Text of OK HR 1002 (2025)

Req. No. 12154 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025) HOUSE RESOLUTION 1002 By: Hilbert AS INTRODUCED A Resolution relating to the Rules of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 60TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE: STATEMENT OF AUTHORITY Pursuant to Article V, Section 30 of the Oklahoma Constitution, the Oklahoma House of Representatives adopts the following rules to govern its operations and procedures. The provisions of these rules shall be deemed the only requirements binding upon the House of Representatives under Article V, Section 30 of the Oklahoma Constitution, notwithstanding any other requirements expressed in statute. RULE ONE DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE SPEAKER 1.1 – Convening (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) and (c) of this section, the Speaker of the House, or designee, shall convene the Req. No. 12154 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 House of Representatives on the day and at the hour to which the House was adjourned on the previous legislative day. (b) Upon taking the chair, the Speaker shall call the House to order and, except in the absence of a quorum, proceed under the customary categories of legislative business set forth in these rules. (c) The Speaker is authorized to convene the House other than the time the House adjourned to, in times of necessity, as determined by the Speaker. (d) The Speaker may designate any other member of the House to serve as the presiding officer, but such designation shall not last beyond that day’s adjournment. 1.2 – Voting Rights of the Presiding Officer The Speaker shall have the same right as other members to vote. On all questions on which ayes and nays are taken, the Speaker shall vote under the title “Speaker”. 1.3 – Preservation of Order and Decorum (a) The Speaker shall preserve order and decorum. In case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct in the Hall of the House of Representatives or in other areas of the Capitol assigned to the House, the Speaker shall have the power to order the Hall of the House of Representatives or areas of the Capitol assigned to the House to be cleared or direct any other action necessary to preserve order and decorum. Req. No. 12154 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (b) Appearances or presentations by school or other groups shall not be permitted on the floor of the House during legislative deadline weeks, except as authorized by the Speaker. 1.4 – Referral of Legislation (a) All proposed legislation, as governed by Rule 8.3 (b), if not referred directly to the General Order category of the House Calendar, shall be referred by the Speaker to an appropriate standing or special committee. (b) Prior to the time a bill or resolution is taken up for consideration by a committee or subcommittee, the Speaker may reassign such bill or resolution. 1.5 – Speaker to Sign Bills, Resolutions, and Papers (a) The Speaker, or a member of the House designated by the Speaker, shall sign all bills and resolutions passed by the Legislature. 1. The signatures required by this section shall be executed either by physical signature or by electronic signature as determined by the Speaker. 2. The certifications required by this section shall be made while the House is in session and shall be made a matter of record in the House Journal. (b) The Speaker shall sign all subpoenas, warrants, writs, vouchers for expenditures chargeable to the House, contracts binding upon the House, or other papers issued by the House. The Speaker Req. No. 12154 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 may delegate the authority to sign papers authorizing payments and other papers of an administrative nature. 1.6 – Authorization of Counsel (a) The Speaker may authorize or engage legal counsel on behalf of the House, a committee of the House, a member, or former member of the House in his or her legal capacity as a member, or an officer, employee or agent of the House in their official capacity when the Speaker determines that such action would be in the best interest of the House of Representatives. In compliance with the requirements contained in paragraph (b) of this section, expenses incurred for legal services authorized by these Rules may be paid upon approval of the Speaker. (b) If a claim arising from allegations of unlawful discrimination, as defined in federal law, is made against the House of Representatives itself or against a committee of the House, a member, or former member of the House in his or her legal capacity as a member, or an officer, employee, or agent of the House in their official capacity, the Speaker shall not enter into a settlement agreement on behalf of the House that requires the expenditure of House funds in excess of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) without first receiving the approval of a committee appointed pursuant to Rule 1.8. 1.7 – Supervision of the House Req. No. 12154 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (a) The Speaker shall have general supervision over the Hall of the House and the areas of the Capitol building assigned to the House of Representatives. (b) The Speaker shall assign committee rooms to the various standing, special, joint, and standing conference committees. (c) The Speaker may reserve a portion of the gallery for former members of the House, former members of the Senate, and the families of members of the House and their guests. 1.8 – Standing, Special, and Joint Committees (a) The Speaker shall create, abolish, and establish the jurisdiction of all standing committees, oversight committees, policy committees, special committees, and subcommittees of the House of Representatives. (b) The Speaker shall appoint the chairpersons and vice– chairpersons of all standing committees, oversight committees, policy committees, special committees, and subcommittees of the House of Representatives and shall appoint the co–chairpersons and co–vice–chairpersons from the House for any joint committees of the Legislature. (c) The Speaker shall appoint the membership of all standing committees, oversight committees, policy committees, special committees, and subcommittees of the House of Representatives and shall appoint the members constituting the House’s delegation to any joint committees of the Legislature. Req. No. 12154 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (d) All chairpersons, co–chairpersons, vice–chairpersons, co– vice–chairpersons, and members of any House committee, subcommittee, or joint committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Speaker. (e) The Speaker shall be an ex officio voting member of all standing, oversight, policy, special, and joint committees. (f) The Speaker shall have the authority to release a measure from the jurisdiction of a policy committee and assign the measure to the Rules Committee. If the Speaker releases and assigns a measure pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph, the measure shall not be re-assigned to a policy committee except upon the express written approval of the Speaker which approval shall be communicated to the Chair of the Rules Committee. 1.9 – Conference Committees (a) The Speaker shall create, abolish, and establish the jurisdiction of all standing and special conference committees of the House of Representatives. (b) Upon creation of a conference committee, the Speaker shall appoint the chairperson, vice–chairperson, and membership of the conference committee. (c) The Speaker shall be an ex officio voting member of all conference committees. RULE TWO SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE 2.1 – Convening Req. No. 12154 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (a) In the absence of the Speaker, the Speaker Pro Tempore, as presiding officer, shall convene the House of Representatives on the day and at the hour to which the House was adjourned on the previous legislative day. (b) Upon taking the chair, the Speaker Pro Tempore shall call the House to order and, except in the absence of a quorum, proceed under the order of business adopted by the House. (c) In the absence of the Speaker, the Speaker Pro Tempore may designate any other member of the House to serve as the presiding officer, but such designation shall not last beyond that day’s adjournment. 2.2 – Duties (a) The Speaker Pro Tempore shall perform the duties of Speaker in the absence of the Speaker. (b) The Speaker Pro Tempore shall be an ex officio voting member of all standing, oversight, policy, special, and joint committees. (c) The Speaker Pro Tempore shall be an ex officio voting member of all conference committees. 2.3 – Succession (a) If, while the House is meeting in regular or special session, the office of Speaker becomes vacant fifteen (15) calendar days or more prior to the date of sine die adjournment, the Speaker Pro Tempore shall serve as Acting Speaker of the House until a new Req. No. 12154 Page 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Speaker is elected, which election shall be set by the Acting Speaker and shall be carried out no later than fifteen (15) calendar days after the day of the vacancy. If the office of Speaker becomes vacant less than fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the date of sine die adjournment, the Speaker Pro Tempore shall accede to the office of Speaker of the House continuing as Speaker until the conclusion of the present term of office, as established in 14 O.S., Section 145, unless the House shall decide otherwise by electing another member Speaker of the House pursuant to Article V, Section 29 of the Oklahoma Constitution. In the event the office of Speaker becomes vacant after the organizational session required in Article V, Section 26 of the Oklahoma Constitution but before the first Monday in February of the same year, no election for the office of Speaker shall be held prior to the time the House convenes at twelve o'clock noon on the first Monday in February. (b) When only acting as Speaker pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, the Speaker Pro Tempore shall not exercise the powers of appointment provided to a Speaker of the House by statute or by House or Joint Rule and shall not be considered the Speaker of the House within the meaning of Article VI, Section 15 of the Oklahoma Constitution establishing the line of succession to the Governor. Upon accession to the office of Speaker of the House, under paragraph (a) of this section, the Speaker Pro Tempore shall take the oath of office as Speaker of the House and shall file said oath Req. No. 12154 Page 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 with the office of the Secretary of State and shall be authorized to exercise all authority granted to the Speaker of the House under law or by House or Joint Rule including, but not limited to, the powers of appointment and inclusion in the line of succession to the office of Governor as provided by Article VI, Section 15 of the Oklahoma Constitution. (c) If the House is not meeting in regular or special session and the office of Speaker becomes vacant due to death or resignation, the Speaker Pro Tempore shall become Speaker of the House and shall be authorized to exercise all authority granted to the Speaker of the House under law or by House or Joint Rule including, but not limited to, the powers of appointment and inclusion in the line of succession to the office of Governor as provided by Article VI, Section 15 of the Oklahoma Constitution. (d) Upon accession to the office of Speaker of the House under paragraph (c) of this section, the member in so doing shall continue as Speaker until such time as the House convenes for the first legislative day of the next regular or special session, or until the conclusion of the present term of office, as established in 14 O.S., Section 145, whichever occurs first, unless earlier removed from office under the provisions of 51 O.S., Section 24.1. (e) The Speaker Pro Tempore, upon becoming Speaker of the House by operation of paragraph (c) of this section, shall take the oath Req. No. 12154 Page 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 of office as Speaker of the House and shall file said oath with the office of the Secretary of State. (f) If the Speaker shall become incapable of performing the duties pertaining to the office of Speaker of the House for reasons other than death or resignation, when the House is not meeting in regular or special session, the powers and duties of the Speaker of the House shall be discharged by the Speaker Pro Tempore as Acting Speaker until the incapacity shall cease. When acting as Speaker pursuant to this provision, the Speaker Pro Tempore shall not exercise the Speaker's powers of appointment nor shall the Speaker Pro Tempore be included in the line of succession to the office of Governor, as provided by Article VI, Section 15 of the Oklahoma Constitution, unless he or she transmits a written declaration establishing the nature of the Speaker's incapacity to perform the duties of the office of Speaker of the House to the members of the House of Representatives and the Chief Clerk of the House. Upon receipt of such a written declaration, the Chief Clerk of the House shall notify the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Governor, and the Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Thereafter, when the elected Speaker transmits to the Speaker Pro Tempore and the Chief Clerk of the House his or her written declaration that no such incapacity exists, he or she shall resume the powers and duties of the office of Speaker of the House. Req. No. 12154 Page 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (g) Regardless of whether the House is in session, whenever the elected Speaker transmits to the Speaker Pro Tempore and the Chief Clerk of the House a written declaration that he or she is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office of Speaker of the House, and until he or she transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Speaker Pro Tempore as Acting Speaker. Upon receipt of such a written declaration, the Chief Clerk of the House shall notify the members of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Governor, and the Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Thereafter, when the Speaker transmits to the Speaker Pro Tempore and the Chief Clerk of the House his or her written declaration that no inability exists, he or she shall resume the powers and duties of the office of Speaker of the House. When acting as Speaker pursuant to this provision, the Speaker Pro Tempore shall not exercise the Speaker's powers of appointment nor shall the Speaker Pro Tempore be included in the line of succession to the office of Governor, as provided by Article VI, Section 15 of the Oklahoma Constitution. RULE THREE HOUSE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES 3.1 – Employment by House Req. No. 12154 Page 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (a) The Speaker shall employ and manage qualified personnel to staff the House of Representatives. All House employees work for and serve at the pleasure of the Speaker of the House. (b) The Speaker shall determine their qualifications, hours of work, and compensation, including benefits. (c) The Speaker has the right at any time to transfer any employee to another department or discharge any employee of the House without cause. 3.2 – Chief Clerk of the House (a) The Chief Clerk of the House, under direction of the Speaker, shall have general charge and supervision over the legislative procedure of the House. (b) The Chief Clerk of the House shall be responsible for: 1. publication of all House calendars and agendas; 2. publication of bills, resolutions, and amendments; 3. publication of standing committee reports, special committee reports, and conference committee reports; 4. preparation, indexing, and publication of electronic and tangible versions of the House Journal; 5. supervision of the processes for engrossment of House measures, enrollment of House measures, House amendments to Senate measures, presentment of House measures to the Governor, as authorized or required by law, and the filing of measures with the Secretary of State as authorized or required by law; Req. No. 12154 Page 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 6. supervision of the House chamber during any period of time when the House is convened in Regular or Extraordinary Session, or during a period of recess or adjournment, including supervision of personnel responsible for maintaining security, order and decorum within the chamber or other areas under the control of the Oklahoma House of Representatives; 7. issuance of any subpoena or other process authorized pursuant to law, including, but not limited to, these Rules, which shall bear the seal of the Clerk of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and the filing of any return of service for any such process issued by the Chief Clerk; and 8. adopting such other procedures as are required for the orderly conduct of the legislative process of the Oklahoma House of Representatives unless such actions are expressly to be performed by some other person as provided in these Rules. (c) The Chief Clerk of the House shall have custody of and be responsible for the safekeeping of all bills and resolutions with respect to each Regular Session or Extraordinary Session of the Legislature. (d) All official papers, records, reports, testimony presented, and other materials belonging to the House shall be maintained by and entrusted to the care and custody of the Chief Clerk of the House. Req. No. 12154 Page 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (e) Official copies of all bills and resolutions and other materials as designated by the Speaker shall not be removed from the Office of the Chief Clerk for any purpose except upon order of the Speaker. (f) Communications shall be prepared and signed by the Chief Clerk of the House under the direction of and in the name of the Speaker. (g) The Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives shall be the guardian of electronic signatures for the House of Representatives and shall be authorized to make determinations as to validity and authenticity of electronic signatures. (h) If transmitting bills, resolutions, or messages electronically to the Senate, Governor, or Secretary of State, the Chief Clerk of the House shall establish safeguards to protect against unauthorized users. 3.3 – Chief Sergeant At Arms (a) It shall be the duty of the Chief Sergeant at Arms to attend the House during each day's session, to maintain order under the direction of the presiding officer, and to execute the commands of the House. (b) The Chief Sergeant at Arms shall have charge of the Chamber during the sessions, and see that the Chamber is kept in order and at all times ready for use by the House. Req. No. 12154 Page 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (c) The Chief Sergeant at Arms shall, fifteen (15) minutes before the House is to convene, clear the House Floor, anterooms of the House Floor, and House Lounge of all unauthorized persons, as defined in Rule 5, and shall see that no unauthorized persons enter said areas while the House is in session. 3.4 – Chief Parliamentarian (a) The Speaker of the House shall appoint a Chief Parliamentarian who shall assist the presiding officer in the making of parliamentary rulings. (b) The Chief Parliamentarian shall, at the direction of the Speaker, assist the Speaker in publishing a volume of substantive parliamentary rulings and carry out other duties as directed by the Speaker. 3.5 – Chaplain A Chaplain shall attend the commencement of each day's session of the House, open the session with prayer, and may be allotted five (5) minutes during the Thursday session for the purpose of delivering remarks to the House. 3.6 – Pages The Speaker, or designee, shall promulgate rules and guidelines for the Page program. RULE FOUR MEMBERS 4.1 – Member Defined Req. No. 12154 Page 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 “Member”, as used in these Rules, means a member of the House of Representatives. 4.2 – Disclosure of Personal or Private Interest A member who has a personal or private interest in any bill or resolution, proposed, or pending before the House, shall disclose that fact to the House, and shall not vote on that bill or resolution, as required by Article V, Section 24 of the Oklahoma Constitution. 4.3 – Absence of Members No member shall be absent from the session of the House without leave. 4.4 – Decorum (a) No member rising to debate, to give notice, to make a motion, or to present a paper of any kind shall proceed until the member has addressed the presiding officer and has been recognized by the presiding officer as being entitled to the Floor. (b) While a member is speaking, no other member shall enter into any private conversation or pass between the speaking member and the presiding officer. (c) While a member is speaking, no other member shall enter into any private conversations or pass between the speaking member and the motion maker. Req. No. 12154 Page 17 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (d) The presiding officer may enforce the provisions of House rules by naming the disruptive or disorderly member after requesting order in the Chamber. (e) Profane, obscene, or indecent language is prohibited in the House and in all committees, oversight committees, policy committees, and subcommittees of the House. (f) All members shall conduct themselves in a manner becoming a member of the House of Representatives. When the House is in session all members shall, while in the Chamber or Gallery, be appropriately dressed. Members shall wear appropriate professional business attire; male members shall wear suitcoats, slacks, and ties. No member shall wear jeans, denim pants, t-shirts as outerwear, non–religious head coverings, ascots, hoodies, or hats in the House Chamber while the House is in session. (g) Any member who, while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, appears in the Chamber or in any part of the Capitol Building assigned to the House, shall be in contempt of the House and subject to reprimand, suspension, or expulsion. (h) Possession of intoxicating liquor shall not be permitted at any time in the Chamber or in any part of the Capitol Building assigned to the House. (i) Use of tobacco products, including smoking, dipping, or sniffing snuff, shall not be permitted at any time in the Chamber, as governed by Rule 11.5. Req. No. 12154 Page 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (j) No food, including canned or bottled beverages, shall be allowed at any time in the Chamber while the House is in session. Food may be consumed in the lounge and foyer at the west end of the Chamber. (k) Video recordings or broadcasts, other than those captured by the House or at the discretion of the Speaker, by Members shall be prohibited on the House Floor while the House is in session. (l) Sitting on chamber desks shall be prohibited. 4.5 – Service of Process Upon being presented with any service of legal process pertaining to the House of Representatives itself or to an individual member of the House of Representatives in his or her official capacity, the member or employee so approached shall inform the Speaker of the House and the House General Counsel prior to attempting to respond. RULE FIVE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR AND THE ANTEROOMS 5.1 – Floor Privileges (a) The following persons shall be entitled to privileges of the Floor when the House is in session: 1. members of the House; 2. members of the Senate; 3. former members of the House except as otherwise provided in Section 5.3 of this Rule; Req. No. 12154 Page 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 4. the Governor, except during consideration of a motion to override the veto of the Governor; 5. employees of the House and Senate as designated by the Speaker; and 6. children or grandchildren of members for the purpose only of introduction from the member’s desk. (b) Except as permitted in paragraph (a) of this section, no other person, except upon formal invitation by the House of Representatives, shall enter upon the Floor when the House is convened in session. (c) The Speaker may revoke the floor privileges for any persons granted privileges by paragraphs (a) and (b) except for members of the House. 5.2 – Anterooms of the House Chamber (a) While the House is in session, no persons other than those entitled to privileges of the Floor, members of the immediate families of House members, and House employees authorized by the Speaker shall be admitted to the House Lounge and anteroom located at the west end of the House Floor or into the anteroom located at the east end of the House Floor, except at the express invitation of a member, provided the member is present. (b) The Speaker may prescribe additional policies restricting use of the House Lounge and any rooms adjoining the lounge or the House Chamber. Req. No. 12154 Page 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 5.3 – Former Members (a) Except as authorized by the Speaker, no former member of the House or Senate who is an officer or employee in the executive branch of state government or who is registered or required to be registered as a lobbyist under the Ethics Commission Act or who is professionally advocating on behalf of an organization shall be entitled to privileges of the Floor when the House is convened in session. (b) No former member when present on the House Floor pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section shall attempt to influence the passage or failure of any pending motion or legislation. 5.4 – House Parking When the House is convened in regular or special session, no registered lobbyist under the Ethics Commission Act shall be permitted to park in the parking areas of the Capitol grounds allocated to the House of Representatives. 5.5 – House Gallery When the House is in session, no person, unless authorized by the Speaker, shall remain standing while in the Gallery. RULE SIX BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS 6.1 – Definition of the Term “Bill” The term “bill”, as used in these Rules, shall mean proposed legislation which in order to become law must pass through the Req. No. 12154 Page 21 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Legislature according to the procedures established by the Oklahoma Constitution, including consideration by the Governor. The term shall include proposed laws of a general nature and proposed special or local laws. The procedures of these Rules applicable to the introduction and passage of bills shall also apply to the introduction and passage of joint resolutions. 6.2 – Filing Deadline (a) The filing deadlines for introduction of bills and joint resolutions shall be established in consultation between the House of Representatives and the Senate. (b) Legislative deadlines previously agreed to by the House of Representatives shall be inapplicable to: 1. measures which propose a special or local law as governed by Section 6.10 of this Rule; 2. measures authored by the chairpersons and vice–chairpersons of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee which affect the receipt, expenditure, or budgeting of state funds or funds under the control of an entity created by state law; or 3. measures authored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and which are deemed by them to be necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, and safety; Req. No. 12154 Page 22 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 4. measures authored by the chairpersons and vice–chairpersons of the House Redistricting Committee and the Senate Redistricting Committee which affect the legislative apportionment; or 5. measures introduced or authorized by the Speaker. 6.3 – Numbering (a) Bills and joint resolutions introduced in the Second Regular Session of a Legislature shall be numbered consecutively with the last bill and joint resolution, respectively, introduced in the First Regular Session of the same Legislature. (b) Simple and concurrent resolutions introduced in the Second Regular Session of a Legislature shall be numbered consecutively with the last simple and concurrent resolution, respectively, introduced in the First Regular Session of the same Legislature. 6.4 – Introduction (a) All bills and resolutions shall be accompanied by the name or names of the member or members introducing the bill or resolution, shall have a title stating the subject matter contained therein and shall include the request number assigned to the bill or resolution by the staff of the House. (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, no member of the House of Representatives shall be the principal author of more than eight (8) House bills or joint resolutions during a session of the Legislature. Req. No. 12154 Page 23 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (c) The provisions of paragraph (b) of this section shall not apply to: 1. measures containing budgetary matters of which the principal author is the Chairperson of the Appropriations and Budget Committee of the House; 2. measures related to legislative apportionment of which the principal author is the Chairperson of the Redistricting Committee of the House; 3. bills introduced for the purpose specified in 75 O.S., Section 23.1; 4. measures introduced for the purpose of disapproving or approving agency rules pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act; 5. bills introduced for the purpose of implementing the Oklahoma Sunset Law; 6. bills that only repeal or delete, without substantive replacement, provisions of the Oklahoma Statutes; 7. bills that carry over from the First Regular Session to the Second Regular Session pursuant to Rule 6.9; 8. simple or concurrent resolutions; and 9. any other measure authorized by the Speaker. 6.5 – Authorship Req. No. 12154 Page 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (a) Principal Author – A House bill or resolution may have only one Principal Author and shall be the Member that is listed as the Principal Author on a bill or resolution. (b) Author – An Author is a Member who authors a House bill or resolution prior to the introduction of the House bill or resolution. (c) Coauthor – A Coauthor is a Member who authors a House bill or resolution after the introduction of the House bill or resolution. 