A house RESOLUTION

TO AMEND RULE 5.19 AND 8.6 OF THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, BOTH RELATING TO THE SET TIME LIMITS MEMBERS MAY SPEAK ON CERTAIN MATTERS BEFORE THE BODY, BOTH SO AS TO CLARIFY THAT THE TIME ALLOTMENT DOES NOT CONTINUE TO RUN DURING POINTS OF ORDER, PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRIES, AND OTHER SIMILAR MOTIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES.

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That Rule 5.19 of the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended to read:

5.19   a.   No member shall speak more than twice on the main question of a bill or resolution being considered for any reading and not longer than sixty minutes for the first speech nor longer than thirty minutes for the second speech, unless allowed to do so by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and voting. No member shall speak more than twice upon an amendment or a motion to reconsider that is debatable and then not longer than ten minutes each time. However, if the previous question has been invoked, no member may speak more than twice on a motion to reconsider that is debatable and then not longer than the amount of time remaining for debate of the underlying motion; provided, that proposed amendments announced and introduced by the Reading Clerk shall be considered prior to a member speaking on the bill. No member shall speak more than twice on Senate amendments to a House bill and not longer than sixty minutes for the first speech nor longer than thirty minutes for the second speech, unless allowed to do so by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and voting. The House may, however, by consent of a majority of the members present and voting suspend the operation of this rule during any debate on any particular question before the House.

   Provided, each bill or joint resolution, prior to receiving second reading, must be explained for a minimum of ten minutes or until all questions from House members are addressed, whichever occurs first. The committee chairman of the committee to which a bill or joint resolution was referred, the committee chairman's designee, the sponsor(s) of the bill or joint resolution, and other members of the House may jointly explain the bill or joint resolution in order to provide the required explanation.

   b.   Subsection a. of this rule shall be applicable on a section by section basis on debate upon the General Appropriations Bill, the Supplemental Appropriations Bill, or the bond bills but shall not apply to bills on reapportionment.

   c.   The question of granting Free Conference Powers shall require an affirmative vote of two thirds of the membership of the House and is not debatable. No member shall speak more than twice on the question of adoption of a Conference or Free Conference Report and not longer than sixty minutes for the first speech nor longer than thirty minutes for the second speech, unless allowed to do so by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and voting. When the pending question is adoption of a Conference or Free Conference Report, the yeas and nays must be taken by roll call and the votes on it must be recorded by name in the Journal. Furthermore, the question of adoption of a Conference or Free Conference Report is subject to the provisions of Rule 8.6.

   d.   The time limits set by this rule when a member is speaking are paused and the time allotment does not continue to run during points of order, parliamentary inquires, or other similar motions or circumstances.

That Rule 8.6 of the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended to read:

8.6   The previous question upon any matter may be invoked as follows:

   Upon an affirmative vote on a motion for the previous question (fifty percent of those present and voting, a quorum being present, plus five, being required to interrupt debate and a simple majority vote at all other times), the amendments then upon the desk shall be considered, but no further amendments shall be allowed to be offered unless the amendment has at least two thirds of the membership of the House as its sponsor. The proponents of an amendment shall be allowed an opportunity to make a short explanation of his amendment for a period not to exceed three minutes, then opponents to the amendment shall be permitted not more than three minutes to oppose the proposed amendment. Then two hours of debate shall be allowed on the bill, the time being equally divided between opponents and proponents with no person to speak more than ten minutes. Provided, that after the previous question has been invoked, the primary sponsor of an amendment may withdraw it with unanimous consent without making a motion to table it.

   Provided, the previous question may be invoked on a motion to reconsider only when the matter to be reconsidered is debatable.

   Provided, a motion to adjourn debate shall be in order even though the previous question has been invoked.

   Provided, further, any member who has been recognized by the Speaker and is speaking from the podium, is considered to be debating the issue and a call for the previous question, whether by the member or any other member, requires the necessary fifty percent of those present and voting plus five.

The time limits set by this rule when a member is speaking are paused and the time allotment does not continue to run during points of order, parliamentary inquires, or other similar motions or circumstances.

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