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Bill

SR 8601

Adopting the senate's emergency parliamentary rules of the sixty-ninth legislature.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Marcus Riccelli and 1 co-sponsor

Establishes temporary, emergency rules for a hybrid/remote 69th Legislature - remote voting, remote committees, and full public access via streaming during health precautions.

Adopted.
0
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Bill Summary · SR 8601

Summary of Senate Resolution 8601 (SR 8601)

Overview

  • Bill type: Resolution (Emergency Parliamentary Rules)
  • Title: Adopting the Senate's emergency parliamentary rules of the Sixty-ninth Legislature
  • Status: Adopted
  • Introduced: January 13, 2025
  • Effective/Impact: Establishes temporary emergency rules to govern floor, committee action, and remote session operations during the 2025 legislative session due to health/safety concerns and ongoing public health guidance.

Purpose and Intent

  • To authorize the Senate to conduct business in a hybrid/remote format while ensuring health and safety for members, staff, and the public.
  • To provide a framework for remote voting, remote committee activities, and other procedural adaptations during the 69th Legislature’s emergency period.
  • To ensure ongoing public access to proceedings via streaming/television, consistent with constitutional requirements.

Key Provisions

General Provisions

  • A. Public Health Measures

    • Senate members and employees must follow the 2023 Senate Session Guidelines (Facilities and Operations Committee) regarding mask-wearing, social distancing, and isolation procedures.
    • Regular floor action is to occur in a hybrid remote format, with the number of members present determined by the Facilities and Operations Committee and subject to the guidelines.
    • Committee hearings and executive actions will be held remotely.
    • Public galleries’ access to floor action is determined by the Facilities and Operations Committee. All proceedings must be broadcast for public access (streaming or television).

  • B. Interpretation

    • For matters not addressed by this resolution, the Permanent Rules adopted January 13, 2025 govern.
    • The President interprets rules to facilitate legislative business during the emergency and remote session.

Parliamentary Procedures

  • C. Remote Voting

    • Votes are recorded via a remote voting system; the clerk closes voting and announces each member’s vote individually; the President may query those present who have not voted.
    • Roll-call votes must proceed without interruption due to connectivity issues; if a majority elected is no longer present, a majority of those remaining may defer, adjourn, or recess to reestablish a quorum.

  • D. Call of the Senate

    • May be initiated by Senate leadership; sustained by three Senators; suspends business until absentees are addressed.
    • Does not interrupt a roll-call vote, and no penalties apply for connectivity issues.

  • E. Relieving Rules Committee of Bills

    • The Senate may relieve the Rules Committee of a bill with majority consent, given two hours’ notice to the President and all members; the Majority Leader consults with the President before notice.

  • F. Floor Amendments

    • Floor amendments must be submitted electronically, each in a separate email, with the bill number in the subject line.
    • Amendments submitted after the second reading begin are not in order.

Committees

  • G. Committee Procedures
    • All committees generally meet remotely; the Majority Leader may authorize in-person Rules Committee meetings after consultation with the President.
    • Committee voting uses recorded roll calls; members must be present and visible to vote during executive sessions.
    • Electronic committee reports must be delivered one hour before session convening (with limited exceptions for certain omnibus acts).
    • Attendance can include participation via remote access under Senate Rule 70.

Affected Stakeholders

  • Senators and staff participating in floor sessions, committee hearings, and voting.
  • The public, which must have access to proceedings via broadcasting/streaming.
  • Senate Administration tasked with implementing and enforcing remote-session guidelines.

Timeline and Procedural Notes

  • The resolution was adopted by the Senate on January 13, 2025.
  • It operates as the emergency framework for the 69th Legislature, with interpretation and governance aligned to the ongoing emergency and remote session context.
  • This framework references and supplements Permanent Senate Rules and the Senate Constitution, preserving public access while enabling remote operations.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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