Bill Text: MN SR6 | 2023-2024 | 93rd Legislature | Draft
Bill Title: A Senate resolution relating to rules; adopting temporary rules for the 93rd session of the Legislature
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-01-04 - Adopted [SR6 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2023-SR6-Draft.html
1.1A Senate resolution
1.2relating to rules; adopting temporary rules for the 93rd session of the Legislature.
1.3BE IT RESOLVED, by the Senate of the State of Minnesota:
1.4The temporary rules of the Senate for the 92nd session of the Legislature are adopted as the
1.5temporary rules for the 93rd session, to be effective until the adoption of permanent rules by a
1.6majority vote of the Senate, subject to the following condition:
1.7A bill may not be introduced on the first day.
1.8The rules referred to above are amended as follows:
1.94.BILL REFERRAL
1.104.1The President shall refer each bill without motion to the proper standing committee unless
1.11otherwise referred by the Senate.
1.124.2A bill or resolution may not be referred to committee or amended until it has been given
1.13its first reading.
1.144.3A member may not object to a bill or resolution on its introduction.
1.154.4All bills appropriating money, or obligating the state to pay or expend money, or
1.16establishing a policy which to be effective will require expenditure of money, when referred to and
1.17reported by any other than the Committee on Finance, must be referred before passage to the
1.18Committee on Finance.
1.194.5All bills delegating rulemaking to a department or agency of state government and all
1.20bills exempting a department or agency of state government from rulemaking, when referred to
1.21and reported by any other than the Committee on State and Local GovernmentFinance and Policy
1.22and Elections and Veterans, must be referred before passage to the Committee on State and Local
1.23GovernmentFinance and Policy and Elections and Veterans.
2.14.6All bills creating a new commission, council, task force, board, or other body to which
2.2a member of the legislature will be appointed must be referred before passage both to the Committee
2.3on State and Local GovernmentFinance and Policy and Elections and Veterans and to the Committee
2.4on Rules and Administration.
2.54.7All bills authorizing or increasing a sentence of imprisonment to a state correctional
2.6institution must be referred before passage to the Committee on Judiciary and Public SafetyFinance
2.7and Policy.
2.84.8All resolutions required to follow the same procedure as bills must be referred before
2.9passage to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
2.104.9A bill introduced by a committee need not be referred to a standing committee unless a
2.11question arises. It must lie over one day before being given its second reading.
2.124.10A member may question the reference of a bill during the order of business of first
2.13reading on the day of introduction. When a member questions the reference of a bill, the bill must
2.14be referred without debate to the Committee on Rules and Administration to report the proper
2.15reference. Upon adoption of the report of the Committee on Rules and Administration, the bill must
2.16be referred accordingly.
2.177.BUDGET TARGETS
2.187.1The Committees on Taxes and on Finance must hold hearings as necessary to determine
2.19state revenues and appropriations for the fiscal biennium.
2.207.2Within 30 days after the last state general fund revenue and expenditure forecast for the
2.21next fiscal biennium becomes available during the regular session in the odd-numbered year, targets
2.22for the general fund budget must be publicly announced by the Chair of the Committee on Finance
2.23or the Chair of the Committee on Rules and Administration. Subsequent adjustments to the targets
2.24required under this rule shall be made by public announcement of the chair of the Committee on
2.25Rules and Administration.
2.267.3The omnibus tax and appropriation bills are:
2.27 (1) the omnibus tax bill;
2.28(2) the agriculture, broadband, and rural development appropriations bill;
2.29 (3) the education appropriations bill;
2.30(4) the commerce and consumer protection appropriations bill;
2.31(5) the elections appropriations bill;
2.32(6) the energyand, utilities, environment, and climate appropriations bill;
2.33(6) (7) the higher education appropriations bill;
3.1(7) (8) the health and human services appropriations bill;
3.2(9) the human services appropriations bill;
3.3(8) (10) the housing and homelessness prevention appropriations bill;
3.4(9) (11) the environment and natural resources, climate, and legacy appropriations bill;
3.5(10) (12) the jobs and economic growth development appropriations bill;
3.6(11) (13) the judiciary and public safety appropriations bill;
3.7(14) the labor appropriations bill;
3.8(12) (15) the state and local government and veterans appropriations bill;
3.9(13) (16) the transportation appropriations bill; and
3.10(14) the veterans and military affairs appropriations bill; and
3.11(15) (17) the omnibus capital investment bill.
