HR 1 — A Resolution adopting permanent rules for the House of Representatives, further providing for definitions, for order of business, for fiscal notes, for consideration of bills, for third consideration and final passage bills, for House and concurrent resolutions, for standing committees and subcommittees, for powers and duties of standing committees and subcommittees, for public hearings, for discharge of committees, for lay on the table and for previous question.

PRINTER'S NO.   1

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 1
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY McCLINTON, JANUARY 7, 2025

     INTRODUCED, JANUARY 7, 2025


                               A RESOLUTION
 1   Adopting permanent rules for the House of Representatives,
 2      further providing for definitions, for order of business, for
 3      fiscal notes, for consideration of bills, for third
 4      consideration and final passage bills, for House and
 5      concurrent resolutions, for standing committees and
 6      subcommittees, for powers and duties of standing committees
 7      and subcommittees, for public hearings, for discharge of
 8      committees, for lay on the table and for previous question.
 9      RESOLVED, That the Permanent Rules of the House of
10   Representatives (2023-2024) be adopted as the Permanent Rules of
11   the House of Representatives for the 2025-2026 session of the
12   House of Representatives with the following amendments to the
13   heading, definitions and Rules 17, 19 (a), 21, 24, 35, 43, 45,
14   50, 53, 59 and 61:
15                         [2023-2024] 2025-2026
16                        GENERAL OPERATING RULES
17                   OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
18      The following words and phrases when used in the General
19   Operating Rules of the House of Representatives shall have the
20   meanings given to them in this section unless the context
21   clearly indicates otherwise:
 1      "Day" shall mean any calendar day.
 2      "Floor of the House" shall be that area within the Hall of
 3   the House between the Speaker's rostrum and the brass rail
 4   behind the Members' seats.
 5      "Formal Action" shall mean any vote or motion of a member of
 6   a standing committee, standing subcommittee, select committee or
 7   rules committee of the House of Representatives to report or not
 8   report, amend, consider or table a bill or resolution and the
 9   discussion and debate thereof.
10      "Hall of the House" shall be the floor space within its four
11   walls and does not include the adjoining conference rooms, the
12   lobbies or the upper gallery of the House.
13      "Legislative Day" shall mean any day that the House shall be
14   in session.
15      ["Majority Party" shall mean the political party that won the
16   greater number of elections for the 203 seats in the House of
17   Representatives in the general election preceding the term of
18   service that began on the first day of December next after the
19   general election. If a vacancy shall occur during the term, the
20   political party that won that seat at the last election shall
21   remain the party that won that seat until any subsequent special
22   election is held to fill that seat. Following a special election
23   during the term, the number of elections won by each political
24   party for the 203 seats in the House of Representatives shall be
25   redetermined as provided in this definition. Nothing in this
26   definition shall preclude an individual elected to hold a seat
27   in the House of Representatives from changing their political
28   party registration.]
29      "Press Gallery" shall be within that area known as the Hall
30   of the House as designated by the Speaker.

20250HR0001PN0001                 - 2 -
 1      "Roll Call Vote" shall be a vote taken by and displayed on
 2   the electronic roll call board or in the event of a malfunction
 3   of the electronic roll call board, by such method as shall be
 4   determined by the Speaker.
 5                                      * * *
 6                                     RULE 17
 7                                Order of Business
 8      The daily order of business shall be:
 9      (1)    Prayer or invocation.
10      (2)    Pledge of Allegiance.
11      (3)    Correction and approval of the Journal.
12      (4)    Leaves of absence.
13      (5)    Master Roll Call.
14      (6)    Reports of Committee.
15      (7)    First consideration bills.
16      (8)    Second consideration bills.
17      (9)    Third consideration bills, final passage bills
18   (including both third consideration and final passage postponed
19   bills) and resolutions.
20      (10)     Final passage bills recalled from the Governor.
21      (11)     Messages from the Senate and communications from the
22   Governor.
23      (12)     Reference to appropriate committees of bills,
24   resolutions, petitions, memorials, remonstrances and other
25   papers.
26      (13)     Unfinished business on the Speaker's table.
27      (14)     Announcements.
28      (15)     Adjournment.
29      Any question may, by a majority vote of the members elected,
30   be made a special order of business. When a special order of

