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Senate Resolution 3 - Reprinted
An Act 1relating to permanent rules of the senate
2for the eighty-eighth general assembly.
3BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the permanent
4rules of the senate for the eighty-seventh
5 eighty-eighth general assembly be as follows:
6RULES OF THE SENATE
7Rule 1
8Quorum
9A constitutional majority shall constitute a quorum
10of the senate. Any senator may insist a quorum be
11present.
12Rule 2
13Adoption and Amendment of Rules
14Whenever the senate is operating under temporary
15rules, the rules may be amended or repealed, or
16permanent rules may be adopted, by a constitutional
17majority of the senators. After adoption of permanent
18rules of the senate during any general assembly, the
19rules may be amended or repealed by a constitutional
20majority of the senators voting on a simple resolution.
21Rule 3
22Rules of Parliamentary Procedure
23In cases not covered by senate rules or joint rules,
24Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure shall govern.
25Rule 4
26Sessions of the General Assembly
-1- 1The election of officers, organization, hiring and
2compensation of employees, and committees of the senate
3shall carry over from the first to the second regular
4sessions and to any extraordinary sessions of the same
5general assembly.
6All bills, study bills, and resolutions introduced
7in the first regular session of a general assembly,
8except those which have been withdrawn, indefinitely
9postponed, or have failed, shall carry over into the
10second regular session and to any extraordinary session
11of the same general assembly. Bills and resolutions
12which have been voted upon on final passage by either
13house in any session shall remain on the calendar in
14the same status as at the end of the session at any
15subsequent regular or extraordinary session. Except
16as provided by this rule, upon the adjournment of the
17first regular session and any extraordinary session,
18each bill or resolution shall be automatically referred
19back to the committee to which it was originally
20assigned. The secretary of the senate shall publish in
21the journal a list of the bills returned to committee
22under this rule and shall present a list to the chairs
23of the respective committees upon the convening of
24the second regular session. Within seven days after
25the first committee meeting after the convening of
26the second regular session, committee chairs shall
27either refer such bills and resolutions that have been
28returned to their respective committees under this rule
29to a subcommittee for consideration or indefinitely
30postpone further consideration of such bills. The
-2-1committee chairs shall report to the senate the bill
2or resolution number and the names of the subcommittee
3members.
4Rule 5
5Regular Order of Daily Business
6The following order shall govern, subject to any
7special order:
81. Correction of the journal.
92. Senators to be excused.
103. Communications to the Senate.
114. Introduction of bills and resolutions.
125. Consideration of senate calendar.
13Rule 6
14Senate Calendar
151. Each legislative day the secretary of the senate
16shall prepare a listing of bills to be known as the
17“Senate Calendar”.
18 2. The senate calendar shall include separate
19listings for any bills and resolutions in the following
20categories:
21a. Conference Committee Report
22b. Bills in Conference Committee
23c. House Amendment to Senate Amendment to House
24File
25d. House Refuses to Concur in Senate Amendment to
26House File
27e. Senate Files Amended by the House
28f. Unfinished Business
29g. Motions to Reconsider
30h. Administrative Rules Nullification Resolutions
-3- 1i. Veto Messages from the Governor
2 3. The secretary shall list bills and resolutions
3in the above categories in numerical order. Upon
4their first publication in the calendar, bills and
5resolutions in the above categories may be called up
6for debate at any time by the majority leader. Motions
7to reconsider shall be called up as provided by Rule
824.
9 4. The senate calendar shall include a listing
10of senate appropriations committee bills and bills
11reported out by the senate appropriations committee.
12The list shall be known as the “Appropriations
13Calendar”. The secretary shall list the bills in
14numerical order. Upon their first publication in the
15calendar, bills on the appropriations calendar may be
16called up for debate at any time by the majority leader
17provided they are eligible under Rule 8.
18 5. The senate calendar shall include a listing
19of bills which pertain to the levy, assessment or
20collection of taxes sponsored by or initially assigned
21to and reported out by the senate ways and means
22committee. The list shall be known as the “Ways and
23Means Calendar”. The secretary shall list the bills in
24numerical order. Upon their first publication in the
25calendar, bills on the ways and means calendar may be
26called up for debate at any time by the majority leader
27provided they are eligible under Rule 8.
28 6. The senate calendar shall include a list of
29bills and resolutions, known as the “Regular Calendar”,
30which shall consist of bills and resolutions reported
-4-1out by a senate committee. The bills and resolutions
2shall be listed in numerical order. Priority shall be
3given to senate over house bills and resolutions. Upon
4their first publication in the calendar, bills on the
5regular calendar may be called up for debate at any
6time by the majority leader, provided they are eligible
7under Rule 8.
8A bill reported out of committee which is
9subsequently referred to the ways and means or
10appropriations committee and then reported out of that
11committee, shall be returned to the regular calendar in
12numerical order.
13 7. The senate calendar shall include a listing of
14the governor’s appointees to state boards, commissions,
15and other offices requiring senate confirmation. This
16listing shall be known as the “Confirmation Calendar”.
17Names on the confirmation calendar may be called up
18for confirmation at any time by the majority leader
19provided they are eligible under rule 59.
20 8. The majority leader, or in the absence of the
21majority leader the assistant majority leaders, may
22select from among the bills on the previous legislative
23day’s Senate calendar and from the bills selected
24create a new listing which shall be known as the
25“Tentative Debate Calendar”. A bill or resolution on
26the tentative debate calendar may be debated only when
27eligible under Rule 8.
28 9. If the senate shall not be in session on a day
29assigned in paragraph eight subsection 8 for action
30upon a calendar, such assigned action may occur on the
-5-1next succeeding legislative day.
2 10. On any bill called up for debate from any
3calendar, debate may continue from day to day until
4it is adopted, fails, or is postponed or deferred. If
5further debate is postponed or deferred without a time
6to continue being set, the bill shall be listed as
7unfinished business. Bills that are returned to the
8committee of first referral or to a different committee
9after being considered by the senate and classified as
10unfinished business shall be returned to the unfinished
11business calendar by that committee when the bill is
12reported out of committee. The unfinished business
13date on the calendar shall be the date on which the
14bill was returned to committee.
15Rule 7
16Reserved.
17Rule 8
18When Eligible for Consideration
19Bills, resolutions, and appointments shall be
20eligible for consideration by the senate as follows:
211. An appointment by the governor which requires
22senate confirmation shall be eligible on the second
23legislative day it is printed in the senate calendar as
24provided by Rule 59.
252. A house or individually sponsored bill or
26resolution reported out by a committee shall be
27eligible on the second legislative day it is printed in
28the senate calendar.
293. A committee bill or resolution sponsored by
30the appropriations committee shall be eligible on the
-6-1second legislative day it is printed in the senate
2calendar.
34. Any committee bill or resolution, other than
4a bill or resolution sponsored by the appropriations
5committee, shall be eligible on the third legislative
6day it is printed in the senate calendar.
75. A bill that has been reported out to the
8senate calendar, referred to a different committee
9and reported out by that committee is eligible for
10consideration by the senate on the day it would have
11been eligible under subsection 2, 3, or 4, whichever
12is applicable, as if the bill had been printed in the
13calendar after having been reported out by the first
14committee.
15Rule 9
16Debate and Decorum
17Before addressing the senate, the senator shall
18request recognition by depressing the “speak” device
19and, when recognized, rise and respectfully address the
20chair.
21The senator shall confine all remarks to the
22question under debate and shall avoid discussing
23personalities or implication of improper motives. No
24questions except by the senator recognized shall be
25entertained after a senator is recognized to give final
26remarks.
27Rule 10
28Point of Personal Privilege
29A point of personal privilege shall only be
30recognized immediately prior to adjournment for the
-7-1day when there is no motion pending or other business
2being considered by the senate. Points of personal
3privilege shall not be in order during the time when
4appropriation subcommittees are scheduled to meet.
5Senators speaking on a point of personal privilege
6shall be limited to ten minutes.
7Rule 11
8Introduction and Presentation of Guests
9Only former members of the senate and former and
10present members of Congress shall be presented to
11the senate, except that the president of the senate
12may present a visitor whose presence is of special
13significance to the senate. The introduction of
14school groups accompanied by school officials shall be
15announced by the president of the senate or a senator
16 and shall be recorded in the journal upon written
17request of a member of the senate. Senators may be
18recognized to introduce guests in the galleries when
19there is no motion pending or other business being
20considered by the senate. Introductions shall be
21limited to one minute.
22Rule 12
23Form and Withdrawal of Motions, Amendments, and
24Signatures
25Motions need not be in writing unless required by
26the president or by the senate. No motion requires
27a second. Any amendment, motion (including a motion
28to reconsider), or resolution may be withdrawn by the
29mover if it has not been amended by the senate and if
30no amendment is pending. All amendments to bills,
-8-1resolutions, and reports shall be in writing and filed
2before being acted upon by the senate.
3No amendment, resolution, bill, or conference
4committee report shall be considered by the senate
5without a copy of the amendment, resolution, bill, or
6conference committee report being on the desks of the
7entire membership of the senate prior to consideration.
8However, after the fourteenth week of the first session
9and the twelfth week of the second session, amendments
10and senate resolutions may be considered by the senate
11without a copy of the amendment or senate resolution
12being on the desks of the entire membership of the
13senate if a copy of the amendment or senate resolution
14is made available to the entire membership of the
15senate electronically. However, such consideration
16shall be deferred until a copy of the amendment or
17senate resolution is on the desk of any senator who so
18requests.
19All amendments, reports, petitions or other
20documents requiring a signature shall have the name
21printed under the place for the signature. Once a
22signature is affixed and the document containing the
23signature filed with the recording clerk in the well,
24that signature shall not be removed.
25When an amendment to a main amendment is filed that
26would negate the effect of the main amendment and
27thereby leave the bill unchanged, the presiding officer
28shall have the authority to declare the amendment to
29the main amendment out of order, subject to an appeal
30to the full senate.
-9- 1 When a house amendment to a senate file is before
2the senate, an amendment to the house amendment shall
3be considered an amendment in the first degree.
4Regardless of its origin, an amendment in the third
5degree shall be ruled out of order.
6When a ruling on whether an amendment is or is not
7germane is issued, the ruling shall be accompanied by
8an explanation.
9Rule 13
10Order and Precedence of Motions and Amendments
11 When a question is under debate, no motion shall
12be received but to adjourn, to recess, questions
13of privilege, to lay on the table, for the previous
14question, to postpone to a day certain, to refer,
15to amend, to postpone indefinitely, to defer, or
16incidental motions. A substitute is not in order
17unless it is in the form of a motion to substitute.
18Such motions shall have precedence in the order in
19which they are named. No motion to postpone to a
20day certain, to refer, or postpone indefinitely,
21being decided, shall be again allowed on the same
22day with regard to the same question. A motion to
23strike out the enacting clause of a bill shall have
24precedence over all amendments and, if carried, shall
25be considered equivalent to the rejection of the bill.
26 A motion to strike everything after the enacting
27clause has precedence over a committee amendment and
28all other amendments except one to strike the enacting
29clause. A committee amendment has precedence over all
30other amendments except as provided in this rule.
-10- 1A motion to rerefer a bill to committee may specify
2when the committee shall report the bill to the senate.
3If the motion is adopted in such form, the committee
4must report the bill by the date and time specified
5with or without recommendation or the bill shall
6automatically be returned to the calendar. When the
7bill is returned to the calendar, it shall occupy
8the same position it occupied at the time the bill
9was rereferred to the committee. If the committee
10to which the bill is rereferred submits an amendment
11in its report, that committee amendment shall take
12precedence over other amendments except if that
13committee amendment is in conflict with amendments
14previously adopted, the committee amendment shall
15not be considered until consideration of motions to
16reconsider the previously adopted amendments result
17in removing the conflict. A committee may not file
18an amendment to a bill unless the bill is in the
19committee’s possession.
20Rule 14
21 Motions Before the Senate
22Motions before the senate, except motions for
23adjournment or recess, shall be displayed on the
24electronic voting system display boards.
25Rule 15
26Nondebatable Motions
27The following motions are not debatable:
28Adjourn
29Recess
30Lift a Call of the Senate
-11- 1Lay on Table or Take from Table
2Previous Question
3Reconsider vote by which bill was placed on last
4reading.
5A Motion to Reconsider and Lay the Motion to
6Reconsider on the Table (Double-barreled Motion).
7Rule 16
8Division of the Question
9Any senator may call for a division of a question,
10which shall be divided if it includes propositions
11so distinct that if one is taken away, a substantive
12proposition shall remain in a technically proper form
13for the decision of the senate. A motion to strike out
14and insert is indivisible; but a motion to strike out,
15if lost, shall not preclude amendments to the matter
16attempted to be stricken or a motion to strike out and
17insert.
18Rule 17
19The Previous Question
20The previous question shall be in this form: “Shall
21debate be closed on the pending question?” A motion
22for the previous question may be adopted by a majority
23of the senators present and voting. Its effect shall
24be to put an end to debate and bring the senate to a
25direct vote upon the pending question. However, any
26senator who has not previously spoken on the pending
27question and who, after the main question is taken up
28and before the motion for the previous question has
29been made, requested recognition by depressing the
30“speak” device may speak no longer than five minutes
-12-1on the pending question. If action on the pending
2question continues into another legislative day or is
3deferred, the previous question shall apply and the
4requests to be recognized shall be honored.
