Rules Committee adopts A‑1 amendment to Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 to set temporary joint rules

The Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration adopted the A‑1 amendment to Senate Concurrent Resolution 2, a change officials said will set temporary joint rules for conference committees between the two chambers.

The amendment allows conference committees to be comprised of not fewer than three and not more than six members from each house, replacing the prior five-member standard for each house. It also inserts language (lines 2.15–2.19) establishing that a conference committee report may include only subject matter contained in the House or Senate versions of the bill for which the conference committee was appointed, or like subject matter contained in a bill referred to the conference committee by the Speaker of the House or the Senate majority leader.

“...this resolution as the chair mentioned, proposes to amend the senate concurrent resolution that came from the senate to adopt temporary joint rules,” Mr. Gehring explained, describing the two substantive changes in the amendment. He said the change to permit three-to-six conferees per side is “consistent with the house agreement, from February 5, allowing for even numbered members, on conference committees from the house.”

Representative Colter asked how the germaneness standard would be enforced if a conference committee report returned with material outside that standard. Mr. Gehring said a member could raise a point of order or objection on the floor if they believed the report failed to meet the joint-rule standard.

Representative Wong noted that lines 2.15–2.19 reflect current House practice and said inserting the House approach into the joint rules should reduce confusion in conference committee work. Co Chair Long urged member support, and the committee adopted the amendment on a voice vote: “All in favor say aye,” the chair called; “Aye.” The motion prevailed and the amendment was adopted.