Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HR4 Compare Versions

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1	1	H.R. No. 4
2	2
3	3
4	4	R E S O L U T I O N
5	5	BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the State of
6	6	Texas, That the following are adopted as the permanent rules of the
7	7	House of Representatives of the 89th [88th] Legislature:
8	8	RULES OF
9	9	THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
10	10	OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE
11	11	TABLE OF CONTENTS
12	12	RULE
13	13	1. DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE SPEAKER 2
14	14	2. OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES 11
15	15	3. STANDING COMMITTEES 25
16	16	4. ORGANIZATION, POWERS, AND DUTIES OF
17	17	COMMITTEES 65
18	18	5. FLOOR PROCEDURE 102
19	19	6. ORDER OF BUSINESS AND CALENDARS 126
20	20	7. MOTIONS 146
21	21	8. BILLS 162
22	22	9. JOINT RESOLUTIONS 178
23	23	10. HOUSE RESOLUTIONS AND CONCURRENT
24	24	RESOLUTIONS 180
25	25	11. AMENDMENTS 183
26	26	12. PRINTING 192
27	27	13. INTERACTIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR
28	28	AND SENATE 196
29	29	14. GENERAL PROVISIONS 209
30	30	15. APPROPRIATE WORKPLACE CONDUCT 211
31	31	16. SPECIAL RULE213
32	32	STATEMENT OF AUTHORIZATION AND PRECEDENCE
33	33	Pursuant to and under the authority of Section 11, Article
34	34	III, Texas Constitution, and notwithstanding any provision of
35	35	statute, the House of Representatives adopts the following rules to
36	36	govern its operations and procedures. The provisions of these
37	37	rules shall be deemed the only requirements binding on the House of
38	38	Representatives under Section 11, Article III, Texas Constitution,
39	39	notwithstanding any other requirements expressed in statute.
40	40	RULE 1. DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE SPEAKER
41	41	CHAPTER A. DUTIES AS PRESIDING OFFICER
42	42	Sec. 1. ENFORCEMENT OF THE RULES. The speaker shall
43	43	enforce, apply, and interpret the rules of the house in all
44	44	deliberations of the house and shall enforce the legislative rules
45	45	prescribed by the statutes and the Constitution of Texas.
46	46	Sec. 2. CALL TO ORDER. The speaker shall take the chair on
47	47	each calendar day precisely at the hour to which the house adjourned
48	48	or recessed at its last sitting and shall immediately call the
49	49	members to order.
50	50	Sec. 3. LAYING BUSINESS BEFORE THE HOUSE. The speaker
51	51	shall lay before the house its business in the order indicated by
52	52	the rules and shall receive propositions made by members and put
53	53	them to the house.
54	54	Sec. 4. REFERRAL OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO COMMITTEE. All
55	55	proposed legislation shall be referred by the speaker to an
56	56	appropriate standing committee, permanent standing subcommittee,
57	57	or select committee with jurisdiction, subject to correction by a
58	58	majority vote of the house. A bill or resolution may not be
59	59	referred simultaneously to more than one committee or subcommittee.
60	60	Sec. 5. PRESERVATION OF ORDER AND DECORUM. The speaker
61	61	shall preserve order and decorum. In case of disturbance or
62	62	disorderly conduct in the galleries or in the lobby, the speaker may
63	63	order that these areas be cleared. No signs, placards, or other
64	64	objects of similar nature shall be permitted in the rooms, lobby,
65	65	gallery, and hall of the house. The speaker shall see that the
66	66	members of the house conduct themselves in a civil manner in
67	67	accordance with accepted standards of parliamentary conduct and
68	68	may, when necessary, order the sergeant-at-arms to clear the aisles
69	69	and seat the members of the house so that business may be conducted
70	70	in an orderly manner.
71	71	Sec. 6. RECOGNITION OF GALLERY VISITORS. On written
72	72	request of a member, the speaker may recognize persons in the
73	73	gallery. The speaker shall afford that recognition at a convenient
74	74	place in the order of business, considering the need for order and
75	75	decorum and the need for continuity of debate. The request must be
76	76	made on a form prescribed by the Committee on House Administration.
77	77	The speaker may recognize, at a time he or she considers appropriate
78	78	during floor proceedings, the person serving as physician of the
79	79	day.
80	80	Sec. 7. STATING AND VOTING ON QUESTIONS. The speaker shall
81	81	rise to put a question but may state it sitting. The question shall
82	82	be put substantially in this form: "The question occurs on
83	83	______" (here state the question or proposition under
84	84	consideration). "All in favor say 'Aye,'" and after the affirmative
85	85	vote is expressed, "All opposed say 'No.'" If the speaker is in
86	86	doubt as to the result, or if a division is called for, the house
87	87	shall divide: those voting in the affirmative on the question
88	88	shall register "Aye" on the voting machine, and those voting in the
89	89	negative on the question shall register "No." The decision of the
90	90	house on the question shall be printed in the journal and shall
91	91	include the yeas and nays if a record of the yeas and nays is ordered
92	92	in accordance with the rules.
93	93	Sec. 8. VOTING RIGHTS OF THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The
94	94	speaker shall have the same right as other members to vote. If the
95	95	speaker, or a member temporarily presiding, has not voted, he or she
96	96	may cast the deciding vote at the time such opportunity becomes
97	97	official, whether to make or break a tie. If a verification of the
98	98	vote is called for and granted, the decision of the speaker, or a
99	99	member temporarily presiding, to cast the deciding vote need not be
100	100	made until the verification has been completed. In case of error in
101	101	a vote, if the correction leaves decisive effect to the vote of the
102	102	speaker, or a member temporarily presiding, the deciding vote may
103	103	be cast even though the result has been announced.
104	104	Sec. 9. QUESTIONS OF ORDER. (a) The speaker shall decide
105	105	on all questions of order; however, such decisions are subject to an
106	106	appeal to the house made by any 10 members. Pending an appeal, the
107	107	speaker shall call a member to the chair, who shall not have the
108	108	authority to entertain or decide any other matter or proposition
109	109	until the appeal has first been determined by the house. The
110	110	question on appeal is, "Shall the chair be sustained?"
111	111	(b) No member shall speak more than once on an appeal unless
112	112	given leave by a majority of the house. No motion shall be in order,
113	113	pending an appeal, except a motion to adjourn, a motion to lay on
114	114	the table, a motion for the previous question, or a motion for a
115	115	call of the house. Responses to parliamentary inquiries and
116	116	decisions of recognition made by the chair may not be appealed,
117	117	except as provided by Rule 5, Section 24.
118	118	(c) Further consideration of the matter or proposition that
119	119	is the subject of a question of order is prohibited until the
120	120	speaker decides the question of order and any appeal of that
121	121	decision has been determined by the house. Consideration of any
122	122	other matter or proposition is also prohibited while a question of
123	123	order is pending, unless the question of order is temporarily
124	124	withdrawn and the matter or proposition that is the subject of the
125	125	question of order is postponed. Withdrawal of the question of order
126	126	does not prevent any member from raising that question of order when
127	127	the matter or proposition is again before the house.
128	128	(d) A point of order raised as to a violation of a section of
129	129	the rules governing committee reports, committee minutes, or
130	130	accompanying documentation may be overruled if the purpose of that
131	131	section of the rules has been substantially fulfilled and the
132	132	violation does not deceive or mislead.
133	133	(e) When a question of order is pending before the house,
134	134	only the member who raised the question of order, and one other
135	135	member designated by that member, and the primary proponent of the
136	136	matter or proposition to which the question of order applies, and
137	137	one other member designated by the proponent, may present arguments
138	138	to the speaker or parliamentarian regarding the question of order.
139	139	This subsection does not limit any remarks that a member may make
140	140	before the full house if the member is recognized for that purpose.
141	141	Sec. 10. APPOINTMENT OF SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE AND TEMPORARY
142	142	CHAIR. (a) If the house is in session, the [The] speaker shall have
143	143	the right to name any member to perform the duties of the chair
144	144	related to presiding over the deliberations of the house. If the
145	145	house is not in session, the speaker may name a member who shall
146	146	call the house to order and preside during the speaker's absence
147	147	[and may name a member to serve as speaker pro tempore] by
148	148	delivering a written order to the chief clerk and a copy to the
149	149	journal clerk.
150	150	(b) The speaker may name a member to serve as permanent
151	151	speaker pro tempore by delivering a written order to the chief clerk
152	152	and a copy to the journal clerk.
153	153	(c) In [A permanent speaker pro tempore shall, in] the
154	154	absence or inability of the speaker, the member designated in the
155	155	speaker's written order under Subsection (a) of this section or the
156	156	permanent speaker pro tempore, in the absence of such a written
157	157	order, shall call the house to order and perform all other duties of
158	158	the chair in presiding over the deliberations of the house and
159	159	perform other duties and exercise other responsibilities related to
160	160	presiding over the deliberations of the house as may be assigned in
161	161	writing by the speaker. [If the house is not in session, and a
162	162	permanent speaker pro tempore has not been named, or if the speaker
163	163	pro tempore is not available or for any reason is not able to
164	164	function, the speaker may deliver a written order to the chief
165	165	clerk, with a copy to the journal clerk, naming the member who shall
166	166	call the house to order and preside during the speaker's absence.]
167	167	(d) The speaker pro tempore shall serve at the pleasure of
168	168	the speaker. In the event of a vacancy in the office of speaker,
169	169	neither the member designated in the speaker's written order under
170	170	Subsection (a) of this section nor the speaker pro tempore [does
171	171	not] assume the office of speaker. The authority of the member
172	172	designated in the speaker's written order under Subsection (a) of
173	173	this section and the speaker pro tempore to perform the duties and
174	174	exercise the responsibilities of the speaker is limited as provided
175	175	by this section.
176	176	Sec. 11. EMERGENCY ADJOURNMENT. In the event of an
177	177	emergency of such compelling nature that the speaker must adjourn
178	178	the house without fixing a date and hour of reconvening, the speaker
179	179	shall have authority to determine the date and hour of reconvening
180	180	and to notify the members of the house by any means the speaker
181	181	considers adequate. Should the speaker be disabled or otherwise
182	182	unable to exercise these emergency powers, the permanent speaker
183	183	pro tempore, if one has been named, shall have authority to act. If
184	184	there is no permanent speaker pro tempore, or if that officer is
185	185	unable to act, authority shall be exercised by the chair of the
186	186	Committee on State Affairs, who shall preside until the house can
187	187	proceed to the selection of a temporary presiding officer to
188	188	function until the speaker or the speaker pro tempore is again able
189	189	to exercise the duties and responsibilities of the office.
190	190	Sec. 12. POSTPONEMENT OF RECONVENING. When the house is
191	191	not in session, if the speaker determines that it would be a hazard
192	192	to the safety of the members, officers, employees, and others
193	193	attending the legislature to reconvene at the time determined by
194	194	the house at its last sitting, the speaker may clear the area of the
195	195	capitol under the control of the house and postpone the reconvening
196	196	of the house for a period of not more than 12 hours. On making that
197	197	determination, the speaker shall order the sergeant-at-arms to post
198	198	an assistant at each first floor entrance to the capitol and other
199	199	places and advise all persons entering of the determination and the
200	200	time set for the house to reconvene. The speaker shall also notify
201	201	the journal clerk and the news media of the action, and the action
202	202	shall be entered in the house journal.
203	203	Sec. 13. SIGNING BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS. All bills, joint
204	204	resolutions, and concurrent resolutions shall be signed by the
205	205	speaker in the presence of the house, as required by the
206	206	constitution; and all writs, warrants, and subpoenas issued by
207	207	order of the house shall be signed by the speaker and attested by
208	208	the chief clerk, or the person acting as chief clerk.
209	209	CHAPTER B. ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES
210	210	Sec. 14. CONTROL OVER HALL OF THE HOUSE. The speaker shall
211	211	have general control, except as otherwise provided by law, of the
212	212	hall of the house, its lobbies, galleries, corridors, and passages,
213	213	and other rooms in those parts of the capitol assigned to the use of
214	214	the house; except that the hall of the house shall not be used for
215	215	any meeting other than legislative meetings during any regular or
216	216	special session of the legislature unless specifically authorized
217	217	by resolution.
218	218	Sec. 15. STANDING COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS. (a) The
219	219	speaker shall designate the chair and vice-chair of each standing
220	220	substantive committee and shall also appoint membership of the
221	221	committee, subject to the provisions of Rule 4, Section 2.
222	222	(b) If members of equal seniority request the same
223	223	committee, the speaker shall decide which among them shall be
224	224	assigned to that committee.
225	225	(c) In announcing the membership of the standing
226	226	substantive committees, the speaker shall designate which are
227	227	appointees and which acquire membership by seniority.
228	228	(d) The speaker shall appoint the chair and vice-chair of
229	229	each standing procedural committee and permanent standing
230	230	subcommittee and the remaining membership of each such [the]
231	231	committee and subcommittee.
232	232	(e) If a new speaker is elected to fill a vacancy in the
233	233	office after the appointment of standing committees, the new
234	234	speaker may not alter the composition of any standing committee
235	235	before the end of the session, except that the new speaker may:
236	236	(1) vacate the new speaker's membership on any
237	237	committee;
238	238	(2) make committee appointments for the member who was
239	239	removed as speaker;
240	240	(3) designate a different member of a standing
241	241	committee as committee chair; and
242	242	(4) fill vacancies that occur on a committee.
243	243	Sec. 16. APPOINTMENT OF SELECT AND CONFERENCE
244	244	COMMITTEES. (a) The speaker shall appoint all conference
245	245	committees. The speaker shall name the chair of each conference
246	246	committee, and may also name the vice-chair thereof.
247	247	(b) The speaker may at any time by proclamation create a
248	248	select committee. The speaker shall name the chair and vice-chair
249	249	thereof. A select committee has the jurisdiction, authority, and
250	250	duties and exists for the period of time specified in the
251	251	proclamation. A select committee has the powers granted by these
252	252	rules to a standing committee except as limited by the
253	253	proclamation. A copy of each proclamation creating a select
254	254	committee shall be filed with the chief clerk.
255	255	Sec. 17. INTERIM STUDIES. When the legislature is not in
256	256	session, the speaker shall have the authority to direct committees
257	257	to make interim studies for such purposes as the speaker may
258	258	designate, and the committees shall meet as often as necessary to
259	259	transact effectively the business assigned to them. The speaker
260	260	shall provide to the chief clerk a copy of interim charges made to a
261	261	standing or select committee.
262	262	CHAPTER C. CAMPAIGNS FOR SPEAKER
263	263	Sec. 18. PLEDGES FOR SPEAKER PROHIBITED DURING REGULAR
264	264	SESSION. During a regular session of the legislature a member may
265	265	not solicit written pledges from other members for their support of
266	266	or promise to vote for any person for the office of speaker.
267	267	RULE 2. OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
268	268	CHAPTER A. DUTIES OF OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE
269	269	Sec. 1. CHIEF CLERK. (a) The chief clerk shall:
270	270	(1) be the custodian of all bills, resolutions, and
271	271	amendments;
272	272	(2) number in the order of their filing, with a
273	273	separate sequence for each category, all bills, joint resolutions,
274	274	concurrent resolutions, and house resolutions;
275	275	(3) provide for the keeping of a complete record of
276	276	introduction and action on all bills and resolutions, including the
277	277	number, author, brief description of the subject matter, committee
278	278	reference, and the time sequence of action taken on all bills and
279	279	resolutions to reflect at all times their status in the legislative
280	280	process;
281	281	(4) on the day of numbering a bill relating to a
282	282	conservation and reclamation district created under Article XVI,
283	283	Section 59, of the Texas Constitution, send two copies of the bill,
284	284	with two copies of the notice of intention to introduce the bill, to
285	285	the governor and notify the journal clerk of the action;
286	286	(5) receive the recommendations of the Texas
287	287	Commission on Environmental Quality on a bill forwarded to the
288	288	commission under Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas
289	289	Constitution, attach them to the bill to which they apply, and
290	290	notify the journal clerk that the recommendations have been filed;
291	291	(6) forward to a committee chair in an electronic or
292	292	other format determined by the chief clerk a certified copy of each
293	293	legislative document referred to the committee, including all
294	294	official attachments to the document;
295	295	(7) have printed and distributed correct copies of all
296	296	legislative documents, as provided in the subchapter on printing,
297	297	and keep an exact record of the date and hour of transmittal to the
298	298	printer, return from the printer, and distribution of the document
299	299	to members of the house with that information time-stamped on the
300	300	originals of the document;
301	301	(8) certify the passage of bills and resolutions,
302	302	noting on them the date of passage and the vote by which passed,
303	303	including the yeas and nays if a record of the yeas and nays is
304	304	ordered;
305	305	(9) be responsible for engrossing all house bills and
306	306	resolutions that have passed second reading and those that have
307	307	passed third reading, and for enrolling all house bills and
308	308	resolutions that have passed both houses.
309	309	All engrossed and enrolled documents shall be prepared
310	310	without erasures, interlineations, or additions in the margin.
311	311	House concurrent resolutions passed without amendment
312	312	shall not be engrossed but shall be certified and forwarded
313	313	directly to the senate.
314	314	Engrossed riders may be used in lieu of full engrossment
315	315	on second reading passage;
316	316	(10) be authorized to amend the caption to conform to
317	317	the body of each house bill and joint resolution ordered engrossed
318	318	or enrolled;
319	319	(11) be responsible for noting on each house bill or
320	320	joint resolution, for certification by the speaker of the house,
321	321	the lieutenant governor, the chief clerk of the house, and the
322	322	secretary of the senate, the following information:
323	323	(A) date of final passage, and the vote on final
324	324	passage, including the yeas and nays if a record of the yeas and
325	325	nays is ordered. If the bill was amended in the senate, this fact
326	326	shall also be noted;
327	327	(B) date of concurrence by the house in senate
328	328	amendments, and the vote on concurrence, including the yeas and
329	329	nays if a record of the yeas and nays is ordered;
330	330	(C) date of adoption by each house of a
331	331	conference committee report and the vote on adoption, including the
332	332	yeas and nays if a record of the yeas and nays is ordered;
333	333	(D) that a bill containing an appropriation was
334	334	passed subject to the provisions of Article III, Section 49a, of the
335	335	Texas Constitution; and
336	336	(E) that a concurrent resolution was adopted by
337	337	both houses directing the correction of an enrolled bill, if
338	338	applicable;
339	339	(12) transmit over signature all messages from the
340	340	house to the senate, including typewritten copies of amendments to
341	341	senate bills;
342	342	(13) prepare copies of senate amendments to house
343	343	bills for the journal before the amendments and the bill or
344	344	resolution to which they relate are sent to the printer or to the
345	345	speaker;
346	346	(14) notify the speaker in writing that the senate did
347	347	not concur in house amendments to a bill or resolution and requests
348	348	a conference committee, and include in this notice the names of the
349	349	senate conferees;
350	350	(15) provide a certified copy of a house bill or
351	351	resolution which may be lost showing each parliamentary step taken
352	352	on the bill; and
353	353	(16) request fiscal notes on house bills and joint
354	354	resolutions with senate amendments and distribute fiscal notes on
355	355	house bills and joint resolutions with senate amendments and
356	356	conference committee reports as required by Rule 13, Sections 5 and
357	357	10.
358	358	(b) The chief clerk shall also:
359	359	(1) attest all writs, warrants and subpoenas issued by
360	360	order of the house;
361	361	(2) receive reports of select committees and forward
362	362	copies to the speaker and journal clerk;
363	363	(3) not later than 30 days after the close of each
364	364	session, acquire from each of the various clerks of the house,
365	365	except the journal clerk, all reports, records, bills, papers, and
366	366	other documents remaining in their possession and file them with
367	367	the Legislative Reference Library, unless otherwise provided by
368	368	law;
369	369	(4) receive and file all other documents required by
370	370	law or by the rules of the house;
371	371	(5) prepare a roster of members in order of seniority
372	372	showing the number of years of service of each member, as provided
373	373	in Rule 4, Section 2; and
374	374	(6) have posted the list of Items Eligible for
375	375	Consideration as required by the rules.
376	376	(c) The chief clerk shall also provide for the following to
377	377	be made available on the electronic legislative information system:
378	378	(1) all house calendars and lists of items eligible
379	379	for consideration and the time-stamp information for those
380	380	calendars and lists; and
381	381	(2) the time-stamp information for all official
382	382	printings of bills and resolutions.
383	383	(d) The chief clerk shall provide notice to a Capitol e-mail
384	384	address designated by each member when a new house calendar or list
385	385	of items eligible for consideration is posted on the electronic
386	386	legislative information system. If a member informs the chief
387	387	clerk that the member also desires to receive a paper copy of house
388	388	calendars or lists of items eligible for consideration, the chief
389	389	clerk shall place paper copies of those documents designated by the
390	390	member in the newspaper box of the member as soon as practicable
391	391	after the electronic copies are posted.
392	392	Sec. 2. JOURNAL CLERK. (a) The journal clerk shall:
393	393	(1) keep a journal of the proceedings of the house,
394	394	except when the house is acting as a committee of the whole, and
395	395	enter the following:
396	396	(A) the number, author, and caption of every bill
397	397	introduced;
398	398	(B) descriptions of all congratulatory and
399	399	memorial resolutions on committee report, motions, amendments,
400	400	questions of order and decisions on them, messages from the
401	401	governor, and messages from the senate;
402	402	(C) the summaries of congratulatory and memorial
403	403	resolutions, as printed on the congratulatory and memorial
404	404	calendar;
405	405	(D) the number of each bill, joint resolution,
406	406	and concurrent resolution signed in the presence of the house;
407	407	(E) a listing of reports made by standing
408	408	committees;
409	409	(F) reports of select committees, when ordered by
410	410	the house;
411	411	(G) every vote where a record of the yeas and nays
412	412	is ordered or registration of the house with a concise statement of
413	413	the action and the result;
414	414	(H) the names of all absentees, both excused and
415	415	not excused;
416	416	(I) senate amendments to house bills or
417	417	resolutions, when concurred in by the house;
418	418	(J) the date each bill is transmitted to the
419	419	governor;
420	420	(K) the date recommendations of the Texas
421	421	Commission on Environmental Quality on each bill subject to Article
422	422	XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution, are filed with the chief
423	423	clerk;
424	424	(L) all pairs as a part of a vote where a record
425	425	of the yeas and nays is ordered;
426	426	(M) reasons for a vote;
427	427	(N) the vote of a member on any question where a
428	428	record of the yeas and nays has not been ordered;
429	429	(O) the statement of a member who was absent when
430	430	a vote was taken indicating how the member would have voted;
431	431	(P) official state documents, reports, and other
432	432	matters, when ordered by the house; and
433	433	(Q) the written copy of the speaker's ruling on a
434	434	point of order, which includes the citation of the authorities
435	435	relied upon in the grounds for decision, as provided in Section
436	436	9(b-1) of this rule;
437	437	(2) prepare a daily journal for each calendar day that
438	438	the house is in session and distribute on the succeeding calendar
439	439	day or the earliest possible date copies to the members of the house
440	440	who have submitted requests to the journal clerk to receive a copy;
441	441	and
442	442	(3) prepare and have printed a permanent house journal
443	443	of regular and special sessions in accordance with the law and the
444	444	following provisions:
445	445	(A) When completed, no more than 300 copies shall
446	446	be bound and distributed as follows:
447	447	(i) one copy to each member of the house of
448	448	representatives who submitted a request to the journal clerk to
449	449	receive a copy;
450	450	(ii) one copy to each member of the senate
451	451	who submitted a request to the journal clerk to receive a copy; and
452	452	(iii) the remainder of the copies to be
453	453	distributed by the Committee on House Administration.
454	454	(B) The journal clerk shall not receive or
455	455	receipt for the permanent house journal until it has been correctly
456	456	published.
457	457	(b) The journal clerk shall lock the voting machine of each
458	458	member who is excused or who is otherwise known to be absent when
459	459	the house is in session until the member personally requests that
460	460	the machine be unlocked.
461	461	(c) The journal clerk shall determine and enter in the
462	462	journal the clock of record for the house and that clock may not be
463	463	delayed, set back, or otherwise tampered with to deviate from the
464	464	standard time, as provided by statute, for the place where the house
465	465	is meeting. The journal clerk shall enter in the journal the time
466	466	according to the clock of record when the house convenes, recesses,
467	467	and adjourns. A motion to suspend this rule must be decided by a
468	468	record vote.
469	469	Sec. 3. READING CLERKS. The reading clerks, under the
470	470	supervision of the speaker, shall:
471	471	(1) call the roll of the house in alphabetical order
472	472	when ordered to do so by the speaker; and
473	473	(2) read all bills, resolutions, motions, and other
474	474	matters required by the rules or directed by the speaker.
475	475	Sec. 4. SERGEANT-AT-ARMS. The sergeant-at-arms shall:
476	476	(1) under the direction of the speaker, have charge of
477	477	and maintain order in the hall of the house, its lobbies and
478	478	galleries, and all other rooms in the capitol assigned for the use
479	479	of the house of representatives;
480	480	(2) attend the house and the committee of the whole
481	481	during all meetings and maintain order under the direction of the
482	482	speaker or other presiding officer;
483	483	(3) execute the commands of the house and serve the
484	484	writs and processes issued by the authority of the house and
485	485	directed by the speaker;
486	486	(4) supervise assistants to the sergeant-at-arms who
487	487	shall aid in the performance of prescribed duties and have the same
488	488	authority, subject to the control of the speaker;
489	489	(5) clear the floor of the house of all persons not
490	490	entitled to the privileges of the floor at least 30 minutes prior to
491	491	the convening of each session of the house;
492	492	(6) bring in absent members when so directed under a
493	493	call of the house;
494	494	(7) not allow the distribution of any printed matter
495	495	in the hall of the house, other than newspapers that have been
496	496	published at least once a week for a period of one year, unless it
497	497	first has been authorized in writing by at least one member of the
498	498	house and the name of the member appears on the printed matter. The
499	499	sergeant-at-arms shall refuse to accept for distribution any
500	500	printed matter which does not bear the name of the member or members
501	501	authorizing the distribution;
502	502	(8) keep a copy of written authorization and a record
503	503	of the matter distributed in the permanent files of the house;
504	504	(9) enforce parking regulations applicable to areas of
505	505	the capitol complex under the control of the house and supervise
506	506	parking attendants;
507	507	(10) provide for issuance of an identification card to
508	508	each member and employee of the house; and
509	509	(11) supervise the doorkeeper.
510	510	Sec. 5. DOORKEEPER. The doorkeeper, under the supervision
511	511	of the sergeant-at-arms, shall:
512	512	(1) enforce strictly the rules of the house relating
513	513	to privileges of the floor and perform other duties as directed by
514	514	the speaker;
515	515	(2) close the main entrance and permit no member to
516	516	leave the house without written permission from the speaker when a
517	517	call of the house or a call of the committee of the whole is ordered,
518	518	take up permission cards as members leave the hall, and take up
519	519	permission cards of those who are admitted to the floor of the house
520	520	under the rules and practice of the house;
521	521	(3) obtain recognition from the speaker and announce a
522	522	messenger from the governor or the senate on arrival at the bar of
523	523	the house; and
524	524	(4) obtain recognition from the speaker and announce
525	525	the arrival of the governor or the senate on arrival at the bar of
526	526	the house for official proceedings in the house.
527	527	Sec. 6. CHAPLAIN. The chaplain shall open the first
528	528	session on each calendar day with a prayer and shall perform such
529	529	other duties as directed by the Committee on House Administration.
530	530	Sec. 7. VOTING CLERK. The voting clerk, under the
531	531	supervision of the speaker, shall:
532	532	(1) open and close the voting machine on registrations
533	533	and record votes as ordered by the speaker;
534	534	(2) record votes from the floor as directed by the
535	535	speaker;
536	536	(3) prepare official copies of all record votes for
537	537	the journal; and
538	538	(4) make no additions, subtractions, or other changes
539	539	in any registration or record vote unless specifically granted
540	540	permission by the house or directed by the speaker prior to the
541	541	announcement of the final result.
542	542	Sec. 8. COMMITTEE COORDINATOR. (a) The committee
543	543	coordinator shall:
544	544	(1) under the direction of the Committee on House
545	545	Administration, prepare a schedule for regular meetings of all
546	546	standing committees as provided by Rule 4, Section 8(a);
547	547	(2) post committee meeting notices, as directed by the
548	548	chair of a committee, in accordance with Rule 4, Section 11(a);
549	549	(3) maintain duplicate originals of committee minutes
550	550	as required by Rule 4, Sections 18(c) and (d);
551	551	(4) direct the maintenance of sworn statements either
552	552	in electronic or paper format and, under the direction of the
553	553	Committee on House Administration, prescribe the form of those
554	554	statements, as required by Rule 4, Sections 20(a) and (c);
555	555	(5) receive and forward impact statements as required
556	556	by Rule 4, Section 34(e);
557	557	(6) receive committee reports as required by Rule 4,
558	558	Section 37, and refer them for printing as provided by Rule 6,
559	559	Section 19; and
560	560	(7) receive and distribute the recommendations and
561	561	final reports of interim study committees as provided by Rule 4,
562	562	Section 61.
563	563	(b) The committee coordinator may exclude from the
564	564	committee coordinator's office or refuse to interact with a member
565	565	or a member's staff if the member or member's staff engages in
566	566	abusive, harassing, or threatening behavior.
567	567	Sec. 9. PARLIAMENTARIAN. (a) The speaker may appoint not
568	568	more than two individuals to serve as parliamentarians. The
569	569	parliamentarians are officers of the house who serve at the
570	570	pleasure of the speaker. The parliamentarians shall advise and
571	571	assist the presiding officer and the members of the house on matters
572	572	of procedure. The parliamentarians have a duty of confidentiality
573	573	to the speaker and to each member of the house and shall keep
574	574	confidential all requests made by members of the house for advice or
575	575	guidance regarding procedure unless the parties otherwise agree.
576	576	(b) After the initial appointment of the parliamentarians
577	577	by the speaker, the appointment of a new parliamentarian to fill a
578	578	vacancy must be approved by a majority of the membership of the
579	579	house if the appointment is made during a regular or special
580	580	session. If the appointment to fill the vacancy is made when the
581	581	house is not in session, the appointment must be approved by a
582	582	majority of the membership not later than the third day of the first
583	583	special session that occurs after the date the appointment is made.
584	584	If no special session occurs after the appointment, approval by the
585	585	membership is not required.
586	586	(b-1) The speaker shall instruct the parliamentarians to
587	587	provide to each member a written copy of the speaker's ruling on a
588	588	point of order, including the citation of the authorities relied
589	589	upon in the grounds for decision. The written ruling shall be
590	590	provided to each member through the electronic legislative
591	591	information system not later than 24 hours after the ruling is
592	592	announced in the house.
593	593	(c) In the event of a conflict between this section and the
594	594	housekeeping resolution, this section controls.
595	595	Sec. 10. APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS AND SUPERVISORY
596	596	ADMINISTRATIVE EMPLOYEES OF THE HOUSE. The officers of the house
597	597	and the employees of the house responsible for supervising the
598	598	departments and divisions that support the operation of the house
599	599	shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the speaker. The
600	600	speaker may appoint a chief assistant to any officer who shall also
601	601	be an officer of the house who serves at the pleasure of the
602	602	speaker. The authority to appoint and discharge officers and
603	603	supervisory administrative employees may be delegated to the
604	604	Committee on House Administration to the extent and for the length
605	605	of time the speaker determines.
606	606	CHAPTER B. OTHER EMPLOYEES
607	607	Sec. 11 [10]. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL EMPLOYEES:
608	608	CONFIDENTIALITY. (a) Communications between an attorney employed
609	609	by the Texas Legislative Council and the speaker, another member of
610	610	the house, or an employee of a member or committee of the house are
611	611	confidential in accordance with the rules and laws concerning
612	612	attorney-client privilege.
613	613	(b) Communications between any employee of the Texas
614	614	Legislative Council and the speaker, another member of the house,
615	615	or an employee of a member or committee of the house are
616	616	confidential. The General Investigating Committee of the House may
617	617	investigate an alleged violation of this subsection.
618	618	(c) This section does not prohibit the speaker, member, or
619	619	committee from waiving a privilege as otherwise permitted by law or
620	620	from waiving confidentiality under this section.
621	621	RULE 3. STANDING COMMITTEES
622	622	Sec. 1. AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK. The committee shall
623	623	have nine members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining
624	624	to:
625	625	(1) agriculture, horticulture, and farm husbandry;
626	626	(2) livestock and stock raising, and the livestock
627	627	industry;
628	628	(3) the development and preservation of forests, and
629	629	the regulation, control, and promotion of the lumber industry;
630	630	(4) problems and issues particularly affecting rural
631	631	areas of the state, including issues related to rural economic
632	632	development and the provision of and access to infrastructure,
633	633	education, and health services; and
634	634	(5) the following state agencies: the Department of
635	635	Agriculture, the Texas Animal Health Commission, the State Soil and
636	636	Water Conservation Board, the Texas A&M Forest Service, the Texas
637	637	administrator for the South Central Interstate Forest Fire
638	638	Protection Compact, the Texas Apiary Inspection Service, Texas A&M
639	639	AgriLife Research, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, the
640	640	State Seed and Plant Board, the State Board of Veterinary Medical
641	641	Examiners, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory,
642	642	the Produce Recovery Fund Board, the board of directors of the Texas
643	643	Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation, Inc., and the Texas Wildlife
644	644	Services.
645	645	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATIONS. (a) The committee shall have 27
646	646	members, with jurisdiction over:
647	647	(1) all bills and resolutions appropriating money from
648	648	the state treasury;
649	649	(2) all bills and resolutions containing provisions
650	650	resulting in automatic allocation of funds from the state treasury;
651	651	(3) all bills and resolutions diverting funds from the
652	652	state treasury or preventing funds from going in that otherwise
653	653	would be placed in the state treasury; and
654	654	(4) all matters pertaining to claims and accounts
655	655	filed with the legislature against the state unless jurisdiction
656	656	over those bills and resolutions is specifically granted by these
657	657	rules to some other standing committee.
658	658	(b) The appropriations committee may comment upon any bill
659	659	or resolution containing a provision resulting in an automatic
660	660	allocation of funds.
661	661	Sec. 3. [BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY. The committee shall have
662	662	nine members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
663	663	[(1) industry and manufacturing;
664	664	[(2) industrial safety and adequate and safe working
665	665	conditions, and the regulation and control of those conditions;
666	666	[(3) hours, wages, collective bargaining, and the
667	667	relationship between employers and employees;
668	668	[(4) unemployment compensation, including coverage,
669	669	benefits, taxes, and eligibility;
670	670	[(5) labor unions and their organization, control,
671	671	management, and administration;
672	672	[(6) the regulation of business transactions and
673	673	transactions involving property interests;
674	674	[(7) the organization, incorporation, management, and
675	675	regulation of private corporations and professional associations
676	676	and the Uniform Commercial Code and the Business Organizations
677	677	Code;
678	678	[(8) the protection of consumers, governmental
679	679	regulations incident thereto, the agencies of government
680	680	authorized to regulate such activities, and the role of the
681	681	government in consumer protection;
682	682	[(9) privacy and identity theft;
683	683	[(10) homeowners' associations;
684	684	[(11) oversight and regulation of the construction
685	685	industry; and
686	686	[(12) the following state agencies: the State Office
687	687	of Risk Management, the Risk Management Board, the Division of
688	688	Workers' Compensation of the Texas Department of Insurance, the
689	689	workers' compensation research and evaluation group in the Texas
690	690	Department of Insurance, the Office of Injured Employee Counsel,
691	691	including the ombudsman program of that office, and the Texas
692	692	Mutual Insurance Company Board of Directors.
693	693	[Sec. 4.] CALENDARS (PROCEDURAL). The committee shall have
694	694	11 members, with jurisdiction over:
695	695	(1) the placement of bills and resolutions on
696	696	appropriate calendars, except those within the jurisdiction of
697	697	another calendars committee [the Committee on Resolutions
698	698	Calendars];
699	699	(2) the determination of priorities and proposal of
700	700	rules for floor consideration of such bills and resolutions; and
701	701	(3) all other matters concerning the calendar system
702	702	and the expediting of the business of the house as may be assigned
703	703	by the speaker.
704	704	Sec. 4 [5]. CORRECTIONS. The committee shall have nine
705	705	members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
706	706	(1) the incarceration and rehabilitation of convicted
707	707	felons;
708	708	(2) the establishment and maintenance of programs that
709	709	provide alternatives to incarceration; and
710	710	(3) the following state agencies: the Texas
711	711	Department of Criminal Justice, the Special Prosecution Unit, the
712	712	Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Texas Civil Commitment Office,
713	713	and the Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or
714	714	Mental Impairments.
715	715	[Sec. 6. COUNTY AFFAIRS. The committee shall have nine
716	716	members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
717	717	[(1) counties, including their organization,
718	718	creation, boundaries, government, and finance and the compensation
719	719	and duties of their officers and employees;
720	720	[(2) establishing districts for the election of
721	721	governing bodies of counties;
722	722	[(3) regional councils of governments;
723	723	[(4) multicounty boards or commissions;
724	724	[(5) relationships or contracts between counties;
725	725	[(6) other units of local government; and
726	726	[(7) the following state agency: the Commission on
727	727	Jail Standards.]
728	728	Sec. 5 [7]. CRIMINAL JURISPRUDENCE. (a) The committee
729	729	shall have 11 [nine] members, with jurisdiction over all matters
730	730	pertaining to:
731	731	(1) criminal law, prohibitions, standards, and
732	732	penalties, including those laws, prohibitions, standards, and
733	733	penalties as applied to juveniles;
734	734	(2) probation and parole;
735	735	(3) criminal procedure in the courts of Texas,
736	736	including as it relates to juveniles;
737	737	(4) juvenile delinquency and gang violence;
738	738	(5) revision or amendment of the Penal Code;
739	739	(6) the commitment and rehabilitation of youths;
740	740	(7) the construction, operation, and management of
741	741	correctional facilities of the state and facilities used for the
742	742	commitment and rehabilitation of youths; and
743	743	(8) [(5)] the following state agencies: the Office of
744	744	State Prosecuting Attorney, [and] the Texas State Council for
745	745	Interstate Adult Offender Supervision, the Texas Juvenile Justice
746	746	Board, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, the Office of
747	747	Independent Ombudsman for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department,
748	748	and the Advisory Council on Juvenile Services.
749	749	(b) The committee has one permanent standing subcommittee,
750	750	a subcommittee on Juvenile Justice, to consider all matters
751	751	relating to:
752	752	(1) the commitment and rehabilitation of youths;
753	753	(2) the construction, operation, and management of
754	754	correctional facilities of the state and facilities used for the
755	755	commitment and rehabilitation of youths;
756	756	(3) juvenile delinquency and gang violence;
757	757	(4) criminal law, prohibitions, standards, and
758	758	penalties as applied to juveniles; and
759	759	(5) criminal procedure in the courts of Texas as it
760	760	relates to juveniles.
761	761	Sec. 6 [8]. CULTURE, RECREATION, AND TOURISM. The
762	762	committee shall have nine members, with jurisdiction over:
763	763	(1) the creation, operation, and control of state
764	764	parks, including the development, maintenance, and operation of
765	765	state parks in connection with the sales and use tax imposed on
766	766	sporting goods, but not including any matter within the
767	767	jurisdiction of the Committee on Appropriations;
768	768	(2) the regulation and control of the propagation and
769	769	preservation of wildlife and fish in the state;
770	770	(3) the development and regulation of the fish and
771	771	oyster industries of the state;
772	772	(4) hunting and fishing in the state, and the
773	773	regulation and control thereof, including the imposition of fees,
774	774	fines, and penalties relating to that regulation;
775	775	(5) the regulation of other recreational activities;
776	776	(6) cultural resources and their promotion,
777	777	development, and regulation;
778	778	(7) historical resources and their promotion,
779	779	development, and regulation;
780	780	(8) promotion and development of Texas' image and
781	781	heritage;
782	782	(9) preservation and protection of Texas' shrines,
783	783	monuments, and memorials;
784	784	(10) international and interstate tourist promotion
785	785	and development;
786	786	(11) the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office
787	787	as it relates to the subject-matter jurisdiction of this committee;
788	788	(12) the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Compact; and
789	789	(13) the following state commissions and agencies: the
790	790	Committee on the Formation of a Texas Bicentennial Commission, the
791	791	Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas Commission on the Arts,
792	792	the State Cemetery Committee, the Texas State Library and Archives
793	793	Commission, the Texas Historical Commission, the State
794	794	Preservation Board, and an office of state government to the extent
795	795	the office promotes the Texas music industry.
796	796	Sec. 7 [9]. DELIVERY OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY. The
797	797	committee shall have 13 members, with jurisdiction over all matters
798	798	pertaining to:
799	799	(1) the organization, operation, powers, regulations,
800	800	and management of state departments, agencies, institutions, and
801	801	advisory committees;
802	802	(2) elimination of inefficiencies in the provision of
803	803	state services;
804	804	(3) the integrity and accountability of agency
805	805	regulatory responsibility, review, and oversight, including the
806	806	agency rulemaking process, agency review of existing rules, and
807	807	judicial review of agency rules and decisions;
808	808	(4) open government matters, including open records
809	809	and open meetings;
810	810	(5) access of state agencies to scientific and
811	811	technological information;
812	812	(6) the use by state agencies of advances in science
813	813	and technology, including telecommunications, electronic
814	814	technology, automated data processing, and artificial
815	815	intelligence;
816	816	(7) the promotion within the state of an advance
817	817	described by Subdivision (6);
818	818	(8) the uses of artificial intelligence and emerging
819	819	technology;
820	820	(9) the application of artificial intelligence and
821	821	emerging technologies on various sectors of society, including
822	822	employment, health care, homeland and national security, and
823	823	transportation;
824	824	(10) privacy and identity theft;
825	825	(11) cybersecurity;
826	826	(12) cooperation between the state or a local
827	827	governmental entity and the scientific and technological
828	828	community, including private businesses, institutions of higher
829	829	education, and federal governmental laboratories;
830	830	(13) inquiries to detect fraud, waste, and abuse in
831	831	state government programs and operations and recommend appropriate
832	832	legislation or other action to eliminate any identified fraud,
833	833	waste, and abuse; prevent its reoccurrence; and otherwise promote
834	834	the modernization and economically efficient administration of
835	835	those programs and operations; and
836	836	(14) the following state agencies: the Department of
837	837	Information Resources, the Sunset Advisory Commission, and the
838	838	Texas Space Commission. [DEFENSE AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS. The
839	839	committee shall have nine members, with jurisdiction over all
840	840	matters pertaining to:
841	841	[(1) the relations between the State of Texas and the
842	842	federal government involving defense, emergency preparedness, and
843	843	veterans issues;
844	844	[(2) the various branches of the military service of
845	845	the United States;
846	846	[(3) the realignment or closure of military bases;
847	847	[(4) the defense of the state and nation, including
848	848	terrorism response;
849	849	[(5) emergency preparedness;
850	850	[(6) veterans of military and related services; and
851	851	[(7) the following state agencies: the Texas Military
852	852	Department, the Texas Veterans Commission, the Veterans' Land
853	853	Board, the Texas Military Preparedness Commission, the Texas
854	854	Division of Emergency Management, and the Emergency Management
855	855	Council.]