20250HR0001PN0001                      - 3 -
 1   business is adopted for a question on second consideration, the
 2   question shall immediately be placed on the House Voting
 3   Schedule and the Speaker shall place the question before the
 4   House on the earliest possible voting Session Day in accordance
 5   with Rule 21. All other questions shall be placed before the
 6   House on the same legislative day.
 7      In lieu of offering House Resolutions on topics of importance
 8   to members, any member, without unanimous consent, may address
 9   the House on such issue and have their remarks entered into the
10   record during a special period of time established each week by
11   the Speaker either prior to, or at the conclusion of, House
12   business on a specific day.
13                                   * * *
14                                RULE 19 (a)
15                                Fiscal Notes
16      (1)   No bill, except a General Appropriation bill or any
17   amendments thereto, which may require an expenditure of
18   Commonwealth funds or funds of any political subdivision or
19   which may entail a loss of revenues overall, or to any
20   separately established fund shall be given third consideration
21   reading on the calendar until it has first been referred to the
22   Appropriations Committee for a fiscal note, provided however
23   that the Rules Committee may by an affirmative vote of three-
24   quarters of the entire membership to which such committee is
25   entitled:
26            (a)   Waive the recommittal to the Appropriations
27      Committee and provide that the fiscal note be attached to the
28      bill while on the active calendar. The providing of such note
29      shall be a priority item for the Appropriations Committee; or
30            (b)   Waive the necessity of a fiscal note on any bill

20250HR0001PN0001                    - 4 -
 1      which it deems to have a de minimis fiscal impact or which
 2      merely authorizes, rather than mandates, an increase in
 3      expenditures or an action that would result in a loss of
 4      revenue.
 5      (2)   Nothing herein shall preclude any member from moving, at
 6   the proper time, the recommittal of any bill to the
 7   Appropriations Committee for a fiscal note.
 8      (3)   The Appropriations Committee shall be limited in its
 9   consideration of any such bill which has received second
10   consideration to the fiscal aspects of the bill and shall not
11   consider the substantive merits of the bill nor refuse to report
12   any such bill from committee for reasons other than fiscal
13   aspects. The fiscal note shall accompany the bill and provide
14   the following information in connection with the Commonwealth
15   and its political subdivisions:
16            (a)   The designation of the fund out of which the
17      appropriation providing for expenditures under the bill shall
18      be made;
19            (b)   The probable cost of the bill for the fiscal year of
20      its enactment;
21            (c)   A projected cost estimate of the program for each of
22      the [five] two succeeding fiscal years;
23            (d)   The fiscal history of the program for which
24      expenditures are to be made;
25            (e)   The probable loss of revenue from the bill for the
26      fiscal year of its enactment;
27            (f)   A projected loss of revenue estimate from the bill
28      for each of the [five] two succeeding fiscal years;
29            (g)   The line item, if any, of the General Fund, special
30      fund or other account out of which expenditures or losses of

20250HR0001PN0001                    - 5 -
 1      Commonwealth funds shall occur as a result of the bill;
 2            (h)   The recommendation, if any, of the Appropriations
 3      Committee and the reasons therefor relative to the passage or
 4      defeat of the bill; and
 5            (i)   A reference to the source of the data from which the
 6      foregoing fiscal information was obtained, and an explanation
 7      of the basis upon which it is computed.
 8      (4)   No bill which may result in an increase in the
 9   expenditure of Commonwealth funds shall be given third
10   consideration reading on the calendar until the Appropriations
11   Committee has certified that provision has been made to
12   appropriate funds equal to such increased expenditure. Whenever
13   the Appropriations Committee cannot so certify, the bill shall
14   be returned to the committee from which it was last reported for
15   further consideration and/or amendment.
16      (5)   No [amendment to a] bill that has been amended after
17   being reported by the Appropriations Committee, concurrences in
18   Senate amendments, or adoption of a conference report which may
19   result in an increase in the expenditure of Commonwealth funds
20   or those of a political subdivision or which may entail a loss
21   of revenues in addition to that originally provided for in the
22   bill prior to the proposed changes nor any bill requiring a
23   fiscal note for which re-referral to the Appropriations
24   Committee has been waived by the Rules Committee shall be voted
25   upon until a fiscal note is available for distribution to the
26   members with respect to such changes or to such bill showing the
27   fiscal effect of the changes with respect to the bill, and
28   containing the information set forth by subsection (3) of this
29   rule.
30      (6)   When an amendment or certificate is timely filed with

