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House Resolution 1
(By Delegate Hanshaw (Mr. Speaker))
[Introduced January 11, 2023]
“Adopting Rules of the House of Delegates.”
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That Rules of the House of Delegates for the 86th Legislature are hereby adopted and shall govern the proceedings of the Regular Sessions of the Legislature and any Extraordinary Sessions thereof insofar as applicable, subject to amendment as provided by Rule 133, as follows:
RULES
Election and Duties of Officers
Officers and Their Compensation
1. The House, at the commencement of each Legislature, shall elect a Speaker, Clerk, Sergeant-at-Arms, and Doorkeeper. All officers, except the Speaker, shall receive such compensation as the House may determine.
Vote to Elect Officers
2. In the election of officers by the House, the vote shall be given by calling of the roll, and a majority of the whole number of votes given, a quorum being present, shall be necessary to elect. If, upon any vote, there be no election, the person having the lowest number of votes shall be dropped, and any votes thereafter given to such person shall not be taken into the counting to affect the result in any way. But if two or more have the lowest and equal number of votes, they may be voted for again. If there is only one nominee, the vote may be done by acclamation. No A question before the House, or in committee of the whole, shall not be voted on by ballot.
Duties and Rights of the Speaker
Call to Order
3. The Speaker shall take the chair on each legislative day at the hour to which the House shall have adjourned; call the members to order and, after prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, if a quorum is present, proceed to the order of business.
Preservation of Order
4. The Speaker shall preserve order and decorum while the House is in session; enforce the rules and orders of the House; prescribe the order in which business shall come up for consideration, subject to the rules and orders of the House; announce the question of business before the House when properly requested by any member; receive all messages and communications; put to vote all questions which are properly moved; announce the result of all votes and authenticate, when necessary, the acts and proceedings of the House.
Decorum in Debate
5. In debate, the Speaker shall prevent personal reflections and confine members to the question under discussion, but he or she shall not engage in any debate, or propose his or her opinion on any question without first calling some other member to the chair, except as otherwise provided by these rules or other rules applicable to the proceedings of the House. When two or more members seek recognition at the same time, he the Speaker shall name the one entitled to the floor.
Questions of Order; Appeal the Decision of the Chair
6. The Speaker shall decide all questions of order subject to an appeal to the House when demanded by any ten members, or, if in committee, ten percent of the members of the committee. He The Speaker or Chair may speak to questions of order from the chair in preference to other members, and may make the concluding speech on any appeal from his or her decision, notwithstanding, he or she may have before spoken on the question; but no other members shall speak more than once on such appeal without leave of the House. If an appeal of the decision of the Chair is put before the House, the Speaker shall vacate the chair, and the Speaker Pro Tempore, as appointed by the Speaker, shall preside, and the question shall be “Shall the decision of the Chair be and remain the decision of the House?” And if a majority of the members present vote in the affirmative, the decision of the Chair shall stand.
When properly requested by a member, the Speaker shall inform the House upon any point of order or practice pertinent to the business before it.
Preserving Order in Galleries
7. The Speaker shall have general control of the House Chamber, lobbies, and rooms and of the corridors and passages in that part of the Capitol assigned to the use of the House. In case of any disorderly conduct or disturbance in the corridors, passages or galleries; including but not limited to, signs, audible displays, flash photography or standing in the galleries; he or she shall have the power to order the same to be cleared, and may cause any person guilty of such disturbance or disorderly conduct to be brought before the bar of the House. In all such cases the members present may take such measures to prevent a repetition of such misconduct, either by the infliction of censure or such other penalty, as may be authorized by law, on the parties thus offending, as the House may deem best.
Appointment of Speaker Pro Tempore, Presiding Officer in Absence of Speaker
8. The Speaker shall appoint a Speaker pro tempore, who, during the absence of the Speaker, shall preside and perform all duties of the Speaker: Provided, That the Speaker may designate, by appointment in writing entered upon the Journal of the House, any member, other than the Speaker pro tempore, who, during the absence of the Speaker, shall preside and perform the duties of the Speaker until the Speaker returns to the chair.: Provided, however, That the Speaker may call any member to the chair to perform the duties of Speaker but such substitution shall not extend beyond an adjournment.
Appointment of House Employees
9. For the performance of technical, clerical, stenographic, custodial and other services required by the House, at the beginning of each regular session of the Legislature, the Speaker shall appoint such persons to various positions, in such number as deemed necessary to efficiently carry on the work of the House.
At an extraordinary session of the Legislature only such persons designated for regular sessions as shall be necessary to perform the duties incident to the work of the session shall be appointed for the extraordinary session. Such persons as are appointed shall be selected with due regard to experience and qualifications.
All employees of the House shall report each day to their supervisor. A person designated by the Clerk of the House of Delegates shall keep a record of the attendance of such employees, and no employee shall be paid for days he is not in attendance, Saturdays and Sundays during sessions excepted, unless excused by the Speaker. All employees shall be on duty daily during such hours as shall be designated by their supervisor. The appointing authority shall have power to discharge any employee at any time. The word “employee” as herein used shall include all persons employed by the House.
Notwithstanding designation of positions or duties herein prescribed, any employee may be assigned additional duties by the person by whom appointed, and may be assigned to such positions and duties as may be deemed proper to secure the most efficient and expeditious work.
The employees designated herein shall not include personnel required to staff a drafting office or drafting service authorized and maintained by the House. The Speaker shall make such appointments for this purpose as the House shall authorize.
The compensation of all employees shall be fixed by resolution during each regular session. The Speaker may hire, discharge and adjust salaries of employees subsequent to the adoption of the resolution.
Appointment of Committees and Subcommittees
10. The Speaker shall appoint all committees, except when the House shall otherwise order. In appointing standing committees, the Speaker he shall designate a chairman Chair and may designate a Vice chairman Chair. In the absence of the chairman Chair of a committee having a Vice chairman Chair, such Vice chairman Chair shall preside, and if there be no Vice chairman Chair, the committee Chair or Vice Chair shall elect appoint a temporary chairman Chair or Vice Chair. When the House authorizes the appointment of a committee, the Speaker may wait until the next legislative day to appoint the same.
The Speaker or Chair may also name subcommittees of standing committees, prescribe their jurisdiction and designate the chairmen Chairs thereof. Legislative proposals and other business coming within the prescribed jurisdiction of any established subcommittee of a standing committee shall upon being committed to such standing committee be referred by the chairman Chair thereof to the appropriate subcommittee. Reports of subcommittees shall be made to the committee and not to the House.
Chair of the Committee on Rules; Majority Leader as Vice Chair
11. The Speaker shall be an ex officio voting member and Chair of the Committee on Rules, and in the absence of the Speaker, the Majority Leader, as appointed by the Speaker, shall be the Vice Chair of the committee.
Acts and Writs Signed by the Speaker
12. All acts shall be signed by the Speaker; and all writs, warrants and subpoenas issued by the order of the House or any committee having authority to issue same shall be under his or her hand and attested by the Clerk.
Putting Questions
13. The Speaker shall rise to put a question but may state it sitting.
Vote of the Speaker
14. In all cases of a call of the yeas and nays, the Speaker shall vote, unless excused; in other cases he or she shall not be required to vote unless the House is equally divided, or unless his or her vote, if given to the minority, will make the division equal and in case of such equal division the question shall be lost. When the yeas and nays are taken, the Speaker's name shall be called last
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CLERK, SERGEANT-AT-ARMS AND DOORKEEPER
Examination of Journal
15. It shall be the duty of the Clerk to examine the Journal of the House, daily, before it is read and cause all errors and omissions therein to be corrected.
Charge of Clerical Business of House
16. The Clerk shall have charge and supervision of all the clerical business of the House,. He shall perform the duties imposed on him the Clerk by law and the rules of the House. He and shall have charge of the Clerk's desk and shall see that no one is permitted therein except himself and those assisting him the Clerk.
Duties of Clerk
17. It shall be the Clerk's duty to read to the House all papers ordered to be read; to call the roll and note and report the absentees, when a call of the House is ordered; to call the roll and note the answers of members, when a question is taken by yeas and nays; to assist, under the direction of the Speaker, in taking the count when any vote of the House is taken; to notify committees of their appointment and the business referred to them; to superintend the execution of all printing ordered by the House. He or she shall attest all writs, warrants and subpoenas issued by order of the House and shall certify to the passage of all bills, and to the adoption of all joint and concurrent resolutions by the Legislature. In addition to his or her other duties, the Clerk shall keep the accounts for pay and mileage of members, officers and employees, and for printing and other contingent expenses of the House, and prepare and sign warrants or requisitions for the same.
The Clerk shall superintend the recording of the Journal of the proceedings, the engrossing and enrolling of bills, and shall cause to be kept and prepared for the printer the Daily Journal of the proceedings of the House
Clerk to Have Custody of All Records
18. The Clerk shall have the custody of all records and papers of the House, and shall not allow them to be taken from the table or out of his or her possession without the leave of the House, unless to be delivered to the chairman Chair of a committee to which they may have been referred and then he or she shall take a proper receipt therefor. He The Clerk shall endorse on bills and papers brief notes of proceedings had thereon by the House and preserve the same in convenient files for reference.
Appointment of Assistants
19. The Clerk may appoint such assistants and other personnel as is authorized by code, resolution or by the Rules of the House, and shall have the power to remove any appointee and appoint another in his or her stead.
Clerk to Have Charge of All Printing; Corrections
20. The Clerk shall have supervision and charge of all printing done for the House and the printer shall print only such documents and other matter as the Clerk authorizes. The Clerk is authorized to correct errors and omissions prior to the final printing of legislative documents or publications.
The Clerk is authorized to correct errors and omissions, and make stylistic and technical changes prior to the final printing of to legislative documents or publications, including the Acts of the Legislature and the official bound Journal of the House to conform to legislative action.