5When the motion applies to an amendment, the senator
6proposing the amendment shall have five minutes to
7close debate on the amendment.
8The senator handling the measure under consideration
9shall have ten minutes to close debate on the main
10question.
11Rule 18
12Call of the Senate
13Ten senators may file in writing a call of the
14senate on any single item of legislative business.
15A call of the senate requires the presence of every
16senator and is in order at any time prior to the vote
17being announced by the president. The sergeant-at-arms
18shall return promptly all absent senators. Debate
19on the item may continue while absent senators are
20returning, but no vote on the item is in order on it
21until all have returned. Adoption of a motion to
22recess or adjourn to a specific time will not lift
23the call. The call may be lifted, or a senator may
24be excused from the call without lifting the call, by
25a vote of a constitutional majority of the senators.
26Those senators excused prior to the filing of the call
27are excused from the call.
28Rule 19
29Committee of the Whole
30The senate may resolve itself into a committee of
-13-1the whole senate when it wishes to permit more free and
2informal discussion. Persons other than senators may
3appear and present information.
4Any senator may move “that the senate now resolve
5itself into a committee of the whole to consider” a
6stated subject.
7The president of the senate shall be chair of the
8committee of the whole unless otherwise ordered by the
9senate.
10The procedure in committee of the whole is subject
11to the rules of the senate. The previous question and
12the motion to reconsider shall be in order.
13The committee of the whole cannot take any final
14action and its power is limited to recommendation to
15the senate. The proceedings of the committee of the
16whole, including any roll call vote, shall be printed
17in the journal.
18Any senator may at any time, except while voting or
19while a senator has the floor, move that “the committee
20rise” which is equivalent to a motion to adjourn.
21After adoption of the motion to rise, the chair
22may report to the senate in the same manner as other
23committee reports are given.
24Rule 20
25Last Reading and Passage of Bills
26When a motion to place a bill on its last reading is
27lost, the same motion shall be in order at any later
28time. After the last reading of a bill, no amendment
29shall be received. The vote on final passage shall be
30taken immediately without debate.
-14-1Rule 21
2Engrossment of Bills
3An engrossment is a proofreading and verification
4in order to be certain that a bill before the senate is
5identical with the original bill as introduced with all
6amendments which have been adopted correctly inserted.
7In an engrossed bill, all obvious typographical,
8spelling or other clerical errors are corrected and
9section or paragraph numbers and internal references
10are changed as required to conform the original bill
11to any amendments which have been adopted. All such
12corrections or changes shall be reported in the journal
13by the secretary of the senate. The engrossed bill
14shall be placed in the bill file with the original bill
15and amendments.
16Rule 22
17Manner of Voting
18On voice vote, the question shall be distinctly put
19in this form: “Those in favor of (the question) say
20‘aye’ ‘yea’.” “Those opposed to (the question) say
21‘no’.”
22A non-record or record roll call vote may be
23requested by any senator or ordered by the president
24any time before the results are announced. A
25non-record roll call shall be requested by asking for a
26“division”. A record roll call shall be requested by
27asking for a “record”. Upon request for a non-record
28or record roll call vote, the president shall announce
29that such a non-record or record roll call vote has
30been requested and shall state the question to be put
-15-1to the senate. The president then shall direct the
2secretary of the senate to receive the votes.
3 Senators present may cast their votes, either
4by operating the voting mechanism located at their
5assigned desk or by signaling the president if they are
6unable to vote at their assigned desk. The president
7shall enter the votes of senators signaling their
8votes.
9After sufficient time has elapsed for all senators
10present to record their votes, the president shall
11direct the secretary of the senate to close the voting
12system. The president shall still enter the senators’
13votes at any time prior to directing the secretary of
14the senate to lock the voting system. The president
15shall then immediately announce the vote.
16During a record roll call vote, both individual
17votes and vote totals shall be indicated on the display
18boards and printed in the journal. On non-record
19roll calls, only vote totals shall be indicated on the
20display boards and printed in the journal.
21In the event the electronic voting system is not
22in operating order, the president shall direct the
23secretary of the senate to take the non-record or
24record roll call by calling the names of the senators
25in alphabetical order.
26Rule 23
27Duty of Voting
28Every senator present when a question is put shall
29vote “aye” “yea”, “no”, or “present” unless previously
30excused by the senate. Upon demand being made by any
-16-1senator, the secretary of the senate shall call in
2alphabetical order the names of the senators not voting
3or voting “present”. Those senators called shall
4vote “aye” “yea” or “no” unless the senator states a
5personal interest in the question or concludes that he
6or she should not vote under the senate code of ethics.
7Rule 24
8Reconsideration
9When a main motion has been decided by the senate,
10any senator having voted on the prevailing side
11may move to reconsider the vote on the same or next
12legislative day. Motions to reconsider the vote on a
13bill or resolution shall be in writing and filed with
14the secretary of the senate.
15Notwithstanding any time limitations applicable
16to motions to reconsider main motions, a motion to
17reconsider the vote on an amendment may be made at
18any time before final disposition of the motion to
19be amended. Such motion shall be in writing and
20filed with the secretary of the senate. A motion to
21reconsider an amendment to a main motion shall be taken
22up for consideration only prior to the disposition of
23the main motion or upon reconsideration of the main
24motion.
25A constitutional majority by a record roll call is
26necessary to reconsider a bill or joint resolution.
27During three legislative days from the date the motion
28to reconsider a bill or resolution is filed, only the
29mover may call it up. Thereafter, any senator may call
30up the motion. If a date for adjournment has been set
-17-1by resolution of the senate, any senator may call up
2a motion to reconsider at any time within three days
3prior to the date set for adjournment.
4If the motion to reconsider a bill or resolution
5prevails, motions to reconsider amendments thereto
6shall be in order and shall be disposed of without
7delay.
8A motion that any action taken by the senate be
9reconsidered and the motion to reconsider be laid upon
10the table shall be a single and indivisible motion,
11known as the double-barreled motion, which, if carried,
12shall have the effect of preventing reconsideration
13unless a motion to take from the table prevails.
14A constitutional majority is necessary for the
15double-barreled motion to prevail on a bill or joint
16resolution. The double-barreled motion can only be
17made from the floor after the vote is announced and the
18member who moved the final reading shall have priority
19in making it.
20A motion to reconsider and lay on the table shall
21have priority over a motion to reconsider if they are
22both filed on the same legislative day.
23In the event that a motion to reconsider is pending
24at the end of the first session or any extraordinary
25session of any general assembly, or the general
26assembly adjourns sine die, and the motion has not been
27voted upon by the senate, it shall be determined to
28have failed.
29Rule 25
30Suspension of Rules and Taking from Table
-18- 1No standing rule or rules incorporated by reference
2under Rule 3 or order of the senate shall be rescinded
3or suspended, nor shall any matter, tabled upon
4motion, be taken up, except by an affirmative vote of a
5constitutional majority of the senate.
6INTRODUCTION AND FORM OF BILLS
7Rule 26
8Time and Method of Introducing Bills and Amendments
9All bills to be introduced in the senate shall be
10typed in proper form by the legislative services agency
11and shall be filed with the recording clerk.
12All amendments shall be typed in proper form and
13filed with the recording clerk not later than 4:30
14p.m., or adjournment, whichever is later, in order to
15be listed in the following day’s clip sheet.
16 An “impact amendment” is an amendment which
17reasonably could have an annual effect of at least one
18hundred thousand dollars or a combined total effect
19within five years after enactment of five hundred
20thousand dollars or more on the aggregate revenues,
21expenditures or fiscal liability of the state or its
22subdivisions.
23 An impact amendment to a bill which has been on
24the calendar for at least three full legislative days
25prior to its consideration shall not be taken up by the
26senate unless:
271. a fiscal note is attached, and the amendment is
28filed at least one legislative day prior to the date
29set for consideration of the bill; or
302. the amendment is an appropriation or other
-19-1measure where the total effect is stated in dollar
2amounts.
3Rule 27
4Limit on Introduction of Bills
5No bill or joint resolution, except bills and
6joint resolutions cosponsored by the majority and
7minority floor leaders, or companion bills and joint
8resolutions sponsored by the majority floor leaders of
9both houses, shall be introduced in the senate after
104:30 p.m.on Friday of the fifth week of the first
11regular session of a general assembly unless a formal
12request for drafting the bill has been filed with the
13legislative services agency before that time. After
14adjournment of the first regular session, bills may
15be prefiled at any time before the convening of the
16second regular session. No bill shall be introduced
17after 4:30 p.m.on Friday of the second week of the
18second regular session of a general assembly unless a
19formal request for drafting the bill has been filed
20with the legislative services agency before that time.
21However, standing committees may introduce bills and
22joint resolutions at any time. A bill which relates
23to departmental rules sponsored by the administrative
24rules review committee and approved by a majority
25of the members of the committee in each house may
26be introduced at any time and must be referred to a
27standing committee which must take action on the bill
28within three weeks. Senate and concurrent resolutions
29may be introduced at any time.
30No bill, joint resolution, concurrent resolution
-20-1or senate resolution shall be introduced at any
2extraordinary session unless sponsored by a standing
3committee, the majority and minority floor leaders, or
4the committee of the whole.
5Rule 28
6Introduction, Reading, and Form of Bills and
7Resolutions
8Every senate bill and resolution shall be introduced
9by one or more senators or by any standing committee
10of the senate and shall at once be given its first
11reading.
12If the senate is in session when a bill or
13resolution is introduced, the first reading shall
14consist of reading its file number, the title and
15sponsor of the bill. If the senate is not in session
16but a journal is published for the day, the first
17reading shall consist of a journal entry of the bill’s
18file number, title, sponsor and the notation “Read
19first time under Rule 28”.
20Any bill or resolution approved for introduction by
21a standing committee during an interim period between
22sessions of one General Assembly shall be introduced
23without further action by the committee at the next
24succeeding regular session of the same General Assembly
25and placed immediately upon the regular calendar.
26Every bill and resolution referred to committee
27shall have received two readings before its passage.
28The subject of every bill shall be expressed in its
29title.
30Rule 29
-21-1Explanations
2No bill, except appropriation committee bills and
3simple or concurrent resolutions, shall be introduced
4unless a concise and accurate explanation is attached.
5The chief sponsor or a committee to which the bill has
6been referred may add a revised explanation at any time
7before the last reading, and it shall be included in
8the daily clip sheet.
9Rule 30
10Resolutions
11A “senate resolution” is a resolution acted upon
12only by the senate which relates to an accomplishment
13of national or international status; the dedication
14of a day by a statewide or national group; the
15one hundredth, one hundred twenty-fifth, or one
16hundred fiftieth anniversary of a local government
17or organization; the recognition of state ties to
18other governments; the retirement of a senator
19or long-time senate employee; or to rules and
20administrative matters, including the appointment
21of special committees, within the senate. A senate
22resolution requires the affirmative vote of a majority
23of the senators present and voting, unless otherwise
24required in these rules. A senate resolution shall
25be filed with the secretary of the senate. A senate
26resolution shall be printed in the bound journal after
27its adoption and in the daily journal upon written
28request to the secretary of the senate by the sponsor
29of the resolution. Other expressions of sentiment
30or recognition may be made with the issuance of a
-22-1certificate of recognition.
2Rule 31
3Nullification Resolutions
4A nullification resolution may be introduced
5by a standing committee, the administrative rules
6review committee, or any member of the senate.
7A nullification resolution introduced by the
8administrative rules review committee or a member
9of the senate shall be referred to the same standing
10committee it would be referred to if it was a bill.
11Any nullification resolution may be referred to the
12administrative rules review committee by a majority
13vote of the standing committee which introduced it
14or to which it was referred. The administrative
15rules review committee may seek an agreement with the
16affected administrative agency wherein the agency
17agrees to voluntarily rescind or modify a rule or rules
18relating to the subject matter of the nullification
19resolution. An agreement to voluntarily rescind
20or modify an administrative agency rule shall be in
21writing and signed by the chief administrative officer
22of the administrative agency and a majority of the
23administrative rules review committee members of each
24house and shall be placed on file in the offices of
25the chief clerk of the house, the secretary of the
26senate, and the secretary of state. If an agreement
27is not reached, or the nullification resolution is
28not approved by a majority of the administrative rules
29review committee members of each house, within two
30weeks of the date the resolution is referred to the
-23-1administrative rules review committee, the resolution
2shall be placed on the calendar. If the nullification
3resolution is approved by the administrative rules
4review committee it shall be placed on the calendar.
5A nullification resolution is subject to a motion to
6withdraw the nullification resolution as provided in
7rule 42.
8A nullification resolution is debatable, but cannot
9be amended on the floor of the senate.
10Rule 32
11Resolutions, Applicable Rules
12All rules applicable to bills shall apply to
13resolutions, except as otherwise provided in the rules.
