Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the House Rules Floor Access topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances rule change limiting former legislators on the floor during business
Summary
The House State Affairs Committee moved to introduce RS 32,024, a rule change that would prevent former state legislators from occupying the House floor while the body is transacting business unless they have speaker approval; staff would remain allowed on the floor.
Representative Mickelson told the House State Affairs Committee that he introduced RS 32,024 to tighten House Rule 70 so former legislators cannot be on the House floor while the House is transacting business unless they have approval from the speaker.
The change “would make it so that when we're actually in the process of transacting business that they cannot be on the floor and if they are that they have received, approval from the speaker,” Mickelson said. He cited instances last session when former members “were coming on the House floor when we were transacting business” and, in some cases, behaved as if they were part of the body.
The proposal applies only while the House is actively conducting business; Mickelson said it would not bar former legislators during ‘‘at ease’’ periods or during ceremonies for which the speaker might grant permission. He also told the committee that the rule does not restrict staff: “it specifically says that staff can be on the floor.”
Committee members asked procedural and scope questions. Representative Crane asked whether the rule would preclude visitors during ‘‘at ease’’ or ceremonial moments; Mickelson replied that it would not. Representative Crane also opened the item for a motion. Representative Scott moved to introduce RS 32,024 and suggested sending it to second reading. Representative Barbieri offered a substitute motion to introduce the RS; the chair put the substitute to a voice vote. “Seeing none all in favour signify by saying aye. Opposed, nay. Motion is carried,” the chair said, and the committee recorded the motion as carried.
Why it matters: RS 32,024 would change how House Rule 70 is applied during active sessions by making speaker approval the gate for prior legislators to be present on the floor. Proponents framed the change as a clarity and decorum measure; the committee left staff access unaffected and preserved speaker discretion for special circumstances.
Votes at a glance: The committee adopted a substitute motion to introduce RS 32,024; the transcript records the substitute motion as carried by voice vote. No roll-call tally was provided in the transcript.