6.6 – Principal Senate Author of a House Bill or Resolution (a) While a House bill, joint resolution, or concurrent resolution is within the physical control of the House, the principal House author of the bill or resolution shall have full and complete discretion in determining who the principal Senate author of the bill or resolution shall be. (b) No bill or resolution lacking a principal Senate author shall be scheduled for Floor consideration, unless authorized by the Speaker, except that the withdrawal of the principal Senate author, after the bill or resolution is scheduled for Floor consideration, shall not preclude the House from considering the bill or resolution. 6.7 – Procedures Governing Simple and Concurrent Resolutions (a) Except as exempted by paragraph (b) of this section, the following classes of simple and concurrent resolutions shall lie Req. No. 12154 Page 25 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 over one (1) legislative day after introduction, after which they may be called up for consideration: 1. resolutions requesting information from any of the executive or judicial departments, from county and municipal officers, or from corporate entities or persons; or 2. resolutions giving rise to debate. (b) The following classes of simple and concurrent resolutions may be taken up the same legislative day they are introduced: 1. resolutions relating to business immediately before the House; 2. resolutions relating to business of the day on which they may be offered; 3. resolutions reported from the House Rules Committee proposing adoption of a special rule or rules; or 4. resolutions relating to adjournment or recess. (c) Upon taking up a motion to adopt a simple or concurrent resolution, said motion shall be subject to amendment and debate. (d) A motion to amend shall be in order immediately but amendments proposed to simple and concurrent resolutions shall be electronically submitted to the Office of the Chief Clerk prior to consideration by the House. (e) The House shall not consider any proposed amendments not germane to the subject of a simple or concurrent resolution under consideration. Req. No. 12154 Page 26 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (f) Debate on the question of adoption of a simple or concurrent resolution shall be limited to thirty (30) minutes, equally divided between the proponents and opponents of the resolution, provided that no member speak for more than ten (10) minutes. (g) Five (5) minutes of the time allocated to the proponents of the resolution shall be reserved to the principal author, and the principal author shall have the right to close the debate. (h) Any simple or concurrent resolution may be referred by the Speaker to an appropriate committee. 6.8 – Final Action (a) The following action shall constitute final action on any bill or resolution: 1. committee recommendation, including any oversight committee recommendation or any policy committee recommendation of "Do Not Pass"; 2. if a motion to reconsider the vote on Third Reading or Fourth Reading fails to prevail or expires; 3. if a motion to table the motion to reconsider prevails; or 4. if a vote is taken on Third Reading or Fourth Reading and no notice is served to reconsider the vote. (b) If final action is such as to defeat a bill or resolution, no other bill or resolution having the same effect and covering the Req. No. 12154 Page 27 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 same specific subject matter shall be considered by the House of Representatives during either session of the current Legislature. 6.9 – Carry–over Bills and Joint Resolutions Any bill or joint resolution pending in the House at the sine die adjournment of the First Regular Session of a Legislature shall carry over to the Second Regular Session with the same status as if there had been no adjournment; provided, however, that this Rule shall not apply to bills and joint resolutions pending in a conference committee at the time of sine die adjournment. 6.10 – Special or Local Laws (a) The House of Representatives shall not consider proposed local or special legislation on subjects prohibited by the Oklahoma Constitution. (b) No special or local law shall be considered by the House of Representatives unless passage of a general law would be ineffective. (c) A bill or joint resolution under consideration by the House shall be presumed not to be special or local legislation unless the principal author so declares in writing prior to presentation of the measure on the House Floor. (d) Prior to consideration of special or local legislation in the House of Representatives: 1. notice of the intended introduction of a proposed local or special law shall be first published for four (4) consecutive weeks Req. No. 12154 Page 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 in a newspaper of weekly or general circulation in the city or county affected by the proposed law; 2. the notice shall state in substance the contents of the proposed law; 3. verified proof of such publication as required by this section shall be filed with the Office of the Oklahoma Secretary of State; and 4. verified proof of such publication as required by this section shall be published in the House Journal no later than the legislative day prior to the day the measure is considered on the House Floor. (e) The presiding officer shall not entertain points of order, requests for information, or parliamentary inquires pertaining to whether a bill or joint resolution pending before the House is special or local legislation. 6.11 – Revenue–Raising Measures (a) A bill or joint resolution under consideration by the House shall be presumed not to be a revenue–raising measure within the meaning of Article V, Section 33 of the Oklahoma Constitution unless the bill or joint resolution has been designated as a revenue– raising measure by the Majority Floor Leader. (b) Prior to consideration of a bill or joint resolution designated as a revenue–raising measure pursuant to this section, the Majority Floor Leader shall rise and announce to the full House Req. No. 12154 Page 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 the designation of the bill or joint resolution as a revenue–raising measure and the announcement shall be published in the House Journal. (c) The presiding officer shall not entertain points of order, requests for information, or parliamentary inquiries pertaining to whether a bill or joint resolution pending before the House is a revenue–raising measure. (d) Prior to ordering the vote on final passage of a revenue– raising measure, the presiding officer shall announce the vote required for final passage. As used in this section, final passage shall be defined as the vote on Third Reading or Fourth Reading of a bill or joint resolution. RULE SEVEN COMMITTEES IN GENERAL 7.1 – Definitions (a) A standing committee is a committee, oversight committee, or policy committee appointed by the Speaker of the House pursuant to Rule 1.8 which continues as a distinct entity for the duration of the biennium unless dissolved by the Speaker. Unless specifically otherwise provided by these Rules, the term "committee" includes both a policy committee and an oversight committee. Req. No. 12154 Page 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (b) An oversight committee is a committee appointed by the Speaker of the House pursuant to Rule 1.8 in order to consider a measure favorably reported by a policy committee. (c) A policy committee is a committee appointed by the Speaker of the House pursuant to Rule 1.8 in order to evaluate a measure assigned to the policy committee by an oversight committee. (d) A standing subcommittee is a subcommittee appointed by the Speaker of the House pursuant to Rule 1.8 which exercises oversight or other specific authority assigned to it by the Speaker and reports directly to a standing committee, but does not include a policy committee. (e) A special committee is a committee appointed by the Speaker of the House pursuant to Rule 1.8 which carries out a particular task defined at the time of the committee’s creation and appointment. Upon completion of the task assigned to the special committee, the special committee is immediately dissolved. (f) A conference committee is a committee tasked with resolving differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate. A conference committee consists of members from both chambers with the House members of a conference committee being appointed by the Speaker of the House pursuant to Rule 1.9. 7.2 – Open Meetings All meetings of all committees shall be open to the public, subject to the authority of the chairperson to maintain order and Req. No. 12154 Page 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 decorum. A chairperson, with the approval of the Speaker, may close a committee meeting or portion thereof, and the record of such meeting may not disclose the identity of the witness appearing before the committee, if necessary to preserve physical security, including the protection of a witness. 7.3 – Timing, Location, and Deadlines of Meetings (a) The Speaker of the House, or designee, shall determine the dates for committee deadlines within the General Order periods of the biennium. (b) Committees shall meet at the call of the committee Chair within the dates, times, and locations designated by the Speaker. (c) No committee shall sit during a floor session of the House without special leave from the Speaker. CHAPTER A – STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES 7.4 – Authority of the Chair (a) All standing, oversight, policy, and special committees and subcommittees shall be governed by the House Rules applicable to committee proceedings. (b) Chairpersons shall ensure the efficient operation of the committees or subcommittees. Such authority shall include: 1. presiding over the committees or subcommittees; 2. establishing the calendar for the committees or subcommittees; 3. recognition of members or presenters; Req. No. 12154 Page 32 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 4. deciding all questions of procedure in the committees or subcommittees, subject to appeal; and 5. determining the order in which legislation is considered in a committee or subcommittee. Consent calendars shall not be utilized in committees or subcommittees. (c) The chairperson shall exercise all authority necessary to maintain order and decorum, including the authority to require all persons present to silence all electronic devices and to request the Sergeant at Arms to clear the committee room of a person or persons causing disruption. (d) In case of a chairperson's absence, the vice–chairperson shall assume all duties of the chairperson until the chairperson's return or replacement. (e) The chairperson shall cause to be created an official report recording the ayes and the nays as required by Rule 7.7. For any measure reported favorably by a policy committee, or with respect to which a "Do Not Pass" motion was adopted, the chairperson of the policy committee shall cause to be created an official report recording the ayes and nays which report shall be prepared using a suitable method for the action of the policy committee to be communicated to the Chair of the applicable oversight committee. (f) No person shall address the committee or subcommittee unless first recognized by the chairperson for that purpose and no Req. No. 12154 Page 33 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 persons other than members of the House shall be recognized to offer debate. (g) All motions offered in any committee or a subcommittee meeting shall require a second to receive further consideration. (h) A committee or subcommittee, including any oversight committee or any policy committee, may only take up bills or resolutions for consideration if a quorum of the committee or subcommittee is present. A quorum is a majority of the members of the committee or subcommittee, excluding the ex officio members of the committee or subcommittee, but the ex officio members may count toward the presence of a quorum in a committee or its subcommittees. (i) When a bill or resolution is taken up for consideration, the principal House author or another member designated by the principal House author shall be recognized for explanation of the bill or resolution if he or she so desires. In the event the chairperson of the committee is presenting the measure under consideration, the chairperson shall not also preside over the committee while his or her bill or resolution is under consideration. (j) The House author shall be given the opportunity to answer questions put by members of the committee or other persons recognized by the chairperson. (k) The chairperson shall provide opportunity for presentation of amendments to the bill or resolution by the House author, any Req. No. 12154 Page 34 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 member of the committee, or any other member of the House, as governed by Rule 7.6. (l) Amendments shall be considered in the order they appear in the bill or resolution, or in the order they are presented to the committee. The chairperson shall resolve any conflict resulting from claimed priority of presentation. (m) The author of an amendment shall explain the amendment and be afforded the opportunity to answer questions about the amendment put by members of the committee, the author of the bill or resolution, or other persons recognized by the chairperson. (n) The chairperson may recognize any person for comment on the proposed legislation or amendments. The chairperson may limit the amount of time for any such comment. (o) Any questions of procedure not provided for within these Rules shall be governed by the ruling of the chairperson. In making his or her ruling, the chairperson shall rely upon the latest edition of Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure. Where a conflict exists between a provision within these Rules and a provision within Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure, the House Rule shall control. (p) Any member may rise to a point of order against any other member when, in the member's opinion, such member is proceeding out of order. The member raising the point of order must cite the Req. No. 12154 Page 35 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 specific rule the member believes is in conflict. Such point of order shall be decided by the presiding officer without debate. (q) The decisions of the Chair on questions of procedure and points of order shall be subject to appeal as follows: 1. an appeal must be lodged immediately; 2. an appeal shall not be raised by anyone other than a member of the committee or subcommittee wherein such a question arises; 3. an appeal must be seconded by two other members of the committee or subcommittee to receive further consideration; 4. all appeals shall be decided without debate, except that the member taking said appeal shall be afforded one (1) minute in which to state the reasons for the member's appeal and the Chair may state the reasons for the Chair's decision; and 5. no ruling of the Chair shall be overturned except: i) upon a majority of the members of the committee or subcommittee voting in the negative upon the question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be the decision of the committee [or subcommittee]"; or ii) upon a ruling of the presiding officer, while the House is in Session, on a point of order raised on procedural violations that occurred in committee, provided the committee Chair shall be afforded one (1) minute to explain their decision on the Floor prior to the ruling of the presiding officer. This ruling is subject to appeal. Req. No. 12154 Page 36 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (r) The chairperson of a full committee, other than an oversight committee, may refer to a subcommittee or reassign from a subcommittee any legislation, proposal, or inquiry; provided, however, no subcommittee shall be permitted to report directly to the House, but rather shall report to the full committee. Except as otherwise authorized in these Rules, no measure other than one assigned directly to the House Calendar shall be considered by the full House unless such measure shall have been considered in a policy committee and received a favorable recommendation by both a policy committee and an oversight committee. The chairperson of an oversight committee shall cause an oversight committee report to be prepared indicating the action taken by the oversight committee with respect to the measure. (s) Except for legislation recommended by the Rules Committee or the Appropriations and Budget Committee, all legislation originating in the House which is recommended by a committee to the full House shall contain a complete Title and an Enacting or Resolving Clause. (t) The committee or subcommittee chairperson shall sign all reports required or permitted by these Rules. The committee chairperson shall sign all subpoenas as permitted by Rule 7.13, but shall not sign any subpoena prior to signature by the Speaker of the House. 7.5 – Notice of Meetings Req. No. 12154 Page 37 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (a) Except as otherwise provided by this paragraph, all committees and subcommittees, including policy committees, shall provide at least forty–eight (48) hours notice of a meeting. An oversight committee shall provide at least twenty-four (24) hours notice of a meeting. Notice of the meeting shall be published through an appropriate public medium such as the House website or electronic mail, unless notice requirement is waived by the Speaker. (b) A notice shall state the date, time, and place of a meeting and shall include a listing and sufficient title for identification of any and all bills to be considered by the committee, oversight committee, policy committee, or subcommittee holding the meeting. The measure’s principal author and the members of the committee, oversight committee, policy committee, or subcommittee shall be provided separate notice. (c) If a committee, oversight committee, policy committee, or subcommittee is scheduled for a regular meeting, but does not plan to meet, a notice stating that no meeting is to be held shall be posted. (d) Bills or resolutions published on a meeting notice but not considered shall not be taken up in a subsequent committee meeting unless said bills or resolutions are listed on the meeting notice announcing the items of business to be considered in the later meeting. 7.6 – Amendments Req. No. 12154 Page 38 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (a) Committees and subcommittees, including oversight committees and policy committees, may only consider amendments presented in final written form prior to adoption. (b) Any member of the House may offer an amendment to any bill or resolution being considered by any committee or subcommittee and shall be recognized to introduce the amendment. If not a member of the committee or subcommittee, a member who offers an amendment must comply with the amendment filing deadline of this Rule and be present at the meeting at which the amendment is considered. If the member is not present, the amendment may only be considered if taken up and offered by a member of the committee or subcommittee. (c) Any member offering an amendment, including a member of the committee or subcommittee, must submit the proposed amendment in electronic form to the chairperson by 4:30 p.m. the legislative day before the meeting of the committee or subcommittee. The chairperson may, at his or her discretion, waive or set a later deadline than contained in this Rule. (d) Amendments offered to any House bill or resolution under consideration by a committee or subcommittee shall be germane to the subject of the introduced bill or resolution. Amendments offered to any Senate bill or resolution under consideration by a committee or subcommittee shall be germane to the subject of the engrossed version of the Senate bill or resolution. Req. No. 12154 Page 39 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (e) When considering a measure section by section, a motion to strike a section when such section is under individual consideration shall not be subject to the time constraints established by this Rule for consideration of committee amendments. (f) When considering a measure section by section, the Title or Enacting or Resolving Clause of a bill or joint resolution may not be stricken except as provided in Rule 7.4(s). (g) Amendments approved by any committee shall be incorporated into the bill or resolution the same as if included in the introduced bill or resolution. 7.7 – Voting (a) All votes in committees or subcommittees, including oversight committees and policy committees, shall be conducted in open public meetings of that committee, except that two-thirds (2/3) of the members of any standing, special, or oversight committee, including ex officio members, may report a bill or resolution out of committee by signing a written report. If a written report is prepared by a member other than the chairperson of the committee, a written notice that a report is being prepared shall be given to the chairperson prior to the circulation of the report for signatures. No measure may be reported out of a policy committee using the discharge procedure in this paragraph. (b) Only the vote on recommendation for final passage out of full standing committee or an oversight committee to the full House Req. No. 12154 Page 40 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 concerning a bill or resolution shall be by recorded vote. Recommendation for final passage out of committee, such motion need only receive a majority of those voting, a quorum being present. (c) As used in this section, "recommendation for final passage out of committee" means a "Do Pass," "Do Pass as Amended," or a "Do Not Pass" motion. A "Do Pass" motion takes precedence over any other motions for final passage. (d) Only those committee members present may vote on any matter. No person shall cast a vote on behalf of any committee member eligible to vote in any House committee. 7.8 – Committee Recommendations (a) When any standing full committee or an oversight committee returns a bill or resolution with the recommendation of “Do Pass” or “Do Pass as Amended,” the bill or resolution shall be published on the House Calendar in numerical order by bill or resolution number under the heading “Bills on General Order” or “Joint Resolutions on General Order”. (b) If a committee does not return a bill or resolution with the recommendation of either "Do Pass," "Do Pass as Amended," or "Do Not Pass," the bill or resolution shall remain the property of the committee, unless the bill or resolution is placed directly on the House Calendar by the Speaker or is discharged pursuant to Rule 7.7 or 7.12. 7.9 – Final Action Req. No. 12154 Page 41 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 When any committee, including any oversight committee or any policy committee, returns a bill or resolution with the recommendation of "Do Not Pass," this shall constitute final action only if the recommendation was adopted by a majority of the members of the committee. 7.10 – Petition for Committee Hearing (a) After assignment to a standing or special committee, the principal author of a bill or resolution shall be entitled to have such bill or joint resolution considered by a vote of the committee at least four (4) legislative days prior to the final date for Third Reading in either regular session. Such a petition must be electronically signed by a majority of the members of the committee. Ex officio members of a committee may electronically sign such petitions and shall count towards the necessary signatures as required by this section. (b) A majority of the members of the policy committee to which a measure has been assigned may file a petition in order for the measure to be withdrawn from the policy committee and re-assigned to the oversight committee with applicable jurisdiction over the measure. The petition must be electronically signed by a majority of the members of the policy committee. Ex officio members of the policy committee may be counted towards the requirement for signatures on the petition. If the petition receives enough signatures, then the measure shall be withdrawn from the policy Req. No. 12154 Page 42 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 committee and shall be considered to be under the control and jurisdiction of the oversight committee to which the measure was originally assigned. (c) The petitions provided for by this section shall be electronically submitted to the Chief Clerk of the House. The Chief Clerk shall determine if the petition contains the necessary signatures. If the petition contains the necessary signatures, the Chief Clerk shall forward the petition to the appropriate committee chair. 7.11 – Bill Summary (a) All bills and joint resolutions shall be accompanied by a bill summary. The bill summary shall include a description of any repealers contained in a bill or joint resolution. (b) All bills affecting any retirement system authorized by law shall be accompanied by a bill summary which shall include an estimate of the cost and actuarial analysis of the measure upon being reported favorably by any standing committee unless the actuarial analysis for the bill is governed by the Oklahoma Pension Legislation Actuarial Analysis Act. The estimate and actuarial analysis shall be prepared by an actuary engaged by the House of Representatives. (c) The accuracy of the bill summary or actuarial analysis contained within the bill summary shall not be a basis for a point of order under these Rules. Req. No. 12154 Page 43 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (d) The principal House author may publish what he or she believes to be the "legislative intent" of the measure in question. Such a document shall not be drafted by persons employed within the Legal, Fiscal, or Research Divisions of the House Staff; however, the principal House author may consult with such employees as needed. 7.12 – Discharge from Committee (a) Any bill or resolution may be discharged from any standing committee of the House or from any oversight committee of the House upon a request electronically signed by two–thirds (2/3) of the members of the House. (b) The bill or resolution in question shall be identified on the face of the petition and an electronic copy of the measure shall be attached to the discharge petition. (c) The request for discharge of a bill or resolution and the attached measure shall be electronically submitted to the Chief Clerk of the House. No other person except the principal House author of the measure in question shall submit a discharge petition to the Chief Clerk. The Chief Clerk shall determine if the discharge petition contains the necessary signatures as required by this section. If the discharge petition contains the necessary signatures, the Chief Clerk shall forward the petition to the Speaker of the House, or designee. Req. No. 12154 Page 44 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (d) Upon receipt of the discharge petition from the Chief Clerk of the House, the Speaker of the House, or designee, shall place the bill or resolution on the daily House floor agenda. The Chief Clerk of the House shall cause the discharge petition, along with the attached measure, to be published upon the House website. (e) The Speaker of the House, or designee, shall not place a bill or resolution on the daily House floor agenda if the discharge petition pertaining to the bill or resolution was filed after 12:00 noon on the Tuesday immediately prior to the final date for Third Reading in either regular session. 7.13 – Oversight Powers and Responsibilities of Committees and Subcommittees (a) Committees and subcommittees, including oversight committees and policy committees, are authorized: 1. to maintain a continuous review of the work of the state agencies concerned with their subject areas and the performance of the functions of government within each subject area; 2. to invite public officials, public employees, and private individuals to appear before the committees or subcommittees to submit information; 3. to request reports from departments and agencies performing functions reasonably related to the committees’ jurisdictions; 4. to complete the interim projects assigned by the Speaker; and Req. No. 12154 Page 45 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 5. to conduct such other business as directed by the Speaker. (b) Each committee or subcommittee, including any oversight committee or policy committee, has the reasonable right and authority to inspect and investigate the books, records, papers, documents, data, operation, and physical plant of any public agency in this state. (c) The chairperson, vice–chairperson, or a member designated by the chairperson or vice–chairperson may administer all oaths and affirmations to witnesses who appear before such committees to testify in any matter requiring evidence. (d) In order to carry out the duties of the committee, and its subcommittees, the chairperson of each committee with approval of the Speaker, may issue subpoenas and other necessary process to compel the attendance of witnesses either before the committee or subcommittee or at deposition and the production of any books, letters, or other documentary evidence required by such committee. (e) In the event a committee must subpoena a witness or witnesses, or otherwise subpoena production of documents, materials, or other evidence, such subpoenas shall be limited to matters reasonably related to the areas of legislative responsibility delegated to the committee and shall be within the reasonable scope of the committee's investigation. (f) If the committee shall require the deposition of witnesses, either residing within or without the state, such depositions shall Req. No. 12154 Page 46 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 be taken in the manner prescribed by law for the taking of depositions in civil actions in the district courts. Witnesses shall be paid the same fees and mileage as are paid in civil cases in district courts. CHAPTER B – CONFERENCE COMMITTEES 7.14 – Appointment of Conference Committees (a) The House chairpersons, vice–chairpersons, and members of a conference committee shall be appointed by the Speaker pursuant to Rule 1.9. (b) Once a measure is in conference, the chairperson of the standing conference committee to which the measure is assigned may, if requested by the principal author, schedule presentation of the measure. (c) No measure shall be assigned to a standing conference committee which does not include among its membership the chairperson and vice–chairperson of the standing committee from which the same measure was reported during General Order. 