As Adopted by the House
136th General Assembly
Regular Session H. R. No. 9
2025-2026
Representative Manning
A R E S O L U T I O N
To adopt the Rules of the House of Representatives for the 136th General Assembly.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
That the following are the rules of the House of Representatives for the 136th General Assembly:
RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OF
THE 135th
136th
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
TIME OF CONVENING; ORDER OF BUSINESS
Rule 1. (Time of sessions; schedule.) (a) For the months of January through June in each year, and separately for the months of July through December in each year, the Speaker, at the beginning of each six-month period, shall establish a schedule of dates and times according to which the House shall hold sessions and at which roll call votes are taken. The Speaker may revise or supplement the schedule as necessary. The schedule and any revision or supplement thereto shall be published and a copy provided to each member.
(b) Sessions of the House at which roll call votes are taken shall be held on the dates and at the times prescribed in the schedule. The Speaker, by written notice transmitted to each member, may cancel a session required by the schedule.
Rule 2. (Speaker or presiding officer to call House to order.) The Speaker or presiding officer shall take the chair every day precisely at the hour to which the House shall have adjourned or shall have taken a recess, and shall immediately call the House to order. Prayer may be offered, the pledge of allegiance to the United States of America shall be recited, and, a quorum being present, the House shall proceed with the order of business. A majority of all members elected must be present to constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may meet and adjourn from time to time, a presiding officer being present, and shall have the power to compel the attendance of absent members. However, in no event may business be conducted unless a member of the majority party is present.
Rule 3. (Order of business.) (a) The order of business of the House shall be as follows:
Reading and approving, with or without corrections, of the Journal.
Introduction of bills.
Consideration of Senate amendments.
Reports of conference committees.
Reports of standing and select committees and bills for second consideration.
Motions and resolutions.
Bills for third consideration.
Announcement of committee meetings.
(b) The order of business shall not be changed unless otherwise ordered by a majority vote upon motion. All questions relating to the priority of business shall be decided without debate.
Rule 4. (Special order of business.) Any matter may be made a special order of business for any particular day and hour with the assent of two-thirds of the members present.
Rule 5. (Filing of petitions.) Members having petitions to present shall file same with the Clerk, endorsing their name thereon. Delivery to the Clerk shall constitute presentment of said petition to the House, and it shall be noted in the Journal.
Rule 6. (Messages from Senate and executives.) Messages from the Senate and the Governor and communications from any branch of the executive department may be received, read, and disposed of at any time, except when the presiding officer is putting a question, or when a vote is being taken.
Rule 7. (Adjournment.) A motion to adjourn always shall be in order, except during roll call. When a motion is made to adjourn, it shall be in order for the presiding officer, before putting the question, to state any fact to the House relating to the condition of the business of the House which would seem to make it advisable or inadvisable to adjourn at that time. Such statement, however, shall not be debatable. It is not in order for the House to adjourn unless the presiding officer is in the chair.
Rule 8. (Recess.) The interim between any two meetings of the House, on the same legislative day, shall be termed a recess; when so ordered by the House, the interim between five or more calendar days likewise shall be termed a recess; and on reassembling at the appointed hour, any question pending at the time of taking recess shall be resumed without any motion to that effect.
DUTIES OF THE SPEAKER
Rule 9. (Speaker shall preserve order and decorum.) The Speaker or presiding officer shall, at all times, preserve order and decorum. The Speaker or presiding officer shall see that members conduct themselves in a civil and orderly manner. When necessary, the Speaker or presiding officer may order the Sergeant-at-Arms to clear the aisles and compel members to take their seats.
Rule 10. (Recognition of visitors.) A member may file with the Clerk a form requesting the Speaker or presiding officer to recognize one or more individuals in the galleries. The Clerk shall prescribe a form for the request and make copies of the form in blank available to members. The recognition may be made at any time, but shall not interrupt a debate or the taking of a vote.
Rule 11. (Control of the Hall.) (a) The Speaker or presiding officer shall have general direction and control of the Hall and shall provide for the security of the Hall. In case of any actual or anticipated disturbance or disorderly conduct in the galleries, lobby, rooms, or hallways adjacent to the Hall, the Speaker or presiding officer may order those places to be cleared.
(b) When the House is not in session, the Clerk shall have general direction and control of the Hall and of the galleries, lobby, rooms, and hallways adjacent to the Hall.
(c) Signs, banners, placards, and other similar demonstrative devices are not permitted in the Hall or in the galleries, lobby, rooms, or hallways adjacent to the Hall unless the Speaker or presiding officer, or, if the House is not in session, the Clerk, has approved their use in those places.
Rule 12. (Member may preside.) The Speaker may appoint any member to perform the duties of the Speaker as presiding officer for a temporary period of time. If the Speaker is absent, and no member has been appointed to perform those duties temporarily during the absence, the Speaker Pro Tempore shall perform the duties of the Speaker as presiding officer during the Speaker's absence.
Rule
13. (Appointment of committees and boards.) The Speaker shall name
all committees and subcommittees, and shall appoint all members
and chairs
thereto
and determine the number of members thereof, except the Rules and
Reference Committee shall consist of twelve members.
The Speaker shall appoint members of
the majority party and the Minority Leader shall appoint members of
the minority party to
all
committees and subcommittees. The membership of a
standing committee shall
be so
that membership is proportional
to the partisan composition of the House. The chair and the
vice-chair of the Finance Committee and the Rules and Reference
Committee shall not be included in making this calculation. The
Minority Leader, in a manner to be determined by the minority caucus,
may recommend for the Speaker's consideration, minority party members
for each committee.
The
Speaker shall appoint members to a standing committee so that its
membership is at least proportional to the partisan composition of
the House, adjusting minority membership upward as needed.
Rule 14. (Speaker directs House officers and employs and directs House employees.) (a) The Speaker shall see that all officers of the House satisfactorily perform their respective duties.
(b) The Speaker shall employ all employees of the House and shall see that they satisfactorily perform their respective duties. All employees of the House are at will employees, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Speaker. A terminated employee's compensation ceases on the day the termination takes effect. The
(c)
The Speaker
shall prescribe House policies and administrative rules, shall define
House employment positions, shall prescribe the qualifications that
are to be met by House employees, and shall prescribe the duties of
House employees, fix their hours of employment, and determine their
compensation. The Speaker shall consult
with, and consider the recommendations of,notify
the Minority Leader before taking
any of the aforementioned actions with regard to taking
corrective action regarding an
employee of
who
is assigned to the
minority caucus, including
disciplinary and corrective actions and terminationsunless
the circumstances otherwise require.
Rule 15. (Signing acts, resolutions, etc.) The Speaker shall certify that every bill passed, and every joint resolution or concurrent resolution adopted, by both houses of the General Assembly has met the procedural requirements for passage or adoption by signing such bills, joint resolutions, or concurrent resolutions; and all writs, warrants, and subpoenas issued by order of the House shall be under the Speaker's hand attested by the Clerk, except when otherwise provided by law.
DUTIES OF THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE
Rule 16. (Duties.) Subject to Rule 12, the Speaker Pro Tempore, in the absence of the Speaker, shall have all the rights, privileges, authority, duties, and responsibilities of the Speaker.
DUTIES OF THE ASSISTANT SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE
Rule 17. (Duties.) Subject to Rule 12, the Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore, in the absence of the Speaker and the Speaker Pro Tempore, shall have all the rights, privileges, authority, duties, and responsibilities of the Speaker.
DUTIES OF MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER
Rule
1718.
(Duties.) Subject to Rule 12, the Majority Floor Leader, in the
absence of the Speaker
and ,
Speaker
Pro Tempore, and
the Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore, shall
have all the rights, privileges, authority, duties, and
responsibilities of the Speaker.
DUTIES OF ASSISTANT MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER
Rule
1819.
(Duties.) Subject to Rule 12, the Assistant Majority Floor Leader, in
the absence of the Speaker, Speaker Pro Tempore, Assistant
Speaker Pro Tempore, and
Majority Floor Leader, shall have all the rights, privileges,
authority, duties, and responsibilities of the Speaker.
DUTIES OF THE MAJORITY WHIP(S)
Rule 20. (Duties.) The Majority Whip or Whips shall assist the Majority Floor Leader and Assistant Majority Floor Leader, ensure member attendance, count votes, and communicate the majority position.
DUTIES OF THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
Rule
1921.
(Chief administrative officer.) The Chief Administrative Officer
shall be the chief administrative officer of the House and shall be
responsible to the Speaker of the House
and other designated staff as provided by House resolutions adopted
during the 136th General Assembly.
Rule
2022.
(Supervision of employees; maintenance of parking facilities.) (a)
Subject to the
applicable state law and the
Speaker's authority under Rule 14, and except for employees whose
direction is delegated to the Clerk under Rule 2426,
responsibility for seeing that employees of
the minority party of
the House satisfactorily perform their respective duties is delegated
to the Minority
LeaderChief
Administrative Officer and other designated staff as provided by
House resolution adopted during the 136th General Assembly.