The Clerk shall have supervision and charge of all printing done for the House and the printer shall print only such documents and other matter as the Clerk authorizes.
Payment for Printing
21. Printing of bills and daily journals will be done in the Legislative Print Shop. Bound material and other legislative printing which cannot be done with machines owned or leased by the House of Delegates or the Joint Committee on Government and Finance will be contracted in accordance with Section 34, Article 6 of the Constitution of the State of West Virginia.
Duties
22. It shall be the duty of the Sergeant-at-Arms to attend the House and the Committee of the Whole during their sittings and to maintain order under the direction of the Speaker. He or she shall execute the commands of the House from time to time, together with such process, issued by the authority thereof, as shall be directed to him by the Speaker.
Under the direction of the Speaker, he the Sergeant-at-Arms shall superintend the distribution of all documents and papers to be distributed to the members. He or she shall see that no person, except those authorized to do so, disturbs or interferes with the desks of the members, or with the books, papers, etc., thereat.
He shall have charge under the Speaker for the purpose of maintaining order of the Hall of the House, its lobby, galleries and other rooms in the Capitol assigned for its use, and shall exclude from the floor all persons not entitled to the privilege of the same. He shall attend to seating visitors, and see that the House Chamber is properly ventilated, heated, and lighted.
Duties
23. It shall be the duty of the Doorkeeper to attend the House during its sessions, and to announce have all messages announced. He or she shall have charge of the main door of the Chamber during the sittings of the House, and shall see that the other doors are properly attended; have general charge and oversight of the assistant doorkeepers; detail such assistant doorkeepers for such general or special duties as the Sergeant-at-Arms may deem proper; assist the Sergeant-at-Arms in seeing that the rules relating to admission to the floor are strictly enforced, and shall perform such other duties as the Speaker or the House may order
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Absence From the House
24. No member shall absent himself from the service of the House unless he or she have leave, or be sick and unable to attend, but any member who conscientiously believes that his or her absence is necessary to observe the Sabbath or other religious observance shall be excused from attending upon the House on that day.
Every Member to Vote
25. Every member present when a question is put, or when his or her name is called, shall vote unless he or she is immediately and particularly interested therein, or the House excuses him or her. A motion to excuse a member from voting must be made before the House divides, or before the call of the yeas and nays is commenced, and it shall be decided without debate, except that the member making the motion may briefly state the reason therefor.
Members Shall Be in Places When Voting
26. While the yeas and nays are being taken every member shall be in his or her seat, as designated by the Speaker, and during the session of the House no person other than a member shall occupy the chair of a member.
Quorum
27. A majority of all the members elected to the House shall be necessary to proceed to business; seven members may adjourn, and ten members may order a call of the House, send for absentees, and make any order for their censure or discharge. On a call of the House, the doors shall not be closed against any member until his name shall have been called twice. [Const., Art. VI, §32]
When Less Than Quorum Present
28. In case a number less than a quorum of the House shall convene, they are hereby authorized to may send the Sergeant-at-Arms, or any other person or persons by them authorized, for any and all absent members member as the majority of such members shall agree, at the expense of such absent members, respectively, unless such excuse for nonattendance shall be made as the House, when a quorum is convened, shall judge sufficient; and, in that case, the expense shall be paid out of the contingent fund of the House. This rule shall apply to the first meeting of the House, at the legal time of meeting, as well as to each day of the session after the hour has arrived to which the House stood adjourned.
Taking Members into Custody
29. No member of the House shall be taken into custody by the Sergeant-at-Arms, on any question of complaint of breach of privilege, until the matter is examined by the Committee on Rules, and reported to the House of Delegates, unless by order of the Speaker of the House of Delegates.
Punishment of Members
30. The House of Delegates may punish its own members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two thirds of the members elected thereto, expel a member, but not twice for the same offense. [Const., Art. VI, §25]
Providing for Undisturbed Transaction of Business
31. The House of Delegates may punish, by imprisonment, any person not a member, for disrespectful behavior in its presence; for obstructing any of its proceedings, or any of its officers in the discharge of his duties, or for any assault, threat or abuse of any member for words spoken in debate; but such imprisonment shall not extend beyond the termination of the session. [Const., Art. VI, §26]
Recognition and Decorum
32. When a member is about to speak in debate or deliver any matter to the House, he or she shall rise in his or her place and upon being recognized, respectfully address the presiding officer as “MR. SPEAKER” or “MADAM SPEAKER”, as may be appropriate, and proceed, confining himself or herself to the question under debate, avoiding all personalities and indecorous or disrespectful language.
When a member arises and addresses the Chair, the Speaker may recognize him or her by name; but no member in debate shall designate another by name
Recognition by the Chair
33. When two or more members shall rise or request recognition, the Speaker shall name the one who is to speak first, and his the decision shall be final and not open to debate or appeal.
Mover of Question to Have Preference in Debate
34. No question shall be debated until it has been propounded by the Speaker, and then the mover of the question shall have the right to open and close the debate thereon. When the question is the passage of a bill or adoption of a resolution, the Speaker may designate a member to explain the bill or resolution who shall have the right to open and close debate.
Member Out of Order and Raising Points of Order or Inquiries of the Chair
35. When any a member, in speaking or otherwise, transgresses the rules of the House, the Speaker shall, or any member may, by rising, announcing a point of order, and addressing the rule being violated when called upon by the Speaker, call him or her to order; in which case the member so called to order shall immediately sit down, but may be permitted, with leave of the House, to explain; and the House shall, if appealed to, decide the case, but without debate. If there be no appeal, the decision of the Chair shall be submitted to; if the decision be in favor of the member so called to order, he or she is at liberty to proceed; if the decision be against him or her, and the case requires it, he or she shall be liable to the censure of the House, or such other punishment as the House may properly impose.
Any member may at any time make an inquiry of the Chair by rising, announcing his or her inquiry and upon recognition by the Speaker, stating his or her point.
Calling to Order for Words Spoken in Debate
36. If a member be called to order for words spoken in debate, the person calling him the member to order shall ask that the Clerk take down the words immediately spoken in debate by the member called to order. And no member shall be held to answer, or be subjected to the censure of the House, for words spoken in debate, if any other member has spoken or other business has intervened after the words were spoken and before the exception to them was taken.
Decorum During Debate
37. While the Speaker is putting a question, ascertaining the result, or addressing the House, no one shall walk out of or across the House; and when a member is speaking, no one shall engage in conversation or pass between him or her and the Speaker
Limitation on Debate
38. No member shall speak except in his or her place,. and no No member shall speak until recognized by the Speaker, and may not be recognized to speak more than twice once on a question, except by leave of the House: Provided, That yielding to answer a question shall not count toward the limit of speaking twice once set forth in this rule. Questions in the form of argument or debate are out of order. If a question be pending at the time of an adjournment and is renewed on the succeeding day, no member who shall have spoken twice once on the preceding day shall be permitted again to speak without leave of the House. The House by majority vote may limit debate on any question.
Members Not to Be Disturbed While Speaking
39. No one shall disturb or interrupt a member who is speaking, without his or her permission, except to call the Member to order if he or she be transgressing the rules.
Speaking Before Negative is Put
40. (Rescinded by HR1, January 11, 2017.)
Putting Questions; Division
41. All questions on which the yeas and nays are not taken shall be put in this form, to wit: “As many as are in favor (as the question may be) say ‘Aye’,” and after the affirmative vote is expressed, “As many as are opposed say ‘No’.” If the Speaker be in doubt as to the result, or if a division is called for by any member, the House shall divide. Those in the affirmative of the question shall first rise from their seats and be counted, and afterwards those in the negative. The count may be made by the Speaker, or, if he so directs, by the Clerk, or two members, one from each side, to be named for that purpose by the Speaker. When the result is ascertained, the Speaker shall rise and state the decision of the House. Such vote shall not be printed in the Journal unless the yeas and nays are called for by one tenth of the members present.
Yeas and Nays
42. The yeas and nays shall be taken on motions to dispense with the constitutional rule requiring a bill to be fully and distinctly read on three different days and on fixing the effective date of an act of the Legislature; on agreeing to a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State; on the passage of a bill notwithstanding the objections of the governor; on the passage of a supplementary appropriation bill; on the passage of bills on third reading; on the passage of a House bill amended by the Senate; on all questions where a specific vote is required by the Constitution, the joint rules of the Senate and House of Delegates, or by these rules; on quorum calls; and on questions when called for by one tenth of the members present.
The result of all votes taken by yeas and nays shall be entered on the Journal. When the yeas and nays are inserted on the Journal, the result of the vote as to total yeas, nays and absentees shall be recorded, and the names of the Delegates voting yea or nay, whichever is the smaller number, and the names of Delegates absent and not voting shall be inserted on the Journal. The names of Delegates omitted shall constitute the vote on the prevailing side. On all roll calls, when the voting machine is not used, before the result is announced, the Clerk shall read to the House the names of those who voted in the affirmative or in the negative, whichever is the smaller number, and announce the names of those absent and not voting, at which time any member may correct a mistake committed in taking down his vote. The result shall then be announced.
When the yeas and nays are called for by a member on any question, the Speaker shall hold this demand in abeyance until debate has closed upon the question under consideration, or until the previous question has been moved and sustained.
Upon calls of the House, in taking the yeas and nays, the names of the members shall be called alphabetically, except the name of the Speaker shall be called last.
Pairs
43. Members may pair on any question by filing a signed statement of the same with the Clerk, who shall read the same to the House before the vote is taken. A blank form of pair for use of members shall be provided by the Clerk. No pair shall be recognized unless one or both of the parties thereto are absent.
