shall not recognize a member to offer an
4602	4547		original amendment that exceeds one page in length and that is in
4603	4548		the form of a complete substitute for the bill or resolution laid
4604	4549		before the house, or in the opinion of the speaker is a substantial
4605	4550		substitute, unless 10 copies of the amendment have been provided to
4606	4551		the chief clerk and were available in the chief clerk's office at
4607	4552		least 12 hours prior to the time the calendar on which the bill or
4608	4553		resolution to be amended is eligible for consideration.
4609	4554		(f) An amendment may be typed, hand-printed, or
4610	4555		handwritten, but must be legible in order to be offered.
4611	4556		(g) The speaker shall not recognize a member to offer an
4612	4557		original amendment to a bill on second reading if the bill extends
4613	4558		[extending] an agency, commission, or advisory committee under the
4614	4559		Texas Sunset Act unless 10 copies of the amendment have been
4615	4560		provided to the chief clerk and were available in the chief clerk's
4616	4561		office at least 24 hours prior to the time the calendar on which the
4617	4562		bill appears for second reading [or resolution to be amended] is
4618	4563		first eligible for consideration.
4619	4564		(h) If the house is convened in regular session, the speaker
4620	4565		shall not recognize a member to offer an original amendment to the
4621	4566		general appropriations bill on second reading unless 10 copies of
4622	4567		the amendment have been provided to the chief clerk and were
4623	4568		available in the chief clerk's office at least 72 hours prior to the
4624	4569		time the calendar on which the general appropriations bill appears
4625	4570		for second reading is first eligible for consideration.
4626	4571		(i) The Committee on House Administration shall ensure
4627	4572		that:
4628	4573		(1) the floor amendment system through which members
4629	4574		of the house may view an electronic image of current or past
4630	4575		amendments, or the system's successor in function, is available to
4631	4576		the public on the Internet;
4632	4577		(2) members of the public using the system available
4633	4578		on the Internet may view the same information that members may view
4634	4579		at the same time that members may view the information; and
4635	4580		(3) members of the public using the system available
4636	4581		on the Internet may view any amendment required to be provided to
4637	4582		the chief clerk under Subsections (e) [Rule 11, Sections 6(e)],
4638	4583		(g), and (h) of this section at least 10 hours prior to the time the
4639	4584		calendar on which the bill or resolution to be amended is eligible
4640	4585		for consideration.
4641	4586		(j) To the extent practicable, an amendment must include the
4642	4587		page and line numbers of the text of the bill, resolution, or
4643	4588		amendment being amended. Failure to comply with the requirements of
4644	4589		this subsection is not subject to a [sustainable] point of order.
4645	4590		Sec. 7. ORDER OF OFFERING MOTIONS TO AMEND. Classes of
4646	4591		motions to amend shall be offered in the following order:
4647	4592		(1) motions to amend by striking out the enacting
4648	4593		clause of a bill (or the resolving clause of a resolution), which
4649	4594		amendment cannot be amended or substituted;
4650	4595		(2) motions to amend an original bill, resolution,
4651	4596		motion, or proposition (other than substitute bills as provided for
4652	4597		in Subdivision (3) below), which shall have precedence as follows:
4653	4598		(A) original amendment;
4654	4599		(B) amendment to the amendment;
4655	4600		(C) substitute for the amendment to the
4656	4601		amendment.
4657	4602		Recognition for the offering of original amendments shall be
4658	4603		as follows: first, the main author; second, the member or members
4659	4604		offering the committee amendment; and third, members offering other
4660	4605		amendments from the floor;
4661	4606		(3) motions to amend an original bill by striking out
4662	4607		all after the enacting clause (substitute bills), which substitute
4663	4608		bills shall be subject to amendment as follows:
4664	4609		(A) amendment to the substitute bill;
4665	4610		(B) substitute for the amendment to the
4666	4611		substitute bill.
4667	4612		Recognition for offering such substitute bills shall be as
4668	4613		follows: first, the main author of the original bill, if the
4669	4614		member has not sought to perfect the bill by amendments as provided
4670	4615		for in Subdivision (2) above; second, the member or members
4671	4616		offering the committee amendment; and, third, members offering
4672	4617		amendments from the floor.
4673	4618		It shall be in order under the procedure described in this
4674	4619		subdivision to have as many as four complete measures pending
4675	4620		before the house at one time; that is, an original bill, an
4676	4621		amendment striking out all after the enacting clause of the bill and
4677	4622		inserting a new bill body, an amendment to the amendment striking
4678	4623		out all after the enacting clause of the bill and inserting a new
4679	4624		bill body, and a substitute for this amendment to the amendment to
4680	4625		the original bill which is also a new bill body. These "substitute
4681	4626		bills" shall be voted on in the reverse order of their offering;
4682	4627		(4) motions to amend the caption of a bill or joint
4683	4628		resolution, which may also be offered in accordance with Section
4684	4629		9(a) of this rule.
4685	4630		Sec. 8. STRIKE OUTS AND INSERTIONS. (a) A motion to strike
4686	4631		out and to insert new matter in lieu of that to be stricken out shall
4687	4632		be regarded as a substitute and shall be indivisible.