3.12 An omnibus appropriation or tax bill may not be divided.
3.137.4An amendment to an omnibus appropriation or tax bill that is a Senate file or an unofficial
3.14engrossment of a House file is out of order if it will:
3.15(1) increase net appropriations from a fund for a fiscal biennium, without a corresponding
3.16increase in net revenue, compared to the bill as it was reported to the floor of the Senate;
3.17(2) reduce net revenue to a fund for a fiscal biennium, without a corresponding reduction in
3.18net appropriations, compared to the bill as it was reported to the floor of the Senate;
3.19(3) change appropriations, transfers, or revenues to an agency that was not in the bill as it
3.20was reported to the floor of the Senate; or
3.21(4) create or increase the amount of a tax expenditure by reducing appropriations, transfers,
3.22or revenues to an agency that was not in the bill as it was reported to the floor of the Senate.
3.239.STANDING COMMITTEES
3.24The standing committees of the Senate are as follows:
3.25Aging and Long-Term Care Policy
3.26Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural DevelopmentFinance and Policy
3.27Capital Investment
3.28Civil Law and Data Practices Policy
3.29Commerce and Consumer ProtectionFinance and Policy
3.30Education Financeand Policy
4.1Education Policy
4.2Elections
4.3Energyand, Utilities Finance and Policy, Environment, and Climate
4.4Environmentand Natural Resources Finance, Climate, and Legacy
4.5Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance
4.6Finance
4.7Health and Human ServicesFinance and Policy
4.8Higher EducationFinance and Policy
4.9HousingFinance and Policy and Homelessness Prevention
4.10Human ServicesLicensing Policy
4.11Human Services Reform Finance and Policy
4.12Jobs and EconomicGrowth Finance and Policy Development
4.13Judiciary and Public SafetyFinance and Policy
4.14Laborand Industry Policy
4.15Local Government Policy
4.16Mining and Forestry Policy
4.17Redistricting
4.18Rules and Administration
4.19State and Local GovernmentFinance and Policy and Elections and Veterans
4.20Taxes
4.21Technology and Reform Policy
4.22TransportationFinance and Policy
4.23Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy
4.2412.COMMITTEE MEETINGS
4.2512.1(a) All meetings of the Senate, its committees, and subcommittees are open to the public.
4.26A meeting of a caucus of the members of any of those bodies from the same political party need
4.27not be open to the public. A caucus of the Hennepin county, Ramsey county, or St. Louis county
4.28delegation is open to the public. For purposes of this rule, a meeting occurs when a quorum is
4.29present and action is taken regarding a matter within the jurisdiction of the body.
5.1(b)Until the adjournment of the 2022 regular session, Senate committee and subcommittee
5.2meetings may be held using alternative means that permit remote participation and voting for
5.3members with the approval of the respective caucus leader, subject to this rule. Remote meetings
5.4under this rule may also be held: (1) during any peacetime emergency declared by the Governor
5.5that is related to the infectious disease known as COVID-19; (2) during a special session; or (3) by
5.6the Committee on Rules and Administration at any time. Compliance with this rule meets the
5.7requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section 3.055. The alternative means used to conduct a hearing
5.8under this rule must ensure that all members of the committee participating in the hearing can see
5.9and hear one another, and that all witnesses are also visible and audible to the members participating
5.10during the witness's testimony, with the ability for witnesses to see and hear the members
5.11participating during the witness's testimony. If a member participating in a hearing held under this
5.12rule verbally affirms during the course of the hearing that the member's Internet connection prevents
5.13the member from establishing a visual connection to the hearing, the member may participate using
5.14only an audio connection to the hearing. Any meeting using alternative means must be
5.15contemporaneously available electronically to the public. The notice provided for the hearing must
5.16specify how members of the public may access and monitor the meeting. All of the requirements
5.17of Senate Rule 12 apply to hearings held under this paragraph unless otherwise excepted.
