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HR 1

Relating to recognition and decorum; amending rule 82, discharging a bill; amending House Rule 83, relating to committee meetings

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Roger Hanshaw

The bill updates recognition, decorum, and procedural rules to streamline floor action and committee discharge of bills.

Completed legislative action
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 1

Bill Overview

  • Bill: HR 1
  • Session: 2026
  • Jurisdiction: West Virginia
  • Title: Relating to recognition and decorum; amending rule 82, discharging a bill; amending House Rule 83, relating to committee meetings
  • Status: Introduced and advanced in the House on 2026-01-14; immediate consideration granted; amendments considered and rejected, with adoption by voice vote; completed legislative action on the same day
  • Sponsor: Primary sponsor not listed; co-sponsor: Roger Hanshaw

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill focuses on procedures governing recognition, decorum, and formal conduct within House proceedings.
  • It aims to amend existing procedural rules to enhance clarity and consistency around how members are acknowledged, how decorum is maintained, and how bills move through the legislative process.
  • It also involves changes to the discharge of a bill and to House Rule 83, which governs committee meetings. The overall objective appears to modernize or tighten procedural rules to streamline floor and committee actions.

Key Provisions (as inferred from title and actions)

  • Recognition and Decorum:
    • Revisions to House Rule regarding how members obtain recognition to speak.
    • Clarifications on decorum expectations during floor debates, including interruptions, interruptions handling, and Speaker/Rapporteur discretion.
  • Rule 82 – Discharging a Bill:
    • Amendments to the process by which a bill is discharged from committee to the floor, potentially adjusting timelines, vote thresholds, or procedural steps required to bring a bill out of committee without a report.
  • House Rule 83 – Committee Meetings:
    • Amendments to rules governing committee meetings, which could include scheduling, attendance, oversight of witnesses, quorum requirements, or the conduct of hearings.
  • Procedural Updates:
    • The bill seems designed to provide explicit procedural standards to reduce ambiguity in recognition and decorum, and to streamline the movement of legislation from committees to the floor.

Who/What is Affected

  • House members and their procedures for speaking and recognition.
  • Committee processes, including how and when bills may be discharged from committee.
  • Rules governing committee meeting conduct and logistics.
  • Administrative staff responsible for enforcing House rules and managing legislative proceedings.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction and filing occurred on 2026-01-14.
  • Immediate consideration was granted on the same date, signaling urgency or perceived importance.
  • Multiple amendments were reported by the Clerk and subsequently rejected (Roll Nos. 2 and 3), indicating initial revisions were considered but not adopted.
  • Amendments were reported again, with further rejection on Roll No. 3, followed by adoption by the House via voice vote.
  • The action history concludes with “Completed legislative action” on the same day, suggesting the bill proceeded through readings and finalization in a single session day.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Increased clarity on recognition and decorum could reduce floor disruptions and improve efficiency of debates.
  • Changes to discharge procedures may affect the speed at which bills move from committee to floor consideration, potentially increasing legislative agility or altering minority leverage depending on thresholds and requirements.
  • Revisions to committee meeting rules could impact witness participation, transparency, and scheduling.
  • Since amendments were rejected at least twice, the final form may closely resemble the introduced text, with only limited procedural refinements.

Notes

  • The provided information does not include the full text of the amendments or the exact language, so the summary focuses on the stated purpose and probable effects based on the bill’s title and action history.
  • For a complete understanding, review the bill’s exact language, fiscal impact, and any fiscal notes or committee statements once available.

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

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