Bill
HR 4617
Adopts permanent House rules for the two-year term, establishing leadership powers, committee structure, floor procedures, decorum, and remote participation to govern operations.
Status: Adopted
Introduced: July 22, 2025 (record shows prior related actions in 2023 and 2025)
Classification: Resolution (permanent House rules)
Note: The available text appears to combine the full text of the adopted permanent House rules for the Sixty‑Eighth Legislature (2023–2024) and additional resolution language (e.g., a separate Children's Day encouragement). There are also mixed procedural entries across 2023–2025. Readers should verify the jurisdictional context (state house rules text vs. any federal numbering) if exact provenance is needed.
Purpose and intent
- To adopt a complete set of permanent rules governing the procedure, administration, and decorum of the House for the applicable two‑year legislative term. These rules replace any temporary rules and provide the framework for how the chamber conducts business.
Key provisions (selected highlights)
- Structure and scope: The resolution adopts 36 enumerated rules covering definitions, officers, chamber administration, committee operations, debate and voting procedures, publications, and emergency powers.
- Definitions (Rule 1): Establishes key terms (e.g., “absent,” “bill,” “committee,” “fiscal committee,” “session,” “term”).
- Officers and elections (Rules 2–5): Chief clerk of the prior term calls the House to order; the House elects Speaker, Speaker pro tempore, Deputy Speaker pro tempore, and Chief Clerk at start of each term. Elections require a constitutional majority, viva voce votes recorded in the journal.
- Speaker powers (Rule 4): Speaker presides over sessions, preserves order (including directing sergeant at arms), signs bills and official writs, appoints committee chairs (based on majority caucus selections), names committee members in party ratio, and chairs the rules and executive rules committees.
- Chief Clerk duties (Rule 5): Administrative lead over house records and public‑records obligations of members; hires staff subject to Speaker approval; countersigns payroll and vouchers.
- Executive Rules Committee (Rule 6): Created to oversee administrative operations; membership set at four majority‑party and three minority‑party members appointed by leadership.
- Committees (Rules 25–27): Define standing committee duties, expenses, and subpoena power; require proportional party representation on committees.
- Floor procedures (Rules 10–24): Rules for bill introduction, reading, amendments, debate, previous question (ending debate), voting, reconsideration, and appeals from the chair. Votes and quorum procedures specified.
- Remote participation (Rule 17): Permits remote participation and voting when authorized (details delegated to rule procedures).
- Access and decorum (Rule 8): Limits access to chamber wings and floor during defined periods (e.g., governor, legislators, staff, press; other persons only with Speaker consent); bans lobbying on the floor or in committee rooms while in session.
- Enforcement and ancillary rules: Rules on suspension of compensation (Rule 29), smoking and liquor (Rules 30–31), parliamentary authority (Rule 32), amendment of standing rules (Rule 33), applicability to assemblies (Rule 34), publications (Rule 35), and emergency resolutions (Rule 36).
Who is affected
- All members of the House, House officers (Speaker, Chief Clerk), legislative staff and employees, committee members and chairs, pages, the press, lobbyists and visitors, and the Governor (in procedural interactions). The rules affect day‑to‑day operations, how legislation is handled, committee investigations/subpoenas, and public access to proceedings and records.
Procedural/timeline aspects
- The rules are adopted to apply for the two‑year legislative term (a “term” as defined in Rule 1). They remain in effect for that term unless amended under the rules‑amendment process (Rule 33). The record indicates adoption and multiple introduction/adoption dates across 2023 and 2025; verify the official journal for effective dates and any later amendments.
Potential impact
- Provides a comprehensive, codified framework governing legislative procedure and internal administration, clarifies leadership and administrative authority, establishes committee composition and powers (including subpoena authority), sets boundaries for public and lobbyist access, and modernizes participation (remote voting where authorized). Adoption promotes consistency, transparency, and predictability for legislative operations during the term.
Related/documentation note
- The provided materials reference additional resolutions (e.g., a separate Children's Day encouragement) and show multiple legislative actions and dates; interested readers should consult the official House journal or clerk’s office for the final adopted text, exact effective date, and any subsequent amendments.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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