Rule 5. Sec. 4. Introducers Signing Bills.

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(d) Individual Starting with the 2025 legislative session, individual members shall not be limited to the number of bills no more than 20 bills introduced each at any one session. Each committee shall be limited to 10 bills introduced each session. Bills introduced as a result of an interim study of the Legislative Council shall be included within the limitations prescribed by this section. Special committees created as a result of an interim study resolution and as authorized by the Executive Board shall be considered as separate committees for purposes of the limitations prescribed by this section. Bills introduced under Rule 5, Section 3(a), Rule 5, Section 4(c)(3), and bills introduced at the request of the Governor shall governor will not be included in the limitation.

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Rule 3. Sec. 4. Select Committees.

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(iii) The Clerk of the Legislature's office shall be responsible for the collection of pertinent information on gubernatorial appointments. That information will be distributed to the appropriate standing committee prior to the time of the confirmation hearing. The Clerk's office shall be the "depository" for background information on the appointed individual, including a statement of financial interests if applicable, and any other biographical information that the committee chair feels is appropriate for the committee to have before it during the confirmation process. In addition to such information, the committee legal counsel shall search any publicly available information on the appointee’s background, including, but not limited to, filed conflict of interest statements, media stories, and criminal history records. The committee legal counsel shall prepare an objective report for the committee detailing all such information gathered and make such report available to the members of the committee at least two days prior to the appointee’s confirmation hearing.

(iv) The committees to which a gubernatorial appointee has been referred for confirmation shall conduct a confirmation hearing. Each appointee shall be required to appear in person before the committee conducting the confirmation hearing. The appearance of the appointee may be waived for good cause as determined by the chair of the committee.

The committee shall prepare a report which approves, rejects, or makes no recommendation on the appointment. Said report shall be filed with the Clerk of the Legislature. The Legislature shall then have the opportunity to accept or reject the report of the committee.

If the Legislature fails to adopt a report to approve an appointment by a majority vote of the elected members, the appointment is thereby rejected.

If the report coming from the committee is to reject the appointment, and the Legislature fails to adopt the report by a majority vote of the elected members, then the appointment is thereby approved provided the report receives a majority vote in the negative.

In the event that the committee files a report making no recommendation on the appointment, the report shall be considered by the Legislature within five legislative days, and no later than the scheduled adjournment sine die of the current legislative session. The Legislature shall consider a motion to approve the appointment, which shall require a majority of the elected members for approval. If the Legislature fails to approve the motion, the appointment is thereby rejected.

In the event a motion on a report fails to receive either in the affirmative or negative a majority vote of the elected members, then such appointment shall be deemed rejected.

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Rule 7, Sec. 4. Shall the Debate Cease.

The previous question shall be in this form, "Shall the debate now close?".

The previous question shall be made only in the normal course of speaking order and shall be in order when demanded by five or more members, and must be sustained by the vote of a majority of the elected members, and until decided shall, except as provided in this section of this rule, preclude further debate and all amendments and motions, except one motion to adjourn. The presiding officer may rule the previous question out of order if in the presiding officer's opinion a full and fair debate has not been afforded, due to the complexity of the subject matter. The ruling of the presiding officer shall be subject to overrule in accordance with Rule 1, Section 12 of these rules.

On a previous question there shall be no debate. All incidental questions of order, arising after a motion is made for a previous question, and pending such motion, shall be decided, whether on appeal or otherwise, without debate.

When the previous question shall have been ordered on a proposition under debate, the mover, proponent, or introducer of such proposition shall be given the right to close the debate thereon.

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Rule 2. Sec. 8. Transgression of Rules, Call Member to Order.

Sec. 8. Transgression of Rules, Call Member to Order. If any member, in speaking or otherwise, transgresses the Rules of the Legislature, the presiding officer shall, or any member may, at any time before the end of the legislative day during which such transgression occurred, call such member to order, in which case he or she shall immediately sit down, unless permitted on motion of another member to explain, and the Legislature shall, if appealed to, decide the case without debate. If the decision be in favor of the member called to order, he or she shall be at liberty to proceed, but not otherwise, and if the case requires it, he or she shall be liable to censure or such punishment as the Legislature may deem proper.

Rule 2. Sec. 9. Words Excepted To.

Sec. 9. Words Excepted To. If a member is called to order for words spoken in debate, the member calling him or her to order shall indicate the words excepted to, and they shall be taken down in writing at the Clerk's desk and read aloud to the Legislature, but he or she shall not be held to answer, nor be subject to the censure of the Legislature therefore, if such call to order is not made before the end of the legislative day during which such words excepted to were spoken further debate or other business shall have intervened.

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Rule 7. Sec. 3. Motion in Writing, Withdrawal.

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(d) No motion, proposition, or subject, different from that under consideration, shall be admitted under color of amendment. Any amendment that is not germane is out of order. Germane amendments relate only to details of the specific subject of the bill and must be in a natural and logical sequence to the subject matter of the original proposal. A nongermane amendment includes one that relates to a substantially different subject.

(e) Any member may call for the division of a question, which shall be divided if it comprehends propositions in substance so distinct that, one being taken away, a substantive proposition shall remain for the decision of the Legislature. Once a call for a division is made ordered by the presiding officer, each component shall be treated as a separate and distinct proposition. For purposes of germaneness, even if a question is germane prior to a request for division, each and every other component or proposition of the divided question will be subject to germaneness rulings. Once a vote or change has occurred on any of the divisible questions, the remaining divided sections may not be withdrawn without a majority of those voting or without unanimous consent. A motion to strike out and insert shall be deemed indivisible, but a motion to strike out being lost, shall not preclude an amendment or a motion to strike out or insert. Such call for division shall not be allowed when considering motions under Rule 6, Section 6. Such a call for division shall not be allowed for bills listed under Rule 8, Section 1(b).

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Rule 3, Sec. 4. Select Committees.

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v) Appointments of agency or department heads serving at the pleasure of the Governor shall be considered individually by the Legislature upon receipt of the committee report.