4688	4633		(b) Matter inserted or stricken out of an original bill by
4689	4634		way of amendment may not be taken out or reinserted at a later time
4690	4635		on the same reading except under the following conditions:
4691	4636		(1) reconsideration of the inserting or deleting
4692	4637		amendment;
4693	4638		(2) adoption of a "substitute bill" amendment;
4694	4639		(3) adoption of an amendment for a whole paragraph,
4695	4640		section or subdivision of a bill which so materially changes the
4696	4641		original text that the portion inserted or deleted is in fact of
4697	4642		minor importance.
4698	4643		Sec. 9. AMENDING CAPTIONS. (a) An amendment to the caption
4699	4644		of a bill or resolution shall not be in order until all other
4700	4645		proposed amendments have been acted on and the house is ready to
4701	4646		vote on the passage of the measure, and it shall then be decided
4702	4647		without debate.
4703	4648		(b) If the previous question has been ordered on a bill or
4704	4649		joint resolution at any reading, an amendment to the caption of that
4705	4650		bill or joint resolution may be offered and voted on immediately
4706	4651		preceding the final vote on the bill or joint resolution.
4707	4652		Sec. 10. MOTION TO LIMIT AMENDMENTS. (a) A motion to limit
4708	4653		amendments shall be admitted only when seconded by 25 members. The
4709	4654		motion may take either of two forms:
4710	4655		(1) to limit amendments to those pending before the
4711	4656		house; or
4712	4657		(2) to limit amendments to those pending on the
4713	4658		speaker's desk.
4714	4659		(b) The motion shall be put by the chair in this manner: "The
4715	4660		motion has been seconded. Three minutes pro and con debate will be
4716	4661		allowed on the motion to limit amendments." As soon as the debate
4717	4662		has ended, the chair shall continue: "As many as are in favor of
4718	4663		limiting amendments on (here state on which question or questions)
4719	4664		will say 'Aye,'" and then "As many as are opposed say 'Nay.'" As in
4720	4665		all other propositions, a motion to limit amendments shall be
4721	4666		decided by a record vote if demanded by any member. If ordered by a
4722	4667		majority of the members voting, a quorum being present, the motion
4723	4668		shall have the effect of confining further debate and consideration
4724	4669		to those amendments included within the motion, and thereafter the
4725	4670		chair will accept no more amendments to the proposition to which the
4726	4671		motion is applied.
4727	4672		(c) The motion to limit amendments, if adopted, shall not in
4728	4673		any way cut off or limit debate or other parliamentary maneuvers on
4729	4674		the pending proposition or propositions or amendment or amendments
4730	4675		included within the motion. The sole function of the motion is to
4731	4676		prevent the chair from accepting further amendments to the
4732	4677		proposition to which the motion is applied.
4733	4678		(d) Except as otherwise provided, the motion to limit
4734	4679		amendments shall have no effect on the parliamentary situation to
4735	4680		which the motion is applied, and the matter to which the motion is
4736	4681		applied shall continue to be considered by the house in all other
4737	4682		respects as though the motion had not been made.
4738	4683		(e) The amendments that are included within the motion to
4739	4684		limit amendments shall each be subject to amendment, if otherwise
4740	4685		permitted under the rules.
4741	4686		Sec. 11. MOTION TO TABLE A MOTION TO LIMIT AMENDMENTS. The
4742	4687		motion to limit amendments is not subject to a motion to table.
4743	4688		Sec. 12. ORDER OF VOTING ON AMENDMENTS. When an amendment
4744	4689		is offered, followed by an amendment to that amendment, and then a
4745	4690		substitute for the amendment to the amendment, these questions
4746	4691		shall be voted on in the reverse order of their offering.
4747	4692		Sec. 13. CERTIFICATION OF ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS. When an
4748	4693		amendment is adopted, such action shall be certified by the chief
4749	4694		clerk on the amendment, and the official copy of the amendment shall
4750	4695		then be securely attached to the bill or resolution which it amends.
4751	4696		RULE 12. PRINTING
4752	4697		Sec. 1. PRINTINGS OF BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS. (a)
4753	4698		Except as otherwise provided in this rule, all bills and joint
4754	4699		resolutions shall be printed and a copy provided to each member at
4755	4700		each of the following stages in the parliamentary progress of the
4756	4701		bill or joint resolution:
4757	4702		(1) at the time of the committee report on the bill or
4758	4703		joint resolution, which shall be known as "First Printing" and
4759	4704		which shall consist of:
4760	4705		(A) a complete text of the bill or joint
4761	4706		resolution as reported from committee;
4762	4707		(B) a complete copy of the bill analysis, a
4763	4708		complete copy of the summary of committee action, and a complete
4764	4709		copy of the witness list;
4765	4710		(C) the text of the committee report;
4766	4711		(D) the record vote by which the measure was
4767	4712		reported from committee, including the vote of individual members;
4768	4713		(E) a copy of the latest fiscal note; and
4769	4714		(F) a copy of each impact statement received by
4770	4715		the committee;
4771	4716		(2) at the time the bill or joint resolution, if
4772	4717		amended, finally passes the senate, senate amendments and house
4773	4718		engrossment text will be printed, which shall be known as "Second
4774	4719		Printing"; and
4775	4720		(3) at the time the conference committee, if any,
4776	4721		makes its report on the bill or joint resolution, which shall be
4777	4722		known as "Third Printing."
