Prohibits the passage of bills by the legislature between the hours of midnight and eight o'clock a.m. unless two-thirds of the legislature is present and requires two-thirds approval for messages of necessity

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Ari Brown and 9 co-sponsors

Restricts overnight bills: no passage from midnight to 8:00 a.m. unless two-thirds of lawmakers are present; any messages of necessity must win a two-thirds vote.

HELD FOR CONSIDERATION IN GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

Overview

Bill A 9089 would restrict the timing of passage for bills and related measures in the legislature. Specifically, it prohibits passage between midnight and 8:00 a.m. unless two-thirds of the legislature is present, and it requires two-thirds approval for any messages of necessity. The bill is sponsored by primary sponsor Joe DeStefano and was introduced on September 12, 2025. As of the latest actions, the bill’s status is “Opinion referred to Judiciary.”

Key Provisions

No overnight passage window: The bill would bar the legislature from passing measures between midnight and 8:00 a.m. unless a two-thirds threshold of the legislature is present for deliberation and voting.

Two-thirds requirement for messages of necessity: Any messages of necessity (which accompany certain bills to expedite or enable immediate effectiveness) would require a two-thirds vote for approval.

Quorum/attendance implication: Implicitly, the provision creates a heightened attendance standard for overnight legislative activity, linking passage to a higher level of participation.

Note: The text provided does not specify additional enforcement mechanics (e.g., penalties for violations or enforcement remedies), but the described thresholds create procedural barriers to nocturnal legislative action and to the accelerated procedures associated with messages of necessity.

Affected Parties and Impacts

Legislature: Members and leadership would be directly affected by the new attendance and voting thresholds for overnight actions.

Bills and urgent measures: Any legislation or emergency measures typically advanced through messages of necessity could require broader consensus (two-thirds approval), potentially slowing or altering expedited processes.

Public and stakeholders: The changes could affect timing and predictability of certain legislative actions, especially those contemplated during late-night or early-morning sessions.

Procedural Timeline and Status

Introduced: September 12, 2025

Referral history:

September 12, 2025 – Referred to Governmental Operations (initial committee referral)
October 10, 2025 – Referred to Attorney General for opinion (three separate entries)
November 5, 2025 – Opinion referred to Judiciary (two entries)

Sponsorship: Primary sponsor Joe DeStefano

Related/companion legislation: Related bills listed include S 1025, S 2087, S 557, A 9065, A 4723 (prior-session) and S 233 (companion)

Related Context

The bill has several related and companion measures in prior sessions, indicating ongoing interest in reorganizing nocturnal and expedited legislative procedures.

The current status indicates the measure is under consideration by the Judiciary, following initial committee referrals and an attorney general opinion process.

Notes for Readers

This summary reflects the information provided and does not constitute legal advice. The precise language of the bill would clarify any ambiguities in thresholds (e.g., whether “two-thirds present” equates to two-thirds of total members or two-thirds of those voting) and any exceptions to the overnight prohibition.

Bill