7.15 – Presentation and Signatures on Conference Committee Reports (a) A conference committee report, other than one which proposes only restoration of the Title and/or Enacting Clause or states that conferees are unable to agree, shall be presented to a standing conference committee subject to the following requirements: Req. No. 12154 Page 47 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1. the presentation shall not be scheduled earlier than the next calendar day after electronic publication; 2. the presentation shall be made in person; 3. no person except the principal House author of the measure or another House member designated by the principal House author shall present the report; 4. no member of the standing conference committee shall add their electronic signature to the report until such report is presented in person; and 5. the chairperson of the standing conference committee shall determine the procedures of the presentation, except as otherwise specifically provided for in these Rules. (b) Upon being opened for signature by the chairperson of the standing conference committee, a conference committee report which proposes only to restore the Title and/or Enacting Clause of a measure or states that conferees are unable to agree may be electronically signed by members of the standing conference committee. (c) Members of a standing conference committee may add or remove their electronic signatures at any time prior to the time a House conference committee report is closed for submission or withdrawn by the principal House author. (d) Members of a standing conference committee may add or remove their electronic signatures at any time prior to the time a Req. No. 12154 Page 48 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Senate conference committee report ceases to be in possession of the House of Representatives. 7.16 – Presentation Before Standing Conference Committee (a) All presentations made before standing conference committees shall be open to the public, subject to the authority of the chairperson to maintain order and decorum. (b) Members of the public may be allowed to speak about the proposed conference committee report that is being presented to the standing conference committee, subject to the authority of the chairperson to maintain order and decorum. (c) All standing conference committees shall provide reasonable public notice of a presentation. (d) The notice shall state the date, time, and place of a presentation. (e) The notice shall include a listing and sufficient title for identification of the bills to be presented to the standing conference committee. 7.17 – Timing of Presentations (a) The chairperson of a conference committee shall schedule a presentation of conference committee reports within the dates, times, and locations designated by the Speaker. (b) The chairperson of a conference committee shall not schedule presentation of a proposed conference committee report Req. No. 12154 Page 49 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 during a floor session of the House without special leave from the Speaker. 7.18 – Submission of House Conference Committee Reports Upon receipt of the electronic signatures of a majority of House conferees and the signatures of a majority of Senate conferees, the principal House author may submit the recommended House conference committee report to the Chief Clerk of the House. RULE EIGHT LEGISLATIVE PROCESS CHAPTER A – FIRST AND SECOND READING 8.1 – Reading Defined “Reading” ”means the stage of consideration of a bill or joint resolution after reading or publishing of a portion of the title sufficient for identification, as determined by the Speaker. 8.2 – First Reading The publication of a bill or joint resolution by its title and bill number in the House Journal shall satisfy the requirements of First Reading. 8.3 – Second Reading (a) After the First Reading of a bill or joint resolution, the bill or joint resolution shall be placed on the House Calendar under "Bills on Second Reading” or "Joint Resolutions on Second Reading", as the case may be. Req. No. 12154 Page 50 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (b) On the Second Reading of a bill, the bill shall be read by Title only, unless otherwise ordered by the House, and shall be referred by the Speaker to an appropriate committee or directly to the House Calendar under the heading "Bills on General Order" or "Joint Resolutions on General Order", as the case may be. (c) Measures lacking substantive language shall be assigned to a committee designated to receive them and prior to being scheduled for a committee hearing, substantive language must be electronically filed, unless waived by the Speaker. (d) No bill or joint resolution on First or Second Reading shall be subject to amendment or debate. 8.4 – Management of Legislation and Committee Deadlines (a) The Speaker of the House, or designee, shall publish a list of measures to be considered by the House of Representatives, and the Speaker of the House, or designee, shall determine the order of their consideration. (b) No measure shall be scheduled for consideration unless the measure has been reported from a standing or special committee, or has been reported from an oversight committee, or has been referred directly to the General Order category of the House Calendar pursuant to Rule 1.4. No measure shall be considered reported from a standing or special committee until the electronically signed committee report is filed with the Chief Clerk of the House. Req. No. 12154 Page 51 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (c) Upon adoption by the House of a motion to commit any measure to the House Rules Committee, a measure so committed shall not be subsequently returned by the Rules Committee with a favorable recommendation unless accompanied by a Special Rule adopted pursuant to Rule 8.5 prescribing how the measure will be considered by the House. A measure so returned shall not be taken up for consideration prior to the Special Rule required herein being adopted by the House. CHAPTER B – BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS ON GENERAL ORDER 8.5 – Special Rules (a) The House Rules Committee may adopt a "special rule" for a measure scheduled or to be scheduled for consideration on the House Floor. (b) A special rule may limit the offering of amendments, may prescribe the time and conditions of debate, may govern floor consideration on Third or Fourth Reading of the bill, or may contain any other provisions deemed appropriate. (c) A special rule shall not become operational unless first presented to the full House in the form of a House resolution. A House resolution reported by the Rules Committee for this purpose shall not be subject to amendment on the House Floor. 8.6 – Special Orders (a) After a measure is scheduled for consideration on the House Floor, a two–thirds (2/3) majority of the House may vote to Req. No. 12154 Page 52 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 designate a measure as a “special order” to be taken up on a specific date or at a specific time. Such a vote shall be recorded in the House Journal. (b) The provisions of this section shall not apply on the final date for Third Reading in either regular session or on the date of sine die adjournment. 8.7 – Reading and Explanation (a) A bill or joint resolution on General Order shall first be read by title, or read and considered by sections, unless otherwise ordered. (b) The member presenting a bill or joint resolution shall be allowed a reasonable length of time in which to explain the bill or resolution, but said explanations shall not include a discussion of the merits of the proposition. (c) No bill or joint resolution on General Order shall be considered unless accompanied by a bill summary and, if adoption of the measure will have a fiscal impact, including the affecting of revenues, expenditures, or fiscal liability, the summary shall contain a fiscal analysis. The fiscal analysis contained within a bill summary shall state the estimated increase or decrease in revenues or expenditures and the present and future fiscal implications of the bill, if applicable. Req. No. 12154 Page 53 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (d) The accuracy of the bill summary or a fiscal or actuarial analysis contained within the bill summary shall not be a basis for a point of order under these Rules. (e) No bill or joint resolution on General Order shall be considered until all opportunities provided by this Rule for filing proposed amendments shall be afforded the House. (f) In such case where no main floor amendment shall be timely filed as defined in Rule 8.8(b) or where no main floor amendments shall be offered except those amendments permitted under Rule 8.8 (f) and (g), such measure shall become eligible for floor consideration upon the expiration. 8.8 – Amendments (a) All House and Senate bills and joint resolutions when initially published on the Floor Calendar shall be subject to amendment beginning at the time of such publishing. (b) A main floor amendment must be filed no later than twenty– four (24) hours after a bill or joint resolution is initially published on the Floor Calendar, to be eligible for consideration. 1. Main floor amendments are eligible for consideration if filed by the Principal Author after the twenty-four (24) hour deadline, but forty-eight (48) hours prior to consideration. (c) An amendment to a main floor amendment must be filed no later than forty–eight (48) hours after a bill or joint resolution Req. No. 12154 Page 54 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 is initially published on the Floor Calendar, to be eligible for consideration. 1. Main floor amendments filed pursuant to House Rule 8.8 (b)(1) are subject to amendment provided such amendment to the main floor amendment is filed twenty-four (24) hours prior to consideration. (d) Calendar days not concurrently designated as legislative days shall not be considered when calculating the beginning and ending dates and times for bills initially published on the Floor Calendar and passing through the amendment cycle. (e) No amendment purporting to strike the Title or the Enacting or Resolving Clause of any bill or joint resolution shall be in order except if filed by the Principal Author or as provided in paragraphs (f) and (g) of this section. (f) The Chairperson of the Rules Committee or the Majority Floor Leader shall be permitted to offer amendments to strike the Title or the Enacting or Resolving Clause of measures not affecting revenue or appropriations. Amendments offered under this paragraph shall not be subject to the time constraints established by paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, nor shall they be subject to the constraints on amending previously amended language established by Rule 8.9(b). (g) The Chairperson of the Appropriations and Budget Committee, or the Vice–chairperson of the Appropriations and Budget Committee, Req. No. 12154 Page 55 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 shall be permitted to offer amendments to strike the Title or the Enacting or Resolving Clause of measures affecting revenue or appropriations. Amendments offered under this paragraph shall not be subject to the time constraints established by paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, nor shall they be subject to the constraints on amending previously amended language established by Rule 8.9(b). (h) In the event a bill or joint resolution is published on the Floor Calendar and then subsequently removed while time remains for filing floor amendments as provided in this Rule, such bill or joint resolution, if published again on the Floor Calendar, shall not be considered by the House until the remaining time for filing floor amendments is concluded. (i) When considering a measure section by section pursuant to Rule 8.7(a), a motion to strike a section when such section is under individual consideration shall not be subject to the time constraints established by this Rule for consideration of regularly filed floor amendments. (j) When considering a measure section by section, the Title or Enacting or Resolving Clause of a bill or joint resolution may not be stricken except as provided in paragraphs (f) and (g) of this section. 8.9 – Consideration and Presentation Req. No. 12154 Page 56 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (a) The House shall not consider more than one amendment at a time and amendments shall be taken up only as sponsors gain recognition from the presiding officer to move their adoption. (b) The adoption of an amendment to a section shall not preclude further amendment of that section so long as subsequent amendments do not purport to amend the same language previously amended. If a bill is being considered section by section or item by item, only amendments to the section or item under consideration shall be in order. (c) For the purpose of this Rule, an amendment shall be deemed pending only after its author has been recognized by the presiding officer and has moved its adoption. (d) The body of a bill or joint resolution shall not be defaced or interlined, but all proposed amendments shall be separately submitted, noting the page and line, and shall be considered timely filed only if the principal author of the amendment has electronically submitted such amendment in completed form to the Office of the Chief Clerk within the time constraints provided in Rule 8.8(b) and (c). (e) Any measure of the type delineated in Rule 7.11(a) and (b) that is scheduled for floor consideration shall have a bill summary prepared prior to its consideration. 8.10 – Floor Substitutes Req. No. 12154 Page 57 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (a) The House of Representatives shall not consider any amendment to a main floor amendment offered in the form of a floor substitute. An amendment to a main floor amendment shall be deemed a floor substitute only if adoption of the proposed amendment to a main floor amendment would result in replacement of all sections of the measure in question other than the section containing the effective date or emergency clause. Floor substitutes are amendable. (b) Floor substitutes shall be accompanied by a summary which shall include a description of the differences between the floor version and the floor substitute. 8.11 – Amendment of General Appropriations Bill Whenever an amendment is offered to a General Appropriations Bill that would increase any line item of such bill, such amendment shall show the amount by line item of the increase and shall decrease a line item or items within the same bill in an amount or amounts equivalent to or greater than the increase required by the amendment. 8.12 – Amendment Summary (a) All proposed amendments to bills or joint resolutions shall be accompanied by a written summary and, if adoption of the amendment will have a fiscal impact, including the affecting of revenues, expenditures or fiscal liability, the summary shall contain a fiscal analysis upon being filed with the Office of the Req. No. 12154 Page 58 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Chief Clerk. The fiscal analysis shall state the estimated increase or decrease in revenues or expenditures and the present and future fiscal implications of passage of the amended bill, if applicable. The summary shall not express comment or opinion relative to the merits of the amendment proposed. The requirements of this section shall not apply to amendments purporting to strike the Title or the Enacting or Resolving Clause of any bill or joint resolution. (b) Except as may be otherwise required by the Oklahoma Pension Legislation Actuarial Analysis Act, all amendments to bills or joint resolutions affecting any retirement system authorized by law shall be accompanied by a summary which shall include an estimate and actuarial analysis of the present and future fiscal implications of passage of the amended bill. The estimate and actuarial analysis contained in the summary shall be prepared by an actuary engaged by the House of Representatives. (c) The accuracy of an amendment summary or a fiscal or actuarial analysis contained within the written summary shall not be a basis for a point of order under these Rules. 8.13 – Germaneness of House Amendments The House shall not consider any proposed amendment not germane to the subject of the House bill or resolution. An amendment to a main amendment must be germane to both the main amendment and the measure which it purports to amend. 8.14 – Amendments Out of Order Req. No. 12154 Page 59 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 An amendment is out of order if it is the principal substance of a bill or resolution that has received an unfavorable committee report, has been withdrawn from further consideration by the principal author, or has not been reported favorably by the committee of reference in either session of the current Legislature and may not be offered to a bill or resolution on the Floor Calendar and under consideration by the House. Any amendment that is substantially the same, and identical as to specific intent and purpose, as the bill or resolution residing in the committee of reference is covered by this Rule, unless the bill or resolution under amendment is substantially the same as the bill or resolution residing in the committee of reference. 8.15 – Reconsideration A motion to reconsider any vote on the adoption or rejection of an amendment, or the adoption or rejection of a section of any bill or joint resolution, may be made by any member prior to the advancement of such measure from General Order, which motion shall be subject to debate. The motion to reconsider may be laid on the table without affecting the question in reference to which the motion is made, thereby resulting in a final disposition of the motion. 8.16 – Motion to Commit A motion may be made during the reading or consideration of any bill or joint resolution on General Order to commit the bill to a Req. No. 12154 Page 60 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 standing or special committee, with or without instructions. A motion to commit with instructions shall be electronically submitted to the Office of the Chief Clerk prior to consideration by the House. 8.17 – Motion to Advance from General Order A motion to advance a bill or joint resolution from General Order shall not be in order until all opportunities provided by this Rule for filing proposed amendments shall be afforded the House. Once a motion to advance from General Order has been adopted, the bill or resolution shall be considered engrossed and on Third Reading. CHAPTER C – BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS ON THIRD READING OR FOURTH READING 8.18 – Consideration and Debate (a) After Third Reading or Fourth Reading of a bill or joint resolution, the presiding officer shall put the question in the following manner: “The Question Before the House is, shall the Bill or Joint Resolution Pass?” (b) After Third Reading or Fourth Reading but before the vote is ordered, unless prohibited by Rule 8.21, the question shall be subject to debate. (c) As governed by paragraph (b) of this section, debate shall be limited to one (1) hour, equally divided between the proponents Req. No. 12154 Page 61 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 and opponents of the question, provided that no member may speak for more than ten (10) minutes. (d) Any measure that lacks a title, enacting clause, or resolving clause shall not be subject to debate. (e) Five (5) minutes of the time allocated to the proponents of the bill or joint resolution shall be reserved to the principal author, and the principal author shall have the right to close the debate. (f) The question of passage of a bill or joint resolution on Third or Fourth Reading shall be decided by recorded vote after declaration of the question by the presiding officer. (g) Any measure of the type delineated in Rule 7.11(a) and (b) that is scheduled for floor consideration shall have a bill summary prepared prior to its consideration. 8.19 – Amendments No bill or joint resolution on Third or Fourth Reading shall be subject to amendment. 8.20 – Consideration of Emergency Clause (a) When any bill or joint resolution containing a title and enacting clause is being considered on Third Reading or Fourth Reading, and such a bill or joint resolution contains an emergency clause, the emergency clause shall constitute a separate question and shall be subject to debate. Req. No. 12154 Page 62 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (b) When any bill or joint resolution lacking a title or enacting clause is being considered on Third Reading and such a bill or joint resolution contains an emergency clause, the House shall not consider the emergency clause. The vote on Third Reading shall be considered the vote on the emergency clause and shall be recorded as such in the House Journal. 8.21 – Consideration of Conference Committee Reports and Senate Amendments (a) Motions to accept or reject Senate amendments or to adopt or reject conference committee reports may be arranged on a calendar or upon such calendars as may be directed by the Speaker of the House, or designee. (b) The House shall not consider adoption of a conference committee report or a joint committee report until a majority of both the House and Senate members constituting the conference committee or joint committee have adopted or signed the report. Ex officio members of a House conference committee may electronically sign a conference committee report and shall count towards a majority of signatures as required by this paragraph; however, such ex officio members shall not be included when calculating the number of signatures required to constitute a majority of the membership of a House conference committee. (c) The House shall not consider a motion to adopt a Senate amendment, a House conference committee report, or a House joint Req. No. 12154 Page 63 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 committee report unless it is limited to matters germane to the bill or resolution. (d) A motion to adopt or reject a Senate amendment, conference committee report, or a joint committee report shall be subject to debate. Debate shall be limited to one (1) hour, equally divided between the proponents and the opponents of the motion, provided that no member may speak for more than ten (10) minutes. (e) If debate is requested and entertained on the question of adoption of a Senate amendment or a conference committee report, no further debate shall be permitted on Fourth Reading and final passage of the same measure. (f) If debate is requested and entertained on the question of adoption of a joint committee report, no further debate shall be permitted on Third Reading and final passage of the same measure. 8.22 – Transparency in Conference (a) A summary of the changes contained in a conference committee report shall be made available prior to consideration of the report by the House. (b) All conference committee reports whose adoption will have a fiscal impact shall be accompanied by a fiscal analysis. (c) A conference committee report may be considered for adoption only if said report has been published on the joint conference calendar one (1) legislative day before consideration of the report. Req. No. 12154 Page 64 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (d) A motion to reject a joint committee report with instructions or a motion to reject a conference committee report with instructions shall not be considered unless said instructions are electronically submitted to the Chief Clerk of the House prior to the time the principal House author of the measure is initially recognized to present the joint committee report or the conference committee report to the House of Representatives. RULE NINE CHAMBER PROTOCOL 9.1 – Daily Order of Business (a) The following Order of Business shall be followed each day: 1. Roll Call; 2. Prayer, the timing of which shall be left to the discretion of the Majority Floor Leader; 3. Inspirational Message by Chaplain on Thursday mornings, the timing of which shall be left to the discretion of the Majority Floor Leader; 4. Introduction of the Veteran of the Week on Monday mornings, the timing of which shall be left to the discretion of the Majority Floor Leader; 5. Pledge of Allegiance, the timing of which shall be left to the discretion of the Majority Floor Leader; Req. No. 12154 Page 65 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 6. Introduction of a Doctor and/or Nurse of the Day, the timing of which shall be left to the discretion of the Majority Floor Leader; 7. Correction of the Previous Day's Journal; 8. House and Senate Bills and Joint Resolutions on Second Reading, the timing of which shall be left to the discretion of the Majority Floor Leader; 9. Assignment or Reassignment of Bills and Resolutions, the timing of which shall be left to the discretion of the Majority Floor Leader; 10. Bills, Resolutions, Conference Committee Reports, and Joint Committee Reports scheduled by the Speaker of the House, or designee; and 11. Motions placing new business before the House. The Majority Floor Leader may schedule said motions at his or her discretion. (b) If no measure is pending before the House, the Presiding Officer shall give the Majority Floor Leader preference for recognition. 9.2 – Enforcement of House Rules, Order, and Decorum (a) The presiding officer shall enforce, apply, and interpret the Rules of the House in all deliberations. While in the Chamber, the presiding officer shall preserve order and decorum, shall prevent personal reflections or the impugning of the motive of any Req. No. 12154 Page 66 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 member, and shall at all times confine members to the question under discussion. (b) When two (2) or more members seek recognition at the same time, the presiding officer shall name the one entitled to the floor. The presiding officer shall not recognize any member who has risen or remains standing while another member is speaking. No member shall be entitled to be recognized to speak unless the member seeks recognition from the member's own desk. (c) On all questions relative to the transgression of these Rules, the presiding officer shall call the members to order. In such case the member so called to order shall sit down and shall not rise except to explain said member's actions or to proceed in order. (d) Any member may rise to a point of order against any other member when, in the member's opinion, such member is proceeding out of order. The member raising the point of order must cite the specific rule the member believes is in conflict. Such point of order shall be decided by the presiding officer without debate. (e) Any decision by the Speaker on a point of order is subject to an appeal to the House made in a timely manner by any member should the member or the House be aggrieved by such decision. Such appeal must be seconded by a minimum of one–fifteenth (1/15) of the membership of the House. Members desiring to second an appeal shall signify by rising. Req. No. 12154 Page 67 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (f) The question of an appeal shall be put in the following form: "The question is, shall the decision of the presiding officer be the decision of the House? All those in favor signify by voting 'Aye'; those opposed 'Nay'. The vote is now in progress." (g) All appeals shall be decided by a recorded vote and without debate, except that the member taking said appeal shall have one (1) minute within which to state the reasons for the member's appeal during which they cannot yield to questions and the Chair may state the reasons for the Chair's decision. The member’s appeal must relate to the decision in question and may not pertain to the merits of any matter or legislation not related to the decision of the Chair. (h) When a point of order is called, no member shall approach the presiding officer or the Chief Parliamentarian until after the presiding officer has ruled. If requested by the presiding officer, the Majority Floor Leader may confer with the presiding officer regarding matters not pertaining to the point of order. (i) The presiding officer shall not entertain points of order pertaining to the constitutionality of a measure itself nor shall the presiding officer entertain points of order pertaining to the constitutionality of a measure's title. (j) While a question is pending, Members are prohibited from referencing visitors in the House Gallery. Req. No. 12154 Page 68 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (k) The presiding officer may direct a Member's vote to be removed from the electronic voting machine if the Member is in breach of House Rules while the vote is open. 9.3 – Procedure (a) When the ayes and nays are ordered, the presiding officer shall put the question in the following form: "All those in favor signify by voting 'Aye'; those opposed 'Nay'. The vote is now in progress." (b) As governed by Rules 6.7(e), 7.6(d), 8.13, and 8.21(c), the House shall not consider in either session of the current Legislature any measure originating in the House of Representatives if said measure has been amended by the insertion of matter not germane to the subject of the bill or resolution. Points of order related to germaneness must be raised at the time the amendment is considered. 