Division of Question
44. Any member may move for a division of any question other than passage of a bill before the vote thereon is taken,. if If it comprehend propositions in substance so distinct that, one being taken away, a substantive proposition will remain for the decision of the House, but the member moving for the division of a question shall state in what manner he proposes it shall be divided. A motion to strike out and insert shall be deemed is indivisible, but a motion to strike out being lost, shall preclude neither amendment nor motion to strike out and insert. A bill is not divisible on the floor of the House. If the matter of one bill would be better distributed into two, any part may be struck out by way of amendment and introduced as a new bill in accordance with Rule 92.
Calling of Yeas and Nays
45. No member or any person shall visit or remain by the Clerk's table while the yeas and nays are being called.
Tie Vote Loses Question
46. In all cases when the House is equally divided, the question shall be lost.
Verification of Vote
47. When a question upon which the yeas and nays have been taken has prevailed or failed by not more than five votes, the Speaker may, upon request of five members, order a verification of the vote. During such verification, no member shall change his vote unless it was erroneously recorded, nor may any member not having voted cast a vote. A verification must be called for immediately after a vote is announced and before any other business has intervened.
Explanation of Vote
48. No member shall be allowed to make any explanation of his or her vote during the taking of the yeas and nays; but after the roll has been called and the vote announced, any member may explain his or her vote and the explanation shall be recorded in the Journal if he or she requests it. The Speaker may limit the time allowed members for explaining votes. A member may indicate in writing to the Clerk how the member voted on a voice vote or, if absent when any vote is taken, indicate in writing to the Clerk how the member would have voted if present and it shall be noted in the Journal.
49. When a question is put, any member having a direct personal or pecuniary interest therein should announce this fact and request to be excused from voting. The member with such interest should advise the presiding officer of the facts which constitute the personal and pecuniary interest. If the presiding officer determines based upon the facts provided by the member that the interest is a direct personal or pecuniary interest and affects the member directly and not as a member of a class of five or more similarly situated persons or businesses then the presiding officer shall excuse the member from voting. If the presiding officer determines that the interest is not a direct personal or pecuniary interest or that the member is affected as a member of a class of five or more similarly situated persons or entities then the member shall be directed to vote on the question.
Voting by Machine
49a. A voting machine may be used in taking the yeas and nays on any question, for quorum calls and for determining the result when a division is demanded. When a vote is to be taken on the voting machine, the Speaker shall announce the question to be voted upon and direct the Clerk to prepare the machine. The Clerk shall then sound the gong which shall be notice to all members to vote. After reasonable time has been given all members to vote the Speaker shall ask the question, “Have all members voted?,” vote himself or herself, if the vote being taken is upon a question on which he is required to vote, and then direct the Clerk to close the machine and ascertain the result. As soon as this is done, the Speaker shall promptly announce the result. No vote may be changed after it has been recorded.
No member shall vote for another member, nor shall any person not a member cast a vote for a member. In addition to such penalties as may be prescribed by law, any member who shall vote or attempt to vote for another member may be expelled as a member of the House or punished in such other manner as the House may determine. If a person not a member shall vote or attempt to vote for any member, he or she shall be barred from the floor of the House for the remainder of the session and may be further punished in such manner as the House may deem proper, in addition to such punishment as may be prescribed by law.
All other rules governing voting and the taking of the yeas and nays, insofar as applicable, shall apply to taking votes by means of the voting machine.
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Stating the Question
50. When a motion is made, it shall be stated by the Speaker; or, being in writing, it shall be passed to the desk and read aloud by the Clerk before debate.
Form of Motion
51. Every motion, except subsidiary or incidental motions, shall be reduced to writing, if the Speaker or any member desires it; but this exception shall not apply to motions to amend.
Withdrawal of Motions
52. After a motion is stated by the Speaker or read by the Clerk, it is deemed to be in possession of the House, but may be withdrawn at any time before a decision or amendment, unless the previous question has been ordered, in which case it can only be withdrawn by leave of the House.
Order and Precedence of Motions
53. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received except:
1. To adjourn.
2. To lay on the table.
3. For the previous question.
4. To limit debate.
5. To postpone to a day certain.
6. To go into a Committee of the Whole on the pending question immediately.
7. To commit to a Committee of the Whole.
8. To commit to a Standing Committee.
9. To commit to a Select Committee.
10. To amend.
11. To postpone indefinitely.
These several motions shall have precedence in the order in which they are arranged. A motion to strike out the enacting clause of a bill shall have precedence of another motion to amend; and if carried, the bill is rejected.
Motion to Adjourn
54. A motion to adjourn shall always be in order, except when the House is voting, or while a member is addressing the House, or when no business has been transacted since the motion to adjourn has been defeated.
Motions Not Debatable
55. The following motions, and other non-debatable motions in Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure Jefferson’s Manual, shall be decided without debate and shall not be amended:
1. To adjourn.
2. To fix the time to which the House shall adjourn.
3. To lay on the table.
4. For the previous question.
5. To limit debate.
6. To suspend the constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several days.
7. To recess.
8. Suspension of House Rules or Joint Rules of the Senate and House of Delegates.
Motions Not in Order
56. No motion directing the appropriation or payment of money shall be in order.
Effect of Indefinite Postponement
57. When a question is postponed indefinitely, it shall not be again acted on during the session.
Motion to Reconsider
58. After any question has been decided in the affirmative or in the negative, it shall be in order for any member who voted with the prevailing side to move for a reconsideration of the vote thereon at any time on the same day or the next succeeding day of actual session. When the yeas and nays have not been recorded in the Journal, any member, irrespective of whether he or she voted with the prevailing side or not, may make the motion to reconsider. If the House refuse to reconsider, or upon reconsideration shall affirm its first decision, no further motion to reconsider shall be in order unless by unanimous consent. No vote shall be reconsidered upon motions to adjourn, to lay on the table, to take from the table, or for the previous question.
The motion to reconsider may be put and acted upon when made. If seconded, it shall take precedence of all other questions, except the consideration of a conference report and the motion to adjourn, and unless by motion postponed until some future date be acted upon at once. When a motion to reconsider is made and not acted upon at the time, it shall be placed upon the calendar, under unfinished business, and be acted upon the next day of actual sitting of the House. A motion to reconsider shall not be withdrawn without leave of the House.
No bill, resolution, message, report, amendment or motion, upon which a motion is pending to reconsider the vote thereon, shall be taken out of the possession of the House until final disposition of the motion to reconsider. No motion for reconsideration of the vote on any question, which has gone out of the possession of the House, shall be in order, unless subsequently recalled by vote of the House and in possession of the Clerk.
When a motion to reconsider has been carried, its effect shall be to place before the House the original question in the exact position it occupied before it was voted upon.
Debate on Motions to Reconsider
59. Debate shall be allowed on a motion to reconsider only when the question which it is proposed to reconsider is debatable. Where debate upon a motion to reconsider is in order, no member shall speak more than once nor for a longer period than three minutes.
Reconsideration of Question Requiring More than Majority Vote
60. When a majority of members present vote in the affirmative on any question, but the question be lost because it is one in which the concurrence of a greater number than a majority of a quorum is necessary to an affirmative decision, any member may move for a reconsideration.
61. A motion to lay on the table shall only have the effect of disposing of the matter temporarily, and may be taken from the table at any time after the eighth ninth order of business has been passed. A motion to lay on the table, or a motion to take from the table, is not debatable and shall be decided by a majority vote of the members present.
Motion Must Be Germane
62. No motion on a subject different from that under consideration shall be admitted under color of amendment.
Previous Questions
63. When any question is before the House, any member who has not spoken on the question, when properly recognized, may move the previous question. Any demand for the previous question must be sustained by one tenth of the members present. If sustained, the motion for the previous question shall be put by the Speaker, without debate, in the form of “Shall the question on _________now be put? If the motion for the previous question is adopted by a majority vote of members present, that question shall be put to a vote without further debate: Provided, That if the question is passage of the bill or adoption of a resolution, the Member recognized by the Speaker pursuant to Rule 34 to explain the bill or resolution shall be provided five minutes to close debate. If the question at issue is an amendment, the Member that is the lead sponsor of the amendment shall be provided three minutes to close debate.
When a member moves the previous question, he or she shall specifically state in his or her motion whether it shall apply to the main question and the amendments or to the amendment or amendments only. If the motion applies to the main question and the amendments, separate votes shall be taken on each pending amendment and the main question without further debate, except for the Member having the right to close on the question pursuant to this Rule.
The previous question shall not be admitted in the Committee of the Whole.
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Time of Meeting
64. The House shall meet every day, except Sunday, unless it shall be otherwise directed by special order, at the hour to which it shall have adjourned at its last sitting; but if no hour were fixed at such sitting, then at eleven o’clock A.M.
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Daily
65. The daily order of business shall be as follows:
I. To read, correct, and approve the Journal.
II. Introduction of guests.
III. To receive and consider reports of standing committees.
IV. To receive and consider reports of select committees.
V. To receive and consider messages from the Executive, state officials, and other communications and remonstrances.
VI. To receive messages from the Senate, and consider amendments proposed by the Senate to bills passed by the House.
VII. To receive (a) introduce resolutions,.
VIII. (b) petitions, To receive petitions.
(c) motions.
VIII. IX. Bills introduced on motion for leave and referred to appropriate committees.
IX. X. Motions.
XI. To act on unfinished business of the preceding day, and resolutions lying over from reported from its final committee the previous day, but no resolution shall lose its place on the calendar by not being acted upon on the day following that on which it was offered.
X. XII. House and Senate Bills on third reading.
XI. XIII. House and Senate Bills on second reading.
XII. XIV. House and Senate Bills on first reading.
XIII. XV. To act upon leave of absence for members.
XIV. XVI. Introduction of Guests.
XV. XVII. Miscellaneous business.
XVI. XVIII. Remarks by members of the House (held on each Wednesday, if requested by any member, and at a time designated by the Speaker
Introductions of Guests
65a. The House shall observe two opportunities on each day for any member, upon recognition, to introduce to the House citizens seated in the galleries
Priority of Business
66. All questions relating to priority of business shall be decided without debate.
Special Orders
67. Any subject made a special order of business shall be laid before the House by the Speaker, or may be called up by any member, when the time fixed for its consideration arrives. If not called up or acted upon at the time fixed, it shall lose its standing as a special order.