20250HR0001PN0001                    - 6 -
 1   the amendment clerk under Rule 21, the amendment or certificate
 2   shall be forwarded to the Appropriations Committee. [Upon
 3   receipt of an amendment, the Appropriations Committee shall
 4   automatically prepare a fiscal note.]
 5      (7)   In obtaining the information required by these rules,
 6   the Appropriations Committee may utilize the services of the
 7   Office of the Budget and any other State agency as may be
 8   necessary.
 9      (8)   No bill proposing any change relative to a public
10   employee pension or retirement plan may be given second
11   consideration until an actuarial note prepared by an enrolled
12   pension actuary as provided in Section 615-B of the
13   Administrative Code of 1929 has been attached. No amendment to
14   any bill proposing any change relative to a public employee
15   pension or retirement plan may be considered until an actuarial
16   note prepared by an enrolled pension actuary as provided in
17   Section 615-B of the Administrative Code of 1929 has been
18   attached. Except for the provisions pertaining to the content of
19   fiscal notes as set forth in paragraphs (a) through (i) of
20   subsection (3), all the provisions pertaining to and procedures
21   required of bills containing fiscal notes, shall, where
22   applicable, also be required for bills containing actuarial
23   note. The actuarial note shall contain a brief explanatory
24   statement or note which shall include a reliable estimate of the
25   financial and actuarial effect of the proposed change to such
26   public employee pension or retirement plan.
27                                 * * *
28                                RULE 21
29                         Consideration of Bills
30      (a)   Every bill and every joint resolution shall be

20250HR0001PN0001                  - 7 -
 1   considered on three different days. All amendments made thereto
 2   shall be printed for the use of the members before the final
 3   vote is taken thereon, and before the final vote is taken, upon
 4   written request addressed to the presiding officer by at least
 5   25% of the members elected to the House, any bill shall be read
 6   at length. No bill shall become law and no joint resolution
 7   adopted unless, on its final passage, the vote is taken by yeas
 8   and nays, the names of the persons voting for and against it are
 9   entered on the Journal, and a majority of the members elected to
10   the House is recorded thereon as voting in its favor.
11   (Constitution, Article III, Section 4).
12      (b)   Members shall be notified of bills and resolutions
13   scheduled to be voted no later than prior to the close of
14   business at 4:30 P.M. of the second legislative day prior to the
15   date of second consideration for legislation that has no legal
16   deadline. (The General Appropriation Act and non-preferred bills
17   are included within the definition of legislation that has no
18   legal deadline.) Except as provided in subsection (d), all
19   amendments shall be submitted to the Office of the Chief Clerk
20   by 1:00 P.M. of the last legislative day preceding the scheduled
21   date of second consideration. Members shall be notified of bills
22   scheduled to be voted on third consideration. A change in the
23   printer's number as a result of third consideration shall not
24   require an additional notice of final passage. No vote on final
25   passage can occur before the date of the scheduled vote.
26      (c)   If the amendment cannot be submitted in accordance with
27   the above subsection because it is still being prepared by the
28   Legislative Reference Bureau, the member must provide the Office
29   of the Chief Clerk with a statement, by the above-noted 1:00
30   P.M. deadline, prepared by the member containing the factual