14Rule 33
15Study Bills
161. A study bill is any matter which a senator
17wishes to have considered by a standing committee or
18appropriations subcommittee for introduction as a
19committee bill or resolution. The term “study bill”
20includes “proposed bills” provided for in Rule 37 and
21departmental requests prefiled in the manner specified
22in section 2.16 of the Code.
232. A study bill shall bear the name of the member
24who wishes to have the bill considered. A study bill
25proposed by a state agency shall bear the name of the
26agency. A committee chair may submit a study bill in
27the name of that committee.
283. Upon first receiving a study bill from a
29senator, a committee chairperson shall submit three
30copies to the secretary of the senate. Study bills
-24-1received in the secretary of the senate’s office before
23:00 p.m.shall be filed, numbered, and reported in
3the journal for that day. Study bills received in the
4secretary of the senate’s office after 3:00 p.m.shall
5be filed, numbered, and reported in the journal for the
6subsequent day. The secretary shall number such bills
7in consecutive order. The secretary shall maintain a
8record of all study bills and their assigned number.
9Committee records shall refer to study bills by the
10number assigned by the secretary.
114. The secretary shall file a report in the journal
12of each study bill received. The report shall show
13the study bill number, its title or subject matter,
14 and the committee which is considering it. If a study
15bill is referred to a subcommittee, then the committee
16chairperson shall report in the journal the names of
17the subcommittee members to which it is assigned.
18 5. A study bill not prepared by the legislative
19services agency may be submitted to a standing
20committee, but shall not be considered by the full
21committee unless reviewed and typed in proper form by
22the legislative services agency.
23COMMITTEES AND COMMITMENT
24Rule 34
25Committee Appointments
26Committee appointments shall be made by the majority
27leader for members of the majority, after consultation
28with the president, and by the minority leader for
29members of the minority, after consultation with
30the president. No senator shall serve on more than
-25-1six standing committees. The majority leader, after
2consultation with the president, shall designate the
3chairperson and vice-chairperson of each standing
4committee. The minority leader, after consultation
5with the president, shall designate the ranking member
6of each standing committee from the minority membership
7of that committee.
8Rule 35
9Standing Committees
10The names of the standing committees of the senate
11shall be:
12Agriculture
13Appropriations
14Commerce
15Education
16Government Oversight
17Human Resources
18Judiciary
19Labor and Business Relations
20Local Government
21Natural Resources and Environment
22Rules and Administration
23State Government
24Transportation
25Veterans Affairs
26Ways and Means
27Rule 36
28Committee on Rules and Administration
29The committee on rules and administration shall
30recommend rules and rule changes to the senate, shall
-26-1hire senate employees, shall recommend salary scales
2for all senate employees, and shall oversee senate
3budget and administration matters.
4The committee on rules and administration will
5select, for senate approval, an individual to serve as
6secretary of the senate.
7The committee shall have the following standing
8subcommittees:
91. Joint Rules
102. Senate Rules
113. Administrative Services
124. Caucus Services
13The majority leader shall serve as chair of the
14rules and administration committee and as chair of
15the standing subcommittee on caucus services. The
16president of the senate shall serve as vice-chair of
17the rules and administration committee, and as chair of
18the subcommittee on administrative services.
19Rule 37
20Appropriations Committee
21The appropriations committee shall receive bills
22committed to it and shall assign each to one of the
23appropriations subcommittees.
24The appropriations subcommittees shall be named:
25Administration and Regulation
26Agriculture and Natural Resources
27Economic Development
28Education
29Health and Human Services
30Justice System
-27- 1Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals
2The appropriations subcommittees shall receive
3bills assigned to them or may originate proposed bills
4within the subcommittee’s jurisdiction as defined by
5the appropriations committee for consideration by the
6appropriations committee. Each subcommittee may submit
7amendments to bills together with the subcommittee’s
8recommended action to the appropriations committee.
9If a bill or proposed bill is submitted to the
10appropriations committee by an appropriations
11subcommittee the appropriations committee may:
121. report the bill or approve the proposed bill for
13introduction by the appropriations committee;
142. report the bill with any appropriations
15committee-approved amendments incorporated;
163. draft a new bill for sponsorship by the
17appropriations committee and report it; or
184. re-refer it together with the appropriations
19committee’s objections to the appropriations
20subcommittee from which it was originally referred or
21which originated the draft bill.
22The appropriations committee and subcommittees may
23meet jointly with the appropriations committee of the
24house of representatives.
25Rule 38
26First Reading and Commitment
27Upon the first reading of an individual bill or
28resolution, or a house committee bill or resolution,
29the president shall refer the bill or resolution to
30an appropriate standing committee. If the bill or
-28-1resolution is a senate committee bill or resolution,
2the president shall place it on the calendar after
3its first reading. If the subject of the bill or
4resolution is not germane to the title of the committee
5presenting it, the president of the senate may refer it
6to a committee deemed appropriate.
7All bills carrying an appropriation for any purpose
8or involving the expenditure of state funds shall be
9referred to the committee on appropriations.
10All bills pertaining to the levy, assessment or
11collection of taxes or fees shall be referred to the
12committee on ways and means.
13Any bill which provides for a new state board,
14commission, agency, or department or makes separate or
15autonomous an existing state board, commission, agency,
16 or department, shall be referred to the committee
17on state government. If the bill or resolution is
18so referred after being sponsored or reported out
19by another committee, and if the committee on state
20government does not report out the bill or resolution
21within ten legislative days after referral, the bill
22or resolution shall automatically be restored to the
23calendar with the same priority it had immediately
24before referral.
25This rule shall also apply when such provisions are
26added to a bill or resolution by amendment adopted by
27the senate.
28Rule 39
29Rules for Standing Committees
30The following rules shall govern all standing
-29-1committees of the senate. Any committee may adopt
2additional rules which are consistent with these rules:
31. A majority of the members shall constitute a
4quorum.
52. The chair of a committee shall refer each bill
6and resolution to a subcommittee within seven days
7after the bill or resolution has been referred to
8the committee. The chair may appoint subcommittees
9for study of bills and resolutions without calling a
10meeting of the committee, but the subcommittee must
11be announced at the next meeting of the committee by
12placing notice in the journal. No bill or resolution
13shall be reported out of a committee until the next
14meeting after the subcommittee is announced, except
15that the chair of the appropriations committee may make
16the announcement of the assignment to a subcommittee by
17placing a notice in the journal. Any bill so assigned
18by the appropriations committee chair shall be eligible
19for consideration by the committee upon report of the
20subcommittee but not sooner than three legislative days
21following the publication of the announcement in the
22journal.
23When a bill or resolution has been assigned to a
24subcommittee, the chair shall report to the senate
25the bill or resolution number and the names of the
26subcommittee members and such reports shall be reported
27in the journal. Subcommittee assignments shall be
28reported to the journal daily. Reports filed before
293:00 p.m.shall be printed in the journal for that day;
30reports filed after 3:00 p.m.shall be printed in the
-30-1journal for the subsequent day.
2Where standing subcommittees of any committee have
3been named, the names of the members and the title of
4the subcommittee shall be published once and thereafter
5publication of assignments may be made by indicating
6the title of the subcommittee.
73. No bill or resolution shall be considered by a
8committee until it has been referred to a subcommittee,
9the subcommittee has held a public meeting, and the
10subcommittee has made its report unless otherwise
11ordered by a majority of the members.
124. The rules adopted by a committee, including
13subsections 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of this rule, may
14be suspended by an affirmative vote of a majority of
15the members of the committee.
165. The affirmative vote of a majority of the
17members of a committee is needed to sponsor a committee
18bill or resolution or to report a bill or resolution
19out for passage.
206. The vote on all bills and resolutions shall be
21by roll call unless a short-form vote is unanimously
22agreed to by the committee. A record shall be kept by
23the secretary.
247. No committee, except a conference committee,
25 is authorized to meet when the senate is in session.
26This rule does not apply to conference committees or
27subcommittees.
288. A subcommittee shall not report a bill to the
29committee unless the bill has been typed into proper
30form by the legislative services agency.
-31- 19. A bill or resolution shall not be voted upon the
2same day a public hearing called under subsection 10 is
3held on that bill or resolution.
410. Public hearings may be called at the discretion
5of the chair. The chair shall call a public hearing
6upon the written request of one-half the membership of
7the committee. The chair shall set the time and place
8of the public hearing.
911. A subcommittee chair must notify the committee
10chair not later than one legislative day prior to
11bringing the bill or resolution before the committee.
12The committee cannot vote on a bill or resolution for
13at least one full day following the receipt of the
14subcommittee report by the chairperson.
1512. A motion proposing action on a bill or
16resolution that has been defeated by a committee shall
17not be voted upon again at the same meeting of the
18committee.
1913. Committee meetings and subcommittee meetings
20 shall be open.
21Rule 40
22Voting in Committee
23All committee meetings shall be open at all times.
24Voting by secret ballot is prohibited. Roll call votes
25shall be taken in each committee when final action on
26any bill or resolution is voted, unless a short-form
27vote is unanimously agreed to by the committee. A roll
28call vote also shall be taken in each committee at the
29request of a member upon any amendment or motion. All
30results shall be entered in the minutes which shall be
-32-1public records. Records of these votes shall be made
2available by the chair or the committee secretary at
3any time. This rule also applies to the appropriations
4subcommittees.
5The committee shall not authorize the introduction
6of a committee bill or resolution until the members
7have received final copies of the bill or resolution
8with amendments or changes incorporated, and typed
9into proper form by the legislative services agency.
10The committee may, by unanimous consent, dispense with
11this requirement and instruct the legislative services
12agency to file a report with the committee members
13detailing the amendments or changes and this report
14shall become a part of the committee report.
15Rule 41
16Announcement of Committee Meetings
17It shall be in order for the chair of any committee
18to announce to the senate the time and place of
19committee meetings. The announcement shall include a
20proposed agenda for the meeting. The sergeant-at-arms
21shall post at the rear of the chamber the daily
22schedule of committee meetings.
23Rule 42
24Withdrawal of Bills and Resolutions from Committee
25The secretary of the senate shall note on each bill
26and resolution the date of its reference to committee.
27No bill or resolution shall be withdrawn from any
28committee within fifteen legislative days after the
29bill or resolution has been referred to the committee
30and thereafter only upon written petition for the
-33-1withdrawal of such bill or resolution signed by a
2constitutional majority of the senators, except as
3provided in Rule 38. Only senators may circulate such
4a petition.
5Rule 43
6Committee Reports
71. All committees shall file a report of committee
8meetings. Such reports shall contain the following
9information:
10a. The time the meeting convened;
11b. Those senators who were present and absent at
12the time the meeting convened, as well as the time any
13senator, who was not present at the time the meeting
14convened, arrives for the meeting;
15c. The vote on any bill or resolution reported out
16of the committee for floor action;
17d. The title of the bill;
18e. The file number of the bill or resolution (if
19known);
20f. Whether the committee recommends that the
21bill or resolution be passed, amended and passed,
22indefinitely postponed, or considered without committee
23recommendation;
24g. An indication of other bills or matters
25discussed;
26h. Such other matters as the committee chair shall
27direct; and
28i. The time the meeting adjourned.
292. No committee report shall be read, but all
30committee reports shall be printed in the journal.
-34-1Upon printing, all committee reports shall then stand
2approved unless the senate directs otherwise.
3Rule 44
4Bills or Resolutions Recommended for Indefinite
5Postponement
6No senate bill or resolution recommended for
7indefinite postponement shall be considered in the
8absence of the chief sponsor or, if a house bill or
9resolution, in the absence of the senator representing
10the district in which the sponsor resides. When a
11question is postponed indefinitely, it shall not be
12again acted upon during that session of the general
13assembly.
14GENERAL RULES
15Rule 45
16Access to Senate Chamber and Decorum
17The persons who shall have access to the senate
18chamber, and the times access shall be available, and
19the rules governing activities in the chamber and other
20areas controlled by the senate shall be as prescribed
21by the rules and administration committee pursuant to a
22written policy adopted by the committee and filed with
23the secretary of the senate.
24Rule 46
25Legislative Interns and Aides
26Legislative interns for senators shall be allowed
27on the floor of the senate in accordance with Rule 45;
28provided that each intern first has obtained a name
29badge from the secretary of the senate. The secretary
30of the senate shall issue an appropriate badge to all
-35-1interns for senators.
2Rule 47
3Clearing of Lobby and Gallery
4In case of disturbance or disorderly conduct in the
5lobby or gallery, the presiding officer may order it
6cleared.
7Rule 48
8Presentation of Petitions
9Each petition shall contain a brief statement of its
10subject matter and the name of the senator presenting
11it. Petitions shall be filed with the secretary of the
12senate and noted in the journal.
13Rule 49
14Distribution of Printed Material
15No general distribution of printed material in
16the senate shall be allowed unless authorized by the
17secretary of the senate or by a senator.
18Rule 50
19Concerning the Printing of Papers
20Any paper, other than that contemplated by Section
2110, Article III of the Constitution of the State of
22Iowa, presented to the senate may, with the consent of
23a constitutional majority, be printed in the journal.
24Rule 51
25Reprinting of Documents
26When any bill has been substantially amended by the
27senate, the secretary of the senate shall order the
28bill reprinted on paper of a different color. All
29adopted amendments inserting new material shall be
30distinguishable.