4778	4723		(b) In any section of the first printing of a bill or joint
4779	4724		resolution that proposes to amend an existing statute or
4780	4725		constitutional provision, language sought to be deleted must be
4781	4726		bracketed and stricken through, and language sought to be added
4782	4727		must be underlined. This requirement does not apply to:
4783	4728		(1) an appropriations bill;
4784	4729		(2) a local bill;
4785	4730		(3) a game bill;
4786	4731		(4) a recodification bill;
4787	4732		(5) a redistricting bill;
4788	4733		(6) a section of a bill or joint resolution not
4789	4734		purporting to amend an existing statute or constitutional
4790	4735		provision;
4791	4736		(7) a section of a bill or joint resolution that
4792	4737		revises the entire text of an existing statute or constitutional
4793	4738		provision, to the extent that it would confuse rather than clarify
4794	4739		to show deletions and additions; and
4795	4740		(8) a section of a bill or joint resolution providing
4796	4741		for severability, nonseverability, emergency, or repeal of an
4797	4742		existing statute or constitutional provision.
4798	4743		(c) The speaker may overrule a point of order raised as to a
4799	4744		violation of Subsection (b) of this section if the violation is
4800	4745		typographical or minor and does not tend to deceive or mislead.
4801	4746		(d) The requirement to provide a copy of a printing to each
4802	4747		member may be accomplished by making a copy of the printing
4803	4748		available in an electronic format for viewing by the member and,
4804	4749		when the electronic format copy of the appropriate printing becomes
4805	4750		available, sending notice of that fact to a Capitol e-mail address
4806	4751		designated by the member. If a member informs the chief clerk that
4807	4752		the member also desires to receive a paper copy of printings at
4808	4753		first, second, or third printing, the chief clerk shall place paper
4809	4754		copies of those printings designated by the member in the newspaper
4810	4755		box of the member as soon as practicable after the electronic copies
4811	4756		of the printings are made available for viewing.
4812	4757		(e) The provisions of Subsection (d) of this section
4813	4758		authorizing delivery of a printing by electronic means also apply
4814	4759		to any fiscal note, impact statement, analysis, or other item
4815	4760		required by these rules to be delivered or made available to each
4816	4761		member as an attachment to or in connection with the applicable
4817	4762		printing.
4818	4763		Sec. 2. LOCAL BILLS. Local bills shall not be reprinted
4819	4764		after the first printing except when ordered printed by a majority
4820	4765		vote of the house.
4821	4766		Sec. 3. CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS. A concurrent resolution
4822	4767		shall be printed only if the resolution:
4823	4768		(1) grants permission to sue the state;
4824	4769		(2) memorializes Congress to take or to refrain from
4825	4770		taking certain action;
4826	4771		(3) sets legislative policy or declares legislative
4827	4772		intent;
4828	4773		(4) makes corrective changes in any bill, joint
4829	4774		resolution, or conference committee report;
4830	4775		(5) establishes or interprets policy for a state
4831	4776		agency, department, or political subdivision;
4832	4777		(6) establishes, modifies, or changes internal
4833	4778		procedures or administration of the legislature or any component
4834	4779		part thereof;
4835	4780		(7) proposes an amendment to the Joint Rules of the
4836	4781		Senate and the House of Representatives; or
4837	4782		(8) is ordered printed by a majority vote of the house.
4838	4783		Sec. 4. HOUSE RESOLUTIONS. A house resolution shall be
4839	4784		printed only if the resolution:
4840	4785		(1) proposes an amendment to the rules of the house;
4841	4786		(2) establishes, modifies, or changes the internal
4842	4787		procedures and administration of the house;
4843	4788		(3) establishes legislative policy or interprets
4844	4789		legislative intent; or
4845	4790		(4) is ordered printed by a majority of the house.
4846	4791		Sec. 5. ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS OF COMPLIANCE WITH PRINTING
4847	4792		REQUIREMENTS. Except for matter to be printed in the journal, all
4848	4793		requirements contained in the rules with respect to the printing of
4849	4794		bills, resolutions, reports, and other matters shall be considered
4850	4795		complied with if the material is adequately and properly reproduced
4851	4796		by any acceptable means of reproduction.
4852	4797		RULE 13. INTERACTIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SENATE
4853	4798		CHAPTER A. MESSAGES
4854	4799		Sec. 1. MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR. Messages and
4855	4800		communications from the governor shall be received when announced,
4856	4801		and shall be read on the calendar day received.
4857	4802		Sec. 2. MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE. (a) All messages from
4858	4803		the senate shall be received when announced. Senate bills
4859	4804		announced as passed shall be read for the first time and referred to
4860	4805		the appropriate committee as soon as practicable.
