Senate > Rules > Rule 15

      Except for any Reapportionment Bill, the debate on the question of third reading of a Bill or Resolution may be brought to a close by the lesser of twenty-six (26) Senators or three-fifths (3/5) of the Senators present and voting, if such Bill or Resolution has been under debate for two (2) hours on the current legislative day. The debate on any other matter pending before the Senate, except as otherwise provided in these Rules, may be brought to a close by a majority of the membership of the Senate after two (2) hours of debate on the current legislative day.

      However, notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 14, during the final three (3) 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.

      Notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 14 or any other rule, such motion may be made after the time period provided for herein has elapsed and may be made by any member and shall not be subject to amendment or debate. Such motion shall include a fixed time for the vote, a time when no further amendments may be placed on the desk, the limitations on amendments sponsored by each Senator, and/or the limitations on consideration and debate of each amendment and the main question. Any Senator may request a call of the Senate prior to the vote being ordered.

      When the time arrives, the Senate shall proceed to a consideration (seriatim) of the amendments and the main question as provided by the motion adopted under the provisions of the rule.

      When a motion is adopted under the provisions of this rule, no further amendments may be received unless provided by the motion, except that the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader may each offer one additional amendment and the Clerk may authorize an amendment necessary to correct some technical error or omission or to conform the language of an amendment to a previous action of the Senate.

      Any question to which the Senate has agreed to fix a date or time certain shall become the unfinished business of the Senate and shall be considered on each subsequent legislative day immediately after the call of the uncontested local calendar.

      Notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 14 or any other Rule of the Senate, when any Reapportionment Bill has been under debate for two statewide legislative days, the President shall immediately recognize any Senator for the purpose of a motion to bring the debate to a close. Upon being made, the President shall at once state the motion and submit to the Senate by a yea and no vote the question:

      "Is it the Sense of the Senate that the debate shall be brought to a close?"

      And if that question shall be decided in the affirmative by the lesser of twenty-six (26) Senators or three-fifths (3/5) of the Senators present and voting, then said measure pending before the Senate, or unfinished business, shall be the unfinished business of the Senate to the exclusion of all other business until disposed of.

      Thereafter, no Senator shall be entitled to speak in all, more than one hour on the measure, pending before the Senate, or the unfinished business, the amendments thereto, and the motions affecting the same, and it shall be the duty of the Presiding Officer to keep the time of each Senator who speaks. After no more than forty-six hours of consideration of the measure, motion, or other matter on which cloture has been invoked, the Senate shall proceed, without further debate on any question, to vote on the final disposition thereof to the exclusion of all other matters.

      Except for any reapportionment Bill and notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 14, the President or his or her designee shall have the right to make a motion to establish a schedule for a future date and time for the vote on any Bill or Resolution, which is in the status of Interrupted Debate, Adjourned Debate or Special Order. The motion shall also establish the time when no further amendments may be placed on the desk and the limitations on consideration and debate of amendments and the main questions. Any such motion shall not be subject to amendment or debate and must be adopted by the lesser of twenty-six (26) Senators or three-fifths (3/5) of the Senators present and voting and if adopted, then the Bill or Resolution shall be the business of the Senate on the date and time set, to the exclusion of all other matters.

Last Updated: 1/14/2021 at 6:49 AM