856	856	Sec. 8 [10]. ELECTIONS. The committee shall have nine
857	857	members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
858	858	(1) the right of suffrage in Texas;
859	859	(2) primary, special, and general elections;
860	860	(3) revision, modification, amendment, or change of
861	861	the Election Code;
862	862	(4) the secretary of state in relation to elections;
863	863	(5) campaign finance; and
864	864	(6) the following state agency: the Office of the
865	865	Secretary of State.
866	866	Sec. 9 [11]. ENERGY RESOURCES. The committee shall have 11
867	867	members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
868	868	(1) the conservation of the energy resources of Texas;
869	869	(2) the production, regulation, transportation, and
870	870	development of oil, gas, and other energy resources;
871	871	(3) mining and the development of mineral deposits
872	872	within the state;
873	873	(4) the leasing and regulation of mineral rights under
874	874	public lands;
875	875	(5) pipelines, pipeline companies, and all others
876	876	operating as common carriers in the state;
877	877	(6) electric utility regulation as it relates to
878	878	energy production and consumption;
879	879	(7) identifying, developing, and using alternative
880	880	energy sources;
881	881	(8) increasing energy efficiency throughout the
882	882	state;
883	883	(9) the coordination of the state's efforts related to
884	884	the federal designation of threatened and endangered species as it
885	885	relates to energy resources in the state; and
886	886	(10) the following state agencies: the Railroad
887	887	Commission of Texas, the Texas representative for the Interstate
888	888	Oil and Gas Compact Commission, the Office of Interstate Mining
889	889	Compact Commissioner for Texas, the State Energy Conservation
890	890	Office, and the Office of Southern States Energy Board Member for
891	891	Texas.
892	892	Sec. 10 [12]. ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION. The committee
893	893	shall have nine members, with jurisdiction over all matters
894	894	pertaining to:
895	895	(1) air, land, and water pollution, including the
896	896	environmental regulation of industrial development;
897	897	(2) the regulation of waste disposal;
898	898	(3) environmental matters that are regulated by the
899	899	Department of State Health Services or the Texas Commission on
900	900	Environmental Quality;
901	901	(4) oversight of the Texas Commission on Environmental
902	902	Quality as it relates to environmental regulation; and
903	903	(5) the following state agency: the Texas Low-Level
904	904	Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission.
905	905	Sec. 11 [13]. GENERAL INVESTIGATING (PROCEDURAL). (a) The
906	906	committee shall have five members of the house appointed by the
907	907	speaker. The speaker shall appoint the chair and the vice-chair of
908	908	the committee.
909	909	(b) The committee has all the powers and duties of a general
910	910	investigating committee and shall operate as the general
911	911	investigating committee of the house according to the procedures
912	912	prescribed by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government Code, and the
913	913	rules of the house, as applicable.
914	914	(b-1) The committee may begin work as soon as it desires
915	915	after its members are appointed. The committee shall meet,
916	916	organize, and adopt rules of evidence and procedure and any other
917	917	necessary rules. The committee rules may not conflict with Section
918	918	301.025, Government Code.
919	919	(b-2) Whether or not the legislature is in session, the
920	920	committee may meet at any time or place in the state determined
921	921	necessary by the committee.
922	922	(b-3) If the committee decides not to conduct joint hearings
923	923	as provided by Section 301.019, Government Code, the committee
924	924	shall establish a liaison to fully inform the chair of the senate
925	925	committee of the nature and progress of any inquiry by the other
926	926	committee.
927	927	(b-4) On a majority vote of the committee, the committee may
928	928	conduct joint hearings and investigations.
929	929	(b-5) The committee may:
930	930	(1) initiate or continue inquiries and hearings
931	931	concerning:
932	932	(A) state government;
933	933	(B) any agency or subdivision of government
934	934	within the state;
935	935	(C) the expenditure of public funds at any level
936	936	of government within the state; and
937	937	(D) any other matter the committee considers
938	938	necessary for the information of the legislature or for the welfare
939	939	and protection of state citizens; and
940	940	(2) inspect the records, documents, and files and may
941	941	examine the duties, responsibilities, and activities of each state
942	942	department, agency, and officer and of each municipality, county,
943	943	or other political subdivision of the state.
944	944	(b-6) If a person disobeys a subpoena or other process that
945	945	the committee lawfully issues, the committee may cite the person
946	946	for contempt and cause the person to be prosecuted for contempt
947	947	according to the procedure prescribed by Subchapter B, Chapter 301,
948	948	Government Code, or by other law.
949	949	(b-7) The committee shall make reports to members of the
950	950	legislature that the committee determines are necessary and
951	951	appropriate.
952	952	(b-8) Information held by the committee that if held by a
953	953	law enforcement agency or prosecutor would be excepted from the
954	954	requirements of Section 552.021, Government Code, under Section
955	955	552.108 of that code is confidential and not subject to public
956	956	disclosure.
957	957	(b-9) If for any reason it is necessary to obtain assistance
958	958	in addition to the services provided by the state auditor, attorney
959	959	general, Texas Legislative Council, or Department of Public Safety,
960	960	the committee may employ and compensate assistants to assist in any
961	961	investigation, audit, or legal matter.
962	962	(c) The committee may investigate a matter related to the
963	963	misconduct, malfeasance, misfeasance, abuse of office, or
964	964	incompetency of an individual or officer under Chapter 665,
965	965	Government Code. The committee has all the powers and duties
966	966	conferred by that chapter for the purpose of conducting the
967	967	investigation, including the authority to propose articles of
968	968	impeachment.
969	969	(d) The committee has original jurisdiction over the
970	970	receipt, processing, investigation, and resolution of complaints
971	971	related to appropriate workplace conduct under Rule 15, the
972	972	housekeeping resolution, and policies adopted by the Committee on
973	973	House Administration. If a complaint relates to the conduct of a
974	974	member of the committee, that member's employee, or an individual
975	975	related to the member or the member's employee within the third
976	976	degree by consanguinity or within the second degree by affinity as
977	977	determined under Chapter 573, Government Code:
978	978	(1) the member shall not participate in any committee
979	979	proceedings related to the complaint; and
980	980	(2) the speaker shall designate a member of the house
981	981	drawn by lot under Subsection (e) of this section to act in the
982	982	place of the disqualified member. The designation of a member under
983	983	this subsection ends when the committee makes its final disposition
984	984	of the complaint.
985	985	(e) When a member of the committee is disqualified under
986	986	Subsection (d) of this section, the chief clerk shall prepare a list
987	987	of the currently qualified members of the house, omitting the names
988	988	of the speaker, the disqualified member, each other member of the
989	989	committee, and any member elected from the same county as the
990	990	disqualified member. The chief clerk shall write on a separate
991	991	piece of paper of uniform size and color the name of each member
992	992	that appears on the prepared list. The chief clerk shall deposit
993	993	the pieces of paper in an opaque container that is designed to
994	994	permit the random distribution of the pieces of paper after their
995	995	initial deposit and to prevent the viewing of any of the pieces of
996	996	paper at any time. After the pieces of paper are randomly
997	997	distributed in the container, the sergeant-at-arms shall draw a
998	998	single piece of paper and deliver that piece of paper to the chief
999	999	clerk. The chief clerk shall inform the speaker of the name drawn
1000	1000	by the sergeant-at-arms for designation under Subsection (d).
1001	1001	Sec. 12 [14]. HIGHER EDUCATION. The committee shall have
1002	1002	11 members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1003	1003	(1) education beyond high school;
1004	1004	(2) the colleges and universities of the State of
1005	1005	Texas; and
1006	1006	(3) the following state agencies: the Texas A&M
1007	1007	Engineering Experiment Station, the Texas A&M Engineering
1008	1008	Extension Service, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board,
1009	1009	the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation, the Prepaid Higher
1010	1010	Education Tuition Board, and the Texas A&M Transportation
1011	1011	Institute.
1012	1012	Sec. 13 [15]. HOMELAND SECURITY, [AND] PUBLIC SAFETY, AND
1013	1013	VETERANS' AFFAIRS. (a) The committee shall have 11 [nine] members,
1014	1014	with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1015	1015	(1) law enforcement;
1016	1016	(2) the prevention of crime and the apprehension of
1017	1017	criminals;
1018	1018	(3) the provision of security services by private
1019	1019	entities;
1020	1020	(4) homeland security, including:
1021	1021	(A) the defense of the state and nation,
1022	1022	including terrorism response; and
1023	1023	(B) emergency preparedness and disaster
1024	1024	mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery;
1025	1025	(5) the relations between the State of Texas and the
1026	1026	federal government involving defense and veterans issues;
1027	1027	(6) the various branches of the military service of
1028	1028	the United States;
1029	1029	(7) the realignment or closure of military bases;
1030	1030	(8) veterans of military and related services; and
1031	1031	(9) [(5)] the following state agencies: the Texas
1032	1032	Commission on Law Enforcement, the Department of Public Safety, the
1033	1033	Texas Division of Emergency Management, the Emergency Management
1034	1034	Council, the Texas Forensic Science Commission, the Texas Military
1035	1035	Preparedness Commission, the Commission on State Emergency
1036	1036	Communications, the Texas Military Department, the Texas Veterans
1037	1037	Commission, the Veterans' Land Board, and the Texas Crime Stoppers
1038	1038	Council.
1039	1039	(b) The committee has one permanent standing subcommittee,
1040	1040	a subcommittee on Defense and Veterans' Affairs, to consider all
1041	1041	matters relating to:
1042	1042	(1) the relations between the State of Texas and the
1043	1043	federal government involving defense and veterans issues;
1044	1044	(2) the various branches of the military service of
1045	1045	the United States;
1046	1046	(3) the realignment or closure of military bases; and
1047	1047	(4) veterans of military and related services.
1048	1048	Sec. 14 [16]. HOUSE ADMINISTRATION (PROCEDURAL). (a) The
1049	1049	committee shall have 11 members, with jurisdiction over:
1050	1050	(1) administrative operation of the house and its
1051	1051	employees;
1052	1052	(2) the adoption of policies and procedures for
1053	1053	appropriate workplace conduct under Rule 15 and the housekeeping
1054	1054	resolution, including policies and procedures relating to the
1055	1055	training of members, officers, and employees;
1056	1056	(3) the general house fund, with full control over all
1057	1057	expenditures from the fund;
1058	1058	(4) all property, equipment, and supplies obtained by
1059	1059	the house for its use and the use of its members;
1060	1060	(5) all office space available for the use of the house
1061	1061	and its members;
1062	1062	(6) the assignment of vacant office space, vacant
1063	1063	parking spaces, and vacant desks on the house floor to members with
1064	1064	seniority based on cumulative years of service in the house, except
1065	1065	that the committee may make these assignments based on physical
1066	1066	disability of a member where it deems proper;
1067	1067	(7) all admissions to the floor during sessions of the
1068	1068	house;
1069	1069	(8) all proposals to invite nonmembers to appear
1070	1070	before or address the house or a joint session;
1071	1071	(9) all radio, television, and Internet broadcasting,
1072	1072	live or recorded, of sessions of the house;
1073	1073	(10) the electronic recording of the proceedings of
1074	1074	the house of representatives and the custody of the recordings of
1075	1075	testimony before house committees, with authority to promulgate
1076	1076	reasonable rules, regulations, and conditions concerning the
1077	1077	safekeeping, reproducing, and transcribing of the recordings, and
1078	1078	the defraying of costs for transcribing the recordings, subject to
1079	1079	other provisions of these rules;
1080	1080	(11) all witnesses appearing before the house or any
1081	1081	committee thereof in support of or in opposition to any pending
1082	1082	legislative proposal;
1083	1083	(12) the Rules of Procedure of the House of
1084	1084	Representatives, Joint Rules of the House and Senate, and all
1085	1085	proposed amendments;
1086	1086	(13) other matters concerning the rules, procedures,
1087	1087	and operation of the house assigned by the speaker; and
1088	1088	(14) the following state agency: the State
1089	1089	Preservation Board.
1090	1090	(b) The committee must vote to adopt the annual budget for
1091	1091	each house department.
1092	1092	Sec. 15 [17]. HUMAN SERVICES. The committee shall have 11
1093	1093	[nine] members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1094	1094	(1) welfare and rehabilitation programs and their
1095	1095	development, administration, and control;
1096	1096	(2) oversight of the Health and Human Services
1097	1097	Commission and the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council as it
1098	1098	relates to the subject matter jurisdiction of this committee;
1099	1099	(3) intellectual disabilities and the development of
1100	1100	programs incident thereto;
1101	1101	(4) the prevention and treatment of intellectual
1102	1102	disabilities; and
1103	1103	(5) the following state agencies: the Department of
1104	1104	Family and Protective Services, the Texas State Board of Social
1105	1105	Worker Examiners, and the Texas State Board of Examiners of
1106	1106	Professional Counselors.
1107	1107	Sec. 16 [18]. INSURANCE. The committee shall have nine
1108	1108	members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1109	1109	(1) insurance and the insurance industry;
1110	1110	(2) all insurance companies and other organizations of
1111	1111	any type writing or issuing policies of insurance in the State of
1112	1112	Texas, including their organization, incorporation, management,
1113	1113	powers, and limitations; and
1114	1114	(3) the following state agencies: the Texas
1115	1115	Department of Insurance, the Texas Health Benefits Purchasing
1116	1116	Cooperative, and the Office of Public Insurance Counsel.
1117	1117	Sec. 17. INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS. (a) The committee
1118	1118	shall have 11 members, with jurisdiction over:
1119	1119	(1) counties and municipalities, including their
1120	1120	creation, organization, boundaries, powers, government, and
1121	1121	finance, and the compensation and duties of their officers and
1122	1122	employees;
1123	1123	(2) establishing districts for the election of
1124	1124	governing bodies of counties and municipalities;
1125	1125	(3) home-rule municipalities, their relationship to
1126	1126	the state, and their powers, authority, and limitations;
1127	1127	(4) the creation or change of metropolitan areas and
1128	1128	the form of government under which those areas operate;
1129	1129	(5) problems and issues particularly affecting
1130	1130	metropolitan areas of the state;
1131	1131	(6) regional councils of governments;
1132	1132	(7) multicounty boards or commissions;
1133	1133	(8) relationships or contracts between units of local
1134	1134	government;
1135	1135	(9) other units of local government not otherwise
1136	1136	assigned by these rules to other standing committees;
1137	1137	(10) land use regulation by counties and
1138	1138	municipalities;
1139	1139	(11) the relations between the State of Texas and
1140	1140	other nations, other than matters related to trade relations and
1141	1141	international trade zones;
1142	1142	(12) the relations between the State of Texas and the
1143	1143	federal government, other than matters involving defense,
1144	1144	emergency preparedness, and veterans issues;
1145	1145	(13) the relations between the State of Texas and
1146	1146	other states of the United States; and
1147	1147	(14) the following state agencies: the Office of
1148	1148	State-Federal Relations, the Commission on Jail Standards, the
1149	1149	Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, and the Texas
1150	1150	Commission on Fire Protection.
1151	1151	(b) The committee has two permanent standing subcommittees:
1152	1152	(1) a subcommittee on County and Regional Government,
1153	1153	to consider all matters relating to:
1154	1154	(A) counties, including their creation,
1155	1155	organization, boundaries, powers, government, and finance, and the
1156	1156	compensation and duties of their officers and employees;
1157	1157	(B) establishing districts for the election of
1158	1158	governing bodies of counties;
1159	1159	(C) regional councils of governments;
1160	1160	(D) multicounty boards or commissions;
1161	1161	(E) relationships or contracts between counties;
1162	1162	(F) other units of local government not otherwise
1163	1163	assigned by these rules to other standing committees; and
1164	1164	(G) land use regulation by counties; and
1165	1165	(2) a subcommittee on State-Federal Relations, to
1166	1166	consider all matters relating to:
1167	1167	(A) the relations between the State of Texas and
1168	1168	other nations, other than matters related to trade relations and
1169	1169	international trade zones;
1170	1170	(B) the relations between the State of Texas and
1171	1171	the federal government, other than matters involving defense,
1172	1172	emergency preparedness, and veterans issues; and
1173	1173	(C) the relations between the State of Texas and
1174	1174	other states of the United States.
1175	1175	[Sec. 19. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND ECONOMIC
1176	1176	DEVELOPMENT. The committee shall have nine members, with
1177	1177	jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1178	1178	[(1) the relations between the State of Texas and
1179	1179	other nations, including matters related to trade relations and
1180	1180	international trade zones;
1181	1181	[(2) the relations between the State of Texas and the
1182	1182	federal government other than matters involving defense, emergency
1183	1183	preparedness, and veterans issues;
1184	1184	[(3) the relations between the State of Texas and
1185	1185	other states of the United States;
1186	1186	[(4) commerce, trade, and manufacturing, including
1187	1187	international commerce and trade and the regulation of persons
1188	1188	participating in international commerce and trade;
1189	1189	[(5) cooperation between the state or a local
1190	1190	governmental entity and the scientific and technological
1191	1191	community, including private businesses, institutions of higher
1192	1192	education, and federal governmental laboratories;
1193	1193	[(6) weights and measures;
1194	1194	[(7) workforce training;
1195	1195	[(8) economic and industrial development;
1196	1196	[(9) development and support of small businesses;
1197	1197	[(10) job creation and job-training programs;
1198	1198	[(11) hours, wages, collective bargaining, and the
1199	1199	relationship between employers and employees;
1200	1200	[(12) international and border regions (as described
1201	1201	in Sections 2056.002(e)(2) and (3), Government Code) economic
1202	1202	development, public health and safety issues affecting the border,
1203	1203	tourist development, and goodwill, and economic development,
1204	1204	tourist development, and goodwill in other areas of the state that
1205	1205	have experienced a significant increase in the percentage of the
1206	1206	population that consists of immigrants from other nations,
1207	1207	according to the last two federal decennial censuses or another
1208	1208	reliable measure;
1209	1209	[(13) the provision of public services to persons
1210	1210	residing in proximity to Texas' international border or in other
1211	1211	areas of the state that have experienced a significant increase in
1212	1212	the percentage of the population that consists of immigrants from
1213	1213	other nations, according to the last two federal decennial censuses
1214	1214	or another reliable measure; and
1215	1215	[(14) the following state agencies: the Office of
1216	1216	State-Federal Relations, the Texas Economic Development and
1217	1217	Tourism Office, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Texas
1218	1218	Workforce Investment Council.]
1219	1219	Sec. 18 [20]. JUDICIARY AND CIVIL JURISPRUDENCE. (a) The
1220	1220	committee shall have 11 [nine] members, with jurisdiction over all
1221	1221	matters pertaining to:
1222	1222	(1) fines and penalties arising under civil laws;
1223	1223	(2) civil law, including rights, duties, remedies, and
1224	1224	procedures thereunder, and including matters relating to familial
1225	1225	relationships, probate, and guardianship [matters];
1226	1226	(3) civil procedure in the courts of Texas;
1227	1227	(4) administrative law and the adjudication of rights
1228	1228	by administrative agencies;
1229	1229	(5) permission to sue the state;
1230	1230	(6) uniform state laws;
1231	1231	(7) creating, changing, or otherwise affecting courts
1232	1232	of judicial districts of the state;
1233	1233	(8) establishing districts for the election of
1234	1234	judicial officers;
1235	1235	(9) courts and court procedures except where
1236	1236	jurisdiction is specifically granted to some other standing
1237	1237	committee; and
1238	1238	(10) the following state agencies: the Supreme Court,
1239	1239	the courts of appeals, the Court of Criminal Appeals, the State
1240	1240	Commission on Judicial Conduct, the Office of Court Administration
1241	1241	of the Texas Judicial System, the State Law Library, the Texas
1242	1242	Judicial Council, the Judicial Branch Certification Commission,
1243	1243	the Office of the Attorney General, the Board of Law Examiners, the
1244	1244	State Bar of Texas, and the State Office of Administrative
1245	1245	Hearings.
1246	1246	(b) The committee has one permanent standing subcommittee,
1247	1247	a subcommittee on Family and Fiduciary Relationships, to consider
1248	1248	all matters relating to civil law, including rights, duties,
1249	1249	remedies, and procedures thereunder, in matters relating to
1250	1250	familial relationships, probate, and guardianship.
1251	1251	[Sec. 21. JUVENILE JUSTICE AND FAMILY ISSUES. The
1252	1252	committee shall have nine members, with jurisdiction over all
1253	1253	matters pertaining to:
1254	1254	[(1) the commitment and rehabilitation of youths;
1255	1255	[(2) the construction, operation, and management of
1256	1256	correctional facilities of the state and facilities used for the
1257	1257	commitment and rehabilitation of youths;
1258	1258	[(3) juvenile delinquency and gang violence;
1259	1259	[(4) criminal law, prohibitions, standards, and
1260	1260	penalties as applied to juveniles;
1261	1261	[(5) criminal procedure in the courts of Texas as it
1262	1262	relates to juveniles;
1263	1263	[(6) civil law as it relates to familial
1264	1264	relationships, including rights, duties, remedies, and procedures;
1265	1265	and
1266	1266	[(7) the following state agencies: the Texas Juvenile
1267	1267	Justice Board, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, the Office of
1268	1268	Independent Ombudsman for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department,
1269	1269	and the Advisory Council on Juvenile Services.]
1270	1270	Sec. 19 [22]. LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. The committee
1271	1271	shall have nine members, with jurisdiction over all matters
1272	1272	pertaining to:
1273	1273	(1) the management of public lands;
1274	1274	(2) the power of eminent domain;
1275	1275	(3) the creation, modification, and regulation of
1276	1276	municipal utility districts;
1277	1277	(4) annexation, zoning, and other governmental
1278	1278	regulation of land use; and
1279	1279	(5) the following state agencies: the School Land
1280	1280	Board, the Board for Lease of University Lands, and the General Land
1281	1281	Office.
1282	1282	Sec. 20 [23]. LICENSING AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. The
1283	1283	committee shall have 13 [11] members, with jurisdiction over all
1284	1284	matters pertaining to:
1285	1285	(1) the oversight of businesses, industries, general
1286	1286	trades, and occupations regulated by this state;
1287	1287	(2) the regulation of greyhound and horse racing and
1288	1288	other gaming industries;
1289	1289	(3) regulation of the sale of intoxicating beverages
1290	1290	and local option control;
1291	1291	(4) the Alcoholic Beverage Code; and
1292	1292	(5) the following state agencies: the Texas
1293	1293	Department of Licensing and Regulation, the State Office of
1294	1294	Administrative Hearings, the Texas Board of Architectural
1295	1295	Examiners, the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, the Texas
1296	1296	Real Estate Commission, the Texas State Board of Plumbing
1297	1297	Examiners, the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land
1298	1298	Surveyors, the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M
1299	1299	University, the Texas Racing Commission, the Texas Appraiser
1300	1300	Licensing and Certification Board, the Texas Lottery Commission,
1301	1301	and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
1302	1302	Sec. 21 [24]. LOCAL AND CONSENT CALENDARS (PROCEDURAL).
1303	1303	The committee shall have 11 members, with jurisdiction over:
1304	1304	(1) the placement on appropriate calendars of bills
1305	1305	and resolutions that, in the opinion of the committee, are in fact
1306	1306	local or will be uncontested, and have been recommended as such by
1307	1307	the standing committee of original jurisdiction; [and]
1308	1308	(2) the placement on appropriate calendars of
1309	1309	resolutions that, in the opinion of the committee, are in fact
1310	1310	congratulatory or memorial;
1311	1311	(3) all procedures for expediting the business of the
1312	1312	house in expressing concern or commendation in an orderly and
1313	1313	efficient manner;
1314	1314	(4) all resolutions to congratulate, memorialize, or
1315	1315	name mascots of the house;
1316	1316	(5) other matters concerning rules, procedures, and
1317	1317	operation of the house in expressing concern or commendation
1318	1318	assigned by the speaker; and
1319	1319	(6) the determination of priorities for floor
1320	1320	consideration of bills and resolutions except those within the
1321	1321	jurisdiction of the Committee on Calendars [and the Committee on
1322	1322	Resolutions Calendars].
1323	1323	Sec. 22 [25]. NATURAL RESOURCES. The committee shall have
1324	1324	13 [11] members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1325	1325	(1) the conservation of the natural resources of
1326	1326	Texas;
1327	1327	(2) the control and development of land and water and
1328	1328	land and water resources, including the taking, storing, control,
1329	1329	and use of all water in the state, and its appropriation and
1330	1330	allocation;
1331	1331	(3) irrigation, irrigation companies, and irrigation
1332	1332	districts, and their incorporation, management, and powers;
1333	1333	(4) the creation, modification, and regulation of
1334	1334	groundwater conservation districts, water supply districts, water
1335	1335	control and improvement districts, conservation and reclamation
1336	1336	districts, and all similar organs of local government dealing with
1337	1337	water and water supply not otherwise assigned by these rules to
1338	1338	another standing committee;
1339	1339	(5) oversight of the Texas Commission on Environmental
1340	1340	Quality as it relates to the regulation of water resources; and
1341	1341	(6) the following state agencies: the Office of
1342	1342	Canadian River Compact Commissioner for Texas, the Office of Pecos
1343	1343	River Compact Commissioner for Texas, the Office of Red River
1344	1344	Compact Commissioner for Texas, the Office of Rio Grande Compact
1345	1345	Commissioner for Texas, the Office of Sabine River Compact
1346	1346	Commissioners for Texas, the Southwestern States Water Commission,
1347	1347	and the Texas Water Development Board.
1348	1348	Sec. 23 [26]. PENSIONS, INVESTMENTS, AND FINANCIAL
1349	1349	SERVICES. The committee shall have nine members, with jurisdiction
1350	1350	over all matters pertaining to:
1351	1351	(1) banking and the state banking system;
1352	1352	(2) savings and loan associations;
1353	1353	(3) credit unions;
1354	1354	(4) the regulation of state and local bonded
1355	1355	indebtedness;
1356	1356	(5) the lending of money;
1357	1357	(6) benefits or participation in benefits of a public
1358	1358	retirement system and the financial obligations of a public
1359	1359	retirement system;
1360	1360	(7) the regulation of securities and investments;
1361	1361	(8) privacy and identity theft as it relates to the
1362	1362	jurisdiction of the committee; and
1363	1363	(9) the following state agencies: the Finance
1364	1364	Commission of Texas, the Credit Union Commission, the Office of
1365	1365	Consumer Credit Commissioner, the Office of Banking Commissioner,
1366	1366	the Texas Department of Banking, the Department of Savings and
1367	1367	Mortgage Lending, the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company, the
1368	1368	Texas Public Finance Authority, the Bond Review Board, the Texas
1369	1369	Emergency Services Retirement System, the Board of Trustees of the
1370	1370	Teacher Retirement System of Texas, the Board of Trustees of the
1371	1371	Employees Retirement System of Texas, the Board of Trustees of the
1372	1372	Texas County and District Retirement System, the Board of Trustees
1373	1373	of the Texas Municipal Retirement System, the State Pension Review
1374	1374	Board, and the State Securities Board.
1375	1375	Sec. 24 [27]. PUBLIC EDUCATION. (a) The committee shall
1376	1376	have 15 [13] members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining
1377	1377	to:
1378	1378	(1) the public schools and the public school system of
1379	1379	Texas and the financing thereof;
1380	1380	(2) the state programming of elementary and secondary
1381	1381	education for the public school system of Texas;
1382	1382	(3) proposals to create, change, or otherwise alter
1383	1383	school districts of the state; and
1384	1384	(4) the following organizations and state agencies:
1385	1385	the State Board of Education, the Texas Education Agency, the Texas
1386	1386	representatives to the Education Commission of the States, the
1387	1387	Southern Regional Education Board, the Texas School for the Blind
1388	1388	and Visually Impaired, the State Board for Educator Certification,
1389	1389	and the Texas School for the Deaf.
1390	1390	(b) The committee has one permanent standing subcommittee,
1391	1391	a subcommittee on Academic and Career-Oriented Education, to
1392	1392	consider all matters relating to vocational, career, and technical
1393	1393	training.
1394	1394	Sec. 25 [28]. PUBLIC HEALTH. (a) The committee shall have
1395	1395	13 [11] members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1396	1396	(1) the protection of public health, including
1397	1397	supervision and control of the practice of medicine and dentistry
1398	1398	and other allied health services;
1399	1399	(2) mental health and the development of programs
1400	1400	incident thereto;
1401	1401	(3) the prevention and treatment of mental illness;
1402	1402	(4) oversight of the Health and Human Services
1403	1403	Commission and the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council as it
1404	1404	relates to the subject matter jurisdiction of this committee; and
1405	1405	(5) the following state agencies: the Department of
1406	1406	State Health Services, the State Anatomical Advisory Committee
1407	1407	[Board of the State of Texas], the Texas Funeral Service
1408	1408	Commission, the Hearing Instrument Fitters and Dispensers Advisory
1409	1409	Board, the Texas Health Services Authority, the Texas Optometry
1410	1410	Board, the Texas Radiation Advisory Board, the Texas State Board of
1411	1411	Pharmacy, the Texas Board of Nursing, the Texas Board of
1412	1412	Chiropractic Examiners, the Texas Board of Physical Therapy
1413	1413	Examiners, the Massage Therapy Advisory Board, the Podiatric
1414	1414	Medical Examiners Advisory Board, the Texas State Board of
1415	1415	Examiners of Psychologists, the Texas State Board of Examiners of
1416	1416	Marriage and Family Therapists, the Behavior Analyst Advisory
1417	1417	Board, the State Board of Dental Examiners, the Texas Medical
1418	1418	Board, the Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers, the Cancer
1419	1419	Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, the Texas State Board
1420	1420	of Acupuncture Examiners, the Health Professions Council, the
1421	1421	Office of Patient Protection, the Texas Board of Occupational
1422	1422	Therapy Examiners, and the Texas Child Mental Health Care
1423	1423	Consortium.
1424	1424	(b) The committee has one permanent standing subcommittee,
1425	1425	a subcommittee on Disease Prevention and Women's and Children's
1426	1426	Health, to consider all matters relating to:
1427	1427	(1) preventing and treating chronic diseases,
1428	1428	including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease;
1429	1429	(2) preventative health services, including
1430	1430	well-child care, prenatal care, screenings for cancer and chronic
1431	1431	disease, behavioral health, and immunizations; and
1432	1432	(3) reducing the impact of delayed care on the state's
1433	1433	health care delivery system, health care costs, and patient
1434	1434	outcomes.
1435	1435	Sec. 26 [29]. REDISTRICTING (PROCEDURAL). The committee
1436	1436	shall have 15 members, with jurisdiction over all matters
1437	1437	pertaining to:
1438	1438	(1) legislative districts, both house and senate, and
1439	1439	any changes or amendments;
1440	1440	(2) congressional districts, their creation, and any
1441	1441	changes or amendments;
1442	1442	(3) establishing districts for the election of
1443	1443	judicial officers or of governing bodies or representatives of
1444	1444	political subdivisions or state agencies as required by law; and
1445	1445	(4) preparations for the redistricting process.
1446	1446	[Sec. 30. RESOLUTIONS CALENDARS (PROCEDURAL). The
1447	1447	committee shall have 11 members, with jurisdiction over:
1448	1448	[(1) the placement on appropriate calendars of
1449	1449	resolutions that, in the opinion of the committee, are in fact
1450	1450	congratulatory or memorial;
1451	1451	[(2) the determination of priorities for floor
1452	1452	consideration of resolutions except those within the jurisdiction
1453	1453	of the Committee on Calendars and the Committee on Local and Consent
1454	1454	Calendars;
1455	1455	[(3) all procedures for expediting the business of the
1456	1456	house in expressing concern or commendation in an orderly and
1457	1457	efficient manner;
1458	1458	[(4) all resolutions to congratulate, memorialize, or
1459	1459	name mascots of the house; and
1460	1460	[(5) other matters concerning rules, procedures, and
1461	1461	operation of the house in expressing concern or commendation
1462	1462	assigned by the speaker.]
1463	1463	Sec. 27 [31]. STATE AFFAIRS. (a) The committee shall have
1464	1464	15 [13] members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1465	1465	(1) questions and matters of state policy;
1466	1466	(2) the administration of state government;
1467	1467	(3) the organization, operation, powers, regulation,
1468	1468	and management of state departments, agencies, and institutions;
1469	1469	(4) the operation and regulation of public lands and
1470	1470	state buildings;
1471	1471	(5) the duties and conduct of officers and employees
1472	1472	of the state government;
1473	1473	(6) the duties and conduct of candidates for public
1474	1474	office and of persons with an interest in influencing public
1475	1475	policy;
1476	1476	(7) the operation of state government and its agencies
1477	1477	and departments; all of above except where jurisdiction is
1478	1478	specifically granted to some other standing committee;
1479	1479	(8) access of the state agencies to scientific and
1480	1480	technological information;
1481	1481	(9) the regulation and deregulation of electric
1482	1482	utilities and the electric industry;
1483	1483	(10) the regulation and deregulation of
1484	1484	telecommunications utilities and the telecommunications industry;
1485	1485	(11) electric utility regulation as it relates to
1486	1486	energy production and consumption;
1487	1487	(12) pipelines, pipeline companies, and all others
1488	1488	operating as common carriers in the state;
1489	1489	(13) the regulation and deregulation of other
1490	1490	industries jurisdiction of which is not specifically assigned to
1491	1491	another committee under these rules;
1492	1492	(14) advances in science and technology, including
1493	1493	telecommunications, electronic technology, or automated data
1494	1494	processing, by state agencies, including institutions of higher
1495	1495	education;
1496	1496	(15) the promotion within the state of an advance
1497	1497	described by Subdivision (14) of this section;
1498	1498	(16) cybersecurity; and
1499	1499	(17) the following organizations and state agencies:
1500	1500	the Council of State Governments, the National Conference of State
1501	1501	Legislatures, the Office of the Governor, the Texas Ethics
1502	1502	Commission, the Texas Facilities Commission, [the Department of
1503	1503	Information Resources,] the Inaugural Endowment Fund Committee,
1504	1504	[the Sunset Advisory Commission,] the Public Utility Commission of
1505	1505	Texas, and the Office of Public Utility Counsel.
1506	1506	(b) The committee has one permanent standing subcommittee,
1507	1507	a subcommittee on Telecommunications and Broadband, to consider all
1508	1508	matters relating to:
1509	1509	(1) the regulation and deregulation of
1510	1510	telecommunications utilities and the telecommunications industry;
1511	1511	and
1512	1512	(2) the provision of broadband services.
1513	1513	Sec. 28. TRADE, WORKFORCE, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. (a)
1514	1514	The committee shall have 11 members, with jurisdiction over all
1515	1515	matters pertaining to:
1516	1516	(1) the relations between the State of Texas and other
1517	1517	nations related to trade relations and international trade zones;
1518	1518	(2) commerce, trade, industry, and manufacturing,
1519	1519	including international commerce and trade and the regulation of
1520	1520	persons participating in international commerce and trade;
1521	1521	(3) industrial safety and adequate and safe working
1522	1522	conditions, and the regulation and control of those conditions;
1523	1523	(4) unemployment compensation, including coverage,
1524	1524	benefits, taxes, and eligibility;
1525	1525	(5) labor unions and their organization, control,
1526	1526	management, and administration;
1527	1527	(6) the regulation of business transactions and
1528	1528	transactions involving property interests;
1529	1529	(7) the organization, incorporation, management, and
1530	1530	regulation of private corporations and professional associations
1531	1531	and the Uniform Commercial Code and the Business Organizations
1532	1532	Code;
1533	1533	(8) the protection of consumers, governmental
1534	1534	regulations incident thereto, the agencies of government
1535	1535	authorized to regulate such activities, and the role of the
1536	1536	government in consumer protection;
1537	1537	(9) homeowners' associations;
1538	1538	(10) oversight and regulation of the construction
1539	1539	industry;
1540	1540	(11) cooperation between the state or a local
1541	1541	governmental entity and the scientific and technological
1542	1542	community, including private businesses, institutions of higher
1543	1543	education, and federal governmental laboratories;
1544	1544	(12) weights and measures;
1545	1545	(13) workforce training;
1546	1546	(14) economic and industrial development;
1547	1547	(15) development and support of small businesses;
1548	1548	(16) job creation and job-training programs;
1549	1549	(17) hours, wages, collective bargaining, and the
1550	1550	relationship between employers and employees;
1551	1551	(18) international and border regions (as described in
1552	1552	Sections 2056.002(e)(2) and (3), Government Code) economic
1553	1553	development, public health and safety issues affecting the border,
1554	1554	tourist development, and goodwill, and economic development,
1555	1555	tourist development, and goodwill in other areas of the state that
1556	1556	have experienced a significant increase in the percentage of the
1557	1557	population that consists of immigrants from other nations,
1558	1558	according to the last two federal decennial censuses or another
1559	1559	reliable measure;
1560	1560	(19) the provision of public services to persons
1561	1561	residing in proximity to Texas' international border or in other
1562	1562	areas of the state that have experienced a significant increase in
1563	1563	the percentage of the population that consists of immigrants from
1564	1564	other nations, according to the last two federal decennial censuses
1565	1565	or another reliable measure; and
1566	1566	(20) the following state agencies: the State Office of
1567	1567	Risk Management, the Risk Management Board, the Division of
1568	1568	Workers' Compensation of the Texas Department of Insurance, the
1569	1569	workers' compensation research and evaluation group in the Texas
1570	1570	Department of Insurance, the Office of Injured Employee Counsel,
1571	1571	including the ombudsman program of that office, the Texas Mutual
1572	1572	Insurance Company Board of Directors, the Texas Economic
1573	1573	Development and Tourism Office, the Texas Workforce Commission, and
1574	1574	the Texas Workforce Investment Council.
1575	1575	(b) The committee has two permanent standing subcommittees:
1576	1576	(1) a subcommittee on Workforce, to consider all
1577	1577	matters relating to:
1578	1578	(A) workforce training;
1579	1579	(B) job creation and job-training programs;
1580	1580	(C) industrial safety and adequate and safe
1581	1581	working conditions, and the regulation and control of those
1582	1582	conditions;
1583	1583	(D) hours, wages, collective bargaining, and the
1584	1584	relationship between employers and employees; and
1585	1585	(E) labor unions and their organization,
1586	1586	control, management, and administration; and
1587	1587	(2) a subcommittee on International Relations, to
1588	1588	consider all matters relating to:
1589	1589	(A) the relations between the State of Texas and
1590	1590	other nations related to trade relations and international trade
1591	1591	zones;
1592	1592	(B) international commerce and trade and the
1593	1593	regulation of persons participating in international commerce and
1594	1594	trade;
1595	1595	(C) international and border regions (as
1596	1596	described in Sections 2056.002(e)(2) and (3), Government Code)
1597	1597	economic development, public health and safety issues affecting the
1598	1598	border, tourist development, and goodwill, and economic
1599	1599	development, tourist development, and goodwill in other areas of
1600	1600	the state that have experienced a significant increase in the
1601	1601	percentage of the population that consists of immigrants from other
1602	1602	nations, according to the last two federal decennial censuses or
1603	1603	another reliable measure; and
1604	1604	(D) the provision of public services to persons
1605	1605	residing in proximity to Texas' international border or in other
1606	1606	areas of the state that have experienced a significant increase in
1607	1607	the percentage of the population that consists of immigrants from
1608	1608	other nations, according to the last two federal decennial censuses
1609	1609	or another reliable measure.
1610	1610	Sec. 29 [32]. TRANSPORTATION. (a) The committee shall
1611	1611	have 13 members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1612	1612	(1) commercial motor vehicles, both bus and truck, and
1613	1613	their control, regulation, licensing, and operation;
1614	1614	(2) the Texas highway system, including all roads,
1615	1615	bridges, and ferries constituting a part of the system;
1616	1616	(3) the licensing of private passenger vehicles to
1617	1617	operate on the roads and highways of the state;
1618	1618	(4) the regulation and control of traffic on the
1619	1619	public highways of the State of Texas;
1620	1620	(5) railroads, street railway lines, interurban
1621	1621	railway lines, steamship companies, and express companies;
1622	1622	(6) airports, air traffic, airlines, and other
1623	1623	organizations engaged in transportation by means of aerial flight;
1624	1624	(7) water transportation in the State of Texas, and
1625	1625	the rivers, harbors, and related facilities used in water
1626	1626	transportation and the agencies of government exercising
1627	1627	supervision and control thereover;
1628	1628	(8) the regulation of metropolitan transit; and
1629	1629	(9) the following state agencies: the Texas Department
1630	1630	of Motor Vehicles, the Texas Department of Transportation, and the
1631	1631	Texas Transportation Commission.
1632	1632	(b) The committee has one permanent standing subcommittee,
1633	1633	a subcommittee on Transportation Funding, to consider all matters
1634	1634	relating to:
1635	1635	(1) current state transportation funding sources,
1636	1636	including the State Highway Fund;
1637	1637	(2) debt financing in state transportation funding,
1638	1638	including the Texas Mobility Fund; and
1639	1639	(3) alternative transportation funding options.
1640	1640	[Sec. 33. URBAN AFFAIRS. The committee shall have nine
1641	1641	members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
1642	1642	[(1) municipalities, including their creation,
1643	1643	organization, powers, government, and finance, and the
1644	1644	compensation and duties of their officers and employees;
1645	1645	[(2) home-rule municipalities, their relationship to
1646	1646	the state, and their powers, authority, and limitations;
1647	1647	[(3) the creation or change of metropolitan areas and
1648	1648	the form of government under which those areas operate;
1649	1649	[(4) problems and issues particularly affecting
1650	1650	metropolitan areas of the state;
1651	1651	[(5) other units of local government not otherwise
1652	1652	assigned by these rules to other standing committees;
1653	1653	[(6) establishing districts for the election of
1654	1654	governing bodies of municipalities;
1655	1655	[(7) land use regulation by municipalities; and
1656	1656	[(8) the following state agencies: the Texas
1657	1657	Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the Texas
1658	1658	Commission on Fire Protection.]
