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Committee approves rule change letting speaker clear controversial items from daily order
Summary
The House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs voted to report House Resolution 86 favorably, moving a change to the house rules that gives the speaker discretion to place certain noncontroversial instruments under the “pass over” procedure and return any objected items to the regular calendar.
The House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs voted to report House Resolution 86 favorably on April 29, 2025, endorsing a change to the chamber’s rules that affects how the body disposes of controversial amendments on third reading and final passage.
The resolution, introduced by Chairman Bowyer and read into the record by committee staff, would amend the rule the committee described repeatedly as the procedure for “passing over controversial instruments” on third reading. Under the change, the committee said, the speaker would have discretion to use the pass-over process on days when the House considers a large number of measures. Any item that receives an objection would be returned to the regular order of business for full consideration.
Supporters told the committee the change is designed to streamline busy legislative days. Representative Bowyer and other members said the rule already permits quick disposition of noncontroversial items, but the proposal would allow the speaker — not just the last day of the legislative week — to invoke that procedure. Representative Newell asked whether a bill skipped under the rule could later be heard; the committee was told it would be returned to the calendar and considered in its normal sequence.
Representative Newell made the motion to report the resolution favorably and, with no objection recorded, the committee adopted the motion.
The change affects only House internal procedure and does not change substantive law or committee jurisdictions. Committee members said the pass-over practice has been used infrequently in recent years; proponents described the amendment as a limited, discretionary tool for days with unusually large caseloads.
Representative Marcel noted the measure would not prevent a member from removing a particular instrument from the pass-over process and bringing it forward for debate. The committee recorded no formal roll-call vote on the resolution; it was reported favorable by unanimous voice action.
The resolution will now move to the next step in the House process.