5.1812.2Any person may submit to the Chair of the Committee on Rules and Administration a
5.19complaint that members have violated the open meeting requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section
5.203.055. The complaint must be in writing. The Chair of the Committee on Rules and Administration
5.21shall immediately forward the complaint in writing to the Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct without
5.22disclosing the identity of the complainant. The complaint must not be further disclosed without the
5.23consent of the complainant, except to the members against whom the complaint was made, unless
5.24the complaint was made by a member of the Senate in writing under oath, in which case the
5.25investigatory procedures of Rule 55 apply.
5.2612.3To the extent practical, a committee or subcommittee shall announce each meeting to
5.27the public at least three calendar days before convening. The notice must state the name of the
5.28committee or subcommittee, the bill or bills to be considered, and the place and time of meeting.
5.29The notice must be posted on the Senate's Web site and on all Senate bulletin boards in the Capitol
5.30and the State Office Building. A notice must be sent to the House of Representatives for posting
5.31as it deems necessary. If the three-day notice requirement cannot be met, the committee or
5.32subcommittee shall give simultaneous notice to all of the known proponents and opponents of the
5.33bill as soon as practicable.
5.3412.4A Senate committee or subcommittee shall adjourn no later than midnight each day,
5.35unless two-thirds of the members present vote to suspend this requirement.
5.3612.5Committees and subcommittees may not meet while the Senate is in session without
5.37permission of the Senate. The names of the members excused shall be printed in the Journal.
6.112.6A majority of its members constitutes a quorum of a committee or subcommittee.
6.212.7Each standing committee of the Senate, including a subcommittee of the committee,
6.3may at any time sit and act, investigate and take testimony on any matter within its jurisdiction,
6.4report hearings held by it, and make expenditures as authorized by the Committee on Rules and
6.5Administration.
6.612.8A standing committee, but not a subcommittee, may require by subpoena or otherwise
6.7the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of correspondence, books, papers,
6.8and documents, in the manner provided by Minnesota Statutes, section 3.153.
6.912.9Upon the request of a member of a committee or subcommittee to which a bill has been
6.10referred, or upon the request of the chief author of the bill, a record must be made of the vote on
6.11the bill or any amendment in the committee or subcommittee.
6.1212.10Upon request of three members of the committee before the vote is taken, the record
6.13of a roll call vote in a standing committee must accompany the committee report and be printed in
6.14the Journal.
6.1512.11A committee report may only be based on action taken at a regular or special meeting
6.16of the committee. A report in violation of this rule is out of order.
6.1712.12No Senate committee or subcommittee shall permit any appointed officer or employee
6.18of the executive branch, registered lobbyist, or lobbyist principal to be seated at the committee table
6.19with members of the Senate during an official meeting of a committee of the Senate.
6.2014.PRESIDENT
6.2114.1The President shall take the chair at the time to which the Senate adjourned. The President
6.22shall immediately call the members to order and, on the appearance of a quorum, shall proceed
6.23with the regular order of business. For the purposes of establishing a quorum, members who have
6.24informed the President of their intention to vote from a remote location under the provisions of
6.25Rule 40.7 may be counted for the duration of the legislative day. If a member suggests the absence
6.26of a quorum at any time during the remainder of the legislative day, the President must confirm
6.27that each member intending to vote under Rule 40.7 intends to continue voting under Rule 40.7.
6.28At any time the President announces the presence of a quorum, the President shall announce the
6.29names of members intending to vote under Rule 40.7.A member voting from a remote location
6.30under this rule must inform the Senate President of the member's geographic location
at the time
6.31of remote voting, if the member will be outside this state when voting remotely. For
the purposes
6.32of this rule, "geographic location" means the state where the member is located. The
information
6.33provided to the Senate President pursuant to this rule must be published in the Senate
Journal for
6.34the day when it was provided.