-36- 1The secretary of the senate may order the printing
2of a reasonable number of additional copies of bills,
3resolutions, amendments, or journals.
4OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
5Rule 52
6Duties of the President
7The senate shall elect, from its membership, a
8president. The president shall call the senate to
9order at the hour to which the senate is adjourned and
10shall proceed with the regular order of daily business.
11The president shall preserve order and decorum and
12decide all questions of order and corrections to the
13journal. The president shall direct voting as provided
14in rule 22. When a ruling on whether an amendment
15is or is not germane is issued, the ruling shall be
16accompanied by an explanation. The president of the
17senate shall be the chair of the committee of the whole
18unless otherwise ordered by the senate, under rule 19.
19Upon the first reading of an individual bill or
20resolution, or a house committee bill or resolution,
21the president shall refer the bill or resolution to
22the appropriate standing committee. If the bill or
23resolution is a senate committee bill or resolution,
24the president shall place it on the calendar after
25its first reading. If the subject of the bill or
26resolution is not germane to the title of the committee
27presenting it, the president of the senate may refer it
28to the appropriate committee.
29The president shall sign legislative enactments upon
30their enrolling.
-37- 1The president of the senate shall serve as a member
2of the legislative council and the senate rules and
3administration committee. The president shall serve
4on the rules and administration committee as chair of
5the standing subcommittee designated to supervise the
6secretary of the senate and other employees of the
7administrative services division of the senate.
8Rule 53
9The President Pro Tempore
10The senate shall elect, from its membership, a
11president pro tempore. When the president is absent,
12the president pro tempore shall preside, except when
13the chair is filled by temporary appointment by the
14president or the majority leader.
15The president pro tempore, when presiding, shall
16perform duties as prescribed in rule 52, paragraphs 1
17and 2.
18The president pro tempore shall serve as a member of
19the legislative council and as a member of the senate
20committee on rules and administration.
21 Rule 54
22Secretary of the Senate
23The secretary of the senate shall be a nonpartisan
24officer of the senate and shall:
251. Serve as chief administrative officer of the
26senate.
272. Have charge of the secretary’s desk.
283. Be responsible for the custody and safekeeping
29of all bills, resolutions, and amendments filed, except
30while they are in the custody of a committee.
-38- 14. Have charge of the daily journal.
25. Have control of all rooms assigned for the use
3of the senate.
46. Keep a detailed record of senate action on all
5bills and resolutions.
67. Insert adopted amendments into bills before
7transmittal to the house of representatives and prior
8to final enrollment.
98. Prescribe With the exception of caucus employees
10and employees directly serving the majority leader,
11the president of the senate, and the minority leader,
12prescribe the duties of and supervise all senate
13employees.
149. Authorize all expenditures of funds within the
15senate budget.
1610. The secretary of the senate shall also act as
17senate parliamentarian and shall:
18 a. Advise the presiding officer of the senate
19about parliamentary procedures during deliberations of
20the senate.
21 b. Perform other duties as prescribed by the
22committee on rules and administration.
23 c. Process the handling of amendments when filed
24and during the floor consideration of bills.
25Rule 55
26Legal Counsel
27The legal counsel shall be the secretary of the
28senate or a contractual employee of the senate and
29shall:
301. Serve as attorney and counselor for the senate.
-39- 12. At the request of the majority or minority
2leaders, research any legal issue in which the senate
3has an interest. However, the legal counsel shall not
4issue nor venture any opinions on unresolved questions
5of law unless permitted by both the majority and
6minority leaders.
7Rule 56
8Sergeant-at-Arms
9The sergeant-at-arms shall be an employee of the
10senate and shall:
111. Wear the appropriate badge of his or her office.
122. Attend the senate during its sessions.
133. Aid in the enforcement of order under the
14direction of the president of the senate and the
15secretary of the senate.
164. Execute the commands of the senate.
175. See that no unauthorized person disturbs the
18contents of the senators’ desks.
196. Supervise the doorkeepers, the assistant
20sergeant-at-arms, and pages.
217. Announce all delegations from the governor or
22house.
238. Supervise the seating of visitors and press
24representatives.
25Rule 57
26Senate Secretaries
27Every senator shall be permitted to employ for each
28session of a general assembly a personally selected
29secretary.
30Rule 58
-40-1Use of Electronic Voting System
2Any officer or employee of the senate, other than
3a duly elected member of the senate, who operates the
4electronic voting machine mechanism located at the
5desk of said member of the senate shall be subject to
6immediate termination from employment. The provisions
7of this paragraph shall not apply to the use of the
8page bell or to testing of the electronic voting
9system.
10CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS
11Rule 59
12Appointments
13The secretary of the senate shall:
14a. send, to each appointee submitted by the
15governor for senate confirmation, a copy of a
16senate questionnaire as approved by the rules and
17administration committee;
18b. receive completed questionnaires from appointees
19and forward copies of the completed questionnaires to
20appropriate committee members; and
21c. maintain “Confirmation Calendar” categories
22on the senate calendar as directed under this rule,
23senate rule 6, and by the committee on rules and
24administration. No appointee shall be listed as
25eligible on the confirmation calendar until the
26secretary has received the appointee’s completed senate
27questionnaire.
28As soon as possible after the convening of a
29session, and again within one week following March
301, the secretary of the senate shall publish in the
-41-1senate journal the names of all nominees submitted
2for confirmation. The secretary of the senate shall
3maintain a file of all appointments received from the
4governor for confirmation. The file shall contain
5a description of the duties and the compensation
6for each nominee. The file shall show the date an
7appointment was received from the governor, the date
8the appointment was published in the journal, whether
9the nominee has been introduced, whether a committee
10report has been filed, when the senate questionnaire
11was sent to the appointee, and shall include a copy of
12the appointee’s completed senate questionnaire, upon
13receipt.
14INVESTIGATING COMMITTEES. All appointments
15received from the governor shall be referred to the
16rules and administration committee by the secretary
17of the senate on the same day they are published in
18the senate journal. The rules and administration
19committee shall establish an en bloc confirmation
20calendar which must be filed with the secretary of
21the senate. Within three (3) legislative days after
22receiving an appointment, the committee shall either
23place a nominee on the en bloc confirmation calendar
24or assign the nominee to an appropriate standing
25committee for further investigation, publishing notice
26of such assignment in the senate journal for the next
27legislative day. If the rules and administration
28committee fails to take action on a nominee within
29the three (3) legislative days, the nominee shall
30automatically be placed on the en bloc confirmation
-42-1calendar.
2Within the three (3) legislative days after an
3appointment has been referred to the rules and
4administration committee, any ten senators may require
5that the nominee be assigned to an appropriate standing
6committee by filing a written, signed request therefor
7with the chairperson of the rules and administration
8committee. The committee chair shall refer the
9appointment to a subcommittee within one (1) three
10(3) legislative day days after a standing committee
11receives an appointment for further investigation,
12publishing notice of such assignment in the senate
13journal for the next legislative day. Within ten (10)
14legislative days after a standing committee receives an
15appointment for further investigation the subcommittee
16shall file its report with the standing committee.
17Within fourteen (14) legislative days after a
18standing committee receives an appointment for
19further investigation, the committee shall conduct
20an investigation of the nominee and file its report
21thereon with the secretary of the senate, who shall
22then place the nominee on the en bloc calendar or
23individual confirmation calendar as directed by
24the committee. The failure of a committee to file
25its report within the prescribed time means that
26the nominee is to be automatically placed, without
27recommendation, upon the individual confirmation
28calendar.
29Any individual nominated to head a department or
30agency of state government, whose appointment is
-43-1subject to senate confirmation, must be introduced
2to the full senate prior to a vote on confirmation
3of the nominee. Additionally, any five (5) senators
4may request that any nominee be introduced to the
5senate by filing a written request with the secretary
6of the senate within ten (10) legislative days of
7the nominee’s name appearing in the journal. Any
8individual nominated to a position requiring senate
9confirmation may request to be introduced to the
10full senate by notifying the secretary of the senate
11at least one (1) legislative day in advance of the
12nominee’s appearance. If an individual is nominated
13both to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term and is
14also nominated for reappointment to that position
15during the same session, a single introduction is
16sufficient for eligibility for confirmation to both
17terms.
18HEARINGS. Any member of a committee investigating
19an appointment may, within five (5) legislative days
20after the committee receives the appointment, obtain
21a hearing with the nominee by filing a written request
22with the secretary of the senate who shall forward it
23to the chair of the standing committee and the chair
24of the subcommittee. Notice of the hearing shall be
25published in the journal at least two (2) legislative
26days prior to the hearing. At the hearing, which
27shall be before the subcommittee, the nominee may be
28questioned as to his or her qualifications to fulfill
29the office to which nominated and further questioned
30as to his or her viewpoints on issues facing the office
-44-1to which nominated. Any senator may at the discretion
2of the chair of the subcommittee be permitted to submit
3oral questions. The public may, at the discretion of
4the investigating committee, be permitted to submit
5oral or written statements as to the qualifications of
6the nominee.
7Also, within five (5) legislative days after the
8subcommittee receives an appointment for investigation,
9any senator may submit written questions to be answered
10by the nominee prior to consideration of the nominee’s
11confirmation by the senate.
12INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS. After a nominee has
13been placed on the calendar and prior to the vote on
14confirmation, any senator may request an informational
15meeting on the nomination which shall be held before
16the subcommittee.
17VOTING ON CONFIRMATIONS. Appointments received
18from the governor for senate confirmation during any
19session of a general assembly shall be acted upon prior
20to adjournment of that session by April 15 as provided
21by section 2.32 of the Code. Upon the motion of the
22majority leader or his or her designee, the nominees on
23the en bloc confirmation calendar shall be confirmed
24en bloc by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the
25members elected to the senate. The journal shall
26reflect a single roll call accompanied by a statement
27of the names of those individuals subject to the en
28bloc confirmation vote.
29Prior to an en bloc vote, any senator may request,
30either in writing or from the floor, an individual vote
-45-1on any nominee on the en bloc confirmation calendar.
2The senate shall vote separately on the nominee.
3Nominees on the individual confirmation calendar
4shall be confirmed by a two-thirds vote; however, the
5senate shall take a separate roll call on each nominee,
6unless by unanimous consent, it determines to take one
7vote on all nominees under consideration. In any case,
8the journal shall reflect a single roll call vote for
9each nominee.
10If an individual is nominated both to fill a vacancy
11for an unexpired term and is also nominated for
12reappointment to that position, and such appointment
13and reappointment appear on the senate calendar as
14eligible at the same time, a single vote is sufficient
15for confirmation to both terms.
16Rule 60
17Time of Committee Passage and Consideration of Bills
181. This rule does not apply to concurrent or
19simple resolutions, joint resolutions nullifying
20administrative rules, senate confirmations, bills
21embodying redistricting plans prepared by the
22legislative services agency pursuant to chapter
2342, or bills passed by both houses in different
24forms. Subsection 2 of this rule does not apply to
25appropriations bills, ways and means bills, government
26oversight bills, legalizing acts, administrative
27rules review committee bills, bills sponsored by
28standing committees in response to a referral from
29the president of the senate or the speaker of the
30house of representatives relating to an administrative
-46-1rule whose effective date has been delayed or whose
2applicability has been suspended until the adjournment
3of the next regular session of the general assembly
4by the administrative rules review committee, bills
5cosponsored by the majority and minority floor leaders
6of the senate, bills in conference committee, and
7companion bills sponsored by the majority floor leaders
8of both houses after consultation with the respective
9minority floor leaders. For the purposes of this rule,
10a joint resolution is considered as a bill. To be
11considered an appropriations or ways and means bill for
12the purposes of this rule, the appropriations committee
13or the ways and means committee must either be the
14sponsor of the bill or the committee of first referral
15in the senate.
162. To be placed on the calendar in the senate a
17senate bill must be first reported out of a standing
18committee by Friday of the 8th week of the first
19session and the 8th 6th week of the second session. A
20house bill must be first reported out of a standing
21committee by Friday of the 12th week of the first
22session and the 11th 10th week of the second session to
23be placed on the senate calendar.
243. During the 10th week of the first session and
25the 9th 7th week of the second session, the senate
26shall consider only bills originating in the senate and
27unfinished business. During the 13th week of the first
28session and the 12th 11th week of the second session,
29the senate shall consider only bills originating in the
30house and unfinished business. Beginning with the 14th
-47-1week of the first session and the 13th 12th week of the
2second session, the senate shall consider only bills
3passed by both houses, bills exempt from subsection 2,
4and unfinished business.
54. A motion to reconsider filed and not disposed
6of on an action taken on a bill or resolution which is
7subject to a deadline under this rule may be called up
8at any time before or after the day of the deadline by
9the person filing the motion or after the deadline by
10the majority floor leader, notwithstanding any other
11rule to the contrary.
12BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That should a system of
13deadlines for the time of committee passage and
14consideration of bills be adopted by joint action
15of the senate and house at any time during the
16eighty-seventh eighty-eighth general assembly, those
17provisions shall supersede the provisions of rule 60.