Any other appointments reported by the committee may be presented in a single report, provided the committee's recommendation is identical for all such appointments. This report may be scheduled by the Speaker for collective consideration and action by the Legislature. The Speaker shall announce proposed nominations for collective consideration two legislative days prior to their placement on the agenda. The full report shall be indivisible; however, any individual nomination may be removed from the report upon written request of five or more senators. Such requests must be filed with the Clerk prior to the commencement of consideration of the appointments. Any nomination so removed shall be scheduled by the Speaker for individual consideration.

Renumber the remaining subdivisions.

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Rule 2, Sec. 7. Senator Desiring to Speak.

(a) When a member desires to speak in debate or to deliver any matter to the Legislature, he or she shall rise from his or her seat and respectfully address himself or herself to "Mr. or Madame President." A member shall speak only when recognized and shall confine his or her remarks to the question before the Legislature.(b) No member shall interrupt the business of the Legislature nor speak to another who has the floor, except when he or she may yield to a question. No guest will be introduced during the legislative session except dignitaries and such dignitaries shall only be introduced by the presiding officer, provided that the presiding officer can announce the presence of visiting groups or organizations at his or her discretion. Those individuals and groups not introduced may be inserted in the Journal by request. No member shall use profane or abusive language when speaking to or about another member.

(c)(i) When speaking, a member shall maintain germane speech by confining his or her speech to address the question under consideration in an orderly manner. The presiding officer shall, or a member may, call another member to order for nongermane speech. For purposes of this subdivision, germane speech means relevant speech that pertains to the question under consideration or the main subject that has been opened by the underlying bill, resolution, amendment, rule, or matter to which such current question is related. It may include the discussion of any impact on current law, and comparisons and interrelated aspects of other bills, resolutions, amendments, or rules that are currently introduced or were previously introduced that are logically connected. It may also include philosophy, principles, research, or lessons that could be logically applied to the question or subject under consideration. Such definition of germane speech shall be liberally applied by the presiding officer and members. Nongermane speech is irrelevant or disorderly speech that is persistent in its irrelevance or repetition. Nongermane speech shall be addressed in the manner provided under subdivisions (c)(ii) through (iv) of this section.

(ii) When the presiding officer or another member first calls a member to order for nongermane speech, the presiding officer shall issue a warning and direct the member to keep his or her remarks germane to the question before the Legislature. If the relevance of the member’s speech is unclear, the presiding officer may allow the member called to order to quickly explain the relevant point he or she seeks to make and then allow the member to continue.

(iii) If after such warning the same member persistently engages in nongermane speech, the presiding officer shall, or another member may, call the member to order, in which case such member shall sit down, unless permitted on the motion of another member to explain. The presiding officer shall then state the presiding officer’s ruling, and if determining that such speech is nongermane, shall state “The member’s speech is nongermane and therefore out of order.” If so ruled, the member shall not be permitted to continue to speak on the bill, resolution, amendment, rule, or matter during the remainder of that stage of debate. A motion to overrule the chair shall not be in order for purposes of this subdivision.

(iv) If a member who has been previously ruled out of order for nongermane speech is again called to order by the presiding officer or another member during any further stage of debate of the same bill, resolution, amendment, rule, or matter, the presiding officer shall state “Shall the member be twice ruled out of order for nongermane speech?” The Legislature shall then decide the question without debate. If the member is twice ruled out of order for nongermane speech, the member shall immediately sit down and not be permitted to continue to speak during any further debate on that bill, resolution, amendment, rule, or matter. A motion to overrule the chair shall not be in order for purposes of this subdivision. This subdivision shall be applied in the event of any subsequent nongermane speech by such member in debate on any other bill, resolution, amendment, rule, or matter as constituting having been previously ruled out of order for nongermane speech.

Sec. 8. Transgression of Rules, Call Member to Order. If any member, in speaking or otherwise, transgresses the Rules of the Legislature, the presiding officer shall, or any member may, call such member to order, in which case he or she shall immediately sit down, unless permitted on motion of another member to explain, and the Legislature shall, if appealed to, decide the case without debate. If the decision be in favor of the member called to order, he or she shall be at liberty to proceed, but not otherwise, and if the case requires it, he or she shall be liable to censure or such punishment as the Legislature may deem proper.

Rule 2, Sec. 8 Sec. 9. Words Excepted To. No member shall use profane or abusive language, including when speaking to or about another member. If a member is called to order for words spoken in debate, the member calling him or her to order shall indicate the words excepted to, and they shall be taken down in writing at the Clerk's desk and read aloud to the Legislature, but he or she shall not be held to answer, nor be subject to the censure of the Legislature therefore, if further debate or other business shall have intervened.

Rule 2, Sec. 9 Sec. 10. Time Limit on Speaking. The introducer of the matter pending may speak for ten minutes when he or she first presents the matter to the Legislature. Each member shall be allowed to speak up to three times for not more than five minutes on each occasion, upon any one question in deliberation during the legislative day, without leave of the Legislature, unless he or she be the introducer of the matter pending in which case he or she shall be permitted to close after every other member choosing to speak shall have spoken or after a motion to cease debate has prevailed. The introducer's close shall be included within the three opportunities permitted for speaking to an issue.

Rule 2, Sec. 10 Sec. 11. Personal Privilege. Personal privilege shall be, first, those affecting the rights, dignity, and integrity of the Legislature collectively; and second, the rights, reputation, and conduct of members individually. They shall have precedence over all other questions except motions to adjourn. Personal privilege shall not be used to permit any discussion or debate pertaining to any measure pending before the Legislature. All questions of privilege shall be channeled through the presiding officer, who shall determine their order of consideration.

Rule 2, Sec. 11. Transgression of Rules, Call Member to Order. If any member, in speaking or otherwise, transgresses the Rules of the Legislature, the presiding officer shall, or any member may, call such member to order, in which case he or she shall immediately sit down, unless permitted on motion of another member to explain, and the Legislature shall, if appealed to, decide the case without debate. If the decision be in favor of the member called to order, he or she shall be at liberty to proceed, but not otherwise, and if the case requires it, he or she shall be liable to censure or such punishment as the Legislature may deem proper.

Rule 7, Sec. 10. Title of Rule.