6.3514.2The President may call a member to preside. In the absence of the President, the President
6.36Pro Tem, the Chair of the Committee on Rules and Administration, or the Chair's designee, shall
7.1preside over the Senate. In the absence of the President and the Chair, the Senate may select a
7.2member to perform the duties of the President. Substitutions do not extend beyond adjournment.
7.314.3The President shall preserve order and decorum, may speak on points of order in
7.4preference to members, and shall also decide all questions of order, subject to an appeal to the
7.5Senate by a member.
7.614.4An appeal is decided by a majority vote of those present and voting. Upon an appeal
7.7from the decision of the President, the question is, "Shall the decision of the President be the
7.8judgment of the Senate?"
7.914.5The President shall sign all acts, memorials, addresses and resolutions. All writs, warrants,
7.10and subpoenas issued by the Senate must be signed by the President and attested by the Secretary.
7.1114.6Upon a finding by the Committee on Rules and Administration that the President refuses
7.12or is unable to sign any of the documents described in this rule, the Chair of the Committee on
7.13Rules and Administration, or some other member selected by the committee, shall assume the duties
7.14of the President under this rule until the President is able to sign the documents described or until
7.15the Senate elects a new President, whichever occurs first.
7.1640.VOTING
7.1740.1The President shall distinctly state the question before taking the vote. The President
7.18shall declare the result of the vote. If a member questions the result of a vote, the President shall
7.19order a division.
7.2040.2Except as provided in Rules 40.7 and 40.8, a member may vote on a question or be
7.21counted on a division only at the member's own seat in the Senate Chamber.
â7.2240.3At any time before the start of voting on a question, a member may request a roll call
7.23vote, which must be entered in the Journal, unless at the time the request is made, the Senate is
7.24taking a roll call vote using the electrical voting system.
7.2540.4Unless otherwise ordered, a roll call vote, except upon elections, may be taken by means
7.26of the electrical voting system under the control of the President.
7.2740.5A roll call vote may not be interrupted except: (1) to announce the vote of a memberâ
7.28voting remotely, as provided in Rule 40.8, and (2) to close the roll as provided in Rule 41.3.
7.2940.6A member or other person may not proceed to or remain by the Secretary's desk while
7.30a roll call or division is being taken.
7.3140.7During a special sessionor, a peacetime public health emergency, and until the
7.32adjournment of the 2022 regular session or with the approval of the respective caucus leader, a
7.33member may vote on a question fromâ a location outside the Senate chamber, in accordance with
7.34Rule 40.8. For the purposes of this rule, "peacetime public health emergency" means any peacetime
8.1emergency declared by the Governorâ in an executive order that relates to the infectious disease
8.2known as COVID-19.
â8.340.8When permissible under Rule 40.7, a member may authorize a designee chosen by theâ
8.4respective caucus leader to vote on the member's behalf while the member is at a location outside
8.5of the Senate chamber. When a member assigns the member's vote to a designee under this rule,
8.6the designee shall vote on the member's behalf as directed by the member on each question. Theâ
8.7Secretary may adopt procedures to ensure the accurate and efficient administration of this rule.
â
1.2relating to rules; adopting temporary rules for the 93rd session of the Legislature.
1.3BE IT RESOLVED, by the Senate of the State of Minnesota:
1.4The temporary rules of the Senate for the 92nd session of the Legislature are adopted as the
1.5temporary rules for the 93rd session, to be effective until the adoption of permanent rules by a
1.6majority vote of the Senate, subject to the following condition:
1.7A bill may not be introduced on the first day.
1.8The rules referred to above are amended as follows:
1.94.BILL REFERRAL
1.104.1The President shall refer each bill without motion to the proper standing committee unless
1.11otherwise referred by the Senate.
1.124.2A bill or resolution may not be referred to committee or amended until it has been given
1.13its first reading.
1.144.3A member may not object to a bill or resolution on its introduction.