(b) The maintenance and condition of parking facilities under the control of the House shall be under the direction and control of the Chief Administrative Officer, subject to the approval of the Speaker.
(c)
The Speaker shall not eliminate parking privileges or the office of a
member without the member's consent and may not remove a
member's staff an
employee assigned to a member without
the
member's acquiescenceprior
notification to the member, unless extenuating circumstances
otherwise require.
DUTIES OF THE CLERK
Rule
2123.
(Distribution of House documents.) The Clerk shall have charge of and
regulate the distribution of all printed and electronic records and
reports of the House, and shall have supervision of the printing or
electronic preparation of all documents ordered by the House as
specified in Rule 25
27
and
in section 101.52 of the Revised Code. The number of copies of bills,
journals, and other documents to be printed, or the documents to be
prepared electronically, shall be determined by the Clerk with the
approval of the Speaker, except when the House by motion determines
the number to be printed or the documents to be prepared
electronically.
Rule
2224.
(Legislative duties and responsibilities of the Clerk.) (a) The Clerk
is custodian of the bills, amendments, resolutions, and other
legislative documents that are in possession of the House. The Clerk
shall not permit a bill, amendment, resolution, or other legislative
document to be removed from the Clerk's custody except in the course
of the regular business of the House and then only upon receiving a
receipt for the document that shows when and to whom the document was
released. The Clerk shall prescribe the form of the receipt. A bill,
amendment, resolution, or other legislative document in the Clerk's
custody is available for public inspection.
(b) When a bill or resolution is filed for introduction, the Clerk shall examine the bill or resolution to determine whether on its face it appears to meet the constitutional and procedural requirements for introduction, and shall call any defects to the attention of the author. The Clerk may correct the list of cosponsors if the Clerk receives notice of and verifies a technical error. In fulfilling this duty, the Clerk is not presumed to guarantee the bill meets the constitutional or procedural requirements for introduction.
(c) The Clerk shall number bills and resolutions in the order of their filing, and shall keep a complete and accurate record of bills and resolutions that includes, for each bill or resolution, its number; its author; a brief description of its subject; the section or sections of law it seeks to amend, enact, or repeal, if any; notation of its reference to and report by a committee; and notation of its passage or adoption or rejection by the House. The record is open to public inspection.
(d)
The Clerk shall provide to the chair of a committee to which a bill
or resolution is referred, the bill or resolution together with all
official documents and other attachments pertaining thereto,
taking a receipt therefor.
(e) The Clerk shall prepare and publish a Calendar that gives public notice of bills and resolutions that have been arranged on the Calendar for third consideration or adoption, bills and resolutions that have been reported by committees, and other matters descriptive of the current and future business of the House.
(f) The Clerk shall keep a complete and accurate Journal of the proceedings of the House, beginning it on the first day of the first regular session and ending it on the last day of the second regular session. The Clerk shall maintain a separate Journal for any special session, beginning it on the first day and ending it on the last day of the special session. The pages of the Journal shall be numbered serially. All amendments that are taken up, unless withdrawn or ruled out of order, shall be spread upon the Journal. For all amendments that are offered, the Journal shall include the number assigned to the amendment by the Legislative Service Commission.
(g) The Clerk shall superintend the engrossing, enrolling, and presentation of bills and joint resolutions and the preparation and publication of other legislative documents.
(h) The Clerk shall attest all writs and subpoenas issued by order of the House, the Journal, and the passage of bills and the adoption of resolutions. These attestation duties are ministerial.
Rule
2325.
(May call the House to order.) If the Speaker, Speaker Pro Tempore,
Assistant
Speaker Pro Tempore, Majority
Floor Leader, and Assistant Majority Floor Leader are absent, at the
hour to which the House shall have adjourned or taken recess, except
in the case mentioned in Rule 12, the Clerk may call the House to
order, and, if called to order, the House shall proceed to choose
some member to act as presiding officer until either the Speaker,
Speaker Pro Tempore, Assistant
Speaker Pro Tempore, Majority
Floor Leader, or the Assistant Majority Floor Leader shall be
present. No
business may be conducted unless the Speaker's designee, or a member
of leadership from the majority party, is present.
Rule
2426.
(Composition of the Office of the Clerk.) The office of the Clerk
shall be comprised of the Clerk and employees of the House who are
directly involved in the legislative process.
Subject to the Speaker's authority under Rule 14, and except for
employees whose direction is delegated to the Chief Administrative
Officer and other designated staff under Rule 22, responsibility for
seeing that employees of the House who are directly involved in the
legislative process satisfactorily perform their respective duties is
delegated to the Clerk. In the absence of the Clerk, the Assistant
Clerk shall assume the responsibilities of the Clerk.
Rule
2527.
(Printing of documents.) The Clerk shall attend to the printing or
electronic preparation of the journal, calendar, bills, resolutions,
and, if so ordered, committee reports. This rule is cumulative with
respect to section 101.52 of the Revised Code.
DUTIES OF THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS
Rule
2628.
(Sergeant-at-arms.) (a) The Sergeant-at-arms shall be the chief
police officer of the House and shall be responsible to the Speaker.
Subject to Rules 9, 11, and 109107,
the Sergeant-at-arms shall maintain good order in the Hall, gallery,
corridors, and committee rooms; shall strictly enforce the rules
regulating admission of persons to the floor of the House; shall
maintain good order in the corridors, committee rooms, offices, and
other areas under the exclusive use and control of the House in the
Vern Riffe Center; shall serve all subpoenas and warrants issued by
the House or any duly authorized officer or committee; and on an
order for a call of the House, shall forthwith proceed to arrest and
bring members into the House. The Sergeant-at-arms may request the
assistance of, or work with, the State Highway Patrol to fulfill
those duties.
(b) The Speaker may also contract for security services for the House.
VACANCY OF CLERK, CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, OR SERGEANT-AT-ARMS
Rule
2729.
(Death or resignation of Clerk, Chief Administrative Officer, or
Sergeant-at-Arms.) In the case of the death or resignation of the
Clerk, Chief Administrative Officer, or Sergeant-at-Arms, the Speaker
may designate any individual to perform such duties until such time
as the House fills the vacancy.
COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE
Rule
2830.
(Standing committees and standing subcommittees.)
(a) The standing committees and standing subcommittees of the House shall be named by the Speaker.
(b)
The standing committees and the standing subcommittees of the House
for the 135th
136th
General
Assembly shall be as follows. (The standing committees are designated
by Arabic numerals, while the standing subcommittees are designated
under their standing committees by Roman numerals.)
1. Agriculture
2.
Armed
ServicesArts,
Athletics, and Tourism
3.
Aviation
and AerospaceChildren
and Human Services
4.
Behavioral
HealthCommerce
and Labor
5.
Civil
Justice Community
Revitalization
6.
Commerce
and LaborDevelopment
7.
Constitutional
ResolutionsEducation
8.
Criminal
JusticeEnergy
9.
Economic
and Workforce DevelopmentFinance
10.
Energy
and Natural ResourcesFinancial
Institutions
11.
Families
and AgingGeneral
Government
12.
FinanceGovernment
Oversight
I.
Agriculture, Development, and Natural Resources Subcommittee
II.
Health and Human Services Subcommittee
III.
Higher Education Subcommittee
IV.
Infrastructure and American Rescue Plan
V.
Primary and Secondary Education Subcommittee
VI.
Public Safety Subcommittee
VII.
Transportation Subcommittee
13.
Financial
InstitutionsHealth
14.
Government
OversightInsurance
15.
Health
Provider ServicesJudiciary
16.
Higher
EducationLocal
Government
17.
Homeland
SecurityMedicaid
18.
InfrastructureNatural
Resources
19.
InsurancePublic
Insurance and Pensions
20.
PensionsPublic
Safety
21.
Primary
and Secondary EducationRules
and Reference
22.
Public
Health PolicySmall
Business
23.
Public
UtilitiesTechnology
and Innovation
24.
Rules
and ReferenceTransportation
25.
State
and Local GovernmentVeterans
and Military Development
26.
Technology
and InnovationWays
and Means
27.
TransportationWorkforce
and Higher Education
28.
Ways and Means
(c) The Speaker, by message to the House, may abolish any of the standing committees and standing subcommittees created by this rule and may establish additional standing committees or standing subcommittees as the Speaker considers necessary, without amendment of this rule.
(d)
The chairs and members of all committees and subcommittees shall be
appointed as
specified in Rule 13by
the Speaker.
The chair of each standing subcommittee shall be under the direction
of the general chair of the committee.
(e)
When the chair of a standing committee or subcommittee creates a
special subcommittee of the standing committee or subcommittee, the
Minority Leader
shall appoint ,
in a manner to be determined by the minority caucus, may recommend
for the Speaker's consideration, the
minority membership of the special subcommittee.
(f) Standing committees and standing subcommittees created by this rule are the standing committees and standing subcommittees referred to in section 101.27 of the Revised Code.
Rule
2931.
(Select committees.) Select committees for the consideration of
special measures or matters or the performance of special functions
may be appointed by the Speaker, and, subject to the approval of the
Speaker, bills and resolutions may be referred to such select
committees. Select committees may report on such bills and
resolutions as are referred to them.