Sec. 10. Cloture. At any stage of consideration the principal introducer of the bill, resolution, or main motion under consideration, a cointroducer with the consent of the principal introducer, or the chairperson of the committee, or the vice chair of the committee in the absence of the committee chair, if the bill, resolution, or main motion is introduced by that committee, may move for cloture to the presiding officer, except that motions to adopt permanent or temporary rules or amendments to the permanent or temporary rules may not be subject to cloture. The presiding officer may rule a motion for cloture out of order if, in the presiding officer's opinion, a full and fair debate has not been afforded. Such ruling by the presiding officer shall not be subject to challenge. Whenever a motion for cloture is offered, the presiding officer shall immediately recognize such introducer or chairperson and shall then order debate on the pending amendment or motion to cease. A vote on the cloture motion shall be taken immediately. A three-fifths two-thirds majority of the elected members shall be for the cloture motion to be successful. A motion for cloture shall be in order except while a member is speaking, and a motion for cloture is not debatable. If the motion for cloture is successful, a vote on the pending matter shall be taken immediately, without debate. If the pending matter is an amendment to an amendment, following a vote on the amendment to the amendment, a vote shall be taken on the original amendment. If the original amendment has been divided, then the vote shall be on the original undivided amendment being considered. Finally, a vote on the advancement of the bill shall be taken.

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Rule 7, Sec. 10. Cloture.

At any stage of consideration the principal introducer of the bill, resolution, or main motion under consideration, a cointroducer with the consent of the principal introducer, or the chairperson of the committee, or the vice chair of the committee in the absence of the committee chair, if the bill, resolution, or main motion is introduced by that committee, may move for cloture to the presiding officer, except that motions to adopt permanent or temporary rules or amendments to the permanent or temporary rules may not be subject to cloture. The presiding officer may rule a motion for cloture out of order if, in the presiding officer's opinion, a full and fair debate has not been afforded. Such ruling by the presiding officer shall not be subject to challenge. Whenever a motion for cloture is offered, the presiding officer shall immediately recognize such introducer or chairperson and shall then order debate on the pending amendment or motion to cease. A vote on the cloture motion shall be taken immediately. A motion for cloture shall be deemed successful whenever passed by two-thirds of the members voting Yea or Nay with no fewer than 25 affirmative votes. A vote of Present/Not Voting shall not be counted as a vote when voting on a cloture motion. A motion for cloture on a major proposal shall require a three-fifths majority of the members voting Yea or Nay to pass two-thirds majority of the elected members shall be for the cloture motion to be successful. A vote on a cloture motion shall be a record machine vote. A motion for cloture shall be in order except while a member is speaking, and a motion for cloture is not debatable. If the motion for cloture is successful, a vote on the pending matter shall be taken immediately, without debate. If the pending matter is an amendment to an amendment, following a vote on the amendment to the amendment, a vote shall be taken on the original amendment. If the original amendment has been divided, then the vote shall be on the original undivided amendment being considered. Finally, a vote on the advancement of the bill shall be taken.

A motion for cloture shall have precedence over all other motions except a motion to recess or adjourn.

A motion for cloture which fails for lack of sufficient votes shall result in the debate on the bill ending for the day. When the Speaker chooses to resume debate on the bill, successive motions for cloture shall not be in order until one two additional hour hours of debate on the bill has occurred. If the presiding officer rejects a motion for cloture on a bill due to lack of full and fair debate, successive motions for cloture on the bill may be offered at any time.

Rule 11 - Motions for Debate on Rule Changes.

All Rules of Procedure shall take precedence and hold priority over any motions for debate on changes to the rules.

Section. 1. Motion, in Writing, Withdrawal, Parameters of Debate. (a) A motion when debating changes to the rules shall be either stated by the presiding officer or read by the Clerk before a vote is taken. All motions shall be submitted in writing if requested by the presiding officer or any senator.

(b) Once motions are stated they may be withdrawn or modified by the mover before a decision or ordering of a vote has been made. A motion to reconsider may be withdrawn only with unanimous consent or a viva voce majority vote of the elected members.

(c) The Speaker shall order the debate on the rules, shall set time parameters for debate on each proposed rule change, and shall allot up to eight hours of debate on any proposed rule change. Upon completion of the debate or expiration of the allotted time for debate as prescribed by the Speaker, whichever comes first, a record machine vote shall be taken to advance the proposed rule change. If there is a pending motion or amendment before the body when either the debate ends or the allotted time for debate expires, a record machine vote shall be taken on the pending matter followed by an immediate record machine vote to advance the proposed rule change. If the pending matter is an amendment to an amendment, following a record machine vote on the amendment to the amendment, a record machine vote shall be taken on the original amendment. If the original amendment has been divided, then the record machine vote shall be on the original undivided amendment being considered.

(d) If the Legislature has not adopted a permanent set of standardized rules by the 15th scheduled day of the session during an odd numbered year, a motion to adopt the previous year's set of standardized rules as amended shall be in order. A motion to adopt the previous year's set of standardized rules is neither amendable nor debatable.

(e) Because proposed rule changes effect parliamentary procedures rather than the constitutions or the state statutes, they shall require only one round of debate and shall not be subject to the three rounds of debate reserved for bills and resolutions for constitutional amendments.

Sec. 2. Proposals. Propositions considered for a standardized set of rules and propositions considered for changes in the rules shall take the form of a rules proposal and shall be known as a proposed rule change. Because proposed rule changes are neither bills nor resolutions, they must be submitted in a legible written form with new language to be added to the rule underlined or written in red ink and language to be deleted from the rule shown with a strike through.

Sec.3. Ordering of Priority Motions. Priority motions shall take precedence over and hold priority over non-priority motions, but shall not hold precedence over or hold priority over any of the Rules of Procedure. Priority motions shall take precedence in the following order:

• (1) To recess
• (2) To adjourn
• (3) Call the question
• (4) Motion to adopt temporary rules
• (5) For cloture
• (6) Motion to adopt permanent rules
• (7) To Recommit
• (8) To postpone to a time certain [Bracket]
• (9) To postpone indefinitely

Sec.4. Priority Motions.

(a) Motion to Recess.

