Chapter 3:
DAILY SESSIONS
ar25
Assembly Rule 25. Admission to the floor of the assembly. Members of the legislature, elected state officers, and only the following other persons, shall be admitted to the assembly floor within guidelines determined by the speaker during any session or for one-quarter hour before and one-quarter hour after any session. However, none of the following listed persons has the privilege of the floor if registered as a lobbyist or directly or indirectly engaged in defeating or promoting any legislation before the assembly:
ar25(1)
(1) The members of Congress, justices of the supreme court, and former members of the legislature.
ar25(2)
(2) The elected officers of the assembly and those delegated by them to perform functions in or about the chambers.
ar25(3)
(3) Representatives of news media that regularly publish or broadcast reports available to the general public who are actively engaged in reporting the proceedings of the assembly, except that during the sessions of the assembly the privilege extends only to the designated press area.
ar25(4)
(4) Any person invited onto the floor by the presiding officer or by action of the assembly.
ar25(5)
(5) Contestants for disputed assembly seats have the privilege of the assembly floor, but only when the question before the assembly involves the disputed election.
ar26
Assembly Rule 26. Conduct in the chamber. ar26(1)(1)
The presiding officer shall preserve order, decorum, and quiet on and about the assembly floor during sessions.
ar26(2)
(2) While the presiding officer is addressing the assembly or submitting a question, a member may not cross or leave the floor. While a member is speaking, a member may not walk between the speaking member and the presiding officer.
ar26(3)
(3) A person may not read any printed newspaper on the assembly floor or in the visitor galleries while the assembly is in session.
ar26(4)
(4) A person may not consume food on the assembly floor or in the visitor galleries.
ar26(5)
(5) A person may not smoke on the assembly floor or in the visitor galleries.
ar26(6)(a)(a)
Except as provided in par. (b), a person may not use a 2-way mobile radio service, such as a personal communications service, or a 2-way mobile radio device, such as a cellular telephone, in the assembly chamber, other than in the offices of the speaker, majority leader, and minority leader, and in hallways.
ar26(6)(b)
(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to:
1. A member of the capitol police or a law enforcement officer.
2. The assembly sergeant at arms or a person acting at his or her direction.
3. A person authorized by motion of the speaker adopted by majority vote of the members present and voting.
4. The assembly chief clerk or a person acting at his or her direction.
5. A member in the parlor or lobbies.
ar26(7)
(7) A person, other than a person specified in rule 25 (3), may not possess or use in the assembly chamber a microphone designed to pick up conversation more than 10 feet away from the microphone.
ar26(8)(a) (a) For the purpose of keeping the doors of the assembly open, as provided in
section 10 of
article IV of the constitution, individuals may be admitted to the visitor galleries for the sole purpose of observing the proceedings of the assembly. Individuals admitted to the visitor galleries shall at all times remain quiet, act in an orderly manner, and respect the decorum of the chamber. Individuals in the visitors galleries may not engage in any conduct that expresses or that may be considered to express support for or opposition to any matter before the assembly or that may come before the assembly and may not use any audio or video device to record, photograph, film, videotape, or in any way depict the proceedings on or about the assembly floor.
ar26(8)(b)
(b) An individual may not engage in any behavior in the visitor galleries that the presiding officer determines does not respect the decorum of the chamber or that hinders the right of representatives to the assembly to participate in proceedings in the chamber. In addition, without limitation because of enumeration, no individual may do any of the following in the visitor galleries:
1. Lean over or put any object over the balcony.
2. Use a laptop or other computer device.
3. Stand except for prayer or pledge of allegiance or as otherwise permitted by the presiding officer.
4. Use recording devices of any kind.
5. Use cell phones or pagers.
6. Read newspapers or other printed materials.
7. Eat any food or drink any beverages.
8. Exhibit public displays or demonstrations.
9. Display signs or placards.
10. Possess bags or briefcases.
11. Wear hats.
ar26(8)(c)(c) 1. Any individual who violates par.
(a) or
(b) may be removed from the visitor galleries and not be allowed admittance to the visitor galleries for a period of 24 hours.
2. Any individual who violates par. (a) or (b) a 2nd time during a biennial legislative session may be removed from the visitor galleries and not be allowed admittance to the visitor galleries until the first roll call day of the next regularly scheduled floorperiod.
3. Any individual who violates par. (a) or (b) a 3rd time during a biennial legislative session may be removed from the visitor galleries and not be allowed admittance to the visitor galleries for the remainder of the biennial legislative session.
ar26(9)
(9) While the assembly is in session, on the assembly floor in the rectangular area bounded on 4 corners by the pillars in the front and back of the chamber, members and other individuals should dress appropriately, which has traditionally been considered to include a coat and tie for men and appropriate attire for women. In this area, no member or other individual may wear an overcoat or hat. The presiding officer may exempt individuals, other than members, from the requirements of this subsection when appropriate.
ar27
Assembly Rule 27. Absences and leaves. A member may not be absent from any daily session without a leave of absence. One member may request a leave for another.
ar28
Assembly Rule 28. Hour for convening. Unless a different hour is prescribed by law, resolution, or motion, the assembly, upon a simple motion to adjourn, shall convene at 9 a.m. on the next legislative day; except that if the day is the first legislative day of any week, the hour of convening is 10 a.m.
ar29
Assembly Rule 29. Assembly calendar. The assembly's calendars shall be prepared by the chief clerk under the supervision of the committee on rules.
ar29(1)
(1) Each calendar shall be dated, shall list all regular orders of business specified in rule 31, and shall list under the proper order of business the proposals referred to such calendar by the presiding officer or speaker, by the committee on rules, or by action of the assembly, and any other business placed on the calendar under the assembly rules in the sequence in which referred to the calendar.
