Tennessee House adopts permanent rules, shifts committee final votes to electronic system and adds sanctions and gallery conduct limits

The Tennessee House of Representatives adopted a package of permanent rules on Jan. 13 that will change committee voting procedures, add progressive sanctions for members who repeatedly violate decorum rules, and tighten conduct standards for observers in the gallery.

Members voted to adopt the report of the House select committee on rules after extended debate over several provisions, including a requirement that final votes in committees be recorded electronically and an expanded disciplinary pathway under Rule 19 for members deemed to have repeatedly violated chamber rules.

Supporters said the electronic system will modernize committee practice and reduce ambiguity on how members voted during committee action. “The system that was installed while we were gone … now have the ability to be able to do an electronic vote,” Leader Lambert said, adding that the change will make committee final actions comparable to floor votes. Representative Parkinson and others sought clarification about whether voice votes remain possible; speakers said recorded electronic voting will be the default for final committee action but that the calendars…