(1) The motion to recess is a motion to temporarily suspend debate on a proposed rule change or an amendment to a proposed rule change. A motion to recess shall hold precedence over and hold priority over all other priority motions, but shall not be in order when another member is speaking or when a motion to adjourn or recess has just been defeated.

(2) Successive motions to recess for dilatory purposes shall never be in order and shall be subject to the dilatory rule.

(3) The motion to recess is not debatable, except that the Speaker shall be privileged to speak to the motion prior to any vote on such motion.

(4) The motion to recess shall be deemed successful whenever a viva voce majority of the members present agree.

(b) Motion to Adjourn.

(1) The motion to adjourn is a motion to end debate on any rules proposals or other matters for the remainder of the day with the intention of returning for further debate on the rules at the next scheduled legislative day.

(2) A motion to adjourn to a time certain shall have precedence over a motion to adjourn. A motion to recess shall take precedence over either of such motions. Successive motions to adjourn for dilatory purposes shall never be in order and shall be subject to the dilatory rule.

(3) When a motion to adjourn has been made, the Speaker shall be privileged to speak to the motion prior to any vote on such motion. A motion to adjourn is not debatable.

(4) A motion to adjourn shall be deemed successful whenever a record majority of the members present agree.

(c) Motion to Call the Question.

(1) A motion to call the question is a motion asking the presiding officer to end debate on a proposed rule change, an amendment, or a motion by calling for the previous (concluding) question. A Senator making the motion for the previous question, shall ask the presiding officer to call for the previous question. The presiding officer shall then ask the body, "Shall debate cease?"

(2) At any time during a debate on a proposed rule change any member of the body wishing to end debate on a proposed rule change, an amendment, or a motion and who has been recognized by the presiding officer to speak may call for the debate to cease by calling for the previous question.

(3) A motion to call for the question shall be made only in the normal course of speaking order and shall be in order when demanded by ten or more members, and must be sustained by a record vote of a majority of the elected members, and until decided shall, except as provided in this section of this rule, preclude further debate and all amendments and motions, except a motion to recess or a motion to adjourn.

(4) On a motion to call the question there shall be no debate. All incidental questions of order, arising after a motion is made for a previous question, and pending such motion, shall be decided, whether on appeal or otherwise, without debate.

(5) When the previous question shall have been ordered on a proposed rule change, the chair of the Rules Committee shall be given the right to close the debate thereon.

(6) A motion for the previous question shall be deemed successful by way of a record majority vote of the members present.

(d) Motion to Adopt Temporary Rules. A motion to adopt temporary rules is a motion to adopt the rules from a previous session of the Legislature or another set of standardized rules until permanent rules have been so adopted. A motion to adopt temporary rules shall be deemed successful when passed by a record majority vote of the members elected. Once permanent rules have been adopted, the motion to adopt temporary rules shall be deemed out of order, except when preceded by a successful motion to suspend the rules.

(e) Motion to Adopt Permanent Rules. A motion to adopt permanent rules is a motion to adopt a set of standardized rules for the remainder of the Legislative session at hand. Any member of the Legislature may move to adopt a permanent set of standardized rules, provided that no permanent set of rules have yet been adopted. The presiding officer shall not recognize a motion to adopt a permanent set of rules unless such motion is supported by one tenth of the members elected and verified by a show of hands. A motion to adopt a permanent set of rules shall be deemed successful when passed by a majority roll call vote of the members elected.

(f) Motion for Cloture.

(1) The motion for cloture is a motion to end debate on the current amendment to the rules under consideration and immediately proceed to voting on the proposal along with any pending amendments to the proposal which have already been recognized by the presiding officer during the course of the debate. At any time during debate on the rules the principal introducer of a proposed rule change under consideration or the chairperson of the rules committee may move for cloture to the presiding officer. Whenever a motion for cloture is offered, the presiding officer shall immediately recognize such introducer or chairperson and shall then order debate on the pending motion to cease. A vote on the cloture motion shall then be taken.

(2) A motion for cloture on an amendment to a proposed rule change shall be in order except while a member is speaking, and a motion for cloture is not debatable. If the motion for cloture is successful, a vote on the pending matter shall be taken immediately and without debate.

(3) If any Senators have left the chamber, the presiding officer shall make a call of the house before voting on a cloture motion.

(4) A motion for cloture shall be deemed successful whenever two-thirds of the members voting Yea or Nay have cast their votes as Yea or Nay and no fewer than 25 Senators have cast a vote. A vote of Present/Not voting shall not be counted as a Yea or Nay vote when voting on a cloture motion.

(5) A motion for cloture which fails for lack of sufficient votes shall result in the debate on the proposed rule change ending for the day. When the Speaker chooses to resume debate on the proposed rule change, a motion for cloture shall be out of order. Debate may continue until time expires and a record vote shall then be taken on the proposed rule change.

(g) Motion to Amend.

(1) A motion to amend is a motion to remove content and/or add content to a proposed rule change.

(2) A motion to amend shall be submitted in writing and shall contain the actual words to be added to a proposed rule change and/or the actual words to be stricken from a proposed rule change.

(3) During an odd numbered year or unless otherwise directed by the Speaker, and a motion to amend is under consideration, a motion to amend that amendment shall be in order.

(4) A motion to amend the rules shall be deemed successful by way of record majority vote of the members elected.

(h) Motion to Recommit.

(1) The Motion to Recommit is a motion to remove a proposed rule change from debate and send it back to the Rules Committee for reconsideration and/or amending.

(2) A motion to recommit shall not be recognized by the presiding officer until after the introducer of a proposed rule change has opened by explaining the rule or the rule change for a period up to ten minutes.

(3) Any Senator filing a motion to recommit shall do so in writing to the Clerk.

(4) The presiding officer shall not recognize a motion to recommit unless such motion is agreed to by five or more members and is verified by way of a show of hands.

(5) A motion to recommit may only be filed once on a proposed rule change, except that this limitation shall not apply to the introducer of the proposed rule change. This rule shall apply even after the motion fails to be attested to by five or more members by way of a show of hands.

(6) A motion to recommit shall be deemed successful if three-fifths of the members of the Legislature agree by way of a record machine vote.

(i) Motion to Postpone to a Time Certain [Bracket].