9.4 – Debate (a) Except as otherwise specifically provided in these Rules, when a debatable question is before the House, such debate shall be limited to fifteen (15) minutes, equally divided between the proponents and opponents of the question. Under no circumstances shall a member debate twice on the same question, nor shall any member speak longer than ten (10) minutes on the same question. (b) When a debatable question is before the House, any member may move that the time for debate on such question be extended. For Req. No. 12154 Page 69 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 adoption, such motion need only receive a majority of those voting, a quorum being present. (c) No member debating any question shall be interrupted by questions until said member has finished the member's remarks, and all time taken in asking and answering questions shall be deducted from the time allotted to said member. (d) Debate offered in the House of Representatives shall in all cases be directed to the presiding officer in the form of Mister or Madam Speaker as the case may be. 9.5 – Privileges (a) Questions and motions of privilege shall be: First, those affecting the rights of the House collectively, its safety, dignity, and the integrity of its proceedings; Second, the right, reputation, and conduct of its members individually in their representative capacity only, and shall have precedence over all other questions, except motions to adjourn. (b) No member who obtains the floor on a question of personal privilege, or on a question of privileges of the House, shall debate any question, matter, or measure then pending in the House, or in any standing or special committee of the House, nor shall the member be allowed to yield the floor for questions from other members. 9.6 – Voting and Division (a) The electronic voting machine shall be used to record the vote whenever the ayes and nays are required or ordered. The Req. No. 12154 Page 70 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 machine shall also be used to determine the presence of a quorum or to determine the numerical count where a division is requested and ordered. In the event the machine is not operating properly, all votes and determinations of quorums may be taken by calling the roll. If a member's voting device is out of order, the member shall rise and so announce to the presiding officer and cast said member's vote orally prior to the declaration of the result of the vote. Every member shall vote providing the member is in the Chamber at the time the vote is in progress. (b) The electronic voting machine shall be under the control of the presiding officer and shall be operated by such clerk as the presiding officer so designates. At a reasonable time prior to any vote being taken, the presiding officer shall announce that a vote is about to be taken. When any member other than the Speaker is presiding, the member shall use the roll call switch located at the presiding officer's position upon the dais. When the Speaker is not presiding, the Speaker may direct the presiding officer to activate the Speaker's roll call switch in the manner requested by the Speaker. Any member who is present in the Chamber or is within the view of the presiding officer while a vote is in progress may direct another member to activate said member's roll call switch in the manner requested by that member or may use the designated electronic voting station. The presiding officer, while a vote is in progress, may at his or her discretion, direct the clerk to activate another Req. No. 12154 Page 71 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 member’s roll call switch if the member is within the view of the presiding officer while a vote is in progress. (c) When sufficient time has elapsed for each member to vote, the presiding officer shall ask if any members present desire to vote or change their vote. Following such inquiry and before the electronic voting machine is locked, any member may be excused from voting, pursuant to the provisions of Article V, Section 24 of the Oklahoma Constitution. (d) The presiding officer shall then lock the machine and instruct the clerk to record the vote. The clerk shall immediately activate the recording equipment and, when the vote is completely recorded, shall advise the presiding officer of the result, and the presiding officer shall announce the result to the House. No vote may be changed after it has been recorded. (e) No member may vote for another member, nor may any person cast a vote for a member, except as otherwise provided in this rule. A member who votes for another member, except as herein provided, may be punished in a manner the House determines. A person voting for a member, when not authorized by this rule, shall be barred from the Chamber and may be further punished as the House considers proper. (f) When a division is requested and ordered, those in the affirmative or the negative, as the case may be, shall cast their votes accordingly and the clerk shall activate the electronic voting Req. No. 12154 Page 72 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 machine so as to reflect the individual ayes and nays and the numerical count, but no permanent record thereof shall be made. When the vote is completed, the clerk shall advise the presiding officer of the result, and the presiding officer shall announce the result to the House. In the event the machine is not operating properly, those in the affirmative shall arise from their seats and stand until they are counted aloud by the clerk, then those voting in the negative shall arise and stand until they are counted, and the presiding officer shall announce the result. (g) Except as provided in Rule 8.20 (b), all votes on final passage of bills and resolutions, or the emergency clause thereof, shall be by recorded votes. One–fifteenth (1/15) of the members present, a quorum being present, may demand a recorded vote on any proposition, or the presiding officer may order a recorded vote upon the presiding officer's own initiative. All such recorded votes shall be published in the House Journal. 9.7 – Conduct During Voting (a) While a vote is in progress and until the completion of a vote, and the announcement of the result, no member shall be recognized and no other business shall be transacted. (b) No explanation of any vote shall be permitted while a vote is in progress or after a vote has been cast, except pursuant to Article V, Section 24, of the Oklahoma Constitution. Req. No. 12154 Page 73 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (c) No member, House employee, or other person shall visit or remain by the Reading Clerk or his or her assistant while a vote is in progress. 9.8 – Previous Question When a debatable question is before the House, any member may move the Previous Question. It shall be put in the following form: "The Previous Question has been moved. The Question is, shall the House cease debate and vote immediately on the pending question?" If the motion for the Previous Question passes, the pending question shall be put immediately and no member shall be heard to debate it further or seek to amend it. 9.9 – Motion to Advance Question When a debatable question is before the House, any member may move to Advance the Question. If the motion to Advance the Question passes, no further amendments to the matter considered shall be allowed and debate shall be limited to fifteen (15) minutes, equally divided between the proponents and opponents of the question, provided that no member may speak for more than five (5) minutes. After debate is concluded, the question shall be put immediately. 9.10 – Reconsideration (a) The final vote on Third Reading or Fourth Reading on any bill or joint resolution, or on the emergency clause thereof, or the final vote on adoption of a simple or concurrent resolution, may be reconsidered only if a member serves notice immediately after such Req. No. 12154 Page 74 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 final vote is taken prior to the consideration of any other business, of said member's intention to present a motion to reconsider such action, and the presiding officer shall afford any member such opportunity prior to proceeding to consideration of any other business. (b) Unless presented and considered within three (3) legislative days, including the day upon which notice is served, a motion to reconsider shall be considered as having failed of adoption and the measure shall be treated as if the notice had never been lodged. (c) A motion to reconsider may be offered immediately or upon the same day the final vote is taken by the member who served notice, or by another member with said member's consent. On the last day of the reconsideration period, any member may seek recognition for a motion to reconsider. (d) Motions to reconsider shall be disposed of before the close of business on the last day of the time period specified for Third Reading and final passage for House and Senate measures. (e) On the last day of the time period specified for Third Reading and final passage for House and Senate measures, a motion to reconsider, lodged either upon that same day or upon the two (2) prior legislative days, may be offered by any member upon being recognized for such motion by the presiding officer. Req. No. 12154 Page 75 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (f) On any day established as a deadline in Joint Rule 7, no motion to reconsider shall be recognized except immediately after a final vote is taken and prior to the consideration of any other business. A member may move to reconsider which motion shall be taken up immediately. (g) For adoption, a motion to reconsider must receive a majority vote of those elected to and constituting the House. Only one (1) reconsideration of the final vote on a bill, resolution, or emergency clause shall be allowed. Except as otherwise specifically provided in Rule 8.15, no question shall be subject to reconsideration in the House. 9.11 – Measures Vetoed By The Governor (a) When a bill or joint resolution is returned to the House because of a veto by the Governor, a motion to vote to override the veto shall be in order. (b) A motion to vote to override a veto by the Governor is debatable. Such debate shall be limited to thirty (30) minutes, equally divided between the proponents and opponents of the question; provided, that no member may speak for more than ten (10) minutes. (c) Prior to consideration of a motion to override the Governor’s veto, if the returned bill or joint resolution was accompanied by a message of explanation, such message shall be Req. No. 12154 Page 76 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 published to the House of Representatives as determined by the presiding officer. 9.12 – Quorum (a) At any time during the daily sessions of the House, a member recognized by the presiding officer may raise a question as to the presence of a quorum. If the presiding officer cannot ascertain whether or not there is a quorum, he or she shall, without debate, forthwith direct that the electronic voting machine be activated to determine the presence or absence of a quorum, and shall announce the result. (b) Whenever it shall be ascertained that a quorum is not present, the members present may, by motion adopted by a majority of those voting, direct the Chief Sergeant at Arms to request and, if necessary, to compel the presence of absent members, which motion shall be considered without debate. Pending its execution and until a quorum shall be present, no motion or debate, except to adjourn to a day and time certain, shall be in order. RULE TEN MOTIONS 10.1 – Precedence of Motions Pending questions shall rank in precedence as set forth below in paragraphs (a) through (e) of this section. Questions or motions not listed in this section shall be treated in the same manner as other motions of the same class. Req. No. 12154 Page 77 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (a) Privileged Motions Call of the House, quorum not present (not amendable – not debatable; see Rule 10.5(c); not subject to motion to table) To adjourn (not amendable – not debatable; see Rule 12.1 (b); not subject to motion to table) To adjourn to a time certain (amendable – not debatable; not subject to motion to table) To recess (amendable – not debatable; not subject to motion to table) (b) Questions of Privilege Questions and motions of privilege (as governed by Rule 9.5; subject to motion to table) Call of the House, quorum present (not amendable – debatable; see Rule 10.5; subject to motion to table) To work under the Call of the House (not amendable – debatable; see Rule 10.5; subject to motion to table) Question of presence of quorum (not amendable – debatable; subject to motion to table) (c) Incidental Motions Appeals (not amendable – not debatable, except as governed by Rule 9.2; subject to motion to table) Points of Order (not amendable – not debatable; not subject to motion to table) Req. No. 12154 Page 78 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Parliamentary inquiries or like requests for information (not amendable – not debatable; not subject to motion to table) Requests for leave to withdraw a motion or question under consideration (not amendable – not debatable; see Rule 10.4; not subject to motion to table) Suspension of the Rules (not amendable – not debatable; not subject to motion to table) Objection to consideration of a question (not amendable – not debatable; not subject to motion to table) Divide the Question (amendable – not debatable; subject to the motion to table) Method of consideration (amendable – not debatable; not subject to motion to table) Question of priority (not amendable – not debatable; not subject to motion to table) Reading of papers (not amendable – not debatable; not subject to motion to table) (d) Subsidiary Motions To advance from General Order (not amendable – not debatable; not subject to motion to table) To table (not amendable – not debatable; not subject to itself) To put the previous question (not amendable – not debatable; the motion to put the previous question is applicable to all debatable questions regardless of rank; subject to motion to table) Req. No. 12154 Page 79 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 To Advance the Question (not amendable – not debatable; subject to motion to table) To extend time allocated for debate (amendable – not debatable; subject to motion to table) To postpone to a time certain (amendable – debatable; not subject to motion to table) To commit without instructions (not amendable – not debatable, except as to propriety of committing bill, resolution or main question; not subject to motion to table) To amend (amendable – debatable; subject to motion to table) To postpone indefinitely (not amendable – debatable; subject to motion to table) (e) Main Motions A main motion shall be defined as a substantive proposal such as a bill, resolution, or any other question which requires passage, adoption, rejection, approval, or disapproval by the House of Representatives. Main questions include but are not limited to the following and shall rank in precedence as set forth below. All main motions shall be subject to motion to table. To fix the date and time to adjourn sine die (amendable – debatable) To reconsider (not amendable – debatable) To rescind (not amendable – debatable) Req. No. 12154 Page 80 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 To adopt a Senate amendment (not amendable – debatable) To reject a Senate amendment (not amendable – debatable) To reject a Senate amendment with instructions (not amendable – instructions not amendable – debatable) To adopt a conference committee report/joint committee report (not amendable – debatable) To reject a conference committee report/joint committee report (not amendable – debatable) To reject a conference committee report/joint committee report with instructions (not amendable – instructions not amendable – debatable) To commit with instructions (instructions amendable – debatable) To override the veto of the Governor (not amendable – debatable) To schedule a special order (amendable only as to time – debatable only as to question of setting the special order – measure itself not open to debate) Any other main question not specifically listed shall be taken up in the order offered. 10.2 – Motions in Writing Every motion shall be rendered in writing as ordered by the presiding officer and may be read by the clerk before debate or vote if so ordered by the presiding officer. All motions shall be put by the presiding officer prior to debate and prior to ordering the vote. Req. No. 12154 Page 81 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 10.3 – Vote Required for Adoption of Motions Except as otherwise specifically required by these Rules, or required by the Oklahoma Constitution, any motion, for adoption, need only receive a majority of those voting, a quorum being present. 10.4 – Withdrawal of Motions (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, prior to commencement of debate thereon, or prior to action being taken thereon if there be no debate, any motion may be withdrawn by the member offering the motion. Otherwise, such motion may be withdrawn only upon adoption of a motion to withdraw. (b) When a bill or resolution is under consideration within the House, the principal author or the member designated to present the bill or resolution on behalf of the principal author may withdraw said measure at any time prior to the vote being ordered on final passage of the bill or resolution. 10.5 – Call of the House (a) Call of the House may be moved at any time by any member, but must be seconded by fifteen (15) members. If there are more than three–fourths (3/4) of the House present at the time the motion is made, the motion must be seconded by thirty (30) members. If such motion prevails, the business pending shall be suspended, the roll shall be taken, and the names of the absentees ascertained. The Chief Sergeant at Arms shall then be directed by the presiding Req. No. 12154 Page 82 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 officer to compel the attendance of the absent members. After one (1) hour has expired, the roll shall again be taken and absent members noted in the Journal, and the business suspended upon the roll call shall proceed. If, however, before the expiration of the hour, all absent members, not otherwise excused, shall appear, the business pending shall then proceed. (b) If a Call of the House be ordered, a motion to "work under the Call of the House" shall be in order and, if adopted, the House shall proceed with any other business at hand except that interrupted by a Call of the House. (c) The Speaker, seconded by five (5) members, may move a Call of the House and send for absent members, provided there not be a quorum present. In all cases where an absent member shall be sent for and fails to attend in obedience to the summons, the report of the Chief Sergeant at Arms shall be entered in the Journal. RULE ELEVEN GENERAL PROVISIONS 11.1 – Investigations (a) No special committee established for the purpose of considering articles of impeachment or any other type of investigation shall be formed unless first authorized by a House resolution or by the Speaker. (b) If authorized by House resolution, the resolution shall define the duties and time period during which the committee shall Req. No. 12154 Page 83 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 exist. Any member or members requesting the investigation shall not serve as chairperson of the special committee. (c) Special committees established under this section shall, upon convening, adopt such rules and procedures as shall be determined by the committee to be in the best interest of the House of Representatives. 11.2 – Distribution Within House of Representatives (a) No object or item of literature shall be distributed on the House Floor in anticipation of or while the House is meeting in session except upon the sponsorship of a member of the House of Representatives whose name shall appear on each individual object or item of literature to be distributed. (b) All objects or items of literature distributed within the areas of the Capitol Building assigned to the House of Representatives shall display the name of the person or entity distributing such materials. (c) The selling of goods or services is prohibited in the areas of the Capitol building assigned to the House of Representatives except as authorized by the Speaker or designee. 11.3 – Honorary Appointments No honorary appointments shall be recorded in the House Journal. 11.4 – Lobbying (a) All lobbying activities directed at the House shall be governed by Title 74, Section 4249 through 4255 of the Oklahoma Req. No. 12154 Page 84 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Statutes and such other applicable rules lawfully promulgated by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. (b) No monetary contributions shall be accepted by any member or his or her staff on Capitol property at any time. 11.5 – Designated Smoking Areas No person shall smoke or vape within those parts of the Capitol Building assigned to the House. 11.6 – Members of the Press No persons shall be admitted to the designated press area in the House Gallery except members, House staff authorized by the Speaker, members of the press bearing permits signed by the Speaker, or designee, and the chairpersons of the Capitol Press organizations and guests with the written permission of the Speaker and the chairpersons of the Capitol Press organizations. 11.7 – Legislative Records (a) Records that are required to be created by these Rules or that are of vital, permanent, or archival value shall be maintained in the Office of the Chief Clerk. (b) Other records that are no longer needed for any purpose and that do not have sufficient administrative, legal, or fiscal significance to warrant their retention shall be disposed of systematically. Req. No. 12154 Page 85 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (c) A digital recording shall be made of each day’s session by the Office of the Chief Clerk which shall be compiled and stored on a digital device suitable for archival purposes. (d) The committee staff assigned to each existing committee shall ensure compliance with this Rule for all records created or received by the committee or for a former committee whose jurisdiction has been assigned to the committee. (e) The Speaker and all House officers under the direction of the Speaker shall ensure compliance with this Rule for all records created or received by their respective offices and their predecessors in office. (f) All records required by Rule 7 shall be made available on the House website at least for the duration of the Session. (g) Members shall submit a written request to the Chief Clerk and Chief Parliamentarian to have the House Journal reflect a Member's voting intention within one legislative day of the original vote. 11.8 – Technical Corrections (a) The Office of Engrossing and Enrolling is authorized to correct misspelled words, citations, doublets, grammatical errors, or repeated words when engrossing House bills or joint resolutions, or House amendments to engrossed Senate bills or joint resolutions. (b) When engrossing or enrolling House bills or joint resolutions, preparing House amendments to engrossed Senate bills or Req. No. 12154 Page 86 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 joint resolutions, and when preparing committee reports, the House staff is authorized to: 1. remove sections from a bill or joint resolution labeled as amendatory but which consist entirely of existing law and contain no amendments to the existing law; 2. incorporate amendments to sections of law in the bill or joint resolution which are contained in legislation enacted previously during the same legislature and amending the same sections of law and repeal such previous versions of the section at issue if, in the opinion of the House legal staff, the incorporation of such amendments and repeal of the previous version would clearly not conflict with the amendments contained in the legislation at issue; 3. modify sections of such measures which provide for a measure to become effective on July 1 or on a date earlier than ninety (90) days after the date of anticipated sine die adjournment to read to reflect an effective date of ninety (90) days after the date of actual sine die adjournment, or to delete such sections, if the emergency clause has failed to receive the required number of votes for passage; 4. delete language in such sections of such measures which provide for a measure to become effective on a date prior to such engrossment or enrollment; Req. No. 12154 Page 87 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 5. modify the effective date of carry over bills by striking the effective date; and 6. draft a referendum clause and ballot title if a measure is deemed a Revenue Raising measure pursuant to Rule 6.11 and is adopted but fails to receive a three–fourths (3/4) vote in both Chambers. 11.9 – Convening Restrictions No legislative day shall begin between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 8:00 a.m. on any calendar day. 11.10 – Security Upon convening in regular or special session, no member of the House of Representatives, without the express permission of the Chief Sergeant at Arms, shall enter upon the roof of the Capitol building within the areas adjacent to the hall of the House. 11.11 – Utilization of House Resources Caucuses, other than the Majority and Minority Caucuses, must register with the Chief Clerk if they use any House resources. Such registration shall include a listing of all members and invited guests of the Caucus and their organizational documents. The Chief Sergeant shall be notified, in advance, if invited guests will be attending any caucus functions. RULE TWELVE ADJOURNMENT OR RECESS 12.1 – Motion to Adjourn or Recess Req. No. 12154 Page 88 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (a) When a motion to adjourn or recess is adopted, no member or officer shall leave said member's or officer's place until the adjournment or recess shall be declared by the presiding officer. (b) When the House adjourns it shall be to 1:30 p.m. of the succeeding legislative day unless another day and/or hour be specifically named, which day and/or hour shall be entered in the Journal. (c) A motion to adjourn or recess shall always be in order when the floor can be obtained for that purpose. When a vote is being taken, a motion to adjourn or recess shall not be in order. When it is apparent to the presiding officer that the motion to adjourn or recess is being made for the purpose of delay and such motion has been voted in the negative, within the next preceding ten (10) minutes, the presiding officer, in the discretion of the presiding officer, may rule the motion out of order as being dilatory. (d) In the event of fire, riot, or other extreme emergency, if the presiding officer believes taking the time for a vote on recessing or adjourning would be dangerous to those present, the presiding officer may declare the House recessed or adjourned to a call of the chair. (e) A legislative day shall be adjourned no later than 12:00 midnight of the calendar day that it began. 12.2 – Absence of a Quorum Req. No. 12154 Page 89 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 In the absence of a quorum, the Speaker with three (3) members shall be a sufficient number to adjourn to a time certain. 12.3 – Sine Die Adjournment (a) The date and time of sine die adjournment of each Regular Session of the Legislature shall be established by motion or resolution except that Regular Session shall be finally adjourned sine die at 5:00 p.m. on the last Friday in May of each year by operation of the Oklahoma Constitution. Upon arrival of 5:00 p.m. on the last Friday in May, no further business shall be conducted by the House and the presiding officer shall declare the House adjourned sine die. (b) A Special or Extraordinary Session shall be finally adjourned sine die no later than the fifteenth day succeeding the General Election unless the date and time of sine die adjournment shall be otherwise established by motion or resolution at an earlier date and time. RULE THIRTEEN INTERIM STUDIES 13.1 – Interim Studies (a) When the Legislature is not in session, the Speaker shall have the authority to direct committees to make interim studies for such purposes as the Speaker may designate. (b) The Speaker shall provide to the Chief Clerk of the House a copy of interim charges made to a standing or select committee. Req. No. 12154 Page 90 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (c) The committees shall meet as often as necessary to transact effectively the business assigned to them and may continue to exercise the oversight and investigatory powers granted in Rule 7.13. 13.2 – Requests for Interim Studies No resolution requesting or authorizing an interim study of any matter or proposition by the House, or a committee thereof, shall be introduced in or considered by the House. All such requests for interim study shall be submitted on request forms available to any member in the office of the Chief Clerk of the House. 13.3 – Quorum During a legislative interim, no committee shall take any final action unless a quorum of the membership of the committee is present. 13.4 – Meeting Notice During a legislative interim, published notice of any interim committee meeting shall be given at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting. The staff of the House shall publish the meeting notices required by this section. The ten–day notice requirement of this section shall not apply to a committee or subcommittee meeting with a Senate committee or subcommittee on an interim study assigned for joint study. RULE FOURTEEN RULES Req. No. 12154 Page 91 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 14.1 – Suspension or Amendment of Rules (a) These Rules may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those elected to and constituting the House; provided, any amendment to the Rules recommended by the Committee on Rules shall be effective if approved by a majority of the members elected to and constituting the House. (b) If the Committee on Rules shall recommend revisions or amendments to the Rules, the House shall be given one (1) day's prior notice before consideration of the recommended changes may commence. (c) Two-thirds (2/3) of the members elected to and constituting the House may suspend the Rules, or a portion thereof, but a motion for that purpose shall be decided without debate. The motion shall include the specific rule to be suspended. 14.2 – Parliamentary Authorities Any parliamentary questions not provided for by the Oklahoma Constitution or these Rules shall be governed by the ruling of the Speaker. The Speaker shall publish these substantive rulings in a volume of precedents. In making his or her ruling, the Speaker may rely upon, but is not bound by, these published rulings or other parliamentary authorities, including, but not limited to, the latest edition of Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure. 14.3 – Rules Effective Req. No. 12154 Page 92 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (a) These Rules shall be in full force and effect for the duration of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature unless amended, as provided herein. (b) Upon convening for a Special or Extraordinary Session, the time constraints in Rule 8.8 for filing main floor amendments and amendments to main floor amendments shall not be applicable. 60-1-12154 MAH 01/02/25