Reports and Messages Receivable at Any Time
68. Messages from the Governor and Senate, communications and reports from state officers, reports from the Committee on Rules, reports from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, and reports of Conference Committees may be received at any time when the House is not actually engaged in taking a vote on some question, in which case it shall be received as soon as the result of the vote is announced. When received it shall be disposed of as the House may direct. Messages and reports received by the Clerk after sine die adjournment, which do not require actions by the House, shall be considered received by the House and filed with the Clerk and shall be recorded in the Journal.
69. (Rescinded by HR1, January 11, 2017)
Special Calendar
70. The Committee on Rules shall arrange a special calendar and the consideration of bills on this calendar shall take precedence over the Regular House calendar.
All bills or resolutions or other matters of business reported from committee, and having no additional committee reference, shall, unless referred to a second committee by the Speaker, automatically be placed by the Clerk on the Special Calendar, and no bill, resolution, or other matter of business shall be removed from the Special Calendar and placed on the regular House Calendar except by a majority vote of the Committee on Rules, a quorum being present. Once removed from the Special Calendar, any resolution, bill or other matter of business may only be again placed on the Special Calendar by a majority vote of the Committee on Rules, a quorum being present.
The Committee on Rules shall cause to be kept a record of all roll call votes on all questions pertaining to preparation of the Special Calendar and removing the same therefrom. This record of votes shall show those voting in the affirmative or those voting in the negative, whichever shall be the smaller number, and those absent and not voting. These vote records shall be prepared and following the adjournment of each meeting made available to House members and to the public
Consent Calendar
70a. (Rescinded by HR6, January 16, 2007.)
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Kinds of Committees
71. Committees may be of four kinds, namely: Committee of the Whole House, Standing Committees, Select or Special Committees, and Conference Committees.
Committee of the Whole
72. The House may resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole at any time on the motion of any member, and in forming a Committee of the Whole, the Speaker shall leave the Chair and a chairman Chair shall be appointed by him or her to preside over said committee. It shall consider and report on such subjects as may be committed to it by the House. The proceedings in Committee of the Whole shall not be recorded on the Journal except so far as reported to the House by the Chairman Chair of the Committee.
Rules of Proceeding in the Committee of the Whole
73. The rules of proceeding in the House shall be observed, as far as practicable, in Committee of the Whole, except that any member may speak oftener than twice once on the same subject, but he the member shall not speak a second time until every member desiring to speak shall have spoken; nor shall a motion for the previous question nor a motion to lay on the table or to adjourn be made therein. The yeas and nays need not be taken in Committee of the Whole.
Consideration of Bills in Committee of the Whole
74. Upon demand by any member, bills committed to a Committee of the Whole House shall, in Committee of the Whole, be read by sections. All amendments made shall be noted by the Clerk and reported to the House by the Chairman Chair. After being reported to the House, the bill shall again be subject to amendment before a vote on the report is taken.
Motion to Rise Decided Without Debate
75. A motion that the Committee of the Whole rise shall always be in order, and shall be decided without debate.
Standing Committees
76. At the commencement of each Legislature, the Speaker shall appoint the standing committees established by this rule. The Speaker shall refer bills introduced, resolutions offered, and messages, petitions, memorials and other matters presented to such committee as he shall deem appropriate to consider and report thereon.
Standing committees are hereby created as follows:
1. Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
2. Committee on Banking and Insurance
3. Committee on Economic Development and Tourism
3. 4. Committee on Education
4. 5. Committee on Energy and Manufacturing
5. 6. Committee on Finance
6. 7. Committee on Fire Departments and Emergency Medical Services
7. 8. Committee on Government Organization
8. 9. Committee on Health and Human Resources
9. 10. Committee on Interstate Cooperation
11. Committee on Jails and Prisons
10. 12. Committee on the Judiciary
11. 13. Committee on Pensions and Retirement
12. 14. Committee on Political Subdivisions
13. 15. Committee on Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse
14. 16. Committee on Rules
15. 17. Committee on Senior, Children, and Family Issues
16. Committee on Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development
17. 18. Committee on Technology and Infrastructure
18. 19. Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and Homeland Security
19. 20. Committee on Workforce Development
Jurisdiction of Committees
77. In general and without limitation, standing committees shall have functions and jurisdiction of subjects and other matters as follows:
1. Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources: (a) Agriculture generally, including agricultural production and marketing, animal industry and animal health, adulteration of seeds, commercial feeding stuffs and commercial fertilizer, processed foods, insect pests and pesticides, soil conservation, milk and milk products, meats and meat products, agricultural extension service, etomology entomology and plant quarantine, poultry and poultry products, and human nutrition and home economics; (b) natural resources in general, including game and fish, forest and wildlife areas, parks and recreation, water resources and reclamation.
2. Committee on Banking and Insurance: (a) Banks and banking, and financial institutions generally; (b) control and regulation of all types of insurance, including organization, qualification and licensing of insurers; and (c) securities and exchanges.
3. Committee on Economic Development and Tourism: (a) small business; (b) entrepreneurship; (c) e-commerce; (d) e-government; (e) economic development; (f) job creation; (g) tourism; and (h) commerce generally.
3. 4. Committee on Education: (a) Education generally; (b) boards of education, and administration and control of schools; (c) textbooks and school curricula; (d) vocational education and rehabilitation; (e) qualifications, employment and tenure of teachers; (f) libraries; and (g) public schools and institutions of higher education.
4. 5. Committee on Energy and Manufacturing: (a) Mining and extraction of coal and other fossil fuels; (b) extraction and distribution of natural gas; (c) energy production employment, safety, local land use and community impacts; (d) alternative energy development and efficiency measures; and (e) manufacturing generally.
5. 6. Committee on Finance: (a) Tax and revenue measures increasing or decreasing the revenue or fiscal liability of the State; (b) collection of taxes and other revenue; (c) annual Budget Bills and supplementary appropriation bills; (d) proposals reducing public expenditures; (e) proposals relating to the principal and interest of the public debt; and (f) claims against the State.
6. 7. Committee on Fire Departments and Emergency Medical Services: (a) Fire departments; (b) emergency medical technicians; and (c) other emergency responders.
7. 8. Committee on Government Organization: (a) Legislation and proposals dealing with the Executive Department of state government with respect to creation, duties and functions; consolidation and abolition; and transfer, imposition and elimination of functions and duties of departments, commissions, boards, offices and agencies; and (b) measures relating to the Legislative Department, other than apportionment of representation and redistricting for the election of members of the two houses.
8. 9. Committee on Health and Human Resources: (a) Public health and public welfare generally; (b) mental health; (c) public and private hospitals and similar institutions; (d) prevention and control of communicable and infectious diseases; (e) pure food and drugs; (f) poison and narcotics; (g) correctional and penal institutions; and (h) public assistance and relief.
9. 10. Committee on Interstate Cooperation: Constitute the House members of the West Virginia Commission on Interstate Cooperation as provided by Article 1B, Chapter 29 of the Code.
11. Committee on Jails and Prisons: To receive testimony, consider legislation, and recommend action regarding corrections in the State of West Virginia.
10. 12. Committee on the Judiciary: (a) Judicial proceedings, civil and criminal generally; (b) state and local courts and their officers; (c) crimes and their punishment; (d) corporations; (e) collection and enforcement of property taxes; (f) forfeited, delinquent, waste and unappropriated lands; (g) real property and estates therein; (h) domestic relations and family law; (i) revision and codification of the statutes of the State; (j) election laws; (k) proposals to amend the Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of the State; (l) legislation relating to constitutional conventions; and (m) other matters of a nature not deemed properly referable to any other standing committee.
11. 13. Committee on Pensions and Retirement: (a) Continuing study and investigation of retirement benefit plans of the State and political subdivisions thereof; (b) making recommendations with particular attention to financing of the various pension funds and financing of accrued liabilities; (c) considering all aspects of pension planning and operation; and (d) analyzing each item of proposed pension and retirement legislation with particular reference as to cost, actuarial soundness and adherence to sound pension policy.
12. 14. Committee on Political Subdivisions: (a) Counties, districts and municipalities generally; (b) division of the State into senatorial districts and apportionment of delegate representation in the House; and (c) division of the State into districts for the election of representatives to Congress.
13. 15. Committee on Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse: Issues relating to and regarding the prevention and treatment of substance abuse.
14. 16. Committee on Rules: (a) Rules, joint rules, order of business and parliamentary rules in general; (b) recesses and final adjournments of the House and the Legislature; (c) payment of money out of the contingent or other fund of the House or creating a charge upon the same; (d) employees of and services to the House, and purchase of furniture, supplies and office equipment; (e) election and qualification of members of the House and state officers, privileges of members and officers of the House, and witnesses attending the House or any committee thereof; (f) punishment of members of the House for disorderly conduct; and punishment of any person not a member for contempt, disrespectful behavior in the presence of the House, obstructing its proceedings, and for any assault, threat or abuse of a member of the House; (g) House printing; (h) House Library, statuary and pictures, acceptance or purchase of works of art for the Capitol, purchase of books and manuscripts for the House, erection of monuments to the memory of individuals (i) sale of food and administration and assignment of office space in the House wing of the Capitol; and (j) Resolutions referred to the Committee on Rules pursuant to Rule 110.
15. 17. Committee on Senior, Children, and Family Issues: Proposal, revision and recodification of statutory provisions relating to all senior citizen issues and issues related to the welfare of children and families.
16. Committee on Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development: (a) small business; (b) entrepreneurship; (c) e-commerce; (d) e-government; (e) economic development; (f) job creation; and (g) commerce generally.