(1) The motion to postpone to a time certain is a motion to postpone debate on a proposed rule change to another time or to another date. The motion to postpone to a time certain is also known as a bracket motion.

(2) A motion to postpone to a time certain [Bracket] shall not be recognized by the presiding officer until after the chair of the Rules Committee or the introducer of the proposed rule change has opened on the proposal by explaining the proposal for a period up to ten minutes.

(3) The presiding officer shall not recognize a motion to postpone to a time certain [Bracket] unless such motion is agreed to by five or more members and is verified by way of a show of hands.

(4) Any Senator filing a motion to postpone to a time certain shall do so in writing to the Clerk and indicate the time or the date when debate on such rule proposal or proposed rule change should reconvene.

(5) A motion to postpone to a time certain may only be recognized by the presiding officer once on a proposed rule change, except that this limitation shall not apply to the introducer of the proposed rule change. A Senator filing a second motion to postpone to a time certain on shall be deemed out of order.

(6) A proposed rule change successfully postponed to a time certain after sine die shall be subject to the rule to indefinitely postpone.

(7) A vote to postpone to a time certain [Bracket] shall be deemed successful when three-fifths of the members of the Legislature agree by way of a record machine vote.

(i) Motion to Postpone Indefinitely.

(1) A motion to postpone a proposed rule change effectively kills it. A proposed rule change which has been indefinitely postponed means that no further action may be taken on the proposal.

(2) A motion to indefinitely postpone a proposed rule change shall not be recognized by the presiding officer until the proposal is read and the introducer of the proposal has been given up to ten minutes to open on the proposed rule change by explaining the proposal.

(3) The presiding officer shall not recognize a motion to indefinitely postpone a rules proposal or a proposed rule change unless such motion is agreed to by five or more members and is verified by way of a show of hands.

(4) The motion to indefinitely postpone a proposed rule change shall not be recognized by the presiding officer more than once for a proposal being debated. A member who files a second motion to indefinitely postpone a proposed rule change shall be deemed out of order. This rule shall apply even after the motion fails to be attested to by five or more Senators by way of a show of hands.

Sec. 5. Incidental Motions. Incidental motions may pertain to correcting breaches of good parliamentary procedure.

(a) Motion of Germaneness.

(1) No motion, proposition, or subject different from that under consideration shall be admitted under color of amendment. Any amendment that is not germane is out of order and is subject to the germaneness rule. Germane amendments relate only to the details of the specific subject of the bill or resolution and must be in a natural and logical sequence to the subject matter of the original proposal. A nongermane amendment includes one that relates to a substantially different subject. A motion of germaneness shall be deemed successful whenever a viva voce majority of the members agree.

(b) Motion to Divide the Question.

(1) Any member may call for the division of a question, which shall be divided if it comprehends propositions in substance so distinct that, one being taken away, a substantive proposition shall remain for the decision of the Legislature. Once a division is ordered each component shall be treated as a separate and distinct proposition. For purposes of germaneness, even if a question is germane prior to a request for division, each and every other component or proposition of the divided question will be subject to germaneness rulings.

(2) Once a vote or change has occurred on any of the divisible questions, the remaining divided sections may not be withdrawn without a majority of those voting or without unanimous consent. A motion to strike out and insert shall be deemed indivisible, but a motion to strike out being lost, shall not preclude an amendment or a motion to strike out or insert.

(3) A motion to divide the question shall be deemed successful whenever a viva voce majority of the members present agree.

(4) Following a successful vote of the members to divide the question, the Lieutenant Governor or the presiding officer shall decide how the question is to be divided. Such decision shall not be subject to any further debate.

(c) Motion for a Call of the House.

(1) Members of the Legislature are expected to remain inside the chamber during floor debates; however, members of the body on occasion may have good reason to leave. When members are absent from the chamber and have not been excused, such members may be called to return to the chamber by way of a motion for a Call of the House.

(2) A call of the house may be made by any member in the manner following: "I move for a call of the house." The presiding officer shall direct that the board be cleared and the members shall then vote on placing themselves under call.

(3) If a majority of the members present and voting vote in favor of such a motion, then the Legislature shall be deemed to be under call. Each member present shall indicate his or her presence upon the electric roll call system and shall remain in his or her seat during the call. After the Clerk shall note the names of the absentees, proceedings under the call may be suspended at any time by a majority vote of the members then present, and when so suspended shall not again be ordered on the proposition pending, except by a majority vote of the members elected.

(4) The presiding officer may declare a motion to place the house under call out of order if all of the absentees were to vote on one side of the question and if their combined vote would be insufficient to change a result of the vote.

(5) When a member is recognized to close on a motion and requests a call of the house, the time spent waiting for the members to record their presence shall be counted against the member's closing time.

(d) Motion-to Suspend for Dilatory Purposes.

(1) Motions shall not be filed for dilatory purposes. If more than two motions are offered to a proposed rule change which are believed to delay progress of the debate, the Speaker or the principal introducer of the proposal may file a motion to suspend for dilatory purposes, stating that he or she believes the motions are being used for dilatory purposes. The motion to suspend for dilatory purposes shall be filed in writing with the Clerk and each motion charged with being dilatory shall be named and/or identified in the motion.

(2) The presiding officer shall recognize the Speaker and/or the principal introducer of the proposed rule change for five minutes to explain why the motions are of a dilatory nature. The presiding officer shall then recognize the Senator or Senators filing the motions for five minutes each to explain why such motions are not of a dilatory nature. The motion to suspend for dilatory purposes is a non-debatable motion and no Senator may yield time to another Senator.

(3) Without any further debate, the presiding officer shall ask, "Are the motions of a dilatory nature?" and a machine vote shall be taken among the members present.

(4) If the majority of the members present decide by way of a record machine vote that the motions are of a dilatory nature, the motions shall be withdrawn and the Senator or Senators who filed such motions shall be precluded from filing any further motions to the proposed rule change.

Sec. 8. Chairperson, Vice Chairperson.

(a) The chairperson of each standing and select committee shall be selected by a roll call majority vote of the elected members secret ballot on the floor of the Legislature whereby each member shall state the candidate of his or her choice.