1659	1659	Sec. 30 [34]. WAYS AND MEANS. (a) The committee shall have
1660	1660	13 [11] members, with jurisdiction over:
1661	1661	(1) all bills and resolutions proposing to raise state
1662	1662	revenue;
1663	1663	(2) all bills or resolutions proposing to levy state
1664	1664	taxes or other fees;
1665	1665	(3) all proposals to modify, amend, or change any
1666	1666	existing state tax or revenue statute;
1667	1667	(4) all proposals to regulate the manner of collection
1668	1668	of state revenues and taxes;
1669	1669	(5) all bills and resolutions containing provisions
1670	1670	resulting in automatic allocation of funds from the state treasury;
1671	1671	(6) all bills and resolutions diverting funds from the
1672	1672	state treasury or preventing funds from going in that otherwise
1673	1673	would be placed in the state treasury;
1674	1674	(7) all bills and resolutions proposing to permit a
1675	1675	local government to raise revenue;
1676	1676	(8) all bills and resolutions proposing to permit a
1677	1677	local government to levy or impose property taxes, sales and use
1678	1678	taxes, or other taxes and fees;
1679	1679	(9) all proposals to modify, amend, or change any
1680	1680	existing local government tax or revenue statute;
1681	1681	(10) all proposals to regulate the manner of
1682	1682	collection of local government revenues and taxes;
1683	1683	(11) all bills and resolutions relating to the
1684	1684	appraisal of property for taxation;
1685	1685	(12) all bills and resolutions relating to the Tax
1686	1686	Code; and
1687	1687	(13) the following organizations and state agencies:
1688	1688	the Multistate Tax Commission and the Comptroller of Public
1689	1689	Accounts.
1690	1690	(b) The committee has one permanent standing subcommittee,
1691	1691	a subcommittee on Property Tax Appraisals, to consider all matters
1692	1692	relating to the appraisal of property for taxation.
1693	1693	RULE 4. ORGANIZATION, POWERS, AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEES
1694	1694	CHAPTER A. ORGANIZATION
1695	1695	Sec. 1. COMMITTEES, MEMBERSHIP, AND JURISDICTION. Standing
1696	1696	committees of the house, and the number of members and general
1697	1697	jurisdiction of each, shall be as enumerated in Rule 3.
1698	1698	Sec. 2. DETERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP. (a) Membership on
1699	1699	the standing committees shall be determined at the beginning of
1700	1700	each regular session in the following manner:
1701	1701	(1) For each standing substantive committee, a maximum
1702	1702	of one-half of the membership, exclusive of the chair and
1703	1703	vice-chair, shall be determined by seniority. The remaining
1704	1704	membership of the committee shall be appointed by the speaker.
1705	1705	(2) Each member of the house, in order of seniority,
1706	1706	may designate three committees on which he or she desires to serve,
1707	1707	listed in order of preference. The member is entitled to become a
1708	1708	member of the committee of his or her highest preference on which
1709	1709	there remains a vacant seniority position.
1710	1710	(3) If members of equal seniority request the same
1711	1711	committee, the speaker shall appoint the member from among those
1712	1712	requesting that committee. Seniority, as the term is used in this
1713	1713	subsection, shall mean years of cumulative service as a member of
1714	1714	the house of representatives.
1715	1715	(4) After each member of the house has selected one
1716	1716	committee on the basis of seniority, the remaining membership on
1717	1717	each standing committee shall be filled by appointment of the
1718	1718	speaker, subject to the limitations imposed in this chapter.
1719	1719	(5) Seniority shall not apply to a procedural
1720	1720	committee or permanent standing subcommittee. For purposes of
1721	1721	these rules, the permanent standing subcommittees are those
1722	1722	designated by Rule 3 and the procedural committees are the
1723	1723	Committee on Calendars, the Committee on Local and Consent
1724	1724	Calendars, [the Committee on Resolutions Calendars,] the General
1725	1725	Investigating Committee, the Committee on House Administration,
1726	1726	and the Committee on Redistricting. The entire membership of these
1727	1727	committees shall be appointed by the speaker.
1728	1728	(6) In announcing the membership of committees, the
1729	1729	speaker shall designate those appointed by the speaker and those
1730	1730	acquiring membership by seniority.
1731	1731	(7) The speaker shall designate the chair and
1732	1732	vice-chair from the total membership of the committee, subject to
1733	1733	the membership restrictions contained in this rule.
1734	1734	(b) In the event of a vacancy in a representative district
1735	1735	that has not been filled at the time of the determination of the
1736	1736	membership of standing committees, the representative of the
1737	1737	district who fills that vacancy shall not be entitled to select a
1738	1738	committee on the basis of seniority. Committee appointments on
1739	1739	behalf of that district shall be designated by the district number.
1740	1740	(c) In the event that a member-elect of the current
1741	1741	legislature has not taken the oath of office by the end of the ninth
1742	1742	day of the regular session, the representative of that district
1743	1743	shall not be entitled to select a committee on the basis of
1744	1744	seniority. If the member-elect has not taken the oath of office by
1745	1745	the time committee appointments are announced, committee
1746	1746	appointments on behalf of that district shall be designated by
1747	1747	district number.
1748	1748	Sec. 3. RANKING OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS. Except for the chair
1749	1749	and vice-chair, members of a standing committee shall rank
1750	1750	according to their seniority.
1751	1751	Sec. 4. MEMBERSHIP RESTRICTIONS. (a) No member shall serve
1752	1752	concurrently on more than two standing substantive committees.
1753	1753	(b) A member serving as chair of the Committee on
1754	1754	Appropriations, the Committee on State Affairs, or the Committee on
1755	1755	Ways and Means may not serve on any other substantive committee.
1756	1756	[(c) A permanent speaker pro tempore appointed under Rule 1,
1757	1757	Section 10, may not serve on more than one substantive committee or
1758	1758	as chair of a standing committee.]
1759	1759	Sec. 4A. ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS. If, at the time the
1760	1760	speaker announces the membership of standing committees, the
1761	1761	members of the house of one political party constitute a majority of
1762	1762	the membership of the house, the speaker shall designate a member of
1763	1763	that party to serve as chair of each standing committee. The
1764	1764	speaker shall not designate a member of that party to serve as
1765	1765	vice-chair of a standing committee.
1766	1766	Sec. 5. VACANCIES ON COMMITTEES. Should a vacancy occur on
1767	1767	a standing, select, or interim committee subsequent to its
1768	1768	organization, the speaker shall appoint an eligible member to fill
1769	1769	the vacancy.
1770	1770	Sec. 6. DUTIES OF THE CHAIR. The chair of each committee
1771	1771	shall:
1772	1772	(1) be responsible for the effective conduct of the
1773	1773	business of the committee;
1774	1774	(2) appoint all subcommittees, other than a permanent
1775	1775	standing subcommittee, and determine the number of members to serve
1776	1776	on each subcommittee, other than a permanent standing subcommittee;
1777	1777	(3) in consultation with members of the committee,
1778	1778	schedule the work of the committee and determine the order in which
1779	1779	the committee shall consider and act on bills, resolutions, and
1780	1780	other matters referred to the committee;
1781	1781	(4) have authority to employ and discharge the staff
1782	1782	and employees authorized for the committee and have supervision and
1783	1783	control over all the staff and employees;
1784	1784	(5) direct the preparation of all committee reports.
1785	1785	No committee report shall be official until signed by the chair of
1786	1786	the committee, or by the person acting as chair, or by a majority of
1787	1787	the membership of the committee;
1788	1788	(6) determine the necessity for public hearings,
1789	1789	schedule hearings, and be responsible for directing the posting of
1790	1790	notice of hearings as required by the rules;
1791	1791	(7) preside at all meetings of the committee and
1792	1792	control its deliberations and activities in accordance with
1793	1793	acceptable parliamentary procedure; and
1794	1794	(8) have authority to direct the sergeant-at-arms to
1795	1795	assist, where necessary, in enforcing the will of the committee.
1796	1796	Sec. 6A. ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF THE CHAIR; RESPONSIBILITIES
1797	1797	OF THE VICE-CHAIR. (a) The chair of each committee shall schedule
1798	1798	the work of the committee and determine the order of consideration
1799	1799	of measures and matters referred to the committee in direct
1800	1800	consultation with the vice-chair of the committee. The chair shall
1801	1801	arrange to ensure that:
1802	1802	(1) witnesses designated by the vice-chair are invited
1803	1803	to testify at a public hearing, including in the manner described by
1804	1804	Section 20(g) of this rule; and
1805	1805	(2) measures or matters designated by the vice-chair
1806	1806	are promptly scheduled for a public hearing under this rule.
1807	1807	(b) The vice-chair of a committee may direct the preparation
1808	1808	of an impact statement on any measure in the same manner in which a
1809	1809	chair directs the preparation of those statements under Section 34
1810	1810	of this rule.
1811	1811	Sec. 7. BILL ANALYSES. Except for the general
1812	1812	appropriations bill, for each bill or joint resolution referred to
1813	1813	the committee, the staff of the committee shall be responsible for
1814	1814	distributing a copy of a bill analysis to each member of the
1815	1815	committee and the author of a house measure at the earliest possible
1816	1816	opportunity but not later than the first time the measure is laid
1817	1817	out in a committee meeting.
1818	1818	CHAPTER B. PROCEDURE
1819	1819	Sec. 8. MEETINGS. (a) As soon as practicable after
1820	1820	standing committees are constituted and organized, the committee
1821	1821	coordinator, under the direction of the Committee on House
1822	1822	Administration, shall prepare a schedule for regular meetings of
1823	1823	all standing committees and permanent standing subcommittees. This
1824	1824	schedule shall be published in the house journal and posted in a
1825	1825	convenient and conspicuous place near the entrance to the house and
1826	1826	on other posting boards for committee meeting notices, as
1827	1827	determined necessary by the Committee on House Administration. To
1828	1828	the extent practicable during each regular session, standing
1829	1829	committees and permanent standing subcommittees shall conduct
1830	1830	regular committee meetings in accordance with the schedule of
1831	1831	meetings prepared by the committee coordinator under the
1832	1832	supervision of the Committee on House Administration.
1833	1833	(b) Standing committees shall meet at other times as may be
1834	1834	determined by the committee, or as may be called by the chair.
1835	1835	Permanent standing subcommittees shall meet at other times as may
1836	1836	be determined by the subcommittee, or as may be called by the
1837	1837	subcommittee chair. Other subcommittees [Subcommittees] of
1838	1838	standing committees shall [likewise] meet at other times as may be
1839	1839	determined by the committee, or as may be called by the chair of the
1840	1840	committee or subcommittee.
1841	1841	(c) Committees and permanent standing subcommittees shall
1842	1842	also meet in such places and at such times as the speaker may
1843	1843	designate.
1844	1844	Sec. 9. MEETING WHILE HOUSE IN SESSION. No standing
1845	1845	committee or subcommittee shall meet during the time the house is in
1846	1846	session without permission being given by a majority vote of the
1847	1847	house. No standing committee or subcommittee shall conduct its
1848	1848	meeting on the floor of the house or in the house chamber while the
1849	1849	house is in session, but shall, if given permission to meet while
1850	1850	the house is in session, retire to a designated committee room for
1851	1851	the conduct of its meeting.
1852	1852	Sec. 10. PURPOSES FOR MEETING. A committee or a
1853	1853	subcommittee may be assembled for:
1854	1854	(1) a public hearing where testimony is to be heard,
1855	1855	and where official action may be taken, on bills, resolutions, or
1856	1856	other matters;
1857	1857	(2) a formal meeting where the committee may discuss
1858	1858	and take official action on bills, resolutions, or other matters
1859	1859	without testimony; and
1860	1860	(3) a work session where the committee may discuss
1861	1861	bills, resolutions, or other matters but take no formal action.
1862	1862	Sec. 11. POSTING NOTICE. (a) No committee or
1863	1863	subcommittee, including a calendars committee, shall assemble for
1864	1864	the purpose of a public hearing during a regular session unless
1865	1865	notice of the hearing has been posted in accordance with the rules
1866	1866	at least five calendar days in advance of the hearing. No committee
1867	1867	or subcommittee, including a calendars committee, shall assemble
1868	1868	for the purpose of a public hearing during a special session unless
1869	1869	notice of the hearing has been posted in accordance with the rules
1870	1870	at least 24 hours in advance of the hearing. The committee minutes
1871	1871	shall reflect the date of each posting of notice. Notice shall not
1872	1872	be required for a public hearing or a formal meeting on a senate
1873	1873	bill which is substantially the same as a house bill that has
1874	1874	previously been the subject of a duly posted public hearing by the
1875	1875	committee.
1876	1876	(b) No committee or subcommittee, including a calendars
1877	1877	committee, shall assemble for the purpose of a formal meeting or
1878	1878	work session during a regular or special session unless written
1879	1879	notice has been posted and transmitted to each member of the
1880	1880	committee two hours in advance of the meeting or an announcement has
1881	1881	been filed with the journal clerk and read by the reading clerk
1882	1882	while the house is in session.
1883	1883	(c) All committees meeting during the interim for the
1884	1884	purpose of a formal meeting, work session, or public hearing shall
1885	1885	post notice in accordance with the rules and notify members of the
1886	1886	committee at least five calendar days in advance of the meeting.
1887	1887	Sec. 12. MEETINGS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. All meetings of a
1888	1888	committee or subcommittee, including a calendars committee, shall
1889	1889	be open to other members, the press, and the public unless
1890	1890	specifically provided otherwise by resolution adopted by the house.
1891	1891	However, the General Investigating Committee or a committee
1892	1892	considering an impeachment, an address, the punishment of a member
1893	1893	of the house, or any other matter of a quasi-judicial nature may
1894	1894	meet in executive session for the limited purpose of examining a
1895	1895	witness or deliberating, considering, or debating a decision, but
1896	1896	no decision may be made or voted on except in a meeting that is open
1897	1897	to the public and otherwise in compliance with the rules of the
1898	1898	house.
1899	1899	Sec. 13. RULES GOVERNING OPERATIONS. (a) The Rules of
1900	1900	Procedure of the House of Representatives, and to the extent
1901	1901	applicable, the rules of evidence and procedure in the civil courts
1902	1902	of Texas, shall govern the hearings and operations of each
1903	1903	committee, including a calendars committee. Subject to the
1904	1904	foregoing, and to the extent necessary for orderly transaction of
1905	1905	business, each committee may promulgate and adopt additional rules
1906	1906	and procedures by which it will function. A copy of the rules and
1907	1907	procedures adopted by a committee must be filed with the chief
1908	1908	clerk. If the house is convened in a regular or special session, a
1909	1909	copy of the rules and procedures shall also be delivered to the
1910	1910	journal clerk and printed in the journal.
1911	1911	(b) No standing committee, including a calendars committee,
1912	1912	or any subcommittee, shall adopt any rule of procedure, including
1913	1913	but not limited to an automatic subcommittee rule, which will have
1914	1914	the effect of thwarting the will of the majority of the committee or
1915	1915	subcommittee or denying the committee or subcommittee the right to
1916	1916	ultimately dispose of any pending matter by action of a majority of
1917	1917	the committee or subcommittee. A bill or resolution may not be laid
1918	1918	on the table subject to call in committee without a majority vote of
1919	1919	the committee.
1920	1920	(c) Each committee of the house shall have authority to
1921	1921	determine whether or not to permit television, radio, or Internet
1922	1922	broadcasts, other than official house broadcasts, of any of its
1923	1923	proceedings.
1924	1924	Sec. 14. APPEALS FROM RULINGS OF THE CHAIR. Appeals from
1925	1925	rulings of the chair of a committee shall be in order if seconded by
1926	1926	three members of the committee, which may include the member making
1927	1927	the appeal. Procedure in committee following an appeal which has
1928	1928	been seconded shall be the same as the procedure followed in the
1929	1929	house in a similar situation.
1930	1930	Sec. 15. PREVIOUS QUESTION. Before the previous question
1931	1931	can be ordered in a committee, the motion therefor must be seconded
1932	1932	by not less than 4 members of a committee consisting of 21 or more
1933	1933	members, 3 members of a committee consisting of less than 21 members
1934	1934	and more than 10 members, or 2 members of a committee consisting of
1935	1935	10 members or less. If the motion is properly seconded and ordered
1936	1936	by a majority vote of the committee, further debate on the
1937	1937	proposition under consideration shall be terminated, and the
1938	1938	proposition shall be immediately put to a vote of the committee for
1939	1939	its action.
1940	1940	Sec. 16. QUORUM. A majority of a committee shall
1941	1941	constitute a quorum. No action or recommendation of a committee
1942	1942	shall be valid unless taken at a meeting of the committee with a
1943	1943	quorum actually present, and the committee minutes shall reflect
1944	1944	the names of those members of the committee who were actually
1945	1945	present. No committee report shall be made to the house nor shall
1946	1946	bills or resolutions be placed on a calendar unless ordered by a
1947	1947	majority of the membership of the committee, except as otherwise
1948	1948	provided in the rules, and a quorum of the committee must be present
1949	1949	when the vote is taken on reporting a bill or resolution, on placing
1950	1950	bills or resolutions on a calendar, or on taking any other formal
1951	1951	action within the authority of the committee. No committee report
1952	1952	shall be made nor shall bills or resolutions be placed on a calendar
1953	1953	except by record vote of the members of the committee, with the yeas
1954	1954	and nays to be recorded in the minutes of the committee. Proxies
1955	1955	cannot be used in committees.
1956	1956	Sec. 17. MOVING A CALL OF A COMMITTEE. (a) It shall be in
1957	1957	order to move a call of a committee at any time to secure and
1958	1958	maintain a quorum for any one or more of the following purposes:
1959	1959	(1) for the consideration of a specific bill,
1960	1960	resolution, or other matter;
1961	1961	(2) for a definite period of time; or
1962	1962	(3) for the consideration of any designated class of
1963	1963	bills or other matters.
1964	1964	(b) When a call of a committee is moved for one or more of
1965	1965	the foregoing purposes and seconded by two members, one of whom may
1966	1966	be the chair, and is ordered by a majority of the members present,
1967	1967	no member shall thereafter be permitted to leave the committee
1968	1968	meeting without written permission from the chair. After the call
1969	1969	is ordered, and in the absence of a quorum, the chair shall have the
1970	1970	authority to authorize the sergeant-at-arms to locate absent
1971	1971	members of the committee and to compel their attendance for the
1972	1972	duration of the call.
1973	1973	Sec. 18. MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS. (a) For each committee,
1974	1974	including a calendars committee, the chair, or the member acting as
1975	1975	chair, shall keep complete minutes of the proceedings in committee,
1976	1976	which shall include:
1977	1977	(1) the time and place of each meeting of the
1978	1978	committee;
1979	1979	(2) a roll call to determine the members present at
1980	1980	each meeting of the committee, whether that meeting follows an
1981	1981	adjournment or a recess from a previous committee meeting;
1982	1982	(3) an accurate record of all votes taken, including a
1983	1983	listing of the yeas and nays cast on a record vote;
1984	1984	(4) the date of posting of notice of the meeting; and
1985	1985	(5) other information that the chair shall determine.
1986	1986	(b) The minutes for each public hearing of a committee shall
1987	1987	also include an attachment listing the names of the persons, other
1988	1988	than members of the legislature, and the persons or entities
1989	1989	represented by those persons, who were recognized by the chair to
1990	1990	address the committee. The attachment shall also list the name of
1991	1991	each person, other than a member of the legislature, who submitted
1992	1992	to the committee a sworn statement indicating that the person was
1993	1993	present in favor of, in opposition to, or without taking a position
1994	1994	on the measure or other matter, but who because of the person's
1995	1995	departure or other reason was not recognized by the chair to address
1996	1996	the committee; provided that the omission of the name of such a
1997	1997	person is not subject to a point of order.
1998	1998	(c) Committee minutes shall be corrected only at the
1999	1999	direction of the chair as authorized by a majority vote of the
2000	2000	committee. Duplicate originals of committee minutes shall be
2001	2001	maintained, one to remain with the committee chair and the other to
2002	2002	be filed with the committee coordinator. The committee minutes of a
2003	2003	meeting of the Appropriations Committee on the general
2004	2004	appropriations bill must be filed with the committee coordinator
2005	2005	within five days of the committee meeting. All other committee
2006	2006	minutes must be filed with the committee coordinator within three
2007	2007	days of the committee meeting for a substantive committee or the
2008	2008	Committee on Redistricting, and within one day of the committee
2009	2009	meeting for a procedural committee other than the Committee on
2010	2010	Redistricting. If the date on which the committee minutes are due
2011	2011	occurs on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday on which the house is not
2012	2012	in session, the committee minutes shall be filed on the following
2013	2013	working day. The time at which the minutes are filed shall be
2014	2014	time-stamped on the duplicate originals of the minutes that are
2015	2015	filed with the committee coordinator. The duplicate originals
2016	2016	shall be available at all reasonable business hours for inspection
2017	2017	by members or the public.
2018	2018	(d) The committee coordinator shall maintain the minutes
2019	2019	and records safe from loss, destruction, and alteration at all
2020	2020	times, and may, at any time, turn them, or any portion, over to the
2021	2021	Committee on House Administration.
2022	2022	Sec. 18A. INTERNET ACCESS TO COMMITTEE DOCUMENTS. (a) The
2023	2023	committee coordinator shall establish procedures for making
2024	2024	available to the public on the Internet documents relating to the
2025	2025	proceedings of substantive committees.
2026	2026	(b) A substantive committee shall make available to the
2027	2027	public on the Internet:
2028	2028	(1) any committee substitute or amendment laid before
2029	2029	the committee; and
2030	2030	(2) any nonconfidential written testimony submitted
2031	2031	by a state agency for consideration by the committee that relates to
2032	2032	a measure referred to the committee.
2033	2033	(c) A committee's failure to comply with this section is not
2034	2034	subject to a point of order.
2035	2035	Sec. 19. RECORDING OF TESTIMONY. All testimony before
2036	2036	committees and subcommittees shall be electronically recorded
2037	2037	under the direction of the Committee on House Administration.
2038	2038	Copies of the testimony may be released under guidelines
2039	2039	promulgated by the Committee on House Administration.
2040	2040	Sec. 19A. RECORDING OF APPROPRIATIONS MEETINGS. (a) The
2041	2041	Committee on House Administration shall ensure that an audio and
2042	2042	video recording of any public hearing, formal meeting, or work
2043	2043	session of the Committee on Appropriations or a subcommittee of the
2044	2044	Committee on Appropriations is made available to the public on the
2045	2045	Internet in a timely manner.
2046	2046	(b) To the extent that current technological capabilities
2047	2047	prohibit immediate implementation of this section, the Committee on
2048	2048	House Administration shall use the committee's best efforts to
2049	2049	conform to the requirements of this section as soon as practicable.
2050	2050	Sec. 20. SWORN STATEMENT OF WITNESSES. (a) The committee
2051	2051	coordinator, under the direction of the Committee on House
2052	2052	Administration, shall prescribe the form of a sworn statement,
2053	2053	which may be in electronic or paper format, to be executed by all
2054	2054	persons, other than members, who wish to be recognized by the chair
2055	2055	to address the committee. The statement shall provide for showing
2056	2056	at least:
2057	2057	(1) the committee or subcommittee;
2058	2058	(2) the name, address, and telephone number of the
2059	2059	person appearing;
2060	2060	(3) the person, firm, corporation, class, or group
2061	2061	represented;
2062	2062	(4) the type of business, profession, or occupation in
2063	2063	which the person is engaged, if the person is representing himself
2064	2064	or herself; and
2065	2065	(5) the matter before the committee on which the
2066	2066	person wishes to be recognized to address the committee and whether
2067	2067	for, against, or neutral on the matter.
2068	2068	(b) No person shall be recognized by the chair to address
2069	2069	the committee in favor of, in opposition to, or without taking a
2070	2070	position on a matter until the sworn statement has been filed with
2071	2071	the chair of the committee. The chair of the committee shall
2072	2072	indicate whether the person completing the statement was recognized
2073	2073	to address the committee.
2074	2074	(c) Sworn statements submitted in paper format for those
2075	2075	persons recognized by the chair to address the committee shall
2076	2076	accompany the copy of the minutes of the meeting filed with the
2077	2077	committee coordinator.
2078	2078	(d) All persons, other than members, recognized by the chair
2079	2079	to address the committee shall give their testimony under oath, and
2080	2080	each committee may avail itself of additional powers and
2081	2081	prerogatives authorized by law.
2082	2082	(e) The committee shall ensure that an individual who is
2083	2083	blind receives any necessary assistance in executing the sworn
2084	2084	statement.
2085	2085	(f) The committee shall inform a witness who is blind which
2086	2086	members of the committee are present when the witness begins to
2087	2087	testify and shall inform the witness during the testimony of the
2088	2088	departure and arrival of committee members.
2089	2089	(g) The chair may recognize a witness who has been invited
2090	2090	by the committee to attend the meeting but is not present in the
2091	2091	same physical location as the committee to testify before the
2092	2092	committee through an Internet or other videoconferencing system if:
2093	2093	(1) the witness has executed a sworn statement, in
2094	2094	electronic or paper format, under this section;
2095	2095	(2) the witness has filed the statement or a copy of
2096	2096	the statement with the chair before testifying; and
2097	2097	(3) two-way communication has been enabled to allow
2098	2098	the witness to be clearly visible and audible to the committee
2099	2099	members and the committee members to be clearly visible and audible
2100	2100	to the witness.
2101	2101	(h) A person who serves as a translator, including an
2102	2102	interpreter, for a witness before a committee must execute a form
2103	2103	prescribed by the committee coordinator, under the direction of the
2104	2104	Committee on House Administration. The form must at least include
2105	2105	the name of the translator and the name of the witness whom the
2106	2106	translator is serving.
2107	2107	Sec. 21. POWER TO ISSUE PROCESS AND SUMMON WITNESSES. (a)
2108	2108	By a record vote of not less than two-thirds of those present and
2109	2109	voting, a quorum being present, each standing committee shall have
2110	2110	the power and authority to issue process to witnesses at any place
2111	2111	in the State of Texas, to compel their attendance, and to compel the
2112	2112	production of all books, records, and instruments. If necessary to
2113	2113	obtain compliance with subpoenas or other process, the committee
2114	2114	shall have the power to issue writs of attachment. All process
2115	2115	issued by the committee may be addressed to and served by an agent
2116	2116	of the committee or a sergeant-at-arms appointed by the committee
2117	2117	or by any peace officer of the State of Texas. The committee shall
2118	2118	also have the power to cite and have prosecuted for contempt, in the
2119	2119	manner provided by law, anyone disobeying the subpoenas or other
2120	2120	process lawfully issued by the committee. The chair of the
2121	2121	committee shall issue, in the name of the committee, the subpoenas
2122	2122	and other process as the committee may direct.
2123	2123	(b) The chair may summon the governing board or other
2124	2124	representatives of a state agency to appear and testify before the
2125	2125	committee without issuing process under Subsection (a) of this
2126	2126	section. The summons may be communicated in writing, orally, or
2127	2127	electronically. If the persons summoned fail or refuse to appear,
2128	2128	the committee may issue process under Subsection (a) of this
2129	2129	section.
2130	2130	Sec. 22. MILEAGE AND PER DIEM FOR WITNESSES. Subject to
2131	2131	prior approval by the Committee on House Administration, witnesses
2132	2132	attending proceedings of any committee under process of the
2133	2133	committee shall be allowed the same mileage and per diem as are
2134	2134	allowed members of the committee when in a travel status, to be paid
2135	2135	out of the contingent expense fund of the house of representatives
2136	2136	on vouchers approved by the chair of the committee, the chair of the
2137	2137	Committee on House Administration, and the speaker of the house.
2138	2138	Sec. 23. POWER TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE OF STATE AGENCIES.
2139	2139	Each committee is authorized to request the assistance, when
2140	2140	needed, of all state departments, agencies, and offices, and it
2141	2141	shall be the duty of the departments, agencies, and offices to
2142	2142	assist the committee when requested to do so. Each committee shall
2143	2143	have the power and authority to inspect the records, documents, and
2144	2144	files of every state department, agency, and office, to the extent
2145	2145	necessary to the discharge of its duties within the area of its
2146	2146	jurisdiction.
2147	2147	Sec. 23A. ASSISTANCE OF OTHER MEMBERS OF LEGISLATURE. At a
2148	2148	meeting of a committee, the chair may recognize a member of the
2149	2149	house who is not a member of the committee to provide information to
2150	2150	the committee, and may recognize a member of the senate for that
2151	2151	purpose. Recognition is solely within the discretion of the chair
2152	2152	and is not subject to appeal by that member.
2153	2153	CHAPTER C. COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS
2154	2154	Sec. 24. INTERIM STUDIES AND HEARINGS. (a) Standing
2155	2155	committees, en banc or by subcommittees, and permanent standing
2156	2156	subcommittees are hereby authorized to conduct studies that are
2157	2157	authorized by the speaker pursuant to Rule 1, Section 17. Studies
2158	2158	may not be authorized by resolution. The speaker may appoint public
2159	2159	citizens and officials of state and local governments to standing
2160	2160	committees to augment the membership for the purpose of interim
2161	2161	studies and shall provide a list of such appointments to the chief
2162	2162	clerk. The chair of the standing committee shall have authority to
2163	2163	name the subcommittees necessary and desirable for the conduct of
2164	2164	the interim studies authorized to be conducted by the committee and
2165	2165	shall also prepare a budget for interim studies for approval by the
2166	2166	Committee on House Administration.
2167	2167	(b) The Committee on Appropriations shall hold one or more
2168	2168	public hearings to examine the requests for legislative
2169	2169	appropriations submitted by each major state agency and institution
2170	2170	of higher education under Section 322.007, Government Code, and any
2171	2171	other law, to the Legislative Budget Board following sine die
2172	2172	adjournment of the regular session. The committee may require the
2173	2173	head or any employee of an agency or institution submitting a
2174	2174	request to appear at a public hearing and present information about
2175	2175	the request. A subcommittee may perform the committee's duties
2176	2176	under this subsection as determined by the chair of the committee.
2177	2177	As used in this subsection, "major state agency" means an agency for
2178	2178	which the most recent general appropriations act made an
2179	2179	appropriation in the amount of $40 million or more.
2180	2180	Sec. 25. MOTION PREVENTING REPORTING OR PLACEMENT ON A
2181	2181	CALENDAR. No motion is in order in a committee considering a bill,
2182	2182	resolution, or other matter that would prevent the committee from
2183	2183	reporting it back to the house or placing it on a calendar in
2184	2184	accordance with the Rules of the House.
2185	2185	Sec. 26. FINAL ACTION IN FORM OF REPORT. No action by a
2186	2186	committee on bills or resolutions referred to it shall be
2187	2187	considered as final unless it is in the form of a favorable report,
2188	2188	an unfavorable report, or a report of inability to recommend a
2189	2189	course of action.
2190	2190	Sec. 27. VOTE ON MOTION TO REPORT. Motions made in
2191	2191	committee to report favorably or unfavorably must receive
2192	2192	affirmative majority votes, majority negative votes to either
2193	2193	motion being insufficient to report. If a committee is unable to
2194	2194	agree on a recommendation for action, as in the case of a tie vote,
2195	2195	it should submit a statement of this fact as its report, and the
2196	2196	house shall decide, by a majority vote, the disposition of the
2197	2197	matter by one of the following alternatives:
2198	2198	(1) leave the bill in the committee for further
2199	2199	consideration;
2200	2200	(2) refer the bill to some other committee; or
2201	2201	(3) order the bill printed, in which case the bill
2202	2202	shall go to the Committee on Calendars for placement on a calendar
2203	2203	and for proposal of an appropriate rule for house consideration.
2204	2204	Sec. 28. MINORITY REPORTS. The report of a minority of a
2205	2205	committee shall be made in the same general form as a majority
2206	2206	report. No minority report shall be recognized by the house unless
2207	2207	it has been signed by not less than 4 members of a committee
2208	2208	consisting of 21 or more members, 3 members of a committee
2209	2209	consisting of less than 21 members and more than 10 members, or 2
2210	2210	members of a committee consisting of 10 or less members. Only
2211	2211	members who were present when the vote was taken on the bill,
2212	2212	resolution, or other matter being reported, and who voted on the
2213	2213	losing side, may sign a minority report. Notice of intention to
2214	2214	file a minority report shall be given to the assembled committee
2215	2215	after the vote on the bill, resolution, or other matter, and before
2216	2216	the recess or adjournment of the committee, provided ample
2217	2217	opportunity is afforded for the giving of notice; otherwise, notice
2218	2218	may be given in writing to the chief clerk within 24 hours after the
2219	2219	recess or adjournment of the committee.
2220	2220	Sec. 29. ACTION ON BILLS REPORTED UNFAVORABLY. If the
2221	2221	majority report on a bill is unfavorable, and a favorable minority
2222	2222	report is not signed in accordance with Section 28 of this rule and
2223	2223	filed with the chief clerk within two calendar days, exclusive of
2224	2224	Sunday and the date of committee action, the chief clerk shall file
2225	2225	the bill away as dead; except during the last 15 calendar days of a
2226	2226	regular session, or the last 7 calendar days of a special session,
2227	2227	when the chief clerk shall hold a bill only one calendar day,
2228	2228	exclusive of Sunday and the date of committee action, awaiting the
2229	2229	filing of a minority report before the bill is filed away as dead.
2230	2230	If the favorable minority report is properly signed and filed, the
2231	2231	chief clerk shall hold the bill for five legislative days,
2232	2232	exclusive of the legislative day in which the minority report was
2233	2233	filed, awaiting adoption by the house of a motion to print the bill
2234	2234	on minority report. If the motion to print is carried, the bill
2235	2235	shall be printed as if it had been reported favorably, and shall
2236	2236	then be immediately forwarded to the Committee on Calendars for
2237	2237	placement on a calendar and for proposal of an appropriate rule for
2238	2238	house consideration. If a motion to print a bill on minority report
2239	2239	is not made within the five legislative days authorized above, the
2240	2240	chief clerk shall file the bill away as dead. It shall not be in
2241	2241	order to move to recommit a bill adversely reported with no minority
2242	2242	report, except as provided in Section 30 of this rule. A two-thirds
2243	2243	vote of the house shall be required to print on minority report a
2244	2244	joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of
2245	2245	Texas.
2246	2246	Sec. 30. MAKING ADVERSE REPORTS WITHOUT HEARING THE
2247	2247	AUTHOR. No adverse report shall be made on any bill or resolution
2248	2248	by any committee without first giving the author or sponsor of the
2249	2249	bill an opportunity to be heard. If it becomes evident to the house
2250	2250	that a bill has been reported adversely without the author or
2251	2251	sponsor having had an opportunity to be heard as provided in this
2252	2252	section, the house may, by a majority vote, order the bill
2253	2253	recommitted even though no minority report was filed in the manner
2254	2254	prescribed by the rules. This provision shall have precedence over
2255	2255	Rule 7, Section 20.
2256	2256	Sec. 31. ADVERSE REPORTS ON LOCAL BILLS. If a local bill is
2257	2257	reported adversely, it shall be subject to the same rules that
2258	2258	govern other bills reported adversely.
2259	2259	Sec. 32. FORM OF REPORTS. (a) Reports of standing
2260	2260	committees on bills and resolutions shall be made in duplicate,
2261	2261	with one copy to be filed with the journal clerk for printing in the
2262	2262	journal and the other to accompany the original bill.
2263	2263	(b) All committee reports must be in writing and shall:
2264	2264	(1) be signed by the chair, or the member acting as
2265	2265	chair, or a majority of the membership of the committee;
2266	2266	(2) be addressed to the speaker;
2267	2267	(3) contain a statement of the recommendations of the
2268	2268	committee with reference to the matter which is the subject of the
2269	2269	report;
2270	2270	(4) contain the date the committee made its
2271	2271	recommendation;
2272	2272	(5) indicate whether a copy of a bill or resolution was
2273	2273	forwarded to the Legislative Budget Board for preparation of a
2274	2274	fiscal note or other impact statement, if applicable;
2275	2275	(6) contain the record vote by which the report was
2276	2276	adopted, including the vote of each member of the committee;
2277	2277	(7) contain the recommendation that the bill or
2278	2278	resolution be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars
2279	2279	for placement on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar if
2280	2280	applicable;
2281	2281	(8) state the name of the primary house sponsor of all
2282	2282	senate bills and resolutions and indicate the names of all joint
2283	2283	sponsors or cosponsors;
2284	2284	(9) include a summary of the committee hearing on the
2285	2285	bill or resolution;
2286	2286	(10) include a list of the names of the persons, other
2287	2287	than members of the legislature, and persons or entities
2288	2288	represented by those persons, who submitted to the committee sworn
2289	2289	statements indicating that the persons were present in favor of, in
2290	2290	opposition to, or without taking a position on the bill or
2291	2291	resolution. The omission from the list of the name of a person who
2292	2292	submitted a sworn statement regarding a bill or resolution but who
2293	2293	was not recognized by the chair to address the committee is not
2294	2294	subject to a point of order;
2295	2295	(11) for a joint resolution proposing a constitutional
2296	2296	amendment, include the bill number of any enabling legislation for
2297	2297	the constitutional amendment designated as such by the author or
2298	2298	sponsor of the joint resolution;
2299	2299	(12) for a bill that is designated by the author or
2300	2300	sponsor of the bill as enabling legislation for a constitutional
2301	2301	amendment proposed by a joint resolution, include the number of the
2302	2302	joint resolution; and
2303	2303	(13) contain a copy of each form executed by a
2304	2304	translator for a witness as required by Section 20(h) of this rule.
2305	2305	(c) Except for the general appropriations bill, each
2306	2306	committee report on a bill or joint resolution, including a
2307	2307	complete committee substitute, and, to the extent considered
2308	2308	necessary by the committee, a committee report on any other
2309	2309	resolution, must include in summary or section-by-section form a
2310	2310	detailed analysis of the subject matter of the bill or resolution,
2311	2311	specifically including:
2312	2312	(1) background information on the proposal and
2313	2313	information on what the bill or resolution proposes to do;
2314	2314	(2) an analysis of the content of the bill or
2315	2315	resolution, including a separate statement that lists each statute
2316	2316	or constitutional provision that is expressly repealed by the bill
2317	2317	or resolution;
2318	2318	(3) a statement indicating whether or not any
2319	2319	rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to a state officer,
2320	2320	department, agency, or institution, and, if so, identifying the
2321	2321	sections of the measure in which that rulemaking authority is
2322	2322	delegated;
2323	2323	(4) a statement indicating whether or not the bill or
2324	2324	resolution expressly creates a criminal offense, expressly
2325	2325	increases the punishment for an existing criminal offense or
2326	2326	category of offenses, or expressly changes the eligibility of a
2327	2327	person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory
2328	2328	supervision;
2329	2329	(5) a statement of substantial differences between a
2330	2330	complete committee substitute and the original bill; and
2331	2331	(6) a brief explanation of each amendment adopted by
2332	2332	the committee.
2333	2333	(d) The committee to which the bill or resolution is
2334	2334	referred may request the Texas Legislative Council to prepare the
2335	2335	analysis required by Subsection (c) of this section.
2336	2336	(e) A committee chair shall provide to the author of a house
2337	2337	measure a copy of the analysis required by Subsection (c) of this
2338	2338	section as soon as the analysis is complete.
2339	2339	(f) The author of a bill or resolution may request that an
2340	2340	analysis prepared for purposes of this section include a statement
2341	2341	written by the author that includes any additional information that
2342	2342	the author considers appropriate.
2343	2343	(g) It shall be the duty of the committee chair, on all
2344	2344	matters reported by the committee, to see that all provisions of
2345	2345	Rule 12 are satisfied. The chair shall strictly construe this
2346	2346	provision to achieve the desired purposes.
2347	2347	Sec. 33. FISCAL NOTES. (a) If the chair of a standing
2348	2348	committee determines that a bill or joint resolution, other than
2349	2349	the general appropriations bill, authorizes or requires the
2350	2350	expenditure or diversion of state funds for any purpose, the chair
2351	2351	shall send a copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget Board for
2352	2352	the preparation of a fiscal note outlining the fiscal implications
2353	2353	and probable cost of the measure.
2354	2354	(b) If the chair of a standing committee determines that a
2355	2355	bill or joint resolution has statewide impact on units of local
2356	2356	government of the same type or class and authorizes or requires the
2357	2357	expenditure or diversion of local funds, or creates or impacts a
2358	2358	local tax, fee, license charge, or penalty, the chair shall send a
2359	2359	copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget Board for the
2360	2360	preparation of a fiscal note outlining the fiscal implications and
2361	2361	probable cost of the measure.
2362	2362	(c) In preparing a fiscal note, the director of the
2363	2363	Legislative Budget Board may utilize information or data supplied
2364	2364	by any person, agency, organization, or governmental unit that the
2365	2365	director deems reliable. If the director determines that the fiscal
2366	2366	implications of the measure cannot be ascertained, the director
2367	2367	shall so state in the fiscal note, shall when reasonably
2368	2368	ascertainable provide an estimated range of the fiscal
2369	2369	implications, and shall include in the note a statement of the
2370	2370	reasons the director is unable to ascertain the fiscal implications
2371	2371	of the measure, in which case the fiscal note shall be in full
2372	2372	compliance with the rules. If the director of the Legislative
2373	2373	Budget Board is unable to acquire or develop sufficient information
2374	2374	to prepare the fiscal note within 15 days of receiving the measure
2375	2375	from the chair of a committee, the director shall so state in the
2376	2376	fiscal note, shall when reasonably ascertainable provide an
2377	2377	estimated range of the fiscal implications, and shall include in
2378	2378	the note a statement of the reasons the director is unable to
2379	2379	acquire or develop sufficient information, in which case the note
2380	2380	shall be in full compliance with the rules.
2381	2381	(d) If the chair determines that a fiscal note is required,
2382	2382	copies of the fiscal note must be distributed to the members of the
2383	2383	committee not later than the first time the measure is laid out in a
2384	2384	committee meeting. The fiscal note shall be attached to the measure
2385	2385	on first printing. If the measure is amended by the committee so as
2386	2386	to alter its fiscal implications, the chair shall obtain an updated
2387	2387	fiscal note, which shall also be attached to the measure on first
2388	2388	printing.
2389	2389	(e) All fiscal notes shall remain with the measure
2390	2390	throughout the entire legislative process, including submission to
2391	2391	the governor.
2392	2392	(f) All fiscal notes must include in the summary box on the
2393	2393	first page of the fiscal note a statement that indicates whether the
2394	2394	bill or joint resolution will have fiscal implications or probable
2395	2395	costs in any year.
2396	2396	Sec. 34. OTHER IMPACT STATEMENTS. (a) It is the intent of
2397	2397	this section that all members of the house are timely informed as to
2398	2398	the impact of proposed legislation on the state or other unit of
2399	2399	government.
2400	2400	(a-1) The chair of the appropriations committee shall send a
2401	2401	copy of the general appropriations bill to the Legislative Budget
2402	2402	Board for the preparation of a dynamic economic impact statement,
2403	2403	specifically including the number of state employees to be affected
2404	2404	and the estimated impact on employment by the private sector and
2405	2405	local governments in Texas as a result of any change in state
2406	2406	expenditures made by the bill as compared to the biennium preceding
2407	2407	the biennium to which the bill applies.