4861	4806		(b) Messages from the senate announcing amendments to house
4862	4807		bills and resolutions, nonconcurrence in house amendments to senate
4863	4808		bills and resolutions, requests for conference committees, reports
4864	4809		of conference committees, and all other matters of disagreement,
4865	4810		amendments, and requests between the two houses, shall go to the
4866	4811		speaker's desk in their regular order, but may be called up for
4867	4812		action by the house at any time as a privileged matter, yielding
4868	4813		only to a motion to adjourn.
4869	4814		CHAPTER B. SENATE AMENDMENTS
4870	4815		Sec. 3. HOUSE ACTION ON SENATE AMENDMENTS. When a bill,
4871	4816		resolution, or other matter is returned to the house with senate
4872	4817		amendments, the house may:
4873	4818		(1) agree to the amendments; or
4874	4819		(2) disagree to all of the amendments and ask for a
4875	4820		conference committee; or
4876	4821		(3) agree to one or more of the amendments and disagree
4877	4822		as to the remainder and request a conference committee to consider
4878	4823		those in disagreement; or
4879	4824		(4) agree to one or more and disagree as to the
4880	4825		remainder; or
4881	4826		(5) disagree to all amendments.
4882	4827		Sec. 4. ADOPTION OF SENATE AMENDMENTS FOR BILLS WITH
4883	4828		IMMEDIATE EFFECT. If a bill is to go into immediate effect, senate
4884	4829		amendments thereto must be adopted by a vote of two-thirds of the
4885	4830		elected membership of the house.
4886	4831		Sec. 5. PRINTING SENATE AMENDMENTS. (a) Senate amendments
4887	4832		to house bills and resolutions must be printed and copies provided
4888	4833		to the members at least 24 hours before any action can be taken
4889	4834		thereon by the house during a regular or special session.
4890	4835		(b) When a house bill or joint resolution, other than the
4891	4836		general appropriations bill, with senate amendments is returned to
4892	4837		the house, the chief clerk shall request the Legislative Budget
4893	4838		Board to prepare a fiscal note outlining the fiscal implications
4894	4839		and probable cost of the measure as impacted by the senate
4895	4840		amendments. A copy of the fiscal note shall be distributed with the
4896	4841		senate amendments on their printing before any action can be taken
4897	4842		on the senate amendments by the house.
4898	4843		(c) When a house bill or joint resolution, other than the
4899	4844		general appropriations bill, with senate amendments is returned to
4900	4845		the house, the chief clerk shall request the Texas Legislative
4901	4846		Council to prepare an analysis that describes the substantive
4902	4847		changes made to the house version of the bill by the senate
4903	4848		amendments. A copy of the council's analysis of senate amendments
4904	4849		shall be provided to the members electronically or as a printed copy
4905	4850		at least 12 hours before action is taken on the senate amendments by
4906	4851		the house. The Texas Legislative Council shall make all reasonable
4907	4852		efforts to timely provide the analysis in as accurate a form as time
4908	4853		allows. However, an unavoidable inability to provide the analysis
4909	4854		or an inadvertent error in the analysis is not subject to a point
4910	4855		[sustainable question] of order.
4911	4856		(d) When a house bill or joint resolution for which a tax
4912	4857		equity note was required under Rule 4, Section 34(b)(5), is
4913	4858		returned to the house with senate amendments, the chief clerk shall
4914	4859		request the Legislative Budget Board to prepare a tax equity note
4915	4860		estimating the general effects of the senate amendments on the
4916	4861		distribution of tax and fee burdens among individuals and
4917	4862		businesses. A copy of the updated tax equity note shall be made
4918	4863		available to each member, in some format, before any vote on the
4919	4864		floor can be taken on the senate amendments by the house.
4920	4865		[Sec. 5A. RETURN OF NONGERMANE SENATE AMENDMENTS BY
4921	4866		SPEAKER. When a house bill or joint resolution, other than the
4922	4867		general appropriations bill, with senate amendments is returned to
4923	4868		the house, the speaker, with the permission of the primary author of
4924	4869		the bill or resolution, may return the bill or resolution to the
4925	4870		senate if the speaker determines that the senate amendments are not
4926	4871		germane to the house version of the bill or resolution. The speaker
4927	4872		may act under this section without regard to whether the bill or
4928	4873		resolution is eligible for consideration by the house. If the
4929	4874		speaker returns a bill or resolution to the senate under this
4930	4875		section, the speaker shall attach to the bill or resolution a
4931	4876		statement of the speaker's action that includes an explanation of
4932	4877		the speaker's determination, and shall enter the statement in the
4933	4878		journal as soon as practicable.]
4934	4879		CHAPTER C. CONFERENCE COMMITTEES
4935	4880		Sec. 6. MEMBERSHIP AND OPERATION. (a) In all conferences
4936	4881		between the senate and the house by committee, the number of
4937	4882		committee members from each house shall be five. All votes on
4938	4883		matters of difference shall be taken by each committee separately.
4939	4884		A majority of each committee shall be required to determine the
4940	4885		matter in dispute. Reports by conference committees must be signed
4941	4886		by a majority of each committee of the conference.