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Sec. 16. Executive Sessions and Closed Meetings.

(a) Executive session shall mean any meeting or portion of a meeting which is closed to the general public and members of the news media, and the proceedings of which are not electronically recorded and transcribed, unless the chairperson of the committee so provides, but the records of which shall be available for public inspection. Executive sessions shall be open to members of the news media who may report on action taken and on all discussions in executive session.

(b) Except as provided in Rule 3, Section 5(c)(ii), all other meetings of a committee shall be public unless the committee, by a majority vote of all of its members, determines that a meeting should not be open to the public, including members of the news media, in a particular instance, due to rare and extraordinary circumstances. The meeting shall be reconvened in open session before any formal action may be taken.

Sec. 11. Motions and Amendments for Dilatory Purposes.

(a) Motions and amendments shall not be filed for dilatory purposes. All motions and amendments filed with the Clerk shall be deemed unworthy of debate unless otherwise approved by the Speaker. If more than two amendments and/or motions are offered to a bill or resolution which have been deemed worthy by the Speaker but which are believed to be used to delay progress on the debate, the principal introducer of the bill or resolution or the chair of the committee if the bill is a committee bill may file a motion to suspend for dilatory purposes, stating that he or she believes the motions are being used for dilatory purposes. The motion to suspend for dilatory purposes shall be filed in writing with the Clerk and each motion and/or amendment charged with being dilatory shall be named and/or identified in the motion along with the name(s) of the members filing such motions and/or amendments. A dilatory motion filed by the principal introducer of the bill or resolution under consideration may not be deemed unworthy of debate by the Speaker the principal introducer of the bill or resolution may raise a point of order stating that he or she believes the amendments and/or motions are being used for dilatory purposes. If, in the opinion of the Speaker, the motions and/or amendments are not dilatory, debate on the pending measure shall continue. If the Speaker has reason to believe that one or more of the amendments and/or motions are dilatory, the Speaker shall consult with the principal introducer of the original bill or resolution and the principal introducers of the amendment and/or motions in an attempt to reach an accord as to which 53 RULE 7 amendments and/or motions should be considered by the Legislature. For that purpose, the Speaker may temporarily remove the entire bill or resolution from the agenda. After consultation, the Speaker shall forthwith decide which, if any, amendments and/or motions are dilatory and shall rule such amendments and/or motions out of order. A motion to overrule the chair on any decision made pursuant to this section is not in order except that a ruling of the chair may be challenged by an introducer of amendments and/or motions ruled to be dilatory in which instance the challenge shall be to all amendments and/or motions included in the Speaker's ruling. The consultation and the Speaker's ruling subsequent to consultation provided for in this section, shall in no case result in a bill or resolution being removed from the agenda for more than the current legislative day. Any amendment and/or motion ruled out of order by the Speaker shall not in any form, version, or substance be in order if again offered by any member at the same stage of debate. A motion to overrule the chair after a ruling is out of order.

(b) The presiding officer shall recognize the Speaker and/or the principal introducer of the bill or resolution or the committee chair if the bill is a committee bill for five minutes each to explain why the motion(s) and/or amendment(s) are of a dilatory nature. The presiding officer shall then recognize the member or members filing the motion(s) and/or amendment(s) for five minutes each to explain why such motions and/or amendments are not of a dilatory nature. The motion to suspend for dilatory purposes is a non-debatable motion and no member may yield time to another member.

(c) Without any further debate, the presiding officer shall ask, "Are the motions or amendments of a dilatory nature?" and a record machine vote shall be taken among the members present.

(d) If a majority of the members present decide by way of a record machine vote that the motion(s) and/or amendment(s) are of a dilatory nature, the motion(s) and/or amendment(s) shall be withdrawn and the member or members who filed such motion(s) and/or amendment(s) shall be precluded from filing any further motion(s) and/or amendment(s) to the bill or resolution under consideration until the bill or resolution advances to the next stage of debate.

(e) Once a motion or amendment has been deemed unworthy of debate by the Speaker or declared dilatory by a vote of the Legislature, a motion to reconsider shall be out of order.

Rule 7, Sec. 4. Motion to Call the Question.

(a) The motion to call the question is a motion asking the presiding officer to end debate on a bill, a resolution, an amendment, or a motion by calling for the previous (concluding) question. A member making the motion to call the question shall ask the presiding officer to call for the previous question. The presiding officer shall then ask, "Shall debate cease?"

(b) At any time during a debate on a bill or resolution any member wishing to end debate on a bill, a resolution, an amendment, or a motion and who has been recognized by the presiding officer to speak may call for the debate to cease by calling for the question.

(c) Calling for the question shall be made only in the normal course of speaking order and shall be in order when demanded by ten or more members and verified by way of a show of hands.

(d) On a motion to call the question there shall be no debate.

(e) When the previous question shall have been ordered on a proposition under debate, the mover, proponent, or introducer of such proposition shall be given the right to close the debate thereon.

(f) A motion to call the question shall be deemed successful by way of a viva voce maiority vote of the members present.

(g) A motion to call the question shall hold priority over all other motions, except a motion to recess, a motion to adjourn, and a motion for cloture.

Shall the Debate Cease. The previous question shall be in this form, "Shall the debate now close?" The previous question shall be made only in the normal course of speaking order and shall be in order when demanded by five or more members, and must be sustained by the vote of a majority of the elected members, and until decided shall, except as provided in this section of this rule, preclude further debate and all amendments and motions, except one motion to adjourn. The presiding officer may rule the previous question out of order if in the presiding officer's opinion a full and fair debate has not been afforded, due to the complexity of the subject matter. The ruling of the presiding officer shall be subject to overrule in accordance with Rule 1, Section 12 of these rules. On a previous question there shall be no debate. All incidental questions of order, arising after a motion is made for a previous question, and pending such motion, shall be decided, whether on appeal or otherwise, without debate. When the previous question shall have been ordered on a proposition under debate, the mover, proponent, or introducer of such proposition shall be given the right to close the debate thereon.

Rule 7, Sec. 2, Machine Voting, Electric Roll Call and Show of Hands.