ar29(1)(a)
(a) For each proposal, the calendar shall show the name of the author and of any coauthors or cosponsors, and the full text of the proposal's relating clause.
ar29(1)(b)
(b) For each motion for reconsideration, the calendar shall show the name of the maker of the motion.
ar29(1)(c)
(c) For every proposal before the assembly for 2nd reading, the calendar shall set forth all pending committee reports in chronological order.
ar29(1)(d)
(d) Following the regular orders of business, each calendar shall list all special orders of business that, at the time the calendar is compiled, have been scheduled by the assembly.
ar29(2)
(2) Unless otherwise ordered by the committee on rules, calendars shall be prepared for every day of each regularly scheduled floorperiod excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays.
ar29(3)
(3) A calendar, except a calendar for a Saturday, Sunday, or state holiday specified in section 230.35 (4) (a) of the statutes, shall be provided to each member at least 12 hours before the calendar is to be acted upon during the last week of the last general-business floorperiod preceding the veto review session and 24 hours before the calendar is to be acted upon at other times.
ar29(4)
(4) Unless otherwise ordered, after completion of the 4th order of business on the calendar for the current date, and before consideration of the 5th and succeeding orders on that calendar, unfinished matters entered under orders of business on previous calendars shall be taken up and completed in order by order of business and calendar date.
ar29(5)
(5) Notwithstanding sub. (3), any proposal in the committee on rules that can be considered during a limited-business floorperiod under joint rule 81m or 81r may be placed on any day's calendar during the limited-business floorperiod and taken up immediately. A calendar need not be provided.
ar30
Assembly Rule 30. Call of the roll; quorum. ar30(1)(1)
The call of the roll to record attendance shall be taken in the same manner as a roll call vote. All members whose attendance is recorded as present shall be in their chairs for the call of the roll. A list of those present and absent shall be entered in the journal. A member who arrives late may, with the approval of the assembly, be recorded as present.
ar30(2)
(2) Unless otherwise required by the state constitution, a majority of the current membership constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.
ar30(3)
(3) A number smaller than a majority of the current membership may, however, adjourn the assembly or compel the attendance of absent members.
ar31
Assembly Rule 31. Regular orders of business. Following any opening prayer and salute to the flag, the regular orders of business are as follows:
ar31(1)
(1) First order. Call of the roll.
ar31(2)
(2) Second order. Introduction, first reading, and reference of proposals.
ar31(3)
(3) Third order. Committee reports and subsequent reference of proposals.
ar31(4)
(4) Fourth order. Messages from the senate, and other communications.
ar31(5)
(5) Fifth order. Consideration of conference committee reports and vetoes.
ar31(6)
(6) Sixth order. Consideration of senate action on proposals approved by the assembly.
ar31(7)
(7) Seventh order. Making and consideration of motions for reconsideration of passage, indefinite postponement, concurrence, or nonconcurrence.
ar31(8)
(8) Eighth order. Third reading of assembly proposals.
ar31(9)
(9) Ninth order. Third reading of senate proposals.
ar31(10)
(10) Tenth order. Second reading and amendment of assembly proposals.
ar31(11)
(11) Eleventh order. Second reading and amendment of senate proposals.
ar31(12)
(12) Twelfth order. Motions may be offered.
ar31(13)
(13) Thirteenth order. Consideration of resolutions.
ar31(14)
(14) Fourteenth order. Announcements.
ar31(15)
(15) Fifteenth order. Adjournment.
ar32
Assembly Rule 32. Variations in the regular order; special orders. The regular order of business may be interrupted or changed under the following conditions:
ar32(1)
(1) At the discretion of the presiding officer, at any time during the session except while the assembly is voting, but only under the following conditions:
ar32(1)(a)
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, messages from the senate or from the governor may be received and read, and any proposal referenced in the messages that is a senate proposal initially received for consideration of the assembly shall be referred and any other proposals referenced in the messages shall be taken up immediately unless referred by the presiding officer to a standing committee or to the calendar. Any messages from the senate referring to a senate joint resolution memorializing Congress or any branch or officer of the federal government that is received for consideration of the assembly may be read but the senate joint resolution may not be received for consideration. The senate joint resolution shall be transmitted to the senate immediately after the message is read;
ar32(1)(b)
(b) Proposals may be introduced, or offered, and referred when a report, showing the number and relating clause of the proposals introduced or offered and the speaker's referral of each such proposal, has been provided to the members; or
ar32(1)(c)
(c) Proposals reported by one committee may be given subsequent reference to another committee or may be referred to the calendar when a report, showing the number and relating clause of such proposals and the speaker's subsequent referral of each such proposal, is provided to the members.
ar32(2)
(2) When the assembly is scheduled to meet in joint convention with the senate, the presiding officer may interrupt business to await the arrival of the senate. When the senate arrives, the assembly sergeant at arms shall announce the arrival to the presiding officer. The president of the senate or, in the president's absence, the speaker of the assembly shall preside over any joint convention. The assembly chief clerk shall act as the chief clerk of the joint convention.
ar32(3)
(3) Whenever any proposal has been made a special order of business, the assembly shall proceed to the special order at the designated time or a later time, as determined by the presiding officer.
ar32(3)(a)
(a) Special orders have precedence over the regular orders of business and shall be considered in any order, as determined by the presiding officer.
ar32(3)(b)
(b) The priority and sequence of special orders are not lost either by adjournment or by recess.
ar32(3)(c)
(c) Whenever one special order is under consideration, the arrival of the scheduled time for another special order does not interrupt the discussion of the special order under consideration.
ar32(3m)
(3m) Any resolution that would otherwise be considered under the 13th order of business may, by motion, be taken up at any time. Any such motion is nondebatable.