-48-tm/jh/jh
An Act 1relating to permanent rules of the senate
2for the eighty-eighth general assembly.
3BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the permanent
4rules of the senate for the eighty-seventh
5 eighty-eighth general assembly be as follows:
6RULES OF THE SENATE
7Rule 1
8Quorum
9A constitutional majority shall constitute a quorum
10of the senate. Any senator may insist a quorum be
11present.
12Rule 2
13Adoption and Amendment of Rules
14Whenever the senate is operating under temporary
15rules, the rules may be amended or repealed, or
16permanent rules may be adopted, by a constitutional
17majority of the senators. After adoption of permanent
18rules of the senate during any general assembly, the
19rules may be amended or repealed by a constitutional
20majority of the senators voting on a simple resolution.
21Rule 3
22Rules of Parliamentary Procedure
23In cases not covered by senate rules or joint rules,
24Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure shall govern.
25Rule 4
26Sessions of the General Assembly
-1- 1The election of officers, organization, hiring and
2compensation of employees, and committees of the senate
3shall carry over from the first to the second regular
4sessions and to any extraordinary sessions of the same
5general assembly.
6All bills, study bills, and resolutions introduced
7in the first regular session of a general assembly,
8except those which have been withdrawn, indefinitely
9postponed, or have failed, shall carry over into the
10second regular session and to any extraordinary session
11of the same general assembly. Bills and resolutions
12which have been voted upon on final passage by either
13house in any session shall remain on the calendar in
14the same status as at the end of the session at any
15subsequent regular or extraordinary session. Except
16as provided by this rule, upon the adjournment of the
17first regular session and any extraordinary session,
18each bill or resolution shall be automatically referred
19back to the committee to which it was originally
20assigned. The secretary of the senate shall publish in
21the journal a list of the bills returned to committee
22under this rule and shall present a list to the chairs
23of the respective committees upon the convening of
24the second regular session. Within seven days after
25the first committee meeting after the convening of
26the second regular session, committee chairs shall
27either refer such bills and resolutions that have been
28returned to their respective committees under this rule
29to a subcommittee for consideration or indefinitely
30postpone further consideration of such bills. The
-2-1committee chairs shall report to the senate the bill
2or resolution number and the names of the subcommittee
3members.
4Rule 5
5Regular Order of Daily Business
6The following order shall govern, subject to any
7special order:
81. Correction of the journal.
92. Senators to be excused.
103. Communications to the Senate.
114. Introduction of bills and resolutions.
125. Consideration of senate calendar.
13Rule 6
14Senate Calendar
151. Each legislative day the secretary of the senate
16shall prepare a listing of bills to be known as the
17“Senate Calendar”.
18 2. The senate calendar shall include separate
19listings for any bills and resolutions in the following
20categories:
21a. Conference Committee Report
22b. Bills in Conference Committee
23c. House Amendment to Senate Amendment to House
24File
25d. House Refuses to Concur in Senate Amendment to
26House File
27e. Senate Files Amended by the House
28f. Unfinished Business
29g. Motions to Reconsider
30h. Administrative Rules Nullification Resolutions
-3- 1i. Veto Messages from the Governor
2 3. The secretary shall list bills and resolutions
3in the above categories in numerical order. Upon
4their first publication in the calendar, bills and
5resolutions in the above categories may be called up
6for debate at any time by the majority leader. Motions
7to reconsider shall be called up as provided by Rule
824.
9 4. The senate calendar shall include a listing
10of senate appropriations committee bills and bills
11reported out by the senate appropriations committee.
12The list shall be known as the “Appropriations
13Calendar”. The secretary shall list the bills in
14numerical order. Upon their first publication in the
15calendar, bills on the appropriations calendar may be
16called up for debate at any time by the majority leader
17provided they are eligible under Rule 8.
18 5. The senate calendar shall include a listing
19of bills which pertain to the levy, assessment or
20collection of taxes sponsored by or initially assigned
21to and reported out by the senate ways and means
22committee. The list shall be known as the “Ways and
23Means Calendar”. The secretary shall list the bills in
24numerical order. Upon their first publication in the
25calendar, bills on the ways and means calendar may be
26called up for debate at any time by the majority leader
27provided they are eligible under Rule 8.
28 6. The senate calendar shall include a list of
29bills and resolutions, known as the “Regular Calendar”,
30which shall consist of bills and resolutions reported
-4-1out by a senate committee. The bills and resolutions
2shall be listed in numerical order. Priority shall be
3given to senate over house bills and resolutions. Upon
4their first publication in the calendar, bills on the
5regular calendar may be called up for debate at any
6time by the majority leader, provided they are eligible
7under Rule 8.
8A bill reported out of committee which is
9subsequently referred to the ways and means or
10appropriations committee and then reported out of that
11committee, shall be returned to the regular calendar in
12numerical order.
13 7. The senate calendar shall include a listing of
14the governor’s appointees to state boards, commissions,
15and other offices requiring senate confirmation. This
16listing shall be known as the “Confirmation Calendar”.
17Names on the confirmation calendar may be called up
18for confirmation at any time by the majority leader
19provided they are eligible under rule 59.
20 8. The majority leader, or in the absence of the
21majority leader the assistant majority leaders, may
22select from among the bills on the previous legislative
23day’s Senate calendar and from the bills selected
24create a new listing which shall be known as the
25“Tentative Debate Calendar”. A bill or resolution on
26the tentative debate calendar may be debated only when
27eligible under Rule 8.
28 9. If the senate shall not be in session on a day
29assigned in paragraph eight subsection 8 for action
30upon a calendar, such assigned action may occur on the
-5-1next succeeding legislative day.
2 10. On any bill called up for debate from any
3calendar, debate may continue from day to day until
4it is adopted, fails, or is postponed or deferred. If
5further debate is postponed or deferred without a time
6to continue being set, the bill shall be listed as
7unfinished business. Bills that are returned to the
8committee of first referral or to a different committee
9after being considered by the senate and classified as
10unfinished business shall be returned to the unfinished
11business calendar by that committee when the bill is
12reported out of committee. The unfinished business
13date on the calendar shall be the date on which the
14bill was returned to committee.
15Rule 7
16Reserved.
17Rule 8
18When Eligible for Consideration
19Bills, resolutions, and appointments shall be
20eligible for consideration by the senate as follows:
211. An appointment by the governor which requires
22senate confirmation shall be eligible on the second
23legislative day it is printed in the senate calendar as
24provided by Rule 59.
252. A house or individually sponsored bill or
26resolution reported out by a committee shall be
27eligible on the second legislative day it is printed in
28the senate calendar.
293. A committee bill or resolution sponsored by
30the appropriations committee shall be eligible on the
-6-1second legislative day it is printed in the senate
2calendar.
34. Any committee bill or resolution, other than
4a bill or resolution sponsored by the appropriations
5committee, shall be eligible on the third legislative
6day it is printed in the senate calendar.
75. A bill that has been reported out to the
8senate calendar, referred to a different committee
9and reported out by that committee is eligible for
10consideration by the senate on the day it would have
11been eligible under subsection 2, 3, or 4, whichever
12is applicable, as if the bill had been printed in the
13calendar after having been reported out by the first
14committee.
15Rule 9
16Debate and Decorum
17Before addressing the senate, the senator shall
18request recognition by depressing the “speak” device
19and, when recognized, rise and respectfully address the
20chair.
21The senator shall confine all remarks to the
22question under debate and shall avoid discussing
23personalities or implication of improper motives. No
24questions except by the senator recognized shall be
25entertained after a senator is recognized to give final
26remarks.
27Rule 10
28Point of Personal Privilege
29A point of personal privilege shall only be
30recognized immediately prior to adjournment for the
-7-1day when there is no motion pending or other business
2being considered by the senate. Points of personal
3privilege shall not be in order during the time when
4appropriation subcommittees are scheduled to meet.
5Senators speaking on a point of personal privilege
6shall be limited to ten minutes.
7Rule 11
8Introduction and Presentation of Guests
9Only former members of the senate and former and
10present members of Congress shall be presented to
11the senate, except that the president of the senate
12may present a visitor whose presence is of special
13significance to the senate. The introduction of
14school groups accompanied by school officials shall be
15announced by the president of the senate or a senator
16 and shall be recorded in the journal upon written
17request of a member of the senate. Senators may be
18recognized to introduce guests in the galleries when
19there is no motion pending or other business being
20considered by the senate. Introductions shall be
21limited to one minute.
22Rule 12
23Form and Withdrawal of Motions, Amendments, and
24Signatures
25Motions need not be in writing unless required by
26the president or by the senate. No motion requires
27a second. Any amendment, motion (including a motion
28to reconsider), or resolution may be withdrawn by the
29mover if it has not been amended by the senate and if
30no amendment is pending. All amendments to bills,
-8-1resolutions, and reports shall be in writing and filed
2before being acted upon by the senate.
3No amendment, resolution, bill, or conference
4committee report shall be considered by the senate
5without a copy of the amendment, resolution, bill, or
6conference committee report being on the desks of the
7entire membership of the senate prior to consideration.
8However, after the fourteenth week of the first session
9and the twelfth week of the second session, amendments
10and senate resolutions may be considered by the senate
11without a copy of the amendment or senate resolution
12being on the desks of the entire membership of the
13senate if a copy of the amendment or senate resolution
14is made available to the entire membership of the
15senate electronically. However, such consideration
16shall be deferred until a copy of the amendment or
17senate resolution is on the desk of any senator who so
18requests.
19All amendments, reports, petitions or other
20documents requiring a signature shall have the name
21printed under the place for the signature. Once a
22signature is affixed and the document containing the
23signature filed with the recording clerk in the well,
24that signature shall not be removed.
25When an amendment to a main amendment is filed that
26would negate the effect of the main amendment and
27thereby leave the bill unchanged, the presiding officer
28shall have the authority to declare the amendment to
29the main amendment out of order, subject to an appeal
30to the full senate.
-9- 1 When a house amendment to a senate file is before
2the senate, an amendment to the house amendment shall
3be considered an amendment in the first degree.
4Regardless of its origin, an amendment in the third
5degree shall be ruled out of order.
6When a ruling on whether an amendment is or is not
7germane is issued, the ruling shall be accompanied by
8an explanation.
9Rule 13
10Order and Precedence of Motions and Amendments
11 When a question is under debate, no motion shall
12be received but to adjourn, to recess, questions
13of privilege, to lay on the table, for the previous
14question, to postpone to a day certain, to refer,
15to amend, to postpone indefinitely, to defer, or
16incidental motions. A substitute is not in order
17unless it is in the form of a motion to substitute.
18Such motions shall have precedence in the order in
19which they are named. No motion to postpone to a
20day certain, to refer, or postpone indefinitely,
21being decided, shall be again allowed on the same
22day with regard to the same question. A motion to
23strike out the enacting clause of a bill shall have
24precedence over all amendments and, if carried, shall
25be considered equivalent to the rejection of the bill.
26 A motion to strike everything after the enacting
27clause has precedence over a committee amendment and
28all other amendments except one to strike the enacting
29clause. A committee amendment has precedence over all
30other amendments except as provided in this rule.
-10- 1A motion to rerefer a bill to committee may specify
2when the committee shall report the bill to the senate.
3If the motion is adopted in such form, the committee
4must report the bill by the date and time specified
5with or without recommendation or the bill shall
6automatically be returned to the calendar. When the
7bill is returned to the calendar, it shall occupy
8the same position it occupied at the time the bill
9was rereferred to the committee. If the committee
10to which the bill is rereferred submits an amendment
11in its report, that committee amendment shall take
12precedence over other amendments except if that
13committee amendment is in conflict with amendments
14previously adopted, the committee amendment shall
15not be considered until consideration of motions to
16reconsider the previously adopted amendments result
17in removing the conflict. A committee may not file
18an amendment to a bill unless the bill is in the
19committee’s possession.
20Rule 14
21 Motions Before the Senate
22Motions before the senate, except motions for
23adjournment or recess, shall be displayed on the
24electronic voting system display boards.
25Rule 15
26Nondebatable Motions
27The following motions are not debatable:
28Adjourn
29Recess
30Lift a Call of the Senate
-11- 1Lay on Table or Take from Table
2Previous Question
3Reconsider vote by which bill was placed on last
4reading.
5A Motion to Reconsider and Lay the Motion to
6Reconsider on the Table (Double-barreled Motion).
7Rule 16
8Division of the Question
9Any senator may call for a division of a question,
10which shall be divided if it includes propositions
11so distinct that if one is taken away, a substantive
12proposition shall remain in a technically proper form
13for the decision of the senate. A motion to strike out
14and insert is indivisible; but a motion to strike out,
15if lost, shall not preclude amendments to the matter
16attempted to be stricken or a motion to strike out and
17insert.
18Rule 17
19The Previous Question
20The previous question shall be in this form: “Shall
21debate be closed on the pending question?” A motion
22for the previous question may be adopted by a majority
23of the senators present and voting. Its effect shall
24be to put an end to debate and bring the senate to a
25direct vote upon the pending question. However, any
26senator who has not previously spoken on the pending
27question and who, after the main question is taken up
28and before the motion for the previous question has
29been made, requested recognition by depressing the
30“speak” device may speak no longer than five minutes
-12-1on the pending question. If action on the pending
2question continues into another legislative day or is
3deferred, the previous question shall apply and the
4requests to be recognized shall be honored.