20250HR0001PN0001                  - 8 -
 1   content of said amendment along with certification from the
 2   Legislative Reference Bureau that the amendment was submitted to
 3   the Legislative Reference Bureau for drafting prior to the
 4   above-noted 1:00 P.M. deadline. The Legislative Reference Bureau
 5   may not issue a certificate for an amendment to a bill as
 6   amended by another amendment unless the requesting member can
 7   identify by number the underlying amendment.
 8      (d)   In cases where an amendment alters a bill so as to
 9   effectively rule out of order an amendment which was timely
10   filed pursuant to the provisions of this rule, a replacement
11   amendment may be submitted to the Office of the Chief Clerk
12   provided that the subject matter of the replacement amendment is
13   not substantially different from the intent of the original
14   amendment. The replacement amendment shall be deemed to have met
15   the timely filed conditions provided for in this rule. The
16   member shall notify the Speaker of the member's intent to file a
17   replacement amendment and shall file a certificate with the
18   Office of the Chief Clerk. The bill in question may continue to
19   receive consideration but shall not be moved to third
20   consideration until the replacement amendment is available for a
21   vote. If consideration of the bill is delayed to a new
22   legislative day due solely to delay in receipt of replacement
23   amendments, then only amendments timely filed for the date of
24   the originally scheduled vote and replacement amendments shall
25   be considered. This limitation on amendments shall not apply to
26   the bill in question if consideration of the bill is rescheduled
27   beyond the new legislative day.
28      (e)   A bill may not receive action on concurrence until at
29   least [six] three hours have elapsed from the time the bill and
30   its amendatory language was available to the public, unless the

20250HR0001PN0001                  - 9 -
 1   amendment was a technical amendment as described under the first
 2   paragraph of Rule 24 or an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the
 3   members elected to the House indicates they have had sufficient
 4   time to review the language and thereby approve proceeding with
 5   the bill.
 6      A brief description of every bill on concurrence shall be
 7   given prior to a vote. Additionally, members shall be notified
 8   and conference committee reports shall be available to members
 9   at least three hours prior to the adoption of all conference
10   committee reports. When these reports are considered on the
11   first legislative day of the week, said notice shall be provided
12   no later than the close of business on the last business day
13   preceding the vote. Notwithstanding notice provided, members
14   may, by an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members elected to the
15   House, indicate that they have had sufficient time to review a
16   conference committee report and that they approve proceeding
17   with a vote.
18      (f)   No joint resolution proposing an amendment to the
19   Constitution of Pennsylvania shall be given second reading on
20   the calendar until it has been the subject of a public hearing
21   as provided under Rule 50. No joint resolution proposing an
22   amendment to the Constitution of Pennsylvania shall be given a
23   third reading, final passage, action on concurrence or
24   consideration by the House based on a report of a Committee of
25   Conference if the joint resolution proposes submitting the
26   amendment to the qualified electors of the State at any time
27   other than at the next constitutionally permissible municipal or
28   general election. This paragraph (f) shall not apply to a joint
29   resolution proposing an emergency amendment to the Constitution
30   of Pennsylvania under section 1(a) and (b) of Article XI of the

20250HR0001PN0001                  - 10 -
 1   Constitution of Pennsylvania.
 2                                   * * *
 3                               RULE 24
 4             Third Consideration and Final Passage Bills
 5      Bills on third consideration shall be considered in their
 6   calendar order and shall be subject to amendment only when an
 7   amendment is necessary to make the document internally
 8   consistent, to clear up an ambiguity, to correct grammar or to
 9   correct a drafting error or is necessary for purposes of
10   statutory construction. An amendment under this paragraph shall
11   not be subject to the filing deadlines under Rule 21. A bill
12   having received consideration by the House on three different
13   days and having been agreed to may be called by the Speaker to
14   receive action on final passage; however, a bill may not receive
15   action on final passage until at least [six] three hours have
16   elapsed from the time the bill and its amendatory language was
17   available to the public, unless the amendment was a technical
18   amendment permitted under the first paragraph of this rule or an
19   affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members elected to the House
20   indicates that they have had sufficient time to review the
21   language of the bill and thereby approve proceeding with the
22   bill. Upon being called to receive action on final passage, the
23   title and a brief description of a bill shall be read. A bill on
24   final passage shall not be subject to amendment, but shall be
25   subject to debate. At the conclusion of debate, the Speaker
26   shall then state the question as follows:
27      "This bill has been considered on three different days and
28   agreed to and is now on final passage. The question is, shall
29   the bill pass finally? Agreeable to the provision of the
30   Constitution, the yeas and nays will now be taken."