1.154.4All bills appropriating money, or obligating the state to pay or expend money, or
1.16establishing a policy which to be effective will require expenditure of money, when referred to and
1.17reported by any other than the Committee on Finance, must be referred before passage to the
1.18Committee on Finance.
1.194.5All bills delegating rulemaking to a department or agency of state government and all
1.20bills exempting a department or agency of state government from rulemaking, when referred to
1.21and reported by any other than the Committee on State and Local Government
1.22
1.23Government
2.14.6All bills creating a new commission, council, task force, board, or other body to which
2.2a member of the legislature will be appointed must be referred before passage both to the Committee
2.3on State and Local Government
2.4on Rules and Administration.
2.54.7All bills authorizing or increasing a sentence of imprisonment to a state correctional
2.6institution must be referred before passage to the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety
2.7
2.84.8All resolutions required to follow the same procedure as bills must be referred before
2.9passage to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
2.104.9A bill introduced by a committee need not be referred to a standing committee unless a
2.11question arises. It must lie over one day before being given its second reading.
2.124.10A member may question the reference of a bill during the order of business of first
2.13reading on the day of introduction. When a member questions the reference of a bill, the bill must
2.14be referred without debate to the Committee on Rules and Administration to report the proper
2.15reference. Upon adoption of the report of the Committee on Rules and Administration, the bill must
2.16be referred accordingly.
2.177.BUDGET TARGETS
2.187.1The Committees on Taxes and on Finance must hold hearings as necessary to determine
2.19state revenues and appropriations for the fiscal biennium.
2.207.2Within 30 days after the last state general fund revenue and expenditure forecast for the
2.21next fiscal biennium becomes available during the regular session in the odd-numbered year, targets
2.22for the general fund budget must be publicly announced by the Chair of the Committee on Finance
2.23or the Chair of the Committee on Rules and Administration. Subsequent adjustments to the targets
2.24required under this rule shall be made by public announcement of the chair of the Committee on
2.25Rules and Administration.
2.267.3The omnibus tax and appropriation bills are:
2.27 (1) the omnibus tax bill;
2.28(2) the agriculture, broadband, and rural development appropriations bill;
2.29 (3) the education appropriations bill;
2.30(4) the commerce and consumer protection appropriations bill;
2.31(5) the elections appropriations bill;
2.32(6) the energy
2.33
3.1
3.2(9) the human services appropriations bill;
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7(14) the labor appropriations bill;
3.8
3.9
3.11
3.12 An omnibus appropriation or tax bill may not be divided.
3.137.4An amendment to an omnibus appropriation or tax bill that is a Senate file or an unofficial
3.14engrossment of a House file is out of order if it will:
3.15(1) increase net appropriations from a fund for a fiscal biennium, without a corresponding
3.16increase in net revenue, compared to the bill as it was reported to the floor of the Senate;
3.17(2) reduce net revenue to a fund for a fiscal biennium, without a corresponding reduction in
3.18net appropriations, compared to the bill as it was reported to the floor of the Senate;
3.19(3) change appropriations, transfers, or revenues to an agency that was not in the bill as it
3.20was reported to the floor of the Senate; or
3.21(4) create or increase the amount of a tax expenditure by reducing appropriations, transfers,
3.22or revenues to an agency that was not in the bill as it was reported to the floor of the Senate.
3.239.STANDING COMMITTEES
3.24The standing committees of the Senate are as follows:
3.25
3.26Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development
3.27Capital Investment
3.28
3.29Commerce and Consumer Protection
3.30Education Finance
4.2Elections
4.3Energy
4.4Environment
4.5
4.6Finance
4.7Health and Human Services
4.8Higher Education
4.9Housing
4.10Human Services
4.11
4.12Jobs and Economic
4.13Judiciary and Public Safety
4.14Labor
4.15
4.16
4.17
4.18Rules and Administration
4.19State and Local Government
4.20Taxes
4.21
4.22Transportation
4.23
4.2412.COMMITTEE MEETINGS
4.2512.1(a) All meetings of the Senate, its committees, and subcommittees are open to the public.