Resolution ENROLLED HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 1002 By: Hilbert, Lawson, Bashore, West (Tammy), Pfeiffer, Cantrell, Pae, Archer, Hill, Kannady, Stinson, Fetgatter, Moore, Harris, Gise, Kerbs, Ford, Boles, West (Kevin), Banning, Osburn, Grego, Hardin, Newton, Duel, Kane, Johns, Dempsey, Luttrell, Patzkowsky, Caldwell (Trey), Miller, Burns, and Strom A Resolution relating to the Rules of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 60TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE: STATEMENT OF AUTHORITY Pursuant to Article V, Section 30 of the Oklahoma Constitution, the Oklahoma House of Representatives adopts the following rules to govern its operations and procedures. The provisions of these rules shall be deemed the only requirements binding upon the House of Representatives under Article V, Section 30 of the Oklahoma Constitution, notwithstanding any other requirements expressed in statute. RULE ONE DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE SPEAKER 1.1 – Convening ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 2 (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) and (c) of this section, the Speaker of the House, or designee, shall convene the House of Representatives on the day and at the hour to which the House was adjourned on the previous legislative day. (b) Upon taking the chair, the Speaker shall call the House to order and, except in the absence of a quorum, proceed under the customary categories of legislative business set forth in these rules. (c) The Speaker is authorized to convene the House other than the time the House adjourned to, in times of necessity, as determined by the Speaker. (d) The Speaker may designate any other member of the House to serve as the presiding officer, but such designation shall not last beyond that day’s adjournment. 1.2 – Voting Rights of the Presiding Officer The Speaker shall have the same right as other members to vote. On all questions on which ayes and nays are taken, the Speaker shall vote under the title “Speaker”. 1.3 – Preservation of Order and Decorum (a) The Speaker shall preserve order and decorum. In case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct in the Hall of the House of Representatives or in other areas of the Capitol assigned to the House, the Speaker shall have the power to order the Hall of the House of Representatives or areas of the Capitol assigned to the House to be cleared or direct any other action necessary to preserve order and decorum. (b) Appearances or presentations by school or other groups shall not be permitted on the floor of the House during legislative deadline weeks, except as authorized by the Speaker. 1.4 – Referral of Legislation (a) All proposed legislation, as governed by Rule 8.3 (b), if not referred directly to the General Order category of the House Calendar, shall be referred by the Speaker to an appropriate standing or special committee. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 3 (b) Prior to the time a bill or resolution is taken up for consideration by a committee or subcommittee, the Speaker may reassign such bill or resolution. 1.5 – Speaker to Sign Bills, Resolutions, and Papers (a) The Speaker, or a member of the House designated by the Speaker, shall sign all bills and resolutions passed by the Legislature. 1. The signatures required by this section shall be executed either by physical signature or by electronic signature as determined by the Speaker. 2. The certifications required by this section shall be made while the House is in session and shall be made a matter of record in the House Journal. (b) The Speaker shall sign all subpoenas, warrants, writs, vouchers for expenditures chargeable to the House, contracts binding upon the House, or other papers issued by the House. The Speaker may delegate the authority to sign papers authorizing payments and other papers of an administrative nature. 1.6 – Authorization of Counsel (a) The Speaker may authorize or engage legal counsel on behalf of the House, a committee of the House, a member, or former member of the House in his or her legal capacity as a member, or an officer, employee or agent of the House in their official capacity when the Speaker determines that such action would be in the best interest of the House of Representatives. In compliance with the requirements contained in paragraph (b) of this section, expenses incurred for legal services authorized by these Rules may be paid upon approval of the Speaker. (b) If a claim arising from allegations of unlawful discrimination, as defined in federal law, is made against the House of Representatives itself or against a committee of the House, a member, or former member of the House in his or her legal capacity as a member, or an officer, employee, or agent of the House in their official capacity, the Speaker shall not enter into a settlement agreement on behalf of the House that requires the expenditure of House funds in excess of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 4 without first receiving the approval of a committee appointed pursuant to Rule 1.8. 1.7 – Supervision of the House (a) The Speaker shall have general supervision over the Hall of the House and the areas of the Capitol Building assigned to the House of Representatives. (b) The Speaker shall assign committee rooms to the various standing, special, joint, and standing conference committees. (c) The Speaker may reserve a portion of the gallery for former members of the House, former members of the Senate, and the families of members of the House and their guests. 1.8 – Standing, Special, and Joint Committees (a) The Speaker shall create, abolish, and establish the jurisdiction of all standing committees, oversight committees, policy committees, special committees, and subcommittees of the House of Representatives. (b) The Speaker shall appoint the chairpersons and vice– chairpersons of all standing committees, oversight committees, policy committees, special committees, and subcommittees of the House of Representatives and shall appoint the co–chairpersons and co–vice–chairpersons from the House for any joint committees of the Legislature. (c) The Speaker shall appoint the membership of all standing committees, oversight committees, policy committees, special committees, and subcommittees of the House of Representatives and shall appoint the members constituting the House’s delegation to any joint committees of the Legislature. (d) All chairpersons, co–chairpersons, vice–chairpersons, co– vice–chairpersons, and members of any House committee, subcommittee, or joint committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Speaker. (e) The Speaker shall be an ex officio voting member of all standing, oversight, policy, special, and joint committees. (f) The Speaker shall have the authority to release a measure from the jurisdiction of a policy committee and assign the measure ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 5 to the Rules Committee. If the Speaker releases and assigns a measure pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph, the measure shall not be re-assigned to a policy committee except upon the express written approval of the Speaker which approval shall be communicated to the Chair of the Rules Committee. 1.9 – Conference Committees (a) The Speaker shall create, abolish, and establish the jurisdiction of all standing and special conference committees of the House of Representatives. (b) Upon creation of a conference committee, the Speaker shall appoint the chairperson, vice–chairperson, and membership of the conference committee. (c) The Speaker shall be an ex officio voting member of all conference committees. RULE TWO SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE 2.1 – Convening (a) In the absence of the Speaker, the Speaker Pro Tempore, as presiding officer, shall convene the House of Representatives on the day and at the hour to which the House was adjourned on the previous legislative day. (b) Upon taking the chair, the Speaker Pro Tempore shall call the House to order and, except in the absence of a quorum, proceed under the order of business adopted by the House. (c) In the absence of the Speaker, the Speaker Pro Tempore may designate any other member of the House to serve as the presiding officer, but such designation shall not last beyond that day’s adjournment. 2.2 – Duties (a) The Speaker Pro Tempore shall perform the duties of Speaker in the absence of the Speaker. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 6 (b) The Speaker Pro Tempore shall be an ex officio voting member of all standing, oversight, policy, special, and joint committees. (c) The Speaker Pro Tempore shall be an ex officio voting member of all conference committees. 2.3 – Succession (a) If, while the House is meeting in regular or special session, the office of Speaker becomes vacant fifteen (15) calendar days or more prior to the date of sine die adjournment, the Speaker Pro Tempore shall serve as Acting Speaker of the House until a new Speaker is elected, which election shall be set by the Acting Speaker and shall be carried out no later than fifteen (15) calendar days after the day of the vacancy. If the office of Speaker becomes vacant less than fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the date of sine die adjournment, the Speaker Pro Tempore shall accede to the office of Speaker of the House continuing as Speaker until the conclusion of the present term of office, as established in 14 O.S., Section 145, unless the House shall decide otherwise by electing another member Speaker of the House pursuant to Article V, Section 29 of the Oklahoma Constitution. In the event the office of Speaker becomes vacant after the organizational session required in Article V, Section 26 of the Oklahoma Constitution but before the first Monday in February of the same year, no election for the office of Speaker shall be held prior to the time the House convenes at twelve o'clock noon on the first Monday in February. (b) When only acting as Speaker pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, the Speaker Pro Tempore shall not exercise the powers of appointment provided to a Speaker of the House by statute or by House or Joint Rule and shall not be considered the Speaker of the House within the meaning of Article VI, Section 15 of the Oklahoma Constitution establishing the line of succession to the Governor. Upon accession to the office of Speaker of the House, under paragraph (a) of this section, the Speaker Pro Tempore shall take the oath of office as Speaker of the House and shall file said oath with the office of the Secretary of State and shall be authorized to exercise all authority granted to the Speaker of the House under law or by House or Joint Rule including, but not limited to, the powers of appointment and inclusion in the line of succession to the office of Governor as provided by Article VI, Section 15 of the Oklahoma Constitution. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 7 (c) If the House is not meeting in regular or special session and the office of Speaker becomes vacant due to death or resignation, the Speaker Pro Tempore shall become Speaker of the House and shall be authorized to exercise all authority granted to the Speaker of the House under law or by House or Joint Rule including, but not limited to, the powers of appointment and inclusion in the line of succession to the office of Governor as provided by Article VI, Section 15 of the Oklahoma Constitution. (d) Upon accession to the office of Speaker of the House under paragraph (c) of this section, the member in so doing shall continue as Speaker until such time as the House convenes for the first legislative day of the next regular or special session, or until the conclusion of the present term of office, as established in 14 O.S., Section 145, whichever occurs first, unless earlier removed from office under the provisions of 51 O.S., Section 24.1. (e) The Speaker Pro Tempore, upon becoming Speaker of the House by operation of paragraph (c) of this section, shall take the oath of office as Speaker of the House and shall file said oath with the office of the Secretary of State. (f) If the Speaker shall become incapable of performing the duties pertaining to the office of Speaker of the House for reasons other than death or resignation, when the House is not meeting in regular or special session, the powers and duties of the Speaker of the House shall be discharged by the Speaker Pro Tempore as Acting Speaker until the incapacity shall cease. When acting as Speaker pursuant to this provision, the Speaker Pro Tempore shall not exercise the Speaker's powers of appointment nor shall the Speaker Pro Tempore be included in the line of succession to the office of Governor, as provided by Article VI, Section 15 of the Oklahoma Constitution, unless he or she transmits a written declaration establishing the nature of the Speaker's incapacity to perform the duties of the office of Speaker of the House to the members of the House of Representatives and the Chief Clerk of the House. Upon receipt of such a written declaration, the Chief Clerk of the House shall notify the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Governor, and the Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Thereafter, when the elected Speaker transmits to the Speaker Pro Tempore and the Chief Clerk of the House his or her written declaration that no such incapacity exists, he or she shall resume the powers and duties of the office of Speaker of the House. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 8 (g) Regardless of whether the House is in session, whenever the elected Speaker transmits to the Speaker Pro Tempore and the Chief Clerk of the House a written declaration that he or she is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office of Speaker of the House, and until he or she transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Speaker Pro Tempore as Acting Speaker. Upon receipt of such a written declaration, the Chief Clerk of the House shall notify the members of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Governor, and the Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Thereafter, when the Speaker transmits to the Speaker Pro Tempore and the Chief Clerk of the House his or her written declaration that no inability exists, he or she shall resume the powers and duties of the office of Speaker of the House. When acting as Speaker pursuant to this provision, the Speaker Pro Tempore shall not exercise the Speaker's powers of appointment nor shall the Speaker Pro Tempore be included in the line of succession to the office of Governor, as provided by Article VI, Section 15 of the Oklahoma Constitution. RULE THREE HOUSE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES 3.1 – Employment by House (a) The Speaker shall employ and manage qualified personnel to staff the House of Representatives. All House employees work for and serve at the pleasure of the Speaker of the House. (b) The Speaker shall determine their qualifications, hours of work, and compensation, including benefits. (c) The Speaker has the right at any time to transfer any employee to another department or discharge any employee of the House without cause. 3.2 – Chief Clerk of the House (a) The Chief Clerk of the House, under direction of the Speaker, shall have general charge and supervision over the legislative procedure of the House. (b) The Chief Clerk of the House shall be responsible for: ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 9 1. publication of all House calendars and agendas; 2. publication of bills, resolutions, and amendments; 3. publication of standing committee reports, special committee reports, and conference committee reports; 4. preparation, indexing, and publication of electronic and tangible versions of the House Journal; 5. supervision of the processes for engrossment of House measures, enrollment of House measures, House amendments to Senate measures, presentment of House measures to the Governor, as authorized or required by law, and the filing of measures with the Secretary of State as authorized or required by law; 6. supervision of the House chamber during any period of time when the House is convened in Regular or Extraordinary Session, or during a period of recess or adjournment, including supervision of personnel responsible for maintaining security, order and decorum within the chamber or other areas under the control of the Oklahoma House of Representatives; 7. issuance of any subpoena or other process authorized pursuant to law, including, but not limited to, these Rules, which shall bear the seal of the Clerk of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and the filing of any return of service for any such process issued by the Chief Clerk; and 8. adopting such other procedures as are required for the orderly conduct of the legislative process of the Oklahoma House of Representatives unless such actions are expressly to be performed by some other person as provided in these Rules. (c) The Chief Clerk of the House shall have custody of and be responsible for the safekeeping of all bills and resolutions with respect to each Regular Session or Extraordinary Session of the Legislature. (d) All official papers, records, reports, testimony presented, and other materials belonging to the House shall be maintained by and entrusted to the care and custody of the Chief Clerk of the House. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 10 (e) Official copies of all bills and resolutions and other materials as designated by the Speaker shall not be removed from the Office of the Chief Clerk for any purpose except upon order of the Speaker. (f) Communications shall be prepared and signed by the Chief Clerk of the House under the direction of and in the name of the Speaker. (g) The Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives shall be the guardian of electronic signatures for the House of Representatives and shall be authorized to make determinations as to validity and authenticity of electronic signatures. (h) If transmitting bills, resolutions, or messages electronically to the Senate, Governor, or Secretary of State, the Chief Clerk of the House shall establish safeguards to protect against unauthorized users. 3.3 – Chief Sergeant At Arms (a) It shall be the duty of the Chief Sergeant at Arms to attend the House during each day's session, to maintain order under the direction of the presiding officer, and to execute the commands of the House. (b) The Chief Sergeant at Arms shall have charge of the Chamber during the sessions, and see that the Chamber is kept in order and at all times ready for use by the House. (c) The Chief Sergeant at Arms shall, fifteen (15) minutes before the House is to convene, clear the House Floor, anterooms of the House Floor, and House Lounge of all unauthorized persons, as defined in Rule 5, and shall see that no unauthorized persons enter said areas while the House is in session. 3.4 – Chief Parliamentarian (a) The Speaker of the House shall appoint a Chief Parliamentarian who shall assist the presiding officer in the making of parliamentary rulings. (b) The Chief Parliamentarian shall, at the direction of the Speaker, assist the Speaker in publishing a volume of substantive ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 11 parliamentary rulings and carry out other duties as directed by the Speaker. 3.5 – Chaplain A Chaplain shall attend the commencement of each day's session of the House, open the session with prayer, and may be allotted five (5) minutes during the Thursday session for the purpose of delivering remarks to the House. 3.6 – Pages The Speaker, or designee, shall promulgate rules and guidelines for the Page program. RULE FOUR MEMBERS 4.1 – Member Defined “Member”, as used in these Rules, means a member of the House of Representatives. 4.2 – Disclosure of Personal or Private Interest A member who has a personal or private interest in any bill or resolution, proposed, or pending before the House, shall disclose that fact to the House, and shall not vote on that bill or resolution, as required by Article V, Section 24 of the Oklahoma Constitution. 4.3 – Absence of Members No member shall be absent from the session of the House without leave. 4.4 – Decorum (a) No member rising to debate, to give notice, to make a motion, or to present a paper of any kind shall proceed until the member has addressed the presiding officer and has been recognized by the presiding officer as being entitled to the Floor. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 12 (b) While a member is speaking, no other member shall enter into any private conversation or pass between the speaking member and the presiding officer. (c) While a member is speaking, no other member shall enter into any private conversations or pass between the speaking member and the motion maker. (d) The presiding officer may enforce the provisions of House rules by naming the disruptive or disorderly member after requesting order in the Chamber. (e) Profane, obscene, or indecent language is prohibited in the House and in all committees, oversight committees, policy committees, and subcommittees of the House. (f) All members shall conduct themselves in a manner becoming a member of the House of Representatives. When the House is in session all members shall, while in the Chamber or Gallery, be appropriately dressed. Members shall wear appropriate professional business attire; male members shall wear suitcoats, slacks, and ties. No member shall wear jeans, denim pants, t-shirts as outerwear, non–religious head coverings, ascots, hoodies, or hats in the House Chamber while the House is in session. (g) Any member who, while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, appears in the Chamber or in any part of the Capitol Building assigned to the House, shall be in contempt of the House and subject to reprimand, suspension, or expulsion. (h) Possession of intoxicating liquor shall not be permitted at any time in the Chamber or in any part of the Capitol Building assigned to the House. (i) Use of tobacco products, including smoking, dipping, or sniffing snuff, shall not be permitted at any time in the Chamber, as governed by Rule 11.5. (j) No food, including canned or bottled beverages, shall be allowed at any time in the Chamber while the House is in session. Food may be consumed in the lounge and foyer at the west end of the Chamber. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 13 (k) Video recordings or broadcasts, other than those captured by the House or at the discretion of the Speaker, by Members shall be prohibited on the House Floor while the House is in session. (l) Sitting on chamber desks shall be prohibited. 4.5 – Service of Process Upon being presented with any service of legal process pertaining to the House of Representatives itself or to an individual member of the House of Representatives in his or her official capacity, the member or employee so approached shall inform the Speaker of the House and the House General Counsel prior to attempting to respond. RULE FIVE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR AND THE ANTEROOMS 5.1 – Floor Privileges (a) The following persons shall be entitled to privileges of the Floor when the House is in session: 1. members of the House; 2. members of the Senate; 3. former members of the House except as otherwise provided in Section 5.3 of this Rule; 4. the Governor, except during consideration of a motion to override the veto of the Governor; 5. employees of the House and Senate as designated by the Speaker; and 6. children or grandchildren of members for the purpose only of introduction from the member’s desk. (b) Except as permitted in paragraph (a) of this section, no other person, except upon formal invitation by the House of Representatives, shall enter upon the Floor when the House is convened in session. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 14 (c) The Speaker may revoke the floor privileges for any persons granted privileges by paragraphs (a) and (b) except for members of the House. 5.2 – Anterooms of the House Chamber (a) While the House is in session, no persons other than those entitled to privileges of the Floor, members of the immediate families of House members, and House employees authorized by the Speaker shall be admitted to the House Lounge and anteroom located at the west end of the House Floor or into the anteroom located at the east end of the House Floor, except at the express invitation of a member, provided the member is present. (b) The Speaker may prescribe additional policies restricting use of the House Lounge and any rooms adjoining the lounge or the House Chamber. (c) Only a person born as a biological female shall be allowed into any restroom facility which is designated for female members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, except as authorized for the operations of the House. 5.3 – Former Members (a) Except as authorized by the Speaker, no former member of the House or Senate who is an officer or employee in the executive branch of state government or who is registered or required to be registered as a lobbyist under the Ethics Commission Act or who is professionally advocating on behalf of an organization shall be entitled to privileges of the Floor when the House is convened in session. (b) No former member when present on the House Floor pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section shall attempt to influence the passage or failure of any pending motion or legislation. 5.4 – House Parking When the House is convened in regular or special session, no registered lobbyist under the Ethics Commission Act shall be permitted to park in the parking areas of the Capitol grounds allocated to the House of Representatives. 5.5 – House Gallery ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 15 When the House is in session, no person, unless authorized by the Speaker, shall remain standing while in the Gallery. RULE SIX BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS 6.1 – Definition of the Term “Bill” The term “bill”, as used in these Rules, shall mean proposed legislation which in order to become law must pass through the Legislature according to the procedures established by the Oklahoma Constitution, including consideration by the Governor. The term shall include proposed laws of a general nature and proposed special or local laws. The procedures of these Rules applicable to the introduction and passage of bills shall also apply to the introduction and passage of joint resolutions. 6.2 – Filing Deadline (a) The filing deadlines for introduction of bills and joint resolutions shall be established in consultation between the House of Representatives and the Senate. (b) Legislative deadlines previously agreed to by the House of Representatives shall be inapplicable to: 1. measures which propose a special or local law as governed by Section 6.10 of this Rule; 2. measures authored by the chairpersons and vice–chairpersons of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee which affect the receipt, expenditure, or budgeting of state funds or funds under the control of an entity created by state law; or 3. measures authored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and which are deemed by them to be necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, and safety; 4. measures authored by the chairpersons and vice–chairpersons of the House Redistricting Committee and the Senate Redistricting Committee which affect the legislative apportionment; or ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 16 5. measures introduced or authorized by the Speaker. 6.3 – Numbering (a) Bills and joint resolutions introduced in the Second Regular Session of a Legislature shall be numbered consecutively with the last bill and joint resolution, respectively, introduced in the First Regular Session of the same Legislature. (b) Simple and concurrent resolutions introduced in the Second Regular Session of a Legislature shall be numbered consecutively with the last simple and concurrent resolution, respectively, introduced in the First Regular Session of the same Legislature. 6.4 – Introduction (a) All bills and resolutions shall be accompanied by the name or names of the member or members introducing the bill or resolution, shall have a title stating the subject matter contained therein and shall include the request number assigned to the bill or resolution by the staff of the House. (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, no member of the House of Representatives shall be the principal author of more than eight (8) House bills or joint resolutions during a session of the Legislature. (c) The provisions of paragraph (b) of this section shall not apply to: 1. measures containing budgetary matters of which the principal author is the Chairperson of the Appropriations and Budget Committee of the House; 2. measures related to legislative apportionment of which the principal author is the Chairperson of the Redistricting Committee of the House; 3. bills introduced for the purpose specified in 75 O.S., Section 23.1; 4. measures introduced for the purpose of disapproving or approving agency rules pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act; ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 17 5. bills introduced for the purpose of implementing the Oklahoma Sunset Law; 6. bills that only repeal or delete, without substantive replacement, provisions of the Oklahoma Statutes; 7. bills that carry over from the First Regular Session to the Second Regular Session pursuant to Rule 6.9; 8. simple or concurrent resolutions; and 9. any other measure authorized by the Speaker. 