5When the motion applies to an amendment, the senator
6proposing the amendment shall have five minutes to
7close debate on the amendment.
8The senator handling the measure under consideration
9shall have ten minutes to close debate on the main
10question.
11Rule 18
12Call of the Senate
13Ten senators may file in writing a call of the
14senate on any single item of legislative business.
15A call of the senate requires the presence of every
16senator and is in order at any time prior to the vote
17being announced by the president. The sergeant-at-arms
18shall return promptly all absent senators. Debate
19on the item may continue while absent senators are
20returning, but no vote on the item is in order on it
21until all have returned. Adoption of a motion to
22recess or adjourn to a specific time will not lift
23the call. The call may be lifted, or a senator may
24be excused from the call without lifting the call, by
25a vote of a constitutional majority of the senators.
26Those senators excused prior to the filing of the call
27are excused from the call.
28Rule 19
29Committee of the Whole
30The senate may resolve itself into a committee of
-13-1the whole senate when it wishes to permit more free and
2informal discussion. Persons other than senators may
3appear and present information.
4Any senator may move “that the senate now resolve
5itself into a committee of the whole to consider” a
6stated subject.
7The president of the senate shall be chair of the
8committee of the whole unless otherwise ordered by the
9senate.
10The procedure in committee of the whole is subject
11to the rules of the senate. The previous question and
12the motion to reconsider shall be in order.
13The committee of the whole cannot take any final
14action and its power is limited to recommendation to
15the senate. The proceedings of the committee of the
16whole, including any roll call vote, shall be printed
17in the journal.
18Any senator may at any time, except while voting or
19while a senator has the floor, move that “the committee
20rise” which is equivalent to a motion to adjourn.
21After adoption of the motion to rise, the chair
22may report to the senate in the same manner as other
23committee reports are given.
24Rule 20
25Last Reading and Passage of Bills
26When a motion to place a bill on its last reading is
27lost, the same motion shall be in order at any later
28time. After the last reading of a bill, no amendment
29shall be received. The vote on final passage shall be
30taken immediately without debate.
-14-1Rule 21
2Engrossment of Bills
3An engrossment is a proofreading and verification
4in order to be certain that a bill before the senate is
5identical with the original bill as introduced with all
6amendments which have been adopted correctly inserted.
7In an engrossed bill, all obvious typographical,
8spelling or other clerical errors are corrected and
9section or paragraph numbers and internal references
10are changed as required to conform the original bill
11to any amendments which have been adopted. All such
12corrections or changes shall be reported in the journal
13by the secretary of the senate. The engrossed bill
14shall be placed in the bill file with the original bill
15and amendments.
16Rule 22
17Manner of Voting
18On voice vote, the question shall be distinctly put
19in this form: “Those in favor of (the question) say
20‘aye’ ‘yea’.” “Those opposed to (the question) say
21‘no’.”
22A non-record or record roll call vote may be
23requested by any senator or ordered by the president
24any time before the results are announced. A
25non-record roll call shall be requested by asking for a
26“division”. A record roll call shall be requested by
27asking for a “record”. Upon request for a non-record
28or record roll call vote, the president shall announce
29that such a non-record or record roll call vote has
30been requested and shall state the question to be put
-15-1to the senate. The president then shall direct the
2secretary of the senate to receive the votes.
3 Senators present may cast their votes, either
4by operating the voting mechanism located at their
5assigned desk or by signaling the president if they are
6unable to vote at their assigned desk. The president
7shall enter the votes of senators signaling their
8votes.
9After sufficient time has elapsed for all senators
10present to record their votes, the president shall
11direct the secretary of the senate to close the voting
12system. The president shall still enter the senators’
13votes at any time prior to directing the secretary of
14the senate to lock the voting system. The president
15shall then immediately announce the vote.
16During a record roll call vote, both individual
17votes and vote totals shall be indicated on the display
18boards and printed in the journal. On non-record
19roll calls, only vote totals shall be indicated on the
20display boards and printed in the journal.
21In the event the electronic voting system is not
22in operating order, the president shall direct the
23secretary of the senate to take the non-record or
24record roll call by calling the names of the senators
25in alphabetical order.
26Rule 23
27Duty of Voting
28Every senator present when a question is put shall
29vote “aye” “yea”, “no”, or “present” unless previously
30excused by the senate. Upon demand being made by any
-16-1senator, the secretary of the senate shall call in
2alphabetical order the names of the senators not voting
3or voting “present”. Those senators called shall
4vote “aye” “yea” or “no” unless the senator states a
5personal interest in the question or concludes that he
6or she should not vote under the senate code of ethics.
7Rule 24
8Reconsideration
9When a main motion has been decided by the senate,
10any senator having voted on the prevailing side
11may move to reconsider the vote on the same or next
12legislative day. Motions to reconsider the vote on a
13bill or resolution shall be in writing and filed with
14the secretary of the senate.
15Notwithstanding any time limitations applicable
16to motions to reconsider main motions, a motion to
17reconsider the vote on an amendment may be made at
18any time before final disposition of the motion to
19be amended. Such motion shall be in writing and
20filed with the secretary of the senate. A motion to
21reconsider an amendment to a main motion shall be taken
22up for consideration only prior to the disposition of
23the main motion or upon reconsideration of the main
24motion.
25A constitutional majority by a record roll call is
26necessary to reconsider a bill or joint resolution.
27During three legislative days from the date the motion
28to reconsider a bill or resolution is filed, only the
29mover may call it up. Thereafter, any senator may call
30up the motion. If a date for adjournment has been set
-17-1by resolution of the senate, any senator may call up
2a motion to reconsider at any time within three days
3prior to the date set for adjournment.
4If the motion to reconsider a bill or resolution
5prevails, motions to reconsider amendments thereto
6shall be in order and shall be disposed of without
7delay.
8A motion that any action taken by the senate be
9reconsidered and the motion to reconsider be laid upon
10the table shall be a single and indivisible motion,
11known as the double-barreled motion, which, if carried,
12shall have the effect of preventing reconsideration
13unless a motion to take from the table prevails.
14A constitutional majority is necessary for the
15double-barreled motion to prevail on a bill or joint
16resolution. The double-barreled motion can only be
17made from the floor after the vote is announced and the
18member who moved the final reading shall have priority
19in making it.
20A motion to reconsider and lay on the table shall
21have priority over a motion to reconsider if they are
22both filed on the same legislative day.
23In the event that a motion to reconsider is pending
24at the end of the first session or any extraordinary
25session of any general assembly, or the general
26assembly adjourns sine die, and the motion has not been
27voted upon by the senate, it shall be determined to
28have failed.
29Rule 25
30Suspension of Rules and Taking from Table
-18- 1No standing rule or rules incorporated by reference
2under Rule 3 or order of the senate shall be rescinded
3or suspended, nor shall any matter, tabled upon
4motion, be taken up, except by an affirmative vote of a
5constitutional majority of the senate.
6INTRODUCTION AND FORM OF BILLS
7Rule 26
8Time and Method of Introducing Bills and Amendments
9All bills to be introduced in the senate shall be
10typed in proper form by the legislative services agency
11and shall be filed with the recording clerk.
12All amendments shall be typed in proper form and
13filed with the recording clerk not later than 4:30
14p.m., or adjournment, whichever is later, in order to
15be listed in the following day’s clip sheet.
16 An “impact amendment” is an amendment which
17reasonably could have an annual effect of at least one
18hundred thousand dollars or a combined total effect
19within five years after enactment of five hundred
20thousand dollars or more on the aggregate revenues,
21expenditures or fiscal liability of the state or its
22subdivisions.
23 An impact amendment to a bill which has been on
24the calendar for at least three full legislative days
25prior to its consideration shall not be taken up by the
26senate unless:
271. a fiscal note is attached, and the amendment is
28filed at least one legislative day prior to the date
29set for consideration of the bill; or
302. the amendment is an appropriation or other
-19-1measure where the total effect is stated in dollar
2amounts.
3Rule 27
4Limit on Introduction of Bills
5No bill or joint resolution, except bills and
6joint resolutions cosponsored by the majority and
7minority floor leaders, or companion bills and joint
8resolutions sponsored by the majority floor leaders of
9both houses, shall be introduced in the senate after
104:30 p.m.on Friday of the fifth week of the first
11regular session of a general assembly unless a formal
12request for drafting the bill has been filed with the
13legislative services agency before that time. After
14adjournment of the first regular session, bills may
15be prefiled at any time before the convening of the
16second regular session. No bill shall be introduced
17after 4:30 p.m.on Friday of the second week of the
18second regular session of a general assembly unless a
19formal request for drafting the bill has been filed
20with the legislative services agency before that time.
21However, standing committees may introduce bills and
22joint resolutions at any time. A bill which relates
23to departmental rules sponsored by the administrative
24rules review committee and approved by a majority
25of the members of the committee in each house may
26be introduced at any time and must be referred to a
27standing committee which must take action on the bill
28within three weeks. Senate and concurrent resolutions
29may be introduced at any time.
30No bill, joint resolution, concurrent resolution
-20-1or senate resolution shall be introduced at any
2extraordinary session unless sponsored by a standing
3committee, the majority and minority floor leaders, or
4the committee of the whole.
5Rule 28
6Introduction, Reading, and Form of Bills and
7Resolutions
8Every senate bill and resolution shall be introduced
9by one or more senators or by any standing committee
10of the senate and shall at once be given its first
11reading.
12If the senate is in session when a bill or
13resolution is introduced, the first reading shall
14consist of reading its file number, the title and
15sponsor of the bill. If the senate is not in session
16but a journal is published for the day, the first
17reading shall consist of a journal entry of the bill’s
18file number, title, sponsor and the notation “Read
19first time under Rule 28”.
20Any bill or resolution approved for introduction by
21a standing committee during an interim period between
22sessions of one General Assembly shall be introduced
23without further action by the committee at the next
24succeeding regular session of the same General Assembly
25and placed immediately upon the regular calendar.
26Every bill and resolution referred to committee
27shall have received two readings before its passage.
28The subject of every bill shall be expressed in its
29title.
30Rule 29
-21-1Explanations
2No bill, except appropriation committee bills and
3simple or concurrent resolutions, shall be introduced
4unless a concise and accurate explanation is attached.
5The chief sponsor or a committee to which the bill has
6been referred may add a revised explanation at any time
7before the last reading, and it shall be included in
8the daily clip sheet.
9Rule 30
10Resolutions
11A “senate resolution” is a resolution acted upon
12only by the senate which relates to an accomplishment
13of national or international status; the dedication
14of a day by a statewide or national group; the
15one hundredth, one hundred twenty-fifth, or one
16hundred fiftieth anniversary of a local government
17or organization; the recognition of state ties to
18other governments; the retirement of a senator
19or long-time senate employee; or to rules and
20administrative matters, including the appointment
21of special committees, within the senate. A senate
22resolution requires the affirmative vote of a majority
23of the senators present and voting, unless otherwise
24required in these rules. A senate resolution shall
25be filed with the secretary of the senate. A senate
26resolution shall be printed in the bound journal after
27its adoption and in the daily journal upon written
28request to the secretary of the senate by the sponsor
29of the resolution. Other expressions of sentiment
30or recognition may be made with the issuance of a
-22-1certificate of recognition.
2Rule 31
3Nullification Resolutions
4A nullification resolution may be introduced
5by a standing committee, the administrative rules
6review committee, or any member of the senate.
7A nullification resolution introduced by the
8administrative rules review committee or a member
9of the senate shall be referred to the same standing
10committee it would be referred to if it was a bill.
11Any nullification resolution may be referred to the
12administrative rules review committee by a majority
13vote of the standing committee which introduced it
14or to which it was referred. The administrative
15rules review committee may seek an agreement with the
16affected administrative agency wherein the agency
17agrees to voluntarily rescind or modify a rule or rules
18relating to the subject matter of the nullification
19resolution. An agreement to voluntarily rescind
20or modify an administrative agency rule shall be in
21writing and signed by the chief administrative officer
22of the administrative agency and a majority of the
23administrative rules review committee members of each
24house and shall be placed on file in the offices of
25the chief clerk of the house, the secretary of the
26senate, and the secretary of state. If an agreement
27is not reached, or the nullification resolution is
28not approved by a majority of the administrative rules
29review committee members of each house, within two
30weeks of the date the resolution is referred to the
-23-1administrative rules review committee, the resolution
2shall be placed on the calendar. If the nullification
3resolution is approved by the administrative rules
4review committee it shall be placed on the calendar.
5A nullification resolution is subject to a motion to
6withdraw the nullification resolution as provided in
7rule 42.
8A nullification resolution is debatable, but cannot
9be amended on the floor of the senate.
10Rule 32
11Resolutions, Applicable Rules
12All rules applicable to bills shall apply to
13resolutions, except as otherwise provided in the rules.