17. 18. Committee on Technology and Infrastructure: (a) Highways, public roads, railways, canals and waterways, aeronautics, aircraft and airways; (b) motor vehicle administration and registration; (c) licensing of motor vehicle operators and chauffeurs; (d) traffic regulation and laws of the road; (e) regulation of motor carriers of passengers and property for hire; (f) deployment, expansion, regulation and other matters related to public utility services and the internet; and (g) all matters related to the use and expansion of technology in or by the state.
18. 19. Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and Homeland Security: (a) Veterans’ measures; (b) education of veterans; (c) cemeteries of the State in which veterans of any war or conflict are or may be buried; (d) measures generally affecting the health and welfare of veterans; (e) measures relating to detection, protection against, response to, and recovery from, terrorist attacks, internal or external; and (f) military affairs.
19. 20. Committee on Workforce Development: (a) Employment and establishment of industry; (b) labor standards; (c) labor statistics; (d) mediation and arbitration of labor disputes; (e) wages and hours of labor; (f) child labor; (g) safety and welfare of employees; (h) workforce development generally; and (i) infrastructure
Composition of Committees
78. The Committee on Rules shall consist of not less than fifteen nor more than twenty-five members, which number shall include the Speaker, Majority Leader and Minority Leader; the Committee on Interstate Cooperation of seven members; the Committee on Fire Departments and Emergency Medical Services of eleven members and all other standing committees shall consist of not less than fifteen nor more than twenty-five members, except that the number of members of the Committee on Pensions and Retirement shall be appointed in accordance with Joint Rule 29 11, or in such number as may be determined by the Speaker.
Duties of Committees
79. The several standing committees shall not only consider matters specifically referred to them, but whenever deemed practicable suggest such legislation as will provide upon general principles for all similar cases. It shall be the duty of each committee to inquire into the condition and administration of the laws relating to the subjects which it has in charge; to investigate the conduct and look to the responsibility of all public officers and agents concerned; and to suggest such measures as will correct abuses, protect the public interests, and promote the public welfare.
Bill Not to Be Divided among Committees, Speaker May Direct Second Reference
80. A bill may not be divided among two or more committees although it may contain matters properly within the jurisdiction of several committees, but must be referred to one committee as an entirety.
When the Speaker is of the opinion that a bill should be considered by more than one committee, at the time of referring it, he or she may direct that when the committee to which it is referred completes its consideration thereof and makes a recommendation with respect thereto, the committee’s report shall also recommend that it be referred to the additional committee or committees as directed by the Speaker. When a bill is so reported, it shall automatically be referred as directed, unless by unanimous consent the House shall dispense with such second reference. The Speaker may also, at the time a measure is reported from a committee, refer it to an additional committee.
Reports of Committees
81. The several standing committees shall have leave to report by bill or otherwise. All committees shall submit their reports to the House in writing, and the same shall be printed in the Journal. Reports of committees shall be advisory only. Committee chairmen Chairs shall see that the originals of all bills, resolutions, and such other documents as are referred to them are returned to the House, with the report upon the matter to which they pertain.
Discharging Committee from Consideration of Bill
82. When a bill or resolution has been in the hands of a committee five legislative days after having been referred to it, the committee may be discharged from further consideration of the bill or resolution by a majority vote of all the members present. The chairman Chair of a committee may move that his or her committee be discharged from consideration of the matter at any time after commitment.
Committee Meetings
83. Meetings of all committees shall be upon a call of the chairman Chair, but no committee shall sit during a session of the House without leave of the House. It shall be the duty of the chairman Chair of a committee to announce, or have announced, from the floor of the House, or by the Speaker or Clerk, during the session of the House, the time and place of the next meeting of the committee, and at such time, if practicable, announce the bills, resolutions or other business to be considered at such meeting. In case of failure of the chairman Chair of any committee to call a meeting of such committee upon the request of a member, then fifty percent plus one or more of the members of such committee shall have a right to call a meeting of such committee.
Notwithstanding any other rule to the contrary, on motions to report a bill or a resolution to the House, to table a bill or a resolution or to postpone consideration of a bill or a resolution indefinitely, the clerk of the committee shall make a record of the vote and following adjournment of the meeting make available to the public a list showing those voting in the affirmative or those voting in the negative, whichever shall be the smaller number, and those absent and not voting.
All meetings of standing committees shall be open, except a standing committee may, by a majority vote of the members present, hold an executive session for the specific purposes of: (1) Conducting committee discussion of legislative personnel; (2) conducting committee discussion of state government personnel; (3) consideration of and action on charges against a member of the House; or (4) where such meetings involve compiling information, investigating accusations or taking testimony which, if publicly disclosed, might unjustly injure or unfairly reflect on the reputation of innocent persons: Provided, That the Committee on Rules, while holding an executive session for the specific purposes of (1), (2), (3) and (4) above, shall by roll call vote record any definitive action and shall make such vote record available to the public.
In no other instances shall a vote be taken while a standing committee is holding an executive session.
Public Hearings
84. Subject to the provisions hereof, a public hearing shall be held upon the timely written request of any member or citizen on any bill that is placed upon a committee agenda. A request for a public hearing shall be considered timely if the request is made prior to the bill being explained in the committee in which the request is made.
No request for a public hearing shall require delay of committee proceedings. Upon receiving a request for a public hearing, the Chair of the Committee shall schedule and announce a hearing prior to consideration of the measure if this does not require a delay of the proposed measure for consideration by his or her committee. In the alternative, the Chair of the Committee shall schedule a hearing prior to the measure being considered for passage on the floor.
For purpose of this Rule 84, publication of notice of public hearing shall be deemed to have been effective when the public hearing has been announced on the floor of the House. The subject, time and location of any public hearing shall also be placed on the legislative website. No public hearing shall be scheduled sooner than the second calendar day following announcement of the hearing on the floor of the House.
The Chair of the Committee may limit the time of proponents and opponents at such hearing. The hearing may be conducted by the entire committee or a subcommittee thereof, as the committee shall direct.
When a bill is referred to more than one committee, no more than one hearing shall be required when properly and timely requested under the provisions of this rule: Provided, That a public hearing request made after the 43rd day on House bills or after the 53rd day on Senate bills shall not be in order unless such bill is originated in committee, in which case the request for a public hearing shall be granted and the public hearing shall be scheduled in accordance with this Rule: Provided, however, That after the 43rd day, in order to conduct the business of the House in a timely and efficient manner, the House may, by a vote of a majority of the members present, provide for a hearing to be held sooner than the second calendar day following announcement of the hearing on the floor of the House and may limit the number and length of public hearings, if there are public hearing requests pending for more than five bills in any committee: Provided further, That for the duration of the 2021 Regular Session of the 85th Legislature, the applicability of this rule is eliminated: And provided further, That for the duration of the 2021 Regular Session of the 85th Legislature, public hearings may be held by electronic means where the public may register and participate by utilizing an internet-based platform for video and audio conferencing that can be accessed across mobile, desktop, and room systems, and that can be viewed by members in real time during the public hearing and preserved as a public record by the committee conducting the hearing.
Witnesses Before Committees
84a. Every committee of the House shall administer oaths to any person, except current members or employees of the West Virginia Legislature, appearing before the committee at any meeting, with the exception of a public hearing or during the deliberations of any committee. If any witness to whom an oath has been administered shall refuse to answer a question put to such witness by any member of the committee, the committee may report such refusal to the House and upon motion duly made by any member of the House, the House may cause to be issued a subpoena to compel such witness to appear before the committee to give testimony. Upon appearance pursuant to subpoena the witness may be questioned by the Chair and any member of the committee. The Clerk of the House, the Chair of the committee and, in the absence of the Chair, any member of the committee may administer the oath to the witness and may require that such oath be subscribed to by the witness.
Committee Clerks
85. The Speaker shall assign to the various committees such clerks and other clerical and stenographic help as may be necessary to properly carry on the work of the committees. Committee clerks shall keep such records and perform such duties as the chairmen Chair of the respective committees may direct.
Committee Records
86. The chairman Chair of each committee shall keep, or cause to be kept, a record in which there shall be entered:
(a) The date, time and place of each hearing, and of each meeting of such committee.
(b) The attendance of committee members at each meeting.
(c) The names and addresses of all persons appearing before the committee, with the name of person, persons, firm or corporation, and addresses, in whose behalf such appearance is made.
(d) The vote of each member on all motions, bills, resolutions and amendments acted upon, when a yea and nay vote is taken.
Such a record shall be read and approved at the next regular meeting of the committee. The committee records shall be open to inspection of the public at proper times and places and at the close of the session shall be filed with the Clerk of the House.
Committee Quorum; Subcommittees
87. A majority of any committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A subcommittee, which shall report to the regular committee, may be appointed to consider and report to the committee on any matter referred to it.
Minority Views
88. The minority of any committee may present its recommendations in writing with the report of the committee, and the same shall be printed in the Journal, and said recommendation may, by a vote of the House, be substituted for and become the report of the committee. If the minority of any committee presents its recommendations after the report of the committee has already been received, it shall still be printed in the Journal.
House Rules to Govern Committee Proceedings
89. The rules governing the proceedings of the House shall apply to the proceedings of the committee, insofar as the same are applicable.
Select or Special Committees
90. Select or special committees may be provided for on motion or resolution, designating the number and object, and, unless otherwise ordered, shall be appointed by the Speaker.
Conference Committees and Reports
91. All reports of conference committees shall be presented after having been signed by a majority of the conferees of each house and be printed in the Journal. No matter shall be considered by said committee, or reported upon by it, except that in disagreement between the two houses.
