Rules

Amends the House rules to mandate that all lobbyists vacate the House floor twenty (20) minutes prior to the beginning of the scheduled House session.

Amends the House Rules to enable any member to have up to three (3) bills that are held for further study either substituted in committee or allowed to have a committee vote for placement on the floor calendar exclusively at the discretion of the Speaker.

SR 594 is a procedural resolution adopting the official rules governing the Senate's internal operations for the 2025-2026 legislative session. It defines key terms (like "legislative day" and "presiding officer") and establishes the order of business, including session times, committee referrals, and voting procedures. This resolution directly affects how the Senate conducts its daily proceedings but does not change substantive laws or impact the public. The Senate passed this resolution on March 13, 2025, to formalize its operational framework for the upcoming session.

This bill adopts the operating rules for the Rhode Island House of Representatives for 2025 and 2026. It establishes procedures for the Speaker's authority (including calling sessions, declaring votes, and managing the calendar), sets the order of daily business (starting with committee reports and ending with adjournment), and defines deadlines for introducing bills. These rules directly govern how House members conduct legislative business, manage votes, and handle committee assignments during the 2025-2026 session.

HB 5007 adopts the internal rules for the Rhode Island House of Representatives governing sessions during 2025 and 2026. It outlines the Speaker's authority to preside, refer bills, and declare votes; sets daily session times and voting procedures; establishes deadlines for bill introductions (February 15-16 annually); and permits secure electronic signatures for members. The bill directly affects House members, staff, and committee operations by standardizing procedural rules, but does not change public policy or impact constituents. This is a routine procedural measure to govern legislative workflow.