2408	2408	(b) If the chair of a standing committee determines that a
2409	2409	bill or joint resolution:
2410	2410	(1) authorizes or requires a change in the sanctions
2411	2411	applicable to adults convicted of felony crimes, the chair shall
2412	2412	send a copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget Board for the
2413	2413	preparation of a criminal justice policy impact statement;
2414	2414	(2) authorizes or requires a change in the public
2415	2415	school finance system, the chair shall send a copy of the measure to
2416	2416	the Legislative Budget Board for the preparation of an equalized
2417	2417	education funding impact statement;
2418	2418	(3) proposes to change benefits or participation in
2419	2419	benefits of a public retirement system or change the financial
2420	2420	obligations of a public retirement system, the chair shall send a
2421	2421	copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget Board for the
2422	2422	preparation of an actuarial impact statement in cooperation with
2423	2423	the State Pension Review Board;
2424	2424	(4) proposes to create a water district under the
2425	2425	authority of Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution,
2426	2426	the chair shall send a copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget
2427	2427	Board for the preparation of a water development policy impact
2428	2428	statement; or
2429	2429	(5) creates or impacts a state tax or fee, the chair
2430	2430	shall send a copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget Board for
2431	2431	the preparation of a tax equity note that estimates the general
2432	2432	effects of the proposal on the distribution of tax and fee burdens
2433	2433	among individuals and businesses.
2434	2434	(c) In preparing an impact statement, the director of the
2435	2435	Legislative Budget Board may utilize information or data supplied
2436	2436	by any person, agency, organization, or governmental unit that the
2437	2437	director deems reliable. If the director determines that the
2438	2438	particular implications of the measure cannot be ascertained, the
2439	2439	director shall so state in the impact statement, in which case the
2440	2440	impact statement shall be in full compliance with the rules.
2441	2441	(d) An impact statement is not required to be present before
2442	2442	a measure is laid out in a committee meeting. If timely received,
2443	2443	the impact statement shall be attached to the measure on first
2444	2444	printing. If the measure is amended by the committee so as to alter
2445	2445	its particular implications, the chair shall obtain an updated
2446	2446	impact statement. If timely received, the updated impact statement
2447	2447	shall also be attached to the measure on first printing.
2448	2448	(e) An impact statement that is received after the first
2449	2449	printing of a measure has been distributed to the members shall be
2450	2450	forwarded by the chair of the committee to the committee
2451	2451	coordinator. The committee coordinator shall have the impact
2452	2452	statement printed and distributed to the members.
2453	2453	(f) All impact statements received shall remain with the
2454	2454	measure throughout the entire legislative process, including
2455	2455	submission to the governor.
2456	2456	Sec. 35. REPORTS ON HOUSE AND CONCURRENT
2457	2457	RESOLUTIONS. Committee reports on house and concurrent
2458	2458	resolutions shall be made in the same manner and shall follow the
2459	2459	same procedure as provided for bills, subject to any differences
2460	2460	otherwise authorized or directed by the rules.
2461	2461	Sec. 36. ACTION BY HOUSE ON REPORTS NOT REQUIRED. No
2462	2462	action by the house is necessary on the report of a standing
2463	2463	committee. The bill, resolution, or proposition recommended or
2464	2464	reported by the committee shall automatically be before the house
2465	2465	for its consideration after the bill or resolution has been
2466	2466	referred to the appropriate calendars committee for placement on a
2467	2467	calendar and for proposal of an appropriate rule for house
2468	2468	consideration.
2469	2469	Sec. 37. REFERRAL OF REPORTS TO COMMITTEE COORDINATOR. All
2470	2470	committee reports on bills or resolutions shall be immediately
2471	2471	referred to the committee coordinator. The chair of the committee
2472	2472	shall be responsible for delivery of the report to the committee
2473	2473	coordinator.
2474	2474	Sec. 38. DELIVERY OF REPORTS TO CALENDARS
2475	2475	COMMITTEES. After printing, the chief clerk shall be responsible
2476	2476	for delivery of a certified copy of the committee report to the
2477	2477	appropriate calendars committee, which committee shall immediately
2478	2478	accept the bill or resolution for placement on a calendar and for
2479	2479	the proposal of an appropriate rule for house consideration.
2480	2480	Sec. 38A. NOTIFICATION OF SUNSET BILLS. The chief clerk
2481	2481	shall provide notice to each member at the member's designated
2482	2482	Capitol e-mail address when a committee report under Section 38 of
2483	2483	this rule on a bill extending an agency, commission, or advisory
2484	2484	committee under the Texas Sunset Act has been printed or posted and
2485	2485	is available to be distributed to the appropriate calendars
2486	2486	committee.
2487	2487	Sec. 39. COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS. No committee shall have the
2488	2488	power to amend, delete, or change in any way the nature, purpose, or
2489	2489	content of any bill or resolution referred to it, but may draft and
2490	2490	recommend amendments to it, which shall become effective only if
2491	2491	adopted by a majority vote of the house.
2492	2492	Sec. 40. SUBSTITUTES. The committee may adopt and report a
2493	2493	complete germane committee substitute containing the title,
2494	2494	enacting clause, and text of the bill in lieu of an original bill,
2495	2495	in which event the complete substitute bill on committee report
2496	2496	shall be laid before the house and shall be the matter then before
2497	2497	the house for its consideration, instead of the original bill. If
2498	2498	the substitute bill is defeated at any legislative stage, the bill
2499	2499	is considered not passed.
2500	2500	Sec. 41. GERMANENESS OF SUBSTITUTE. If a point of order is
2501	2501	raised that a complete committee substitute is not germane, in
2502	2502	whole or in part, and the point of order is sustained, the committee
2503	2503	substitute shall be returned to the Committee on Calendars, which
2504	2504	may have the original bill printed and distributed and placed on a
2505	2505	calendar in lieu of the substitute or may return the original bill
2506	2506	to the committee from which it was reported for further action.
2507	2507	Sec. 42. AUTHOR'S RIGHT TO OFFER AMENDMENTS TO
2508	2508	REPORT. Should the author or sponsor of the bill, resolution, or
2509	2509	other proposal not be satisfied with the final recommendation or
2510	2510	form of the committee report, the member shall have the privilege of
2511	2511	offering on the floor of the house such amendments or changes as he
2512	2512	or she considers necessary and desirable, and those amendments or
2513	2513	changes shall be given priority during the periods of time when
2514	2514	original amendments are in order under the provisions of Rule 11,
2515	2515	Section 7.
2516	2516	CHAPTER D. SUBCOMMITTEES
2517	2517	Sec. 43. JURISDICTION. Each committee is authorized to
2518	2518	conduct its activities and perform its work through the use of
2519	2519	subcommittees as shall be appointed by the speaker under these
2520	2520	rules or as determined by the chair of the committee. Subcommittees
2521	2521	appointed by the chair of the committee shall be created,
2522	2522	organized, and operated in such a way that the subject matter and
2523	2523	work area of each subcommittee shall be homogeneous and shall
2524	2524	pertain to related governmental activities. The size and
2525	2525	jurisdiction of each subcommittee, other than a permanent standing
2526	2526	subcommittee, shall be determined by the chair of the committee.
2527	2527	Sec. 44. MEMBERSHIP. The chair of each standing committee
2528	2528	shall appoint from the membership of the committee the members who
2529	2529	are to serve on each subcommittee, other than a permanent standing
2530	2530	subcommittee. Any vacancy on a subcommittee shall be filled by
2531	2531	appointment of the appointing authority [chair of the standing
2532	2532	committee]. The chair and vice-chair of each subcommittee, other
2533	2533	than a permanent standing subcommittee, shall be named by the chair
2534	2534	of the committee.
2535	2535	Sec. 45. RULES GOVERNING OPERATIONS. The Rules of
2536	2536	Procedure of the House of Representatives, to the extent
2537	2537	applicable, shall govern the hearings and operations of each
2538	2538	subcommittee. Subject to the foregoing, and to the extent
2539	2539	necessary for orderly transaction of business, each subcommittee
2540	2540	may promulgate and adopt additional rules and procedures by which
2541	2541	it will function.
2542	2542	Sec. 46. QUORUM. A majority of a subcommittee shall
2543	2543	constitute a quorum, and no action or recommendation of a
2544	2544	subcommittee shall be valid unless taken at a meeting with a quorum
2545	2545	actually present. All reports of a subcommittee must be approved by
2546	2546	record vote by a majority of the membership of the subcommittee.
2547	2547	Minutes of the subcommittee shall be maintained in a manner similar
2548	2548	to that required by the rules for standing committees. Proxies
2549	2549	cannot be used in subcommittees.
2550	2550	Sec. 47. POWER AND AUTHORITY. Each subcommittee, within
2551	2551	the area of its jurisdiction, shall have all of the power,
2552	2552	authority, and rights granted by the Rules of Procedure of the House
2553	2553	of Representatives to the standing committee, except subpoena
2554	2554	power, to the extent necessary to discharge the duties and
2555	2555	responsibilities of the subcommittee.
2556	2556	Sec. 48. REFERRAL OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO SUBCOMMITTEE.
2557	2557	All bills and resolutions referred directly to a standing committee
2558	2558	shall be reviewed by the chair to determine appropriate disposition
2559	2559	of the bills and resolutions. All bills and resolutions referred
2560	2560	directly to a standing committee shall be considered by the entire
2561	2561	standing committee unless the chair of that standing committee
2562	2562	determines to refer those [the] bills and resolutions to a
2563	2563	subcommittee. If a bill or resolution is referred by the chair of
2564	2564	the standing committee to a subcommittee, it shall be considered by
2565	2565	the subcommittee in the same form in which the measure was referred
2566	2566	to the standing committee, and any action taken by the standing
2567	2567	committee on a proposed amendment or committee substitute before a
2568	2568	measure is referred to subcommittee is therefore voided at the time
2569	2569	the measure is referred to subcommittee. The subcommittee shall be
2570	2570	charged with the duty and responsibility of conducting the hearing,
2571	2571	doing research, and performing such other functions as the
2572	2572	subcommittee or its parent standing committee may determine. All
2573	2573	meetings of the subcommittee shall be scheduled by the subcommittee
2574	2574	chair, with appropriate public notice and notification of each
2575	2575	member of the subcommittee under the same rules of procedure as
2576	2576	govern the conduct of the standing committee.
2577	2577	Sec. 49. REPORT BY SUBCOMMITTEE. At the conclusion of its
2578	2578	deliberations on a bill, resolution, or other matter referred to
2579	2579	it, the subcommittee may prepare a written report, comprehensive
2580	2580	in nature, for submission to the full committee. The report shall
2581	2581	include background material as well as recommended action and shall
2582	2582	be accompanied by a complete draft of the bill, resolution, or other
2583	2583	proposal in such form as the subcommittee shall determine.
2584	2584	Sec. 50. ACTION ON SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS. Subcommittee
2585	2585	reports shall be directed to the chair of the committee, who shall
2586	2586	schedule meetings of the standing committee from time to time as
2587	2587	necessary and appropriate for the reception of subcommittee reports
2588	2588	and for action on reports by the standing committee. No
2589	2589	subcommittee report shall be scheduled for action by the standing
2590	2590	committee until at least 24 hours after a copy of the subcommittee
2591	2591	report is provided to each member of the standing committee.
2592	2592	CHAPTER E. COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE HOUSE
2593	2593	Sec. 51. RESOLUTION INTO A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
2594	2594	HOUSE. The house may resolve itself into a committee of the whole
2595	2595	house to consider any matter referred to it by the house. In
2596	2596	forming a committee of the whole house, the speaker shall vacate the
2597	2597	chair and shall appoint a chair to preside in committee.
2598	2598	Sec. 52. RULES GOVERNING OPERATIONS. The rules governing
2599	2599	the proceedings of the house and those governing committees shall
2600	2600	be observed in committees of the whole, to the extent that they are
2601	2601	applicable.
2602	2602	Sec. 53. MOTION FOR A CALL OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE
2603	2603	WHOLE. (a) It shall be in order to move a call of the committee of
2604	2604	the whole at any time to secure and maintain a quorum for the
2605	2605	following purposes:
2606	2606	(1) for the consideration of a certain or specific
2607	2607	matter; or
2608	2608	(2) for a definite period of time; or
2609	2609	(3) for the consideration of any designated class of
2610	2610	bills.
2611	2611	(b) When a call of the committee of the whole is moved and
2612	2612	seconded by 10 members, of whom the chair may be one, and is ordered
2613	2613	by majority vote, the main entrance of the hall and all other doors
2614	2614	leading out of the hall shall be locked, and no member shall be
2615	2615	permitted to leave the hall without written permission. Other
2616	2616	proceedings under a call of the committee shall be the same as under
2617	2617	a call of the house.
2618	2618	Sec. 54. HANDLING OF A BILL. A bill committed to a
2619	2619	committee of the whole house shall be handled in the same manner as
2620	2620	in any other committee. The body of the bill shall not be defaced or
2621	2621	interlined, but all amendments shall be duly endorsed by the chief
2622	2622	clerk as they are adopted by the committee, and so reported to the
2623	2623	house. When a bill is reported by the committee of the whole house
2624	2624	it shall be referred immediately to the appropriate calendars
2625	2625	committee for placement on the appropriate calendar and shall
2626	2626	follow the same procedure as any other bill on committee report.
2627	2627	Sec. 55. FAILURE TO COMPLETE WORK AT ANY SITTING. In the
2628	2628	event that the committee of the whole, at any sitting, fails to
2629	2629	complete its work on any bill or resolution under consideration for
2630	2630	lack of time, or desires to take any action on that measure that is
2631	2631	permitted under the rules for other committees, it may, on a motion
2632	2632	made and adopted by majority vote, rise, report progress, and ask
2633	2633	leave of the house to sit again generally, or at a time certain.
2634	2634	CHAPTER F. SELECT AND INTERIM STUDY COMMITTEES
2635	2635	Sec. 56. REPORTS OF SELECT COMMITTEES. Reports of select
2636	2636	committees made during a session shall be filed with the chief clerk
2637	2637	and printed in the journal, unless otherwise determined by the
2638	2638	house.
2639	2639	Sec. 57. INTERIM STUDIES. Pursuant to Rule 1, Section 17,
2640	2640	the speaker may create interim study committees to conduct studies
2641	2641	by issuing a proclamation for each committee, which shall specify
2642	2642	the issue to be studied, committee membership, and any additional
2643	2643	authority and duties. A copy of each proclamation creating an
2644	2644	interim study committee shall be filed with the chief clerk. An
2645	2645	interim study committee expires on release of its final report or
2646	2646	when the next legislature convenes, whichever is earlier. An
2647	2647	interim study committee may not be created by resolution.
2648	2648	Sec. 58. APPOINTMENT AND MEMBERSHIP. The speaker shall
2649	2649	appoint all members of an interim study committee, which may
2650	2650	include public citizens and officials of state and local
2651	2651	governments. The speaker shall also designate the chair and
2652	2652	vice-chair and may authorize the chair to create subcommittees and
2653	2653	appoint citizen advisory committees.
2654	2654	Sec. 59. RULES GOVERNING OPERATIONS. The rules governing
2655	2655	the proceedings of the house and those governing standing
2656	2656	committees shall be observed by an interim study committee, to the
2657	2657	extent that they are applicable. An interim study committee shall
2658	2658	have the power to issue process and to request assistance of state
2659	2659	agencies as provided for a standing committee in Sections 21, 22,
2660	2660	and 23 of this rule.
2661	2661	Sec. 60. FUNDING AND STAFF. An interim study committee
2662	2662	shall use existing staff resources of its members, standing
2663	2663	committees, house offices, and legislative service agencies. The
2664	2664	chair of an interim study committee shall prepare a detailed budget
2665	2665	for approval by the speaker and the Committee on House
2666	2666	Administration. An interim study committee may accept gifts,
2667	2667	grants, and donations for the purpose of funding its activities as
2668	2668	provided by Sections 301.032(b) and (c), Government Code.
2669	2669	Sec. 61. STUDY REPORTS. (a) The final report or
2670	2670	recommendations of an interim study committee shall be approved by
2671	2671	a majority of the committee membership. Dissenting members may
2672	2672	attach statements to the final report.
2673	2673	(b) An interim study committee shall submit the committee's
2674	2674	final report to the committee coordinator in the manner prescribed
2675	2675	by the committee coordinator. The committee coordinator shall:
2676	2676	(1) distribute copies of the final report to the
2677	2677	speaker, the Legislative Reference Library, and other appropriate
2678	2678	agencies; and
2679	2679	(2) make a copy of the final report available on the
2680	2680	house's Internet website.
2681	2681	(c) This section shall also apply to interim study reports
2682	2682	of standing committees.
2683	2683	Sec. 62. JOINT HOUSE AND SENATE INTERIM
2684	2684	STUDIES. Procedures may be established by a concurrent resolution
2685	2685	adopted by both houses, by which the speaker may authorize and
2686	2686	appoint, jointly with the senate, committees to conduct interim
2687	2687	studies. A copy of the authorization for and the appointments to a
2688	2688	joint interim study committee shall be filed with the chief clerk.
2689	2689	Individual joint interim study committees may not be authorized or
2690	2690	created by resolution.
2691	2691	RULE 5. FLOOR PROCEDURE
2692	2692	CHAPTER A. QUORUM AND ATTENDANCE
2693	2693	Sec. 1. QUORUM. Two-thirds of the house shall constitute a
2694	2694	quorum to do business.
2695	2695	Sec. 2. ROLL CALLS. On every roll call or registration,
2696	2696	the names of the members shall be called or listed, as the case may
2697	2697	be, alphabetically by surname, except when two or more have the same
2698	2698	surname, in which case the initials of the members shall be added.
2699	2699	Sec. 3. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. (a) No member shall be absent
2700	2700	from the sessions of the house without leave, and no member shall be
2701	2701	excused on his or her own motion.
2702	2702	(b) A leave of absence may be granted by a majority vote of
2703	2703	the house and may be revoked at any time by a similar vote.
2704	2704	(c) Any member granted a leave of absence due to a meeting of
2705	2705	a committee or conference committee that has authority to meet
2706	2706	while the house is in session shall be so designated on each roll
2707	2707	call or registration for which that member is excused.
2708	2708	(d) If a member is absent without leave for the purpose of
2709	2709	impeding the action of the house, the member is subject to one or
2710	2710	more of the following:
2711	2711	(1) fines as provided by this section;
2712	2712	(2) payment of costs incurred by the sergeant-at-arms;
2713	2713	(3) reprimand;
2714	2714	(4) censure; or
2715	2715	(5) expulsion in the manner prescribed by Section 11,
2716	2716	Article III, Texas Constitution.
2717	2717	(e) Unless the house excuses the payment by a majority vote,
2718	2718	each member who is absent without leave is liable to the house for:
2719	2719	(1) a fine in the amount of $500 for each calendar day
2720	2720	of absence; and
2721	2721	(2) the member's pro rata share of the costs incurred
2722	2722	by the sergeant-at-arms to secure the attendance of absentees.
2723	2723	(f) The Committee on House Administration shall notify a
2724	2724	member of the total amount of fines and costs for which payment is
2725	2725	not excused. A member must pay the amount stated in the committee's
2726	2726	notice by making payment of that amount to the House Business
2727	2727	Office not later than the third business day of the first calendar
2728	2728	month after the date of the committee's notice. A member may not
2729	2729	make any payment from funds in the member's operating account or
2730	2730	from funds accepted as political contributions under Title 15,
2731	2731	Election Code. If a member does not make full payment as required
2732	2732	by this subsection, the committee shall direct the House Business
2733	2733	Office to reduce the amount of the monthly credit to the member's
2734	2734	operating account established under the housekeeping resolution by
2735	2735	30 percent in each month that any amount of a fine remains past due
2736	2736	and owing. When a member has made full payment as required by this
2737	2737	subsection, the committee shall direct the House Business Office
2738	2738	to restore the impounded funds to the member's operating account
2739	2739	subject to any limitations on the carrying forward of unexpended
2740	2740	funds established by the housekeeping resolution.
2741	2741	(g) Before a member is expelled under this section, the
2742	2742	matter shall be referred to the Committee on House Administration
2743	2743	for investigation and report. A report issued under this
2744	2744	subsection shall not be considered by the house until a printed copy
2745	2745	of the report has been provided to each member of the house at least
2746	2746	24 hours before consideration.
2747	2747	Sec. 4. FAILURE TO ANSWER ROLL CALL. Any member who is
2748	2748	present and fails or refuses to record on a roll call after being
2749	2749	requested to do so by the speaker shall be recorded as present by
2750	2750	the speaker and shall be counted for the purpose of making a quorum.
2751	2751	Sec. 5. POINT OF ORDER OF "NO QUORUM." (a) The point of
2752	2752	order of "No Quorum" shall not be accepted by the chair if the last
2753	2753	roll call showed the presence of a quorum, provided the last roll
2754	2754	call was taken within two hours of the time the point of order is
2755	2755	raised.
2756	2756	(b) If the last roll call was taken more than two hours
2757	2757	before the point of order is raised, it shall be in order for the
2758	2758	member who raised the point of order to request a roll call. Such a
2759	2759	request must be seconded by 25 members. If the request for a roll
2760	2760	call is properly seconded, the chair shall order a roll call.
2761	2761	(c) Once a point of order has been made that a quorum is not
2762	2762	present, it may not be withdrawn after the absence of a quorum has
2763	2763	been ascertained and announced.
2764	2764	Sec. 6. MOTIONS IN ORDER WHEN QUORUM NOT PRESENT. If a
2765	2765	registration or record vote reveals that a quorum is not present,
2766	2766	only a motion to adjourn or a motion for a call of the house and the
2767	2767	motions incidental thereto shall be in order.
2768	2768	Sec. 7. MOTION FOR CALL OF THE HOUSE. It shall be in order
2769	2769	to move a call of the house at any time to secure and maintain a
2770	2770	quorum for one of the following purposes:
2771	2771	(1) for the consideration of a specific bill,
2772	2772	resolution, motion, or other measure;
2773	2773	(2) for the consideration of any designated class of
2774	2774	bills; or
2775	2775	(3) for a definite period of time.
2776	2776	Motions for, and incidental to, a call of the house are not
2777	2777	debatable.
2778	2778	Sec. 8. SECURING A QUORUM. When a call of the house is moved
2779	2779	for one of the above purposes and seconded by 15 members (of whom
2780	2780	the speaker may be one) and ordered by a majority vote, the main
2781	2781	entrance to the hall and all other doors leading out of the hall
2782	2782	shall be locked and no member permitted to leave the house without
2783	2783	the written permission of the speaker. The names of members present
2784	2784	shall be recorded. All absentees for whom no sufficient excuse is
2785	2785	made may, by order of a majority of those present, be sent for and
2786	2786	arrested, wherever they may be found, by the sergeant-at-arms or an
2787	2787	officer appointed by the sergeant-at-arms for that purpose, and
2788	2788	their attendance shall be secured and retained. The house shall
2789	2789	determine on what conditions they shall be discharged. Members who
2790	2790	voluntarily appear shall, unless the house otherwise directs, be
2791	2791	immediately admitted to the hall of the house and shall report their
2792	2792	names to the clerk to be entered in the journal as present.
2793	2793	Until a quorum appears, should the roll call fail to show one
2794	2794	present, no business shall be transacted, except to compel the
2795	2795	attendance of absent members or to adjourn. It shall not be in
2796	2796	order to recess under a call of the house.
2797	2797	Sec. 9. FOLLOWING ACHIEVEMENT OF A QUORUM. When a quorum is
2798	2798	shown to be present, the house may proceed with the matters on which
2799	2799	the call was ordered, or may enforce the call and await the
2800	2800	attendance of as many of the absentees as it desires. When the
2801	2801	house proceeds to the business on which the call was ordered, it
2802	2802	may, by a majority vote, direct the sergeant-at-arms to cease
2803	2803	bringing in absent members.
2804	2804	Sec. 10. REPEATING A RECORD VOTE. When a record vote
2805	2805	reveals the lack of a quorum, and a call is ordered to secure one, a
2806	2806	record vote shall again be taken when the house resumes business
2807	2807	with a quorum present.
2808	2808	CHAPTER B. ADMITTANCE TO HOUSE CHAMBER
2809	2809	Sec. 11. PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE FLOOR. Only the following
2810	2810	persons shall be entitled to the privileges of the floor of the
2811	2811	house when the house is in session: members of the house; employees
2812	2812	of the house when performing their official duties as determined by
2813	2813	the Committee on House Administration; members of the senate;
2814	2814	employees of the senate when performing their official duties; the
2815	2815	Governor of Texas and the governor's chief of staff and director of
2816	2816	legislative affairs; the lieutenant governor; the secretary of
2817	2817	state; duly accredited media representatives as permitted by
2818	2818	Section 20 of this rule; contestants in election cases pending
2819	2819	before the house; and immediate families of the members of the
2820	2820	legislature on such special occasions as may be determined by the
2821	2821	Committee on House Administration.
2822	2822	Sec. 12. ADMITTANCE WITHIN THE RAILING. Only the following
2823	2823	persons shall be admitted to the area on the floor of the house
2824	2824	enclosed by the railing when the house is in session: members of the
2825	2825	house; members of the senate; the governor; the lieutenant
2826	2826	governor; officers and employees of the senate and house when those
2827	2827	officers and employees are actually engaged in performing their
2828	2828	official duties as determined by the Committee on House
2829	2829	Administration; spouses of members of the house on such occasions
2830	2830	as may be determined by the Committee on House Administration; and,
2831	2831	within the area specifically designated for media representatives,
2832	2832	duly accredited media representatives as permitted by Section 20 of
2833	2833	this rule.
2834	2834	Sec. 13. SOLICITORS AND COLLECTORS PROHIBITED. Solicitors
2835	2835	and collectors shall not be admitted to the floor of the house while
2836	2836	the house is in session.
2837	2837	Sec. 14. INVITATION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE. A motion to
2838	2838	invite a person to address the house while it is in session shall be
2839	2839	in order only if the person invited is entitled to the privileges of
2840	2840	the floor as defined by Section 11 of this rule and if no business is
2841	2841	pending before the house.
2842	2842	Sec. 15. LOBBYING ON FLOOR. No one, except the governor or
2843	2843	a member of the legislature, who is lobbying or working for or
2844	2844	against any pending or prospective legislative measure shall be
2845	2845	permitted on the floor of the house or in the adjacent rooms while
2846	2846	the house is in session.
2847	2847	Sec. 16. SUSPENSION OF FLOOR PRIVILEGES. If any person
2848	2848	admitted to the floor of the house under the rules, except the
2849	2849	governor or a member of the legislature, lobbies or works for or
2850	2850	against any pending or prospective legislation or violates any of
2851	2851	the other rules of the house, the privileges extended to that person
2852	2852	under the rules shall be suspended by a majority vote of the
2853	2853	Committee on House Administration. The action of the committee
2854	2854	shall be reviewable by the house only if two members of the
2855	2855	committee request an appeal from the decision of the committee. The
2856	2856	request shall be in the form of a minority report and shall be
2857	2857	subject to the same rules that are applicable to minority reports on
2858	2858	bills. Suspension shall remain in force until the accused person
2859	2859	purges himself or herself and comes within the rules, or until the
2860	2860	house, by majority vote, reverses the action of the committee.
2861	2861	Sec. 17. MEMBERS' LOUNGE PRIVILEGES. Only the following
2862	2862	persons shall be admitted to the members' lounge at any
2863	2863	time: members of the house; members of the senate; and former
2864	2864	members of the house and senate who are not engaged in any form of
2865	2865	employment requiring them to lobby or work for or against any
2866	2866	pending or prospective legislative measures.
2867	2867	Sec. 18. FLOOR DUTIES OF HOUSE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES. It
2868	2868	shall be the duty of the Committee on House Administration to
2869	2869	determine what duties are to be discharged by officers and
2870	2870	employees of the house on the floor of the house, specifically in
2871	2871	the area enclosed by the railing, when the house is in session. It
2872	2872	shall be the duty of the speaker to see that the officers and
2873	2873	employees do not violate the regulations promulgated by the
2874	2874	Committee on House Administration.
2875	2875	Sec. 19. PROPER DECORUM. No person shall be admitted to,
2876	2876	or allowed to remain in, the house chamber while the house is in
2877	2877	session unless properly attired, and all gentlemen shall wear a
2878	2878	coat and tie. Food or beverage shall not be permitted in the house
2879	2879	chamber at any time, and no person carrying food or beverage shall
2880	2880	be admitted to the chamber, whether the house is in session or in
2881	2881	recess. Reading newspapers shall not be permitted in the house
2882	2882	chamber while the house is in session. Smoking is not permitted in
2883	2883	the members' lounge or bathrooms. The Committee on House
2884	2884	Administration shall designate an area for smoking that is easily
2885	2885	accessible to the house chamber.
2886	2886	Sec. 20. MEDIA ACCESS TO HOUSE CHAMBER. (a) When the house
2887	2887	is in session, no media representative shall be admitted to the
2888	2888	floor of the house or allowed its privileges unless the person is:
2889	2889	(1) employed by a print, broadcast, or Internet news
2890	2890	organization, or by a wire service serving those organizations:
2891	2891	(A) whose principal business is the periodic
2892	2892	dissemination of original news and opinion of interest to a broad
2893	2893	segment of the public;
2894	2894	(B) which has published or operated continuously
2895	2895	for 18 months:
2896	2896	(i) as a for-profit organization that is
2897	2897	supported chiefly by advertising or subscription revenue; or
2898	2898	(ii) as a nonprofit organization that has
2899	2899	qualified as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3), Internal
2900	2900	Revenue Code of 1986; and
2901	2901	(C) whose publications or operations are
2902	2902	editorially independent of any institution, foundation, or
2903	2903	interest group that lobbies the government or that is not
2904	2904	principally a general news organization; and
2905	2905	(2) not engaged in any lobbying or paid advocacy,
2906	2906	advertising, publicity, or promotion work for any individual,
2907	2907	political party, corporation, organization, or government agency.
2908	2908	(b) Any media representative seeking admission to the floor
2909	2909	of the house under the provisions of this section must submit to the
2910	2910	Committee on House Administration:
2911	2911	(1) a notarized application in a form determined by
2912	2912	the committee; and
2913	2913	(2) a letter from the media representative's employer
2914	2914	certifying that:
2915	2915	(A) the media representative is engaged
2916	2916	primarily in reporting the sessions of the legislature; and
2917	2917	(B) no part of the media representative's salary
2918	2918	for legislative coverage is paid from a source other than the news
2919	2919	organization or wire service that employs the media representative.
2920	2920	(c) Regularly accredited media representatives who have
2921	2921	duly qualified under the provisions of this section may, when
2922	2922	requested to do so, make recommendations through their professional
2923	2923	committees to the Committee on House Administration as to the
2924	2924	sufficiency or insufficiency of the credentials of any person
2925	2925	seeking admission to the floor of the house under this section.
2926	2926	(d) If the Committee on House Administration determines
2927	2927	that a person's media credentials meet the requirements of this
2928	2928	section, the committee shall issue a pass card to the person. The
2929	2929	committee may impose a fee to cover the costs of issuing a pass
2930	2930	card. This pass card must be presented to the doorkeeper each time
2931	2931	the person seeks admission to the floor of the house while the house
2932	2932	is in session. Pass cards issued under this section shall not be
2933	2933	transferable. The failure of a media representative to maintain the
2934	2934	requirements of this section may result in the revocation of the
2935	2935	pass card. Persons admitted to the floor of the house pursuant to
2936	2936	the provisions of this section shall work in appropriate convenient
2937	2937	seats or work stations in the house, which shall be designated for
2938	2938	that purpose by the Committee on House Administration.
2939	2939	(e) Members of the house shall not engage in interviews and
2940	2940	press conferences on the house floor while the house is in session.
2941	2941	The Committee on House Administration is authorized to enforce this
2942	2942	provision and to prescribe such other regulations as may be
2943	2943	necessary and desirable to achieve these purposes.
2944	2944	(f) Permission to make recordings in or from the house
2945	2945	chamber while the house is in session may be granted only by the
2946	2946	Committee on House Administration. The committee shall promulgate
2947	2947	rules governing recordings. When recordings from the house chamber
2948	2948	are permitted by the Committee on House Administration, the
2949	2949	permission shall, if necessary, identify those persons in the
2950	2950	technical crews to whom pass cards to the floor of the house and
2951	2951	galleries are to be issued. Passes granted under this authority
2952	2952	shall be subject to revocation by the Committee on House
2953	2953	Administration. As used in this subsection, "recording" means an
2954	2954	audio, video, or photographic recording for immediate or delayed
2955	2955	transmission by television or radio or through the Internet.
2956	2956	(g) The following individuals may submit a written
2957	2957	complaint regarding a decision by the Committee on House
2958	2958	Administration under this section:
2959	2959	(1) an individual who is aggrieved by the committee's
2960	2960	failure or refusal to grant privileges under this section; or
2961	2961	(2) a member of the house who believes a media
2962	2962	representative granted privileges under this section either does
2963	2963	not meet the requirements of this section or has abused the
2964	2964	privileges granted under this section.
2965	2965	(h) The Committee on House Administration shall investigate
2966	2966	the complaint and may, if necessary, temporarily suspend the media
2967	2967	representative's privileges pending the investigation. The
2968	2968	committee shall notify the aggrieved individual or subject of the
2969	2969	complaint of the time and place of a hearing on the complaint.
2970	2970	Following the hearing, which must be conducted as provided by
2971	2971	committee rule, the committee shall determine whether the aggrieved
2972	2972	individual meets the requirements of this section and, as
2973	2973	applicable:
2974	2974	(1) issue a pass card if the committee determines that
2975	2975	the individual's media credentials meet the requirements of this
2976	2976	section; or
2977	2977	(2) revoke the media representative's privileges
2978	2978	granted under this section if the committee determines that the
2979	2979	allegations contained in the complaint are valid.
2980	2980	(i) The final determination by the Committee on House
2981	2981	Administration on a complaint:
2982	2982	(1) must be entered in the committee minutes and, if
2983	2983	the house is convened in a regular or special session, delivered to
2984	2984	the journal clerk and printed in the journal; and
2985	2985	(2) is not subject to further review except as
2986	2986	provided by this section.
2987	2987	Sec. 21. PUBLIC ADMISSION TO AND NONLEGISLATIVE USE OF THE
2988	2988	HOUSE CHAMBER. When the house is not in session, the floor of the
2989	2989	house shall remain open on days and hours determined by the
2990	2990	Committee on House Administration. By resolution, the house may
2991	2991	open the floor of the house during its sessions for the inauguration
2992	2992	of the governor and lieutenant governor and for such other public
2993	2993	ceremonies as may be deemed warranted.
2994	2994	CHAPTER C. SPEAKING AND DEBATE
2995	2995	Sec. 22. ADDRESSING THE HOUSE. When a member desires to
2996	2996	speak or deliver any matter to the house, the member shall rise and
2997	2997	respectfully address the speaker as "Mr. (or Madam) Speaker" and,
2998	2998	on being recognized, may address the house from the microphone at
2999	2999	the reading clerk's desk, and shall confine all remarks to the
3000	3000	question under debate, avoiding personalities.
3001	3001	Sec. 23. WHEN TWO MEMBERS RISE AT ONCE. When two or more
3002	3002	members rise at once, the speaker shall name the one who is to speak
3003	3003	first. This decision shall be final and not open to debate or
3004	3004	appeal.
3005	3005	Sec. 24. RECOGNITION. (a) Except as otherwise provided
3006	3006	by this section, there shall be no appeal from the speaker's
3007	3007	recognition, but the speaker shall be governed by rules and usage in
3008	3008	priority of entertaining motions from the floor. When a member
3009	3009	seeks recognition, the speaker may ask, "For what purpose does the
3010	3010	member rise?" or "For what purpose does the member seek
3011	3011	recognition?" and may then decide if recognition is to be granted,
3012	3012	except that the speaker shall recognize a member who seeks
3013	3013	recognition on a question of privilege.
3014	3014	(b) If the speaker denies recognition of a member who seeks
3015	3015	recognition on a question of privilege, other than a question of
3016	3016	privilege relating to the right of the house to remove the speaker
3017	3017	and elect a new speaker, the decision of recognition may be appealed
3018	3018	using the procedures provided in Rule 1, Section 9.
3019	3019	(c) If the speaker denies recognition of a member who seeks
3020	3020	recognition on a question of privilege relating to the right of the
3021	3021	house to remove the speaker and elect a new speaker, the member may
3022	3022	appeal the speaker's denial of recognition if the member submits to
3023	3023	the speaker a written request, signed by at least 76 members of the
3024	3024	house, to appeal the decision of recognition. Upon receiving a
3025	3025	request for appeal in accordance with this subsection, the speaker
3026	3026	shall announce the request to the house. The names of the members
3027	3027	who signed the request and the time that the announcement was made
3028	3028	shall be entered in the journal. The appeal of a decision of
3029	3029	recognition under this subsection is eligible for consideration 24
3030	3030	hours after the request for appeal has been announced in accordance
3031	3031	with this subsection. The appeal and consideration of the question
3032	3032	of privilege, if the appeal is successful, takes precedence over
3033	3033	all other questions except motions to adjourn.
3034	3034	Sec. 25. INTERRUPTION OF A MEMBER WHO HAS THE FLOOR. A
3035	3035	member who has the floor shall not be interrupted by another member
3036	3036	for any purpose, unless he or she consents to yield to the other
3037	3037	member. A member desiring to interrupt another in debate should
3038	3038	first address the speaker for the permission of the member
3039	3039	speaking. The speaker shall then ask the member who has the floor
3040	3040	if he or she wishes to yield, and then announce the decision of that
3041	3041	member. The member who has the floor may exercise personal
3042	3042	discretion as to whether or not to yield, and it is entirely within
3043	3043	the member's discretion to determine who shall interrupt and when.
3044	3044	Sec. 26. YIELDING THE FLOOR. A member who obtains the
3045	3045	floor on recognition of the speaker may not be taken off the floor
3046	3046	by a motion, even the highly privileged motion to adjourn, but if
3047	3047	the member yields to another to make a motion or to offer an
3048	3048	amendment, he or she thereby loses the floor.
3049	3049	Sec. 27. RIGHT TO OPEN AND CLOSE DEBATE. The mover of any
3050	3050	proposition, or the member reporting any measure from a committee,
3051	3051	or, in the absence of either of them, any other member designated by
3052	3052	such absentee, shall have the right to open and close the debate,
3053	3053	and for this purpose may speak each time not more than 20 minutes.
3054	3054	Sec. 28. TIME LIMITS ON SPEECHES. All speeches shall be
3055	3055	limited to 10 minutes in duration, except as provided in Section 27
3056	3056	of this rule, and the speaker shall call the members to order at the
3057	3057	expiration of their time. If the house by a majority vote extends
3058	3058	the time of any member, the extension shall be for 10 minutes only.
3059	3059	A second extension of time shall be granted only by unanimous
3060	3060	consent. During the last 10 calendar days of the regular session,
3061	3061	and the last 5 calendar days of a special session, Sundays excepted,
3062	3062	all speeches shall be limited to 10 minutes and shall not be
3063	3063	extended. The time limits established by this rule shall include
3064	3064	time consumed in yielding to questions from the floor.
3065	3065	Sec. 29. LIMIT ON NUMBER OF TIMES TO SPEAK. No member shall
3066	3066	speak more than twice on the same question without leave of the
3067	3067	house, nor more than once until every member choosing to speak has
3068	3068	spoken, nor shall any member be permitted to consume the time of
3069	3069	another member without leave of the house being given by a majority
3070	3070	vote.
3071	3071	Sec. 30. EFFECT OF ADJOURNMENT ON SPEAKING LIMIT. If a
3072	3072	pending question is not disposed of because of an adjournment of the
3073	3073	house, a member who has spoken twice on the subject shall not be
3074	3074	allowed to speak again without leave of the house.
3075	3075	Sec. 31. OBJECTION TO READING A PAPER. When the reading of
3076	3076	a paper is called for, and objection is made, the matter shall be
3077	3077	determined by a majority vote of the house, without debate.
3078	3078	Sec. 32. PASSING BETWEEN MICROPHONES DURING DEBATE. No
3079	3079	person shall pass between the front and back microphones during
3080	3080	debate or when a member has the floor and is addressing the house.
3081	3081	Sec. 33. TRANSGRESSION OF RULES WHILE SPEAKING. If any
3082	3082	member, in speaking or otherwise, transgresses the rules of the
3083	3083	house, the speaker shall, or any member may, call the member to
3084	3084	order, in which case the member so called to order shall immediately
3085	3085	be seated; however, that member may move for an appeal to the house,
3086	3086	and if appeal is duly seconded by 10 members, the matter shall be
3087	3087	submitted to the house for decision by majority vote. In such
3088	3088	cases, the speaker shall not be required to relinquish the chair, as
3089	3089	is required in cases of appeals from the speaker's decisions. The
3090	3090	house shall, if appealed to, decide the matter without debate. If
3091	3091	the decision is in favor of the member called to order, the member
3092	3092	shall be at liberty to proceed; but if the decision is against the
3093	3093	member, he or she shall not be allowed to proceed, and, if the case
3094	3094	requires it, shall be liable to the censure of the house, or such
3095	3095	other punishment as the house may consider proper.
3096	3096	Sec. 34. ELECTRONIC RECORDING OF ALL HOUSE PROCEEDINGS. (a)
3097	3097	All proceedings of the house of representatives shall be
3098	3098	electronically recorded under the direction of the Committee on
3099	3099	House Administration. Copies of the proceedings may be released
3100	3100	under guidelines promulgated by the Committee on House
3101	3101	Administration.
3102	3102	(b) Archived video broadcasts of proceedings in the house
3103	3103	chamber that are available through the house's Internet or intranet
3104	3104	website may, under the direction of the Committee on House
3105	3105	Administration, include a link to the point in time in the video
3106	3106	where each measure under consideration by the house is laid out.
3107	3107	Such a link shall be provided as soon as the committee determines is
3108	3108	practical.
3109	3109	CHAPTER D. QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE
3110	3110	Sec. 35. QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE DEFINED. Questions of
3111	3111	privilege shall be:
3112	3112	(1) those affecting the rights of the house
3113	3113	collectively, its safety and dignity, and the integrity of its
3114	3114	proceedings, including the right of the house to remove the speaker
3115	3115	and elect a new speaker; and
3116	3116	(2) those affecting the rights, reputation, and
3117	3117	conduct of members individually in their representative capacity
3118	3118	only.
3119	3119	Sec. 36. PRECEDENCE OF QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE. Questions
3120	3120	of privilege shall have precedence over all other questions except
3121	3121	motions to adjourn. When in order, a member may address the house
3122	3122	on a question of privilege, or may at any time print it in the
3123	3123	journal, provided it contains no reflection on any member of the
3124	3124	house.