Rule
3032.
(Membership on committees.) (a) The first-named member of any
committee or subcommittee shall be the chair, and the second-named
member of any committee shall be the vice-chair. The chair shall
select a member of the minority party to be secretary. The minority
leader may designate a ranking minority member on each committee.
(b)
In case death, disability, or resignation shall cause a vacancy in
the membership
or chair
of any committee, the Speaker shall appoint another member or chair.
In
case death, disability, or resignation shall cause a vacancy in the
membership of any committee, the Speaker or Minority Leader, as
applicable, shall appoint another member.
(c) The Speaker, the Speaker Pro Tempore, the Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore, and the minority leader shall, by virtue of their office, be members of all committees without voting privileges, except in those committees where they are designated as regular members. The minority leader may designate the assistant minority leader to be a member of a committee without voting privileges in the minority leader's absence, except for those committees where the assistant minority leader is designated as a regular member. They shall not be counted in determining the number constituting a majority on the various committees unless they are designated as regular members.
(d)
If a member of a finance subcommittee is absent, the vice-chair and
ranking minority member of the Finance Committee shall, by virtue of
their membership on the Finance Committee, be ex-officio members of
any finance subcommittee without voting privileges, except in those
subcommittees where they are designated as regular members. A member
of a finance subcommittee is not required to be a member of the
Finance Committee.
(e)
The Minority Leader shall appoint four members of the minority party
to the Rules and Reference Committee.
(f)
Each finance subcommittee shall include at least two members of the
minority party in addition to the ranking minority member.
DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR
Rule
3133.
(Duties.) (a) The duties of the committee chair shall include:
presiding over meetings of the committee and putting all questions;
maintaining order and deciding all questions of order; appointing a
member as secretary; and supervising and directing the clerical and
other employees of the committee.
(b) The chair of a committee shall not require any person testifying before the committee to provide a written copy of the person's testimony.
Rule
3234.
(Presentation of Senate Bills.) When a standing committee recommends
a Senate Bill for passage, the chair of the committee, or another
member designated by the Speaker, shall, when the bill is called up
for passage, cause the bill to be properly presented to the House.
Rule
3335.
(Subpoena power.) (a)(1) The chair of a House standing or select
committee, when authorized by a majority vote of the standing or
select committee, may subpoena witnesses in any part of the state to
appear before such committee at a time and place designated in the
subpoena to testify concerning any pending or contemplated
legislative action, any matters of inquiry committed to the
committee, and any alleged breach of the House's privileges or
misconduct by any of the House's members. Pursuant to this subpoena
power, any witness subpoenaed may be ordered to produce books,
papers, electronic documents, or records and other tangible evidence.
(2) The chair shall file any subpoenas authorized pursuant to this rule with the Clerk, who shall cause the same to be entered in the Journal, and the subpoena shall be served pursuant to law. (See sections 101.41 to 101.45 of the Revised Code.)
(b) Within the limits of its charge by the General Assembly or the House and in accordance with section 101.81 of the Revised Code, the chair of a standing or select committee, by majority vote of the committee, may order any person to appear before the committee and produce books, papers, electronic documents, or records and other tangible evidence for the committee with respect to any pending or contemplated legislative action, or any alleged breach of House privileges or misconduct by House members. The chair shall file the order with the Clerk, who shall cause the same to be entered in the Journal. The order shall be served in accordance with section 101.81 of the Revised Code.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND PROCEDURE
Rule
33A36.
(House rules govern.) The rules governing the procedure of the
standing and select committees of the House shall be the same as
those governing the House, as far as they may be applicable.
Rule
3437.
(Schedule of committee meetings.) The Speaker, after consultation
with the chairs of the several committees, shall set a schedule of
times when regular committees shall meet, which, in so far as
possible, shall permit a full attendance of the members of
committees, without conflict of committee engagements. Such regular
schedule shall be announced publicly, and each committee shall meet
at the hour provided by the schedule, unless otherwise ordered by the
chair of said committee or by the Speaker.
Rule
3538.
(Committee quorum.)
A majority of all members of a committee shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may meet to hear testimony and receive evidence and to adjourn from time to time. But a committee may not conduct business unless a member of the majority party is present.
Rule
3639.
(Notice of meetings; none during daily session of House.) (a) The
chair of a standing committee, subcommittee, select committee, or
joint committee shall give due notice of a meeting of the committee,
subcommittee, select committee, or joint committee not later than
twenty-four hours before the meeting, in accordance with section
101.15 of the Revised Code, and shall attempt to give that notice not
later than five days before the meeting. The notice shall identify
the committee; identify the chair; state the date, time, and place at
which the meeting will be held; and set forth an agenda showing each
bill, resolution, or other matter that will be considered at the
meeting.
(b) It is not in order for a committee to meet at a date, time, or place, or to consider any bill, resolution, or other matter at a meeting, other than as stated in the notice of the meeting, unless otherwise ordered by the House or the committee. If, however, an emergency requires consideration of a matter at a meeting, and the matter has not been stated in the notice of the meeting, the chair may revise or supplement the notice at any time before or during the meeting to include the matter and the matter may then be considered as the emergency requires.
(c) The rule is cumulative with respect to, and amplifies, section 101.15 of the Revised Code.
(d) No committee shall sit during the daily session of the House, unless by special leave of the House. A committee may sit during a recess from the daily session of the House.
Rule
3740.
(Public hearing required.) (a) All House bills and resolutions
introduced on or before the fifteenth day of May in an even-numbered
year, and in compliance with the rules of the House, shall be
referred to a standing, select, or special committee or standing
subcommittee, and shall be scheduled by the chair of the committee
for a minimum of one public hearing.
(b) The sponsor of a bill or resolution shall appear at least once before the committee that is considering the bill or resolution unless excused by the chair of the committee or the Speaker. It is not in order for the committee to report the bill or resolution unless its sponsor has appeared or has been excused from appearing before the committee.
Rule
3841.
(Fiscal notes and analyses to be made public.) Any fiscal note and
any bill analysis prepared by the staff of the Legislative Service
Commission, that has been made available to committee members, shall
also be made available to the public under section 101.30 of the
Revised Code.
Rule
3942.
(Synopsis of substitute bill required.) Prior to a committee or
subcommittee considering a substitute bill, the staff of the
Legislative Service Commission shall prepare and make available to
the committee or subcommittee, a synopsis that summarizes each
substantive difference between the substitute bill and the preceding
version of the bill, and a synopsis that summarizes the difference in
fiscal impact between the substitute bill and the preceding version
of the bill, unless the committee or subcommittee chair or the
sponsor of the substitute bill being considered orders otherwise. The
staff of the Legislative Service Commission shall make these synopses
available to the committee before the committee or subcommittee votes
on the bill.
Rule
4043.
(Fiscal analysis; committee vote required.) (a) Before the vote on
reporting a bill is taken by a committee, the staff of the
Legislative Service Commission shall make available to the committee
chair, who shall make available to all members of the committee, for
their review, a fiscal impact statement that addresses the impact of
the bill upon state and local government. This requirement applies to
a bill only if section 103.143 of the Revised Code also applies to
the bill. This requirement is cumulative with respect to section
103.143 of the Revised Code; however, a local impact statement
prepared under that section may be used also to fulfill the
requirement of this rule in whole or in part.
(b) The affirmative votes of a majority of all members constituting a committee shall be necessary to report a bill or resolution out of committee, and a record of every vote shall be kept by the committee. The affirmative vote of a majority of all the members constituting the committee shall be necessary to agree to any motion to recommend for passage or to postpone indefinitely further consideration of bills or resolutions, and a record of such vote shall be kept by the committee. Every member present shall vote unless excused by the committee.
Rule
4144.
(Voting; consecutive absences; incurrences of expense.) (a) No proxy
vote shall be valid. Nor shall any member vote except while
physically sitting in committee in actual session, unless the member
shall have first been present and recorded as such immediately before
or during actual session before the vote is taken, and by motion the
roll call on a motion to recommend a bill or resolution for passage
is continued for a vote by any member who is temporarily absent from
the meeting until the adjournment thereof, which shall be not later
than 12:00 o'clock noon one day following the committee meeting. It
is not in order for a member to vote on an amendment unless the
member is actually physically present when the amendment is voted
upon.
(b) Three consecutive absences from regular committee meetings shall operate to suspend a member from such committee, unless excused by the chair of said committee.
(c) No committee or member thereof shall be permitted to incur any expense without first receiving the consent of the Speaker.
Rule
4245.
(Amendments.) Any amendment offered during any meeting of a committee
shall take into consideration any previous amendments accepted by a
committee on the bill or resolution. The chair may entertain a motion
to table an amendment. The chair shall rule an amendment out of order
if the chair determines the amendment to be not of the same subject
matter as the bill or resolution, vexatious, or a duplicate of an
amendment previously offered for the bill or resolution. This rule
does not prohibit the acceptance of substitute bills or resolutions.
COMMITTEE RECORDS AND REPORTS
Rule
4346.
