House Resolution 19

(By Delegate Hanshaw, Mr. Speaker)

[Introduced April 2, 2021.]

“Amending House Rule 65, relating to the daily order of business.”

            Resolved by the House of Delegates:

            That House Rule 65 be amended to read as follows:

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) resolutions, (b) petitions, (c) motions.

VIII. Bills introduced on motion for leave and referred to appropriate committees.

IX. To act on unfinished business of the preceding day, and resolutions lying over from 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. House and Senate Bills on third reading.

XI. House and Senate Bills on second reading.

XII. House and Senate Bills on first reading.

XIII. To act upon leave of absence for members.

XIV. Remarks by members of the House.

Item XIV, Remarks by members of the House, shall not be operative after the forty-seventh day of the session: Provided, That for the duration of the 2021 Regular Session of the 85th Legislature, on each day the House meets in actual session prior to the forty-seventh day of the session,  be held on each Wednesday, unless otherwise directed by the Speaker, following the first day through the fifty-seventh day of session, and the Speaker shall announce a time when the chamber of the House shall be available for remarks by members of the House if such a time is requested by a member of the House of Delegates. The House shall convene at such time to receive such remarks, and the Speaker or a designee of the Speaker shall preside. No quorum is necessary to proceed with the receipt of remarks by members of the House, and nothing herein shall prohibit committees from meeting when the House convenes solely for the purpose of remarks by members. Any member desiring to speak shall seek recognition, and upon recognition by the Presiding Officer, may speak for up to five minutes upon any topic of interest to the House. The Presiding Officer shall preserve order and decorum while the House is in session for the duration of remarks. During this designated time for receipt of remarks by members, no motion shall be in order save for a motion to adjourn remarks by members. Remarks made during the pendency of remarks by members may be entered into the appendix to the journal as provided for herein. The time allotted for remarks by members shall expire: (A) After all member desiring to speak have exhausted their allotted time; or (B) after six hours; or (C) ten p.m., whichever occurs first.

XV. Introduction of guests.

XVI. Miscellaneous business. (HR10, Reg. Sess., 2001; HR3, Reg. Sess., 2002; HR1, Reg. Sess., 2019; HR1, Reg. Sess., 2021; HR19, Reg. Sess., 2021)

Effect of the 2001 amendment. Item II language is new, and original item II was moved to the end of the order, appearing as XIII.

Effect of the 2002 amendment. Item XIV language is new, and original item XIV was moved to the end of the order, appearing as XV. Also, after the forty-seventh day of a regular session, there will not be an order of business for remarks of members.

Effect of the 2019 amendment. Added another order of business, Item XV, introduction of guests.

Effect of the 2021 amendment. Language was added to facilitate a time for Members to make remarks if requested by a Member for the 2021 Regular Session.

Effect of the 2021 amendment. Specified that remarks by members be held on each Wednesday, unless otherwise directed by the Speaker, following the first day of session through the fifty-seventh day.