6.5 – Authorship (a) Principal Author – A House bill or resolution may have only one Principal Author and shall be the Member that is listed as the Principal Author on a bill or resolution. (b) Author – An Author is a Member who authors a House bill or resolution prior to the introduction of the House bill or resolution. (c) Coauthor – A Coauthor is a Member who authors a House bill or resolution after the introduction of the House bill or resolution. 6.6 – Principal Senate Author of a House Bill or Resolution (a) While a House bill, joint resolution, or concurrent resolution is within the physical control of the House, the principal House author of the bill or resolution shall have full and complete discretion in determining who the principal Senate author of the bill or resolution shall be. (b) No bill or resolution lacking a principal Senate author shall be scheduled for Floor consideration, unless authorized by the Speaker, except that the withdrawal of the principal Senate author, after the bill or resolution is scheduled for Floor consideration, shall not preclude the House from considering the bill or resolution. 6.7 – Procedures Governing Simple and Concurrent Resolutions ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 18 (a) Except as exempted by paragraph (b) of this section, the following classes of simple and concurrent resolutions shall lie over one (1) legislative day after introduction, after which they may be called up for consideration: 1. resolutions requesting information from any of the executive or judicial departments, from county and municipal officers, or from corporate entities or persons; or 2. resolutions giving rise to debate. (b) The following classes of simple and concurrent resolutions may be taken up the same legislative day they are introduced: 1. resolutions relating to business immediately before the House; 2. resolutions relating to business of the day on which they may be offered; 3. resolutions reported from the House Rules Committee proposing adoption of a special rule or rules; or 4. resolutions relating to adjournment or recess. (c) Upon taking up a motion to adopt a simple or concurrent resolution, said motion shall be subject to amendment and debate. (d) A motion to amend shall be in order immediately but amendments proposed to simple and concurrent resolutions shall be electronically submitted to the Office of the Chief Clerk prior to consideration by the House. (e) The House shall not consider any proposed amendments not germane to the subject of a simple or concurrent resolution under consideration. (f) Debate on the question of adoption of a simple or concurrent resolution shall be limited to thirty (30) minutes, equally divided between the proponents and opponents of the resolution, provided that no member speak for more than ten (10) minutes. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 19 (g) Five (5) minutes of the time allocated to the proponents of the resolution shall be reserved to the principal author, and the principal author shall have the right to close the debate. (h) Any simple or concurrent resolution may be referred by the Speaker to an appropriate committee. 6.8 – Final Action (a) The following action shall constitute final action on any bill or resolution: 1. committee recommendation, including any oversight committee recommendation or any policy committee recommendation of "Do Not Pass"; 2. if a motion to reconsider the vote on Third Reading or Fourth Reading fails to prevail or expires; 3. if a motion to table the motion to reconsider prevails; or 4. if a vote is taken on Third Reading or Fourth Reading and no notice is served to reconsider the vote. (b) If final action is such as to defeat a bill or resolution, no other bill or resolution having the same effect and covering the same specific subject matter shall be considered by the House of Representatives during either session of the current Legislature. 6.9 – Carry–over Bills and Joint Resolutions Any bill or joint resolution pending in the House at the sine die adjournment of the First Regular Session of a Legislature shall carry over to the Second Regular Session with the same status as if there had been no adjournment; provided, however, that this Rule shall not apply to bills and joint resolutions pending in a conference committee at the time of sine die adjournment. 6.10 – Special or Local Laws (a) The House of Representatives shall not consider proposed local or special legislation on subjects prohibited by the Oklahoma Constitution. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 20 (b) No special or local law shall be considered by the House of Representatives unless passage of a general law would be ineffective. (c) A bill or joint resolution under consideration by the House shall be presumed not to be special or local legislation unless the principal author so declares in writing prior to presentation of the measure on the House Floor. (d) Prior to consideration of special or local legislation in the House of Representatives: 1. notice of the intended introduction of a proposed local or special law shall be first published for four (4) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of weekly or general circulation in the city or county affected by the proposed law; 2. the notice shall state in substance the contents of the proposed law; 3. verified proof of such publication as required by this section shall be filed with the Office of the Oklahoma Secretary of State; and 4. verified proof of such publication as required by this section shall be published in the House Journal no later than the legislative day prior to the day the measure is considered on the House Floor. (e) The presiding officer shall not entertain points of order, requests for information, or parliamentary inquires pertaining to whether a bill or joint resolution pending before the House is special or local legislation. 6.11 – Revenue–Raising Measures (a) A bill or joint resolution under consideration by the House shall be presumed not to be a revenue–raising measure within the meaning of Article V, Section 33 of the Oklahoma Constitution unless the bill or joint resolution has been designated as a revenue– raising measure by the Majority Floor Leader. (b) Prior to consideration of a bill or joint resolution designated as a revenue–raising measure pursuant to this section, the Majority Floor Leader shall rise and announce to the full House ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 21 the designation of the bill or joint resolution as a revenue–raising measure and the announcement shall be published in the House Journal. (c) The presiding officer shall not entertain points of order, requests for information, or parliamentary inquiries pertaining to whether a bill or joint resolution pending before the House is a revenue–raising measure. (d) Prior to ordering the vote on final passage of a revenue– raising measure, the presiding officer shall announce the vote required for final passage. As used in this section, final passage shall be defined as the vote on Third Reading or Fourth Reading of a bill or joint resolution. RULE SEVEN COMMITTEES IN GENERAL 7.1 – Definitions (a) A standing committee is a committee, oversight committee, or policy committee appointed by the Speaker of the House pursuant to Rule 1.8 which continues as a distinct entity for the duration of the biennium unless dissolved by the Speaker. Unless specifically otherwise provided by these Rules, the term "committee" includes both a policy committee and an oversight committee. (b) An oversight committee is a committee appointed by the Speaker of the House pursuant to Rule 1.8 in order to consider a measure favorably reported by a policy committee. (c) A policy committee is a committee appointed by the Speaker of the House pursuant to Rule 1.8 in order to evaluate a measure assigned to the policy committee by an oversight committee. (d) A standing subcommittee is a subcommittee appointed by the Speaker of the House pursuant to Rule 1.8 which exercises oversight or other specific authority assigned to it by the Speaker and reports directly to a standing committee, but does not include a policy committee. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 22 (e) A special committee is a committee appointed by the Speaker of the House pursuant to Rule 1.8 which carries out a particular task defined at the time of the committee’s creation and appointment. Upon completion of the task assigned to the special committee, the special committee is immediately dissolved. (f) A conference committee is a committee tasked with resolving differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate. A conference committee consists of members from both chambers with the House members of a conference committee being appointed by the Speaker of the House pursuant to Rule 1.9. 7.2 – Open Meetings All meetings of all committees shall be open to the public, subject to the authority of the chairperson to maintain order and decorum. A chairperson, with the approval of the Speaker, may close a committee meeting or portion thereof, and the record of such meeting may not disclose the identity of the witness appearing before the committee, if necessary to preserve physical security, including the protection of a witness. 7.3 – Timing, Location, and Deadlines of Meetings (a) The Speaker of the House, or designee, shall determine the dates for committee deadlines within the General Order periods of the biennium. (b) Committees shall meet at the call of the committee Chair within the dates, times, and locations designated by the Speaker. (c) No committee shall sit during a floor session of the House without special leave from the Speaker. CHAPTER A – STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES 7.4 – Authority of the Chair (a) All standing, oversight, policy, and special committees and subcommittees shall be governed by the House Rules applicable to committee proceedings. (b) Chairpersons shall ensure the efficient operation of the committees or subcommittees. Such authority shall include: ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 23 1. presiding over the committees or subcommittees; 2. establishing the calendar for the committees or subcommittees; 3. recognition of members or presenters; 4. deciding all questions of procedure in the committees or subcommittees, subject to appeal; and 5. determining the order in which legislation is considered in a committee or subcommittee. Consent calendars shall not be utilized in committees or subcommittees. (c) The chairperson shall exercise all authority necessary to maintain order and decorum, including the authority to require all persons present to silence all electronic devices and to request the Sergeant at Arms to clear the committee room of a person or persons causing disruption. (d) In case of a chairperson's absence, the vice–chairperson shall assume all duties of the chairperson until the chairperson's return or replacement. (e) The chairperson shall cause to be created an official report recording the ayes and the nays as required by Rule 7.7. For any measure reported favorably by a policy committee, or with respect to which a "Do Not Pass" motion was adopted, the chairperson of the policy committee shall cause to be created an official report recording the ayes and nays which report shall be prepared using a suitable method for the action of the policy committee to be communicated to the Chair of the applicable oversight committee. (f) No person shall address the committee or subcommittee unless first recognized by the chairperson for that purpose and no persons other than members of the House shall be recognized to offer debate. (g) All motions offered in any committee or a subcommittee meeting shall require a second to receive further consideration. (h) A committee or subcommittee, including any oversight committee or any policy committee, may only take up bills or resolutions for consideration if a quorum of the committee or subcommittee is present. A quorum is a majority of the members of ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 24 the committee or subcommittee, excluding the ex officio members of the committee or subcommittee, but the ex officio members may count toward the presence of a quorum in a committee or its subcommittees. (i) When a bill or resolution is taken up for consideration, the principal House author or another member designated by the principal House author shall be recognized for explanation of the bill or resolution if he or she so desires. In the event the chairperson of the committee is presenting the measure under consideration, the chairperson shall not also preside over the committee while his or her bill or resolution is under consideration. (j) The House author shall be given the opportunity to answer questions put by members of the committee or other persons recognized by the chairperson. (k) The chairperson shall provide opportunity for presentation of amendments to the bill or resolution by the House author, any member of the committee, or any other member of the House, as governed by Rule 7.6. (l) Amendments shall be considered in the order they appear in the bill or resolution, or in the order they are presented to the committee. The chairperson shall resolve any conflict resulting from claimed priority of presentation. (m) The author of an amendment shall explain the amendment and be afforded the opportunity to answer questions about the amendment put by members of the committee, the author of the bill or resolution, or other persons recognized by the chairperson. (n) The chairperson may recognize any person for comment on the proposed legislation or amendments. The chairperson may limit the amount of time for any such comment. (o) Any questions of procedure not provided for within these Rules shall be governed by the ruling of the chairperson. In making his or her ruling, the chairperson shall rely upon the latest edition of Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure. Where a conflict exists between a provision within these Rules and a provision within Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure, the House Rule shall control. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 25 (p) Any member may rise to a point of order against any other member when, in the member's opinion, such member is proceeding out of order. The member raising the point of order must cite the specific rule the member believes is in conflict. Such point of order shall be decided by the presiding officer without debate. (q) The decisions of the Chair on questions of procedure and points of order shall be subject to appeal as follows: 1. an appeal must be lodged immediately; 2. an appeal shall not be raised by anyone other than a member of the committee or subcommittee wherein such a question arises; 3. an appeal must be seconded by two other members of the committee or subcommittee to receive further consideration; 4. all appeals shall be decided without debate, except that the member taking said appeal shall be afforded one (1) minute in which to state the reasons for the member's appeal and the Chair may state the reasons for the Chair's decision; and 5. no ruling of the Chair shall be overturned except: i) upon a majority of the members of the committee or subcommittee voting in the negative upon the question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be the decision of the committee [or subcommittee]"; or ii) upon a ruling of the presiding officer, while the House is in Session, on a point of order raised on procedural violations that occurred in committee, provided the committee Chair shall be afforded one (1) minute to explain their decision on the Floor prior to the ruling of the presiding officer. This ruling is subject to appeal. (r) The chairperson of a full committee, other than an oversight committee, may refer to a subcommittee or reassign from a subcommittee any legislation, proposal, or inquiry; provided, however, no subcommittee shall be permitted to report directly to the House, but rather shall report to the full committee. Except as otherwise authorized in these Rules, no measure other than one assigned directly to the House Calendar shall be considered by the full House unless such measure shall have been considered in a policy committee and received a favorable recommendation by both a ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 26 policy committee and an oversight committee. The chairperson of an oversight committee shall cause an oversight committee report to be prepared indicating the action taken by the oversight committee with respect to the measure. (s) Except for legislation recommended by the Rules Committee or the Appropriations and Budget Committee, all legislation originating in the House which is recommended by a committee to the full House shall contain a complete Title and an Enacting or Resolving Clause. (t) The committee or subcommittee chairperson shall sign all reports required or permitted by these Rules. The committee chairperson shall sign all subpoenas as permitted by Rule 7.13, but shall not sign any subpoena prior to signature by the Speaker of the House. 7.5 – Notice of Meetings (a) Except as otherwise provided by this paragraph, all committees and subcommittees, including policy committees, shall provide at least forty–eight (48) hours notice of a meeting. An oversight committee shall provide at least twenty-four (24) hours notice of a meeting. Notice of the meeting shall be published through an appropriate public medium such as the House website or electronic mail, unless notice requirement is waived by the Speaker. (b) A notice shall state the date, time, and place of a meeting and shall include a listing and sufficient title for identification of any and all bills to be considered by the committee, oversight committee, policy committee, or subcommittee holding the meeting. The measure’s principal author and the members of the committee, oversight committee, policy committee, or subcommittee shall be provided separate notice. (c) If a committee, oversight committee, policy committee, or subcommittee is scheduled for a regular meeting, but does not plan to meet, a notice stating that no meeting is to be held shall be posted. (d) Bills or resolutions published on a meeting notice but not considered shall not be taken up in a subsequent committee meeting unless said bills or resolutions are listed on the meeting notice announcing the items of business to be considered in the later meeting. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 27 7.6 – Amendments (a) Committees and subcommittees, including oversight committees and policy committees, may only consider amendments presented in final written form prior to adoption. (b) Any member of the House may offer an amendment to any bill or resolution being considered by any committee or subcommittee and shall be recognized to introduce the amendment. If not a member of the committee or subcommittee, a member who offers an amendment must comply with the amendment filing deadline of this Rule and be present at the meeting at which the amendment is considered. If the member is not present, the amendment may only be considered if taken up and offered by a member of the committee or subcommittee. (c) Any member offering an amendment, including a member of the committee or subcommittee, must submit the proposed amendment in electronic form to the chairperson by 4:30 p.m. the legislative day before the meeting of the committee or subcommittee. The chairperson may, at his or her discretion, waive or set a later deadline than contained in this Rule. (d) Amendments offered to any House bill or resolution under consideration by a committee or subcommittee shall be germane to the subject of the introduced bill or resolution. Amendments offered to any Senate bill or resolution under consideration by a committee or subcommittee shall be germane to the subject of the engrossed version of the Senate bill or resolution. (e) When considering a measure section by section, a motion to strike a section when such section is under individual consideration shall not be subject to the time constraints established by this Rule for consideration of committee amendments. (f) When considering a measure section by section, the Title or Enacting or Resolving Clause of a bill or joint resolution may not be stricken except as provided in Rule 7.4(s). (g) Amendments approved by any committee shall be incorporated into the bill or resolution the same as if included in the introduced bill or resolution. 7.7 – Voting ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 28 (a) All votes in committees or subcommittees, including oversight committees and policy committees, shall be conducted in open public meetings of that committee, except that two-thirds (2/3) of the members of any standing, special, or oversight committee, including ex officio members, may report a bill or resolution out of committee by signing a written report. If a written report is prepared by a member other than the chairperson of the committee, a written notice that a report is being prepared shall be given to the chairperson prior to the circulation of the report for signatures. No measure may be reported out of a policy committee using the discharge procedure in this paragraph. (b) Only the vote on recommendation for final passage out of full standing committee or an oversight committee to the full House concerning a bill or resolution shall be by recorded vote. Recommendation for final passage out of committee, such motion need only receive a majority of those voting, a quorum being present. (c) As used in this section, "recommendation for final passage out of committee" means a "Do Pass", "Do Pass as Amended", or a "Do Not Pass" motion. A "Do Pass" motion takes precedence over any other motions for final passage. (d) Only those committee members present may vote on any matter. No person shall cast a vote on behalf of any committee member eligible to vote in any House committee. 7.8 – Committee Recommendations (a) When any standing full committee or an oversight committee returns a bill or resolution with the recommendation of “Do Pass” or “Do Pass as Amended”, the bill or resolution shall be published on the House Calendar in numerical order by bill or resolution number under the heading “Bills on General Order” or “Joint Resolutions on General Order”. (b) If a committee does not return a bill or resolution with the recommendation of either "Do Pass", "Do Pass as Amended", or "Do Not Pass", the bill or resolution shall remain the property of the committee, unless the bill or resolution is placed directly on the House Calendar by the Speaker or is discharged pursuant to Rule 7.7 or 7.12. 7.9 – Final Action ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 29 When any committee, including any oversight committee or any policy committee, returns a bill or resolution with the recommendation of "Do Not Pass", this shall constitute final action only if the recommendation was adopted by a majority of the members of the committee. 7.10 – Petition for Committee Hearing (a) After assignment to a standing or special committee, the principal author of a bill or resolution shall be entitled to have such bill or joint resolution considered by a vote of the committee at least four (4) legislative days prior to the final date for Third Reading in either regular session. Such a petition must be electronically signed by a majority of the members of the committee. Ex officio members of a committee may electronically sign such petitions and shall count towards the necessary signatures as required by this section. (b) A majority of the members of the policy committee to which a measure has been assigned may file a petition in order for the measure to be withdrawn from the policy committee and re-assigned to the oversight committee with applicable jurisdiction over the measure. The petition must be electronically signed by a majority of the members of the policy committee. Ex officio members of the policy committee may be counted towards the requirement for signatures on the petition. If the petition receives enough signatures, then the measure shall be withdrawn from the policy committee and shall be considered to be under the control and jurisdiction of the oversight committee to which the measure was originally assigned. (c) The petitions provided for by this section shall be electronically submitted to the Chief Clerk of the House. The Chief Clerk shall determine if the petition contains the necessary signatures. If the petition contains the necessary signatures, the Chief Clerk shall forward the petition to the appropriate committee chair. 7.11 – Bill Summary (a) All bills and joint resolutions shall be accompanied by a bill summary. The bill summary shall include a description of any repealers contained in a bill or joint resolution. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 30 (b) All bills affecting any retirement system authorized by law shall be accompanied by a bill summary which shall include an estimate of the cost and actuarial analysis of the measure upon being reported favorably by any standing committee unless the actuarial analysis for the bill is governed by the Oklahoma Pension Legislation Actuarial Analysis Act. The estimate and actuarial analysis shall be prepared by an actuary engaged by the House of Representatives. (c) The accuracy of the bill summary or actuarial analysis contained within the bill summary shall not be a basis for a point of order under these Rules. (d) The principal House author may publish what he or she believes to be the "legislative intent" of the measure in question. Such a document shall not be drafted by persons employed within the Legal, Fiscal, or Research Divisions of the House Staff; however, the principal House author may consult with such employees as needed. 7.12 – Discharge from Committee (a) Any bill or resolution may be discharged from any standing committee of the House or from any oversight committee of the House upon a request electronically signed by two–thirds (2/3) of the members of the House. (b) The bill or resolution in question shall be identified on the face of the petition and an electronic copy of the measure shall be attached to the discharge petition. (c) The request for discharge of a bill or resolution and the attached measure shall be electronically submitted to the Chief Clerk of the House. No other person except the principal House author of the measure in question shall submit a discharge petition to the Chief Clerk. The Chief Clerk shall determine if the discharge petition contains the necessary signatures as required by this section. If the discharge petition contains the necessary signatures, the Chief Clerk shall forward the petition to the Speaker of the House, or designee. (d) Upon receipt of the discharge petition from the Chief Clerk of the House, the Speaker of the House, or designee, shall place the bill or resolution on the daily House floor agenda. The Chief Clerk ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 31 of the House shall cause the discharge petition, along with the attached measure, to be published upon the House website. (e) The Speaker of the House, or designee, shall not place a bill or resolution on the daily House floor agenda if the discharge petition pertaining to the bill or resolution was filed after 12:00 noon on the Tuesday immediately prior to the final date for Third Reading in either regular session. 7.13 – Oversight Powers and Responsibilities of Committees and Subcommittees (a) Committees and subcommittees, including oversight committees and policy committees, are authorized: 1. to maintain a continuous review of the work of the state agencies concerned with their subject areas and the performance of the functions of government within each subject area; 2. to invite public officials, public employees, and private individuals to appear before the committees or subcommittees to submit information; 3. to request reports from departments and agencies performing functions reasonably related to the committees’ jurisdictions; 4. to complete the interim projects assigned by the Speaker; and 5. to conduct such other business as directed by the Speaker. (b) Each committee or subcommittee, including any oversight committee or policy committee, has the reasonable right and authority to inspect and investigate the books, records, papers, documents, data, operation, and physical plant of any public agency in this state. (c) The chairperson, vice–chairperson, or a member designated by the chairperson or vice–chairperson may administer all oaths and affirmations to witnesses who appear before such committees to testify in any matter requiring evidence. (d) In order to carry out the duties of the committee, and its subcommittees, the chairperson of each committee with approval of the Speaker, may issue subpoenas and other necessary process to ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 32 compel the attendance of witnesses either before the committee or subcommittee or at deposition and the production of any books, letters, or other documentary evidence required by such committee. (e) In the event a committee must subpoena a witness or witnesses, or otherwise subpoena production of documents, materials, or other evidence, such subpoenas shall be limited to matters reasonably related to the areas of legislative responsibility delegated to the committee and shall be within the reasonable scope of the committee's investigation. (f) If the committee shall require the deposition of witnesses, either residing within or without the state, such depositions shall be taken in the manner prescribed by law for the taking of depositions in civil actions in the district courts. Witnesses shall be paid the same fees and mileage as are paid in civil cases in district courts. CHAPTER B – CONFERENCE COMMITTEES 7.14 – Appointment of Conference Committees (a) The House chairpersons, vice–chairpersons, and members of a conference committee shall be appointed by the Speaker pursuant to Rule 1.9. (b) Once a measure is in conference, the chairperson of the standing conference committee to which the measure is assigned may, if requested by the principal author, schedule presentation of the measure. (c) No measure shall be assigned to a standing conference committee which does not include among its membership the chairperson and vice–chairperson of the standing committee from which the same measure was reported during General Order. 