(Record to be kept.) Each committee shall keep a record of committee
attendance and the names of all persons who speak before the
committee, with the names of the persons, firms, associations, or
corporations in whose behalf they appear. A record of every vote
shall be kept by the committee.
Rule
4447.
(Records open to examination; filing of records.) During the period
of sessions, committee records shall be open for examination by any
member of the House. At reasonable times and subject to adequate
safeguards established by the chair to protect and preserve such
records, any citizen of Ohio may also examine committee records. Upon
final adjournment of the House, the committee records shall be filed
with the Clerk, to be kept for a period of two years, after which
time said records shall be filed with the Legislative Service
Commission.
Rule
4548.
(Committee reports.) (a) All reports to the House shall be signed by
a majority of the entire committee, except that a standing
subcommittee, except Finance Subcommittees, created by these rules
may consider bills assigned to it by the Rules and Reference
Committee for hearing and a majority of said subcommittee may approve
such reports to the House. The secretary shall add to said report the
names of those who voted "no." No member shall sign a
committee report who was not present at the meeting at which such
action was taken and who did not vote in support of such action.
(b) The legislative staff assigned to the chair of the committee shall prepare, file, and maintain the minutes of every regular or special meeting of a committee. The committee, at its next regular or special meeting, shall approve the minutes prepared, filed, and maintained by the legislative staff, or, if the minutes prepared, filed, and maintained by the legislative staff require correction before their approval, the committee shall correct and approve the minutes at the next following regular or special meeting. The committee shall make the minutes available for public inspection not later than seven days after the meeting the minutes reflect or not later than the committee's next regular or special meeting, whichever occurs first, and upon making the minutes available shall immediately file a copy of the minutes with the Clerk.
Rule
4649.
(Filing of reports; inclusion of bills or resolutions.) All committee
reports shall be filed with the Clerk, shall be signed by a majority
of the committee, and
shall
be accompanied by the original bill or resolution,
and shall include copies of all amendments considered and indicate
whether they were accepted, rejected, or tabled.
Each committee may include in a single report more than one bill or
resolution; provided, however, that any bill or resolution amended by
a committee or any substitute measure recommended by a committee
shall be on a separate report. These reports shall be presented to
the House and entered upon the Journal. For each day a committee
meets, the committee secretary shall file with the Clerk a report of
all actions of the committee taken that day, including a list of
bills heard and reports received.
Rule
47. Reserved.
DUTIES AND DECORUM OF MEMBERS
Rule
4850.
(Members desiring to speak.) (a) When a member is about to speak in
debate or present any matter to the House, the member shall rise and
respectfully address the Speaker, confine remarks to the question
under debate, and avoid personalities. All debate must be addressed
to the Speaker or presiding officer and not to members.
(b) Except as provided in Rule 7, no motion is in order by a member if made at the conclusion of a speech by said member unless the House gives unanimous consent.
Rule
4951.
(From where members may speak.) A member may speak either from the
member's seat, or from the seat of any other member, tendered the
member for this purpose, or, upon approval of the Speaker or
presiding officer, from anywhere in the House Chamber.
Rule
5052.
(How long member may speak.) No member shall speak upon any single
question, bill, or resolution more than a total of fifteen minutes on
any one legislative day, unless additional time is requested and
authorized by the Speaker or presiding officer.
Rule
5153.
(Member called to order; question of order; stating question of
order.) (a) If any member, in speaking, or otherwise, transgresses
the rules of the House, the Speaker or presiding officer shall call
the offending member to order. The member so called to order shall
take the member's seat immediately, unless permitted by the Speaker
or presiding officer to explain. Any member may, by raising the point
of order, call the attention of the Speaker or presiding officer to
such transgression. If a member is called to order by another member
for offensive words spoken in debate, the member calling the member
to order shall, if the Speaker or presiding officer so requires,
reduce the objectionable language to writing.
(b)
All questions of order and procedure shall be decided by the Speaker
without debate, but such decision shall be subject to appeal to the
House by any member if supported by four or more other members,
at least one member being of the majority party and at least one
member being of the minority party;
on which appeal, no member shall speak more than once, unless by
leave of the House, except the member appealing who may speak twice;
and the Speaker may speak in preference to any other member. If the
decision be in favor of the member called to order, the member shall
be at liberty to proceed.
(c) Any member who raises a question of order shall state the rule, statute, or constitutional provision which the member believes is being violated.
Rule
5254.
(Call of the House, how demanded.) (a) While transacting the business
of the House as set forth by the Committee on Rules and Reference and
appropriately placed on the calendar, the Speaker or presiding
officer or any two members may demand a call of the House, and upon
such call being demanded, the roll shall be taken and the absentees
shall be noted and sent for, unless otherwise ordered by the House.
(b) While the House is under call, the doors shall be closed and no other business shall be transacted, except to receive and act on the report of the Sergeant-at-arms, which the Sergeant-at-arms may make at any time. Those members who are found to be absent without leave shall be taken into custody forthwith by the Sergeant-at-arms or the Sergeant-at-arms's assistants wherever found, and brought to the Hall of the House.
(c) When the Sergeant-at-arms shall make a report showing that those who were absent without leave (naming them) are present, such report shall be entered upon the Journal and thereupon the pending business shall proceed. A call of the House may be dispensed with at any time by a majority vote of the members present, and further proceedings under the call dispensed with.
Rule
5355.
(Statement of division of question.) Any member may call for a
statement of the question, or for a division of the question; and the
decision of the Speaker or presiding officer as to the divisibility
shall be subject to appeal, as in the case of questions of order.
Rule
5456.
(Personal privilege.) Subject to Rule 10, any member may rise to
explain a matter personal to self, and on stating it is a matter of
personal privilege, the member shall be recognized by the Speaker or
presiding officer, but shall not discuss a question or issue in such
explanation. Such explanation shall not consume more than five
minutes of time unless extended by consent of the House. Matters of
personal privilege shall yield only to a motion to recess or adjourn.
Rule
5557.
(Member may read from books, etc.) Any member, while discussing a
question, may read from books, physical or electronic documents, or
any matter pertinent to the subject under consideration, without
asking leave.
Rule
5658.
(Conduct of members.) While the Speaker or presiding officer is
putting any question or addressing the House, no one shall walk
across the Hall of the House, and when a member is speaking, no one
shall pass between the member and the Chair. No member or other
person, except the Clerk and the Clerk's assistants, shall be allowed
at the Clerk's desk while the votes are being recorded or counted.
VOTING PROCEDURE
Rule
5759.
(Members must vote.) (a) Except as otherwise provided in this rule,
every member present when the question is put shall vote unless
excused by the House or unless the member is the presiding officer
and decides not to vote.
(b) A request to be excused from voting shall be accompanied by a brief written statement of the reasons for making such request, which shall be acted upon by the House without debate.
Rule
5860.
(Yeas and nays, how demanded.) (a) Any member may insist the yeas and
nays be called upon any question, before the House votes upon a
question. Upon the call of the yeas and nays, the Speaker or
presiding officer shall order the Clerk to call the names of the
members alphabetically or use the electric roll call system to record
the vote of the members. No member shall vote by facsimile or
electronic means other than those electronic devices used by the
House in conducting its business. When once begun, voting shall not
be interrupted. After the vote is announced, no member shall be
allowed to change the member's vote, nor may a member have the
member's vote recorded if any three members object thereto.
(b) Before the vote on passage of a bill is taken by the House, the staff of the Legislative Service Commission shall make available to the Speaker or presiding officer, who shall make available to all members of the House, for their review, a fiscal impact statement that addresses the impact of the bill upon state and local government. This requirement applies to a bill only if section 103.143 of the Revised Code also applies to the bill. This requirement is cumulative with respect to section 103.143 of the Revised Code; however, a local impact statement prepared under that section may be used also to fulfill the requirement of this rule in whole or in part.
(c) When taking the yeas and nays on any question to be voted upon, the electric roll call system may be used, and when so used, shall have the same force and effect as a roll call taken as otherwise provided in these rules.
(d) When the House is ready to vote upon any question requiring a roll call and the vote is to be taken by the electric roll call system, the Speaker or presiding officer shall state the question to be voted on and shall call for the vote. The House shall then proceed to vote. At this instant, the Speaker or presiding officer shall direct the Clerk to unlock the machine causing a bell to be sounded notifying the members of the roll call. When sufficient time has been allowed the members to vote, the Speaker or presiding officer shall ask whether all members have voted and shall direct the Clerk to lock the machine and record the vote. The Clerk shall advise the Speaker or presiding officer of the result of the vote, and the Speaker or presiding officer shall announce the result to the House. The Clerk shall enter upon the Journal the result in the manner provided by the rules of the House.
Rule
5961.
(Voting for another member prohibited.) No proxy vote is valid. No
member shall vote for another member, nor shall any person not a
member cast a vote for a member. In addition to such penalties as may
be prescribed by law, any member who shall vote or attempt to vote
for another member may be punished in such manner as the Speaker
shall bring before the House to determine. If a person not a member
shall vote or attempt to vote for any member, the person shall be
barred from the House for the remainder of the session and may be
further punished in such manner as the Speaker may deem proper, in
addition to such punishment as may be prescribed by law.
