Senate > Rules > Rule 1

     The Senate, on the first day of each annual session, shall convene at 12 o’clock noon. Thereafter, the Senate shall meet each legislative day at 12 o’clock noon every Tuesday, 1 o’clock p.m. every Wednesday, 11 o’clock a.m. every Thursday for statewide matters and on Friday for local matters and uncontested matters which have previously received unanimous consent to be taken up unless otherwise ordered by the Senate. A motion to change the time of daily meeting may be made at any time when a quorum of the Senate is present or not present and must be voted on after no more than five (5) minutes of debate, two and a half (2½) for and two and a half (2½) against. The Senate shall stand adjourned Saturday through Monday unless otherwise ordered by a majority vote of the members present in statewide session.

      At various times as he or she deems necessary during the session, the President, or his designee, is authorized to make a motion to provide for the convening of the Senate in statewide session for the exclusive purpose of the introduction and referral of bills, receipt of communications and committee reports and the reading and passage of local legislation to which all members of an affected delegation have given their consent for the bill to be taken up, and to adjourn immediately thereafter. Any such motion shall provide the specific dates during which the motion shall apply and shall provide that the Senate must convene at 11:00 a.m. and adjourn not later than 12:30 p.m. on each such day and such motion must be made at least two (2) days prior to the beginning of the period for which it applies

      The President, when, in his opinion, it is impractical or dangerous to hold a regularly scheduled session(s) of the Senate, may declare the body adjourned to some other time or may convene the Senate under the provisions of Rule 1B. Such actions are to be taken only in times of great emergency including, but not limited to, natural disasters, severe weather, and acts of God

Last Updated: 1/14/2021 at 6:35 AM