14Rule 33
15Study Bills
161. A study bill is any matter which a senator
17wishes to have considered by a standing committee or
18appropriations subcommittee for introduction as a
19committee bill or resolution. The term “study bill”
20includes “proposed bills” provided for in Rule 37 and
21departmental requests prefiled in the manner specified
22in section 2.16 of the Code.
232. A study bill shall bear the name of the member
24who wishes to have the bill considered. A study bill
25proposed by a state agency shall bear the name of the
26agency. A committee chair may submit a study bill in
27the name of that committee.
283. Upon first receiving a study bill from a
29senator, a committee chairperson shall submit three
30copies to the secretary of the senate. Study bills
-24-1received in the secretary of the senate’s office before
23:00 p.m.shall be filed, numbered, and reported in
3the journal for that day. Study bills received in the
4secretary of the senate’s office after 3:00 p.m.shall
5be filed, numbered, and reported in the journal for the
6subsequent day. The secretary shall number such bills
7in consecutive order. The secretary shall maintain a
8record of all study bills and their assigned number.
9Committee records shall refer to study bills by the
10number assigned by the secretary.
114. The secretary shall file a report in the journal
12of each study bill received. The report shall show
13the study bill number, its title or subject matter,
14 and the committee which is considering it. If a study
15bill is referred to a subcommittee, then the committee
16chairperson shall report in the journal the names of
17the subcommittee members to which it is assigned.
18 5. A study bill not prepared by the legislative
19services agency may be submitted to a standing
20committee, but shall not be considered by the full
21committee unless reviewed and typed in proper form by
22the legislative services agency.
23COMMITTEES AND COMMITMENT
24Rule 34
25Committee Appointments
26Committee appointments shall be made by the majority
27leader for members of the majority, after consultation
28with the president, and by the minority leader for
29members of the minority, after consultation with
30the president. No senator shall serve on more than
-25-1six standing committees. The majority leader, after
2consultation with the president, shall designate the
3chairperson and vice-chairperson of each standing
4committee. The minority leader, after consultation
5with the president, shall designate the ranking member
6of each standing committee from the minority membership
7of that committee.
8Rule 35
9Standing Committees
10The names of the standing committees of the senate
11shall be:
12Agriculture
13Appropriations
14Commerce
15Education
16Government Oversight
17Human Resources
18Judiciary
19Labor and Business Relations
20Local Government
21Natural Resources and Environment
22Rules and Administration
23State Government
24Transportation
25Veterans Affairs
26Ways and Means
27Rule 36
28Committee on Rules and Administration
29The committee on rules and administration shall
30recommend rules and rule changes to the senate, shall
-26-1hire senate employees, shall recommend salary scales
2for all senate employees, and shall oversee senate
3budget and administration matters.
4The committee on rules and administration will
5select, for senate approval, an individual to serve as
6secretary of the senate.
7The committee shall have the following standing
8subcommittees:
91. Joint Rules
102. Senate Rules
113. Administrative Services
124. Caucus Services
13The majority leader shall serve as chair of the
14rules and administration committee and as chair of
15the standing subcommittee on caucus services. The
16president of the senate shall serve as vice-chair of
17the rules and administration committee, and as chair of
18the subcommittee on administrative services.
19Rule 37
20Appropriations Committee
21The appropriations committee shall receive bills
22committed to it and shall assign each to one of the
23appropriations subcommittees.
24The appropriations subcommittees shall be named:
25Administration and Regulation
26Agriculture and Natural Resources
27Economic Development
28Education
29Health and Human Services
30Justice System
-27- 1Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals
2The appropriations subcommittees shall receive
3bills assigned to them or may originate proposed bills
4within the subcommittee’s jurisdiction as defined by
5the appropriations committee for consideration by the
6appropriations committee. Each subcommittee may submit
7amendments to bills together with the subcommittee’s
8recommended action to the appropriations committee.
9If a bill or proposed bill is submitted to the
10appropriations committee by an appropriations
11subcommittee the appropriations committee may:
121. report the bill or approve the proposed bill for
13introduction by the appropriations committee;
142. report the bill with any appropriations
15committee-approved amendments incorporated;
163. draft a new bill for sponsorship by the
17appropriations committee and report it; or
184. re-refer it together with the appropriations
19committee’s objections to the appropriations
20subcommittee from which it was originally referred or
21which originated the draft bill.
22The appropriations committee and subcommittees may
23meet jointly with the appropriations committee of the
24house of representatives.
25Rule 38
26First Reading and Commitment
27Upon the first reading of an individual bill or
28resolution, or a house committee bill or resolution,
29the president shall refer the bill or resolution to
30an appropriate standing committee. If the bill or
-28-1resolution is a senate committee bill or resolution,
2the president shall place it on the calendar after
3its first reading. If the subject of the bill or
4resolution is not germane to the title of the committee
5presenting it, the president of the senate may refer it
6to a committee deemed appropriate.
7All bills carrying an appropriation for any purpose
8or involving the expenditure of state funds shall be
9referred to the committee on appropriations.
10All bills pertaining to the levy, assessment or
11collection of taxes or fees shall be referred to the
12committee on ways and means.
13Any bill which provides for a new state board,
14commission, agency, or department or makes separate or
15autonomous an existing state board, commission, agency,
16 or department, shall be referred to the committee
17on state government. If the bill or resolution is
18so referred after being sponsored or reported out
19by another committee, and if the committee on state
20government does not report out the bill or resolution
21within ten legislative days after referral, the bill
22or resolution shall automatically be restored to the
23calendar with the same priority it had immediately
24before referral.
25This rule shall also apply when such provisions are
26added to a bill or resolution by amendment adopted by
27the senate.
28Rule 39
29Rules for Standing Committees
30The following rules shall govern all standing
-29-1committees of the senate. Any committee may adopt
2additional rules which are consistent with these rules:
31. A majority of the members shall constitute a
4quorum.
52. The chair of a committee shall refer each bill
6and resolution to a subcommittee within seven days
7after the bill or resolution has been referred to
8the committee. The chair may appoint subcommittees
9for study of bills and resolutions without calling a
10meeting of the committee, but the subcommittee must
11be announced at the next meeting of the committee by
12placing notice in the journal. No bill or resolution
13shall be reported out of a committee until the next
14meeting after the subcommittee is announced, except
15that the chair of the appropriations committee may make
16the announcement of the assignment to a subcommittee by
17placing a notice in the journal. Any bill so assigned
18by the appropriations committee chair shall be eligible
19for consideration by the committee upon report of the
20subcommittee but not sooner than three legislative days
21following the publication of the announcement in the
22journal.
23When a bill or resolution has been assigned to a
24subcommittee, the chair shall report to the senate
25the bill or resolution number and the names of the
26subcommittee members and such reports shall be reported
27in the journal. Subcommittee assignments shall be
28reported to the journal daily. Reports filed before
293:00 p.m.shall be printed in the journal for that day;
30reports filed after 3:00 p.m.shall be printed in the
-30-1journal for the subsequent day.
2Where standing subcommittees of any committee have
3been named, the names of the members and the title of
4the subcommittee shall be published once and thereafter
5publication of assignments may be made by indicating
6the title of the subcommittee.
73. No bill or resolution shall be considered by a
8committee until it has been referred to a subcommittee,
9the subcommittee has held a public meeting, and the
10subcommittee has made its report unless otherwise
11ordered by a majority of the members.
124. The rules adopted by a committee, including
13subsections 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of this rule, may
14be suspended by an affirmative vote of a majority of
15the members of the committee.
165. The affirmative vote of a majority of the
17members of a committee is needed to sponsor a committee
18bill or resolution or to report a bill or resolution
19out for passage.
206. The vote on all bills and resolutions shall be
21by roll call unless a short-form vote is unanimously
22agreed to by the committee. A record shall be kept by
23the secretary.
247. No committee, except a conference committee,
25 is authorized to meet when the senate is in session.
26This rule does not apply to conference committees or
27subcommittees.
288. A subcommittee shall not report a bill to the
29committee unless the bill has been typed into proper
30form by the legislative services agency.
-31- 19. A bill or resolution shall not be voted upon the
2same day a public hearing called under subsection 10 is
3held on that bill or resolution.
410. Public hearings may be called at the discretion
5of the chair. The chair shall call a public hearing
6upon the written request of one-half the membership of
7the committee. The chair shall set the time and place
8of the public hearing.
911. A subcommittee chair must notify the committee
10chair not later than one legislative day prior to
11bringing the bill or resolution before the committee.
12The committee cannot vote on a bill or resolution for
13at least one full day following the receipt of the
14subcommittee report by the chairperson.
1512. A motion proposing action on a bill or
16resolution that has been defeated by a committee shall
17not be voted upon again at the same meeting of the
18committee.
1913. Committee meetings and subcommittee meetings
20 shall be open.
21Rule 40
22Voting in Committee
23All committee meetings shall be open at all times.
24Voting by secret ballot is prohibited. Roll call votes
25shall be taken in each committee when final action on
26any bill or resolution is voted, unless a short-form
27vote is unanimously agreed to by the committee. A roll
28call vote also shall be taken in each committee at the
29request of a member upon any amendment or motion. All
30results shall be entered in the minutes which shall be
-32-1public records. Records of these votes shall be made
2available by the chair or the committee secretary at
3any time. This rule also applies to the appropriations
4subcommittees.
5The committee shall not authorize the introduction
6of a committee bill or resolution until the members
7have received final copies of the bill or resolution
8with amendments or changes incorporated, and typed
9into proper form by the legislative services agency.
10The committee may, by unanimous consent, dispense with
11this requirement and instruct the legislative services
12agency to file a report with the committee members
13detailing the amendments or changes and this report
14shall become a part of the committee report.
15Rule 41
16Announcement of Committee Meetings
17It shall be in order for the chair of any committee
18to announce to the senate the time and place of
19committee meetings. The announcement shall include a
20proposed agenda for the meeting. The sergeant-at-arms
21shall post at the rear of the chamber the daily
22schedule of committee meetings.
23Rule 42
24Withdrawal of Bills and Resolutions from Committee
25The secretary of the senate shall note on each bill
26and resolution the date of its reference to committee.
27No bill or resolution shall be withdrawn from any
28committee within fifteen legislative days after the
29bill or resolution has been referred to the committee
30and thereafter only upon written petition for the
-33-1withdrawal of such bill or resolution signed by a
2constitutional majority of the senators, except as
3provided in Rule 38. Only senators may circulate such
4a petition.
5Rule 43
6Committee Reports
71. All committees shall file a report of committee
8meetings. Such reports shall contain the following
9information:
10a. The time the meeting convened;
11b. Those senators who were present and absent at
12the time the meeting convened, as well as the time any
13senator, who was not present at the time the meeting
14convened, arrives for the meeting;
15c. The vote on any bill or resolution reported out
16of the committee for floor action;
17d. The title of the bill;
18e. The file number of the bill or resolution (if
19known);
20f. Whether the committee recommends that the
21bill or resolution be passed, amended and passed,
22indefinitely postponed, or considered without committee
23recommendation;
24g. An indication of other bills or matters
25discussed;
26h. Such other matters as the committee chair shall
27direct; and
28i. The time the meeting adjourned.
292. No committee report shall be read, but all
30committee reports shall be printed in the journal.
-34-1Upon printing, all committee reports shall then stand
2approved unless the senate directs otherwise.
3Rule 44
4Bills or Resolutions Recommended for Indefinite
5Postponement
6No senate bill or resolution recommended for
7indefinite postponement shall be considered in the
8absence of the chief sponsor or, if a house bill or
9resolution, in the absence of the senator representing
10the district in which the sponsor resides. When a
11question is postponed indefinitely, it shall not be
12again acted upon during that session of the general
13assembly.
14GENERAL RULES
15Rule 45
16Access to Senate Chamber and Decorum
17The persons who shall have access to the senate
18chamber, and the times access shall be available, and
19the rules governing activities in the chamber and other
20areas controlled by the senate shall be as prescribed
21by the rules and administration committee pursuant to a
22written policy adopted by the committee and filed with
23the secretary of the senate.
24Rule 46
25Legislative Interns and Aides
26Legislative interns for senators shall be allowed
27on the floor of the senate in accordance with Rule 45;
28provided that each intern first has obtained a name
29badge from the secretary of the senate. The secretary
30of the senate shall issue an appropriate badge to all
-35-1interns for senators.
2Rule 47
3Clearing of Lobby and Gallery
4In case of disturbance or disorderly conduct in the
5lobby or gallery, the presiding officer may order it
6cleared.
7Rule 48
8Presentation of Petitions
9Each petition shall contain a brief statement of its
10subject matter and the name of the senator presenting
11it. Petitions shall be filed with the secretary of the
12senate and noted in the journal.
13Rule 49
14Distribution of Printed Material
15No general distribution of printed material in
16the senate shall be allowed unless authorized by the
17secretary of the senate or by a senator.
18Rule 50
19Concerning the Printing of Papers
20Any paper, other than that contemplated by Section
2110, Article III of the Constitution of the State of
22Iowa, presented to the senate may, with the consent of
23a constitutional majority, be printed in the journal.
24Rule 51
25Reprinting of Documents
26When any bill has been substantially amended by the
27senate, the secretary of the senate shall order the
28bill reprinted on paper of a different color. All
29adopted amendments inserting new material shall be
30distinguishable.