(a) All votes shall be taken viva voce voca unless otherwise provided for herein. Questions shall be distinctly put in this form, to wit: "Those who are in favor of the question say 'aye'; those who are opposed to the question say 'nay.' "

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(f) The presiding officer shall not recognize a motion to call the question, to reconsider, to postpone to a time certain, to recommit to a committee, or to postpone indefinitely unless five or more members agree to the motion and the motion is sustained by a show of hands of five or more members, except that a motion to call the question shall require the approval of ten or more members by a show of hands.

Rule 6, Sec. 3. General File.

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(b) Each section shall be open to amendment. Following the reading of the title of the bill, the introducer shall first be recognized for ten minutes to move to advance and explain the bill. The amendments, if any, recommended by standing committees, shall then be introduced. After the introduction of the bill and the introduction of the committee amendment, other priority motions shall have precedence in the order in which they are arranged under Rule 7, Section 3, except as provided for in Rule 1, Section 17. Other motions may then be filed with the Clerk, provided that the motion to reconsider, the motion to postpone to a time certain, the motion to recommit to a committee, and the motion to postpone indefinitely are only filed once by the collective membership of the body on a bill when it is debated on General File. Motions to adjourn or recess shall remain in order except as limited by Rule 7, Section 9. The introducer's amendments, if any, shall be introduced following the consideration of the standing committee amendments and any amendments thereto. Further amendments will be considered in the order in which they are filed with the Clerk.

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Rule 6, Sec. 5. Select File. When the Legislature considers bills on Select File, any of the following motions shall be in order, provided that the motion to reconsider, the motion to postpone to a time certain, the motion to recommit to a committee, and the motion to postpone indefinitely are only filed once by the collective membership on a bill when it is debated on Select File.

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Rule 7, Sec. 3. Motion, in Writing, Withdrawal. (a) A motion shall be either stated by the presiding officer or read by the Clerk before a vote is taken. All motions shall be submitted in writing if requested by the presiding officer or any senator.

(b) The presiding officer shall not recognize any of the following motions more than once per each stage of debate on a bill or resolution: The motion to reconsider, the motion to postpone to a time certain, the motion to recommit to a committee, and the motion to postpone indefinitely.

(c) For General File and Select File the presiding officer shall allow the Introducer of a bill or resolution and the chair of a committee who is introducing a committee amendment to open on any such bill, resolution or committee amendment by allowing such individual to speak for a period not to exceed ten minutes. The introducer's amendments, if any, shall be considered following the consideration of the standing committee amendments and any amendments thereto. Other amendments and motions permitted by these rules may then be offered and shall be considered after the introducer has explained the bill in the order in which they are filed with the Clerk, subject to the provisions of Rule 1, Section 17.

(d) Once motions are stated they may be withdrawn or modified by the mover before a decision, amendment, or ordering of a vote has been made. A motion to reconsider may be withdrawn only with unanimous consent or a majority vote of the elected members.

(e) When a question is under debate, no motion shall be considered except one of the following, which motions shall take precedence in the order stated.

(i) a. To recess

(ii) b. To adjourn

(iii) c. For cloture

(iv) d. To call for the previous question reconsider

(v) e. To reconsider For the previous question

(vi) f. To postpone to a time certain

(vii) g. To recommit to a committee

(viii) h. To amend

(ix) i. To postpone indefinitely

(f) Such motions shall have precedence in the order in which they are arranged except as provided for in Rule 1, Section 17 and Rule 11, Section 3. Motions to postpone indefinitely and amend do not yield to each other.

(g) When any of the following motions shall be made, any action on such motion shall be delayed at least one legislative day and the motion shall be printed in the Legislative Journal:

(i) a. Motion to postpone indefinitely on General File or Select File, unless the introducer(s) of the bill, or the committee chairperson in the case of committee bills, request(s) that the motion to postpone indefinitely be considered immediately without the one-day delay.

(ii) b. Motion to place on General File pursuant to Rule 3, Section 20(b).

(iii) c. Motion to place bills on General File, notwithstanding the action of a standing committee.

(h) (b) When a motion or other proposition is under consideration, a motion to amend and a motion to amend that amendment shall be in order.

(i) (c) Amendments to the title shall be made by the Enrollment and Review Committee.

(j) (d) No motion, proposition, or subject, different from that under consideration, shall be admitted under color of amendment. Any amendment that is not germane is out of order. Germane amendments relate only to details of the specific subject of the bill and must be in a natural and logical sequence to the subject matter of the original proposal. A nongermane amendment includes one that relates to a substantially different subject.

(k) (e) Any member may call for the division of a question, which shall be divided if it comprehends propositions in substance so distinct that, one being taken away, a substantive proposition shall remain for the decision of the Legislature. Once a division is ordered by the presiding officer, each component shall be treated as a separate and distinct proposition. For purposes of germaneness, even if a question is germane prior to a request for division, each and every other component or proposition of the divided question will be subject to germaneness rulings. Once a vote or change has occurred on any of the divisible questions, the remaining divided sections may not be withdrawn without a majority of those voting or without unanimous consent. A motion to strike out and insert shall be deemed indivisible, but a motion to strike out being lost, shall not preclude an amendment or a motion to strike out or insert. Such call for division shall not be allowed when considering motions under Rule 6, Section 6. Such a call for division shall not be allowed for bills listed under Rule 8, Section 1(b).

(l) (f) When motions are made for reference of the same subject to a select committee and to a standing committee, the question on reference to the standing committee shall be considered first.

Rule 3, Sec. 6. Redistricting Committee.

(a) The Redistricting Committee of the Legislature shall be established as a special committee of the Legislature in January of each year ending in one. The committee is authorized to introduce and exercise jurisdiction over legislative bills and resolutions relating to redistricting and hold hearings regarding such legislation. (b) The committee shall be comprised of nine members of the Legislature, three from each congressional district existing on January 1 of each year ending in zero. The Executive Board shall appoint the members of the committee in January of each year ending in one. No more than five members appointed to the committee shall be affiliated with the same political party. A vacancy on the committee shall be filled by the Executive Board as soon as possible after the vacancy occurs. (c) At the first meeting of the committee, the members shall select from among themselves by majority vote one member to serve as chairperson of the committee and one member to serve as vice chairperson of the committee. The chair and vice chair shall not be a member of the same political party.

