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House Rules Committee debates stricter decorum penalties, delays vote on amendments
Summary
Members debated a decorum amendment (hr001.001.001) that would define prohibited speech and set graduated penalties; members raised concerns about retroactivity, excessive disciplinary discretion and potential voter disenfranchisement. Executive action was postponed until tomorrow at noon.
Chair Steve Fitzpatrick (House District 24) opened the Rules Committee meeting and presented HR 1, then introduced amendment hr001.001.001, a proposed change to the House rules that would define decorum violations and establish a graduated disciplinary process.
The amendment lists prohibited conduct—"imputing the motives of members, profane language, or threatening injury"—and lays out progressive sanctions: a warning for a first offense, loss of recognition for up to three days for a second offense and removal from the floor for up to six days for subsequent offenses; it also authorizes expulsion for the remainder of a session for conduct that causes injury or sparks a riot. Fitzpatrick said the text needs a technical fix to make the complaint/appeal window retroactively limited to one legislative business day.
Several members expressed concern that…
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