3125	3125	Sec. 37. WHEN QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE NOT IN ORDER. (a) It
3126	3126	shall not be in order for a member to address the house on a question
3127	3127	of privilege:
3128	3128	(1) between the time an undebatable motion is offered
3129	3129	and the vote is taken on the motion;
3130	3130	(2) between the time the previous question is ordered
3131	3131	and the vote is taken on the last proposition included under the
3132	3132	previous question; or
3133	3133	(3) between the time a motion to table is offered and
3134	3134	the vote is taken on the motion.
3135	3135	(b) If a question of privilege relating to removal of the
3136	3136	speaker and election of a new speaker fails, a subsequent attempt to
3137	3137	remove the same speaker can be made only by reconsidering the vote
3138	3138	by which the original question of privilege failed. Such
3139	3139	reconsideration shall be subject to the rules of the house
3140	3140	governing reconsideration.
3141	3141	Sec. 38. CONFINING REMARKS TO QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE;
3142	3142	INTERRUPTIONS PROHIBITED. (a) When speaking on privilege,
3143	3143	members must confine their remarks within the limits of Section 35
3144	3144	of this rule, which will be strictly construed to achieve the
3145	3145	purposes hereof.
3146	3146	(b) When a member is speaking on privilege, the member shall
3147	3147	not be interrupted by another member for any purpose. While the
3148	3148	member is speaking, another member may submit a question of order to
3149	3149	the speaker in writing or by approaching the podium in person. The
3150	3150	member submitting the question of order shall not interrupt the
3151	3151	member who is speaking. The speaker may interrupt the member who is
3152	3152	speaking if the speaker determines it is appropriate to address the
3153	3153	question of order at that time.
3154	3154	Sec. 39. DISCUSSION OF MERITS OF MOTION FORBIDDEN. Merits
3155	3155	of a main or subsidiary motion shall not be discussed or debated
3156	3156	under the guise of speaking to a question of privilege.
3157	3157	CHAPTER E. VOTING
3158	3158	Sec. 40. RECORDING ALL VOTES ON VOTING MACHINE. On all
3159	3159	votes, except viva voce votes, members shall record their votes on
3160	3160	the voting machine and shall not be recognized by the chair to cast
3161	3161	their votes from the floor. If a member attempts to vote from the
3162	3162	floor, the speaker shall sustain a point of order directed against
3163	3163	the member's so doing. This rule shall not be applicable to the
3164	3164	mover or the principal opponent of the proposition being voted on
3165	3165	nor to a member whose voting machine is out of order. If a member
3166	3166	demands strict enforcement of this section, Section 47 shall not
3167	3167	apply to the taking of a vote, and the house may discipline a member
3168	3168	in violation of this rule pursuant to its inherent authority.
3169	3169	Sec. 41. REGISTRATION EQUIVALENT TO ROLL CALL VOTE. A
3170	3170	registration or vote taken on the voting machine of the house shall
3171	3171	in all instances be considered the equivalent of a roll call or yea
3172	3172	and nay vote, which might be had for the same purpose.
3173	3173	Sec. 42. DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL OR PRIVATE INTEREST. Any
3174	3174	member who has a personal or private interest in any measure or bill
3175	3175	proposed or pending before the house shall disclose the fact and not
3176	3176	vote thereon.
3177	3177	Sec. 43. DIVIDING THE QUESTION. By a majority vote of the
3178	3178	house, a quorum being present, the question shall be divided, if it
3179	3179	includes propositions so distinct in substance that, one being
3180	3180	taken away, a substantive proposition remains. A motion for a
3181	3181	division vote cannot be made after the previous question has been
3182	3182	ordered, after a motion to table has been offered, after the
3183	3183	question has been put, nor after the yeas and nays have been
3184	3184	ordered. Under this subsection, the speaker may divide the
3185	3185	question into groups of propositions that are closely related.
3186	3186	Sec. 44. FAILURE OR REFUSAL TO VOTE. Any member who is
3187	3187	present and fails or refuses to vote after being requested to do so
3188	3188	by the speaker shall be recorded as present but not voting, and
3189	3189	shall be counted for the purpose of making a quorum.
3190	3190	Sec. 45. PRESENCE IN HOUSE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO VOTE. A
3191	3191	member must be on the floor of the house or in an adjacent room or
3192	3192	hallway on the same level as the house floor, in order to vote.
3193	3193	Sec. 46. LOCKING VOTING MACHINES OF ABSENT MEMBERS. During
3194	3194	each calendar day in which the house is in session, it shall be the
3195	3195	duty of the journal clerk to lock the voting machine of each member
3196	3196	who is excused or who is otherwise known to be absent. Each such
3197	3197	machine shall remain locked until the member in person contacts the
3198	3198	journal clerk and personally requests the unlocking of the machine.
3199	3199	Unless otherwise directed by the speaker, the journal clerk shall
3200	3200	not unlock any machine except at the personal request of the member
3201	3201	to whom the machine is assigned. Any violation, or any attempt by a
3202	3202	member or employee to circumvent the letter or spirit of this
3203	3203	section, shall be reported immediately to the speaker for such
3204	3204	disciplinary action by the speaker, or by the house, as may be
3205	3205	warranted under the circumstances.
3206	3206	Sec. 47. VOTING FOR ANOTHER MEMBER. Any member found
3207	3207	guilty by the house of knowingly voting for another member on the
3208	3208	voting machine without that other member's permission shall be
3209	3209	subject to discipline deemed appropriate by the house.
3210	3210	Sec. 48. INTERRUPTION OF A ROLL CALL. Once a roll call has
3211	3211	begun, it may not be interrupted for any reason. While a yea and nay
3212	3212	vote is being taken, or the vote is being counted, no member shall
3213	3213	visit the reading clerk's desk or the voting clerk's desk.
3214	3214	Sec. 49. EXPLANATION OF VOTE. (a) No member shall be
3215	3215	allowed to interrupt the vote or to make any explanation of a vote
3216	3216	that the member is about to give after the voting machine has been
3217	3217	opened, but may record in the journal the reasons for giving such a
3218	3218	vote.
3219	3219	(b) A "Reason for Vote" must be in writing and filed with the
3220	3220	journal clerk. If timely received, the "Reason for Vote" shall be
3221	3221	printed immediately following the results of the vote in the
3222	3222	journal. Otherwise, "Reasons for Vote" shall be printed in a
3223	3223	separate section at the end of the journal for the day on which the
3224	3224	reasons were recorded with the journal clerk. Such "Reason for
3225	3225	Vote" shall not deal in personalities or contain any personal
3226	3226	reflection on any member of the legislature, the speaker, the
3227	3227	lieutenant governor, or the governor, and shall not in any other
3228	3228	manner transgress the rules of the house relating to decorum and
3229	3229	debate.
3230	3230	(c) A member absent when a vote was taken may file with the
3231	3231	journal clerk while the house is in session a statement of how the
3232	3232	member would have voted if present. If timely received, the
3233	3233	statement shall be printed immediately following the results of the
3234	3234	vote in the journal. Otherwise, statements shall be printed in a
3235	3235	separate section at the end of the journal for the day on which the
3236	3236	statements were recorded with the journal clerk.
3237	3237	Sec. 50. PAIRS. (a) All pairs must be announced before the
3238	3238	vote is declared by the speaker, and a written statement sent to the
3239	3239	journal clerk. The statement must be signed by the absent member to
3240	3240	the pair, or the member's signature must have been authorized in
3241	3241	writing or by telephone, and satisfactory evidence presented to the
3242	3242	speaker if deemed necessary. If authorized in writing, the writing
3243	3243	shall be delivered to the chief clerk by personal delivery or by
3244	3244	commercially acceptable means of delivery, including electronic
3245	3245	transmission by PDF or similar secure format that is capable of
3246	3246	transmitting an accurate image of the member's signature. If
3247	3247	authorized by telephone, the call must be to and confirmed by the
3248	3248	chief clerk in advance of the vote to which it applies. Pairs shall
3249	3249	be entered in the journal, and the member present shall be counted
3250	3250	to make a quorum.
3251	3251	(b) The speaker may not refuse to recognize a pair that
3252	3252	complies with the requirements of Subsection (a), if both members
3253	3253	consent to the pair.
3254	3254	Sec. 51. ENTRY OF YEA AND NAY VOTE IN JOURNAL. (a) At the
3255	3255	desire of any member present, the yeas and nays of the members of
3256	3256	the house on any question shall be taken and entered in the journal.
3257	3257	No member or members shall be allowed to call for a yea and nay vote
3258	3258	after a vote has been declared by the speaker.
3259	3259	(b) A motion to expunge a yea and nay vote from the journal
3260	3260	shall not be in order.
3261	3261	(c) The yeas and nays of the members of the house on final
3262	3262	passage of any bill, any joint resolution proposing or ratifying a
3263	3263	constitutional amendment, and any other resolution, other than a
3264	3264	resolution of a purely ceremonial or honorary nature, shall be
3265	3265	taken and entered in the journal. For purposes of this subsection, a
3266	3266	vote on final passage includes a vote on:
3267	3267	(1) third reading;
3268	3268	(2) second reading if the house suspends or otherwise
3269	3269	dispenses with the requirement for three readings;
3270	3270	(3) whether to concur in the senate's amendments; or
3271	3271	(4) whether to adopt a conference committee report.
3272	3272	Sec. 51A. REAL-TIME ACCESS BY PUBLIC TO YEAS AND NAYS. The
3273	3273	Committee on House Administration shall ensure that:
3274	3274	(1) the recorded yeas and nays are available to the
3275	3275	public on the Internet and on any televised broadcast of the house
3276	3276	proceedings produced by or under the direction of the house; and
3277	3277	(2) members of the public may view the yeas and nays in
3278	3278	real time to the extent possible on the Internet and on any
3279	3279	televised broadcast of the house proceedings produced by or under
3280	3280	the direction of the house.
3281	3281	Sec. 52. JOURNAL RECORDING OF VOTES ON ANY QUESTION. On
3282	3282	any question where a record of the yeas and nays has not been
3283	3283	ordered, members may have their votes recorded in the journal as
3284	3284	"yea" or "nay" by filing such information with the journal clerk
3285	3285	before adjournment or recess to another calendar day.
3286	3286	Sec. 53. CHANGING A VOTE. Before the result of a vote has
3287	3287	been finally and conclusively pronounced by the chair, but not
3288	3288	thereafter, a member may change his or her vote; however, if a
3289	3289	member's vote is erroneous, the member shall be allowed to change
3290	3290	that vote at a later time provided:
3291	3291	(1) the result of the record vote is not changed
3292	3292	thereby;
3293	3293	(2) the request is made known to the house by the chair
3294	3294	and permission for the change is granted by unanimous consent; and
3295	3295	(3) a notation is made in the journal that the member's
3296	3296	vote was changed.
3297	3297	Sec. 54. TIE VOTE. All matters on which a vote may be taken
3298	3298	by the house shall require for adoption a favorable affirmative
3299	3299	vote as required by these rules, and in the case of a tie vote, the
3300	3300	matter shall be considered lost.
3301	3301	Sec. 55. VERIFICATION OF A YEA AND NAY VOTE. When the
3302	3302	result of a yea and nay vote is close, the speaker may on the request
3303	3303	of any member order a verification vote, or the speaker may order a
3304	3304	verification on his or her own initiative. During verification, no
3305	3305	member shall change a vote unless it was erroneously recorded, nor
3306	3306	may any member not having voted cast a vote; however, when the clerk
3307	3307	errs in reporting the yeas and nays, and correction thereof leaves
3308	3308	decisive effect to the speaker's vote, the speaker may exercise the
3309	3309	right to vote, even though the result has been announced. A
3310	3310	verification shall be called for immediately after the vote is
3311	3311	announced. The speaker shall not entertain a request for
3312	3312	verification after the house has proceeded to the next question, or
3313	3313	after a recess or an adjournment. A vote to recess or adjourn, like
3314	3314	any other proposition, may be verified. Only one vote verification
3315	3315	can be pending at a time. A verification may be dispensed with by a
3316	3316	two-thirds vote.
3317	3317	Sec. 56. VERIFICATION OF A REGISTRATION. The speaker may
3318	3318	allow the verification of a registration (as differentiated from a
3319	3319	record vote) if in the speaker's opinion there is serious doubt as
3320	3320	to the presence of a quorum.
3321	3321	Sec. 57. MOTION FOR A CALL OF THE HOUSE PENDING
3322	3322	VERIFICATION. A motion for a call of the house, and all incidental
3323	3323	motions relating to it, shall be in order pending the verification
3324	3324	of a vote. These motions must be made before the roll call on
3325	3325	verification begins, and it shall not be in order to break into the
3326	3326	roll call to make them.
3327	3327	Sec. 58. ERRONEOUS ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE RESULT OF A
3328	3328	VOTE. If, by an error of the voting clerk or reading clerk in
3329	3329	reporting the yeas and nays from a registration or verification,
3330	3330	the speaker announces a result different from that shown by the
3331	3331	registration or verification, the status of the question shall be
3332	3332	determined by the vote as actually recorded. If the vote is
3333	3333	erroneously announced in such a way as to change the true result,
3334	3334	all subsequent proceedings in connection therewith shall fail, and
3335	3335	the journal shall be amended accordingly.
3336	3336	RULE 6. ORDER OF BUSINESS AND CALENDARS
3337	3337	Sec. 1. DAILY ORDER OF BUSINESS. (a) When the house
3338	3338	convenes on a new legislative day, the daily order of business shall
3339	3339	be as follows:
3340	3340	(1) Call to order by speaker.
3341	3341	(2) Registration of members.
3342	3342	(3) Prayer by chaplain, unless the invocation has been
3343	3343	given previously on the particular calendar day.
3344	3344	(4) Pledge of allegiance to the United States flag.
3345	3345	(5) Pledge of allegiance to the Texas flag.
3346	3346	(6) Excuses for absence of members and officers.
3347	3347	(7) First reading and reference to committee of bills
3348	3348	filed with the chief clerk; and motions to introduce bills, when
3349	3349	such motions are required.
3350	3350	(8) Requests to print bills and other papers; requests
3351	3351	of committees for further time to consider papers referred to them;
3352	3352	and all other routine motions and business not otherwise provided
3353	3353	for, all of which shall be undebatable except that the mover and one
3354	3354	opponent of the motion shall be allowed three minutes each.
3355	3355	The mover of a routine motion shall be allowed his or her
3356	3356	choice of making the opening or the closing speech under this rule.
3357	3357	If the house, under a suspension of the rules, extends the time of a
3358	3358	member under this rule, such extensions shall be for three minutes.
3359	3359	Subsidiary motions that are applicable to routine motions shall be
3360	3360	in order, but the makers of such subsidiary motions shall not be
3361	3361	entitled to speak thereon in the routine motion period, nor shall
3362	3362	the authors of the original routine motions be allowed any
3363	3363	additional time because of subsidiary motions.
3364	3364	(9) Unfinished business.
3365	3365	(10) Third reading calendars of the house in their
3366	3366	order of priority in accordance with Section 7 of this rule, unless
3367	3367	a different order is determined under other provisions of these
3368	3368	rules.
3369	3369	(11) Postponed matters to be laid before the house in
3370	3370	accordance with Rule 7, Section 15.
3371	3371	(12) Second reading calendars of the house in their
3372	3372	order of priority in accordance with Section 7 of this rule, unless
3373	3373	a different order is determined under other provisions of these
3374	3374	rules.
3375	3375	(b) When the house reconvenes for the first time on a new
3376	3376	calendar day following a recess, the daily order of business shall
3377	3377	be:
3378	3378	(1) Call to order by the speaker.
3379	3379	(2) Registration of members.
3380	3380	(3) Prayer by the chaplain.
3381	3381	(4) Pledge of allegiance to the United States flag.
3382	3382	(5) Pledge of allegiance to the Texas flag.
3383	3383	(6) Excuses for absence of members and officers.
3384	3384	(7) Pending business.
3385	3385	(8) Calendars of the house in their order of priority
3386	3386	in accordance with Section 7 of this rule, unless a different order
3387	3387	is determined under other provisions of these rules.
3388	3388	Sec. 2. SPECIAL ORDERS. (a) Any bill, resolution, or
3389	3389	other measure may on any day be made a special order for the same day
3390	3390	or for a future day of the session by an affirmative vote of
3391	3391	two-thirds of the members present. A motion to set a special order
3392	3392	shall be subject to the three-minute pro and con debate rule. When
3393	3393	once established as a special order, a bill, resolution, or other
3394	3394	measure shall be considered from day to day until disposed of; and
3395	3395	until it has been disposed of, no further special orders shall be
3396	3396	made.
3397	3397	A three-fourths vote of the members present shall be required
3398	3398	to suspend the portion of this rule which specifies that only one
3399	3399	special order may be made and pending at a time.
3400	3400	(b) After the first eight items under the daily order of
3401	3401	business for a legislative day have been passed, a special order
3402	3402	shall have precedence when the hour for its consideration has
3403	3403	arrived, except as provided in Section 9 of this rule.
3404	3404	(c) After the 115th day of a regular session, if a joint
3405	3405	resolution has appeared on a daily house calendar and is adopted,
3406	3406	and a bill that is enabling legislation for the joint resolution is
3407	3407	either on or eligible to be placed on a calendar, the author or
3408	3408	sponsor of the bill or another member may immediately be recognized
3409	3409	for a motion to set the bill that is the enabling legislation as a
3410	3410	special order pursuant to this section. For purposes of this
3411	3411	subsection, the bill must have been designated as the enabling
3412	3412	legislation for the joint resolution in writing filed with the
3413	3413	chief clerk not later than the date the committee report for the
3414	3414	enabling legislation is printed and distributed.
3415	3415	Sec. 3. POSTPONEMENT OF A SPECIAL ORDER. A special order
3416	3416	may be postponed to a day certain by a two-thirds vote of those
3417	3417	present, and when so postponed, shall be considered as disposed of
3418	3418	so far as its place as a special order is concerned.
3419	3419	Sec. 4. TABLED MEASURES AS SPECIAL ORDERS. A bill or
3420	3420	resolution laid on the table subject to call may be made a special
3421	3421	order.
3422	3422	Sec. 5. SUBSTITUTION IN MOTION FOR A SPECIAL ORDER. When a
3423	3423	motion is pending to set a particular bill or resolution as a
3424	3424	special order, it shall not be in order to move as a substitute to
3425	3425	set another bill or resolution as a special order. It shall be in
3426	3426	order, however, to substitute, by majority vote, a different time
3427	3427	for the special order consideration than that given in the original
3428	3428	motion.
3429	3429	Sec. 6. MEMBER'S SUSPENSION AND SPECIAL ORDER PRIVILEGES.
3430	3430	If a member moves to set a bill or joint resolution as a special
3431	3431	order, or moves to suspend the rules to take up a bill or joint
3432	3432	resolution out of its regular order, and the motion prevails, the
3433	3433	member shall not have the right to make either of these motions
3434	3434	again until every other member has had an opportunity, via either of
3435	3435	these motions, to have some bill or joint resolution considered out
3436	3436	of its regular order during that session of the legislature. A
3437	3437	member shall not lose the suspension privilege if the motion to
3438	3438	suspend or set for special order does not prevail.
3439	3439	Sec. 7. SYSTEM OF CALENDARS. (a) Legislative business of
3440	3440	the house shall be controlled by a system of calendars, consisting
3441	3441	of the following:
3442	3442	(1) EMERGENCY CALENDAR, on which shall appear bills
3443	3443	considered to be of such pressing and imperative import as to demand
3444	3444	immediate action, bills to raise revenue and levy taxes, and the
3445	3445	general appropriations bill. A bill submitted as an emergency
3446	3446	matter by the governor may also be placed on this calendar.
3447	3447	(2) MAJOR STATE CALENDAR, on which shall appear bills
3448	3448	of statewide effect, not emergency in nature, which establish or
3449	3449	change state policy in a major field of governmental activity and
3450	3450	which will have a major impact in application throughout the state
3451	3451	without regard to class, area, or other limiting factors.
3452	3452	(3) CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS CALENDAR, on which
3453	3453	shall appear joint resolutions proposing amendments to the Texas
3454	3454	Constitution, joint resolutions proposing the ratification of
3455	3455	amendments to the Constitution of the United States, and joint
3456	3456	resolutions applying to Congress for a convention to amend the
3457	3457	Constitution of the United States.
3458	3458	(4) GENERAL STATE CALENDAR, on which shall appear
3459	3459	bills of statewide effect, not emergency in nature, which establish
3460	3460	or change state law and which have application to all areas but are
3461	3461	limited in legal effect by classification or other factors which
3462	3462	minimize the impact to something less than major state policy, and
3463	3463	bills, not emergency in nature, which are not on the local, consent,
3464	3464	and resolutions calendar.
3465	3465	(5) LOCAL, CONSENT, AND RESOLUTIONS CALENDAR, on which
3466	3466	shall appear bills, house resolutions, and concurrent resolutions,
3467	3467	not emergency in nature, regardless of extent and scope, on which
3468	3468	there is such general agreement as to render improbable any
3469	3469	opposition to the consideration and passage thereof, and which have
3470	3470	been recommended by the appropriate standing committee for
3471	3471	placement on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar by the
3472	3472	Committee on Local and Consent Calendars.
3473	3473	(6) RESOLUTIONS CALENDAR, on which shall appear house
3474	3474	resolutions and concurrent resolutions, not emergency in nature and
3475	3475	not privileged.
3476	3476	(7) CONGRATULATORY AND MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS CALENDAR,
3477	3477	on which shall appear congratulatory and memorial resolutions whose
3478	3478	sole intent is to congratulate, memorialize, or otherwise express
3479	3479	concern or commendation. The Committee on Resolutions Calendars
3480	3480	may provide separate categories for congratulatory and memorial
3481	3481	resolutions.
3482	3482	(b) A calendars committee shall strictly construe and the
3483	3483	speaker shall strictly enforce this system of calendars.
3484	3484	Sec. 8. SENATE BILL CALENDARS. (a) Senate bills and
3485	3485	resolutions pending in the house shall follow the same procedure
3486	3486	with regard to calendars as house bills and resolutions, but
3487	3487	separate calendars shall be maintained for senate bills and
3488	3488	resolutions, and consideration of them on senate bill days shall
3489	3489	have priority in the manner and order specified in this rule.
3490	3490	(b) No other business shall be considered on days devoted to
3491	3491	the consideration of senate bills when there remain any bills on any
3492	3492	of the senate calendars, except with the consent of the senate. When
3493	3493	all senate calendars are clear, the house may proceed to
3494	3494	consideration of house calendars on senate bill days.
3495	3495	Sec. 9. SENATE BILL DAYS. (a) On calendar Wednesday and
3496	3496	on calendar Thursday of each week, only senate bills and senate
3497	3497	resolutions shall be taken up and considered, until disposed of.
3498	3498	Senate bills and senate resolutions shall be considered in the
3499	3499	order prescribed in Section 7 of this rule on separate senate
3500	3500	calendars prepared by the Committee on Calendars. In case a senate
3501	3501	bill or senate resolution is pending at adjournment on calendar
3502	3502	Thursday, it shall go over to the succeeding calendar Wednesday as
3503	3503	unfinished business.
3504	3504	(b) Precedence given in Rule 8 to certain classes of bills
3505	3505	during the first 60 calendar days of a regular session shall also
3506	3506	apply to senate bills on senate bill days.
3507	3507	Sec. 10. CONSIDERATION OF SENATE BILL ON SAME
3508	3508	SUBJECT. When any house bill is reached on the calendar or is
3509	3509	before the house for consideration, it shall be the duty of the
3510	3510	speaker to give the place on the calendar of the house bill to any
3511	3511	senate bill containing the same subject that has been referred to
3512	3512	and reported from a committee of the house and to lay the senate
3513	3513	bill before the house, to be considered in lieu of the house bill.
3514	3514	Sec. 11. PERIODS FOR CONSIDERATION OF CONGRATULATORY AND
3515	3515	MEMORIAL CALENDARS. As the volume of legislation shall warrant,
3516	3516	the chair of the Committee on Resolutions Calendars shall move to
3517	3517	designate periods for the consideration of congratulatory and
3518	3518	memorial calendars. Each such motion shall require a two-thirds
3519	3519	vote for its adoption. In each instance, the Committee on
3520	3520	Resolutions Calendars shall prepare and post on the electronic
3521	3521	legislative information system a calendar at least 24 hours in
3522	3522	advance of the hour set for consideration. No memorial or
3523	3523	congratulatory resolution will be heard by the full house without
3524	3524	having first been approved, at least 24 hours in advance, by a
3525	3525	majority of the membership of the Committee on Resolutions
3526	3526	Calendars, in accordance with Rule 4, Section 16. It shall not be
3527	3527	necessary for the Committee on Resolutions Calendars to report a
3528	3528	memorial or congratulatory resolution from committee in order to
3529	3529	place the resolution on a congratulatory and memorial calendar. If
3530	3530	the Committee on Resolutions Calendars determines that a resolution
3531	3531	is not eligible for placement on the congratulatory and memorial
3532	3532	calendar the measure shall be sent to the Committee on Calendars for
3533	3533	further action. A congratulatory and memorial calendar will
3534	3534	contain the resolution number, the author's name, and a brief
3535	3535	description of the intent of the resolution. On the congratulatory
3536	3536	and memorial calendar, congratulatory resolutions may be listed
3537	3537	separately from memorial resolutions. Once a calendar is posted,
3538	3538	no additional resolutions will be added to it, and the requirements
3539	3539	of this section shall not be subject to suspension.
3540	3540	Sec. 12. PROCEDURE FOR CONSIDERATION OF CONGRATULATORY AND
3541	3541	MEMORIAL CALENDARS. During the consideration of a congratulatory
3542	3542	and memorial calendar, resolutions shall not be read in full unless
3543	3543	they pertain to members or former members of the legislature, or
3544	3544	unless the intended recipient of the resolution is present on the
3545	3545	house floor or in the gallery. All other such resolutions shall be
3546	3546	read only by number, type of resolution, and name of the person or
3547	3547	persons designated in the resolutions. Members shall notify the
3548	3548	chair, in advance of consideration of the calendar, of any
3549	3549	resolutions that will be required to be read in full. In addition,
3550	3550	the following procedures shall be observed:
3551	3551	(1) The chair shall recognize the reading clerk to
3552	3552	read the resolutions within each category on the calendar only by
3553	3553	number, type of resolution, author or sponsor, and name of the
3554	3554	person or persons designated in the resolutions, except for those
3555	3555	resolutions that have been withdrawn or that are required to be read
3556	3556	in full. The resolutions read by the clerk shall then be adopted in
3557	3557	one motion for each category.
3558	3558	(2) Subsequent to the adoption of the resolutions read
3559	3559	by the clerk, the chair shall proceed to lay before the house the
3560	3560	resolutions on the calendar that are required to be read in full.
3561	3561	Each such resolution shall be read and adopted individually.
3562	3562	(3) If it develops that any resolution on the
3563	3563	congratulatory and memorial calendar does not belong on that
3564	3564	calendar, the chair shall withdraw the resolution from further
3565	3565	consideration, remove it from the calendar, and refer it to the
3566	3566	appropriate calendars committee for placement on the proper
3567	3567	calendar.
3568	3568	Sec. 13. PERIODS FOR CONSIDERATION OF LOCAL, CONSENT, AND
3569	3569	RESOLUTIONS CALENDARS. (a) As the volume of legislation shall
3570	3570	warrant, the chair of the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars
3571	3571	shall move to designate periods for the consideration of local,
3572	3572	consent, and resolutions calendars. Each such motion shall require
3573	3573	a two-thirds vote for its adoption. In each instance, the Committee
3574	3574	on Local and Consent Calendars shall prepare and post on the
3575	3575	electronic legislative information system a calendar at least 48
3576	3576	hours in advance of the hour set for consideration. Once a calendar
3577	3577	is posted, no additional bills or resolutions will be added to it.
3578	3578	This requirement can be suspended only by unanimous consent. No
3579	3579	local, consent, and resolutions calendar may be considered by the
3580	3580	house if it is determined that the rules of the house were not
3581	3581	complied with by the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars in
3582	3582	preparing that calendar.
3583	3583	(b) The period designated for the consideration of a local,
3584	3584	consent, and resolutions calendar under this section or under a
3585	3585	special order under Section 2 of this rule may not exceed one
3586	3586	calendar day.
3587	3587	Sec. 14. PROCEDURE FOR CONSIDERATION OF LOCAL, CONSENT, AND
3588	3588	RESOLUTIONS CALENDARS. During the consideration of a local,
3589	3589	consent, and resolutions calendar set by the Committee on Local and
3590	3590	Consent Calendars the following procedures shall be observed:
3591	3591	(1) The chair shall allow the sponsor of each bill or
3592	3592	resolution three minutes to explain the measure, and the time shall
3593	3593	not be extended except by unanimous consent of the house. This rule
3594	3594	shall have precedence over all other rules limiting time for
3595	3595	debate.
3596	3596	(2) If it develops that any bill or resolution on a
3597	3597	local, consent, and resolutions calendar is to be contested on the
3598	3598	floor of the house under Subdivision (3) or (4) of this section, the
3599	3599	chair shall withdraw the bill or resolution from further
3600	3600	consideration and remove it from the calendar.
3601	3601	(3) Any bill or resolution on a local, consent, and
3602	3602	resolutions calendar shall be considered contested if notice is
3603	3603	given by five or more members present in the house under Rule 5,
3604	3604	Section 45, that they intend to oppose the bill or resolution,
3605	3605	either by a raising of hands or the delivery of written notice to
3606	3606	the chair.
3607	3607	(4) Any bill or resolution on a local, consent, and
3608	3608	resolutions calendar shall be considered contested if debate
3609	3609	exceeds 10 minutes, after the chair lays out the bill or resolution
3610	3610	following the sponsor's explanation under Subdivision (1) of this
3611	3611	section. The chair shall strictly enforce this time limit and
3612	3612	automatically withdraw the bill from further consideration if the
3613	3613	time limit herein imposed is exceeded.
3614	3614	(5) Any bill or resolution on a local, consent, and
3615	3615	resolutions calendar that is not reached for floor consideration
3616	3616	because of the expiration of the calendar day period for
3617	3617	consideration established by Section 13 of this rule shall carry
3618	3618	over onto the next local, consent, and resolutions calendar. Bills
3619	3619	or resolutions that carry over must appear in the same relative
3620	3620	order as on the calendar on which the bills or resolutions initially
3621	3621	appeared, and bills or resolutions originally from older calendars
3622	3622	must appear before those originally from more recent calendars.
3623	3623	(6) A motion to postpone a bill or resolution on a
3624	3624	local, consent, and resolutions calendar to a subsequent
3625	3625	legislative or calendar day requires an affirmative vote of
3626	3626	two-thirds of the members present.
3627	3627	Sec. 15. ORDER OF CONSIDERATION OF CALENDARS. Except for
3628	3628	local, consent, and resolutions calendars and congratulatory and
3629	3629	memorial calendars, consideration of calendars shall be in the
3630	3630	order named in Section 7 of this rule, subject to any exceptions
3631	3631	ordered by the Committee on Calendars. Bills and resolutions on
3632	3632	third reading shall have precedence over bills and resolutions on
3633	3633	second reading.
3634	3634	Sec. 16. DAILY CALENDARS, SUPPLEMENTAL CALENDARS, AND LISTS
3635	3635	OF ITEMS ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION. (a) Calendars shall be
3636	3636	prepared daily when the house is in session. A calendar must be
3637	3637	posted on the electronic legislative information system at least 36
3638	3638	hours if convened in regular session and 24 hours if convened in
3639	3639	special session before the calendar may be considered by the house,
3640	3640	except as otherwise provided by these rules for the calendar on
3641	3641	which the general appropriations bill is first eligible for
3642	3642	consideration on second reading when convened in regular session.
3643	3643	A calendar that contains a bill extending an agency, commission, or
3644	3644	advisory committee under the Texas Sunset Act must be posted at
3645	3645	least 48 hours if convened in regular or special session before the
3646	3646	calendar may be considered by the house. Deviations from the
3647	3647	calendars as posted shall not be permitted except that the
3648	3648	Committee on Calendars shall be authorized to prepare and post, not
3649	3649	later than two hours before the house convenes, a supplemental
3650	3650	daily house calendar, on which shall appear:
3651	3651	(1) bills or resolutions which were passed to third
3652	3652	reading on the previous legislative day, except as provided by
3653	3653	Section 24(b) of this rule;
3654	3654	(2) bills or resolutions which appeared on the Daily
3655	3655	House Calendar for a previous calendar day which were not reached
3656	3656	for floor consideration;
3657	3657	(3) postponed business from a previous calendar day;
3658	3658	and
3659	3659	(4) notice to take from the table a bill or resolution
3660	3660	which was laid on the table subject to call on a previous
3661	3661	legislative day.
3662	3662	In addition to the items listed above, the bills and
3663	3663	resolutions from a daily house calendar that will be eligible for
3664	3664	consideration may be incorporated, in their proper order as
3665	3665	determined by these rules, into the supplemental daily house
3666	3666	calendar.
3667	3667	(a-1) If the house is convened in regular session, the
3668	3668	calendar on which the general appropriations bill is first eligible
3669	3669	for consideration on second reading must be posted on the
3670	3670	electronic legislative information system at least 144 hours before
3671	3671	the calendar may be considered by the house. The posted calendar
3672	3672	must indicate the date and time at which the calendar is scheduled
3673	3673	for consideration by the house, which date and time must be in
3674	3674	accordance with Rule 8, Section 14.
3675	3675	(b) In addition, when the volume of legislation shall
3676	3676	warrant, and upon request of the speaker, the chief clerk shall have
3677	3677	prepared a list of Items Eligible for Consideration, on which shall
3678	3678	appear only:
3679	3679	(1) house bills with senate amendments that are
3680	3680	eligible for consideration under Rule 13, Section 5, including the
3681	3681	number of senate amendments and the total number of pages of senate
3682	3682	amendments;
3683	3683	(2) senate bills for which the senate has requested
3684	3684	appointment of a conference committee; and
3685	3685	(3) conference committee reports that are eligible for
3686	3686	consideration under Rule 13, Section 10.
3687	3687	(c) The list of Items Eligible for Consideration must be
3688	3688	posted on the electronic legislative information system at least
3689	3689	six hours before the list may be considered by the house.
3690	3690	(d) The time at which a calendar or list is posted on the
3691	3691	electronic legislative information system shall be time-stamped on
3692	3692	the originals of the calendar or list.
3693	3693	(e) No house calendar shall be eligible for consideration if
3694	3694	it is determined that the rules of the house were not complied with
3695	3695	by the Committee on Calendars in preparing that calendar.
3696	3696	(f) If the Committee on Calendars has proposed a rule for
3697	3697	floor consideration of a bill or resolution that is eligible to be
3698	3698	placed on a calendar of the daily house calendar, the rule must be
3699	3699	printed and a copy distributed to each member. If the bill or
3700	3700	resolution to which the rule will apply has already been placed on a
3701	3701	calendar of the daily house calendar, a copy of the rule must also
3702	3702	be posted with the calendar on which the bill or resolution appears.
3703	3703	The speaker shall lay a proposed rule before the house prior to the
3704	3704	consideration of the bill or resolution to which the rule will
3705	3705	apply. The rule shall be laid before the house not earlier than six
3706	3706	hours after a copy of the rule has been distributed to each member
3707	3707	in accordance with this subsection. The rule shall not be subject
3708	3708	to amendment, but to be effective, the rule must be approved by the
3709	3709	house by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of those members present
3710	3710	and voting, except that the rule must be approved by an affirmative
3711	3711	vote of a majority of those members present and voting if the rule
3712	3712	applies to a tax bill, an appropriations bill, or a redistricting
3713	3713	bill. If approved by the house in accordance with this subsection,
3714	3714	the rule will be effective for the consideration of the bill or
3715	3715	resolution on both second and third readings.
3716	3716	Sec. 17. POSITION ON A CALENDAR. (a) Unless removed from
3717	3717	the calendar under Subsection (b) of this section, once a bill or
3718	3718	resolution is placed on its appropriate calendar under these rules,
3719	3719	and has appeared on a house calendar, as posted on the electronic
3720	3720	legislative information system, the bill shall retain its relative
3721	3721	position on the calendar until reached for floor consideration, and
3722	3722	the calendars committee with jurisdiction over the bill or
3723	3723	resolution shall have no authority to place other bills on the
3724	3724	calendar ahead of that bill, but all additions to the calendar shall
3725	3725	appear subsequent to the bill.
3726	3726	(b) If a bill or resolution that has been placed on a house
3727	3727	calendar, as posted on the electronic legislative information
3728	3728	system, is recommitted or withdrawn from further consideration, the
3729	3729	bill or resolution relinquishes its position on the calendar, and
3730	3730	the bill or resolution shall be removed from the calendar.
3731	3731	Sec. 18. REQUIREMENTS FOR PLACEMENT ON A CALENDAR. Except
3732	3732	as provided in Section 11 of this rule as it relates to
3733	3733	congratulatory and memorial resolutions, no bill or resolution
3734	3734	shall be placed on a calendar until:
3735	3735	(1) it has been referred to and reported from its
3736	3736	appropriate standing committee by favorable committee action; or
3737	3737	(2) it is ordered printed on minority report or after a
3738	3738	committee has reported its inability to recommend a course of
3739	3739	action.
3740	3740	Sec. 19. REFERRAL TO CALENDARS COMMITTEES. All bills and
3741	3741	resolutions, on being reported from committee, shall be referred
3742	3742	immediately to the committee coordinator for printing and then to
3743	3743	the appropriate calendars committee for placement on the
3744	3744	appropriate calendar.
3745	3745	Sec. 20. TIME LIMIT FOR VOTE TO PLACE ON A CALENDAR. Within
3746	3746	30 calendar days after a bill or resolution has been referred to the
3747	3747	appropriate calendars committee, the committee must vote on whether
3748	3748	to place the bill or resolution on one of the calendars of the daily
3749	3749	house calendar or the local, consent, and resolutions calendar, as
3750	3750	applicable. A vote against placement of the bill or resolution on a
3751	3751	calendar does not preclude a calendars committee from later voting
3752	3752	in favor of placement of the bill or resolution on a calendar.
3753	3753	Sec. 21. MOTION TO PLACE ON A CALENDAR. (a) When a bill or
3754	3754	resolution has been in the appropriate calendars committee for 30
3755	3755	calendar days, exclusive of the calendar day on which it was
3756	3756	referred, awaiting placement on one of the calendars of the daily
3757	3757	house calendar or on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar,
3758	3758	it shall be in order for a member to move that the bill or resolution
3759	3759	be placed on a specific calendar of the daily house calendar or on
3760	3760	the local, consent, and resolutions calendar without action by the
3761	3761	committee. This motion must be seconded by five members and shall
3762	3762	require a majority vote for adoption.
3763	3763	(b) A motion to place a bill or resolution on a specific
3764	3764	calendar of the daily house calendar or on the local, consent, and
3765	3765	resolutions calendar is not a privileged motion and must be made
3766	3766	during the routine motion period unless made under a suspension of
3767	3767	the rules.
3768	3768	Sec. 22. REQUEST FOR PLACEMENT ON LOCAL, CONSENT, AND
3769	3769	RESOLUTIONS CALENDAR. No bill or resolution shall be considered
3770	3770	for placement on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar by
3771	3771	the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars unless a request for
3772	3772	that placement has been made to the chair of the standing committee
3773	3773	from which the bill or resolution was reported and unless the
3774	3774	committee report of the standing committee recommends that the bill
3775	3775	or resolution be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent
3776	3776	Calendars for placement on the local, consent, and resolutions
3777	3777	calendar. The recommendation of the standing committee shall be
3778	3778	advisory only, and the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars
3779	3779	shall have final authority to determine whether or not a bill or
3780	3780	resolution shall be placed on the local, consent, and resolutions
3781	3781	calendar. If the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars
3782	3782	determines that the bill or resolution is not eligible for
3783	3783	placement on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar, the
3784	3784	measure shall be sent to the Committee on Calendars for further
3785	3785	action.
3786	3786	Sec. 23. QUALIFICATIONS FOR PLACEMENT ON THE LOCAL,
3787	3787	CONSENT, AND RESOLUTIONS CALENDAR. (a) No bill defined as a local
3788	3788	bill by Rule 8, Section 10(c), shall be placed on the local,
3789	3789	consent, and resolutions calendar unless:
3790	3790	(1) evidence of publication of notice in compliance
3791	3791	with the Texas Constitution and these rules is filed with the
3792	3792	Committee on Local and Consent Calendars; and
3793	3793	(2) it has been recommended unanimously by the present
3794	3794	and voting members of the committee from which it was reported that
3795	3795	the bill be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars for
3796	3796	placement on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar.
3797	3797	(b) No other bill or resolution shall be placed on the
3798	3798	local, consent, and resolutions calendar unless it has been
3799	3799	recommended unanimously by the present and voting members of the
3800	3800	committee from which it was reported that the bill be sent to the
3801	3801	Committee on Local and Consent Calendars for placement on the
3802	3802	local, consent, and resolutions calendar.
3803	3803	(c) No bill or resolution shall be placed on the local,
3804	3804	consent, and resolutions calendar that:
3805	3805	(1) directly or indirectly prevents from being
3806	3806	available for purposes of funding state government generally any
3807	3807	money that under existing law would otherwise be available for that
3808	3808	purpose, including a bill that transfers or diverts money in the
3809	3809	state treasury from the general revenue fund to another fund; or
3810	3810	(2) authorizes or requires the expenditure or
3811	3811	diversion of state funds for any purpose, as determined by a fiscal
3812	3812	note attached to the bill.
3813	3813	Sec. 24. REPLACEMENT OF CONTESTED BILLS AND
3814	3814	RESOLUTIONS. (a) A bill on second reading or a resolution once
3815	3815	removed from the local, consent, and resolutions calendar by being
3816	3816	contested on the floor of the house under Section 14(3) or (4) of
3817	3817	this rule shall be returned to the Committee on Local and Consent
3818	3818	Calendars for further action. The Committee on Local and Consent
3819	3819	Calendars, if it feels such action is warranted, may again place the
3820	3820	bill or resolution on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar,
3821	3821	provided, however, that if the bill or resolution is not placed on
3822	3822	the next local, consent, and resolutions calendar set by the
3823	3823	Committee on Local and Consent Calendars, the bill or resolution
3824	3824	shall immediately be referred to the Committee on Calendars for
3825	3825	further action. If a bill on second reading or a resolution is then
3826	3826	removed from the calendar a second time by being contested on the
3827	3827	floor of the house under Section 14(3) or (4) of this rule, the bill
3828	3828	or resolution shall not again be placed on the local, consent, and
3829	3829	resolutions calendar by the Committee on Local and Consent
3830	3830	Calendars during that session of the legislature but shall be
3831	3831	returned to the Committee on Calendars for further action.