Rule
6062.
(Explanation of vote.) A member desiring to explain the member's vote
shall make a request therefor, before the House divides or before the
call of the yeas and nays is commenced. If such request is granted by
unanimous consent of the members of the House, such statement shall
not consume more than two minutes of time; nor shall arguments for or
against the question be made in the statement. After the roll is
closed as provided in Rule 5860,
no member may explain the member's vote, either orally or in writing.
INTRODUCTION AND PROCEDURE ON MEASURES
Rule
6163.
(Introduction of bills.) (a) All bills to be introduced in the House
shall be filed in the Clerk's office, in a number of copies or
electronically as determined by the Clerk, not later than one hour
prior to the time set for the next convening session. No bill shall
be accepted by the Clerk for filing until it has been reviewed as to
form by the Legislative Service Commission, unless otherwise approved
by the Speaker.
(b) When the time for introducing bills is reached in the regular order of business, the Clerk shall report each of said bills in the order received by the Clerk in the same manner as if the bills were introduced from the floor.
(c) If opposition to the bill be expressed by any member on first consideration, the question shall be put by the Speaker or presiding officer, "Shall the bill be rejected?" If the bill is not rejected by a majority vote of the members present, it shall proceed in the regular order. The question of consideration shall be decided without debate.
(d) Bills introduced prior to the convening of the session under this rule shall be treated as if they were bills introduced on the first day of the session. Between the general election and the time for the next convening session, a member-elect may file bills for introduction in the next session with the Clerk. The Clerk shall number such bills consecutively, in the order in which they are filed, beginning with the number "1".
Rule
6264.
(Referral to Rules and Reference Committee.) When a bill has been
considered the first time, it shall be referred to the Rules and
Reference Committee, which shall consider the same and report its
recommendation to the House. If it be apparent to said committee that
any bill is of a frivolous nature, or that it was not introduced in
good faith, or that it is in conflict with or a duplication of an
existing statute without making proper provision for the repeal or
amendment of such existing statute, said committee shall report said
bill back to the House for its return to the author with a notation
thereon of the reason for its return. The House may, by a majority
vote, order any such bill referred to an appropriate committee;
otherwise, it shall be returned by the Clerk to the author, and the
Clerk shall make note of the fact in the Journal.
Rule
6365.
(Report back by Rules and Reference Committee.) All bills which are
not returned to the author in accordance with Rule 6264,
shall be reported back to the House by the Rules and Reference
Committee, with recommendation for reference to the proper committee
of the House. The Rules and Reference Committee shall make a written
report to the House of its action on each bill referred to it, and
such report shall be entered on the Journal of the House. If the
report of the Rules and Reference Committee is accepted, the bills
standing in order for second consideration are deemed to have been
considered a second time, and are referred to committee as
recommended in the report.
Rule
64. (Recall by Rules and Reference Committee.) After a bill or
resolution is referred to a committee other than the Rules and
Reference Committee, the Rules and Reference Committee may recall the
bill or resolution to the Rules and Reference Committee. A recalled
bill or resolution may be heard by the Rules and Reference Committee
or referred to another committee.
Rule
6566.
(Bills carrying appropriations.) All bills carrying an appropriation
shall be referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and
report before being considered the third time.
Rule
6667.
(Third consideration.) When a bill is ordered to be engrossed it
shall be placed upon the Calendar, unless the House by a majority
vote otherwise orders, and the Calendar for each day shall contain a
list of all bills for third consideration on the succeeding day.
The
Rules and Reference Committee of the House shall have the power to
arrange the Calendar from day to day. The
Rules and Reference Committee shall set the Calendar for a session
not later than twenty-four hours before that session is scheduled to
begin, unless otherwise ordered by a majority of the House.
Rule
66A68.
(Conference committee reports carrying appropriations.) All
conference committee reports carrying an appropriation shall lie over
two calendar days before being considered, unless otherwise ordered
by a majority of the House.
Rule
6769.
(Information on Calendar.) If a bill or resolution has been amended
prior to its third consideration, the date and page of the House or
Senate Journal containing said amendment shall be noted on the
Calendar immediately below the title of the bill or resolution. A
copy of the amendments or a copy of the section or sections amended
with the amendment incorporated shall be supplied each member of the
House at the time of third consideration unless the amendments are
not of a substantive nature or the bill or resolution has been
reprinted to incorporate the amendments.
Rule
6870.
(Synopsis of Senate amendments before vote.) Before a vote is taken
upon the question of concurrence in Senate amendments to a House bill
or resolution, the staff of the Legislative Service Commission,
unless otherwise ordered by a majority of the members elected to the
House, shall prepare a synopsis of any substantive amendments made by
a Senate committee to the bill or resolution as passed by the House.
Before a vote is taken upon a conference committee report, the staff
of the Legislative Service Commission, unless otherwise ordered by a
majority of the members elected to the House, shall prepare a
synopsis that summarizes the recommendations of the conference
committee. The staff of the Legislative Service Commission shall
prepare and make such a synopsis available to each member at the time
the House votes on a question of concurrence in Senate amendments or
upon a conference committee report. The Clerk shall provide each
member with a copy of amendments made by the Senate during its third
consideration of the bill or resolution unless the amendments are
Clerk's amendments or the bill or resolution has been reprinted to
incorporate the amendments.
As
used in this rule, "Clerk's amendment" has the meaning
defined in Rule 7173.
Rule
6971.
(Senate bills.) All Senate bills, when altered or amended by the
House, shall be engrossed in a like manner as House bills preparatory
to their third consideration, and all bills ordered to be engrossed
shall be authenticated as required by the joint rules.
Rule
7072.
(Questions on third consideration; bills with objections of
Governor.) (a) Unless otherwise ordered by the House, bills on the
Calendar for third consideration shall be taken up and read in their
order without a motion to that effect, and the question shall be put
as to whether the bill shall pass.
(b)(1) Whenever a bill has been disapproved by the Governor and returned to the House with the Governor's objections thereto noted in writing, the question may be put as to whether the bill shall pass, notwithstanding the objections of the Governor, in accordance with Section 16 of Article II of the Constitution of Ohio.
(2) Whenever an item of a bill making an appropriation of money has been disapproved and returned to the House by the Governor, the question may be put as to whether the item shall pass, notwithstanding the objections of the Governor, in accordance with Section 16 of Article II of the Constitution of Ohio. Whenever two or more items of a bill making an appropriation of money have been disapproved and returned to the House by the Governor, the question may be put to take up for consideration the repassage of one or more of the items. Each item so considered shall be voted upon separately.
Rule
7173.
(Amendments on third consideration.) (a) After a bill has been
considered the third time and is up for consideration, it may be
amended in any part.
(b)
An amendment offered to any bill or resolution, or any resolution
offered, from the floor of the House is not in order unless one paper
copy of the amendment or resolution was submitted to the Clerk not
later than the
following number of hours one
hour before
the scheduled time for the beginning of the session at which the
amendment or resolution is offered, unless otherwise ordered by a
majority of the House:
1.
For an amendment offered and rejected in committee and subsequently
redrafted to the reported version of the bill, one hour.
2.
For all other amendments, two hours.
The Clerk shall provide all members a paper copy of an amendment if an electronic one is not available at the time the amendment is offered.
(c) Every amendment submitted on the floor of the House that is determined to be in order shall be considered.
(d)
A member desiring to offer an amendment to any pending proposition
shall proceed as follows: the member shall prepare the text of the
proposed amendment designating the line or lines where the member
desires the proposed amendments to be placed, and then proceed under
Rule 4850,
saying "move to amend," or words of similar import.
(e) A "Clerk's amendment" is an amendment that makes a technical or typographical change of a nonsubstantive nature, such as correcting a spelling error, correcting inconsistent paragraph lettering, or incorporating the latest version of a section of law that was amended after the bill was drafted.
Rule
7274.
(When bill may be recommitted.) After the reference to a committee
and a report thereon to the House, or at any time before its passage,
a bill may be recommitted to a committee.
Rule
7375.
(Order on Calendar.) Bills for their third consideration, and all
special orders, shall be placed upon the Calendar in the order or
priority in which the order is made, save and except all bills or
resolutions from the further consideration of which a committee has
been discharged, which said bills or resolutions shall be placed on
the Calendar for consideration upon the second legislative day after
the motion to discharge has been agreed to.
Rule
7476.
(Unfinished business.) Bills for their third consideration on a
particular day, not reached on that day, shall be placed first on the
Calendar in the order of third consideration on each succeeding day,
until disposed of.
Rule
7577.
(Taking bill out of order.) No bill upon the Calendar shall be taken
up out of its order thereon, unless otherwise ordered by a majority
vote upon motion.
Rule
7678.
(Titles of passed bills.) When a bill has passed the House, the Clerk
shall read its title and the Speaker or presiding officer shall
inquire if the House agrees to the title; and if the House is agreed,
the Clerk shall make out the title accordingly, and shall certify the
passage of the bill upon the back thereof.
