Rules Review: Last Days of the 2025 Regular Session
The 2025 regular session will adjourn on Thursday, May 8, 2025 per the provisions of S.292 (sine die resolution). There are some House and Senate rules advocates must remember during the final six days of session because like any sporting contest, the rules dictate how the game is played. This post is 938 words or a 4 minute read.
Senate
Rule 12: Motion to Reconsider. A motion to reconsider a vote must be made within the next two statewide legislative days after such a vote, as long as the bill/resolution remains in possession of the Senate.
Rule 15A: Cloture. Debate on any bill/resolution that has been under debate for two hours on the current legislative day may be brought to a close by the lesser of 26 Senators or three fifths (3/5) of the Senators present and voting. However, during the final three statewide legislative days prior to the date set for sine die adjournment, the time periods provided above may be waived by three-fifths (3/5) of the Senators present and voting.
Rule 22: Recall Bills. After the expiration of five legislative days from the date of reference, any bill/resolution, except the General Appropriation Bill, may be recalled from any committee by a majority vote of the Senators present and voting. Before the expiration of five days from the date of reference, any bill/resolution may be recalled from committee by the vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the Senators present and voting.
Rule 32A: Order of Business. In the final two weeks before the date set for sine die adjournment, the requirement for bills/resolutions returned from the House with amendments or a Governor’s veto to be considered on the next legislative day may be waived upon a motion adopted at the time the message is read, in which case the matter will be considered when the Senate reaches that order of business. Below is the Order of Business.
Call to Order by the President
Prayer by the Chaplain
Pledge of Allegiance
Receipt of Communications
Introduction and reference of new Bills and Resolutions
Call of the Uncontested Local Third Reading Calendar
Call of the Uncontested Local Second Reading Calendar
Call of the Uncontested Statewide Third Reading Calendar
Call of the Uncontested Statewide Second Reading Calendar
Motion Period
Acts returned by the Governor
Reports of Committees of Conference and Free Conference
Bills and Resolutions returned from the House of Representatives
Interrupted Debate (one bill allowed in this status)
Adjourned Debate (two bills allowed in this status)
Special Order (three bills allowed in this status)
Call of the Contested Statewide Third Reading Calendar
Call of the Contested Statewide Second Reading Calendar
Call of the Contested Local Calendar
Rule 32B: Contested Calendar. In the final two weeks before sine die adjournment, a bill/resolution that is on the calendar may be called from the Contested Calendar by the Rules Committee upon majority vote of the committee and shall be considered in the ordinary course of business after Special Orders.
Rule 32D: Conference Reports & Sine Die Resolutions. Notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 32A, during the final three statewide legislative days prior to the date set for sine die adjournment, reports of committees of conference and free conference and Sine Die Resolutions shall be in order at any time except when a question of order has been raised, when the Senate is voting on any matter, while ascertaining a quorum, or when a Senator who has been recognized prior thereto makes a motion to adjourn.
Rule 37: Three Readings & Committee Reports. Resolutions and reports of standing, special, conference, and free conference committees shall lie on the table one statewide legislative day for consideration, provided, however, that during the six statewide legislative days preceding the date set for sine die adjournment the one day requirement as to a specific Resolution or report of a committee may be suspended by a vote of three-fifths (3/5) of the Senators present and voting. The provisions of this Rule do not apply to amendments to sine die Resolutions that have been previously approved by the Senate.
House
Rule 4.7.b: Amendments to Senate Bills. When reporting a Senate bill as favorable, the committee may include in its report an amendment identical to the final version of any House bill that has been referred to that committee and passed by the House during the current two-year session. If the amendment is identical to a previously passed House bill, the amendment must be considered germane to the bill.
Rule 5.14: Conference Reports. The printing of conference reports prior to consideration by the House may be specifically dispensed with by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting of the House, a quorum being present.
Rule 5.15: Printing. The printing of any document required to be printed under the Rules of the House may specifically be dispensed with by two-thirds vote (2/3) of the membership present and voting of the House, a quorum being present; provided, such vote shall be by division vote; provided, however, the printing of any bill which has not been referred to committee shall not be waived.
Rule 5.16 : Immediate Consideration. A resolution concerning Sine Die Adjournment shall receive immediate consideration.
Rule 5.21: Reading a Bill/Resolution in its Entirety. A member of the House may request that a bill/resolution under consideration for second reading be read aloud to the chamber. A member who requests that a bill or joint resolution be read aloud must remain seated in their assigned seat in the House chamber while the bill/resolution is read. The Speaker will accept no motion other than the motion to adjourn while the bill/ resolution is being read aloud.
Rule 10.9: Admittance to the House Chamber. No school teams or groups may be granted the privilege of admittance to the House Chamber during the last week of the regularly scheduled legislative session.
