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House rules panel rejects proposal to require disclosure when executive branch prompts bills

House Rules Standing Committee · February 4, 2026
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Summary

The House Rules Standing Committee considered HR 4, a non‑punitive recommendation asking sponsors to disclose when legislation was materially requested by an executive branch official. After debate over definitions and confidentiality, the motion to favorably recommend failed 1–6.

Representative McPherson introduced HR 4 on Feb. 4, asking colleagues to adopt a rule of transparency when bills are “materially requested by or … sponsored by essentially an agency head or a cabinet member or an executive branch member,” while stressing the proposal carried “no requirements or penalty” and was intended as a best practice.

Lawmakers raised immediate questions about how the rule would treat requests that originate from agency staff rather than a department chief. Representative Wilcox asked how the committee would handle informal or “under the table” conversations, saying, “Because of the internal rules with their budget requests and the restrictions … it's under the table.” Representative Burton warned the rule could expose agency staff to discipline if disclosures forced them into the open.

McPherson emphasized he was not seeking enforcement: “I simply was hoping that this could be more of a best practice … that look if this bill is originating from in any way shape or form from an agency or from the executive branch, just let your colleagues know.” Representative Peterson disclosed that the proposal did not originate from an agency in his case: he said the idea “came from my own brain.”

Representative Lee moved that the committee recommend HR 4 favorably. After discussion about definitions, implementation and possible reporting fields on bill request forms, the committee conducted a roll call. Representative Lee was the lone vote in favor; the motion failed on a 1 to 6 vote and HR 4 did not receive a favorable recommendation.

Committee members urged the sponsor to refine the language and consider administrative approaches — for example, adding a checkbox to bill request forms — before reintroducing the idea. The committee returned HR 4 to further work rather than advancing it to the floor.