4942	4887		(b) A copy of the report signed by a majority of each
4943	4888		committee of the conference must be furnished to each member of the
4944	4889		committee in person or if unable to deliver in person by placing a
4945	4890		copy in the member's newspaper mailbox at least one hour before the
4946	4891		report is furnished to each member of the house under Section 10(a)
4947	4892		of this rule. The paper copies of the report submitted to the chief
4948	4893		clerk under Section 10(b) of this rule must contain a certificate
4949	4894		that the requirement of this subsection has been satisfied, and
4950	4895		that certificate must be attached to the copy of the report
4951	4896		furnished to each member under Section 10(d) of this rule. Failure
4952	4897		to comply with this subsection is not subject to a [sustainable]
4953	4898		point of order [under this rule].
4954	4899		Sec. 7. MEETINGS. (a) House conferees when meeting with
4955	4900		senate conferees to adjust differences shall meet in public and
4956	4901		shall give a reasonable amount of notice of the meeting in the place
4957	4902		designated for giving notice of meetings of house standing
4958	4903		committees. Any such meeting shall be open to the news media. Any
4959	4904		conference committee report adopted in private shall not be
4960	4905		considered by the house.
4961	4906		(b) At a meeting of the conferees to adjust differences on
4962	4907		the general appropriations bill, the chair of the house conferees
4963	4908		may request the assistance of any house member who serves on the
4964	4909		appropriations committee.
4965	4910		Sec. 8. INSTRUCTIONS. Instructions to a conference
4966	4911		committee shall be made after the conference is ordered and before
4967	4912		the conferees are appointed by the speaker, and not thereafter.
4968	4913		Sec. 9. LIMITATIONS ON JURISDICTION. (a) Conference
4969	4914		committees shall limit their discussions and their actions solely
4970	4915		to the matters in disagreement between the two houses. A conference
4971	4916		committee shall have no authority with respect to any bill or
4972	4917		resolution:
4973	4918		(1) to change, alter, or amend text which is not in
4974	4919		disagreement;
4975	4920		(2) to omit text which is not in disagreement;
4976	4921		(3) to add text on any matter which is not in
4977	4922		disagreement;
4978	4923		(4) to add text on any matter which is not included in
4979	4924		either the house or senate version of the bill or resolution.
4980	4925		This rule shall be strictly construed by the presiding
4981	4926		officer in each house to achieve these purposes.
4982	4927		(b) Conference committees on appropriations bills, like
4983	4928		other conference committees, shall limit their discussions and
4984	4929		their actions solely to the matters in disagreement between the two
4985	4930		houses. In addition to the limitations contained elsewhere in the
4986	4931		rules, a conference committee on appropriations bills shall be
4987	4932		strictly limited in its authority as follows:
4988	4933		(1) If an item of appropriation appears in both house
4989	4934		and senate versions of the bill, the item must be included in the
4990	4935		conference committee report.
4991	4936		(2) If an item of appropriation appears in both house
4992	4937		and senate versions of the bill, and in identical amounts, no change
4993	4938		can be made in the item or the amount.
4994	4939		(3) If an item of appropriation appears in both house
4995	4940		and senate versions of the bill but in different amounts, no change
4996	4941		can be made in the item, but the amount shall be at the discretion of
4997	4942		the conference committee, provided that the amount shall not exceed
4998	4943		the larger version and shall not be less than the smaller version.
4999	4944		(4) If an item of appropriation appears in one version
5000	4945		of the bill and not in the other, the item can be included or omitted
5001	4946		at the discretion of the conference committee. If the item is
5002	4947		included, the amount shall not exceed the sum specified in the
5003	4948		version containing the item.
5004	4949		(5) If an item of appropriation appears in neither the
5005	4950		house nor the senate version of the bill, the item must not be
5006	4951		included in the conference committee report. However, the
5007	4952		conference committee report may include appropriations for
5008	4953		purposes or programs authorized by bills that have been passed and
5009	4954		sent to the governor and may include contingent appropriations for
5010	4955		purposes or programs authorized by bills that have been passed by at
5011	4956		least one house.
5012	4957		This rule shall be strictly construed by the presiding
5013	4958		officer in each house to achieve these purposes.
5014	4959		(c) Conference committees on tax bills, like other
5015	4960		conference committees, shall limit their discussions and their
5016	4961		actions solely to the matters in disagreement between the two
5017	4962		houses. In addition to the limitations contained elsewhere in the
5018	4963		rules, a conference committee on a tax bill shall be strictly
5019	4964		limited in its authority as follows:
5020	4965		(1) If a tax item appears in both house and senate
5021	4966		versions of the bill, the item must be included in the conference
5022	4967		committee report.
5023	4968		(2) If a tax item appears in both house and senate
5024	4969		versions of the bill, and in identical form and with identical
5025	4970		rates, no change can be made in the item or the rate provided.
5026	4971		(3) If a tax item appears in both house and senate
5027	4972		versions of the bill but at differing rates, no change can be made
5028	4973		in the item, but the rate shall be at the discretion of the
5029	4974		conference committee, provided that the rate shall not exceed the
5030	4975		higher version and shall not be less than the lower version.