4.26A meeting of a caucus of the members of any of those bodies from the same political party need
4.27not be open to the public. A caucus of the Hennepin county, Ramsey county, or St. Louis county
4.28delegation is open to the public. For purposes of this rule, a meeting occurs when a quorum is
4.29present and action is taken regarding a matter within the jurisdiction of the body.
5.1(b)
5.2meetings may be held using alternative means that permit remote participation and voting for
5.3members with the approval of the respective caucus leader, subject to this rule. Remote meetings
5.4under this rule may also be held: (1) during any peacetime emergency declared by the Governor
5.5that is related to the infectious disease known as COVID-19; (2) during a special session; or (3) by
5.6the Committee on Rules and Administration at any time. Compliance with this rule meets the
5.7requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section 3.055. The alternative means used to conduct a hearing
5.8under this rule must ensure that all members of the committee participating in the hearing can see
5.9and hear one another, and that all witnesses are also visible and audible to the members participating
5.10during the witness's testimony, with the ability for witnesses to see and hear the members
5.11participating during the witness's testimony. If a member participating in a hearing held under this
5.12rule verbally affirms during the course of the hearing that the member's Internet connection prevents
5.13the member from establishing a visual connection to the hearing, the member may participate using
5.14only an audio connection to the hearing. Any meeting using alternative means must be
5.15contemporaneously available electronically to the public. The notice provided for the hearing must
5.16specify how members of the public may access and monitor the meeting. All of the requirements
5.17of Senate Rule 12 apply to hearings held under this paragraph unless otherwise excepted.
5.1812.2Any person may submit to the Chair of the Committee on Rules and Administration a
5.19complaint that members have violated the open meeting requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section
5.203.055. The complaint must be in writing. The Chair of the Committee on Rules and Administration
5.21shall immediately forward the complaint in writing to the Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct without
5.22disclosing the identity of the complainant. The complaint must not be further disclosed without the
5.23consent of the complainant, except to the members against whom the complaint was made, unless
5.24the complaint was made by a member of the Senate in writing under oath, in which case the
5.25investigatory procedures of Rule 55 apply.
5.2612.3To the extent practical, a committee or subcommittee shall announce each meeting to
5.27the public at least three calendar days before convening. The notice must state the name of the
5.28committee or subcommittee, the bill or bills to be considered, and the place and time of meeting.
5.29The notice must be posted on the Senate's Web site and on all Senate bulletin boards in the Capitol
5.30and the State Office Building. A notice must be sent to the House of Representatives for posting
5.31as it deems necessary. If the three-day notice requirement cannot be met, the committee or
5.32subcommittee shall give simultaneous notice to all of the known proponents and opponents of the
5.33bill as soon as practicable.
5.3412.4A Senate committee or subcommittee shall adjourn no later than midnight each day,
5.35unless two-thirds of the members present vote to suspend this requirement.
5.3612.5Committees and subcommittees may not meet while the Senate is in session without
5.37permission of the Senate. The names of the members excused shall be printed in the Journal.
6.112.6A majority of its members constitutes a quorum of a committee or subcommittee.
6.212.7Each standing committee of the Senate, including a subcommittee of the committee,
6.3may at any time sit and act, investigate and take testimony on any matter within its jurisdiction,
6.4report hearings held by it, and make expenditures as authorized by the Committee on Rules and
6.5Administration.
6.612.8A standing committee, but not a subcommittee, may require by subpoena or otherwise
6.7the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of correspondence, books, papers,
6.8and documents, in the manner provided by Minnesota Statutes, section 3.153.
6.912.9Upon the request of a member of a committee or subcommittee to which a bill has been
6.10referred, or upon the request of the chief author of the bill, a record must be made of the vote on
6.11the bill or any amendment in the committee or subcommittee.
6.1212.10Upon request of three members of the committee before the vote is taken, the record
6.13of a roll call vote in a standing committee must accompany the committee report and be printed in
6.14the Journal.
6.1512.11A committee report may only be based on action taken at a regular or special meeting
6.16of the committee. A report in violation of this rule is out of order.
