State and Local Government Committee reviews rules for session, runs test vote

The Tennessee House State and Local Government Committee met Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in a virtual session by Microsoft Teams to review committee and subcommittee rules for the 2025 legislative session and to conduct an electronic test vote.

The rules matter because they set the deadlines, voting procedures and decorum that will govern how bills move through the committee this year, including when amendments and witness materials must be filed and how votes will be recorded.

Chairman John Crawford opened the meeting, confirmed a quorum of 15 members and introduced committee staff. He announced that the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will present to the committee on Feb. 12, 2025, on how the university works with local government. The committee then reviewed procedural rules that will guide hearings and votes across the year.

Key administrative rules the committee recorded include: bill notices must be submitted via the online portal by 3:30 p.m. each Wednesday to be eligible for the following week’s committee; amendments must be electronically filed with the committee by 10 a.m. the day before the meeting and must come from a member’s email or a legislative assistant; bills passed by subcommittee are automatically placed on the next full committee calendar unless the sponsor requests otherwise or the chairman exercises discretion; guest speakers must be preapproved by the chairman at least 24 hours before the meeting; and sponsors presenting bills are limited to three to five minutes for their explanation.

The chair directed members to the committee’s rules on decorum and electronic materials. He said hard-copy packets will no longer be routinely distributed; calendars, epackets and amendment packets will be provided electronically and available through the member dashboard. Members who still want printed copies must ask their staff to print them. The chair also cautioned that no props are allowed during presentations and that committee members and staff will not live-stream or record meetings in a manner that disrupts proceedings; members of the public may live-stream provided it does not disturb the meeting.

The committee discussed voting procedures. Any three members may request a roll call vote; the chair may also order a roll call. Final actions will be recorded by roll call or the electronic system. The chair stated that two-thirds of members present are required to move the previous question. In accordance with committee practice and House Rule 83, a bill or resolution may be calendared three times; if a bill is not reported out after the third calendar and subsequent special calendar, it will be returned to the clerk’s desk.

Committee members asked procedural clarifications: Representative Gabby Salinas asked when three members must request a roll call; the chair replied that a request may be made at any time. Representative Jerome Moon asked whether unfinished calendars placed on the next meeting are subject to chair discretion for placement; the chair said placement is at the chairman’s discretion and described an order-of-business approach to accommodate members with duties in other committees.

To confirm the electronic system and voting procedures, the clerk ran a test vote on a mock motion to refer a made-up measure, identified in the meeting as “House Bill 0000.” The chairman called for votes to move the bill to the finance committee. After the electronic count, the clerk reported the result as "6 Aye, 13 Nay, 0 present not voting." The chairman then said, "This bill fails," and closed the test vote.

The meeting concluded after committee members were given an opportunity for announcements and asked to adjourn. Chairman Crawford closed the session and adjourned the committee.

Ending: The committee scheduled the University of Tennessee, Knoxville presentation for Feb. 12, 2025, and reiterated filing deadlines and time limits that will govern committee business for the session.