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Bills, Resolutions and Petitions
Bills and Joint Resolutions
91a. No House joint resolution and no House bill, other than a House supplementary appropriation bill shall be introduced in the House after the thirty-fifth day of a regular session unless permission to introduce the joint resolution or bill be given by a House resolution, setting out the title to the joint resolution or bill and adopted by a two-thirds vote of the House members present. The thirty-fifth day of the regular session held in the year two thousand nine and every fourth year thereafter shall be computed from and include the second Wednesday of February of such years.
Method of Introducing
92. Bills for introduction in the House on the opening day of any session of the Legislature may be filed with the Clerk. not later than the day preceding the opening of such session. During sessions bills to be introduced shall be filed with the Clerk not later than 12:00 o'clock meridian on the legislative day next preceding their introduction. Before formal introduction, the Clerk shall number such bills as are presented and edit and correct them as to form. When the time for introducing bills is reached in the regular order of business, the Clerk shall report each of said bills by title in the same manner as if it were introduced from the floor. This rule shall not deny a member the right to introduce a bill from the floor in case of urgency.
Bill Carryover
92a. Any bill or joint resolution pending in the House at the time of sine die adjournment of the First Regular Session of a Legislature, or extended First Regular Session thereof, which has not been rejected, laid on the table or postponed indefinitely by the House, shall carry over in its original form to the Second Regular Session only at the request of the sponsor of the bill or resolution, such request to be made to the Clerk of the House not later than thirty days prior to the commencement of the session.
After receiving notice from the first-named sponsor of his or her intent to carry over the bill, the Clerk of the House shall notify all cosponsors that the bill will be carried over. All cosponsors shall have ten days after the date of notice to notify the Clerk of the House that their names should be removed from the bill to be carried over.
Any such bill or joint resolution shall retain its original number and shall be deemed to be reintroduced on the first day of the Second Regular Session and shall, except as otherwise directed by the Speaker, be treated as referred to the committee or committees to which it was originally referred.
In the case of any House bill or joint resolution which has been passed or adopted by the House, such bill or resolution shall likewise be deemed to be reintroduced and referred, except as otherwise directed by the Speaker, to the committee or committees to which it was originally referred.
This rule shall not apply to any bill or joint resolution solely sponsored by a former member, to supplemental appropriation or budget bills, to bills which promulgate legislative rules, to bills which expire or continue state agencies pursuant to the West Virginia Sunset Law, to bills of a local nature, or to any bill or joint resolution introduced during any extraordinary session.
Bills to Be Presented for Introduction
93. All bills for introduction shall be presented bearing the name of the first-named sponsor and the name or names of all sponsors by whom they are to be introduced. The original copy shall constitute the official bill for use of committees and for the permanent files of the House.
Joint Sponsors of Bill
94. A bill may be introduced bearing the names of not more than eleven members as joint sponsors of the bill.
Introduction of Bills by Request
94a. A bill may be introduced by request. All bills introduced by request shall bear the words “by request,” following the designation of the name or names of the bill sponsor or sponsors.
Removal or Addition of Name as Sponsor of a Bill or Resolution
94b. Any Delegate whose name appears as a cosponsor of a bill or resolution may have his or her name removed as a sponsor of the bill or resolution by submitting a written request to the House Clerk not later than the day the bill or resolution is reported from its final committee: Provided, That the removal shall only be permitted if the member is not the last remaining sponsor of the bill or resolution.
Any Delegate wishing to be added as a cosponsor of a bill or resolution shall be added by the Clerk if written request is made to the Clerk not later than the day the bill or resolution is reported from its final committee if the lead sponsor of the bill or resolution agrees in writing to the addition and if the bill has less than the maximum number of sponsors allowed by these rules.
Nothing herein requires reprinting by the Clerk of paper copies of the bill to reflect the addition or removal of sponsors. Any such changes shall appear in electronic form only until reprinting of the bill is required by these rules.
Reference to Committees
95. Bills introduced by any Member, on motion for leave, or by any standing committee, shall be read by their titles and referred to the appropriate committee without printing, and all such bills shall be treated in committee as resolutions of inquiry. If the committee report a bill different from one so introduced, either by amendment or substitution, such bill shall be received and treated in the House as the original bill, and the committee report and Journal of the House shall show that the bill was either amended or substituted in committee: Provided, That in no instance shall a House or Senate bill be referred to the Committee on Rules.
Fiscal Notes
95a. Prior to consideration, by the House or by any committee thereof, of any bill which either increases or decreases the revenue or fiscal liability of the State or any county, municipality or other subdivision of the State or in any manner changes or modifies any existing tax or rate of taxation, such bill shall have attached thereto a fiscal note, which “fiscal note” shall conform to the requirements as to form and content prescribed by the “Fiscal Note Manual,” prepared and adopted by the Committee on Rules to govern preparation of fiscal notes to bills introduced in the House of Delegates. Any fiscal note received by the House of Delegates may be reviewed by the Division of Regulatory and Fiscal Affairs of the Joint Committee on Government and Finance which may provide any additional information regarding the fiscal impact of the proposed bill or any comment on the sufficiency or accuracy on any fiscal note provided to the House of Delegates. The House Speaker or the Chair of the Finance Committee may also specifically request additional information, comment, or opinion from the Division of Regulatory and Fiscal Affairs of the Joint Committee on Government and Finance on any fiscal note received by the House of Delegates.
In the case of a bill which either increases or decreases the revenue or fiscal liability of the State or any county, municipality or other subdivision of the State, nothing herein shall prohibit consideration of such a bill if, in the opinion of the Chair of the committee to which the bill has been referred, or in the opinion of the Speaker, a reasonable time has elapsed since a fiscal note was requested and no fiscal note or an incomplete fiscal note has been furnished.
It shall be the responsibility of the legislator introducing a bill to obtain such note when required. Such note shall be attached to the bill when filed for introduction, if at all possible, and shall accompany any bill requiring such note when the same is reported from committee.
A legislator introducing a bill requiring an increase in the revenue or fiscal liability of the State or any county, municipality or other subdivision of the State should have attached thereto the legislator's specific plan, idea, method or manner for generating the revenue needed or required by the proposed bill.
The jackets of all All measures with fiscal notes attached or requiring such notes shall have the words “Fiscal Note” or the initials “FN” clearly stamped or endorsed thereon.
Rule 95a, as amended herein, shall not take effect until January 15, 1989.
No Act shall be void or voidable for noncompliance with this rule.
Correctional System Fiscal Impact Note
95b. Prior to consideration, by the House or by any committee thereof, of any bill which proposes to create new criminal conduct punishable by incarceration, or either increases or decreases any criminal penalty involving a term of incarceration, the Division of Corrections, in conjunction with any applicable State agency, shall provide a correctional system fiscal impact note outlining the projected fiscal impact on the State’s correctional system of the legislative proposal. The note shall include projected increases or decreases in persons incarcerated, the fiscal impact the proposal likely will have on existing availability of correctional facilities and facility space; whether the proposal will likely decrease or increase inmate populations and, in the case of increased inmate populations, whether additional costs will necessarily be incurred for expanded and increased correctional or jail facilities, equipment and personnel and, if so, the projected cost therefor. Any correctional system fiscal impact note received by the House of Delegates may be reviewed by the Division of Regulatory and Fiscal Affairs of the Joint Committee on Government and Finance which may provide any additional information regarding the correctional system fiscal impact of the proposed bill or any comment on the sufficiency or accuracy of any fiscal note provided to the House of Delegates. The House Speaker or the Chair of the Finance Committee may also specifically request additional information, comment, or opinion from the Division of Regulatory and Fiscal Affairs of the Joint Committee on Government and Finance on any correctional system fiscal note received by the House of Delegates.
In the case of a bill which either increases or decreases the revenue or fiscal liability of the State or any county, municipality or other subdivision of the State, nothing herein shall prohibit consideration of such a bill if, in the opinion of the chair of the committee to which the bill has been referred, or in the opinion of the Speaker, a reasonable time has elapsed since a fiscal note was requested and no fiscal note or an incomplete fiscal note has been furnished.
No Act shall be void or voidable for noncompliance with this rule. Rule 95b, as herein set forth, shall take effect January 1, 2007.
Economic Impact Statement
95c. Upon the introduction of any legislation which has a potential impact on the state’s economy, the Speaker may request from any institution under the authority of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, including but not limited to any state college or university, West Virginia University, or Marshall University, a review of the proposed legislation for purposes of preparing an Economic Impact Statement. The Economic Impact Statement may address the probable effect of any proposed legislation on the economy of the State of West Virginia including, but not limited to, the effect of the legislation on employment, job creation or reduction, and compensation. The statement shall include the names of those persons who participated in the drafting of the statement, including the time spent preparing the statement. The institution shall also make available a lead author of the statement or other qualified representative of the institution to discuss the statement with any committee of the House in which the legislation was referred. The Speaker may also request from any institution that produced a statement, a follow-up study two and five years following enactment of the legislation to analyze the economic impacts of the legislation. It shall be the responsibility of the Speaker to obtain any requested Economic Impact Statement, which shall be based on generally accepted methodology. The Rules Committee may, but is not required to, make by resolution recommendations as to the form and additional contents of the Economic Impact Statement.
The phrase “Economic Impact Statement” or the initials “ES” must be clearly stamped or endorsed on the jackets of all bills that have statements attached to them. The failure to comply with any provision of this Rule shall not prohibit the consideration or passage of any proposed legislation.
What Bills to Contain
96. Bills proposing laws or changes in laws shall consist of a title, beginning with the words “A BILL to” and contain a brief statement of the object of the proposed measure, and if it amends or changes a law, a reference to the law proposed to be changed. The bill proper shall begin with the enacting clause, “Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia”, and state at large the measure proposed. [Const., Art. VI, §30.]
Bill Not to Embrace More Than One Object
97. No bill shall embrace more than one object, and that shall be stated in the title, and no law shall be revived or amended by reference to its title only; but the law revived, or the section amended, shall be inserted at large in the new act. [Const., Art. VI, §30.]