Rule
7779.
(House resolutions.) (a) All House joint resolutions which do not
propose to amend the Ohio Constitution, or which do not propose to
ratify an amendment to the United States Constitution, and all House
concurrent resolutions and all House resolutions (hereinafter
resolutions) shall be filed with the Clerk in a number of copies or
electronically as determined by the Clerk. Thereupon, the Clerk shall
submit the resolutions to the Committee on Rules and Reference,
except that the Clerk shall submit all resolutions having a
congratulatory, commendatory, or other similar purpose to the
presiding officer.
(b) Upon receipt from the Clerk of resolutions having a congratulatory, commendatory, or other similar purpose, the presiding officer may bring up the resolutions for immediate consideration or may refer the resolutions to the Committee on Rules and Reference.
If the presiding officer refers resolutions having a congratulatory, commendatory, or other similar purpose to the Committee on Rules and Reference, the Committee on Rules and Reference shall report for adoption, report for introduction and referral, or report for other action, any and all such resolutions. The committee also is authorized not to report any or all of such resolutions having a congratulatory, commendatory, or other similar purpose.
Upon receipt from the Clerk of a resolution, other than one having a congratulatory, commendatory, or other similar purpose, and not later than forty-five days after the resolution was filed with the Clerk, the Committee on Rules and Reference shall report the resolution for adoption or for introduction and referral.
(c) In reporting resolutions for adoption, the Rules and Reference Committee shall have the power to include more than one resolution in any report. A report containing more than one resolution shall list the resolutions by title only. Those resolutions reported for adoption relating to present or past members of the General Assembly or present or past elected state officials shall be reported automatically and separately and shall be read. Sponsors desiring other resolutions to be reported separately for adoption must request such action of the Rules and Reference Committee.
(d) All reports by the Rules and Reference Committee on the adoption of resolutions shall be entertained only under the item of business, "Motions and Resolutions." Such reports shall be voted on in their entirety on the day of the report, and require only one roll call or voice vote. Titles to such resolutions contained in the report may be amended on the Floor.
(e) Resolutions reported for introduction and referral by the Rules and Reference Committee shall be contained in one report, shall be listed by title only, and shall indicate to what committee the particular resolutions are to be referred. All reports on the introduction of resolutions by the Rules and Reference Committee shall be entertained only under the item of business, "Motions and Resolutions." Such reports shall be voted on in their entirety on the day of the report, and require only one roll call or voice vote.
(f) All House joint resolutions which propose to amend the Constitution of Ohio, or which propose to ratify an amendment to the United States Constitution, shall, for the purpose of House consideration, be treated as though they were bills.
(g) Any resolution brought up for immediate consideration shall be brought up by a member of leadership from the majority party or the Speaker's designee. If there is an objection, then immediate consideration of the resolution shall require a three-fifths majority affirmative vote.
Rule
7880.
(Senate joint or concurrent resolutions.) (a) Upon receipt of a
message advising the House that the Senate has adopted a Senate
concurrent resolution, or Senate joint resolution which does not
propose to amend the Ohio Constitution, or which does not propose to
ratify an amendment to the United States Constitution, the presiding
officer may bring such resolution up for immediate consideration, or
may refer such resolution to the Committee on Rules and Reference.
(b) Upon receipt of such resolution, the Committee on Rules and Reference shall have the power to:
1. report for adoption;
2. report for referral; or
3. report for other action
any or all such resolutions. The Committee shall also have the power not to report any or all such resolutions. The procedure in reporting such resolutions shall be the same as the procedure used to report House resolutions.
(c) All Senate joint resolutions which propose to amend the Constitution of Ohio, or which propose to ratify an amendment to the United States Constitution, shall, for the purpose of House consideration, be treated as though they were bills.
Rule
7981.
(When yeas and nays taken on resolutions.) Upon the adoption of a
resolution involving the expenditure of money, or which determines or
involves the right of a member to a seat in the House, the yeas and
nays shall be taken and entered on the Journal, and the text of the
resolution shall be spread upon the Journal. Such resolutions shall
require a majority of all members elected to the House for adoption
except when a greater majority is required by the Constitution.
QUESTIONS AND MOTIONS
Rule
8082.
(Questions.) All questions, whether in committee or before the House,
except privileged questions, shall be put in the order in which they
are made.
The call for the vote shall be distinctly put in this form, "Those in favor of (as the question may be) say 'yes'," and after the affirmative vote is expressed, "Those of a contrary opinion say 'no'." If the Speaker or presiding officer is in doubt, or a division be called for, the House shall divide and a roll call be taken. The Speaker or presiding officer shall announce the results.
Rule
8183.
(Motions.) (a) Every motion shall be reduced to writing, if the
Speaker or presiding officer or any two members shall so request. A
motion that is required to be in writing is not in order unless the
writing has been filed with the Clerk. A motion that requires the
signatures of members is not in order unless it contains original
signatures. No motion may be made via facsimile or other electronic
means other than those electronic devices used by the House in
conducting its business.
(b) When a motion is made, it shall be stated by the Speaker or presiding officer; or being in writing, it shall be read by the Clerk before debate is had. Such motion may, by leave of the House, be withdrawn at any time before a decision thereon or an amendment thereto is made.
(c) A motion to take from the table is in order only if the rules are suspended for that purpose.
Rule
8284.
(Motions which take precedence.) When a question is under
consideration no motion shall be in order, except the following,
which motions shall have precedence in the following order:
1. To adjourn.
2. To take a recess.
3. To reconsider.
4. To proceed to the orders of the day.
5. To lay on the table.
6. To call for the previous question.
7. To postpone to a day certain.
8. To commit or to refer.
9. To amend.
10. To postpone indefinitely.
Rule
8385.
(No debate permitted.) The following questions shall be decided
without debate:
1. To adjourn.
2. To take a recess.
3. To lay on the table.
4. The previous question.
5. To take from the table.
6. All questions relating to the priority of business.
7. The question of consideration.
8. The suspension of rules.
Rule
8486.
(No motion during roll call.) No member shall be allowed to explain
the member's vote or discuss the question being voted upon, while the
vote is being taken. After the Clerk has commenced to take the vote
on any question, no motion shall be in order until a decision has
been announced by the Chair.
Rule
8587.
(Motions to refer to committee.) When a motion is made to refer to a
committee, if more than one committee is suggested, the motion shall
be put for reference to the committees suggested, in the order in
which they are named; but a motion to refer to a standing committee
or a select committee shall have precedence in the order herein
named. A motion to refer to a committee may not be reconsidered.
Rule
8688.
(Motions to lie over one day.) Motions to discharge committees of
further consideration of bills and resolutions shall lie over one
legislative day before being considered.
Rule
8789.
(Motion to discharge a committee.) (a) A motion to discharge a
committee of further consideration of a bill or resolution which has
been referred to such committee thirty calendar days or more prior
thereto shall be in order under the order of business, "Motions
and Resolutions." Such motion shall be in writing and deposited
in the office of the Clerk.
(b) To initiate a discharge motion a member shall obtain from the Clerk a blank discharge motion and designate the bill to which the discharge motion applies. Before such motion may be filed with the Clerk, there shall be attached thereto the signatures of a majority of the members elected to the House. The discharge motion shall remain in the custody of the Clerk's office, and each member who signs the motion shall do so in the presence of the Clerk or an assistant of the Clerk. A member who signed the discharge motion may remove the member's name from the discharge motion before the discharge motion is offered, but shall do so in the presence of the Clerk or an assistant of the Clerk.
(c) Such motion, together with the signatures thereto, shall be printed in the Journal as of the day upon which the motion was filed with the Clerk.
(d) Only one discharge motion can be presented for each bill or resolution.
Rule
8890.
(Motion not to be repeated.) A motion to adjourn, a motion to
postpone to a day certain, or a motion to postpone indefinitely being
decided in the negative, shall not again be in order until after some
motion, call, order, or debate shall have taken place.
Rule
8991.
(Motion to introduce, when.) No motion to introduce or refer a bill
or resolution of any type shall be in order except as provided
elsewhere in these Rules.
Rule
9092.
(Motion to delete and insert, indivisible.) A motion to delete and
insert shall be deemed indivisible.
Rule
9193.
(Amendments.) (a) Every amendment proposed must be germane to the
subject of the proposition or to the section or paragraph to be
amended.
(b) When an amendment is pending, it shall not be in order to amend the amendment by directing an amendment to any other part of the bill.
(c) An amendment may be amended, but an amendment to an amendment may not be amended.
(d) If the presiding officer determines that an amendment contains two or more distinct and separate subjects, such amendment may be divided upon the demand of any one member. If an amendment is divided, each branch of the divided amendment shall be considered as though it was introduced as an original amendment.
(e) A vote to table an amendment or an amendment to an amendment shall not carry with it the measure sought to be amended.
(f) Any paragraph, except one which contains the enacting, amending, or repealing clause, or the title, once amended during the same third consideration, other than by the passage of Clerk's amendments, shall not be amended again. For the purpose of this paragraph, appropriation line items shall be considered separate paragraphs.