-36- 1The secretary of the senate may order the printing
2of a reasonable number of additional copies of bills,
3resolutions, amendments, or journals.
4OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
5Rule 52
6Duties of the President
7The senate shall elect, from its membership, a
8president. The president shall call the senate to
9order at the hour to which the senate is adjourned and
10shall proceed with the regular order of daily business.
11The president shall preserve order and decorum and
12decide all questions of order and corrections to the
13journal. The president shall direct voting as provided
14in rule 22. When a ruling on whether an amendment
15is or is not germane is issued, the ruling shall be
16accompanied by an explanation. The president of the
17senate shall be the chair of the committee of the whole
18unless otherwise ordered by the senate, under rule 19.
19Upon the first reading of an individual bill or
20resolution, or a house committee bill or resolution,
21the president shall refer the bill or resolution to
22the appropriate standing committee. If the bill or
23resolution is a senate committee bill or resolution,
24the president shall place it on the calendar after
25its first reading. If the subject of the bill or
26resolution is not germane to the title of the committee
27presenting it, the president of the senate may refer it
28to the appropriate committee.
29The president shall sign legislative enactments upon
30their enrolling.
-37- 1The president of the senate shall serve as a member
2of the legislative council and the senate rules and
3administration committee. The president shall serve
4on the rules and administration committee as chair of
5the standing subcommittee designated to supervise the
6secretary of the senate and other employees of the
7administrative services division of the senate.
8Rule 53
9The President Pro Tempore
10The senate shall elect, from its membership, a
11president pro tempore. When the president is absent,
12the president pro tempore shall preside, except when
13the chair is filled by temporary appointment by the
14president or the majority leader.
15The president pro tempore, when presiding, shall
16perform duties as prescribed in rule 52, paragraphs 1
17and 2.
18The president pro tempore shall serve as a member of
19the legislative council and as a member of the senate
20committee on rules and administration.
21 Rule 54
22Secretary of the Senate
23The secretary of the senate shall be a nonpartisan
24officer of the senate and shall:
251. Serve as chief administrative officer of the
26senate.
272. Have charge of the secretary’s desk.
283. Be responsible for the custody and safekeeping
29of all bills, resolutions, and amendments filed, except
30while they are in the custody of a committee.
-38- 14. Have charge of the daily journal.
25. Have control of all rooms assigned for the use
3of the senate.
46. Keep a detailed record of senate action on all
5bills and resolutions.
67. Insert adopted amendments into bills before
7transmittal to the house of representatives and prior
8to final enrollment.
98. Prescribe With the exception of caucus employees
10and employees directly serving the majority leader,
11the president of the senate, and the minority leader,
12prescribe the duties of and supervise all senate
13employees.
149. Authorize all expenditures of funds within the
15senate budget.
1610. The secretary of the senate shall also act as
17senate parliamentarian and shall:
18 a. Advise the presiding officer of the senate
19about parliamentary procedures during deliberations of
20the senate.
21 b. Perform other duties as prescribed by the
22committee on rules and administration.
23 c. Process the handling of amendments when filed
24and during the floor consideration of bills.
25Rule 55
26Legal Counsel
27The legal counsel shall be the secretary of the
28senate or a contractual employee of the senate and
29shall:
301. Serve as attorney and counselor for the senate.
-39- 12. At the request of the majority or minority
2leaders, research any legal issue in which the senate
3has an interest. However, the legal counsel shall not
4issue nor venture any opinions on unresolved questions
5of law unless permitted by both the majority and
6minority leaders.
7Rule 56
8Sergeant-at-Arms
9The sergeant-at-arms shall be an employee of the
10senate and shall:
111. Wear the appropriate badge of his or her office.
122. Attend the senate during its sessions.
133. Aid in the enforcement of order under the
14direction of the president of the senate and the
15secretary of the senate.
164. Execute the commands of the senate.
175. See that no unauthorized person disturbs the
18contents of the senators’ desks.
196. Supervise the doorkeepers, the assistant
20sergeant-at-arms, and pages.
217. Announce all delegations from the governor or
22house.
238. Supervise the seating of visitors and press
24representatives.
25Rule 57
26Senate Secretaries
27Every senator shall be permitted to employ for each
28session of a general assembly a personally selected
29secretary.
30Rule 58
-40-1Use of Electronic Voting System
2Any officer or employee of the senate, other than
3a duly elected member of the senate, who operates the
4electronic voting machine mechanism located at the
5desk of said member of the senate shall be subject to
6immediate termination from employment. The provisions
7of this paragraph shall not apply to the use of the
8page bell or to testing of the electronic voting
9system.
10CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS
11Rule 59
12Appointments
13The secretary of the senate shall:
14a. send, to each appointee submitted by the
15governor for senate confirmation, a copy of a
16senate questionnaire as approved by the rules and
17administration committee;
18b. receive completed questionnaires from appointees
19and forward copies of the completed questionnaires to
20appropriate committee members; and
21c. maintain “Confirmation Calendar” categories
22on the senate calendar as directed under this rule,
23senate rule 6, and by the committee on rules and
24administration. No appointee shall be listed as
25eligible on the confirmation calendar until the
26secretary has received the appointee’s completed senate
27questionnaire.
28As soon as possible after the convening of a
29session, and again within one week following March
301, the secretary of the senate shall publish in the
-41-1senate journal the names of all nominees submitted
2for confirmation. The secretary of the senate shall
3maintain a file of all appointments received from the
4governor for confirmation. The file shall contain
5a description of the duties and the compensation
6for each nominee. The file shall show the date an
7appointment was received from the governor, the date
8the appointment was published in the journal, whether
9the nominee has been introduced, whether a committee
10report has been filed, when the senate questionnaire
11was sent to the appointee, and shall include a copy of
12the appointee’s completed senate questionnaire, upon
13receipt.
14INVESTIGATING COMMITTEES. All appointments
15received from the governor shall be referred to the
16rules and administration committee by the secretary
17of the senate on the same day they are published in
18the senate journal. The rules and administration
19committee shall establish an en bloc confirmation
20calendar which must be filed with the secretary of
21the senate. Within three (3) legislative days after
22receiving an appointment, the committee shall either
23place a nominee on the en bloc confirmation calendar
24or assign the nominee to an appropriate standing
25committee for further investigation, publishing notice
26of such assignment in the senate journal for the next
27legislative day. If the rules and administration
28committee fails to take action on a nominee within
29the three (3) legislative days, the nominee shall
30automatically be placed on the en bloc confirmation
-42-1calendar.
2Within the three (3) legislative days after an
3appointment has been referred to the rules and
4administration committee, any ten senators may require
5that the nominee be assigned to an appropriate standing
6committee by filing a written, signed request therefor
7with the chairperson of the rules and administration
8committee. The committee chair shall refer the
9appointment to a subcommittee within one (1) three
10(3) legislative day days after a standing committee
11receives an appointment for further investigation,
12publishing notice of such assignment in the senate
13journal for the next legislative day. Within ten (10)
14legislative days after a standing committee receives an
15appointment for further investigation the subcommittee
16shall file its report with the standing committee.
17Within fourteen (14) legislative days after a
18standing committee receives an appointment for
19further investigation, the committee shall conduct
20an investigation of the nominee and file its report
21thereon with the secretary of the senate, who shall
22then place the nominee on the en bloc calendar or
23individual confirmation calendar as directed by
24the committee. The failure of a committee to file
25its report within the prescribed time means that
26the nominee is to be automatically placed, without
27recommendation, upon the individual confirmation
28calendar.
29Any individual nominated to head a department or
30agency of state government, whose appointment is
-43-1subject to senate confirmation, must be introduced
2to the full senate prior to a vote on confirmation
3of the nominee. Additionally, any five (5) senators
4may request that any nominee be introduced to the
5senate by filing a written request with the secretary
6of the senate within ten (10) legislative days of
7the nominee’s name appearing in the journal. Any
8individual nominated to a position requiring senate
9confirmation may request to be introduced to the
10full senate by notifying the secretary of the senate
11at least one (1) legislative day in advance of the
12nominee’s appearance. If an individual is nominated
13both to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term and is
14also nominated for reappointment to that position
15during the same session, a single introduction is
16sufficient for eligibility for confirmation to both
17terms.
18HEARINGS. Any member of a committee investigating
19an appointment may, within five (5) legislative days
20after the committee receives the appointment, obtain
21a hearing with the nominee by filing a written request
22with the secretary of the senate who shall forward it
23to the chair of the standing committee and the chair
24of the subcommittee. Notice of the hearing shall be
25published in the journal at least two (2) legislative
26days prior to the hearing. At the hearing, which
27shall be before the subcommittee, the nominee may be
28questioned as to his or her qualifications to fulfill
29the office to which nominated and further questioned
30as to his or her viewpoints on issues facing the office
-44-1to which nominated. Any senator may at the discretion
2of the chair of the subcommittee be permitted to submit
3oral questions. The public may, at the discretion of
4the investigating committee, be permitted to submit
5oral or written statements as to the qualifications of
6the nominee.
7Also, within five (5) legislative days after the
8subcommittee receives an appointment for investigation,
9any senator may submit written questions to be answered
10by the nominee prior to consideration of the nominee’s
11confirmation by the senate.
12INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS. After a nominee has
13been placed on the calendar and prior to the vote on
14confirmation, any senator may request an informational
15meeting on the nomination which shall be held before
16the subcommittee.
17VOTING ON CONFIRMATIONS. Appointments received
18from the governor for senate confirmation during any
19session of a general assembly shall be acted upon prior
20to adjournment of that session by April 15 as provided
21by section 2.32 of the Code. Upon the motion of the
22majority leader or his or her designee, the nominees on
23the en bloc confirmation calendar shall be confirmed
24en bloc by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the
25members elected to the senate. The journal shall
26reflect a single roll call accompanied by a statement
27of the names of those individuals subject to the en
28bloc confirmation vote.
29Prior to an en bloc vote, any senator may request,
30either in writing or from the floor, an individual vote
-45-1on any nominee on the en bloc confirmation calendar.
2The senate shall vote separately on the nominee.
3Nominees on the individual confirmation calendar
4shall be confirmed by a two-thirds vote; however, the
5senate shall take a separate roll call on each nominee,
6unless by unanimous consent, it determines to take one
7vote on all nominees under consideration. In any case,
8the journal shall reflect a single roll call vote for
9each nominee.
10If an individual is nominated both to fill a vacancy
11for an unexpired term and is also nominated for
12reappointment to that position, and such appointment
13and reappointment appear on the senate calendar as
14eligible at the same time, a single vote is sufficient
15for confirmation to both terms.
16Rule 60
17Time of Committee Passage and Consideration of Bills
181. This rule does not apply to concurrent or
19simple resolutions, joint resolutions nullifying
20administrative rules, senate confirmations, bills
21embodying redistricting plans prepared by the
22legislative services agency pursuant to chapter
2342, or bills passed by both houses in different
24forms. Subsection 2 of this rule does not apply to
25appropriations bills, ways and means bills, government
26oversight bills, legalizing acts, administrative
27rules review committee bills, bills sponsored by
28standing committees in response to a referral from
29the president of the senate or the speaker of the
30house of representatives relating to an administrative
-46-1rule whose effective date has been delayed or whose
2applicability has been suspended until the adjournment
3of the next regular session of the general assembly
4by the administrative rules review committee, bills
5cosponsored by the majority and minority floor leaders
6of the senate, bills in conference committee, and
7companion bills sponsored by the majority floor leaders
8of both houses after consultation with the respective
9minority floor leaders. For the purposes of this rule,
10a joint resolution is considered as a bill. To be
11considered an appropriations or ways and means bill for
12the purposes of this rule, the appropriations committee
13or the ways and means committee must either be the
14sponsor of the bill or the committee of first referral
15in the senate.
162. To be placed on the calendar in the senate a
17senate bill must be first reported out of a standing
18committee by Friday of the 8th week of the first
19session and the 8th 6th week of the second session. A
20house bill must be first reported out of a standing
21committee by Friday of the 12th week of the first
22session and the 11th 10th week of the second session to
23be placed on the senate calendar.
243. During the 10th week of the first session and
25the 9th 7th week of the second session, the senate
26shall consider only bills originating in the senate and
27unfinished business. During the 13th week of the first
28session and the 12th 11th week of the second session,
29the senate shall consider only bills originating in the
30house and unfinished business. Beginning with the 14th
-47-1week of the first session and the 13th 12th week of the
2second session, the senate shall consider only bills
3passed by both houses, bills exempt from subsection 2,
4and unfinished business.
54. A motion to reconsider filed and not disposed
6of on an action taken on a bill or resolution which is
7subject to a deadline under this rule may be called up
8at any time before or after the day of the deadline by
9the person filing the motion or after the deadline by
10the majority floor leader, notwithstanding any other
11rule to the contrary.
12BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That should a system of
13deadlines for the time of committee passage and
14consideration of bills be adopted by joint action
15of the senate and house at any time during the
16eighty-seventh eighty-eighth general assembly, those
17provisions shall supersede the provisions of rule 60.
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