Senate

Enrolling bills and joint resolutions Rule 43

Signing of documents Rule 44

Presentation to the governor Rule 44m

Offering of privileged resolution Rule 45

Presentation, introduction, and offering ofproposals and other matters Rule 46

Chapter 5: Amendments — Form and Procedure

When amendments may be considered Rule 47

Reading of amendments Rule 48

Offering amendments Rule 49

Substitute amendments and amendments must be germane Rule 50

Amendment in the 3rd degree prohibited Rule 51

Committee amendments; speaking on amendment Rule 53

Order of action Rule 55

Chapter 6: General Procedure — Order in Debate

Recognition; debate Rule 56

Points of order Rule 56m

Presiding officer to name first speaker Rule 57

Member out of order Rule 58

How members may speak Rule 59

Personal privilege Rule 60

Special privilege Rule 61

Stating motions Rule 62

Motions in order during debate Rule 63

Motion to adjourn always in order Rule 64

Laying on table Rule 65

Motion to postpone Rule 66

Motion to reconsider Rule 67

Questions to be decided without debateand not placed on table Rule 68

Privileged motion or resolution Rule 69

Division of question Rule 70

Putting question Rule 71

Ayes and noes Rule 72

Every member to vote Rule 73

Missed roll calls Rule 73m

Explanation of vote not allowed Rule 74

Recording position of absent member Rule 75

Chapter 7: Limiting Debate

Scheduling time limits for debate Rule 76

Voting immediately; time limit on debate Rule 77

But one motion to reconsider in order;main question may remain before the senate Rule 79

But one call of the senate in order Rule 80

Chapter 8: Call of the Senate

Call of the senate Rule 81

Putting question Rule 82

Doors to be closed Rule 83

Sergeant to bring in absentees Rule 84

Transacting business while under call Rule 85

Sergeant at arms may report Rule 86

Call raised when absentees present and business disposed of Rule 87

Chapter 9: Employees

Employment and supervision of senate employees Rule 88

Certification of payroll Rule 89

Chapter 10: Rules

Creating, amending, or repealing rules Rule 90

Suspending rules Rule 91

Continuity of senate rules Rule 92

Special or extraordinary sessions Rule 93

Publishing of senate rules Rule 94

Chapter 11: Miscellaneous

Copies for senate Rule 95

Governor’s veto message Rule 95m

Fiscal estimates Rule 96

Space assignments Rule 97

Use of committee rooms and legislative staff for certain meetings Rule 97m

Citations on behalf of the senate; joint citations Rule 98

Definitions Rule 99

S E N A T E R U L E S

As last affected by 2023 Senate Resolution 2
(Adopted April 19, 2023)

Chapter 1:
OFFICERS - ELECTION AND DUTIES

sr1 Senate Rule 1. President; president pro tempore.

sr1(1) (1) The senate shall elect, by roll call vote, one of its members to serve as president and one to serve as president pro tempore. The president and president pro tempore shall serve for the biennial session unless separated by death, resignation, or removal by the adoption of a resolution by a majority of the current membership.

sr1(2) (2) The president is the senate’s presiding officer and shall authenticate by personal signature all of the acts, orders, and proceedings of the senate.

[rn. from S.Rule 2; (title), (1) and (2) am. 1979 S.Res. 3]
[(1) am. 1981 S.Res. 27]
[(title) and (1) am. 1985 S.Res. 2]
[(2) am. 2001 S.Res. 2]
[(1) am. 2003 S.Res. 3]

sr1m Senate Rule 1m. Presiding officer and committee on senate organization.

sr1m(1) (1) The presiding officer shall, in general, represent and stand for the senate, declaring its will, and in all things obeying its commands.

sr1m(2) (2) Every officer of the senate is subordinate to the committee on senate organization and, in all that relates to the discharge of that officer’s duties, is under the supervision of the committee on senate organization.

sr1m(3) (3) For staffing and budget purposes related to the operation of all senate offices, all senators are subordinate to the committee on senate organization.

[rn. from S.Rule 1 (3); (title) cr., (2) am. 2001 S.Res. 2]
[(2) am. 2003 S.Res. 3]
[(title) am. 2005 S.Res. 2]
[(3) cr. 2005 S.Res. 2]

sr2 Senate Rule 2. Substitute president.

sr2(1) (1) When the president is absent or unable to preside over the senate sitting in session, the president pro tempore may preside and assume all of the duties enumerated under rule 4. The substitution does not extend beyond adjournment and ends upon the president’s return or the election of a new president.

sr2(2) (2) When the president and president pro tempore are absent or unable to preside, the senate shall elect, by roll call vote, one of its members to temporarily perform all of the duties enumerated under rule 4 until the president or president pro tempore returns and is able to preside.

sr2(3) (3) The presiding officer may call any member to the chair to temporarily perform all of the duties enumerated under rule 4, but the substitution does not extend beyond an adjournment or the return of the president.

[cr. 1979 S.Res. 3]
[(1) and (2) am. 1993 S.Res. 3]
[(2) and (3) am. 2001 S.Res. 2]
[am. 2003 S.Res. 3]
[(3) am. 2005 S.Res. 2]

sr3 Senate Rule 3. Duties of president pro tempore and majority leader. When the president is separated by death, resignation, or removal from office, or is otherwise unable to serve, all of the powers and duties of the president not enumerated in rule 4 devolve upon the president pro tempore until a president is elected. When both the president and president pro tempore are separated by death, resignation, or removal from office, or are otherwise unable to serve, all of the powers and duties of the president not enumerated under rule 4 devolve upon the majority leader until a president is elected.

[r.cr. 1979 S.Res. 3]
[am. 1993 S.Res. 3]
[am. 2001 S.Res. 2]

sr3m Senate Rule 3m. Voting by presiding officer. A senator may not be excused from voting on a question by reason of occupying the chair.