Motion Period and Special Orders
During the motion period, any motion pertaining to the business of the Senate may be made. When a motion is made to set a Bill for Special Order, time shall be given to one proponent and one opponent to speak on the motion. Such remarks shall be limited in the discretion of the presiding officer provided, that no Bill may be taken up during the motion period for the purpose of debating the merits of the Bill or for the purpose of giving the Bill a reading. Procedural motions shall be decided without debate; provided, that procedural motions which present a main question, such as a motion to recall, are subject to not more than ten minutes of debate, five (5) minutes for and five (5) minutes against. The motion period shall not exceed thirty (30) minutes unless extended by a majority of Senators present and voting.
At any time, the President, after consultation with the Majority Leader and Minority Leader, may make any motion pertaining to the business of the Senate and such motion shall be adopted upon approval of three fourths (3/4) of the membership of the Senate.
During the motion period, all motions to set a Bill or Resolution for Special Order on a subsequent legislative day shall be in order irrespective of whether the Bill or Resolution was given a reading on the legislative day the motion is made. Said motions shall be considered in the priority established by the recognition of the Senators making said motions. Each such motion shall relate to a separate Bill or Resolution. Except for explanatory remarks authorized in subsection A, such motions shall be determined without debate and by two thirds (2/3) of the Senators present and voting. Provided, that, when authorized in writing by a majority of the members of the Rules Committee and delivered to the desk, a motion to set a bill for Special Order, shall require a vote of a majority of the members present and voting. At no time may the Special Order calendar have more than one Bill which is set for Special Order by a motion authorized by the Rules Committee. During the motion period, no Bill or Resolution can be made a Special Order ahead of Bills or Resolutions which have already been placed in the status of Adjourned Debate.
If a Bill is set for Special Order on a date and/or time certain, such Bill is not subject to consideration at the specified date and/or time unless the Senate reaches that order of business or unless by unanimous consent the Senate has agreed that consideration of the Bill will be to the exclusion of all other matters pending before the Senate at such time.
If a Bill or Resolution is set for Special Order for second reading and subsequently receives such reading, the Bill or Resolution shall remain on Special Order unless otherwise agreed to by three fifths (3/5) of the Senators present and voting. If debate is interrupted on a Bill or Resolution on Special Order, the Bill or Resolution shall be considered after the call of the uncontested local calendar.
Last Updated: 1/23/2019 at 10:26 AM
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