3832	3832	(b) A bill on third reading removed from the local, consent,
3833	3833	and resolutions calendar under Section 14(3) or (4) of this rule
3834	3834	shall appear on the supplemental daily house calendar for the next
3835	3835	legislative day for which a supplemental daily house calendar has
3836	3836	not already been distributed, pursuant to Section 16(a)(1) of this
3837	3837	rule.
3838	3838	(c) This section does not apply to a bill or resolution on
3839	3839	the local, consent, and resolutions calendar that is withdrawn from
3840	3840	the calendar at the request of the author or sponsor without being
3841	3841	contested under Section 14(3) or (4) of this rule. A bill or
3842	3842	resolution withdrawn under this subsection shall be returned to the
3843	3843	Committee on Local and Consent Calendars for further action. The
3844	3844	Committee on Local and Consent Calendars, if it feels such action is
3845	3845	warranted, may again place the bill or resolution on the local,
3846	3846	consent, and resolutions calendar or refer the bill or resolution
3847	3847	to the Committee on Calendars for further action.
3848	3848	Sec. 25. DISCRETION IN PLACEMENT ON CALENDARS. Subject to
3849	3849	the limitations contained in this rule, the Committee on Calendars
3850	3850	shall have full authority to make placements on calendars in
3851	3851	whatever order is necessary and desirable under the circumstances
3852	3852	then existing, except that bills on third reading shall have
3853	3853	precedence over bills on second reading. It is the intent of the
3854	3854	calendar system to give the Committee on Calendars wide discretion
3855	3855	to insure adequate consideration by the house of important
3856	3856	legislation.
3857	3857	RULE 7. MOTIONS
3858	3858	CHAPTER A. GENERAL MOTIONS
3859	3859	Sec. 1. MOTIONS DECIDED WITHOUT DEBATE. The following
3860	3860	motions, in addition to any elsewhere provided herein, shall be
3861	3861	decided without debate, except as otherwise provided in these
3862	3862	rules:
3863	3863	(1) to adjourn;
3864	3864	(2) to lay on the table;
3865	3865	(3) to lay on the table subject to call;
3866	3866	(4) to suspend the rule as to the time for introduction
3867	3867	of bills;
3868	3868	(5) to order a call of the house, and all motions
3869	3869	incidental thereto;
3870	3870	(6) an appeal by a member called to order;
3871	3871	(7) on questions relating to priority of business;
3872	3872	(8) to amend the caption of a bill or resolution;
3873	3873	(9) to extend the time of a member speaking under the
3874	3874	previous question or to allow a member who has the right to speak
3875	3875	after the previous question is ordered to yield the time, or a part
3876	3876	of it, to another;
3877	3877	(10) to reconsider and table.
3878	3878	Sec. 2. MOTIONS SUBJECT TO DEBATE. The speaker shall permit
3879	3879	the mover and one opponent of the motion three minutes each during
3880	3880	which to debate the following motions without debating the merits
3881	3881	of the bill, resolution, or other matter, and the mover of the
3882	3882	motion may elect to either open the debate or close the debate, but
3883	3883	the mover's time may not be divided:
3884	3884	(1) to suspend the regular order of business and take
3885	3885	up some measure out of its regular order;
3886	3886	(2) to instruct a committee to report a certain bill or
3887	3887	resolution;
3888	3888	(3) to rerefer a bill or resolution from one committee
3889	3889	to another;
3890	3890	(4) to place a bill or resolution on a specific
3891	3891	calendar without action by the appropriate calendars committee;
3892	3892	(5) to take up a bill or resolution laid on the table
3893	3893	subject to call;
3894	3894	(6) to set a special order;
3895	3895	(7) to suspend the rules;
3896	3896	(8) to suspend the constitutional rule requiring bills
3897	3897	to be read on three several days;
3898	3898	(9) to pass a resolution suspending the joint rules;
3899	3899	(10) to order the previous question;
3900	3900	(11) to order the limiting of amendments to a bill or
3901	3901	resolution;
3902	3902	(12) to print documents, reports, or other material in
3903	3903	the journal;
3904	3904	(13) to take any other action required or permitted
3905	3905	during the routine motion period by Rule 6, Section 1;
3906	3906	(14) to divide the question.
3907	3907	Sec. 3. MOTIONS ALLOWED DURING DEBATE. When a question is
3908	3908	under debate, the following motions, and none other, shall be in
3909	3909	order, and such motions shall have precedence in the following
3910	3910	order:
3911	3911	(1) to adjourn;
3912	3912	(2) to take recess;
3913	3913	(3) to lay on the table;
3914	3914	(4) to lay on the table subject to call;
3915	3915	(5) for the previous question;
3916	3916	(6) to postpone to a day certain;
3917	3917	(7) to commit, recommit, refer, or rerefer;
3918	3918	(8) to amend by striking out the enacting or resolving
3919	3919	clause, which, if carried, shall have the effect of defeating the
3920	3920	bill or resolution;
3921	3921	(9) to amend;
3922	3922	(10) to postpone indefinitely.
3923	3923	Sec. 4. STATEMENT OR READING OF A MOTION. When a motion has
3924	3924	been made, the speaker shall state it, or if it is in writing, order
3925	3925	it read by the clerk; and it shall then be in possession of the
3926	3926	house.
3927	3927	Sec. 5. ENTRY OF MOTIONS IN JOURNAL. Every motion made to
3928	3928	the house and entertained by the speaker shall be reduced to writing
3929	3929	on the demand of any member, and shall be entered on the journal
3930	3930	with the name of the member making it.
3931	3931	Sec. 6. WITHDRAWAL OF A MOTION. A motion may be withdrawn
3932	3932	by the mover at any time before a decision on the motion, even
3933	3933	though an amendment may have been offered and is pending. It cannot
3934	3934	be withdrawn, however, if the motion has been amended. After the
3935	3935	previous question has been ordered, a motion can be withdrawn only
3936	3936	by unanimous consent.
3937	3937	Sec. 7. MOTIONS TO ADJOURN OR RECESS. A motion to adjourn
3938	3938	or recess shall always be in order, except:
3939	3939	(1) when the house is voting on another motion;
3940	3940	(2) when the previous question has been ordered and
3941	3941	before the final vote on the main question, unless a roll call shows
3942	3942	the absence of a quorum;
3943	3943	(3) when a member entitled to the floor has not yielded
3944	3944	for that purpose; or
3945	3945	(4) when no business has been transacted since a
3946	3946	motion to adjourn or recess has been defeated.
3947	3947	Sec. 8. CONSIDERATION OF SEVERAL MOTIONS TO ADJOURN OR
3948	3948	RECESS. When several motions to recess or adjourn are made at the
3949	3949	same period, the motion to adjourn carrying the shortest time shall
3950	3950	be put first, then the next shortest time, and in that order until a
3951	3951	motion to adjourn has been adopted or until all have been voted on
3952	3952	and lost; and then the same procedure shall be followed for motions
3953	3953	to recess.
3954	3954	Sec. 9. WITHDRAWAL OR ADDITION OF A MOTION TO ADJOURN OR
3955	3955	RECESS. A motion to adjourn or recess may not be withdrawn when it
3956	3956	is one of a series upon which voting has commenced, nor may an
3957	3957	additional motion to adjourn or recess be made when voting has
3958	3958	commenced on a series of such motions.
3959	3959	Sec. 10. RECONSIDERATION OF VOTE TO ADJOURN OR RECESS. The
3960	3960	vote by which a motion to adjourn or recess is carried or lost shall
3961	3961	not be subject to a motion to reconsider.
3962	3962	Sec. 11. ADJOURNING WITH LESS THAN A QUORUM. A smaller
3963	3963	number of members than a quorum may adjourn from day to day, and may
3964	3964	compel the attendance of absent members.
3965	3965	Sec. 12. MOTION TO TABLE. A motion to lay on the table, if
3966	3966	carried, shall have the effect of killing the bill, resolution,
3967	3967	amendment, or other immediate proposition to which it was applied.
3968	3968	Such a motion shall not be debatable, but the mover of the
3969	3969	proposition to be tabled, or the member reporting it from
3970	3970	committee, shall be allowed to close the debate after the motion to
3971	3971	table is made and before it is put to a vote. When a motion to table
3972	3972	is made to a debatable main motion, the main motion mover shall be
3973	3973	allowed 20 minutes to close the debate, whereas the movers of other
3974	3974	debatable motions sought to be tabled shall be allowed only 10
3975	3975	minutes to close. The vote by which a motion to table is carried or
3976	3976	lost cannot be reconsidered. After the previous question has been
3977	3977	ordered, a motion to table is not in order. The provisions of this
3978	3978	section do not apply to motions to "lay on the table subject to
3979	3979	call"; however, a motion to lay on the table subject to call cannot
3980	3980	be made after the previous question has been ordered.
3981	3981	Sec. 13. MATTERS TABLED SUBJECT TO CALL. When a bill,
3982	3982	resolution, or other matter is pending before the house, it may be
3983	3983	laid on the table subject to call, and one legislative day's notice,
3984	3984	as provided on the Supplemental House Calendar, must be given
3985	3985	before the proposition can be taken from the table, unless it is on
3986	3986	the same legislative day, in which case it can be taken from the
3987	3987	table at any time except when there is another matter pending before
3988	3988	the house. A bill, resolution, or other matter can be taken from
3989	3989	the table only by a majority vote of the house. When a special order
3990	3990	is pending, a motion to take a proposition from the table cannot be
3991	3991	made unless the proposition is a privileged matter.
3992	3992	Sec. 14. MOTION TO POSTPONE. (a) A motion to postpone to a
3993	3993	day certain may be amended and is debatable within narrow limits,
3994	3994	but the merits of the proposition sought to be postponed cannot be
3995	3995	debated. A motion to postpone indefinitely opens to debate the
3996	3996	entire proposition to which it applies.
3997	3997	(b) A motion to postpone a bill or resolution on a local,
3998	3998	consent, and resolutions calendar to a subsequent legislative or
3999	3999	calendar day requires an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the
4000	4000	members present.
4001	4001	Sec. 15. POSTPONED MATTERS. A bill or proposition
4002	4002	postponed to a day certain shall be laid before the house at the
4003	4003	time on the calendar day to which it was postponed, provided it is
4004	4004	otherwise eligible under the rules and no other business is then
4005	4005	pending. If business is pending, the postponed matter shall be
4006	4006	deferred until the pending business is disposed of without
4007	4007	prejudice otherwise to its right of priority. When a privileged
4008	4008	matter is postponed to a particular time, and that time arrives, the
4009	4009	matter, still retaining its privileged nature, shall be taken up
4010	4010	even though another matter is pending.
4011	4011	Sec. 16. ORDER OF CONSIDERATION OF POSTPONED MATTERS. If
4012	4012	two or more bills, resolutions, or other propositions are postponed
4013	4013	to the same time, and are otherwise eligible for consideration at
4014	4014	that time, they shall be considered in the chronological order of
4015	4015	their setting.
4016	4016	Sec. 17. MOTION TO REFER. When motions are made to refer a
4017	4017	subject to a select or standing committee, the question on the
4018	4018	subject's referral to a standing committee shall be put first.
4019	4019	Sec. 18. MOTION TO RECOMMIT. A motion to recommit a bill,
4020	4020	after being defeated at the routine motion period, may again be made
4021	4021	when the bill itself is under consideration; however, a motion to
4022	4022	recommit a bill shall not be in order at the routine motion period
4023	4023	if the bill is then before the house as either pending business or
4024	4024	unfinished business.
4025	4025	A motion to recommit a bill or resolution can be made and
4026	4026	voted on even though the author, sponsor, or principal proponent is
4027	4027	not present.
4028	4028	Sec. 19. TERMS OF DEBATE ON MOTIONS TO REFER, REREFER,
4029	4029	COMMIT, OR RECOMMIT. A motion to refer, rerefer, commit, or
4030	4030	recommit is debatable within narrow limits, but the merits of the
4031	4031	proposition may not be brought into the debate. A motion to refer,
4032	4032	rerefer, commit, or recommit with instructions is fully debatable.
4033	4033	Sec. 20. RECOMMITTING TO COMMITTEE FOR A SECOND TIME.
4034	4034	Except as provided in Rule 4, Section 30, when a bill has been
4035	4035	recommitted once at any reading and has been reported adversely by
4036	4036	the committee to which it was referred, it shall be in order to
4037	4037	again recommit the bill only if a minority report has been filed in
4038	4038	the time required by the rules of the house. A two-thirds vote of
4039	4039	those present shall be required to recommit a second time.
4040	4040	CHAPTER B. MOTION FOR THE PREVIOUS QUESTION
4041	4041	Sec. 21. MOTION FOR THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. There shall be a
4042	4042	motion for the previous question, which shall be admitted only when
4043	4043	seconded by 25 members. It shall be put by the chair in this manner:
4044	4044	"The motion has been seconded. Three minutes pro and con debate
4045	4045	will be allowed on the motion for ordering the previous question."
4046	4046	As soon as the debate has ended, the chair shall continue: "As many
4047	4047	as are in favor of ordering the previous question on (here state on
4048	4048	which question or questions) will say 'Aye,'" and then, "As many as
4049	4049	are opposed say 'Nay.'" As in all other propositions, a motion for
4050	4050	the previous question may be taken by a record vote if demanded by
4051	4051	any member. If ordered by a majority of the members voting, a
4052	4052	quorum being present, it shall have the effect of cutting off all
4053	4053	debate, except as provided in Section 23 of this rule, and bringing
4054	4054	the house to a direct vote on the immediate question or questions on
4055	4055	which it has been asked and ordered.
4056	4056	Sec. 22. DEBATE ON MOTION FOR PREVIOUS QUESTION. On the
4057	4057	motion for the previous question, there shall be no debate except as
4058	4058	provided in Sections 2 and 21 of this rule. All incidental
4059	4059	questions of order made pending decision on such motion shall be
4060	4060	decided, whether on appeal or otherwise, without debate.
4061	4061	Sec. 23. LIMITATION OF DEBATE AFTER PREVIOUS QUESTION
4062	4062	ORDERED. After the previous question has been ordered, there shall
4063	4063	be no debate upon the questions on which it has been ordered, or
4064	4064	upon the incidental questions, except that the mover of the
4065	4065	proposition or any of the pending amendments or any other motions,
4066	4066	or the member making the report from the committee, or, in the case
4067	4067	of the absence of either of them, any other member designated by
4068	4068	such absentee, shall have the right to close the debate on the
4069	4069	particular proposition or amendment. Then a vote shall be taken
4070	4070	immediately on the amendments or other motions, if any, and then on
4071	4071	the main question.
4072	4072	Sec. 24. SPEAKING AND VOTING AFTER THE PREVIOUS QUESTION
4073	4073	ORDERED. All members having the right to speak after the previous
4074	4074	question has been ordered shall speak before the question is put on
4075	4075	the first proposition covered by the previous question. All votes
4076	4076	shall then be taken in the correct order, and no vote or votes shall
4077	4077	be deferred to allow any member to close on any one of the
4078	4078	propositions separately after the voting has commenced.
4079	4079	Sec. 25. SPEAKING ON AN AMENDMENT AS SUBSTITUTED. When an
4080	4080	amendment has been substituted and the previous question is then
4081	4081	moved on the adoption of the amendment as substituted, the author of
4082	4082	the amendment as substituted shall have the right to close the
4083	4083	debate on that amendment in lieu of the author of the original
4084	4084	amendment.
4085	4085	Sec. 26. SPEAKING ON A MOTION TO POSTPONE OR AMEND. When
4086	4086	the previous question is ordered on a motion to postpone
4087	4087	indefinitely or to amend by striking out the enacting clause of a
4088	4088	bill, the member moving to postpone or amend shall have the right to
4089	4089	close the debate on that motion or amendment, after which the mover
4090	4090	of the proposition or bill proposed to be so postponed or amended,
4091	4091	or the member reporting it from the committee, or, in the absence of
4092	4092	either of them, any other member designated by the absentee, shall
4093	4093	be allowed to close the debate on the original proposition.
4094	4094	Sec. 27. APPLICATION OF THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. The
4095	4095	previous question may be asked and ordered on any debatable single
4096	4096	motion or series of motions, or any amendment or amendments
4097	4097	pending, or it may be made to embrace all authorized debatable
4098	4098	motions or amendments pending and include the bill, resolution, or
4099	4099	proposition that is on second or third reading. The previous
4100	4100	question cannot be ordered, however, on the main proposition
4101	4101	without including other pending motions of lower rank as given in
4102	4102	Section 3 of this rule.
4103	4103	Sec. 28. LIMIT OF APPLICATION. The previous question shall
4104	4104	not extend beyond the final vote on a motion or sequence of motions
4105	4105	to which the previous question has been ordered.
4106	4106	Sec. 29. AMENDMENTS NOT YET LAID BEFORE THE HOUSE.
4107	4107	Amendments on the speaker's desk for consideration which have not
4108	4108	actually been laid before the house and read cannot be included
4109	4109	under a motion for the previous question.
4110	4110	Sec. 30. MOVING THE PREVIOUS QUESTION AFTER A MOTION TO
4111	4111	TABLE. If a motion to table is made directly to a main motion, the
4112	4112	motion for the previous question is not in order. In a case where an
4113	4113	amendment to a main motion is pending, and a motion to table the
4114	4114	amendment is made, it is in order to move the previous question on
4115	4115	the main motion, the pending amendment, and the motion to table the
4116	4116	amendment.
4117	4117	Sec. 31. NO SUBSTITUTE FOR MOTION FOR THE PREVIOUS
4118	4118	QUESTION. There is no acceptable substitute for a motion for the
4119	4119	previous question, nor can other motions be applied to it.
4120	4120	Sec. 32. MOTION FOR THE PREVIOUS QUESTION NOT SUBJECT TO
4121	4121	TABLING. The motion for the previous question is not subject to a
4122	4122	motion to table.
4123	4123	Sec. 33. MOTION TO ADJOURN AFTER MOTION FOR PREVIOUS
4124	4124	QUESTION ACCEPTED. The motion to adjourn is not in order after a
4125	4125	motion for the previous question is accepted by the chair, or after
4126	4126	the seconding of such motion and before a vote is taken.
4127	4127	Sec. 34. MOTIONS IN ORDER AFTER PREVIOUS QUESTION ORDERED.
4128	4128	After the previous question has been ordered, no motion shall be in
4129	4129	order until the question or questions on which it was ordered have
4130	4130	been voted on, without debate, except:
4131	4131	(1) a motion for a call of the house, and motions
4132	4132	incidental thereto;
4133	4133	(2) a motion to extend the time of a member closing on
4134	4134	a proposition;
4135	4135	(3) a motion to permit a member who has the right to
4136	4136	speak to yield the time or a part thereof to another member;
4137	4137	(4) a request for and a verification of a vote;
4138	4138	(5) a motion to reconsider the vote by which the
4139	4139	previous question was ordered. A motion to reconsider may be made
4140	4140	only once and that must be before any vote under the previous
4141	4141	question has been taken;
4142	4142	(6) a motion to table a motion to reconsider the vote
4143	4143	by which the previous question has been ordered;
4144	4144	(7) a double motion to reconsider and table the vote by
4145	4145	which the previous question was ordered.
4146	4146	Sec. 35. MOTION TO ADJOURN OR RECESS AFTER PREVIOUS
4147	4147	QUESTION ORDERED. No motion for an adjournment or a recess shall be
4148	4148	in order after the previous question is ordered until the final vote
4149	4149	under the previous question has been taken, unless the roll call
4150	4150	shows the absence of a quorum.
4151	4151	Sec. 36. ADJOURNING WITHOUT A QUORUM. When the house
4152	4152	adjourns without a quorum under the previous question, the previous
4153	4153	question shall remain in force and effect when the bill,
4154	4154	resolution, or other proposition is again laid before the house.
4155	4155	CHAPTER C. RECONSIDERATION
4156	4156	Sec. 37. MOTION TO RECONSIDER A VOTE. (a) When a question
4157	4157	has been decided by the house and the yeas and nays have been called
4158	4158	for and recorded, any member voting with the prevailing side may, on
4159	4159	the same legislative day, or on the next legislative day, move a
4160	4160	reconsideration; however, if a reconsideration is moved on the next
4161	4161	legislative day, it must be done before the order of the day, as
4162	4162	designated in the 10th item of Rule 6, Section 1(a), is taken up.
4163	4163	If the house refuses to reconsider, or on reconsideration, affirms
4164	4164	its decision, no further action to reconsider shall be in order.
4165	4165	(b) Where the yeas and nays have not been called for and
4166	4166	recorded, any member, regardless of whether he or she voted on the
4167	4167	prevailing side or not, may make the motion to reconsider; however,
4168	4168	even when the yeas and nays have not been recorded, the following
4169	4169	shall not be eligible to make a motion to reconsider:
4170	4170	(1) a member who was absent;
4171	4171	(2) a member who was paired and, therefore, did not
4172	4172	vote; and
4173	4173	(3) a member who was recorded in the journal as having
4174	4174	voted on the losing side.
4175	4175	(c) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, a
4176	4176	motion to reconsider the vote by which a bill, joint resolution, or
4177	4177	concurrent resolution was defeated is not in order unless a member
4178	4178	has previously provided at least one hour's notice of intent to make
4179	4179	the motion by addressing the house when the house is in session and
4180	4180	stating that a member intends to make a motion to reconsider the
4181	4181	vote by which the bill or resolution was defeated. It is not
4182	4182	necessary for the member providing the notice to be eligible to make
4183	4183	or to be the member who subsequently makes the motion to reconsider.
4184	4184	If notice of intent to make a motion to reconsider is given within
4185	4185	the period that the motion to reconsider may be made under
4186	4186	Subsection (a) of this section and that period expires during the
4187	4187	one-hour period required by this subsection, then the period within
4188	4188	which the motion may be made under Subsection (a) is extended by the
4189	4189	amount of time, not to exceed one hour during which the house is in
4190	4190	session, necessary to satisfy the one-hour notice required by this
4191	4191	subsection. This subsection does not apply to a motion to
4192	4192	reconsider and table or to a motion to reconsider and spread on the
4193	4193	journal, if no business has been transacted after the defeat of the
4194	4194	measure.
4195	4195	Sec. 38. DEBATE ON MOTION TO RECONSIDER. A motion to
4196	4196	reconsider shall be debatable only when the question to be
4197	4197	reconsidered is debatable. Even though the previous question was
4198	4198	in force before the vote on a debatable question was taken, debate
4199	4199	is permissible on the reconsideration of such debatable question.
4200	4200	Sec. 39. MAJORITY VOTE REQUIRED. Every motion to
4201	4201	reconsider shall be decided by a majority vote, even though the vote
4202	4202	on the original question requires a two-thirds vote for affirmative
4203	4203	action. If the motion to reconsider prevails, the question then
4204	4204	immediately recurs on the question reconsidered.
4205	4205	Sec. 40. WITHDRAWAL OF MOTION TO RECONSIDER. A motion to
4206	4206	reconsider cannot be withdrawn unless permission is given by a
4207	4207	majority vote of the house, and the motion may be called up by any
4208	4208	member.
4209	4209	Sec. 41. TABLING MOTION TO RECONSIDER. A motion to
4210	4210	reconsider shall be subject to a motion to table, which, if carried,
4211	4211	shall be a final disposition of the motion to reconsider.
4212	4212	Sec. 42. DOUBLE MOTION TO RECONSIDER AND TABLE. The double
4213	4213	motion to reconsider and table shall be in order. It shall be
4214	4214	undebatable. When carried, the motion to reconsider shall be
4215	4215	tabled. When it fails, the question shall then be on the motion to
4216	4216	reconsider, and the motion to reconsider shall, without further
4217	4217	action, be spread on the journal, but it may be called up by any
4218	4218	member, in accordance with the provisions of Section 43 of this
4219	4219	rule.
4220	4220	Sec. 43. DELAYED DISPOSITION OF MOTION TO RECONSIDER. (a)
4221	4221	If a motion to reconsider is not disposed of when made, it shall be
4222	4222	entered in the journal, and cannot, after that legislative day, be
4223	4223	called up and disposed of unless one legislative day's notice has
4224	4224	been given.
4225	4225	(b) Unless called up and disposed of prior to 72 hours
4226	4226	before final adjournment of the session, all motions to reconsider
4227	4227	shall be regarded as determined and lost.
4228	4228	(c) All motions to reconsider made during the last 72 hours
4229	4229	of the session shall be disposed of when made; otherwise, the motion
4230	4230	shall be considered as lost.
4231	4231	Sec. 44. MOTION TO RECONSIDER AND SPREAD ON JOURNAL. (a) A
4232	4232	member voting on the prevailing side may make a motion to reconsider
4233	4233	and spread on the journal, which does not require a vote, and on the
4234	4234	motion being made, it shall be entered on the journal. Any member,
4235	4235	regardless of whether he or she voted on the prevailing side or not,
4236	4236	who desires immediate action on a motion to reconsider which has
4237	4237	been spread on the journal, can call it up as soon as it is made, and
4238	4238	demand a vote on it, or can call it up and move to table it.
4239	4239	(b) If the motion to table the motion to reconsider is
4240	4240	defeated, the motion to reconsider remains spread on the journal
4241	4241	for future action; however, any member, regardless of whether he or
4242	4242	she voted on the prevailing side or not, can call the motion from
4243	4243	the journal for action by the house, and, once disposed of, no other
4244	4244	motion to reconsider can be made.
4245	4245	Sec. 45. MOTION TO REQUIRE COMMITTEE TO REPORT. (a) During
4246	4246	the first 76 calendar days of a regular session, when any bill,
4247	4247	resolution, or other paper has been in committee for 6 calendar
4248	4248	days, exclusive of the calendar day on which it was referred, it
4249	4249	shall be in order for a member to move that the committee be
4250	4250	required to report the same within 7 calendar days. This motion
4251	4251	shall require a two-thirds vote for passage.
4252	4252	(b) After the first 76 calendar days of a regular session,
4253	4253	when any bill, resolution, or other paper has been in committee for
4254	4254	6 calendar days, exclusive of the calendar day on which it was
4255	4255	referred, it shall be in order for a member to move that the
4256	4256	committee be required to report the same within 7 calendar days.
4257	4257	This motion shall require a majority vote for passage.
4258	4258	(c) A motion to instruct a committee to report is not a
4259	4259	privileged motion and must be made during the routine motion period
4260	4260	unless made under a suspension of the rules.
4261	4261	(d) The house shall have no authority to instruct a
4262	4262	subcommittee directly; however, instructions recognized under the
4263	4263	rules may be given to a committee and shall be binding on all
4264	4264	subcommittees.
4265	4265	Sec. 46. MOTION TO REREFER TO ANOTHER COMMITTEE. (a)
4266	4266	During the first 76 calendar days of a regular session, when any
4267	4267	bill, resolution, or other paper has been in committee for 7
4268	4268	calendar days after the committee was instructed by the house to
4269	4269	report that measure by a motion made under Section 45 of this rule,
4270	4270	it shall be in order for a member to move to rerefer the bill,
4271	4271	resolution, or other paper to a different committee. This motion
4272	4272	shall require a two-thirds vote for passage.
4273	4273	(b) After the first 76 calendar days of a regular session,
4274	4274	when any bill, resolution, or other paper has been in committee for
4275	4275	7 calendar days after the committee has been instructed to report
4276	4276	that measure by a motion made under Section 45 of this rule, it
4277	4277	shall be in order for a member to move to rerefer the bill,
4278	4278	resolution, or other paper to a different committee. This motion
4279	4279	shall require a majority vote for passage.
4280	4280	(c) A motion to rerefer a bill, resolution, or other paper
4281	4281	from one committee to another committee is not a privileged motion
4282	4282	and must be made during the routine motion period unless made under
4283	4283	a suspension of the rules.
4284	4284	RULE 8. BILLS
4285	4285	Sec. 1. CONTENTS OF BILLS. (a) Proposed laws or changes in
4286	4286	laws must be incorporated in bills, which shall consist of:
4287	4287	(1) a title or caption, beginning with the words "A
4288	4288	Bill to be Entitled An Act" and a brief statement that gives the
4289	4289	legislature and the public reasonable notice of the subject of the
4290	4290	proposed measure;
4291	4291	(2) an enacting clause, "Be It Enacted by the
4292	4292	Legislature of the State of Texas"; and
4293	4293	(3) the bill proper.
4294	4294	(b) A house bill that would impose, authorize, increase, or
4295	4295	change the rate or amount of a tax, assessment, surcharge, or fee
4296	4296	must include a short statement at the end of its title or caption
4297	4297	indicating the general effect of the bill on the tax, assessment,
4298	4298	surcharge, or fee, such as "imposing a tax (or assessment),"
4299	4299	"authorizing a surcharge (or fee)," or "increasing the rate (or
4300	4300	amount) of a tax."
4301	4301	(c) A house bill that would create a criminal offense,
4302	4302	increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or
4303	4303	category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for
4304	4304	community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision must
4305	4305	include a short statement at the end of its title or caption
4306	4306	indicating the general effect of the bill on the offense,
4307	4307	punishment, or eligibility, such as "creating a criminal offense,"
4308	4308	"increasing a criminal penalty," or "changing the eligibility for
4309	4309	community supervision (or parole or mandatory supervision)."
4310	4310	(d) A house bill that would create a requirement that an
4311	4311	individual or entity obtain a license, certificate, registration,
4312	4312	permit, or other authorization before engaging in a particular
4313	4313	occupation or profession or that would expand an existing
4314	4314	requirement to additional individuals or entities must include a
4315	4315	short statement at the end of its title or caption indicating the
4316	4316	general effect of the bill on the occupation or profession, such as
4317	4317	"requiring an occupational license" or "expanding the
4318	4318	applicability of an occupational license (or permit or
4319	4319	certificate)."
4320	4320	Sec. 2. PUBLISHING ACTS IN THEIR ENTIRETY. No law shall be
4321	4321	revived or amended by reference to its title. The act revived, or
4322	4322	the section or sections amended, shall be reenacted and published
4323	4323	at length. This rule does not apply to revisions adopted under
4324	4324	Article III, Section 43, of the Texas Constitution.
4325	4325	Sec. 3. LIMITING A BILL TO A SINGLE SUBJECT. Each bill
4326	4326	(except a general appropriations bill, which may embrace the
4327	4327	various subjects and accounts for which money is appropriated or a
4328	4328	revision adopted under Article III, Section 43, of the Texas
4329	4329	Constitution) shall contain only one subject.
4330	4330	Sec. 4. CHANGING GENERAL LAW THROUGH AN APPROPRIATIONS
4331	4331	BILL. A general law may not be changed by the provisions in an
4332	4332	appropriations bill.
4333	4333	Sec. 5. COAUTHORSHIP, JOINT AUTHORSHIP, SPONSORSHIP,
4334	4334	COSPONSORSHIP, AND JOINT SPONSORSHIP. (a) A house bill or
4335	4335	resolution may have only one primary author. The signature of the
4336	4336	primary author shall be the only signature that appears on the
4337	4337	measure filed with the chief clerk. The signatures of all coauthors
4338	4338	or joint authors shall appear on the appropriate forms in the chief
4339	4339	clerk's office.
4340	4340	(b) Any member may become the coauthor of a bill or
4341	4341	resolution by securing permission from the author. If permission
4342	4342	is secured from the author prior to the time the measure is filed
4343	4343	with the chief clerk, the primary author and the coauthor shall sign
4344	4344	the appropriate form, which shall be included with the measure when
4345	4345	it is filed with the chief clerk. If a member wishes to become the
4346	4346	coauthor of a measure after it has been filed, no action shall be
4347	4347	required by the house, but it shall be the duty of the member
4348	4348	seeking to be a coauthor to obtain written authorization on the
4349	4349	appropriate form from the author. This authorization shall be
4350	4350	filed with the chief clerk before the coauthor signs the form for
4351	4351	the bill or resolution. The chief clerk shall report daily to the
4352	4352	journal clerk the names of members filed as coauthors of bills or
4353	4353	resolutions. If a coauthor of a bill or resolution desires to
4354	4354	withdraw from such status, the member shall notify the chief clerk,
4355	4355	who in turn shall notify the journal clerk.
4356	4356	(c) The primary author of a measure may designate up to four
4357	4357	joint authors by providing written authorization on the appropriate
4358	4358	form to the chief clerk. If a member designated as a joint author
4359	4359	has not already signed on the measure as a coauthor, that member
4360	4360	must also sign the form before the records will reflect the joint
4361	4361	author status of that member. The names of all joint authors shall
4362	4362	be shown immediately following the primary author's name on all
4363	4363	official printings of the measure, on all house calendars, in the
4364	4364	house journal, and in the electronic legislative information
4365	4365	system.
4366	4366	(d) The determination of the house sponsor of a senate
4367	4367	measure is made at the time the measure is reported from committee.
4368	4368	In the case of multiple requests for house sponsorship, the house
4369	4369	sponsor of a senate measure shall be determined by the chair of the
4370	4370	committee, in consultation with the senate author of the measure.
4371	4371	The chair of the committee must designate a primary sponsor and may
4372	4372	designate up to four joint sponsors or an unlimited number of
4373	4373	cosponsors. The names of all joint sponsors shall be shown
4374	4374	immediately following the primary sponsor's name on all official
4375	4375	printings of the measure, on all house calendars, in the house
4376	4376	journal, and in the electronic legislative information system.
4377	4377	Sec. 6. FILING, FIRST READING, AND REFERRAL TO COMMITTEE.
4378	4378	Each bill shall be filed with the chief clerk when introduced and
4379	4379	shall be numbered in its regular order. Each bill shall be read
4380	4380	first time by caption and referred by the speaker to the appropriate
4381	4381	committee with jurisdiction.
4382	4382	Sec. 7. PREFILING. Beginning the first Monday after the
4383	4383	general election preceding the next regular legislative session, or
4384	4384	within 30 days prior to any special session, it shall be in order to
4385	4385	file with the chief clerk bills and resolutions for introduction in
4386	4386	that session. On receipt of the bills or resolutions, the chief
4387	4387	clerk shall number them and make them a matter of public record,
4388	4388	available for distribution. Once a bill or resolution has been so
4389	4389	filed, it may not be recalled. This shall apply only to
4390	4390	members-elect of the succeeding legislative session.
4391	4391	Sec. 8. DEADLINE FOR INTRODUCTION. (a) Bills and joint
4392	4392	resolutions introduced during the first 60 calendar days of the
4393	4393	regular session may be considered by the committees and in the house
4394	4394	and disposed of at any time during the session, in accordance with
4395	4395	the rules of the house. After the first 60 calendar days of a
4396	4396	regular session, any bill or joint resolution, except local bills,
4397	4397	emergency appropriations, and all emergency matters submitted by
4398	4398	the governor in special messages to the legislature, shall require
4399	4399	an affirmative vote of four-fifths of those members present and
4400	4400	voting to be introduced.
4401	4401	(b) In addition to a bill defined as a "local bill" under
4402	4402	Section 10(c) of this rule, a bill is considered local for purposes
4403	4403	of this section if it relates to a specified district created under
4404	4404	Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution (water
4405	4405	districts, etc.), a specified hospital district, or another
4406	4406	specified special purpose district, even if neither these rules nor
4407	4407	the Texas Constitution require publication of notice for that bill.
4408	4408	Sec. 9. FILING. (a) A bill must be filed with the chief
4409	4409	clerk in the manner and in an electronic or other format specified
4410	4410	by the chief clerk at the time that the bill is introduced.
4411	4411	(b) A bill relating to conservation and reclamation
4412	4412	districts and governed by the provisions of Article XVI, Section
4413	4413	59, of the Texas Constitution must be filed with copies of the
4414	4414	notice to introduce the bill attached if the bill is intended to:
4415	4415	(1) create a particular conservation and reclamation
4416	4416	district; or
4417	4417	(2) amend the act of a particular conservation and
4418	4418	reclamation district to:
4419	4419	(A) add additional land to the district;
4420	4420	(B) alter the taxing authority of the district;
4421	4421	(C) alter the authority of the district with
4422	4422	respect to issuing bonds; or
4423	4423	(D) alter the qualifications or terms of office
4424	4424	of the members of the governing body of the district.
4425	4425	Sec. 10. LOCAL BILLS. (a) The house may not consider a
4426	4426	local bill unless notice of intention to apply for the passage of
4427	4427	the bill was published as provided by law and evidence of the
4428	4428	publication is attached to the bill. If not attached to the bill on
4429	4429	filing with the chief clerk or receipt of the bill from the senate,
4430	4430	copies of the evidence of timely publication shall be filed with the
4431	4431	chief clerk and must be distributed to the members of the committee
4432	4432	not later than the first time the bill is laid out in a committee
4433	4433	meeting. The evidence shall be attached to the bill on first
4434	4434	printing and shall remain with the measure throughout the entire
4435	4435	legislative process, including submission to the governor.
4436	4436	(b) Neither the house nor a committee of the house may
4437	4437	consider a bill whose application is limited to one or more
4438	4438	political subdivisions by means of population brackets or other
4439	4439	artificial devices in lieu of identifying the political subdivision
4440	4440	or subdivisions by name. However, this subsection does not prevent
4441	4441	consideration of a bill that classifies political subdivisions
4442	4442	according to a minimum or maximum population or other criterion
4443	4443	that bears a reasonable relation to the purpose of the proposed
4444	4444	legislation or a bill that updates laws based on population
4445	4445	classifications to conform to a federal decennial census.
4446	4446	(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d) of this section,
4447	4447	"local bill" for purposes of this section means:
4448	4448	(1) a bill for which publication of notice is required
4449	4449	under Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution (water
4450	4450	districts, etc.);
4451	4451	(2) a bill for which publication of notice is required
4452	4452	under Article IX, Section 9, of the Texas Constitution (hospital
4453	4453	districts);
4454	4454	(3) a bill relating to hunting, fishing, or
4455	4455	conservation of wildlife resources of a specified locality;
4456	4456	(4) a bill creating or affecting a county court or
4457	4457	statutory court or courts of one or more specified counties or
4458	4458	municipalities;
4459	4459	(5) a bill creating or affecting the juvenile board or
4460	4460	boards of a specified county or counties; or
4461	4461	(6) a bill creating or affecting a road utility
4462	4462	district under the authority of Article III, Section 52, of the
4463	4463	Texas Constitution.
4464	4464	(d) A bill is not considered to be a local bill under
4465	4465	Subsection (c)(3), (4), or (5) if it affects a sufficient number of
4466	4466	localities, counties, or municipalities so as to be of general
4467	4467	application or of statewide importance.
4468	4468	Sec. 11. CONSIDERATION IN COMMITTEE. (a) No bill shall be
4469	4469	considered unless it first has been referred to a committee and
4470	4470	reported from it.
4471	4471	(b) After a bill has been recommitted, it shall be
4472	4472	considered by the committee as a new subject.
4473	4473	Sec. 12. ORDER OF CONSIDERATION. All bills and resolutions
4474	4474	before the house shall be taken up and acted on in the order in which
4475	4475	they appear on their respective calendars, and each calendar shall
4476	4476	have the priority accorded to it by the provisions of Rule 6,
4477	4477	Sections 7 and 8.
4478	4478	Sec. 13. DEADLINES FOR CONSIDERATION. (a) No house bill
4479	4479	that is local as defined by Section 10(c) of this rule and that
4480	4480	appears on a local, consent, and resolutions calendar shall be
4481	4481	considered for any purpose after the 130th day of a regular session,
4482	4482	except to:
4483	4483	(1) act on senate amendments;
4484	4484	(2) adopt a conference committee report;
4485	4485	(3) reconsider the bill to make corrections; or
4486	4486	(4) pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of
4487	4487	the governor.
4488	4488	(b) No other house bill or joint resolution shall be
4489	4489	considered on its second reading after the 122nd day of a regular
4490	4490	session if it appears on a daily or supplemental daily house
4491	4491	calendar, or for any purpose after the 123rd day of a regular
4492	4492	session, except to:
4493	4493	(1) act on senate amendments;
4494	4494	(2) adopt a conference committee report;
4495	4495	(3) reconsider the bill or resolution to make
4496	4496	corrections; or
4497	4497	(4) pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of
4498	4498	the governor.
4499	4499	(c) No senate bill or joint resolution shall be considered
4500	4500	on its second reading after the 134th day of a regular session if it
4501	4501	appears on a daily or supplemental daily house calendar, or for any
4502	4502	purpose after the 135th day of a regular session, except to:
4503	4503	(1) adopt a conference committee report;
4504	4504	(2) reconsider the bill or resolution to remove house
4505	4505	amendments;
4506	4506	(3) reconsider the bill or resolution to make
4507	4507	corrections; or
4508	4508	(4) pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of
4509	4509	the governor.
4510	4510	(d) The speaker shall not lay any bill or joint resolution
4511	4511	before the house or permit a vote to be taken on its passage on the
4512	4512	136th and 137th days of a regular session, except to:
4513	4513	(1) act on senate amendments;
4514	4514	(2) adopt a conference committee report;
4515	4515	(3) reconsider the bill or resolution to remove house
4516	4516	amendments;
4517	4517	(4) reconsider the bill or resolution to make
4518	4518	corrections; or
4519	4519	(5) pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of
4520	4520	the governor.
4521	4521	(e) The speaker shall not lay any bill or joint resolution
4522	4522	before the house or permit a vote to be taken on its passage on the
4523	4523	138th and 139th days of a regular session, except to:
4524	4524	(1) adopt a conference committee report;
4525	4525	(2) reconsider the bill or resolution to remove house
4526	4526	amendments;
4527	4527	(3) discharge house conferees and concur in senate
4528	4528	amendments;
4529	4529	(4) reconsider the bill or resolution to make
4530	4530	corrections; or
4531	4531	(5) pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of
4532	4532	the governor.
4533	4533	(f) No vote shall be taken upon the passage of any bill or
4534	4534	resolution within 24 hours of the final adjournment of a regular
4535	4535	session unless it be to reconsider the bill or resolution to make
4536	4536	corrections, or to adopt a corrective resolution.
4537	4537	(g) The clock of record for the house, as determined under
4538	4538	Rule 2, Section 2, shall be used to determine compliance with
4539	4539	deadlines and other time requirements of the Texas Constitution and
4540	4540	these rules. A motion to suspend this rule must be decided by a
4541	4541	record vote.