5031	4976		(4) If a tax item appears in one version of the bill
5032	4977		and not in the other, the item can be included or omitted at the
5033	4978		discretion of the conference committee. If the item is included,
5034	4979		the rate shall not exceed the rate specified in the version
5035	4980		containing the item.
5036	4981		(5) If a tax item appears in neither the house nor the
5037	4982		senate version of the bill, the item must not be included in the
5038	4983		conference committee report.
5039	4984		This rule shall be strictly construed by the presiding
5040	4985		officer in each house to achieve these purposes.
5041	4986		(d) Conference committees on reapportionment bills, to the
5042	4987		extent possible, shall limit their discussions and their actions to
5043	4988		the matters in disagreement between the two houses. Since the
5044	4989		adjustment of one district in a reapportionment bill will
5045	4990		inevitably affect other districts, the strict rule of construction
5046	4991		imposed on other conference committees must be relaxed somewhat
5047	4992		when reapportionment bills are involved. Accordingly, the
5048	4993		following authority and limitations shall apply only to conference
5049	4994		committees on reapportionment bills:
5050	4995		(1) If the matters in disagreement affect only certain
5051	4996		districts, and other districts are identical in both house and
5052	4997		senate versions of the bill, the conference committee shall make
5053	4998		adjustments only in those districts whose rearrangement is
5054	4999		essential to the effective resolving of the matters in
5055	5000		disagreement. All other districts shall remain unchanged.
5056	5001		(2) If the matters in disagreement permeate the entire
5057	5002		bill and affect most, if not all, of the districts, the conference
5058	5003		committee shall have wide discretion in rearranging the districts
5059	5004		to the extent necessary to resolve all differences between the two
5060	5005		houses.
5061	5006		(3) Insofar as the actual structure of the districts
5062	5007		is concerned, and only to that extent, the provisions of Subsection
5063	5008		(a) of this section shall not apply to conference committees on
5064	5009		reapportionment bills.
5065	5010		(e) Conference committees on recodification bills, like
5066	5011		other conference committees, shall limit their discussions and
5067	5012		their actions solely to the matters in disagreement between the two
5068	5013		houses. The comprehensive and complicated nature of recodification
5069	5014		bills makes necessary the relaxing of the strict rule of
5070	5015		construction imposed on other conference committees only to the
5071	5016		following extent:
5072	5017		(1) If it develops in conference committee that
5073	5018		material has been inadvertently included in both house and senate
5074	5019		versions which properly has no place in the recodification, that
5075	5020		material may be omitted from the conference committee report, if by
5076	5021		that omission the existing statute is not repealed, altered, or
5077	5022		amended.
5078	5023		(2) If it develops in conference committee that
5079	5024		material has been inadvertently omitted from both the house and
5080	5025		senate versions which properly should be included if the
5081	5026		recodification is to achieve its purpose of being all-inclusive of
5082	5027		the statutes being recodified, that material may be added to the
5083	5028		conference committee report, if by the addition the existing
5084	5029		statute is merely restated without substantive change in existing
5085	5030		law.
5086	5031		(f) Limitations imposed on certain conference committees by
5087	5032		the provisions of this section may be suspended in part by
5088	5033		permission of the house to allow consideration of and action on a
5089	5034		specific matter or matters which otherwise would be prohibited.
5090	5035		Permission shall be granted only by resolution passed by majority
5091	5036		vote of the house. All such resolutions shall be privileged in
5092	5037		nature and need not be referred to a committee. The introduction of
5093	5038		such a resolution shall be announced from the house floor and the
5094	5039		resolution shall be eligible for consideration by the house:
5095	5040		(1) three hours after a copy of the resolution has been
5096	5041		distributed to each member; or
5097	5042		(2) for a resolution suspending limitations on a
5098	5043		conference committee considering the general appropriations bill,
5099	5044		48 hours in a regular session and 24 hours in a special session
5100	5045		after a copy of the resolution has been distributed to each member.
5101	5046		(g) The time at which the copies of such a resolution are
5102	5047		distributed to the members shall be time-stamped on the originals
5103	5048		of the resolution. The resolution shall specify in detail:
5104	5049		(1) the exact language of the matter or matters
5105	5050		proposed to be considered;
5106	5051		(2) the specific limitation or limitations to be
5107	5052		suspended;
5108	5053		(3) the specific action contemplated by the conference
5109	5054		committee;
5110	5055		(4) except for a resolution suspending the limitations
5111	5056		on the conferees for the general appropriations bill, the reasons
5112	5057		that suspension of the limitations is being requested; and
5113	5058		(5) a fiscal note distributed with the resolution
5114	5059		outlining the fiscal implications and probable cost of the items to
5115	5060		be included in the conference committee report that would otherwise
5116	5061		be prohibited but for the passage of the resolution.
