Senate > Rules > Rule 14

      When a question is under debate, no motion shall be entertained, unless otherwise provided for in the Rules, but

          1. To adjourn
          2. To adjourn to a date and time certain
          3. To recede for a fixed period of time or to a time certain
          4. To appeal a decision of the Chair
          5. To go into Executive Session
          6. To take up order of the day
          7. To continue
          8. To lay on the table
          9. To adjourn debate to a certain day or to adjourn debate
        10. To carry over
        11. To strike out the enacting clause
        12. To commit or recommit
        13. To reconsider
        14. To amend

which several motions may only be made by the Senator having the floor and shall have precedence in the order in which they are above arranged, and the first ten (10) of which shall be determined without debate. A motion to lay an amendment on the table being agreed to shall not have the effect of disposing of the main question.

      Provided, however, when a Bill or any other matter is under debate, a motion to carry over may be made by the Senator having the floor, with such Senator retaining the floor on that Bill or any other matter upon an affirmative vote of twenty six (26) members of the Senate. Provided, that when a Bill or any other matter is under debate and a motion to carry over is made pursuant to a majority vote of the Rules Committee for a carry over motion, the Senator having the floor shall retain the floor on that Bill or other matter upon a majority vote of those members present and voting. The Rules Committee vote requirement can be fulfilled either at a duly called meeting of the Rules Committee or the Committee may be polled in accordance with Rule 10.

      No motion to carry over, either by the Senator who has the floor or by the Rules Committee as provided herein, shall be in order for any Bill in the status of Interrupted Debate for less than one legislative day. The failure of a motion to carry over by an individual Senator or by the Rules Committee shall not cause the member who has the floor to lose the floor.

      When a motion to adjourn debate is passed, the Bill to which it applies is subject to consideration on the next legislative day that the Senate reaches that order of business. When a motion to adjourn debate to a date certain is passed, the Bill to which it applies is not subject to consideration until the date so specified, if the Senate reaches that order of business. If the Senate does not reach that order of business, the Bill remains in adjourned debate status.

      A motion to ratify acts may be made by any Committee Chairman at any time and must receive a majority vote of the membership of the Senate.

      At any time and with the Senator who has the floor retaining the floor, the President Pro Tempore or his designee may make a motion to recede for a fixed period of time or to a time certain.

      Whenever a member who has been recognized and properly holds the floor makes a motion relating to any business, matter or other question before the Senate, such motion shall require a majority vote of those present and voting unless otherwise provided. If a request is made to repeat or restate any such motion, it shall only be repeated or restated by the member originally making the motion.

      No member may make any dilatory motion, including placing amendments on the desk, or take any other action or use any parliamentary tactic for the purpose of delaying or obstructing business.

Last Updated: 1/15/2019 at 11:21 AM