4542	4542	Sec. 14. DELIVERY PRIOR TO CONSIDERATION. (a) Each bill or
4543	4543	resolution, except the general appropriations bill, shall be
4544	4544	delivered to each member by making a copy of the bill or resolution
4545	4545	available in an electronic format for viewing by the member and,
4546	4546	when the electronic format copy of the appropriate printing becomes
4547	4547	available, by sending notice of that fact to a Capitol e-mail
4548	4548	address designated by the member, at least 36 hours if convened in
4549	4549	regular session and 24 hours if convened in special session before
4550	4550	the bill can be considered by the house on second reading. If a
4551	4551	member informs the chief clerk in writing that the member desires to
4552	4552	receive paper copies of bills and resolutions under this section in
4553	4553	addition to delivery in an electronic format, the chief clerk shall
4554	4554	place a paper copy of the bill or resolution in the newspaper box of
4555	4555	the member as soon as practicable after the electronic copies of the
4556	4556	bill or resolution are made available for viewing.
4557	4557	(a-1) A printed copy of the general appropriations bill
4558	4558	shall be placed in the newspaper mailbox of each member at least 168
4559	4559	hours during a regular session and at least 72 hours during a
4560	4560	special session before the bill can be considered by the house on
4561	4561	second reading.
4562	4562	(b) By majority vote, the house may order both the original
4563	4563	bill or resolution and the complete committee substitute to be
4564	4564	printed. It shall not be necessary for the house to order complete
4565	4565	committee substitutes printed in lieu of original bills.
4566	4566	(c) A two-thirds vote of the house is necessary to order
4567	4567	that bills, other than local bills, be not printed. It shall not be
4568	4568	necessary for the house to order that local bills be not printed.
4569	4569	Sec. 15. REQUIREMENT FOR THREE READINGS. A bill shall not
4570	4570	have the force of law until it has been read on three several
4571	4571	legislative days in each house and free discussion allowed, unless
4572	4572	this provision is suspended by a vote of four-fifths of the members
4573	4573	present and voting, a quorum being present. The yeas and nays shall
4574	4574	be taken on the question of suspension and entered in the journal.
4575	4575	Sec. 16. CONSIDERATION SECTION BY SECTION. (a) During the
4576	4576	consideration of any bill or resolution, the house may, by a
4577	4577	majority vote, order the bill or resolution to be considered
4578	4578	section by section, or department by department, until each section
4579	4579	or department has been given separate consideration. If such a
4580	4580	procedure is ordered, only amendments to the section or department
4581	4581	under consideration at that time shall be in order. However, after
4582	4582	each section or department has been considered separately, the
4583	4583	entire bill or resolution shall be open for amendment, subject to
4584	4584	the provisions of Rule 11, Section 8(b). Once the consideration of
4585	4585	a bill section by section or department by department has been
4586	4586	ordered, it shall not be in order to move the previous question on
4587	4587	the entire bill, to recommit it, to lay it on the table, or to
4588	4588	postpone it, until each section or department has been given
4589	4589	separate consideration or until the vote by which section by
4590	4590	section consideration was ordered is reconsidered.
4591	4591	(b) A motion to consider a bill section by section is
4592	4592	debatable within narrow limits; that is, the pros and cons of the
4593	4593	proposed consideration can be debated but not the merits of the
4594	4594	bill.
4595	4595	Sec. 17. PASSAGE TO ENGROSSMENT OR THIRD READING. After a
4596	4596	bill or complete committee substitute for a bill has been taken up
4597	4597	and read, amendments shall be in order. If no amendment is made, or
4598	4598	if those proposed are disposed of, then the final question on its
4599	4599	second reading shall be, in the case of a house bill, whether it
4600	4600	shall be passed to engrossment, or, in the case of a senate bill,
4601	4601	whether it shall pass to its third reading. All bills ordered
4602	4602	passed to engrossment or passed to a third reading shall remain on
4603	4603	the calendar on which placed, but with future priority over bills
4604	4604	that have not passed second reading.
4605	4605	Sec. 18. CERTIFICATION OF FINAL PASSAGE. The chief clerk
4606	4606	shall certify the final passage of each bill, noting on the bill the
4607	4607	date of its passage, and the vote by which it passed, if by a yea and
4608	4608	nay vote.
4609	4609	Sec. 19. EFFECTIVE DATE. Every law passed by the
4610	4610	legislature, except the General Appropriations Act, shall take
4611	4611	effect or go into force on the 91st day after the adjournment of the
4612	4612	session at which it was enacted, unless the legislature provides
4613	4613	for an earlier effective date by a vote of two-thirds of all the
4614	4614	members elected to each house. The vote shall be taken by yeas and
4615	4615	nays and entered in the journals.
4616	4616	Sec. 20. BILLS CONTAINING SAME SUBSTANCE AS DEFEATED BILL.
4617	4617	After a bill or resolution has been considered and defeated by
4618	4618	either house of the legislature, no bill or resolution containing
4619	4619	the same substance shall be passed into law during the same session.
4620	4620	Sec. 21. CONSIDERATION OF BILLS INVOLVING STATE FUNDS. (a)
4621	4621	In order to assure the continuation of financial support of
4622	4622	existing state services through the passage of the general
4623	4623	appropriations bill, it shall not be in order during the first 118
4624	4624	days of the regular session for the speaker to lay before the house,
4625	4625	prior to the consideration, passage, and certification by the
4626	4626	comptroller of the general appropriations bill, any bill that
4627	4627	directly or indirectly prevents from being available for purposes
4628	4628	of funding state government generally any money that under existing
4629	4629	law would otherwise be available for that purpose, including a bill
4630	4630	that transfers or diverts money in the state treasury from the
4631	4631	general revenue fund to another fund.
4632	4632	(b) In order to assure compliance with the limitation on
4633	4633	appropriations of state tax revenue not dedicated by the
4634	4634	constitution as provided by Article VIII, Section 22, of the Texas
4635	4635	Constitution, it is not in order for the speaker to lay before the
4636	4636	house, prior to the time that the general appropriations bill has
4637	4637	been finally passed and sent to the comptroller, any bill that
4638	4638	appropriates funds from the state treasury that are not dedicated
4639	4639	by the constitution.
4640	4640	(c) When bills subject to the provisions of Subsection (a)
4641	4641	of this section become eligible for consideration, they shall be
4642	4642	considered for passage under the rules of the house and the joint
4643	4643	rules as any other bill but shall not be signed by the speaker as
4644	4644	required by the Constitution of Texas and the rules of the house
4645	4645	until the general appropriations bill has been signed by the
4646	4646	presiding officers of both houses of the legislature and
4647	4647	transmitted to the comptroller of public accounts for certification
4648	4648	as required by Article III, Section 49a, of the Constitution of
4649	4649	Texas.
4650	4650	(d) All bills subject to the provisions of Subsection (a) of
4651	4651	this section that have finally passed both houses shall be enrolled
4652	4652	as required by the rules and transmitted to the speaker. The
4653	4653	speaker shall note on each bill the date and hour of final
4654	4654	legislative action and shall withhold his or her signature and any
4655	4655	further action on all such bills until the general appropriations
4656	4656	bill has been signed by the presiding officers of both houses and
4657	4657	transmitted to the comptroller of public accounts for
4658	4658	certification. Immediately thereafter, the speaker shall sign in
4659	4659	the presence of the house all bills on which further action was
4660	4660	being withheld because the bills were subject to the provisions of
4661	4661	this section. After being signed by the speaker, the bills shall
4662	4662	then be transmitted to the comptroller of public accounts for
4663	4663	certification or to the governor, as the case may be, in the order
4664	4664	in which final legislative action was taken. "Final legislative
4665	4665	action," as that term is used in this subsection, shall mean the
4666	4666	last act of either house meeting in general session necessary to
4667	4667	place the bill in its final form preparatory to enrollment.
4668	4668	(e) Subsections (a)-(d) of this section shall not apply to
4669	4669	any bills providing for:
4670	4670	(1) the payment of expenses of the legislature;
4671	4671	(2) the payment of judgments against the state;
4672	4672	(3) any emergency matter when requested by the
4673	4673	governor in a formal message to the legislature; or
4674	4674	(4) the reduction of taxes.
4675	4675	(e-1) Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to a
4676	4676	bill that prevents the deposit into the general revenue fund of
4677	4677	money received from the federal government or earnings on that
4678	4678	money if the bill does not prevent that money from being available
4679	4679	for the purpose of funding state government generally to the same
4680	4680	extent as under existing law.
4681	4681	(f) Unless within the authority of a resolution or
4682	4682	resolutions adopted pursuant to Article VIII, Section 22(b), of the
4683	4683	Texas Constitution, it is not in order for the house to consider for
4684	4684	final passage on third reading, on motion to concur in senate
4685	4685	amendments, or on motion to adopt a conference committee report, a
4686	4686	bill appropriating funds from the state treasury in an amount that,
4687	4687	when added to amounts previously appropriated by bills finally
4688	4688	passed and sent or due to be sent to the comptroller, would exceed
4689	4689	the limit on appropriations established under Chapter 316,
4690	4690	Government Code.
4691	4691	(g) The general appropriations bill shall be reported to the
4692	4692	house by the Committee on Appropriations not later than the 90th
4693	4693	calendar day of the regular session. Should the Committee on
4694	4694	Appropriations fail to report by the deadline, Subsections (a)-(d)
4695	4695	of this section shall be suspended for the balance of that regular
4696	4696	session.
4697	4697	RULE 9. JOINT RESOLUTIONS
4698	4698	Sec. 1. AMENDMENTS TO THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION. (a) A
4699	4699	proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution shall take the form of
4700	4700	a joint resolution, which shall be subject to the rules that govern
4701	4701	the proceedings on bills, except as provided by this section.
4702	4702	(b) A joint resolution is not subject to the provisions of
4703	4703	Rule 8, Section 3, or Rule 11, Section 3.
4704	4704	(c) A joint resolution shall be adopted on any reading after
4705	4705	the first if it receives a two-thirds vote of the elected membership
4706	4706	of the house. If such a joint resolution receives only a majority
4707	4707	vote on second reading, it shall be passed to engrossment, and
4708	4708	subsequent proceedings shall be the same as those governing the
4709	4709	final passage of bills which have been passed to engrossment. If
4710	4710	such a joint resolution does not receive a two-thirds vote of the
4711	4711	elected membership of the house on third reading and final passage,
4712	4712	it shall fail of adoption.
4713	4713	Sec. 2. RATIFYING OR PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE
4714	4714	CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. Ratification by Texas of a
4715	4715	proposed amendment to or application to Congress for a convention
4716	4716	to amend the Constitution of the United States shall take the form
4717	4717	of a joint resolution, which shall be subject to the rules that
4718	4718	govern the proceedings on bills, except that it shall be adopted on
4719	4719	second reading if it receives a majority vote of the members present
4720	4720	and voting, a quorum being present. If such a joint resolution
4721	4721	fails to receive a majority vote, it shall fail of adoption and
4722	4722	shall not be considered again unless revived by a motion to
4723	4723	reconsider as otherwise provided in the rules.
4724	4724	Sec. 3. PLACEMENT OF JOINT RESOLUTIONS ON A CALENDAR. Joint
4725	4725	resolutions on committee report shall be referred to the Committee
4726	4726	on Calendars for placement on an appropriate calendar. The
4727	4727	Committee on Calendars shall maintain a separate calendar for house
4728	4728	joint resolutions and a separate calendar for senate joint
4729	4729	resolutions. Senate joint resolutions shall be considered on
4730	4730	calendar Wednesdays and calendar Thursdays along with senate bills.
4731	4731	RULE 10. HOUSE RESOLUTIONS AND CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS
4732	4732	Sec. 1. FILING. Resolutions shall be introduced by filing a
4733	4733	resolution with the chief clerk in the manner and in an electronic
4734	4734	or other format specified by the chief clerk, who shall number and
4735	4735	record house resolutions in one series and concurrent resolutions
4736	4736	in a separate series.
4737	4737	Sec. 2. REFERRAL TO COMMITTEE. (a) After numbering and
4738	4738	recording, all resolutions shall be sent to the speaker for
4739	4739	referral to the proper committee.
4740	4740	(b) Resolutions proposing the expenditure of money out of
4741	4741	the contingent expense fund of the legislature shall be referred to
4742	4742	the Committee on House Administration.
4743	4743	(c) All other resolutions shall be referred to the
4744	4744	appropriate committee with jurisdiction.
4745	4745	Sec. 3. REFERRAL TO CALENDARS COMMITTEES. All resolutions
4746	4746	on committee report, other than privileged resolutions, shall be
4747	4747	referred immediately to the appropriate calendars committee for
4748	4748	placement on the appropriate calendar.
4749	4749	Sec. 4. ORDER OF CONSIDERATION. Unless privileged,
4750	4750	resolutions shall be considered by the house only at the time
4751	4751	assigned for their consideration on the calendar, in accordance
4752	4752	with the provisions of Rule 6, Section 7.
4753	4753	Sec. 4A. RECORD VOTE REQUIRED BY TEXAS CONSTITUTION. A vote
4754	4754	on final passage of a resolution other than a resolution of a purely
4755	4755	ceremonial or honorary nature must be by record vote with the vote
4756	4756	of each member entered in the journal as required by Section 12(b),
4757	4757	Article III, Texas Constitution.
4758	4758	Sec. 5. SIGNING BY GOVERNOR. Concurrent resolutions shall
4759	4759	take the same course as house resolutions, except that they shall be
4760	4760	sent to the governor for signing when finally passed by both houses.
4761	4761	Sec. 6. MASCOT RESOLUTIONS. (a) All candidates for the
4762	4762	office of mascot shall be named in and elected by a single house
4763	4763	resolution.
4764	4764	(b) Only children of house members who are under the age of
4765	4765	12 years shall be eligible for election to the honorary office of
4766	4766	mascot. A child once named a mascot shall not be eligible for the
4767	4767	honor a second time.
4768	4768	(c) No separate classification or special title shall be
4769	4769	given to any mascot, but all shall receive the same title of
4770	4770	honorary mascot of the house of representatives.
4771	4771	(d) The speaker shall issue a certificate showing the
4772	4772	election of each mascot and deliver it to the parent member of the
4773	4773	child.
4774	4774	Pictures of mascots shall appear on the panel picture of the
4775	4775	house.
4776	4776	Sec. 7. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS DURING CALLED
4777	4777	SESSIONS. The subject matter of house resolutions and concurrent
4778	4778	resolutions does not have to be submitted by the governor in a
4779	4779	called session before they can be considered.
4780	4780	Sec. 8. RESOLUTIONS AUTHORIZING TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
4781	4781	Resolutions authorizing the enrolling clerk of the house or senate
4782	4782	to make technical corrections to a measure that has been finally
4783	4783	acted upon by both houses of the legislature shall be privileged in
4784	4784	nature and need not be referred to committee. Such resolutions
4785	4785	shall be eligible for consideration by the house upon introduction
4786	4786	in the house or receipt from the senate.
4787	4787	Sec. 9. AUTHOR'S SIGNATURE ON CONGRATULATORY OR MEMORIAL
4788	4788	RESOLUTION. The enrolled printing of a house congratulatory or
4789	4789	memorial resolution shall include a place for the signature of the
4790	4790	primary author of the resolution. The chief clerk shall provide the
4791	4791	primary author with the opportunity to sign the resolution after
4792	4792	the resolution is enrolled. The absence of the primary author's
4793	4793	signature does not affect the validity of the resolution as adopted
4794	4794	by the house.
4795	4795	RULE 11. AMENDMENTS
4796	4796	Sec. 1. ACCEPTABLE MOTIONS TO AMEND. When a bill,
4797	4797	resolution, motion, or proposition is under consideration, a motion
4798	4798	to amend and a motion to amend that amendment shall be in order. It
4799	4799	shall also be in order to offer a further amendment by way of a
4800	4800	substitute. Such a substitute may not be amended. If the
4801	4801	substitute is adopted, the question shall then be on the amendment
4802	4802	as substituted, and under this condition an amendment is not in
4803	4803	order.
4804	4804	Sec. 2. MOTIONS ON A DIFFERENT SUBJECT OFFERED AS
4805	4805	AMENDMENTS. No motion or proposition on a subject different from
4806	4806	the subject under consideration shall be admitted as an amendment
4807	4807	or as a substitute for the motion or proposition under debate.
4808	4808	"Proposition" as used in this section shall include a bill,
4809	4809	resolution, joint resolution, or any other motion which is
4810	4810	amendable.
4811	4811	Amendments pertaining to the organization, powers,
4812	4812	regulation, and management of the agency, commission, or advisory
4813	4813	committee under consideration are germane to bills extending state
4814	4814	agencies, commissions, or advisory committees under the provisions
4815	4815	of the Texas Sunset Act (Chapter 325, Government Code).
4816	4816	An amendment to a committee substitute laid before the house
4817	4817	in lieu of an original bill is germane if each subject of the
4818	4818	amendment is a subject that is included in the committee substitute
4819	4819	or was included in the original bill.
4820	4820	Sec. 3. AMENDING A BILL TO CHANGE ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE. No
4821	4821	bill shall be amended in its passage through either house so as to
4822	4822	change its original purpose.
4823	4823	Sec. 4. AMENDMENTS TO BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS ON LOCAL,
4824	4824	CONSENT, AND RESOLUTIONS CALENDARS. Amendments to a bill or
4825	4825	resolution shall not be in order during its consideration on a
4826	4826	local, consent, and resolutions calendar set by the Committee on
4827	4827	Local and Consent Calendars, unless the amendments have first been
4828	4828	submitted to and approved by the Committee on Local and Consent
4829	4829	Calendars, which shall be noted thereon by the chair of the
4830	4830	Committee on Local and Consent Calendars prior to the offering of
4831	4831	the amendments.
4832	4832	Sec. 5. AMENDMENTS ON THIRD READING. When a bill has been
4833	4833	taken up on its third reading, amendments shall be in order, but
4834	4834	shall require a two-thirds vote of the members present for their
4835	4835	adoption. A bill on third reading may be recommitted to a committee
4836	4836	and later reported to the house with amendments, in which case the
4837	4837	bill shall again take the course of a bill at its second reading.
4838	4838	Sec. 6. FILING AN AMENDMENT. (a) The chief clerk shall
4839	4839	ensure that for an amendment other than a committee amendment,
4840	4840	copies of each amendment are filed with the speaker as follows:
4841	4841	(1) six copies of each amendment; and
4842	4842	(2) four additional copies of each amendment that
4843	4843	exceeds one page in length.
4844	4844	(b) The chief clerk may require the member offering the
4845	4845	amendment to provide the number of copies required under Subsection
4846	4846	(a) of this section. The chief clerk shall ensure that, as soon as
4847	4847	practicable after being filed by the offering member, each
4848	4848	amendment is made available on the floor amendment system, or the
4849	4849	system's successor in function, through which members of the house
4850	4850	may view an electronic image of submitted amendments. When the
4851	4851	amendment is read, two copies shall go to the chief clerk, one copy
4852	4852	to the journal clerk, one copy to the reading clerk, and one copy to
4853	4853	the speaker.
4854	4854	(c) The chief clerk shall retain one copy of each amendment
4855	4855	filed with the speaker under this section whether or not the
4856	4856	amendment was laid out by the speaker for consideration.
4857	4857	(d) If an amendment is required to be prefiled with the
4858	4858	chief clerk pursuant to a rule for floor consideration proposed by
4859	4859	the Committee on Calendars and adopted under Rule 6, Section 16(f),
4860	4860	the amendment must be provided to the chief clerk, in a manner
4861	4861	determined by the chief clerk under the direction of the Committee
4862	4862	on House Administration, and available in the chief clerk's office
4863	4863	in accordance with the Calendar Committee rule for floor
4864	4864	consideration.
4865	4865	(e) The speaker shall not recognize a member to offer an
4866	4866	original amendment that exceeds one page in length and that is in
4867	4867	the form of a complete substitute for the bill or resolution laid
4868	4868	before the house, or in the opinion of the speaker is a substantial
4869	4869	substitute, unless the amendment has been provided to the chief
4870	4870	clerk, in a manner determined by the chief clerk under the direction
4871	4871	of the Committee on House Administration, and was available in the
4872	4872	chief clerk's office at least 12 hours prior to the time the
4873	4873	calendar on which the bill or resolution to be amended is eligible
4874	4874	for consideration.
4875	4875	(f) An amendment may be typed, hand-printed, or
4876	4876	handwritten, but must be legible in order to be offered.
4877	4877	(g) The speaker shall not recognize a member to offer an
4878	4878	original amendment to a bill on second reading if the bill extends
4879	4879	an agency, commission, or advisory committee under the Texas Sunset
4880	4880	Act unless the amendment has been provided to the chief clerk, in a
4881	4881	manner determined by the chief clerk under the direction of the
4882	4882	Committee on House Administration, and was available in the chief
4883	4883	clerk's office at least 24 hours prior to the time the calendar on
4884	4884	which the bill appears for second reading is first eligible for
4885	4885	consideration.
4886	4886	(h) If the house is convened in regular session, the speaker
4887	4887	shall not recognize a member to offer an original amendment to the
4888	4888	general appropriations bill on second reading unless the amendment
4889	4889	has been provided to the chief clerk, in a manner determined by the
4890	4890	chief clerk under the direction of the Committee on House
4891	4891	Administration, and was available in the chief clerk's office at
4892	4892	least 72 hours prior to the time the calendar on which the general
4893	4893	appropriations bill appears for second reading is first eligible
4894	4894	for consideration.
4895	4895	(i) The Committee on House Administration shall ensure
4896	4896	that:
4897	4897	(1) the floor amendment system through which members
4898	4898	of the house may view an electronic image of current or past
4899	4899	amendments, or the system's successor in function, is available to
4900	4900	the public on the Internet;
4901	4901	(2) members of the public using the system available
4902	4902	on the Internet may view the same information that members may view
4903	4903	at the same time that members may view the information; and
4904	4904	(3) members of the public using the system available
4905	4905	on the Internet may view any amendment required to be provided to
4906	4906	the chief clerk under Subsections (e), (g), and (h) of this section
4907	4907	at least 10 hours prior to the time the calendar on which the bill or
4908	4908	resolution to be amended is eligible for consideration.
4909	4909	(j) To the extent practicable, an amendment must include the
4910	4910	page and line numbers of the text of the bill, resolution, or
4911	4911	amendment being amended. Failure to comply with the requirements of
4912	4912	this subsection is not subject to a point of order.
4913	4913	Sec. 7. ORDER OF OFFERING MOTIONS TO AMEND. Classes of
4914	4914	motions to amend shall be offered in the following order:
4915	4915	(1) motions to amend by striking out the enacting
4916	4916	clause of a bill (or the resolving clause of a resolution), which
4917	4917	amendment cannot be amended or substituted;
4918	4918	(2) motions to amend an original bill, resolution,
4919	4919	motion, or proposition (other than substitute bills as provided for
4920	4920	in Subdivision (3) below), which shall have precedence as follows:
4921	4921	(A) original amendment;
4922	4922	(B) amendment to the amendment;
4923	4923	(C) substitute for the amendment to the
4924	4924	amendment.
4925	4925	Recognition for the offering of original amendments shall be
4926	4926	as follows: first, the main author; second, the member or members
4927	4927	offering the committee amendment; and third, members offering other
4928	4928	amendments from the floor;
4929	4929	(3) motions to amend an original bill by striking out
4930	4930	all after the enacting clause (substitute bills), which substitute
4931	4931	bills shall be subject to amendment as follows:
4932	4932	(A) amendment to the substitute bill;
4933	4933	(B) substitute for the amendment to the
4934	4934	substitute bill.
4935	4935	Recognition for offering such substitute bills shall be as
4936	4936	follows: first, the main author of the original bill, if the
4937	4937	member has not sought to perfect the bill by amendments as provided
4938	4938	for in Subdivision (2) above; second, the member or members
4939	4939	offering the committee amendment; and, third, members offering
4940	4940	amendments from the floor.
4941	4941	It shall be in order under the procedure described in this
4942	4942	subdivision to have as many as four complete measures pending
4943	4943	before the house at one time; that is, an original bill, an
4944	4944	amendment striking out all after the enacting clause of the bill and
4945	4945	inserting a new bill body, an amendment to the amendment striking
4946	4946	out all after the enacting clause of the bill and inserting a new
4947	4947	bill body, and a substitute for this amendment to the amendment to
4948	4948	the original bill which is also a new bill body. These "substitute
4949	4949	bills" shall be voted on in the reverse order of their offering;
4950	4950	(4) motions to amend the caption of a bill or joint
4951	4951	resolution, which may also be offered in accordance with Section
4952	4952	9(a) of this rule.
4953	4953	Sec. 8. STRIKE OUTS AND INSERTIONS. (a) A motion to strike
4954	4954	out and to insert new matter in lieu of that to be stricken out shall
4955	4955	be regarded as a substitute and shall be indivisible.
4956	4956	(b) Matter inserted or stricken out of an original bill by
4957	4957	way of amendment may not be taken out or reinserted at a later time
4958	4958	on the same reading except under the following conditions:
4959	4959	(1) reconsideration of the inserting or deleting
4960	4960	amendment;
4961	4961	(2) adoption of a "substitute bill" amendment;
4962	4962	(3) adoption of an amendment for a whole paragraph,
4963	4963	section or subdivision of a bill which so materially changes the
4964	4964	original text that the portion inserted or deleted is in fact of
4965	4965	minor importance.
4966	4966	Sec. 9. AMENDING CAPTIONS. (a) An amendment to the caption
4967	4967	of a bill or resolution shall not be in order until all other
4968	4968	proposed amendments have been acted on and the house is ready to
4969	4969	vote on the passage of the measure, and it shall then be decided
4970	4970	without debate.
4971	4971	(b) If the previous question has been ordered on a bill or
4972	4972	joint resolution at any reading, an amendment to the caption of that
4973	4973	bill or joint resolution may be offered and voted on immediately
4974	4974	preceding the final vote on the bill or joint resolution.
4975	4975	Sec. 10. MOTION TO LIMIT AMENDMENTS. (a) A motion to limit
4976	4976	amendments shall be admitted only when seconded by 25 members. The
4977	4977	motion may take either of two forms:
4978	4978	(1) to limit amendments to those pending before the
4979	4979	house; or
4980	4980	(2) to limit amendments to those pending on the
4981	4981	speaker's desk.
4982	4982	(b) The motion shall be put by the chair in this manner: "The
4983	4983	motion has been seconded. Three minutes pro and con debate will be
4984	4984	allowed on the motion to limit amendments." As soon as the debate
4985	4985	has ended, the chair shall continue: "As many as are in favor of
4986	4986	limiting amendments on (here state on which question or questions)
4987	4987	will say 'Aye,'" and then "As many as are opposed say 'Nay.'" As in
4988	4988	all other propositions, a motion to limit amendments shall be
4989	4989	decided by a record vote if demanded by any member. If ordered by a
4990	4990	majority of the members voting, a quorum being present, the motion
4991	4991	shall have the effect of confining further debate and consideration
4992	4992	to those amendments included within the motion, and thereafter the
4993	4993	chair will accept no more amendments to the proposition to which the
4994	4994	motion is applied.
4995	4995	(c) The motion to limit amendments, if adopted, shall not in
4996	4996	any way cut off or limit debate or other parliamentary maneuvers on
4997	4997	the pending proposition or propositions or amendment or amendments
4998	4998	included within the motion. The sole function of the motion is to
4999	4999	prevent the chair from accepting further amendments to the
5000	5000	proposition to which the motion is applied.
5001	5001	(d) Except as otherwise provided, the motion to limit
5002	5002	amendments shall have no effect on the parliamentary situation to
5003	5003	which the motion is applied, and the matter to which the motion is
5004	5004	applied shall continue to be considered by the house in all other
5005	5005	respects as though the motion had not been made.
5006	5006	(e) The amendments that are included within the motion to
5007	5007	limit amendments shall each be subject to amendment, if otherwise
5008	5008	permitted under the rules.
5009	5009	Sec. 11. MOTION TO TABLE A MOTION TO LIMIT AMENDMENTS. The
5010	5010	motion to limit amendments is not subject to a motion to table.
5011	5011	Sec. 12. ORDER OF VOTING ON AMENDMENTS. When an amendment
5012	5012	is offered, followed by an amendment to that amendment, and then a
5013	5013	substitute for the amendment to the amendment, these questions
5014	5014	shall be voted on in the reverse order of their offering.
5015	5015	Sec. 13. CERTIFICATION OF ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS. When an
5016	5016	amendment is adopted, such action shall be certified by the chief
5017	5017	clerk on the amendment, and the official copy of the amendment shall
5018	5018	then be securely attached to the bill or resolution which it amends.
5019	5019	RULE 12. PRINTING
5020	5020	Sec. 1. PRINTINGS OF BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS. (a)
5021	5021	Except as otherwise provided in this rule, all bills and joint
5022	5022	resolutions shall be printed and a copy provided to each member at
5023	5023	each of the following stages in the parliamentary progress of the
5024	5024	bill or joint resolution:
5025	5025	(1) at the time of the committee report on the bill or
5026	5026	joint resolution, which shall be known as "First Printing" and
5027	5027	which shall consist of:
5028	5028	(A) a complete text of the bill or joint
5029	5029	resolution as reported from committee;
5030	5030	(B) a complete copy of the bill analysis, a
5031	5031	complete copy of the summary of committee action, and a complete
5032	5032	copy of the witness list;
5033	5033	(C) the text of the committee report;
5034	5034	(D) the record vote by which the measure was
5035	5035	reported from committee, including the vote of individual members;
5036	5036	(E) a copy of the latest fiscal note; and
5037	5037	(F) a copy of each impact statement received by
5038	5038	the committee;
5039	5039	(2) at the time the bill or joint resolution, if
5040	5040	amended, finally passes the senate, senate amendments and house
5041	5041	engrossment text will be printed, which shall be known as "Second
5042	5042	Printing"; and
5043	5043	(3) at the time the conference committee, if any,
5044	5044	makes its report on the bill or joint resolution, which shall be
5045	5045	known as "Third Printing."
5046	5046	(b) In any section of the first printing of a bill or joint
5047	5047	resolution that proposes to amend an existing statute or
5048	5048	constitutional provision, language sought to be deleted must be
5049	5049	bracketed and stricken through, and language sought to be added
5050	5050	must be underlined. This requirement does not apply to:
5051	5051	(1) an appropriations bill;
5052	5052	(2) a local bill;
5053	5053	(3) a game bill;
5054	5054	(4) a recodification bill;
5055	5055	(5) a redistricting bill;
5056	5056	(6) a section of a bill or joint resolution not
5057	5057	purporting to amend an existing statute or constitutional
5058	5058	provision;
5059	5059	(7) a section of a bill or joint resolution that
5060	5060	revises the entire text of an existing statute or constitutional
5061	5061	provision, to the extent that it would confuse rather than clarify
5062	5062	to show deletions and additions; and
5063	5063	(8) a section of a bill or joint resolution providing
5064	5064	for severability, nonseverability, emergency, or repeal of an
5065	5065	existing statute or constitutional provision.
5066	5066	(c) The speaker may overrule a point of order raised as to a
5067	5067	violation of Subsection (b) of this section if the violation is
5068	5068	typographical or minor and does not tend to deceive or mislead.
5069	5069	(d) The requirement to provide a copy of a printing to each
5070	5070	member may be accomplished by making a copy of the printing
5071	5071	available in an electronic format for viewing by the member and,
5072	5072	when the electronic format copy of the appropriate printing becomes
5073	5073	available, sending notice of that fact to a Capitol e-mail address
5074	5074	designated by the member. If a member informs the chief clerk that
5075	5075	the member also desires to receive a paper copy of printings at
5076	5076	first, second, or third printing, the chief clerk shall place paper
5077	5077	copies of those printings designated by the member in the newspaper
5078	5078	box of the member as soon as practicable after the electronic copies
5079	5079	of the printings are made available for viewing.
5080	5080	(e) The provisions of Subsection (d) of this section
5081	5081	authorizing delivery of a printing by electronic means also apply
5082	5082	to any fiscal note, impact statement, analysis, or other item
5083	5083	required by these rules to be delivered or made available to each
5084	5084	member as an attachment to or in connection with the applicable
5085	5085	printing.
5086	5086	Sec. 2. LOCAL BILLS. Local bills shall not be reprinted
5087	5087	after the first printing except when ordered printed by a majority
5088	5088	vote of the house.
5089	5089	Sec. 3. CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS. A concurrent resolution
5090	5090	shall be printed only if the resolution:
5091	5091	(1) grants permission to sue the state;
5092	5092	(2) memorializes Congress to take or to refrain from
5093	5093	taking certain action;
5094	5094	(3) sets legislative policy or declares legislative
5095	5095	intent;
5096	5096	(4) makes corrective changes in any bill, joint
5097	5097	resolution, or conference committee report;
5098	5098	(5) establishes or interprets policy for a state
5099	5099	agency, department, or political subdivision;
5100	5100	(6) establishes, modifies, or changes internal
5101	5101	procedures or administration of the legislature or any component
5102	5102	part thereof;
5103	5103	(7) proposes an amendment to the Joint Rules of the
5104	5104	Senate and the House of Representatives; or
5105	5105	(8) is ordered printed by a majority vote of the house.
5106	5106	Sec. 4. HOUSE RESOLUTIONS. A house resolution shall be
5107	5107	printed only if the resolution:
5108	5108	(1) proposes an amendment to the rules of the house;
5109	5109	(2) establishes, modifies, or changes the internal
5110	5110	procedures and administration of the house;
5111	5111	(3) establishes legislative policy or interprets
5112	5112	legislative intent; or
5113	5113	(4) is ordered printed by a majority of the house.
5114	5114	Sec. 5. ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS OF COMPLIANCE WITH PRINTING
5115	5115	REQUIREMENTS. Except for matter to be printed in the journal, all
5116	5116	requirements contained in the rules with respect to the printing of
5117	5117	bills, resolutions, reports, and other matters shall be considered
5118	5118	complied with if the material is adequately and properly reproduced
5119	5119	by any acceptable means of reproduction.
5120	5120	RULE 13. INTERACTIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SENATE
5121	5121	CHAPTER A. MESSAGES
5122	5122	Sec. 1. MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR. Messages and
5123	5123	communications from the governor shall be received when announced,
5124	5124	and shall be read on the calendar day received.
5125	5125	Sec. 2. MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE. (a) All messages from
5126	5126	the senate shall be received when announced. Senate bills
5127	5127	announced as passed shall be read for the first time and referred to
5128	5128	the appropriate committee as soon as practicable.
5129	5129	(b) Messages from the senate announcing amendments to house
5130	5130	bills and resolutions, nonconcurrence in house amendments to senate
5131	5131	bills and resolutions, requests for conference committees, reports
5132	5132	of conference committees, and all other matters of disagreement,
5133	5133	amendments, and requests between the two houses, shall go to the
5134	5134	speaker's desk in their regular order, but may be called up for
5135	5135	action by the house at any time as a privileged matter, yielding
5136	5136	only to a motion to adjourn.
5137	5137	CHAPTER B. SENATE AMENDMENTS
5138	5138	Sec. 3. HOUSE ACTION ON SENATE AMENDMENTS. When a bill,
5139	5139	resolution, or other matter is returned to the house with senate
5140	5140	amendments, the house may:
5141	5141	(1) agree to the amendments; or
5142	5142	(2) disagree to all of the amendments and ask for a
5143	5143	conference committee; or
5144	5144	(3) agree to one or more of the amendments and disagree
5145	5145	as to the remainder and request a conference committee to consider
5146	5146	those in disagreement; or
5147	5147	(4) agree to one or more and disagree as to the
5148	5148	remainder; or
5149	5149	(5) disagree to all amendments.
5150	5150	Sec. 4. ADOPTION OF SENATE AMENDMENTS FOR BILLS WITH
5151	5151	IMMEDIATE EFFECT. If a bill is to go into immediate effect, senate
5152	5152	amendments thereto must be adopted by a vote of two-thirds of the
5153	5153	elected membership of the house.
5154	5154	Sec. 5. PRINTING SENATE AMENDMENTS. (a) Senate amendments
5155	5155	to house bills and resolutions must be printed and copies provided
5156	5156	to the members at least 24 hours before any action can be taken
5157	5157	thereon by the house during a regular or special session.
5158	5158	(b) When a house bill or joint resolution, other than the
5159	5159	general appropriations bill, with senate amendments is returned to
5160	5160	the house, the chief clerk shall request the Legislative Budget
5161	5161	Board to prepare a fiscal note outlining the fiscal implications
5162	5162	and probable cost of the measure as impacted by the senate
5163	5163	amendments. A copy of the fiscal note shall be distributed with the
5164	5164	senate amendments on their printing before any action can be taken
5165	5165	on the senate amendments by the house.
5166	5166	(c) When a house bill or joint resolution, other than the
5167	5167	general appropriations bill, with senate amendments is returned to
5168	5168	the house, the chief clerk shall request the Texas Legislative
5169	5169	Council to prepare an analysis that describes the substantive
5170	5170	changes made to the house version of the bill by the senate
5171	5171	amendments. A copy of the council's analysis of senate amendments
5172	5172	shall be provided to the members electronically or as a printed copy
5173	5173	at least 12 hours before action is taken on the senate amendments by
5174	5174	the house. The Texas Legislative Council shall make all reasonable
5175	5175	efforts to timely provide the analysis in as accurate a form as time
5176	5176	allows. However, an unavoidable inability to provide the analysis
5177	5177	or an inadvertent error in the analysis is not subject to a point of
5178	5178	order.
5179	5179	(d) When a house bill or joint resolution for which a tax
5180	5180	equity note was required under Rule 4, Section 34(b)(5), is
5181	5181	returned to the house with senate amendments, the chief clerk shall
5182	5182	request the Legislative Budget Board to prepare a tax equity note
5183	5183	estimating the general effects of the senate amendments on the
5184	5184	distribution of tax and fee burdens among individuals and
5185	5185	businesses. A copy of the updated tax equity note shall be made
5186	5186	available to each member, in some format, before any vote on the
5187	5187	floor can be taken on the senate amendments by the house.
5188	5188	CHAPTER C. CONFERENCE COMMITTEES
5189	5189	Sec. 6. MEMBERSHIP AND OPERATION. (a) In all conferences
5190	5190	between the senate and the house by committee, the number of
5191	5191	committee members from each house shall be five. All votes on
5192	5192	matters of difference shall be taken by each committee separately.
5193	5193	A majority of each committee shall be required to determine the
5194	5194	matter in dispute. Reports by conference committees must be signed
5195	5195	by a majority of each committee of the conference.
5196	5196	(b) A copy of the report signed by a majority of each
5197	5197	committee of the conference must be furnished to each member of the
5198	5198	committee in person or if unable to deliver in person by placing a
5199	5199	copy in the member's newspaper mailbox at least one hour before the
5200	5200	report is furnished to each member of the house under Section 10(a)
5201	5201	of this rule. The paper copies of the report submitted to the chief
5202	5202	clerk under Section 10(b) of this rule must contain a certificate
5203	5203	that the requirement of this subsection has been satisfied, and
5204	5204	that certificate must be attached to the copy of the report
5205	5205	furnished to each member under Section 10(d) of this rule. Failure
5206	5206	to comply with this subsection is not subject to a point of order.
5207	5207	Sec. 7. MEETINGS. (a) House conferees when meeting with
5208	5208	senate conferees to adjust differences shall meet in public and
5209	5209	shall give a reasonable amount of notice of the meeting in the place
5210	5210	designated for giving notice of meetings of house standing
5211	5211	committees. Any such meeting shall be open to the news media. Any
5212	5212	conference committee report adopted in private shall not be
5213	5213	considered by the house.
5214	5214	(b) At a meeting of the conferees to adjust differences on
5215	5215	the general appropriations bill, the chair of the house conferees
5216	5216	may request the assistance of any house member who serves on the
5217	5217	appropriations committee.
5218	5218	Sec. 8. INSTRUCTIONS. Instructions to a conference
5219	5219	committee shall be made after the conference is ordered and before
5220	5220	the conferees are appointed by the speaker, and not thereafter.
5221	5221	Sec. 9. LIMITATIONS ON JURISDICTION. (a) Conference
5222	5222	committees shall limit their discussions and their actions solely
5223	5223	to the matters in disagreement between the two houses. A conference
5224	5224	committee shall have no authority with respect to any bill or
5225	5225	resolution:
5226	5226	(1) to change, alter, or amend text which is not in
5227	5227	disagreement;
5228	5228	(2) to omit text which is not in disagreement;
5229	5229	(3) to add text on any matter which is not in
5230	5230	disagreement;
5231	5231	(4) to add text on any matter which is not included in
5232	5232	either the house or senate version of the bill or resolution.
5233	5233	This rule shall be strictly construed by the presiding
5234	5234	officer in each house to achieve these purposes.
5235	5235	(b) Conference committees on appropriations bills, like
5236	5236	other conference committees, shall limit their discussions and
5237	5237	their actions solely to the matters in disagreement between the two
5238	5238	houses. In addition to the limitations contained elsewhere in the
5239	5239	rules, a conference committee on appropriations bills shall be
5240	5240	strictly limited in its authority as follows:
5241	5241	(1) If an item of appropriation appears in both house
5242	5242	and senate versions of the bill, the item must be included in the
5243	5243	conference committee report.
5244	5244	(2) If an item of appropriation appears in both house
5245	5245	and senate versions of the bill, and in identical amounts, no change
5246	5246	can be made in the item or the amount.
5247	5247	(3) If an item of appropriation appears in both house
5248	5248	and senate versions of the bill but in different amounts, no change
5249	5249	can be made in the item, but the amount shall be at the discretion of
5250	5250	the conference committee, provided that the amount shall not exceed
5251	5251	the larger version and shall not be less than the smaller version.
5252	5252	(4) If an item of appropriation appears in one version
5253	5253	of the bill and not in the other, the item can be included or omitted
5254	5254	at the discretion of the conference committee. If the item is
5255	5255	included, the amount shall not exceed the sum specified in the
5256	5256	version containing the item.
5257	5257	(5) If an item of appropriation appears in neither the
5258	5258	house nor the senate version of the bill, the item must not be
5259	5259	included in the conference committee report. However, the
5260	5260	conference committee report may include appropriations for
5261	5261	purposes or programs authorized by bills that have been passed and
5262	5262	sent to the governor and may include contingent appropriations for
5263	5263	purposes or programs authorized by bills that have been passed by at
5264	5264	least one house.
5265	5265	This rule shall be strictly construed by the presiding
5266	5266	officer in each house to achieve these purposes.
5267	5267	(c) Conference committees on tax bills, like other
5268	5268	conference committees, shall limit their discussions and their
5269	5269	actions solely to the matters in disagreement between the two
5270	5270	houses. In addition to the limitations contained elsewhere in the
5271	5271	rules, a conference committee on a tax bill shall be strictly
5272	5272	limited in its authority as follows:
5273	5273	(1) If a tax item appears in both house and senate
5274	5274	versions of the bill, the item must be included in the conference
5275	5275	committee report.