6.1712.12No Senate committee or subcommittee shall permit any appointed officer or employee
6.18of the executive branch, registered lobbyist, or lobbyist principal to be seated at the committee table
6.19with members of the Senate during an official meeting of a committee of the Senate.
6.2014.PRESIDENT
6.2114.1The President shall take the chair at the time to which the Senate adjourned. The President
6.22shall immediately call the members to order and, on the appearance of a quorum, shall proceed
6.23with the regular order of business. For the purposes of establishing a quorum, members who have
6.24informed the President of their intention to vote from a remote location under the provisions of
6.25Rule 40.7 may be counted for the duration of the legislative day. If a member suggests the absence
6.26of a quorum at any time during the remainder of the legislative day, the President must confirm
6.27that each member intending to vote under Rule 40.7 intends to continue voting under Rule 40.7.
6.28At any time the President announces the presence of a quorum, the President shall announce the
6.29names of members intending to vote under Rule 40.7.
6.30
6.31
6.32
6.33
6.34
6.3514.2The President may call a member to preside. In the absence of the President, the President
6.36Pro Tem, the Chair of the Committee on Rules and Administration, or the Chair's designee, shall
7.1preside over the Senate. In the absence of the President and the Chair, the Senate may select a
7.2member to perform the duties of the President. Substitutions do not extend beyond adjournment.
7.314.3The President shall preserve order and decorum, may speak on points of order in
7.4preference to members, and shall also decide all questions of order, subject to an appeal to the
7.5Senate by a member.
7.614.4An appeal is decided by a majority vote of those present and voting. Upon an appeal
7.7from the decision of the President, the question is, "Shall the decision of the President be the
7.8judgment of the Senate?"
7.914.5The President shall sign all acts, memorials, addresses and resolutions. All writs, warrants,
7.10and subpoenas issued by the Senate must be signed by the President and attested by the Secretary.
7.1114.6Upon a finding by the Committee on Rules and Administration that the President refuses
7.12or is unable to sign any of the documents described in this rule, the Chair of the Committee on
7.13Rules and Administration, or some other member selected by the committee, shall assume the duties
7.14of the President under this rule until the President is able to sign the documents described or until
7.15the Senate elects a new President, whichever occurs first.
7.1640.VOTING
7.1740.1The President shall distinctly state the question before taking the vote. The President
7.18shall declare the result of the vote. If a member questions the result of a vote, the President shall
7.19order a division.
7.2040.2Except as provided in Rules 40.7 and 40.8, a member may vote on a question or be
7.21counted on a division only at the member's own seat in the Senate Chamber.
â7.2240.3At any time before the start of voting on a question, a member may request a roll call
7.23vote, which must be entered in the Journal, unless at the time the request is made, the Senate is
7.24taking a roll call vote using the electrical voting system.
7.2540.4Unless otherwise ordered, a roll call vote, except upon elections, may be taken by means
7.26of the electrical voting system under the control of the President.
7.2740.5A roll call vote may not be interrupted except: (1) to announce the vote of a memberâ
7.28voting remotely, as provided in Rule 40.8, and (2) to close the roll as provided in Rule 41.3.
7.2940.6A member or other person may not proceed to or remain by the Secretary's desk while
7.30a roll call or division is being taken.
7.3140.7During a special session
7.32
7.33member may vote on a question fromâ a location outside the Senate chamber, in accordance with
7.34Rule 40.8. For the purposes of this rule, "peacetime public health emergency" means any peacetime
8.1emergency declared by the Governorâ in an executive order that relates to the infectious disease
8.2known as COVID-19.
â8.340.8When permissible under Rule 40.7, a member may authorize a designee chosen by theâ
8.4respective caucus leader to vote on the member's behalf while the member is at a location outside
8.5of the Senate chamber. When a member assigns the member's vote to a designee under this rule,
8.6the designee shall vote on the member's behalf as directed by the member on each question. Theâ
8.7Secretary may adopt procedures to ensure the accurate and efficient administration of this rule.
â