5117	5062		(h) In the application of Subsection (g) of this section to
5118	5063		appropriations bills, the resolution:
5119	5064		(1) need not include changes in amounts resulting from
5120	5065		a proposed salary plan or changes in format that do not affect the
5121	5066		amount of an appropriation or the method of finance of an
5122	5067		appropriation, but shall include a general statement describing the
5123	5068		salary plan or format change;
5124	5069		(2) need not include differences in language which do
5125	5070		not affect the substance of the bill;
5126	5071		(3) if suspending a limitation imposed by Subsection
5127	5072		(b)(2), (3), (4), or (5) of this section, must specify the amount by
5128	5073		which the appropriation in the conference committee report is less
5129	5074		than or greater than the amount permitted for that item of
5130	5075		appropriation under Subsection (b) of this section; and
5131	5076		(4) shall be available in its entirety on the
5132	5077		electronic legislative information system that is accessible by the
5133	5078		general public.
5134	5079		(i) Permission granted by a resolution under Subsection (f)
5135	5080		of this section shall suspend the limitations only for the matter or
5136	5081		matters clearly specified in the resolution, and the action of the
5137	5082		conference committee shall be in conformity with the resolution.
5138	5083		Sec. 10. PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF REPORTS. (a) All
5139	5084		conference committee reports must be printed and a copy furnished
5140	5085		to each member as provided by Rule 12, Section 1, at least 24 hours
5141	5086		before action can be taken on the report by the house during a
5142	5087		regular or special session.
5143	5088		(b) Three original copies of a conference committee report
5144	5089		shall be submitted to the chief clerk for printing. Each original
5145	5090		conference committee report shall contain the following:
5146	5091		(1) the signatures of the house conferees and senate
5147	5092		conferees who voted to adopt the conference committee report;
5148	5093		(2) the text of the bill or resolution as adopted by
5149	5094		the conference committee; and
5150	5095		(3) an analysis of the conference committee report as
5151	5096		required by Section 11 of this rule.
5152	5097		(c) Before action can be taken by the house on a conference
5153	5098		committee report on a bill or joint resolution, other than the
5154	5099		general appropriations bill, a fiscal note outlining the fiscal
5155	5100		implications and probable cost of the conference committee report
5156	5101		shall be submitted to the chief clerk, and a copy of the fiscal note
5157	5102		shall be distributed with the conference committee report on its
5158	5103		printing.
5159	5104		(d) Before a vote on the floor can be taken by the house on a
5160	5105		conference committee report on a bill or joint resolution for which
5161	5106		a tax equity note was required under Rule 4, Section 34(b)(5), a tax
5162	5107		equity note estimating the general effects of the conference
5163	5108		committee report on the distribution of tax and fee burdens among
5164	5109		individuals and businesses shall be submitted to the chief clerk,
5165	5110		and a copy of the tax equity note shall be made available to each
5166	5111		member.
5167	5112		Sec. 11. ANALYSIS OF REPORTS. (a) All reports of conference
5168	5113		committees shall include an analysis showing wherein the report
5169	5114		differs from the house and senate versions of the bill, resolution,
5170	5115		or other matter in disagreement. The analysis of appropriations
5171	5116		bills shall show in dollar amounts the differences between the
5172	5117		conference committee report and the house and senate versions. No
5173	5118		conference committee report shall be considered by the house unless
5174	5119		such an analysis has been prepared and distributed to each member.
5175	5120		(b) The analysis shall to the extent practical indicate any
5176	5121		instance wherein the conference committee in its report appears to
5177	5122		have exceeded the limitations imposed on its jurisdiction by
5178	5123		Section 9 of this rule. An analysis and the conference committee
5179	5124		report in which the analysis is included are not subject to a point
5180	5125		of order due to a failure to comply with this subsection or due to a
5181	5126		mistake made in complying with this subsection.
5182	5127		Sec. 12. CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS. A conference committee
5183	5128		report is not subject to amendment, but must be accepted or rejected
5184	5129		in its entirety. While a conference committee report is pending, a
5185	5130		motion to deal with individual amendments in disagreement is not in
5186	5131		order.
5187	5132		Sec. 13. WHEN REPORTS NOT ACCEPTABLE. When a conference
5188	5133		committee report is not acceptable to the house for any reason, it
5189	5134		may be recommitted to the same committee with the request for
5190	5135		further consideration, and the house may or may not give any
5191	5136		specific instructions on the report to the conference committee; or
5192	5137		the house may request the appointment by the senate of a new
5193	5138		conference committee and then proceed to empower the speaker to
5194	5139		name new conferees for the house.
5195	5140		RULE 14. GENERAL PROVISIONS
5196	5141		Sec. 1. WHEN RULES ARE SILENT. If the rules are silent or
5197	5142		inexplicit on any question of order or parliamentary practice, the
5198	5143		Rules of the House of Representatives of the United States
5199	5144		Congress, and its practice as reflected in published precedents,
5200	5145		and Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure shall be considered as
5201	5146		authority.
5202	5147		Sec. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES. (a) Amendments to the
5203	5148		rules of the house shall be proposed by house resolutions which
5204	5149		shall be referred at once, without debate, to the Committee on House
5205	5150		Administration [Rules and Resolutions] for study and
5206	5151		recommendation.
5207	5152		(b) A resolution proposing an amendment to the rules shall
5208	5153		not be considered by the house until a printed copy of the
5209	5154		resolution has been provided to each member of the house at least 48
5210	5155		hours before consideration.