Reporting Bills from Committee
98. When a bill is reported from committee with the recommendation that it do pass, it shall be placed on the calendar for the succeeding day and come up on first reading unless the House by action otherwise directs, or an additional committee reference is given by the Speaker. If on the calendar when referred, it shall be replaced on the reading from which it was taken, unless a new bill, in the form of a committee substitute, be reported. In such case, the committee substitute shall be placed on the calendar for the succeeding day and come up on first reading.
If a bill be reported favorably with amendments, the report and Journal shall so show, and when the bill reaches second reading the committee amendments shall be acted upon before other amendments are offered, except amendments to the committee amendments.
If a committee to which a bill has been referred reports that the same ought not to pass, the Speaker shall immediately propound the question, “Shall the bill be rejected?” If this question is decided in the negative, the bill shall be disposed of in the same manner as if reported favorably.
Printing of Bills
99. (Rescinded by HR1, January 11, 2017.)
Recommitment of Bills
100. A bill may be recommitted at any time before it passes. Should such recommitment take place after its engrossment, and an amendment be reported, the bill shall be placed on second reading when reported back.
Reading Bills
101. Before any bill is read by the Clerk, he or she shall state to the House whether it is on first, second or third reading.
Bills to Have Three Readings
102. No bill shall become a law until it has been fully and distinctly read on three different days, unless in case of urgency, by a vote of four fifths of the members present, taken by yeas and nays on each bill, this rule be dispensed with. Upon any bill there may be a motion to dispense with the constitutional rule, in order that the bill may be read twice or three times on the same day, and upon the first or second reading of any bill there may be a motion to dispense with the constitutional rule in order that the bill may, upon such reading, be read by its title: Provided, That in all cases there shall be three readings on each bill, and that an engrossed bill shall be fully and distinctly read. [Const., Art. VI, §29]
Bills - First Reading
103. The first reading of a bill shall be for information; and if opposition be made to it, the question shall be, “Shall the bill be rejected?” If no opposition be made, or if the question to reject be lost, it shall be regarded as ordered to its second reading, unless the House otherwise specially directs. On the first reading of a bill, it may at any stage of the reading be rejected on motion.
Bills - Printing and Availability to Members
104. Electronic versions of all bills shall be made available promptly on the Delegate Console System once introduced and printed version of all bills will shall be made available when requested from the Legislative Print Shop.
Amending and Engrossing Bills
105. On the second reading of a bill on the demand of any two members, it shall be read section by section for amendment, and when the amendments as may be moved are disposed of, the question, unless the House otherwise order, shall be, if a House bill, “Shall the bill be engrossed and ordered to the third reading?” If a House bill shall be ordered to its engrossment and third reading, and amendments have been made thereto, the type from which the bill was originally printed shall be changed to conform with the amendments. The bill shall then be reprinted and shall be the engrossed bill, and shall be designated as such. If no amendments are made the bill as originally printed may be ordered to its third reading and shall become the engrossed bill, and shall be designated as such. All House bills ordered to their engrossment and third reading shall be jacketed and engrossed with their number, title, by whom introduced, and if the bill is finally passed, the date of its passage and the signature of the Clerk. If a House bill is passed by the Senate and returned to the House without amendment, or if amended and the amendment or amendments be agreed to, it shall then be turned over to the Joint Committee on Enrolled Bills. In the case of a Senate bill on second reading, if the same be amended by the House and passed as amended, the amendment or amendments shall be noted in full on slips of paper in typewriting and attached to the bill at the proper place by the Clerk before the bill is returned to the Senate, and all the amendments shall also appear in the House Journal.
Time Bills to Go into Effect
106. In the passage of a bill by the House, a motion may be made that it take effect from its passage, or at some time other than ninety days after its passage; and if said motion be adopted by a vote of two thirds of all the members elected to the House, taken by yeas and nays, the Clerk shall communicate that fact to the Senate along with the bill. [Const., Art. VI, §30]
Senate Bills
107. Senate bills passed by the Senate and reported to the House shall be referred to the appropriate committee unless the House otherwise directs. After this they shall be treated in the same manner as House bills.
Resolutions
108. Resolutions shall be of three classes, as follows:
(1) Joint Resolutions: All proposed amendments to the State Constitution shall take the form of a joint resolution, which shall be subject to the rules which govern the proceedings on bills, except that it shall be read on three several days, and, to be adopted, must on its third reading be agreed to by a two-thirds vote of the members elected to the House. When a proposed amendment to the Constitution is under consideration, the vote of a majority of the members present shall be sufficient to decide an amendment thereto or any collateral or incidental questions thereto short of the final question.
(2) Concurrent Resolutions: Concurrent resolutions shall be used for the purpose of expressing the sentiments of the Legislature, for authorizing expenditures incidental to the sessions and business of the Legislature, for agreeing upon adjournments beyond the constitutional limitation, for creating special joint committees, for raising a joint assembly and other inferior and incidental purposes of legislation, and such other purposes as the Legislature may deem proper. The adoption of such resolutions must be concurred in by both houses.
(3) House Resolutions: These simple resolutions shall be used for expressing the will or order of the House on matters in which the concurrence of the Senate is not necessary. A House resolution shall be proper to express the sentiments of the body, to authorize expenditures from its contingent fund, for agreeing upon any question, and for all incidental purposes pertaining to the organization and work of the House.
Policy of the House as to Concurrent and House Resolutions; Defining Purpose and Scope of Such Resolutions
108a. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the House of Delegates that concurrent and House resolutions be limited to the general purposes set forth in subdivisions (2) and (3) of Rule 108 and shall be restricted to expressions of sentiments and actions having a bearing upon matters incident to legislative business and the functioning of the legislative process insofar as possible.
Such resolutions shall not embrace congratulatory expressions to individuals, organizations, associations or other entities having no relation to the Legislature or public affairs generally, athletic events, scholastic contests, or any other matter not related to the scope and areas of legislative business: Provided, That this rule shall not bar the introduction of resolutions memorializing deceased members of the Legislature and public officials or commending or congratulating public officials on actions in connection with governmental affairs.
Any concurrent or House resolution shall be submitted to the Clerk for determination of compliance with this rule.
Introduction of Resolutions
109. All resolutions to be introduced in the House shall be filed with the Clerk not later than two hours prior to the convening of the session at which they are to be introduced. When the proper order of business is reached, the Clerk shall proceed in the same manner as if they were introduced from the floor. This rule does not deny a member the right to introduce a resolution from the floor in case of urgency. The different classes of resolutions shall be numbered by the Clerk and their title entered in full in the Journal.
Action on Resolutions
110. Upon introduction, all resolutions shall be read by their titles, and referred to the appropriate committee, and be inserted in full in the Journal. Resolutions other than joint resolutions, proposing amendments to the State Constitution, reported from committee shall lie over one day and come up under the ninth eleventh order of business the following legislative day.
Joint resolutions proposing amendments to the State Constitution shall be treated as bills and proceedings thereon shall be in accordance with section two, article fourteen of the State Constitution.
Resolutions adopted by the Senate and reported to the House shall be subject to the same rule as that governing resolutions introduced in the House.
Petitions
111. All petitions, remonstrances, memorials and other papers addressed to the House shall be filed by the member with the Clerk prior to the convening of the House. When in the regular order of business the time is reached for presenting petitions or any such papers, the Clerk shall read a list of those on file, giving the member's name presenting same and a brief summary of the contents thereof, and the same shall be referred to the committee of the member's selection unless otherwise ordered by the House. Each member, upon filing any such petition, remonstrance or other paper, shall endorse thereon his name, and if not so endorsed it shall not be received. The Journal shall show the name of the member presenting such papers, a brief resume of the contents thereof, and the disposition made of same.
Forms For Filing of Amendments
112. Amendments are to be submitted to the Clerk in writing and a duplicate copy is to be filed electronically for viewing in the Delegate Console System.
Must Be Germane
113. No amendment shall be in order that is not germane to the matter under consideration; and the Speaker, when the question is raised, shall rule as to the admissibility of the proposed amendment.
Time for Offering
114. Amendments may be offered to any bill or joint resolution and acted upon on their second reading and before they are ordered to their engrossment and third reading. No bill shall be amended on third reading, except by unanimous consent of the members present. Amendments to resolutions other than joint resolutions shall be in order at any time the same are being considered. Committee amendments shall be subject to amendment and shall be disposed of before any other amendments are in order.
Reading and Stating
115. Amendments shall be read by the Clerk and stated by the Speaker before being acted upon.
By Striking Out Enacting Clause
116. A motion to amend by striking out the enacting clause of a bill shall have precedence over another motion to amend, and, if carried, the bill or resolution is rejected.
Amendment to an Amendment
117. A motion to amend a pending amendment may be received, but until it is disposed of no other motion to amend will be in order. But pending such amendment, a motion to amend in the nature of a substitute, and a motion to amend that substitute, may be received, but shall not be voted upon until the original matter is perfected.
Amendment to Have Precedence Over Substitute
118. If a substitute for a bill or resolution be offered, a motion to amend the original bill or resolution shall have precedence.
Motion to Amend to Have Precedence Over One to Strike Out
119. If a motion be made to strike out part of a bill or resolution, a motion to amend the part proposed to be stricken out shall have precedence.
Filling Blanks
120. In filling blanks, the largest sum and longest time proposed shall be first put, and the question shall be put on names in the order they were nominated.
No Amendment by Way of Rider
121. No amendment by way of rider shall be received to any bill after engrossment.
Agreeing to Senate Amendments
122. When a House bill or House joint resolution shall be amended by the Senate, the question on agreeing to the bill or resolution as amended shall be again voted on by yeas and nays, and the result entered on the Journal, and in such a case the affirmative vote of a majority of the members elected to the House shall be necessary. [Const., Art. VI, §31]
Amendment by Section
123. If a bill is being considered section by section, only amendments to the section under consideration shall be in order. After all sections have been considered separately, the whole bill shall be open for amendment except that an amendment seeking to strike out matter previously inserted and containing substantially no new proposition shall not be in order.
