Tennessee House adopts permanent rules, moves committee voting to electronic system and authorizes remote voting option after repeated rule violations

The Tennessee House of Representatives adopted the permanent rules for the 114th General Assembly after debate on committee procedures, roll‑call requests and disciplinary enforcement.

The rules package, moved by Leader Blair Lambert and presented as the report of the select committee on rules, received floor consideration and a recorded vote. Leader Lambert led sponsors through a series of questions from members about time allocation in debate, exceptions to bill limits, and how roll‑call votes would be handled in committees.

The changes give committees an electronic voting option for final actions: "The goal is we have that electronic system now," Representative Garrett said, noting that the microphones and installed equipment "have the ability to be able to do an electronic vote" and that "any final action of the committee will now be recorded individually." Representative Garrett added that the electronic system should resolve most disputes that previously led members to request roll‑call votes.

Members questioned several points in the new rules. Representative Clemons asked whether time used for answers by a sponsor counts against the questioner’s time; Representative Garrett replied, "If you ask a question ... that response ... is included in your 5 minutes." On bill‑limit exceptions, Representative Clemons sought clarification about private acts and local bills; Leader Lambert confirmed that "Private acts are not included within the bill limit" and noted that carefully drafted general bills of local application may likewise not count toward a sponsor's bill limit.

The rules also add a disciplinary process under Rule 19. Representative Garrett described a stepped approach whereby a member repeatedly violating order can be unrecognized for the remainder of the legislative day and — for subsequent days — be given the option to vote remotely from an assigned room that will operate as an "extension of the house floor." Garrett said the remote capability "will be available to that member" but is not mandatory, and the member's status (present or absent) will follow existing practices if they do not use the remote option.

The rules retain one exception for the Calendars and Rules Committee: because of the volume of measures that committee processes, final actions there will continue to be handled by voice vote unless a roll‑call is requested prior to final action. Leader Lambert explained that "it's the one committee that would still retain the voice vote" because of pace and volume.

On decorum for visitors, the body added a gallery conduct rule that authorizes the speaker to remove people from the observation gallery for attempts to attract attention or otherwise disrupt proceedings. Leader Lambert said the gallery is for observing government in action and described the removal language as consistent with practices in other legislatures and Congress.

The report of the select committee on rules was adopted by the House and is now in effect for the 114th General Assembly. The record of the vote as taken on the floor was reported by the Clerk; specific roll‑call tallies recorded during debate were provided to the House but are not fully legible in the available transcript.

The new rules take effect immediately for the House’s internal procedures and committee operations; implementation details for the electronic voting system and the remote set‑up will be administered by House staff and communicated to members.

Votes at a glance: the House adopted the report of the select committee on rules (motion to adopt moved by Leader Blair Lambert; outcome: adopted; vote tallies not specified in the transcript excerpt).