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Rule 1. Sec. 12. Overrule ruling of the Chair.

The presiding officer President may speak to a point of order in preference to members, and shall decide the questions or order, subject to a challenge to the Legislature by any member, which challenge shall be in order when demanded by five or more members on which challenge no member may speak more than once, unless by leave of the Legislature. No member may yield time to another member. In the event of a challenge to a ruling of the chair, the presiding officer shall ask for five hands, and if seeing five hands, shall allow the challenging member five minutes to speak, and five minutes to speak for each of two other members supporting such challenge as designated by the challenging member. After such time as taken, the Speaker, the chairperson of the Rules Committee, and the chairperson of any standing committee or their designee may each request five minutes to speak to the challenge. If the Speaker, chairperson of the Rules Committee, or chairperson of any standing committee speaks to the challenge, the challenging member may request five minutes to close and no further debate on the matter shall follow. The challenged ruling shall be restated and the question shall be phrased: "Shall the Chair be overruled?" A viva voce vote shall be taken and a majority vote of the members those present shall be required to overrule the chair. A motion to overrule the Chair shall not be subject to a reconsideration motion, and the presiding officer shall not recognize another motion to overrule the Chair that addresses the same question or order.

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Rule 2, Sec. 3. Chamber, Guests, Distribution of Material.

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(l) The possession of firearms and other lethal weapons by a member or any other individual within the legislative chamber is prohibited with the following exceptions:

(i) Law enforcement and Capitol security personnel performing their official duties;

(ii) Individuals, with the approval of the Nebraska Capitol Commission, participating in historical reenactments or in ceremonial proceedings; or

(iii) Active or reserve members of the armed forces of the United States, members of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, and members of the Nebraska National Guard, when on duty or in training.

Rule 3, Sec. 11. Conduct During Committee Hearing Rooms Hearings.(a) The use of any mobile, portable, or wireless communication device, other than those authorized by the Legislative Council is prohibited in legislative hearing rooms during a meeting of a legislative committee, unless allowed by the committee chairperson.

(b) The possession of firearms and other lethal weapons by a member or any other individual within legislative hearing rooms is prohibited with the following exceptions:

(i) Law enforcement and Capitol security personnel performing their official duties;

(ii) Individuals, with the approval of the Nebraska Capitol Commission, participating in historical reenactments or in ceremonial proceedings; or

(iii) Active or reserve members of the armed forces of the United States, members of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, and members of the Nebraska National Guard, when on duty or in training.

Rule 5, Sec. 4. Introducers Signing Bills.

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(e) The introducers of all bills must submit a statement of intent for each bill to the appropriate committee chairperson within one calendar day after at least three calendar days prior to the bill's introduction hearing. The statement of intent should discuss clearly and completely the purposes and effects of the bill.

*This rule would be effective starting with the 2026 legislative session

Rule 7, Sec. 10. Title of Rule.

Sec. 10. Cloture. At any stage of consideration the principal introducer of the bill, resolution, or main motion under consideration, a cointroducer with the consent of the principal introducer, or the chairperson of the committee, or the vice chair of the committee in the absence of the committee chair, if the bill, resolution, or main motion is introduced by that committee, may move for cloture to the presiding officer, except that motions to adopt permanent or temporary rules or amendments to the permanent or temporary rules may not be subject to cloture. The presiding officer may rule a motion for cloture out of order if, in the presiding officer's opinion, a full and fair debate has not been afforded. Such ruling by the presiding officer shall not be subject to challenge. Whenever a motion for cloture is offered, the presiding officer shall immediately recognize such introducer or chairperson and shall then order debate on the pending amendment or motion to cease. A vote on the cloture motion shall be taken immediately. A two-thirds majority of the elected members present and voting shall be required for the cloture motion to be successful. A motion for cloture shall be in order except while a member is speaking, and a motion for cloture is not debatable. If the motion for cloture is successful, a vote on the pending matter shall be taken immediately, without debate. If the pending matter is an amendment to an amendment, following a vote on the amendment to the amendment, a vote shall be taken on the original amendment. If the original amendment has been divided, then the vote shall be on the original undivided amendment being considered. Finally, a vote on the advancement of the bill shall be taken.

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Rule 1, Sec. 6. Presiding Officer, Order in Designating.

In the absence of both the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker, the order of the presiding officer of the Legislature shall be as follows:

• Chairperson of the Executive Board
• Chairperson of Committee on Committees
• Chairperson of Committee on Judiciary
• Chairperson of Committee on Government, Military and Veterans Affairs
• Chairperson of Committee on Appropriations
• Chairperson of Committee on Revenue
• Chairperson of Committee on Education
• Chairperson of Committee on Banking, Commerce and Insurance
• Chairperson of Committee on Natural Resources Technology
• Chairperson of Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources
• Chairperson of Committee on Health and Human Services
• Chairperson of Committee on General Affairs
• Chairperson of Committee on Business and Labor
• Chairperson of Committee on Urban Affairs
• Chairperson of Committee on Transportation and Telecommunications

Rule 3, Sec. 3 Standing Committees.(a) The standing committees of the Legislature shall be as follows:

(b) The Speaker shall not be a regular member of a standing committee.

(c) This rule will become operative on January 6, 2027

Rule 7, Sec. 7. Reconsideration

(a) When a question has been decided, it shall be in order for any member voting with the prevailing side, or not voting, to move for a reconsideration thereof, except that a motion to reconsider shall not be in order for any motion or amendment that fails, where at least four-fifths or more members voted against such motion or amendment. A motion to reconsider must be made on the same day the original question was decided or on the next legislative day, except when it be to reconsider the vote on a bill which lacked the constitutional majority on Final Reading. In such case, it must be made on the same day the original question was decided or on one of the next three legislative days. A motion to reconsider must be disposed of by the Legislature within five legislative days after making the same or it shall be deemed defeated. A motion to reconsider may be withdrawn only with unanimous consent or a majority vote of the elected members. If the Legislature shall refuse to reconsider, or upon reconsideration shall affirm its first decision, no further motion to reconsider shall be in order unless by unanimous consent.

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