Amending Titles
124. After the passage of a bill or joint resolution, amendments to its title may be offered when the title is read for approval.
Amendments to Senate Bills
125. Any Senate bill or resolution may be amended in the same manner as a House bill or resolution. If a Senate bill or resolution is amended, the same shall be noted by the Clerk on the jacket containing same before it is reported to the Senate.
After the reading of a Senate amendment to a House bill or resolution, the question shall be, “Will the House concur in the Senate Amendment?” But it shall be in order to move that the House concur in the Senate amendment with an amendment; or that the House refuse to concur and ask the Senate to recede.
If the Senate shall refuse to concur in a House amendment to a Senate bill or resolution, the following motions shall be in order and shall be privileged in the order named: First, That the House recede; Second, That the House insist refuse to recede and ask for a committee of conference; Third, That the House adhere.
Amendments to Be Printed in Journal
126. All amendments proposed, unless withdrawn, shall be printed in the Journal.
Speaking on Amendments
127. On an amendment being moved, a member who has spoken to the main question may speak again to the amendment.
Clerk to Keep
128. The Clerk of the House, under the direction of the Speaker, shall keep a full and correct Journal of the proceedings.
Approval and Correction
129. When the Journal has been read to the end that any mistake made in the entry may be corrected, if no objection is made, it shall stand approved; but if objection be made, the first question of the House shall be to dispose of the same, and when such objections are disposed of and the Journal corrected, as the House may order, it shall stand as approved.
Printing Official Copies
130. After the printed Journal has been approved and fully marked for correction, the type from which it was printed shall be changed in accordance therewith. From the type so corrected shall be printed the number of copies required by law for the regular bound volumes of the Journal, which shall be properly indexed. In addition thereto six copies shall be printed on 6x9 heavy weight bond paper, with a certificate at the end thereof, certifying that the same is the Official Journal of the House and the same shall be signed by the Speaker and Clerk. Such printed Journal shall be the official record of the House. They shall be bound in flexible binding, and bear the imprint on the back, “Official Journal of the House of Delegates of West Virginia,” with designation of regular or special session, as the case may be, and the year. After being signed by the proper officers, two of these copies shall be retained in the office of the Clerk, and one copy shall be lodged in the office of the Governor, one with the Secretary of State, one with the Department of Archives and History, and one with the Clerk of the Senate.
Journal to Be Printed Daily
131. It shall be the duty of the Clerk to furnish a copy of each day’s proceedings of the Journal to the Legislative Print Shop. An electronic version of the Journal is to be made available posted on the Delegate Console System and printed copies are to be available on request prior to the start of the next session.
Form and Content of Journal
132. The Journal shall be kept and published in minute form so as to show a running account of all proceedings and actions taken. Every written motion, unless it be withdrawn on the same day submitted and before action has been taken thereon, and such other material and matters required by these rules and the joint rules of the Senate and House shall be printed in the Journal. No remarks of members, speeches, newspaper editorials and articles, or other material shall be printed in the daily Journal, except explanations of votes as provided by these rules and such portions of remarks as may be necessary for the record in instances where a member may be called to order for words spoken in debate.
The Clerk shall keep and publish an Appendix to the bound and official Journals of each session of the House. There shall be included in the Appendix all remarks of members and other material ordered printed by the House.
An address or remarks by a member made on the floor of the House may be printed in the Appendix with the consent of the House only on the request of the Member making such address or remarks or by request of another member, if the member making such address or remarks consents to said request.
Inserting Remarks in Journal
132a. (Rescinded by HR2, Reg. Sess., 1961)
Note: A typographical error in the Journal shows the repealed rule as 122a instead of 132a.
Amending or Rescinding Rules
133. All propositions to amend or rescind any standing rule or order of the House shall be by resolution and be at once referred, without debate, to the Committee on Rules, and shall be reported therefrom within five legislative days thereafter. Any such resolution may be adopted by a majority vote, a quorum being present.
Suspension of Rules
134. These rules shall not be suspended, except by a vote of at least two thirds of the members present. Unless there be a unanimous consent for the suspension of rules, the vote shall be determined by yeas and nays.
Manual and Rules
135. On any question of order or parliamentary practice where the rules of the House or the joint rules of the House and Senate are silent or inexplicit, the precedence of parliamentary authority for the House of Delegates shall be: (1) The Constitution of the State of West Virginia; (2) Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure, 2020 Edition; and (3) Jefferson's Manual and the Digest of the Rules and Practices of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress. shall be considered as authority.
Persons Admitted to the Floor – Members’ Gallery
136. No person except members of the Congress of the United States, members of the State Senate, former members of the West Virginia Legislature, the Clerk of the Senate, duly accredited representatives of the press, radio and television, and legislative employees engaged in the proper discharge of their duties shall be admitted within the House Chamber while the House is in session. At the convening of the House, the Sergeant-at-Arms shall see that all persons not entitled to the privilege of the floor under this rule retire from the Chamber.
At the direction of the Speaker, the The west or center balcony of the House Chamber shall may be designated “Members’ Gallery” and reserved for guests of members of the House, and admission thereto shall be by pass in such form as may be approved by the Committee on Rules and signed by member issuing the same to a guest.
Smoking and Use of Tobacco Products Prohibited
136a. Smoking and the use of tobacco products are prohibited in the House chamber and House galleries during sessions and in House committee rooms during committee meetings or public hearings.
Attire of Persons Admitted to Floor
136b. No member of the House or any person who has privileges of the floor, except pages, individuals authorized to be present for special ceremonies, television camera operators, media photographers, sound technicians and maintenance personnel, shall be admitted to the floor of the House while the House is in session unless properly attired. Minimum standards of dress shall consist of the wearing of a coat and tie and dress pants by males and the wearing of a suitable dress or an appropriate blouse and skirt or pants suit by females. Jeans or shorts shall not constitute proper attire.
Lobbying in the House Chamber
137. No person engaged in lobbying, including persons entitled to the privilege of the floor under Rule 136 when engaged in lobbying activities, shall be permitted upon the floor of the House or in the foyer thereto at any time during a session of the Legislature. If any person not a member while within the Chamber when the House is in session attempts in any manner whatsoever to influence the vote or opinion of any member upon any subject of legislative consideration, he or she shall be removed from the Chamber and be debarred therefrom during the remainder of the session. Any employee who shall, at any time, engage in such activity shall be subject to immediate dismissal.
Registration of Lobbyist
137a. (Rescinded by HR19, February 6, 1978)
Use of electronic communication devices prohibited
137a. Unless authorized by the Speaker, no person may use a cell phone to make or receive a call on the House floor during a session. A cell phone or other electronic device may be used in the vestibule of the House Chamber or other locations designated by the Speaker. Members are prohibited from communicating by any means with any person not on the House floor, other than other members of the Legislature or legislative staff, regarding the passage or defeat of any pending legislative matter, while such matter is being debated or considered for passage.
News Correspondents and Reporters
138. (a) Any person accorded the privilege of the press gallery or press table must be a professional journalist employed at a recognized media outlet, or of a recognized press association, who is not engaged in any department of state government, or in any other business, including lobbying or advocacy for or against any matter pending before the Legislature. Seating or access to the designated press tables, galleries or seating areas shall be on a first come first served basis or on any such rotation agreed upon among members of the press.
(b) All applications for admission to the press gallery or press table must be made to the Speaker or any such representative he or she may appoint. Such applications shall state the name and location of the media organization and be signed by the applicant. Temporary one-day passes for admittance may be granted by the Speaker or his or her designee as needed. The Speaker or the representative he or she appoints shall reserve the right to refuse the issuance of or to revoke media credentials at his or her discretion, in accordance with the published guidelines for media.
(c) The Speaker or his or her designee(s) shall verify statements made in such application, and if the application is approved, they shall issue a correspondent’s card.
(d) The correspondents shall not visit the members in their seats during the session of the House, and shall abide by such rules and regulations as may be adopted by the House or any of its committees. Failure or refusal to abide by such rules may result in revocation of press credentials.
(e) The card issued by the Speaker must be presented when required by any Sergeant-at-Arms, Doorkeeper or other employee of the House. It shall not be transferable. The transfer or loan of such card to anyone shall be followed by its cancellation and the withdrawal of all its privileges from the correspondent so offending.
(f) The gallery, press tables or seating areas allotted to journalists shall be designated by the Speaker or Chair of the committee using the Chamber or committee rooms. These areas will be reserved for the exclusive use of the press, and persons not holding correspondents’ cards shall not be entitled to admission thereto.
Lounging Prohibited in the Hall of the House
139. It shall be the duty of the Sergeant-at-Arms to prevent all persons not connected with the Legislature from assembling in the halls at any time when the House is in session for the purpose of lounging or loafing. For the purpose of enforcing this rule, the Sergeant-at-Arms or his assistants shall be in attendance at all times, and the persistent neglect or disregard of this rule shall be cause for dismissal by the Speaker, or removal.
Peddling Prohibited
140. No person shall be permitted to hawk, peddle or offer for sale any article of traffic at any time within the hall of the House; and it shall be the duty of the Sergeant-at-Arms to strictly enforce this rule.
Regulating Use of Halls
141. The Speaker shall have power to regulate the use of the halls and stairways of the part of the Capitol building used by the House for refreshments and like purposes when the Legislature is in session.
Oaths
142. The Speaker or Clerk shall have authority to administer any oaths required by the business of the House.
Janitors
143. The janitors appointed for or assigned to the House shall, under direction of the Speaker, have care of the House Chamber, committee rooms and halls of the House and keep the same in a neat and proper condition at all times.
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