5276	5276	(2) If a tax item appears in both house and senate
5277	5277	versions of the bill, and in identical form and with identical
5278	5278	rates, no change can be made in the item or the rate provided.
5279	5279	(3) If a tax item appears in both house and senate
5280	5280	versions of the bill but at differing rates, no change can be made
5281	5281	in the item, but the rate shall be at the discretion of the
5282	5282	conference committee, provided that the rate shall not exceed the
5283	5283	higher version and shall not be less than the lower version.
5284	5284	(4) If a tax item appears in one version of the bill
5285	5285	and not in the other, the item can be included or omitted at the
5286	5286	discretion of the conference committee. If the item is included,
5287	5287	the rate shall not exceed the rate specified in the version
5288	5288	containing the item.
5289	5289	(5) If a tax item appears in neither the house nor the
5290	5290	senate version of the bill, the item must not be included in the
5291	5291	conference committee report.
5292	5292	This rule shall be strictly construed by the presiding
5293	5293	officer in each house to achieve these purposes.
5294	5294	(d) Conference committees on reapportionment bills, to the
5295	5295	extent possible, shall limit their discussions and their actions to
5296	5296	the matters in disagreement between the two houses. Since the
5297	5297	adjustment of one district in a reapportionment bill will
5298	5298	inevitably affect other districts, the strict rule of construction
5299	5299	imposed on other conference committees must be relaxed somewhat
5300	5300	when reapportionment bills are involved. Accordingly, the
5301	5301	following authority and limitations shall apply only to conference
5302	5302	committees on reapportionment bills:
5303	5303	(1) If the matters in disagreement affect only certain
5304	5304	districts, and other districts are identical in both house and
5305	5305	senate versions of the bill, the conference committee shall make
5306	5306	adjustments only in those districts whose rearrangement is
5307	5307	essential to the effective resolving of the matters in
5308	5308	disagreement. All other districts shall remain unchanged.
5309	5309	(2) If the matters in disagreement permeate the entire
5310	5310	bill and affect most, if not all, of the districts, the conference
5311	5311	committee shall have wide discretion in rearranging the districts
5312	5312	to the extent necessary to resolve all differences between the two
5313	5313	houses.
5314	5314	(3) Insofar as the actual structure of the districts
5315	5315	is concerned, and only to that extent, the provisions of Subsection
5316	5316	(a) of this section shall not apply to conference committees on
5317	5317	reapportionment bills.
5318	5318	(e) Conference committees on recodification bills, like
5319	5319	other conference committees, shall limit their discussions and
5320	5320	their actions solely to the matters in disagreement between the two
5321	5321	houses. The comprehensive and complicated nature of recodification
5322	5322	bills makes necessary the relaxing of the strict rule of
5323	5323	construction imposed on other conference committees only to the
5324	5324	following extent:
5325	5325	(1) If it develops in conference committee that
5326	5326	material has been inadvertently included in both house and senate
5327	5327	versions which properly has no place in the recodification, that
5328	5328	material may be omitted from the conference committee report, if by
5329	5329	that omission the existing statute is not repealed, altered, or
5330	5330	amended.
5331	5331	(2) If it develops in conference committee that
5332	5332	material has been inadvertently omitted from both the house and
5333	5333	senate versions which properly should be included if the
5334	5334	recodification is to achieve its purpose of being all-inclusive of
5335	5335	the statutes being recodified, that material may be added to the
5336	5336	conference committee report, if by the addition the existing
5337	5337	statute is merely restated without substantive change in existing
5338	5338	law.
5339	5339	(f) Limitations imposed on certain conference committees by
5340	5340	the provisions of this section may be suspended in part by
5341	5341	permission of the house to allow consideration of and action on a
5342	5342	specific matter or matters which otherwise would be prohibited.
5343	5343	Permission shall be granted only by resolution passed by majority
5344	5344	vote of the house. All such resolutions shall be privileged in
5345	5345	nature and need not be referred to a committee. The introduction of
5346	5346	such a resolution shall be announced from the house floor and the
5347	5347	resolution shall be eligible for consideration by the house:
5348	5348	(1) three hours after a copy of the resolution has been
5349	5349	distributed to each member; or
5350	5350	(2) for a resolution suspending limitations on a
5351	5351	conference committee considering the general appropriations bill,
5352	5352	48 hours in a regular session and 24 hours in a special session
5353	5353	after a copy of the resolution has been distributed to each member.
5354	5354	(g) The time at which the copies of such a resolution are
5355	5355	distributed to the members shall be time-stamped on the originals
5356	5356	of the resolution. The resolution shall specify in detail:
5357	5357	(1) the exact language of the matter or matters
5358	5358	proposed to be considered;
5359	5359	(2) the specific limitation or limitations to be
5360	5360	suspended;
5361	5361	(3) the specific action contemplated by the conference
5362	5362	committee;
5363	5363	(4) except for a resolution suspending the limitations
5364	5364	on the conferees for the general appropriations bill, the reasons
5365	5365	that suspension of the limitations is being requested; and
5366	5366	(5) a fiscal note distributed with the resolution
5367	5367	outlining the fiscal implications and probable cost of the items to
5368	5368	be included in the conference committee report that would otherwise
5369	5369	be prohibited but for the passage of the resolution.
5370	5370	(h) In the application of Subsection (g) of this section to
5371	5371	appropriations bills, the resolution:
5372	5372	(1) need not include changes in amounts resulting from
5373	5373	a proposed salary plan or changes in format that do not affect the
5374	5374	amount of an appropriation or the method of finance of an
5375	5375	appropriation, but shall include a general statement describing the
5376	5376	salary plan or format change;
5377	5377	(2) need not include differences in language which do
5378	5378	not affect the substance of the bill;
5379	5379	(3) if suspending a limitation imposed by Subsection
5380	5380	(b)(2), (3), (4), or (5) of this section, must specify the amount by
5381	5381	which the appropriation in the conference committee report is less
5382	5382	than or greater than the amount permitted for that item of
5383	5383	appropriation under Subsection (b) of this section; and
5384	5384	(4) shall be available in its entirety on the
5385	5385	electronic legislative information system that is accessible by the
5386	5386	general public.
5387	5387	(i) Permission granted by a resolution under Subsection (f)
5388	5388	of this section shall suspend the limitations only for the matter or
5389	5389	matters clearly specified in the resolution, and the action of the
5390	5390	conference committee shall be in conformity with the resolution.
5391	5391	Sec. 10. PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF REPORTS. (a) A
5392	5392	conference committee report on the general appropriations bill must
5393	5393	be printed and a copy furnished to each member as provided by Rule
5394	5394	12, Section 1, at least 48 hours before action can be taken on the
5395	5395	report by the house during a regular session or at least 24 hours
5396	5396	before action can be taken by the house during a special session.
5397	5397	All other conference committee reports must be printed and a copy
5398	5398	furnished to each member as provided by Rule 12, Section 1, at least
5399	5399	24 hours before action can be taken on the report by the house
5400	5400	during a regular or special session.
5401	5401	(b) Three original copies of a conference committee report
5402	5402	shall be submitted to the chief clerk for printing. Each original
5403	5403	conference committee report shall contain the following:
5404	5404	(1) the signatures of the house conferees and senate
5405	5405	conferees who voted to adopt the conference committee report;
5406	5406	(2) the text of the bill or resolution as adopted by
5407	5407	the conference committee; and
5408	5408	(3) an analysis of the conference committee report as
5409	5409	required by Section 11 of this rule.
5410	5410	(c) Before action can be taken by the house on a conference
5411	5411	committee report on a bill or joint resolution, other than the
5412	5412	general appropriations bill, a fiscal note outlining the fiscal
5413	5413	implications and probable cost of the conference committee report
5414	5414	shall be submitted to the chief clerk, and a copy of the fiscal note
5415	5415	shall be distributed with the conference committee report on its
5416	5416	printing.
5417	5417	(d) Before a vote on the floor can be taken by the house on a
5418	5418	conference committee report on a bill or joint resolution for which
5419	5419	a tax equity note was required under Rule 4, Section 34(b)(5), a tax
5420	5420	equity note estimating the general effects of the conference
5421	5421	committee report on the distribution of tax and fee burdens among
5422	5422	individuals and businesses shall be submitted to the chief clerk,
5423	5423	and a copy of the tax equity note shall be made available to each
5424	5424	member.
5425	5425	Sec. 11. ANALYSIS OF REPORTS. (a) All reports of conference
5426	5426	committees shall include an analysis showing wherein the report
5427	5427	differs from the house and senate versions of the bill, resolution,
5428	5428	or other matter in disagreement. The analysis of appropriations
5429	5429	bills shall show in dollar amounts the differences between the
5430	5430	conference committee report and the house and senate versions. No
5431	5431	conference committee report shall be considered by the house unless
5432	5432	such an analysis has been prepared and distributed to each member.
5433	5433	(b) The analysis shall to the extent practical indicate any
5434	5434	instance wherein the conference committee in its report appears to
5435	5435	have exceeded the limitations imposed on its jurisdiction by
5436	5436	Section 9 of this rule. An analysis and the conference committee
5437	5437	report in which the analysis is included are not subject to a point
5438	5438	of order due to a failure to comply with this subsection or due to a
5439	5439	mistake made in complying with this subsection.
5440	5440	Sec. 12. CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS. A conference committee
5441	5441	report is not subject to amendment, but must be accepted or rejected
5442	5442	in its entirety. While a conference committee report is pending, a
5443	5443	motion to deal with individual amendments in disagreement is not in
5444	5444	order.
5445	5445	Sec. 13. WHEN REPORTS NOT ACCEPTABLE. When a conference
5446	5446	committee report is not acceptable to the house for any reason, it
5447	5447	may be recommitted to the same committee with the request for
5448	5448	further consideration, and the house may or may not give any
5449	5449	specific instructions on the report to the conference committee; or
5450	5450	the house may request the appointment by the senate of a new
5451	5451	conference committee and then proceed to empower the speaker to
5452	5452	name new conferees for the house.
5453	5453	RULE 14. GENERAL PROVISIONS
5454	5454	Sec. 1. WHEN RULES ARE SILENT. If the rules are silent or
5455	5455	inexplicit on any question of order or parliamentary practice, the
5456	5456	Rules of the House of Representatives of the United States
5457	5457	Congress, and its practice as reflected in published precedents,
5458	5458	and Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure shall be considered as
5459	5459	authority.
5460	5460	Sec. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES. (a) Amendments to the
5461	5461	rules of the house shall be proposed by house resolutions which
5462	5462	shall be referred at once, without debate, to the Committee on House
5463	5463	Administration for study and recommendation.
5464	5464	(b) A resolution proposing an amendment to the rules shall
5465	5465	not be considered by the house until a printed copy of the
5466	5466	resolution has been provided to each member of the house at least 48
5467	5467	hours before consideration.
5468	5468	(c) Amendments to the rules shall require a majority vote of
5469	5469	the house for adoption.
5470	5470	Sec. 3. MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES. A motion to suspend
5471	5471	the rules shall be in order at any time, except when motions to
5472	5472	adjourn or recess are pending, even when the house is operating
5473	5473	under the previous question. A motion to "suspend all rules" shall
5474	5474	be sufficient to suspend every rule under which the house is
5475	5475	operating for a particular purpose except the provisions of the
5476	5476	constitution and the joint rules of the two houses. If the rules
5477	5477	have been suspended on a main motion for a given purpose, no other
5478	5478	motion to suspend the rules on a main motion shall be in order until
5479	5479	the original purpose has been accomplished.
5480	5480	Sec. 4. NOTICE OF PENDING MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES. It
5481	5481	shall not be in order to move to suspend the rules or the regular
5482	5482	order of business to take up a measure out of its regular order, and
5483	5483	the speaker shall not recognize anyone for either purpose, unless
5484	5484	the speaker has announced to the house in session that the speaker
5485	5485	would recognize a member for that purpose at least one hour before
5486	5486	the member is so recognized to make the motion. In making the
5487	5487	announcement to the house, the speaker shall advise the house of the
5488	5488	member's name and the bill number, and this information, together
5489	5489	with the time that the announcement was made, shall be entered in
5490	5490	the journal. This rule may be suspended only by unanimous consent.
5491	5491	Sec. 5. VOTE REQUIREMENTS FOR SUSPENSION. A standing rule
5492	5492	of the house may be suspended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds
5493	5493	of the members present. However, if a rule contains a specific
5494	5494	provision showing the vote by which that rule may be suspended, that
5495	5495	vote shall be required for the suspension of the rule. The specific
5496	5496	provision may not be suspended under the provisions of this
5497	5497	section.
5498	5498	Sec. 6. DISPOSAL OF MEASURES TAKEN UP UNDER SUSPENSION. Any
5499	5499	measure taken up under suspension and not disposed of on the same
5500	5500	day shall go over as pending or unfinished business to the next day
5501	5501	that the house is in session, and shall be considered thereafter
5502	5502	from day to day (except the days used for the consideration of
5503	5503	senate bills) until disposed of.
5504	5504	RULE 15. APPROPRIATE WORKPLACE CONDUCT
5505	5505	Sec. 1. STATEMENT OF POLICY. (a) The house finds that:
5506	5506	(1) a safe and professional environment in which each
5507	5507	individual is treated with respect is essential for conducting the
5508	5508	legislative business of Texas;
5509	5509	(2) harassment based on an individual's
5510	5510	characteristics and activity protected by law is inconsistent with
5511	5511	the necessary safe and professional environment; and
5512	5512	(3) there is a need for policies designed to prevent
5513	5513	harassment and to appropriately address it if it occurs.
5514	5514	(b) The house declares that all forms of harassment
5515	5515	prohibited by law (including harassment by the making of a
5516	5516	complaint of harassment or discrimination or by participating in
5517	5517	the investigation of a complaint) are against the policy of the
5518	5518	house.
5519	5519	(c) Members, officers, and employees of the house are
5520	5520	expected to promote public confidence in the integrity of the house
5521	5521	by:
5522	5522	(1) conducting themselves in a manner that is free of
5523	5523	harassment in each setting related to the service of the member,
5524	5524	officer, or employee; and
5525	5525	(2) reporting any harassment in the workplace of which
5526	5526	they have direct, personal knowledge.
5527	5527	(d) This rule is the policy on which the house relies for
5528	5528	guidance in promoting appropriate workplace conduct. This rule is
5529	5529	not intended to, and does not, create an independent cause of
5530	5530	action, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity,
5531	5531	by any party against:
5532	5532	(1) the house or its officers, employees, or agents;
5533	5533	(2) the State of Texas or its departments, agencies,
5534	5534	entities, officers, employees, or agents; or
5535	5535	(3) any other person.
5536	5536	RULE 16. SPECIAL RULE
5537	5537	CHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
5538	5538	Sec. 1. PURPOSE; SCOPE; APPLICATION. (a) This rule is
5539	5539	adopted to ensure that the house is able to carry out its
5540	5540	legislative responsibilities under the Texas Constitution in the
5541	5541	event of disruptions caused by actual or imminent threat of an
5542	5542	emergency, including an epidemic or a pandemic.
5543	5543	(b) A section of this rule governs the procedure of the
5544	5544	house and its committees only when the section is activated as
5545	5545	provided by this rule.
5546	5546	(c) During the time a section of this rule is activated, the
5547	5547	provisions of that section prevail over a provision of Rules 1
5548	5548	through 15 to the extent of any conflict between the provisions.
5549	5549	(d) This chapter is not subject to deactivation under
5550	5550	Section 4 of this rule.
5551	5551	Sec. 2. ACTIVATION AND REACTIVATION. (a) A section of this
5552	5552	rule may be activated only as provided by this section. A section
5553	5553	of this rule that has been deactivated under this chapter may be
5554	5554	reactivated only as provided by this section.
5555	5555	(b) Activation or reactivation of a section of this rule may
5556	5556	occur only if:
5557	5557	(1) a disaster has been declared and is currently in
5558	5558	effect in this state as the result of a declaration by:
5559	5559	(A) the president of the United States under the
5560	5560	Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
5561	5561	U.S.C. Section 5121 et seq.), as amended, or other law;
5562	5562	(B) the governor under Chapter 418, Government
5563	5563	Code, or other law, including the Texas Constitution; or
5564	5564	(C) the governing body of a political subdivision
5565	5565	under Chapter 418, Government Code, or other law, including the
5566	5566	Texas Constitution; or
5567	5567	(2) a determination of a public health disaster has
5568	5568	been made and is currently in effect under Chapter 81, Health and
5569	5569	Safety Code, or other law by:
5570	5570	(A) the commissioner of state health services; or
5571	5571	(B) a local health authority.
5572	5572	(c) If the house is convened in regular or special session
5573	5573	and at least one condition listed in Subsection (b) of this section
5574	5574	has been met, the house may activate or reactivate one or more
5575	5575	sections of this rule by resolution. A resolution proposed under
5576	5576	this subsection is subject to the provisions of Rule 14, Section 2,
5577	5577	and must:
5578	5578	(1) identify the section or sections proposed to be
5579	5579	activated or reactivated; and
5580	5580	(2) cite the authorities relied on to determine that
5581	5581	at least one condition listed in Subsection (b) of this section has
5582	5582	been met.
5583	5583	(d) If the house is not convened in a regular or special
5584	5584	session and at least one condition listed in Subsection (b) of this
5585	5585	section has been met, the Committee on House Administration may
5586	5586	activate or reactivate one or more sections of this rule only by a
5587	5587	vote of a majority of the membership of the committee in a meeting
5588	5588	of the committee conducted in accordance with the rules. The notice
5589	5589	of the committee meeting must identify the section or sections of
5590	5590	this rule that are proposed to be activated or reactivated and cite
5591	5591	the authorities relied on to determine that at least one condition
5592	5592	listed in Subsection (b) of this section has been met. The minutes
5593	5593	of the committee meeting must identify the section or sections of
5594	5594	this rule that were activated or reactivated by the committee and
5595	5595	cite the authorities relied on to determine that at least one
5596	5596	condition listed in Subsection (b) of this section has been met.
5597	5597	Sec. 3. DEACTIVATION. (a) If the house is convened in a
5598	5598	regular or special session, a section of this rule may be
5599	5599	deactivated only by resolution. A resolution proposed under this
5600	5600	subsection is subject to the provisions of Rule 14, Section 2, and
5601	5601	must identify the section or sections of this rule to be
5602	5602	deactivated.
5603	5603	(b) If the house is not convened in a regular or special
5604	5604	session, the Committee on House Administration may deactivate one
5605	5605	or more sections of this rule. A section of this rule may be
5606	5606	deactivated only by a vote of a majority of the membership of the
5607	5607	committee in a meeting of the committee conducted in accordance
5608	5608	with the rules. The notice of the committee meeting must identify
5609	5609	the section or sections of this rule that are proposed to be
5610	5610	deactivated. The minutes of the committee meeting must identify
5611	5611	the section or sections of this rule that were deactivated by the
5612	5612	committee.
5613	5613	CHAPTER B. DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE SPEAKER
5614	5614	Sec. 4. A new Rule 1, Section 10A, relating to the
5615	5615	designation of a temporary chair, shall read as follows:
5616	5616	Rule 1, Sec. 10A. DESIGNATION OF ALTERNATE
5617	5617	TEMPORARY CHAIR. (a) If the speaker and permanent
5618	5618	speaker pro tempore are both unavailable for any
5619	5619	reason, the chair of the Committee on State Affairs is
5620	5620	authorized to convene the house and preside over its
5621	5621	deliberations.
5622	5622	(b) At any time, the speaker may provide a
5623	5623	written order to the chief clerk, with a copy to the
5624	5624	journal clerk, naming those members, in priority
5625	5625	order, authorized to call the house to order and
5626	5626	preside if the speaker, permanent speaker pro tempore,
5627	5627	and chair of the Committee on State Affairs are all
5628	5628	absent or unable to preside. If the speaker, permanent
5629	5629	speaker pro tempore, and chair of the Committee on
5630	5630	State Affairs are all unavailable for any reason, and
5631	5631	it becomes necessary for the house to convene pursuant
5632	5632	to an adjournment, recess, or other provision of the
5633	5633	constitution or other law, the chief clerk shall
5634	5634	contact the members, in the order listed on the
5635	5635	speaker's written order, until the chief clerk locates
5636	5636	a member who is available to convene and preside over
5637	5637	the deliberations of the house.
5638	5638	Sec. 5. Rule 1, Section 11, relating to emergency
5639	5639	adjournment, shall read as follows:
5640	5640	Rule 1, Sec. 11. EMERGENCY ADJOURNMENT. In the
5641	5641	event of an emergency of such compelling nature that
5642	5642	the speaker must adjourn the house without fixing a
5643	5643	date and hour of reconvening, the speaker shall have
5644	5644	authority, subject to the provisions of Section 17,
5645	5645	Article III, Texas Constitution, to determine the date
5646	5646	and hour of reconvening and to notify the members of
5647	5647	the house by any means the speaker considers adequate.
5648	5648	Should the speaker be disabled or otherwise unable to
5649	5649	exercise these emergency powers, the permanent speaker
5650	5650	pro tempore, if one has been named, shall have
5651	5651	authority to act. If there is no permanent speaker pro
5652	5652	tempore, or if that officer is unable to act, authority
5653	5653	shall be exercised by one of the following members, in
5654	5654	the order listed below, who shall preside until the
5655	5655	house can proceed to the selection of a temporary
5656	5656	presiding officer to function until the speaker or the
5657	5657	speaker pro tempore is again able to exercise the
5658	5658	duties and responsibilities of the office:
5659	5659	(1) the chair of the Committee on State
5660	5660	Affairs; or
5661	5661	(2) the first available member on the
5662	5662	speaker's written order filed with the chief clerk
5663	5663	under Section 10A of this rule.
5664	5664	Sec. 6. Rule 1, Section 12, relating to postponement of
5665	5665	reconvening, shall read as follows:
5666	5666	Rule 1, Sec. 12. POSTPONEMENT OF RECONVENING.
5667	5667	When the house is not in session, if the speaker
5668	5668	determines that it would be a hazard to the safety of
5669	5669	the members, officers, employees, and others attending
5670	5670	the legislature to reconvene at the time determined by
5671	5671	the house at its last sitting, the speaker may clear
5672	5672	the area of the capitol under the control of the house
5673	5673	and, subject to the provisions of Section 17, Article
5674	5674	III, Texas Constitution, postpone the reconvening of
5675	5675	the house for a period of not more than three calendar
5676	5676	days, not including Sundays. On making that
5677	5677	determination, the speaker shall order the
5678	5678	sergeant-at-arms to post an assistant at each first
5679	5679	floor entrance to the capitol and other places and
5680	5680	advise all persons entering of the determination and
5681	5681	the time set for the house to reconvene. The speaker
5682	5682	shall also notify the journal clerk and the news media
5683	5683	of the action, and the action shall be entered in the
5684	5684	house journal. If the speaker is unavailable or unable
5685	5685	to act, the authority to postpone reconvening under
5686	5686	this section may be exercised by one of the following
5687	5687	members, in the order listed below:
5688	5688	(1) the permanent speaker pro tempore;
5689	5689	(2) the chair of the Committee on State
5690	5690	Affairs; or
5691	5691	(3) the first available member on the
5692	5692	speaker's written order filed with the chief clerk
5693	5693	under Section 10A of this rule.
5694	5694	CHAPTER C. OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
5695	5695	[RESERVED FOR EXPANSION]
5696	5696	CHAPTER D. ORGANIZATION, POWERS, AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEES
5697	5697	Sec. 7. A new Rule 4, Section 8A, relating to required face
5698	5698	masks during committee meetings, shall read as follows:
5699	5699	Rule 4, Sec. 8A. FACE MASKS REQUIRED FOR
5700	5700	COMMITTEE MEETINGS. Each person admitted to a meeting
5701	5701	room for the purpose of participating in or attending a
5702	5702	committee or subcommittee meeting is required to wear
5703	5703	at all times a face mask that complies with the
5704	5704	recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and
5705	5705	Prevention. A member of the house or a witness may
5706	5706	temporarily remove the person's face mask only while
5707	5707	speaking from a microphone on the dais or the witness
5708	5708	podium. An officer or employee of the house may
5709	5709	temporarily remove the person's face mask only while
5710	5710	speaking from a microphone or as directed by the chair.
5711	5711	If the Committee on House Administration has installed
5712	5712	clear barriers that comply with epidemiological best
5713	5713	practices on the dais in a meeting room, a member,
5714	5714	officer, or employee may remove the person's face mask
5715	5715	when the person is protected by the barriers if other
5716	5716	persons who are not protected by the barriers are at
5717	5717	least six feet away from the member, officer, or
5718	5718	employee.
5719	5719	Sec. 8. Rule 4, Section 11, and new Rule 4, Section 11A,
5720	5720	relating to posting notice of committee meetings, shall read as
5721	5721	follows:
5722	5722	Rule 4, Sec. 11. POSTING NOTICE. (a) No
5723	5723	committee or subcommittee, including a calendars
5724	5724	committee, shall assemble for the purpose of a public
5725	5725	hearing during a regular session unless notice of the
5726	5726	hearing has been posted in accordance with the rules at
5727	5727	least five calendar days in advance of the hearing. No
5728	5728	committee or subcommittee, including a calendars
5729	5729	committee, shall assemble for the purpose of a public
5730	5730	hearing during a special session unless notice of the
5731	5731	hearing has been posted in accordance with the rules at
5732	5732	least 24 hours in advance of the hearing. The committee
5733	5733	minutes shall reflect the date of each posting of
5734	5734	notice. Notice shall not be required for a public
5735	5735	hearing or a formal meeting on a senate bill which is
5736	5736	substantially the same as a house bill that has
5737	5737	previously been the subject of a duly posted public
5738	5738	hearing by the committee.
5739	5739	(b) No committee or subcommittee, including a
5740	5740	calendars committee, shall assemble for the purpose of
5741	5741	a formal meeting or work session during a regular or
5742	5742	special session unless written notice has been posted
5743	5743	and transmitted to each member of the committee two
5744	5744	hours in advance of the meeting or an announcement has
5745	5745	been filed with the journal clerk and read by the
5746	5746	reading clerk while the house is in session at least 30
5747	5747	minutes in advance of the meeting.
5748	5748	(c) All committees meeting during the interim
5749	5749	for the purpose of a formal meeting, work session, or
5750	5750	public hearing shall post notice in accordance with
5751	5751	the rules and notify members of the committee at least
5752	5752	five calendar days in advance of the meeting.
5753	5753	Rule 4, Sec. 11A. CONTENTS OF NOTICE. In
5754	5754	addition to other information required by the rules,
5755	5755	the notice of a committee meeting must include:
5756	5756	(1) instructions, or a link to
5757	5757	instructions on the house's Internet website, related
5758	5758	to public access to the meeting location and health and
5759	5759	safety protocols for attending the meeting;
5760	5760	(2) for a meeting that will be video
5761	5761	broadcast under Section 12A of this rule, the link to
5762	5762	that broadcast on the house's Internet website; and
5763	5763	(3) for a public hearing, instructions, or
5764	5764	a link to instructions on the house's Internet website,
5765	5765	for individuals who wish to:
5766	5766	(A) testify in person at the hearing;
5767	5767	or
5768	5768	(B) electronically submit public
5769	5769	comments without testifying.
5770	5770	Sec. 9. A new Rule 4, Section 12A, relating to public access
5771	5771	to committee meetings, shall read as follows:
5772	5772	Rule 4, Sec. 12A. PUBLIC ACCESS TO COMMITTEE
5773	5773	MEETINGS. The requirement for all meetings of a
5774	5774	committee or subcommittee to be open to other members,
5775	5775	the press, and the public may be satisfied by video
5776	5776	broadcasting the meeting in real time through the
5777	5777	Internet. The video broadcast must be accessible from
5778	5778	a link on the house's Internet website.
5779	5779	Sec. 10. A new Rule 4, Section 16A, relating to quorum
5780	5780	requirements for taking testimony, shall read as follows:
5781	5781	Rule 4, Sec. 16A. QUORUM REQUIREMENTS FOR
5782	5782	TAKING TESTIMONY. Two members of a committee shall
5783	5783	constitute a quorum for the sole purpose of taking
5784	5784	testimony during a public hearing. Any other
5785	5785	committee member may participate in the public hearing
5786	5786	through an Internet or other videoconferencing system
5787	5787	if two-way communication has been enabled to allow all
5788	5788	committee members to be clearly visible and audible to
5789	5789	each other and clearly audible to the testifying
5790	5790	witness.
5791	5791	Sec. 11. A new Rule 4, Section 20A, relating to invited
5792	5792	testimony, and a new Rule 4, Section 20B, relating to public
5793	5793	comments, shall read as follows:
5794	5794	Rule 4, Sec. 20A. INVITED TESTIMONY. When
5795	5795	inviting witnesses to testify at a public hearing in
5796	5796	the manner described by Section 20(g) of this rule, the
5797	5797	chair of a committee or subcommittee shall make a
5798	5798	reasonable effort to invite witnesses representing
5799	5799	different viewpoints on the measures and other matters
5800	5800	scheduled for a public hearing.
5801	5801	Rule 4, Sec. 20B. PUBLIC COMMENTS. For each
5802	5802	public hearing scheduled, the chair of the committee
5803	5803	must allow persons domiciled in this state to
5804	5804	electronically submit comments to the committee that
5805	5805	relate to the measures or matters included on the
5806	5806	notice for the public hearing. The Committee on House
5807	5807	Administration shall establish a standard process for
5808	5808	the electronic submission and posting of public
5809	5809	comments submitted to house committees.
5810	5810	CHAPTER E. FLOOR PROCEDURE
5811	5811	Sec. 12. Rule 5, Sections 11 and 12, and new Rule 5, Section
5812	5812	20A, relating to admission privileges of accredited media, shall
5813	5813	read as follows:
5814	5814	Rule 5, Sec. 11. PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE FLOOR.
5815	5815	Only the following persons shall be entitled to the
5816	5816	privileges of the floor of the house when the house is
5817	5817	in session: members of the house; employees of the
5818	5818	house when performing their official duties as
5819	5819	determined by the Committee on House Administration;
5820	5820	members of the senate; employees of the senate when
5821	5821	performing their official duties; the Governor of
5822	5822	Texas and the governor's chief of staff and director of
5823	5823	legislative affairs; the lieutenant governor; the
5824	5824	secretary of state; duly accredited media
5825	5825	representatives only as permitted by Section 20(f) of
5826	5826	this rule; contestants in election cases pending
5827	5827	before the house; and immediate families of the
5828	5828	members of the legislature on such special occasions
5829	5829	as may be determined by the Committee on House
5830	5830	Administration.
5831	5831	Rule 5, Sec. 12. ADMITTANCE WITHIN THE RAILING.
5832	5832	Only the following persons shall be admitted to the
5833	5833	area on the floor of the house enclosed by the railing
5834	5834	when the house is in session: members of the house;
5835	5835	members of the senate; the governor; the lieutenant
5836	5836	governor; officers and employees of the senate and
5837	5837	house when those officers and employees are actually
5838	5838	engaged in performing their official duties as
5839	5839	determined by the Committee on House Administration;
5840	5840	and spouses of members of the house on such occasions
5841	5841	as may be determined by the Committee on House
5842	5842	Administration.
5843	5843	Rule 5, Sec. 20A. MEDIA ACCESS TO HOUSE CHAMBER
5844	5844	UNDER RULE 16. (a) When the house is in session, an
5845	5845	accredited media representative:
5846	5846	(1) is entitled to admission to that
5847	5847	portion of the gallery specifically designated for
5848	5848	media representatives, subject to available seating;
5849	5849	and
5850	5850	(2) is not entitled to admission to the
5851	5851	floor of the house or allowed its privileges, except as
5852	5852	permitted by Section 20(f) of this rule.
5853	5853	(b) A pass card issued under Section 20 of this
5854	5854	rule must be presented to the sergeant-at-arms each
5855	5855	time the media representative seeks admission to that
5856	5856	portion of the gallery specifically designated for
5857	5857	media representatives. Media representatives
5858	5858	admitted to that portion of the gallery specifically
5859	5859	designated for media representatives pursuant to the
5860	5860	provisions of this section shall work in seats
5861	5861	designated by the Committee on House Administration
5862	5862	for use by accredited media representatives.
5863	5863	Sec. 13. A new Rule 5, Section 19A, relating to face masks
5864	5864	during floor sessions, shall read as follows:
5865	5865	Rule 5, Sec. 19A. FACE MASKS REQUIRED DURING
5866	5866	FLOOR SESSIONS. Each person admitted to the house
5867	5867	floor or gallery for the purpose of participating in,
5868	5868	attending, providing support for, or observing house
5869	5869	proceedings is required to wear at all times a face
5870	5870	mask that complies with the recommendations of the
5871	5871	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A member
5872	5872	of the house may temporarily remove the member's face
5873	5873	mask only while speaking from the front or back
5874	5874	microphone. An officer or employee of the house or
5875	5875	senate may temporarily remove the person's face mask
5876	5876	only while speaking from the front or back microphone
5877	5877	or as directed by the presiding officer. The speaker,
5878	5878	or a member presiding under Rule 1, may temporarily
5879	5879	remove the person's face mask only while speaking from
5880	5880	the microphone at the speaker's desk.
5881	5881	Sec. 14. Rule 5, Section 40, relating to recording votes on
5882	5882	the voting machine, shall read as follows:
5883	5883	Rule 5, Sec. 40. RECORDING ALL VOTES ON VOTING
5884	5884	MACHINE. On all votes, except viva voce votes,
5885	5885	members shall record their votes on the voting machine
5886	5886	and shall not be recognized by the chair to cast their
5887	5887	votes from the floor or gallery. If a member attempts
5888	5888	to vote from the floor or gallery, the speaker shall
5889	5889	sustain a point of order directed against the member's
5890	5890	so doing. This rule shall not be applicable to the
5891	5891	mover or the principal opponent of the proposition
5892	5892	being voted on nor to a member whose voting machine is
5893	5893	out of order. If a member demands strict enforcement of
5894	5894	this section, Section 47 of this rule shall not apply
5895	5895	to the taking of a vote, and the house may discipline a
5896	5896	member in violation of this rule pursuant to its
5897	5897	inherent authority. As used in these rules, the term
5898	5898	"voting machine" includes a device issued to a member
5899	5899	by the Texas Legislative Council and configured to
5900	5900	provide access to a secure website through which the
5901	5901	member, when present in the house under Section 45 of
5902	5902	this rule, may:
5903	5903	(1) register presence during a
5904	5904	registration; or
5905	5905	(2) cast a vote during a division or record
5906	5906	vote.
5907	5907	Sec. 15. Rule 5, Section 45, relating to areas from which
5908	5908	voting is allowed, shall read as follows:
5909	5909	Rule 5, Sec. 45. PRESENCE IN HOUSE REQUIRED IN
5910	5910	ORDER TO VOTE. A member must be on the floor of the
5911	5911	house, in the house gallery, or in an adjacent room or
5912	5912	hallway on the same level as the house floor or
5913	5913	gallery, in order to vote.
5914	5914	CHAPTER F. ORDER OF BUSINESS AND CALENDARS
5915	5915	Sec. 16. Rule 6, Section 1, relating to the daily order of
5916	5916	business, shall read as follows:
5917	5917	Rule 6, Sec. 1. DAILY ORDER OF BUSINESS. (a)
5918	5918	When the house convenes on a new legislative day, the
5919	5919	daily order of business shall be as follows:
5920	5920	(1) Call to order by speaker.
5921	5921	(2) Registration of members.
5922	5922	(3) Prayer, unless the invocation has been
5923	5923	given previously on the particular calendar day.
5924	5924	(4) Pledge of allegiance to the United
5925	5925	States flag.
5926	5926	(5) Pledge of allegiance to the Texas
5927	5927	flag.
5928	5928	(6) Excuses for absence of members and
5929	5929	officers.
5930	5930	(7) First reading and reference to
5931	5931	committee of bills filed with the chief clerk; and
5932	5932	motions to introduce bills, when such motions are
5933	5933	required.
5934	5934	(8) Requests to print bills and other
5935	5935	papers; requests of committees for further time to
5936	5936	consider papers referred to them; and all other
5937	5937	routine motions and business not otherwise provided
5938	5938	for, all of which shall be undebatable except that the
5939	5939	mover and one opponent of the motion shall be allowed
5940	5940	three minutes each.
5941	5941	The mover of a routine motion shall be allowed his
5942	5942	or her choice of making the opening or the closing
5943	5943	speech under this rule. If the house, under a
5944	5944	suspension of the rules, extends the time of a member
5945	5945	under this rule, such extensions shall be for three
5946	5946	minutes. Subsidiary motions that are applicable to
5947	5947	routine motions shall be in order, but the makers of
5948	5948	such subsidiary motions shall not be entitled to speak
5949	5949	thereon in the routine motion period, nor shall the
5950	5950	authors of the original routine motions be allowed any
5951	5951	additional time because of subsidiary motions.
5952	5952	(9) Unfinished business.
5953	5953	(10) Third reading calendars of the house
5954	5954	in their order of priority in accordance with Section 7
5955	5955	of this rule, unless a different order is determined
5956	5956	under other provisions of these rules.
5957	5957	(11) Postponed matters to be laid before
5958	5958	the house in accordance with Rule 7, Section 15.
5959	5959	(12) Second reading calendars of the
5960	5960	house in their order of priority in accordance with
5961	5961	Section 7 of this rule, unless a different order is
5962	5962	determined under other provisions of these rules.
5963	5963	(13) First reading and reference to
5964	5964	committee of bills filed with the chief clerk; and
5965	5965	motions to introduce bills, when such motions are
5966	5966	required.
5967	5967	(b) When the house reconvenes for the first time
5968	5968	on a new calendar day following a recess, the daily
5969	5969	order of business shall be:
5970	5970	(1) Call to order by the speaker.
5971	5971	(2) Prayer.
5972	5972	(3) Pledge of allegiance to the United
5973	5973	States flag.
5974	5974	(4) Pledge of allegiance to the Texas
5975	5975	flag.
5976	5976	(5) Excuses for absence of members and
5977	5977	officers.
5978	5978	(6) Requests to print bills and other
5979	5979	papers; requests of committees for further time to
5980	5980	consider papers referred to them; and all other
5981	5981	routine motions and business not otherwise provided
5982	5982	for, all of which shall be undebatable except that the
5983	5983	mover and one opponent of the motion shall be allowed
5984	5984	three minutes each.
5985	5985	The mover of a routine motion shall be allowed his
5986	5986	or her choice of making the opening or the closing
5987	5987	speech under this rule. If the house, under a
5988	5988	suspension of the rules, extends the time of a member
5989	5989	under this rule, such extensions shall be for three
5990	5990	minutes. Subsidiary motions that are applicable to
5991	5991	routine motions shall be in order, but the makers of
5992	5992	such subsidiary motions shall not be entitled to speak
5993	5993	thereon in the routine motion period, nor shall the
5994	5994	authors of the original routine motions be allowed any
5995	5995	additional time because of subsidiary motions.
5996	5996	(7) Pending business.
5997	5997	(8) Calendars of the house in their order
5998	5998	of priority in accordance with Section 7 of this rule,
5999	5999	unless a different order is determined under other
6000	6000	provisions of these rules.
6001	6001	(9) First reading and reference to
6002	6002	committee of bills filed with the chief clerk; and
6003	6003	motions to introduce bills, when such motions are
6004	6004	required.
6005	6005	CHAPTER G. MOTIONS
6006	6006	[RESERVED FOR EXPANSION]
6007	6007	CHAPTER H. BILLS
6008	6008	Sec. 17. Rule 8, Section 14, relating to distribution of
6009	6009	committee reports, shall read as follows:
6010	6010	Rule 8, Sec. 14. DELIVERY PRIOR TO
6011	6011	CONSIDERATION. (a) Each bill or resolution, except
6012	6012	the general appropriations bill, shall be delivered to
6013	6013	each member by making a copy of the bill or resolution
6014	6014	available in an electronic format for viewing by the
6015	6015	member and, when the electronic format copy of the
6016	6016	appropriate printing becomes available, by sending
6017	6017	notice of that fact to a Capitol e-mail address
6018	6018	designated by the member, at least 36 hours if convened
6019	6019	in regular session and 24 hours if convened in special
6020	6020	session before the bill can be considered by the house
6021	6021	on second reading. If a member informs the chief clerk
6022	6022	in writing that the member desires to receive paper
6023	6023	copies of bills and resolutions under this section in
6024	6024	addition to delivery in an electronic format, the
6025	6025	chief clerk shall place a paper copy of the bill or
6026	6026	resolution in the newspaper box of the member as soon
6027	6027	as practicable after the electronic copies of the bill
6028	6028	or resolution are made available for viewing.
6029	6029	(a-1) At least 168 hours during a regular
6030	6030	session and at least 72 hours during a special session
6031	6031	before the general appropriations bill can be
6032	6032	considered by the house on second reading:
6033	6033	(1) a copy of the bill must be made
6034	6034	available to each member in an electronic format; and
6035	6035	(2) notice of availability of the
6036	6036	electronic format of the bill must be sent to the
6037	6037	Capitol e-mail address designated by each member under
6038	6038	Subsection (a) of this section.
6039	6039	(a-2) A printed copy of the general
6040	6040	appropriations bill shall be placed in the newspaper
6041	6041	mailbox of each member as soon as practicable after the
6042	6042	requirements of Subsection (a-1) of this section have
6043	6043	been met.
6044	6044	(b) By majority vote, the house may order both
6045	6045	the original bill or resolution and the complete
6046	6046	committee substitute to be printed. It shall not be
6047	6047	necessary for the house to order complete committee
6048	6048	substitutes printed in lieu of original bills.
6049	6049	(c) A two-thirds vote of the house is necessary
6050	6050	to order that bills, other than local bills, be not
6051	6051	printed. It shall not be necessary for the house to
6052	6052	order that local bills be not printed.
6053	6053	CHAPTER I. JOINT RESOLUTIONS
6054	6054	[RESERVED FOR EXPANSION]
6055	6055	CHAPTER J. HOUSE RESOLUTIONS AND CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS
6056	6056	[RESERVED FOR EXPANSION]
6057	6057	CHAPTER K. AMENDMENTS
6058	6058	[RESERVED FOR EXPANSION]
6059	6059	CHAPTER L. PRINTING
6060	6060	[RESERVED FOR EXPANSION]
6061	6061	CHAPTER M. INTERACTIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SENATE
6062	6062	[RESERVED FOR EXPANSION]
6063	6063	CHAPTER N. GENERAL PROVISIONS
6064	6064	[RESERVED FOR EXPANSION]
6065	6065	Hunter
6066	6066	______________________________
6067	6067	Speaker of the House
6068	6068	I certify that H.R. No. 4 was adopted by the House on January
6069	6069	23, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 116, Nays 23, 1 present, not
6070	6070	voting.
6071	6071	______________________________
6072	6072	Chief Clerk of the House