(g) If an amendment previously was offered during a House floor session and rejected or tabled by a floor vote, the amendment, or a substantially identical amendment, shall not be reintroduced on the floor for a period of ninety days, unless approved by a two-thirds majority. The Speaker or presiding officer shall determine whether an amendment is substantially identical to an amendment that was rejected or tabled.
(h)
As used in this rule, "Clerk's amendment" has the meaning
defined in Rule
7173.
Rule
9294.
(Substitute as amendment.) Substitutes for bills or resolutions for
the purpose of amendments shall be treated as original propositions,
shall be offered in a number of copies or electronically as
determined by the Clerk, and shall retain the same status as the
original bill.
Rule
9395.
(Amendments by committees.) (a)
All
amendments made in committee shall carry the name of the author of
the amendment, and the report of any committee reporting a bill or
resolution to the House shall indicate clearly the name of the author
of the amendment which shall be entered in the Journal. Amendments
made by committees and adopted by the House shall be subject to
further amendment. The right to amend any bill or resolution shall
extend to any matters added to or stricken from such bill or
resolution by a committee.
(b)
If the sponsor of a substantive amendment or a substitute bill
submits it to the chair of the committee and provides it to the
entire committee before midnight of the day before it is to be
considered in committee, it may be considered. The chair may decline
to consider any substantive amendment or substitute bill received
thereafter or may elect to consider it on the next calendar day or
later. The committee may suspend the requirement by a two-thirds vote
of all the members present. This rule does not apply to reports of
conference committees or Legislative Service Commission technical
amendments.
(c)
The Speaker shall direct Legislative Information Systems to develop a
web site on which House members may release proposed amendments and
substitute bills to the public before they are presented in
committee.
Rule
9496.
(Amendments to titles.) (a) Amendments to the title of a House or
Senate bill may be offered in committee or on third consideration and
shall be decided without debate, provided that upon third
consideration a motion to amend the title may be made by a sponsor;
but no amendments shall change the subject dealt with in the original
title. Amendments to the title of a House or Senate bill offered on
third consideration may be made by electronic means when permitted by
the Speaker or presiding officer.
Prior to passage of a bill, a former Representative who no longer is
a member of the General Assembly may present a writing to the Clerk
requesting deletion of the former Representative's name from the
title of the bill as sponsor or co-sponsor. The Speaker shall present
the request to the House, and the Clerk shall spread the request upon
the pages of the Journal. When the House is agreed, the Clerk shall
make out the title accordingly, and certify to the passage of the
bill upon its carrier.
(b) Immediately after the House has voted to concur in Senate amendments to a bill or resolution, and immediately after the House has voted to accept a conference committee report, a Representative may remove the Representative's name from the bill or resolution by rising and stating this desire to the Speaker or presiding officer. The Clerk shall thereupon remove the Representative's name from the bill or resolution. Prior to the vote on concurrence in Senate amendments to a bill or resolution, and prior to the vote on a conference committee report, a former Representative who no longer is a member of the General Assembly may present a writing to the Clerk requesting deletion of the former Representative's name from the title of the bill as sponsor or co-sponsor. The Speaker shall present the request to the House, and the Clerk shall spread the request upon the pages of the Journal. When the House is agreed, the Clerk shall make out the title of the bill or resolution accordingly.
(c) Amendments to the title of a resolution, other than one having a congratulatory, commendatory, or other similar purpose, may be offered on the floor and may be made by electronic means when permitted by the Speaker or presiding officer. No amendment to the title of a resolution shall change the subject dealt with in the original title.
RECONSIDERATION
Rule
9597.
(Motion to reconsider.) (a) Any motion to reconsider the vote on a
bill or resolution must be made by a member who voted with the
prevailing side of the question. To be in order, such motion must be
made not later than the second legislative day following that on
which the vote was taken. The question of reconsideration, if left
pending, shall be brought to a vote upon motion of the first-named
House sponsor of the motion to reconsider and approval of the House.
(b)(1) In the case of a motion to reconsider the vote on a bill or resolution which failed of passage or adoption, the motion must be supported by five members, or a sufficient number of members who either voted on the prevailing side or who did not previously vote on the question, to achieve a constitutional majority, whichever is less.
(2) In the case of a motion to reconsider the vote on a bill or resolution which passed or was adopted, the motion must be supported only by members who voted with the prevailing side, and the motion must be supported by five members, or a sufficient number of members whose change of position would result in the failure to achieve a constitutional majority, whichever is less.
(3) Reconsideration of a vote on a motion shall be initiated only by a member voting with the prevailing side and to be in order, such motion must be made while the bill or resolution to which the motion is directed is still being considered.
(c) The motion to reconsider shall take precedence over all other questions except a motion to adjourn or to recess, and debate shall be limited to the reason that the matter is to be reconsidered.
(d) The question of reconsideration, having once been decided, shall not be again taken up for consideration, nor shall the bill, resolution, or motion, having once been reconsidered, be again taken up for consideration.
Rule
9698.
(Vote necessary on reconsideration.) The vote on any question may be
reconsidered by a majority of the members voting, a quorum being
present.
Rule
9799.
(Effect of defeat of motion.) When the vote on a bill or resolution
is lost, and the vote is reconsidered, the measure shall not be
committed thereafter to any other than a standing committee.
Rule
98100.
(Procedure on motion.) Upon the adoption of a motion to reconsider,
the Clerk immediately shall inform the House whether or not such bill
or resolution is in the possession of the House. If the Clerk reports
in the negative, the Clerk shall effect the return of such bill or
resolution. When the measure is in the possession of the House, it
shall be placed on the Calendar under the appropriate order of
business.
Rule
99101.
(Reconsideration of amendments after adoption of measure.) When it is
desired to reconsider the vote on an amendment after the vote has
been taken on the adoption of a main motion, it is necessary to
reconsider the vote both on the main question and on the amendment.
If it is desired to reconsider an amendment to an amendment after the
latter has been adopted, both must be reconsidered in order to reach
the amendment it is desired to reconsider. When it is thus necessary
to reconsider two or three votes, one motion may be made to cover
them all, but debate is limited to the question first voted upon.
Rule
100102.
(Effect of tabling motion.) If a motion to reconsider be laid on the
table, it does not carry the bill or resolution with it, and if a
motion to reconsider is coupled with a motion to lay on the table,
the motion to lay on the table shall be disposed of first; if decided
in the negative, the motion to reconsider shall immediately recur.
PREVIOUS QUESTION
Rule
101103.
(How and when previous question put.) The previous question shall be
in this form: "Shall the debate now close?" It shall be put
after the motion is submitted to the presiding officer in writing and
when the member submitting the motion is recognized, and supported by
four or more members. The motion shall be sustained by a majority
vote, and when put, and until decided, it shall preclude further
debate on all amendments and motions, except one motion to adjourn,
or one motion to lay on the table. If the previous question is
demanded when an amendment to a bill or resolution is under
consideration, the previous question shall apply only to the debate
on the amendment.
Rule
102104.
(No debate or appeal.) All incidental questions, or questions of
order, arising after a motion is made for the previous question and
pending such motion, shall be decided without debate, and shall not
be subject to appeal.
Rule
103105.
(Action after previous question order.) On a motion for the previous
question, and prior to voting on the same, a call of the House shall
be in order; but after the demand for the previous question shall
have been sustained, no call shall be in order; and the House shall
be brought at once to a vote upon the question immediately pending.
Rule
104106.
(Action when not ordered.) If a motion for the previous question be
not sustained, the subject under consideration shall be proceeded
with the same as if the motion had not been made.
Rule
105. Reserved.
Rule
106. Reserved.
Rule
107. Reserved.
Rule
108. Reserved.
PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE
Rule
109107.
(Persons admitted to Hall of House.) No person shall be admitted to
the Hall of the House except the Governor, members and employees of
the two houses, persons charged with any message or document
affecting the business of the House, the authorized representatives
of the press, radio, and television, and those invited by a member
with the approval of the Speaker or presiding officer or by the order
of the House. No former member who is currently a legislative agent
registered with the Office of the Legislative Inspector General shall
have access to the floor without prior approval of the Speaker or
presiding officer.
Rule
110108.
(Use of Hall not to be granted.) The use of the Hall of the House
shall not at any time, except by resolution, be granted for any other
than legislative purposes. No committee shall use the Hall of the
House for hearings, except upon permission previously granted by the
House upon motion.
Rule
111109.
(Representatives of the press, how admitted.) (a) Representatives of
the press who are members of the Legislative Correspondents'
Association are entitled to the privilege of the floor of the House,
but shall notify the Speaker or presiding officer prior to exercising
the privilege. The Speaker or presiding officer, or, when the House
is not in session, the Clerk, has authority to grant immediate access
to the floor of the House to visiting members of the media.