7.15 – Presentation and Signatures on Conference Committee Reports (a) A conference committee report, other than one which proposes only restoration of the Title and/or Enacting Clause or states that conferees are unable to agree, shall be presented to a standing conference committee subject to the following requirements: ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 33 1. the presentation shall not be scheduled earlier than the next calendar day after electronic publication; 2. the presentation shall be made in person; 3. no person except the principal House author of the measure or another House member designated by the principal House author shall present the report; 4. no member of the standing conference committee shall add their electronic signature to the report until such report is presented in person; and 5. the chairperson of the standing conference committee shall determine the procedures of the presentation, except as otherwise specifically provided for in these Rules. (b) Upon being opened for signature by the chairperson of the standing conference committee, a conference committee report which proposes only to restore the Title and/or Enacting Clause of a measure or states that conferees are unable to agree may be electronically signed by members of the standing conference committee. (c) Members of a standing conference committee may add or remove their electronic signatures at any time prior to the time a House conference committee report is closed for submission or withdrawn by the principal House author. (d) Members of a standing conference committee may add or remove their electronic signatures at any time prior to the time a Senate conference committee report ceases to be in possession of the House of Representatives. 7.16 – Presentation Before Standing Conference Committee (a) All presentations made before standing conference committees shall be open to the public, subject to the authority of the chairperson to maintain order and decorum. (b) Members of the public may be allowed to speak about the proposed conference committee report that is being presented to the standing conference committee, subject to the authority of the chairperson to maintain order and decorum. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 34 (c) All standing conference committees shall provide reasonable public notice of a presentation. (d) The notice shall state the date, time, and place of a presentation. (e) The notice shall include a listing and sufficient title for identification of the bills to be presented to the standing conference committee. 7.17 – Timing of Presentations (a) The chairperson of a conference committee shall schedule a presentation of conference committee reports within the dates, times, and locations designated by the Speaker. (b) The chairperson of a conference committee shall not schedule presentation of a proposed conference committee report during a floor session of the House without special leave from the Speaker. 7.18 – Submission of House Conference Committee Reports Upon receipt of the electronic signatures of a majority of House conferees and the signatures of a majority of Senate conferees, the principal House author may submit the recommended House conference committee report to the Chief Clerk of the House. RULE EIGHT LEGISLATIVE PROCESS CHAPTER A – FIRST AND SECOND READING 8.1 – Reading Defined “Reading” means the stage of consideration of a bill or joint resolution after reading or publishing of a portion of the title sufficient for identification, as determined by the Speaker. 8.2 – First Reading The publication of a bill or joint resolution by its title and bill number in the House Journal shall satisfy the requirements of First Reading. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 35 8.3 – Second Reading (a) After the First Reading of a bill or joint resolution, the bill or joint resolution shall be placed on the House Calendar under "Bills on Second Reading” or "Joint Resolutions on Second Reading", as the case may be. (b) On the Second Reading of a bill, the bill shall be read by Title only, unless otherwise ordered by the House, and shall be referred by the Speaker to an appropriate committee or directly to the House Calendar under the heading "Bills on General Order" or "Joint Resolutions on General Order", as the case may be. (c) Measures lacking substantive language shall be assigned to a committee designated to receive them and prior to being scheduled for a committee hearing, substantive language must be electronically filed, unless waived by the Speaker. (d) No bill or joint resolution on First or Second Reading shall be subject to amendment or debate. 8.4 – Management of Legislation and Committee Deadlines (a) The Speaker of the House, or designee, shall publish a list of measures to be considered by the House of Representatives, and the Speaker of the House, or designee, shall determine the order of their consideration. (b) No measure shall be scheduled for consideration unless the measure has been reported from a standing or special committee, or has been reported from an oversight committee, or has been referred directly to the General Order category of the House Calendar pursuant to Rule 1.4. No measure shall be considered reported from a standing or special committee until the electronically signed committee report is filed with the Chief Clerk of the House. (c) Upon adoption by the House of a motion to commit any measure to the House Rules Committee, a measure so committed shall not be subsequently returned by the Rules Committee with a favorable recommendation unless accompanied by a Special Rule adopted pursuant to Rule 8.5 prescribing how the measure will be considered by the House. A measure so returned shall not be taken up for consideration prior to the Special Rule required herein being adopted by the House. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 36 CHAPTER B – BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS ON GENERAL ORDER 8.5 – Special Rules (a) The House Rules Committee may adopt a "special rule" for a measure scheduled or to be scheduled for consideration on the House Floor. (b) A special rule may limit the offering of amendments, may prescribe the time and conditions of debate, may govern floor consideration on Third or Fourth Reading of the bill, or may contain any other provisions deemed appropriate. (c) A special rule shall not become operational unless first presented to the full House in the form of a House resolution. A House resolution reported by the Rules Committee for this purpose shall not be subject to amendment on the House Floor. 8.6 – Special Orders (a) After a measure is scheduled for consideration on the House Floor, a two–thirds (2/3) majority of the House may vote to designate a measure as a “special order” to be taken up on a specific date or at a specific time. Such a vote shall be recorded in the House Journal. (b) The provisions of this section shall not apply on the final date for Third Reading in either regular session or on the date of sine die adjournment. 8.7 – Reading and Explanation (a) A bill or joint resolution on General Order shall first be read by title, or read and considered by sections, unless otherwise ordered. (b) The member presenting a bill or joint resolution shall be allowed a reasonable length of time in which to explain the bill or resolution, but said explanations shall not include a discussion of the merits of the proposition. (c) No bill or joint resolution on General Order shall be considered unless accompanied by a bill summary and, if adoption of the measure will have a fiscal impact, including the affecting of ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 37 revenues, expenditures, or fiscal liability, the summary shall contain a fiscal analysis. The fiscal analysis contained within a bill summary shall state the estimated increase or decrease in revenues or expenditures and the present and future fiscal implications of the bill, if applicable. (d) The accuracy of the bill summary or a fiscal or actuarial analysis contained within the bill summary shall not be a basis for a point of order under these Rules. (e) No bill or joint resolution on General Order shall be considered until all opportunities provided by this Rule for filing proposed amendments shall be afforded the House. (f) In such case where no main floor amendment shall be timely filed as defined in Rule 8.8(b) or where no main floor amendments shall be offered except those amendments permitted under Rule 8.8(f) and (g), such measure shall become eligible for floor consideration upon the expiration. 8.8 – Amendments (a) All House and Senate bills and joint resolutions when initially published on the Floor Calendar shall be subject to amendment beginning at the time of such publishing. (b) A main floor amendment must be filed no later than twenty– four (24) hours after a bill or joint resolution is initially published on the Floor Calendar, to be eligible for consideration. 1. Main floor amendments are eligible for consideration if filed by the Principal Author after the twenty-four (24) hour deadline, but forty-eight (48) hours prior to consideration. (c) An amendment to a main floor amendment must be filed no later than forty–eight (48) hours after a bill or joint resolution is initially published on the Floor Calendar, to be eligible for consideration. 1. Main floor amendments filed pursuant to House Rule 8.8 (b)(1) are subject to amendment provided such amendment to the main floor amendment is filed twenty-four (24) hours prior to consideration. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 38 (d) Calendar days not concurrently designated as legislative days shall not be considered when calculating the beginning and ending dates and times for bills initially published on the Floor Calendar and passing through the amendment cycle. (e) No amendment purporting to strike the Title or the Enacting or Resolving Clause of any bill or joint resolution shall be in order except if filed by the Principal Author or as provided in paragraphs (f) and (g) of this section. (f) The Chairperson of the Rules Committee or the Majority Floor Leader shall be permitted to offer amendments to strike the Title or the Enacting or Resolving Clause of measures not affecting revenue or appropriations. Amendments offered under this paragraph shall not be subject to the time constraints established by paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, nor shall they be subject to the constraints on amending previously amended language established by Rule 8.9(b). (g) The Chairperson of the Appropriations and Budget Committee, or the Vice–chairperson of the Appropriations and Budget Committee, shall be permitted to offer amendments to strike the Title or the Enacting or Resolving Clause of measures affecting revenue or appropriations. Amendments offered under this paragraph shall not be subject to the time constraints established by paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, nor shall they be subject to the constraints on amending previously amended language established by Rule 8.9(b). (h) In the event a bill or joint resolution is published on the Floor Calendar and then subsequently removed while time remains for filing floor amendments as provided in this Rule, such bill or joint resolution, if published again on the Floor Calendar, shall not be considered by the House until the remaining time for filing floor amendments is concluded. (i) When considering a measure section by section pursuant to Rule 8.7(a), a motion to strike a section when such section is under individual consideration shall not be subject to the time constraints established by this Rule for consideration of regularly filed floor amendments. (j) When considering a measure section by section, the Title or Enacting or Resolving Clause of a bill or joint resolution may not be stricken except as provided in paragraphs (f) and (g) of this section. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 39 8.9 – Consideration and Presentation (a) The House shall not consider more than one amendment at a time and amendments shall be taken up only as sponsors gain recognition from the presiding officer to move their adoption. (b) The adoption of an amendment to a section shall not preclude further amendment of that section so long as subsequent amendments do not purport to amend the same language previously amended. If a bill is being considered section by section or item by item, only amendments to the section or item under consideration shall be in order. (c) For the purpose of this Rule, an amendment shall be deemed pending only after its author has been recognized by the presiding officer and has moved its adoption. (d) The body of a bill or joint resolution shall not be defaced or interlined, but all proposed amendments shall be separately submitted, noting the page and line, and shall be considered timely filed only if the principal author of the amendment has electronically submitted such amendment in completed form to the Office of the Chief Clerk within the time constraints provided in Rule 8.8(b) and (c). (e) Any measure of the type delineated in Rule 7.11(a) and (b) that is scheduled for floor consideration shall have a bill summary prepared prior to its consideration. 8.10 – Floor Substitutes (a) The House of Representatives shall not consider any amendment to a main floor amendment offered in the form of a floor substitute. An amendment to a main floor amendment shall be deemed a floor substitute only if adoption of the proposed amendment to a main floor amendment would result in replacement of all sections of the measure in question other than the section containing the effective date or emergency clause. Floor substitutes are amendable. (b) Floor substitutes shall be accompanied by a summary which shall include a description of the differences between the floor version and the floor substitute. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 40 8.11 – Amendment of General Appropriations Bill Whenever an amendment is offered to a General Appropriations Bill that would increase any line item of such bill, such amendment shall show the amount by line item of the increase and shall decrease a line item or items within the same bill in an amount or amounts equivalent to or greater than the increase required by the amendment. 8.12 – Amendment Summary (a) All proposed amendments to bills or joint resolutions shall be accompanied by a written summary and, if adoption of the amendment will have a fiscal impact, including the affecting of revenues, expenditures or fiscal liability, the summary shall contain a fiscal analysis upon being filed with the Office of the Chief Clerk. The fiscal analysis shall state the estimated increase or decrease in revenues or expenditures and the present and future fiscal implications of passage of the amended bill, if applicable. The summary shall not express comment or opinion relative to the merits of the amendment proposed. The requirements of this section shall not apply to amendments purporting to strike the Title or the Enacting or Resolving Clause of any bill or joint resolution. (b) Except as may be otherwise required by the Oklahoma Pension Legislation Actuarial Analysis Act, all amendments to bills or joint resolutions affecting any retirement system authorized by law shall be accompanied by a summary which shall include an estimate and actuarial analysis of the present and future fiscal implications of passage of the amended bill. The estimate and actuarial analysis contained in the summary shall be prepared by an actuary engaged by the House of Representatives. (c) The accuracy of an amendment summary or a fiscal or actuarial analysis contained within the written summary shall not be a basis for a point of order under these Rules. 8.13 – Germaneness of House Amendments The House shall not consider any proposed amendment not germane to the subject of the House bill or resolution. An amendment to a main amendment must be germane to both the main amendment and the measure which it purports to amend. 8.14 – Amendments Out of Order ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 41 An amendment is out of order if it is the principal substance of a bill or resolution that has received an unfavorable committee report, has been withdrawn from further consideration by the principal author, or has not been reported favorably by the committee of reference in either session of the current Legislature and may not be offered to a bill or resolution on the Floor Calendar and under consideration by the House. Any amendment that is substantially the same, and identical as to specific intent and purpose, as the bill or resolution residing in the committee of reference is covered by this Rule, unless the bill or resolution under amendment is substantially the same as the bill or resolution residing in the committee of reference. 8.15 – Reconsideration A motion to reconsider any vote on the adoption or rejection of an amendment, or the adoption or rejection of a section of any bill or joint resolution, may be made by any member prior to the advancement of such measure from General Order, which motion shall be subject to debate. The motion to reconsider may be laid on the table without affecting the question in reference to which the motion is made, thereby resulting in a final disposition of the motion. 8.16 – Motion to Commit A motion may be made during the reading or consideration of any bill or joint resolution on General Order to commit the bill to a standing or special committee, with or without instructions. A motion to commit with instructions shall be electronically submitted to the Office of the Chief Clerk prior to consideration by the House. 8.17 – Motion to Advance from General Order A motion to advance a bill or joint resolution from General Order shall not be in order until all opportunities provided by this Rule for filing proposed amendments shall be afforded the House. Once a motion to advance from General Order has been adopted, the bill or resolution shall be considered engrossed and on Third Reading. CHAPTER C – BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS ON THIRD READING OR FOURTH READING ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 42 8.18 – Consideration and Debate (a) After Third Reading or Fourth Reading of a bill or joint resolution, the presiding officer shall put the question in the following manner: “The Question Before the House is, shall the Bill or Joint Resolution Pass?” (b) After Third Reading or Fourth Reading but before the vote is ordered, unless prohibited by Rule 8.21, the question shall be subject to debate. (c) As governed by paragraph (b) of this section, debate shall be limited to one (1) hour, equally divided between the proponents and opponents of the question, provided that no member may speak for more than ten (10) minutes. (d) Any measure that lacks a title, enacting clause, or resolving clause shall not be subject to debate. (e) Five (5) minutes of the time allocated to the proponents of the bill or joint resolution shall be reserved to the principal author, and the principal author shall have the right to close the debate. (f) The question of passage of a bill or joint resolution on Third or Fourth Reading shall be decided by recorded vote after declaration of the question by the presiding officer. (g) Any measure of the type delineated in Rule 7.11(a) and (b) that is scheduled for floor consideration shall have a bill summary prepared prior to its consideration. 8.19 – Amendments No bill or joint resolution on Third or Fourth Reading shall be subject to amendment. 8.20 – Consideration of Emergency Clause (a) When any bill or joint resolution containing a title and enacting clause is being considered on Third Reading or Fourth Reading, and such a bill or joint resolution contains an emergency clause, the emergency clause shall constitute a separate question and shall be subject to debate. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 43 (b) When any bill or joint resolution lacking a title or enacting clause is being considered on Third Reading and such a bill or joint resolution contains an emergency clause, the House shall not consider the emergency clause. The vote on Third Reading shall be considered the vote on the emergency clause and shall be recorded as such in the House Journal. 8.21 – Consideration of Conference Committee Reports and Senate Amendments (a) Motions to accept or reject Senate amendments or to adopt or reject conference committee reports may be arranged on a calendar or upon such calendars as may be directed by the Speaker of the House, or designee. (b) The House shall not consider adoption of a conference committee report or a joint committee report until a majority of both the House and Senate members constituting the conference committee or joint committee have adopted or signed the report. Ex officio members of a House conference committee may electronically sign a conference committee report and shall count towards a majority of signatures as required by this paragraph; however, such ex officio members shall not be included when calculating the number of signatures required to constitute a majority of the membership of a House conference committee. (c) The House shall not consider a motion to adopt a Senate amendment, a House conference committee report, or a House joint committee report unless it is limited to matters germane to the bill or resolution. (d) A motion to adopt or reject a Senate amendment, conference committee report, or a joint committee report shall be subject to debate. Debate shall be limited to one (1) hour, equally divided between the proponents and the opponents of the motion, provided that no member may speak for more than ten (10) minutes. (e) If debate is requested and entertained on the question of adoption of a Senate amendment or a conference committee report, no further debate shall be permitted on Fourth Reading and final passage of the same measure. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 44 (f) If debate is requested and entertained on the question of adoption of a joint committee report, no further debate shall be permitted on Third Reading and final passage of the same measure. 8.22 – Transparency in Conference (a) A summary of the changes contained in a conference committee report shall be made available prior to consideration of the report by the House. (b) All conference committee reports whose adoption will have a fiscal impact shall be accompanied by a fiscal analysis. (c) A conference committee report may be considered for adoption only if said report has been published on the joint conference calendar one (1) legislative day before consideration of the report. (d) A motion to reject a joint committee report with instructions or a motion to reject a conference committee report with instructions shall not be considered unless said instructions are electronically submitted to the Chief Clerk of the House prior to the time the principal House author of the measure is initially recognized to present the joint committee report or the conference committee report to the House of Representatives. RULE NINE CHAMBER PROTOCOL 9.1 – Daily Order of Business (a) The following Order of Business shall be followed each day: 1. Roll Call; 2. Prayer, the timing of which shall be left to the discretion of the Majority Floor Leader; 3. Inspirational Message by Chaplain on Thursday mornings, the timing of which shall be left to the discretion of the Majority Floor Leader; ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 45 4. Introduction of the Veteran of the Week on Monday mornings, the timing of which shall be left to the discretion of the Majority Floor Leader; 5. Pledge of Allegiance, the timing of which shall be left to the discretion of the Majority Floor Leader; 6. Introduction of a Doctor and/or Nurse of the Day, the timing of which shall be left to the discretion of the Majority Floor Leader; 7. Correction of the Previous Day's Journal; 8. House and Senate Bills and Joint Resolutions on Second Reading, the timing of which shall be left to the discretion of the Majority Floor Leader; 9. Assignment or Reassignment of Bills and Resolutions, the timing of which shall be left to the discretion of the Majority Floor Leader; 10. Bills, Resolutions, Conference Committee Reports, and Joint Committee Reports scheduled by the Speaker of the House, or designee; and 11. Motions placing new business before the House. The Majority Floor Leader may schedule said motions at his or her discretion. (b) If no measure is pending before the House, the Presiding Officer shall give the Majority Floor Leader preference for recognition. 9.2 – Enforcement of House Rules, Order, and Decorum (a) The presiding officer shall enforce, apply, and interpret the Rules of the House in all deliberations. While in the Chamber, the presiding officer shall preserve order and decorum, shall prevent personal reflections or the impugning of the motive of any member, and shall at all times confine members to the question under discussion. (b) When two (2) or more members seek recognition at the same time, the presiding officer shall name the one entitled to the floor. The presiding officer shall not recognize any member who has ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 46 risen or remains standing while another member is speaking. No member shall be entitled to be recognized to speak unless the member seeks recognition from the member's own desk. (c) On all questions relative to the transgression of these Rules, the presiding officer shall call the members to order. In such case the member so called to order shall sit down and shall not rise except to explain said member's actions or to proceed in order. (d) Any member may rise to a point of order against any other member when, in the member's opinion, such member is proceeding out of order. The member raising the point of order must cite the specific rule the member believes is in conflict. Such point of order shall be decided by the presiding officer without debate. (e) Any decision by the Speaker on a point of order is subject to an appeal to the House made in a timely manner by any member should the member or the House be aggrieved by such decision. Such appeal must be seconded by a minimum of one–fifteenth (1/15) of the membership of the House. Members desiring to second an appeal shall signify by rising. (f) The question of an appeal shall be put in the following form: "The question is, shall the decision of the presiding officer be the decision of the House? All those in favor signify by voting 'Aye'; those opposed 'Nay'. The vote is now in progress." (g) All appeals shall be decided by a recorded vote and without debate, except that the member taking said appeal shall have one (1) minute within which to state the reasons for the member's appeal during which they cannot yield to questions and the Chair may state the reasons for the Chair's decision. The member’s appeal must relate to the decision in question and may not pertain to the merits of any matter or legislation not related to the decision of the Chair. (h) When a point of order is called, no member shall approach the presiding officer or the Chief Parliamentarian until after the presiding officer has ruled. If requested by the presiding officer, the Majority Floor Leader may confer with the presiding officer regarding matters not pertaining to the point of order. (i) The presiding officer shall not entertain points of order pertaining to the constitutionality of a measure itself nor shall ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 47 the presiding officer entertain points of order pertaining to the constitutionality of a measure's title. (j) While a question is pending, Members are prohibited from referencing visitors in the House Gallery. (k) The presiding officer may direct a Member's vote to be removed from the electronic voting machine if the Member is in breach of House Rules while the vote is open. 9.3 – Procedure (a) When the ayes and nays are ordered, the presiding officer shall put the question in the following form: "All those in favor signify by voting 'Aye'; those opposed 'Nay'. The vote is now in progress." (b) As governed by Rules 6.7(e), 7.6(d), 8.13, and 8.21(c), the House shall not consider in either session of the current Legislature any measure originating in the House of Representatives if said measure has been amended by the insertion of matter not germane to the subject of the bill or resolution. Points of order related to germaneness must be raised at the time the amendment is considered. 9.4 – Debate (a) Except as otherwise specifically provided in these Rules, when a debatable question is before the House, such debate shall be limited to fifteen (15) minutes, equally divided between the proponents and opponents of the question. Under no circumstances shall a member debate twice on the same question, nor shall any member speak longer than ten (10) minutes on the same question. (b) When a debatable question is before the House, any member may move that the time for debate on such question be extended. For adoption, such motion need only receive a majority of those voting, a quorum being present. (c) No member debating any question shall be interrupted by questions until said member has finished the member's remarks, and all time taken in asking and answering questions shall be deducted from the time allotted to said member. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 48 (d) Debate offered in the House of Representatives shall in all cases be directed to the presiding officer in the form of Mister or Madam Speaker as the case may be. 9.5 – Privileges (a) Questions and motions of privilege shall be: First, those affecting the rights of the House collectively, its safety, dignity, and the integrity of its proceedings; Second, the right, reputation, and conduct of its members individually in their representative capacity only, and shall have precedence over all other questions, except motions to adjourn. (b) No member who obtains the floor on a question of personal privilege, or on a question of privileges of the House, shall debate any question, matter, or measure then pending in the House, or in any standing or special committee of the House, nor shall the member be allowed to yield the floor for questions from other members. 9.6 – Voting and Division (a) The electronic voting machine shall be used to record the vote whenever the ayes and nays are required or ordered. The machine shall also be used to determine the presence of a quorum or to determine the numerical count where a division is requested and ordered. In the event the machine is not operating properly, all votes and determinations of quorums may be taken by calling the roll. If a member's voting device is out of order, the member shall rise and so announce to the presiding officer and cast said member's vote orally prior to the declaration of the result of the vote. Every member shall vote providing the member is in the Chamber at the time the vote is in progress. (b) The electronic voting machine shall be under the control of the presiding officer and shall be operated by such clerk as the presiding officer so designates. At a reasonable time prior to any vote being taken, the presiding officer shall announce that a vote is about to be taken. When any member other than the Speaker is presiding, the member shall use the roll call switch located at the presiding officer's position upon the dais. When the Speaker is not presiding, the Speaker may direct the presiding officer to activate the Speaker's roll call switch in the manner requested by the Speaker. Any member who is present in the Chamber or is within the view of the presiding officer while a vote is in progress may direct another member to activate said member's roll call switch in the ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 49 manner requested by that member or may use the designated electronic voting station. The presiding officer, while a vote is in progress, may at his or her discretion, direct the clerk to activate another member’s roll call switch if the member is within the view of the presiding officer while a vote is in progress. (c) When sufficient time has elapsed for each member to vote, the presiding officer shall ask if any members present desire to vote or change their vote. Following such inquiry and before the electronic voting machine is locked, any member may be excused from voting, pursuant to the provisions of Article V, Section 24 of the Oklahoma Constitution. (d) The presiding officer shall then lock the machine and instruct the clerk to record the vote. The clerk shall immediately activate the recording equipment and, when the vote is completely recorded, shall advise the presiding officer of the result, and the presiding officer shall announce the result to the House. No vote may be changed after it has been recorded. (e) No member may vote for another member, nor may any person cast a vote for a member, except as otherwise provided in this rule. A member who votes for another member, except as herein provided, may be punished in a manner the House determines. A person voting for a member, when not authorized by this rule, shall be barred from the Chamber and may be further punished as the House considers proper. (f) When a division is requested and ordered, those in the affirmative or the negative, as the case may be, shall cast their votes accordingly and the clerk shall activate the electronic voting machine so as to reflect the individual ayes and nays and the numerical count, but no permanent record thereof shall be made. When the vote is completed, the clerk shall advise the presiding officer of the result, and the presiding officer shall announce the result to the House. In the event the machine is not operating properly, those in the affirmative shall arise from their seats and stand until they are counted aloud by the clerk, then those voting in the negative shall arise and stand until they are counted, and the presiding officer shall announce the result. (g) Except as provided in Rule 8.20(b), all votes on final passage of bills and resolutions, or the emergency clause thereof, shall be by recorded votes. One–fifteenth (1/15) of the members present, a quorum being present, may demand a recorded vote on any ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 50 proposition, or the presiding officer may order a recorded vote upon the presiding officer's own initiative. All such recorded votes shall be published in the House Journal. 9.7 – Conduct During Voting (a) While a vote is in progress and until the completion of a vote, and the announcement of the result, no member shall be recognized and no other business shall be transacted. (b) No explanation of any vote shall be permitted while a vote is in progress or after a vote has been cast, except pursuant to Article V, Section 24, of the Oklahoma Constitution. (c) No member, House employee, or other person shall visit or remain by the Reading Clerk or his or her assistant while a vote is in progress. 9.8 – Previous Question When a debatable question is before the House, any member may move the Previous Question. It shall be put in the following form: "The Previous Question has been moved. The Question is, shall the House cease debate and vote immediately on the pending question?" If the motion for the Previous Question passes, the pending question shall be put immediately and no member shall be heard to debate it further or seek to amend it. 9.9 – Motion to Advance Question When a debatable question is before the House, any member may move to Advance the Question. If the motion to Advance the Question passes, no further amendments to the matter considered shall be allowed and debate shall be limited to fifteen (15) minutes, equally divided between the proponents and opponents of the question, provided that no member may speak for more than five (5) minutes. After debate is concluded, the question shall be put immediately. 9.10 – Reconsideration (a) The final vote on Third Reading or Fourth Reading on any bill or joint resolution, or on the emergency clause thereof, or the final vote on adoption of a simple or concurrent resolution, may be reconsidered only if a member serves notice immediately after such final vote is taken prior to the consideration of any other ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 51 business, of said member's intention to present a motion to reconsider such action, and the presiding officer shall afford any member such opportunity prior to proceeding to consideration of any other business. (b) Unless presented and considered within three (3) legislative days, including the day upon which notice is served, a motion to reconsider shall be considered as having failed of adoption and the measure shall be treated as if the notice had never been lodged. (c) A motion to reconsider may be offered immediately or upon the same day the final vote is taken by the member who served notice, or by another member with said member's consent. On the last day of the reconsideration period, any member may seek recognition for a motion to reconsider. (d) Motions to reconsider shall be disposed of before the close of business on the last day of the time period specified for Third Reading and final passage for House and Senate measures. (e) On the last day of the time period specified for Third Reading and final passage for House and Senate measures, a motion to reconsider, lodged either upon that same day or upon the two (2) prior legislative days, may be offered by any member upon being recognized for such motion by the presiding officer. (f) On any day established as a deadline in Joint Rule 7, no motion to reconsider shall be recognized except immediately after a final vote is taken and prior to the consideration of any other business. A member may move to reconsider which motion shall be taken up immediately. (g) For adoption, a motion to reconsider must receive a majority vote of those elected to and constituting the House. Only one (1) reconsideration of the final vote on a bill, resolution, or emergency clause shall be allowed. Except as otherwise specifically provided in Rule 8.15, no question shall be subject to reconsideration in the House. 9.11 – Measures Vetoed By The Governor (a) When a bill or joint resolution is returned to the House because of a veto by the Governor, a motion to vote to override the veto shall be in order. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 52 (b) A motion to vote to override a veto by the Governor is debatable. Such debate shall be limited to thirty (30) minutes, equally divided between the proponents and opponents of the question; provided, that no member may speak for more than ten (10) minutes. (c) Prior to consideration of a motion to override the Governor’s veto, if the returned bill or joint resolution was accompanied by a message of explanation, such message shall be published to the House of Representatives as determined by the presiding officer. 9.12 – Quorum (a) At any time during the daily sessions of the House, a member recognized by the presiding officer may raise a question as to the presence of a quorum. If the presiding officer cannot ascertain whether or not there is a quorum, he or she shall, without debate, forthwith direct that the electronic voting machine be activated to determine the presence or absence of a quorum, and shall announce the result. (b) Whenever it shall be ascertained that a quorum is not present, the members present may, by motion adopted by a majority of those voting, direct the Chief Sergeant at Arms to request and, if necessary, to compel the presence of absent members, which motion shall be considered without debate. Pending its execution and until a quorum shall be present, no motion or debate, except to adjourn to a day and time certain, shall be in order. RULE TEN MOTIONS 10.1 – Precedence of Motions Pending questions shall rank in precedence as set forth below in paragraphs (a) through (e) of this section. Questions or motions not listed in this section shall be treated in the same manner as other motions of the same class. (a) Privileged Motions ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 53 Call of the House, quorum not present (not amendable – not debatable; see Rule 10.5(c); not subject to motion to table) To adjourn (not amendable – not debatable; see Rule 12.1 (b); not subject to motion to table) To adjourn to a time certain (amendable – not debatable; not subject to motion to table) To recess (amendable – not debatable; not subject to motion to table) (b) Questions of Privilege Questions and motions of privilege (as governed by Rule 9.5; subject to motion to table) Call of the House, quorum present (not amendable – debatable; see Rule 10.5; subject to motion to table) To work under the Call of the House (not amendable – debatable; see Rule 10.5; subject to motion to table) Question of presence of quorum (not amendable – debatable; subject to motion to table) (c) Incidental Motions Appeals (not amendable – not debatable, except as governed by Rule 9.2; subject to motion to table) Points of Order (not amendable – not debatable; not subject to motion to table) Parliamentary inquiries or like requests for information (not amendable – not debatable; not subject to motion to table) Requests for leave to withdraw a motion or question under consideration (not amendable – not debatable; see Rule 10.4; not subject to motion to table) Suspension of the Rules (not amendable – not debatable; not subject to motion to table) ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 54 Objection to consideration of a question (not amendable – not debatable; not subject to motion to table) Divide the Question (amendable – not debatable; subject to motion to table) Method of consideration (amendable – not debatable; not subject to motion to table) Question of priority (not amendable – not debatable; not subject to motion to table) Reading of papers (not amendable – not debatable; not subject to motion to table) (d) Subsidiary Motions To advance from General Order (not amendable – not debatable; not subject to motion to table) To table (not amendable – not debatable; not subject to itself) To put the previous question (not amendable – not debatable; the motion to put the previous question is applicable to all debatable questions regardless of rank; subject to motion to table) To Advance the Question (not amendable – not debatable; subject to motion to table) To extend time allocated for debate (amendable – not debatable; subject to motion to table) To postpone to a time certain (amendable – debatable; not subject to motion to table) To commit without instructions (not amendable – not debatable, except as to propriety of committing bill, resolution or main question; not subject to motion to table) To amend (amendable – debatable; subject to motion to table) To postpone indefinitely (not amendable – debatable; subject to motion to table) (e) Main Motions ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 55 A main motion shall be defined as a substantive proposal such as a bill, resolution, or any other question which requires passage, adoption, rejection, approval, or disapproval by the House of Representatives. Main questions include but are not limited to the following and shall rank in precedence as set forth below. All main motions shall be subject to motion to table. To fix the date and time to adjourn sine die (amendable – debatable) To reconsider (not amendable – debatable) To rescind (not amendable – debatable) To adopt a Senate amendment (not amendable – debatable) To reject a Senate amendment (not amendable – debatable) To reject a Senate amendment with instructions (not amendable – instructions not amendable – debatable) To adopt a conference committee report/joint committee report (not amendable – debatable) To reject a conference committee report/joint committee report (not amendable – debatable) To reject a conference committee report/joint committee report with instructions (not amendable – instructions not amendable – debatable) To commit with instructions (instructions amendable – debatable) To override the veto of the Governor (not amendable – debatable) To schedule a special order (amendable only as to time – debatable only as to question of setting the special order – measure itself not open to debate) Any other main question not specifically listed shall be taken up in the order offered. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 56 10.2 – Motions in Writing Every motion shall be rendered in writing as ordered by the presiding officer and may be read by the clerk before debate or vote if so ordered by the presiding officer. All motions shall be put by the presiding officer prior to debate and prior to ordering the vote. 10.3 – Vote Required for Adoption of Motions Except as otherwise specifically required by these Rules, or required by the Oklahoma Constitution, any motion, for adoption, need only receive a majority of those voting, a quorum being present. 10.4 – Withdrawal of Motions (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, prior to commencement of debate thereon, or prior to action being taken thereon if there be no debate, any motion may be withdrawn by the member offering the motion. Otherwise, such motion may be withdrawn only upon adoption of a motion to withdraw. (b) When a bill or resolution is under consideration within the House, the principal author or the member designated to present the bill or resolution on behalf of the principal author may withdraw said measure at any time prior to the vote being ordered on final passage of the bill or resolution. 10.5 – Call of the House (a) Call of the House may be moved at any time by any member, but must be seconded by fifteen (15) members. If there are more than three–fourths (3/4) of the House present at the time the motion is made, the motion must be seconded by thirty (30) members. If such motion prevails, the business pending shall be suspended, the roll shall be taken, and the names of the absentees ascertained. The Chief Sergeant at Arms shall then be directed by the presiding officer to compel the attendance of the absent members. After one (1) hour has expired, the roll shall again be taken and absent members noted in the Journal, and the business suspended upon the roll call shall proceed. If, however, before the expiration of the hour, all absent members, not otherwise excused, shall appear, the business pending shall then proceed. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 57 (b) If a Call of the House be ordered, a motion to "work under the Call of the House" shall be in order and, if adopted, the House shall proceed with any other business at hand except that interrupted by a Call of the House. (c) The Speaker, seconded by five (5) members, may move a Call of the House and send for absent members, provided there not be a quorum present. In all cases where an absent member shall be sent for and fails to attend in obedience to the summons, the report of the Chief Sergeant at Arms shall be entered in the Journal. RULE ELEVEN GENERAL PROVISIONS 11.1 – Investigations (a) No special committee established for the purpose of considering articles of impeachment or any other type of investigation shall be formed unless first authorized by a House resolution or by the Speaker. (b) If authorized by House resolution, the resolution shall define the duties and time period during which the committee shall exist. Any member or members requesting the investigation shall not serve as chairperson of the special committee. (c) Special committees established under this section shall, upon convening, adopt such rules and procedures as shall be determined by the committee to be in the best interest of the House of Representatives. 11.2 – Distribution Within House of Representatives (a) No object or item of literature shall be distributed on the House Floor in anticipation of or while the House is meeting in session except upon the sponsorship of a member of the House of Representatives whose name shall appear on each individual object or item of literature to be distributed. (b) All objects or items of literature distributed within the areas of the Capitol Building assigned to the House of Representatives shall display the name of the person or entity distributing such materials. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 58 (c) The selling of goods or services is prohibited in the areas of the Capitol Building assigned to the House of Representatives except as authorized by the Speaker or designee. 11.3 – Honorary Appointments No honorary appointments shall be recorded in the House Journal. 11.4 – Lobbying (a) All lobbying activities directed at the House shall be governed by Title 74, Section 4249 through 4255 of the Oklahoma Statutes and such other applicable rules lawfully promulgated by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. (b) No monetary contributions shall be accepted by any member or his or her staff on Capitol property at any time. 11.5 – Designated Smoking Areas No person shall smoke or vape within those parts of the Capitol Building assigned to the House. 11.6 – Members of the Press No persons shall be admitted to the designated press area in the House Gallery except members, House staff authorized by the Speaker, members of the press bearing permits signed by the Speaker, or designee, and the chairpersons of the Capitol Press organizations and guests with the written permission of the Speaker and the chairpersons of the Capitol Press organizations. 11.7 – Legislative Records (a) Records that are required to be created by these Rules or that are of vital, permanent, or archival value shall be maintained in the Office of the Chief Clerk. (b) Other records that are no longer needed for any purpose and that do not have sufficient administrative, legal, or fiscal significance to warrant their retention shall be disposed of systematically. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 59 (c) A digital recording shall be made of each day’s session by the Office of the Chief Clerk which shall be compiled and stored on a digital device suitable for archival purposes. (d) The committee staff assigned to each existing committee shall ensure compliance with this Rule for all records created or received by the committee or for a former committee whose jurisdiction has been assigned to the committee. (e) The Speaker and all House officers under the direction of the Speaker shall ensure compliance with this Rule for all records created or received by their respective offices and their predecessors in office. (f) All records required by Rule 7 shall be made available on the House website at least for the duration of the Session. (g) Members shall submit a written request to the Chief Clerk and Chief Parliamentarian to have the House Journal reflect a Member's voting intention within one (1) legislative day of the original vote. 11.8 – Technical Corrections (a) The Office of Engrossing and Enrolling is authorized to correct misspelled words, citations, doublets, grammatical errors, or repeated words when engrossing House bills or joint resolutions, or House amendments to engrossed Senate bills or joint resolutions. (b) When engrossing or enrolling House bills or joint resolutions, preparing House amendments to engrossed Senate bills or joint resolutions, and when preparing committee reports, the House staff is authorized to: 1. remove sections from a bill or joint resolution labeled as amendatory but which consist entirely of existing law and contain no amendments to the existing law; 2. incorporate amendments to sections of law in the bill or joint resolution which are contained in legislation enacted previously during the same Legislature and amending the same sections of law and repeal such previous versions of the section at issue if, in the opinion of the House legal staff, the incorporation of such amendments and repeal of the previous version would clearly ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 60 not conflict with the amendments contained in the legislation at issue; 3. modify sections of such measures which provide for a measure to become effective on July 1 or on a date earlier than ninety (90) days after the date of anticipated sine die adjournment to read to reflect an effective date of ninety (90) days after the date of actual sine die adjournment, or to delete such sections, if the emergency clause has failed to receive the required number of votes for passage; 4. delete language in such sections of such measures which provide for a measure to become effective on a date prior to such engrossment or enrollment; 5. modify the effective date of carry over bills by striking the effective date; and 6. draft a referendum clause and ballot title if a measure is deemed a revenue-raising measure pursuant to Rule 6.11 and is adopted but fails to receive a three–fourths (3/4) vote in both Chambers. 11.9 – Convening Restrictions No legislative day shall begin between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 8:00 a.m. on any calendar day. 11.10 – Security Upon convening in regular or special session, no member of the House of Representatives, without the express permission of the Chief Sergeant at Arms, shall enter upon the roof of the Capitol Building within the areas adjacent to the hall of the House. 11.11 – Utilization of House Resources Caucuses, other than the Majority and Minority Caucuses, must register with the Chief Clerk if they use any House resources. Such registration shall include a listing of all members and invited guests of the Caucus and their organizational documents. The Chief Sergeant at Arms shall be notified, in advance, if invited guests will be attending any caucus functions. RULE TWELVE ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 61 ADJOURNMENT OR RECESS 12.1 – Motion to Adjourn or Recess (a) When a motion to adjourn or recess is adopted, no member or officer shall leave said member's or officer's place until the adjournment or recess shall be declared by the presiding officer. (b) When the House adjourns it shall be to 1:30 p.m. of the succeeding legislative day unless another day and/or hour be specifically named, which day and/or hour shall be entered in the Journal. (c) A motion to adjourn or recess shall always be in order when the floor can be obtained for that purpose. When a vote is being taken, a motion to adjourn or recess shall not be in order. When it is apparent to the presiding officer that the motion to adjourn or recess is being made for the purpose of delay and such motion has been voted in the negative, within the next preceding ten (10) minutes, the presiding officer, in the discretion of the presiding officer, may rule the motion out of order as being dilatory. (d) In the event of fire, riot, or other extreme emergency, if the presiding officer believes taking the time for a vote on recessing or adjourning would be dangerous to those present, the presiding officer may declare the House recessed or adjourned to a call of the chair. (e) A legislative day shall be adjourned no later than 12:00 midnight of the calendar day that it began. 12.2 – Absence of a Quorum In the absence of a quorum, the Speaker with three (3) members shall be a sufficient number to adjourn to a time certain. 12.3 – Sine Die Adjournment (a) The date and time of sine die adjournment of each Regular Session of the Legislature shall be established by motion or resolution except that Regular Session shall be finally adjourned sine die at 5:00 p.m. on the last Friday in May of each year by operation of the Oklahoma Constitution. Upon arrival of 5:00 p.m. on the last Friday in May, no further business shall be conducted by ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 62 the House and the presiding officer shall declare the House adjourned sine die. (b) A Special or Extraordinary Session shall be finally adjourned sine die no later than the fifteenth day succeeding the General Election unless the date and time of sine die adjournment shall be otherwise established by motion or resolution at an earlier date and time. RULE THIRTEEN INTERIM STUDIES 13.1 – Interim Studies (a) When the Legislature is not in session, the Speaker shall have the authority to direct committees to make interim studies for such purposes as the Speaker may designate. (b) The Speaker shall provide to the Chief Clerk of the House a copy of interim charges made to a standing or select committee. (c) The committees shall meet as often as necessary to transact effectively the business assigned to them and may continue to exercise the oversight and investigatory powers granted in Rule 7.13. 13.2 – Requests for Interim Studies No resolution requesting or authorizing an interim study of any matter or proposition by the House, or a committee thereof, shall be introduced in or considered by the House. All such requests for interim study shall be submitted on request forms available to any member in the office of the Chief Clerk of the House. 13.3 – Quorum During a legislative interim, no committee shall take any final action unless a quorum of the membership of the committee is present. 13.4 – Meeting Notice During a legislative interim, published notice of any interim committee meeting shall be given at least ten (10) days prior to the ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 63 meeting. The staff of the House shall publish the meeting notices required by this section. The ten–day notice requirement of this section shall not apply to a committee or subcommittee meeting with a Senate committee or subcommittee on an interim study assigned for joint study. RULE FOURTEEN RULES 14.1 – Suspension or Amendment of Rules (a) These Rules may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those elected to and constituting the House; provided, any amendment to the Rules recommended by the Committee on Rules shall be effective if approved by a majority of the members elected to and constituting the House. (b) If the Committee on Rules shall recommend revisions or amendments to the Rules, the House shall be given one (1) day's prior notice before consideration of the recommended changes may commence. (c) Two-thirds (2/3) of the members elected to and constituting the House may suspend the Rules, or a portion thereof, but a motion for that purpose shall be decided without debate. The motion shall include the specific rule to be suspended. 14.2 – Parliamentary Authorities Any parliamentary questions not provided for by the Oklahoma Constitution or these Rules shall be governed by the ruling of the Speaker. The Speaker shall publish these substantive rulings in a volume of precedents. In making his or her ruling, the Speaker may rely upon, but is not bound by, these published rulings or other parliamentary authorities, including, but not limited to, the latest edition of Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure. 14.3 – Rules Effective (a) These Rules shall be in full force and effect for the duration of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature unless amended, as provided herein. ENR. H. R. NO. 1002 Page 64 (b) Upon convening for a Special or Extraordinary Session, the time constraints in Rule 8.8 for filing main floor amendments and amendments to main floor amendments shall not be applicable. Adopted by the House of Representatives the 7th day of January, 2025. Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________ day of __________________, 20 _______, at _______ o'clock _______ M. By: _________________________________