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HR 18

Amending the permanent rules of the House of Representatives relating to quorum and attendance to withhold disbursement of a member's operating budget due to significant absences during a called session.

89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session (2025) Introduced by Don McLaughlin

Bill withholds House members' operating budgets for significant absences during legislative sessions to enforce attendance accountability through financial penalty.

Referred to House Administration
#legislature(i0520) #resolutions--rules(i0660)
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Bill Summary · HR 18

Legislative bill overview

HR 18 amends House permanent rules to allow withholding a representative's operating budget allocation when that member has significant absences during a called legislative session. The bill establishes a mechanism to financially penalize members for poor attendance rather than relying solely on existing attendance tracking or ethical sanctions.

Why is this important

Member attendance directly affects legislative operations—absent lawmakers can delay votes, reduce quorum, and undermine public trust in government accountability. This bill introduces a financial consequence that could incentivize participation, though it also raises questions about how flexibility for legitimate absences (illness, emergencies, authorized duties) would be handled fairly.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition of "significant absences": The bill's effectiveness depends on clear thresholds. Ambiguous standards could lead to selective enforcement or disputes over what constitutes legitimate absence.
  • Fairness and due process concerns: Members might argue that personal emergencies, medical issues, or committee work elsewhere shouldn't trigger budget cuts without clear appeal processes or exceptions built into the rule.
  • Practical budget impacts: Withholding operating funds could hinder a member's ability to staff their office and serve constituents, potentially punishing district residents rather than the member personally.

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

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