2023 -- H 5136

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LC000643

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

AMENDING THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE YEARS

2021 AND 2022

     Introduced By: Representatives Newberry, and Place

     Date Introduced: January 13, 2023

     Referred To: House Rules

     RESOLVED, That section (7) of the rules for the House of Representatives adopted by

the House of Representatives at its January session A.D. 2021 entitled " Adopting the Rules of

the House of Representatives for the years 2021 and 2022", be and the same is hereby amended to

read as follows:

     Rules Pertaining to the Order of Business

     (7)(a) The Speaker, or the Speaker’s designee, shall prepare the floor calendar for each

legislative day. The calendar shall be printed or made available electronically to the members

daily. During the legislative session, the House shall convene at 4 p.m. provided that the Speaker,

with adequate notice to the members, may convene the House at another time.

     (b) At the commencement of each day's session the roll shall be called or taken by use of

the electronic voting system. If a quorum is determined to be present the Speaker shall seek

approval of the previous day’s journal and thereafter proceed to business. The order of business,

unless the Speaker determines otherwise, shall be as follows:

     (i) Reports of standing and select committees.

     (ii) Introduction and reference of new business.

     (iii) Communications, including communications from the Senate.

     (iv) Unfinished business in which the House was engaged at the time of last adjournment.

     (v) Consent calendar.

     (vi) Calendar.

     (vii) Introduction of guests and announcements.

     (viii) Matters of personal privilege.

     (ix) Recess or adjournment.

     (c) A representative desiring to introduce a bill or resolution shall file the same with the

Clerk of the House. At the request of any representative, an announcement presented to the

Speaker may be placed directly in the House Journal noting his or her absence from session. The

Speaker, in his or her discretion, may authorize the use of electronic signatures to facilitate the

legislative process. If the Speaker authorizes the utilization of electronic signatures by members,

the following shall apply:

     (i) Members shall be provided the option to utilize electronic signatures only by means of

a secure electronic signature procedure provided by the Speaker to the members;

     (ii) An electronic signature executed pursuant to this rule shall be deemed and interpreted

as the member’s legal and binding signature;

     (iii) Only a member of the House may execute an electronic signature pursuant to this

rule. A member shall be strictly prohibited to request or permit another person to execute an

electronic signature on his or her behalf.

     (d) All bills and resolutions shall be filed no later than February 11, 2021 (for the 2021

session) and February 10, 2022 (for the 2022 session). The provisions of this section shall not

apply to city or town bills, to bills for the reinstatement of corporate charters, to bills relating to

the solemnization of marriages, appropriations and budget bills, or to bills to create or extend the

reporting dates of study commissions. Further, a member may introduce a public bill or resolution

after this date in February if one day previous to such introduction, the member shall have

notified the House of his or her intention to introduce such bill or resolution by reading the title

and giving a brief explanation of its purpose. A member may avail himself or herself of the

opportunity afforded by this rule three (3) times only in each calendar year, but in no event after

the fortieth (40th) legislative day unless the matter is submitted with the approval of the Speaker.

House Committees may, but shall not be obligated to, hear and consider public bills or resolutions

approved for introduction pursuant to this rule.

     (e) Any bill or resolution introduced on or before April 13, 2021 (for the 2021 session)

and on or before April 12, 2022 (for the 2022 session):

     (i) if filed after the convening of the session, shall be in order for the first reading and

where appropriate, assignment to committee, as early as the next legislative day and shall be

considered a part of the days business, provided that the Speaker may direct that any given

measure may be treated in accord with subparagraph (ii) below, and

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     (ii) if filed prior to the convening of the session in the instance where the desk has been

left open to receive matters, shall be in order for the first reading and, where appropriate,

assignment to committee, as early as that day.

     (iii) All bills or resolutions introduced after April 13, 2021 (for the 2021 session) and

after April 12, 2022 (for the 2022 session) shall be in order for the first reading and, may be

assigned to committee, as early as the day of introduction.

     (iv) In the discretion of the Speaker, any bill filed after the convening of the session on

the last legislative day of any week shall also be in order for the first reading as early as the next

day and assigned to committee as if the desk were left open.

     (f) The Clerk of the House shall cause the title and numbers of all bills and resolutions

introduced, along with the names of up to ten (10) co-sponsors, to be published in the House

Journal for the day on which said bill or resolution is deemed, as herein provided, to have been

introduced.

     (g) Whenever a member has requested that the text of a resolution be read into the House

Journal, the Speaker may, at his or her discretion, comply with the request and have the resolution

read either during a recess, while the House is at ease or following adjournment. The decorum of

the House shall be maintained throughout the requested reading of the resolution.

     (h) The Clerk of the House shall cause the following to be published in the House

Journal:

     (1) Any appeals of each and every question decided by the Speaker;

     (2) Any appeal made by any member to the ruling of the Speaker;

     (3) Any and all reasons assigned by the Speaker with respect to any ruling made by the

Speaker;

     (4) The substance of any comments made by any member with respect to any ruling of

the Speaker;

     (5) The vote or decision made by the members of the House with respect to any appeal

made by a member to a decision made by the Speaker on any question.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

AMENDING THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE YEARS

2021 AND 2022

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     This resolution would require the House Clerk to publish appeals of every question

decided by the Speaker, any appeal by a member of a ruling of the Speaker and reasons for the

ruling, the substance of any comments made by members with respect to any ruling and the vote

or decision made by House members with respect to any appeal made by members to the

Speaker's decisions.

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