Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

 

Amended - Not Printed Bill for the House

Amt. No. 3 (LC-5012.DG0006H.docx)

January 22, 2026

 

H. 5012

 

Introduced by House Rules Committee

 

S. Printed 1/22/26--H.

Read the first time January 22, 2026

 

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A house RESOLUTION

 

to amend rule 5.16 of the rules of the house of representatives, relating to immediate consideration of resolutions, so as to provide that a house or concurrent resolution concerning sine die adjournment shall be referred to the rules committee, and if the resolution is reported out favorably from the rules committee, it shall receive immediate consideration; and to amend rule 5.19, relating to debate on particular questions before the house and their respective time limits, so as to provide that if a member accepts questions during the member's speech, the member may not thereafter refuse to accept questions, and such refusal shall result in the termination of the member's allotted time.

    Amend Title To Conform

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the first paragraph of Rule 5.16 of the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended to read:

 

            5.16     Should any member seek immediate consideration of any House or Concurrent Resolution, the resolution shall receive immediate consideration unless five members object.  If immediate consideration of such resolution is not sought, or in the event five members do object where immediate consideration is sought, the resolution shall be referred to an appropriate committee and shall not be considered by the House until after the committee has made its report and at that time shall take its place on the Calendar.  Provided, however, a House or Concurrent Resolution concerning Sine Die Adjournment under Article III, Section 21 of the South Carolina Constitution and Section 2 1 180 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, shall receive immediate consideration, which shall include the motion to commit or recommitshall be referred to the Rules Committee. If the resolution is reported favorably out of the Rules Committee, it shall receive immediate consideration.

 

That Rule 5.19 a. of the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended to read:

 

            5.19     a.         No member shall speak more than twice on the main question of a bill or resolution being considered for any reading and not longer than sixty minutes for the first speech nor longer than thirty minutes for the second speech, unless allowed to do so by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and voting.  No member shall speak more than twice upon an amendment or a motion to reconsider that is debatable and then not longer than ten minutes each time.  However, if the previous question has been invoked, no member may speak more than twice on a motion to reconsider that is debatable and then not longer than the amount of time remaining for debate of the underlying motion; provided, that proposed amendments announced and introduced by the Reading Clerk shall be considered prior to a member speaking on the bill.  No member shall speak more than twice on Senate amendments to a House bill and not longer than sixty minutes for the first speech nor longer than thirty minutes for the second speech, unless allowed to do so by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and voting.  The House may, however, by consent of a majority of the members present and voting suspend the operation of this rule during any debate on any particular question before the House.

            Provided, each bill or joint resolution, prior to receiving second reading, must be explained for a minimum of ten minutes or until all questions from House members are addressed, whichever occurs first.  The committee chairman of the committee to which a bill or joint resolution was referred, the committee chairman's designee, the sponsor(s) of the bill or joint resolution, and other members of the House may jointly explain the bill or joint resolution in order to provide the required explanation.  If a member accepts questions during the member's speech, either upon the main question of a bill or resolution or upon an amendment or motion to reconsider that is debatable, the member may not refuse questions thereafter. Upon agreeing to accept questions, the member shall spend a reasonable amount of time, at the discretion of the Speaker, answering each member's questions upon the main question of the bill or resolution. Refusal to accept questions after agreeing to do so shall result in the termination of the member's allotted time.

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