(b) Representatives of the press desiring the privilege of the floor of the House who are not members of the Legislative Correspondents' Association shall make application to the Speaker, and make application with the Legislative Correspondents' Association, and shall state, in writing, for what paper or papers, legislative information services, or magazines, or any affiliate of any of the foregoing they are employed; and further shall state that they are not engaged in the promotion of legislation or the prosecution of claims pending before the General Assembly, and will not become so engaged while allowed the privileges of the floor; and that they are not in any sense the agents or representatives of persons or corporations having legislation before the General Assembly, and will not become either while retaining their privileges.
Visiting newswriters and editors and visiting magazine writers and editors may be allowed, temporarily, the privileges herein mentioned, but they must conform to the restrictions prescribed.
(c) The application required by division (b) of this rule shall be authenticated in a manner that shall be satisfactory to the executive committee of the Legislative Correspondents' Association, in the case of newspaper, legislative information service, and magazine representatives and in the case of representatives of any affiliate of any of the foregoing. It shall be the duty of the executive committee of the Legislative Correspondents' Association to see that the privileges of the floor shall be granted only to representatives of press associations serving daily newspaper clients, representatives of daily Columbus newspapers, and bona fide telegraphic correspondents of reputable standing in their profession, who represent daily newspapers, or representatives of daily newspapers, or representatives of daily legislative information services, or representatives of magazines, or representatives of any affiliate of any of the foregoing, of known standing and integrity, organized for that one purpose and not controlled by or connected with any association, firm, corporation, or individual representing any trade, profession, or other commercial enterprise, and which have been in continuous and bona fide operation for such a period of years immediately prior to the date of making application for floor privileges as will have made possible the establishment of a reputation for honesty and integrity; and it shall be the duty of the executive committee of the Legislative Correspondents' Association, at its discretion, to report violations of the privileges herein granted to the Speaker. Persons whose chief attention is not given to newspaper correspondence, legislative information service, or magazine correspondence shall not be entitled to the privileges of the floor.
(d)(1) No still photographing during the sessions of the House shall be permitted without notification of the Speaker and the Legislative Correspondents' Association prior to session.
(2) No still photographing during committee hearings of the House shall be carried on without prior notification of and under conditions prescribed by the chair of the committee.
Rule
112110.
(Representatives of radio and television stations and broadcasting
networks, how admitted.) (a) Representatives of radio and television
stations and broadcasting networks who are members of the Radio and
Television Correspondents' Association are entitled to the privilege
of the floor of the House, but shall notify the Speaker prior to
exercising the privilege. The Speaker or presiding officer, or, when
the House is not in session, the Clerk, has authority to grant
immediate access to the floor of the House to visiting members of the
media.
(b) Representatives of radio and television stations and broadcasting networks desiring the privilege of the floor of the House who are not members of the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association shall make application to the Speaker, and make application with the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association, and shall state, in writing, by what stations or broadcasting network they are employed; and further shall state that they are not engaged in the promotion of legislation or the prosecution of claims pending before the General Assembly, and will not become so engaged while allowed the privileges of the floor; and that they are not, in any sense, the agents or representatives of persons or corporations having legislation before the General Assembly, and will not become either while retaining their privileges. Visiting correspondents and editors may be allowed, temporarily, the privileges herein mentioned, but they must conform to the restrictions prescribed.
(c) The application required by division (b) of this rule shall be authenticated in a manner that shall be satisfactory to the officers of the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association of Ohio. It shall be the duty of the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association to see that the privileges of the floor shall be granted only to the representatives of stations and broadcasting networks serving radio and television stations or networks serving such radio and television stations as have been duly licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. It shall be the duty of the officers of the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association, at their discretion, to report violations of the privileges herein granted to the Speaker. Persons whose chief attention is not given to radio and television broadcasting shall not be entitled to the privileges of the floor.
(d)(1)
Except as provided in Rule 120119,
no video recording or filming of sessions of the House shall be
carried on without the notification of the Speaker and the Radio and
Television Correspondents' Association, and then only under the
conditions authorized by the Speaker.
(2) No video recording or filming of committee hearings of the House shall be carried on without the prior notification of and under conditions prescribed by the chair of the committee.
(3) Except as provided in the Rules of the House of Representatives, no live video streaming of sessions of the House or committee hearings of the House shall be carried on.
(e)
Audio recording by representatives of the press and of radio and
television stations and broadcasting networks accredited pursuant to
Rules 111
109
and
112110,
shall be permitted during committee hearings upon prior notification
of the committee chair and during House floor sessions upon prior
notification of the Speaker or presiding officer.
(f) Live broadcast coverage of floor sessions may be conducted with prior notification of the Speaker or presiding officer, and under such conditions as the Speaker or presiding officer may establish. Live broadcast coverage of committee hearings may be conducted with prior notification of the Speaker, and under such conditions as the Speaker and committee chair may establish.
Rule
113111.
(Privileges of the House, how revoked.) Upon complaint in writing,
made by any member of the House, addressed to the Speaker, that any
person has abused the privileges granted the person, such complaint
shall be referred to the standing Committee on Rules and Reference
for investigation, and such committee shall notify the person so
charged of the time and place for hearing; and if such accusation be
sustained, such person or persons shall be barred from the privileges
granted.
RULES OF THE HOUSE
Rule
114112.
(How amended.) The rules of the House may be amended. A member who
desires to amend the rules shall prepare a resolution that sets forth
the proposed amendment and file it with the Clerk in a number of
copies to be determined by the Clerk. The Speaker or presiding
officer shall announce the resolution at the next session of the
House at which bills are given third consideration, and shall refer
the resolution to the Committee on Rules and Reference. A majority of
all members elected shall be required for the adoption of the
resolution.
Rule
115113.
(How suspended.) Any rule, or portion thereof, except Rule 2, and as
otherwise noted, may be suspended by a two-thirds vote of all the
members present.
Rule
115A114.
(When effective.) These rules take effect upon adoption by the House
and remain in effect until the rules of the House of Representatives
for the 136th
137th
General
Assembly are adopted.
Rule
116115.
(Parliamentary guide.) Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure
(2020), as amplified or clarified in Hughes' American Parliamentary
Guide, 1931-1932, Revised New Edition, shall govern in all cases not
provided for in the foregoing rules,
or the Joint Rules of the Senate and House of Representatives.
MISCELLANEOUS
Rule
117116.
(Reintroduction prohibited.)
(a) If a House bill or resolution is defeated or indefinitely postponed in the House it shall not be reintroduced during either annual session of the same General Assembly.
(b) If a House bill or resolution previously was offered during a House floor session and rejected or tabled by a floor vote, the bill or resolution, or a substantially identical bill or resolution, shall not be reintroduced on the floor for a period of ninety days, unless approved by two-thirds majority. The Speaker or presiding officer shall determine whether a bill or resolution is substantially identical to a bill or resolution that was rejected or tabled.
Rule
118117.
(Reintroduction of bill permitted.) A bill which has been passed by
the House and defeated or indefinitely postponed by the Senate, may
be introduced during the subsequent calendar year of the same General
Assembly provided it shall be in the identical language as that
passed by the House. Upon motion made and approved by two-thirds
majority, the bill shall be considered on three successive dates and
voted upon by the House without reference to committee.
Rule
119118.
(Index to bill authorized.) Any bill which, when introduced, consists
of ten typewritten pages or more, may be accompanied by a printed
index showing the contents of such bill.
Rule
120119.
(Proceedings of the House public; exception.) "The proceedings
of the House of Representatives shall be public, except in cases
which, in the opinion of two-thirds of those present, require
secrecy." (Article II, Section 13, Ohio Constitution.)
Except in cases where secrecy has been approved, all proceedings of the House of Representatives while in voting session shall be broadcast by Ohio Government Telecommunications, and shall be archived. The use of any session or committee video in political or commercial activities is prohibited in all circumstances.
Rule
121120.
(Committee meetings public.) Each committee and subcommittee shall
give notice of each of its regular and special meetings in accordance
with division (C) of section 101.15 of the Revised Code as amplified
in Rule 3639.
Each regular and special meeting of each committee and subcommittee shall be a public meeting that is open to the public at all times in accordance with division (B) of section 101.15 of the Revised Code. Each committee and subcommittee shall prepare, file, and maintain; approve or correct and approve; and make available, minutes of each of its regular and special meetings in accordance with division (B) of section 101.15 of the Revised Code.
Rule
122121.
(LSC analyses and fiscal notes to be made available at third
consideration.) The bill analysis prepared by the staff of the
Legislative Service Commission that has been made available to the
members of the House and the fiscal note, if a fiscal note has been
prepared by the staff of the Legislative Service Commission and made
available to the members of the House, shall be made available to the
public by the Speaker or presiding officer when the bill to which the
analysis or fiscal note pertains receives third consideration in the
House.
Rule
123122.
(Use of personal electronic devices on House floor.)
(a) Personal electronic devices may be used on the floor of the House of Representatives during session to advance legislative business, so long as that use complies with the Joint Legislative Code of Ethics, avoids the appearance of impropriety, is respectful of the solemnity of the institution of the House, and does not disrupt the proceedings.
(b) The Speaker, the Clerk, the Sergeant-at-arms, or their designees may take action to ensure that the use of personal electronic devices on the House floor complies with this rule.
Rule
124. Reserved.