5211	5156		(c) Amendments to the rules shall require a majority vote of
5212	5157		the house for adoption.
5213	5158		Sec. 3. MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES. A motion to suspend
5214	5159		the rules shall be in order at any time, except when motions to
5215	5160		adjourn or recess are pending, even when the house is operating
5216	5161		under the previous question. A motion to "suspend all rules" shall
5217	5162		be sufficient to suspend every rule under which the house is
5218	5163		operating for a particular purpose except the provisions of the
5219	5164		constitution and the joint rules of the two houses. If the rules
5220	5165		have been suspended on a main motion for a given purpose, no other
5221	5166		motion to suspend the rules on a main motion shall be in order until
5222	5167		the original purpose has been accomplished.
5223	5168		Sec. 4. NOTICE OF PENDING MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES. It
5224	5169		shall not be in order to move to suspend the rules or the regular
5225	5170		order of business to take up a measure out of its regular order, and
5226	5171		the speaker shall not recognize anyone for either purpose, unless
5227	5172		the speaker has announced to the house in session that the speaker
5228	5173		would recognize a member for that purpose at least one hour before
5229	5174		the member is so recognized to make the motion. In making the
5230	5175		announcement to the house, the speaker shall advise the house of the
5231	5176		member's name and the bill number, and this information, together
5232	5177		with the time that the announcement was made, shall be entered in
5233	5178		the journal. This rule may be suspended only by unanimous consent.
5234	5179		Sec. 5. VOTE REQUIREMENTS FOR SUSPENSION. A standing rule
5235	5180		of the house may be suspended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds
5236	5181		of the members present. However, if a rule contains a specific
5237	5182		provision showing the vote by which that rule may be suspended, that
5238	5183		vote shall be required for the suspension of the rule. The specific
5239	5184		provision may not be suspended under the provisions of this
5240	5185		section.
5241	5186		Sec. 6. DISPOSAL OF MEASURES TAKEN UP UNDER SUSPENSION. Any
5242	5187		measure taken up under suspension and not disposed of on the same
5243	5188		day shall go over as pending or unfinished business to the next day
5244	5189		that the house is in session, and shall be considered thereafter
5245	5190		from day to day (except the days used for the consideration of
5246	5191		senate bills) until disposed of.
5247	5192		[Sec. 7. COMMITTEE GIFTS. A member of the house may not
5248	5193		offer, confer, or agree to confer to a committee member one or more
5249	5194		gifts with a total value of more than $75 per year.
5250	5195		[Sec. 8. EXPLANATION OF THE FINAL RULING OF A POINT OF
5251	5196		ORDER. The speaker shall instruct the parliamentarian to provide
5252	5197		to each member a written explanation of the final ruling on a point
5253	5198		of order, including providing the citation of any house or
5254	5199		congressional precedents used in determining the ruling. The
5255	5200		explanation shall be provided to each member through the electronic
5256	5201		legislative information system not later than 24 hours after the
5257	5202		final ruling was announced before the house.]
5258	5203		RULE 15. APPROPRIATE WORKPLACE CONDUCT
5259	5204		Sec. 1. STATEMENT OF POLICY. (a) The house finds that:
5260	5205		(1) a safe and professional environment in which each
5261	5206		individual is treated with respect is essential for conducting the
5262	5207		legislative business of Texas;
5263	5208		(2) harassment based on an individual's
5264	5209		characteristics and activity protected by law is inconsistent with
5265	5210		the necessary safe and professional environment; and
5266	5211		(3) there is a need for policies designed to prevent
5267	5212		harassment and to appropriately address it if it occurs.
5268	5213		(b) The house declares that all forms of harassment
5269	5214		prohibited by law (including harassment by the making of a
5270	5215		complaint of harassment or discrimination or by participating in
5271	5216		the investigation of a complaint) are against the policy of the
5272	5217		house.
5273	5218		(c) Members, officers, and employees of the house are
5274	5219		expected to promote public confidence in the integrity of the house
5275	5220		by:
5276	5221		(1) conducting themselves in a manner that is free of
5277	5222		harassment in each setting related to the service of the member,
5278	5223		officer, or employee; and
5279	5224		(2) reporting any harassment in the workplace of which
5280	5225		they have direct, personal knowledge.
5281	5226		(d) This rule is the policy on which the house relies for
5282	5227		guidance in promoting appropriate workplace conduct. This rule is
5283	5228		not intended to, and does not, create an independent cause of
5284	5229		action, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity,
5285	5230		by any party against:
5286	5231		(1) the house or its officers, employees, or agents;
5287	5232		(2) the State of Texas or its departments, agencies,
5288	5233		entities, officers, employees, or agents; or
5289	5234		(3) any other person.
5290		-	Smithee
5291		-	______________________________
5292		-	Speaker of the House
5293		-	I certify that H.R. No. 4 was adopted by the House on January
5294		-	9, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 0, 1 present, not
5295		-	voting.
5296		-	______________________________
5297		-	Chief Clerk of the House