20250HR0001PN0001                    - 11 -
 1      When more than one bill shall be called for action on final
 2   passage at the same time, prior to voting, the title or a brief
 3   analysis of each bill shall be read.
 4      The Speaker shall then state the question as follows:
 5      "These bills have been considered on three different days and
 6   agreed to and are now on final passage. The question is, shall
 7   the bills on the uncontested calendar pass finally? Agreeable to
 8   the provision of the Constitution, the yeas and nays will now be
 9   taken."
10                                  * * *
11                                 RULE 35
12                     House and Concurrent Resolutions
13      Members introducing resolutions other than concurrent
14   resolutions shall file five copies thereof; seven copies of
15   concurrent resolutions shall be filed. All resolutions shall be
16   signed by their sponsors, dated and filed with the Chief Clerk.
17   After being numbered, one copy of all resolutions shall be given
18   to the news media and all other copies delivered to the Speaker.
19   A sponsor may not be added or withdrawn after a resolution has
20   been printed. Resolutions may not be withdrawn after reference
21   to a committee.
22      Unless privileged under Rule 36 for immediate consideration
23   or deemed noncontroversial by the Speaker in consultation with
24   the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader, the Speaker shall
25   refer House resolutions (except discharge resolutions) and
26   Senate resolutions presented to the House for concurrence to
27   appropriate committees. No House resolution shall be deemed
28   noncontroversial if an indictment is returned or a charge is
29   filed before a court of record against the prime sponsor of the
30   resolution, and the gravamen of the indictment or charge is

20250HR0001PN0001                  - 12 -
 1   directly related to the member's conduct as a member or is one
 2   which would render the member ineligible to the General Assembly
 3   under section 7 of Article II of the Constitution of
 4   Pennsylvania. If, during the same legislative term, the
 5   indictment or charge is quashed, dismissed or withdrawn, or the
 6   court finds that the member is not guilty of the offense
 7   alleged, the member may be the prime sponsor of subsequently
 8   introduced House resolutions deemed noncontroversial as provided
 9   in this rule.
10      House resolutions deemed noncontroversial shall be limited to
11   condolence resolutions for current or former public officials,
12   or for members of the armed services or emergency first
13   responders killed in the line of duty, and shall be considered
14   under the proper order of business on the same day as introduced
15   or within two legislative days thereafter without being referred
16   to committee. The Speaker, in consultation with the Majority
17   Leader and the Minority Leader, shall place noncontroversial
18   resolutions on an uncontested resolution calendar. Resolutions
19   on the uncontested calendar may be voted by a single roll-call
20   vote. Each resolution listed on the uncontested resolution
21   calendar shall be printed separately in the journal with the
22   vote recorded on the approval of the uncontested calendar as the
23   vote on final passage of each resolution contained therein.
24      A House resolution other than a joint resolution shall not:
25      (a)   encourage action on a public issue unless either the
26   resolution has legal force or effect concerning such action or
27   such action would be taken by a public body; or
28      (b)   congratulate individuals or entities for achievements.
29      The Speaker shall report to the House the committees to which
30   resolutions have been referred, either on the day introduced or

20250HR0001PN0001                  - 13 -
 1   received or the next two legislative days the House is in
 2   session.
 3      A resolution introduced in the House and referred to
 4   committee shall be printed and placed in the House files.
 5      When a resolution (House or Senate) is reported from
 6   committee, it shall be placed on the calendar and may be called
 7   up by a member for consideration by the House under the order of
 8   business of resolutions. A House resolution other than a
 9   concurrent or joint resolution shall be adopted by a majority of
10   the members voting.
11      Debate on any debatable question related to a House
12   resolution other than a concurrent or joint resolution shall be
13   limited to three minutes each time a member is recognized. On a
14   House resolution other than a concurrent or joint resolution, a
15   sponsor of an amendment shall be entitled to be recognized
16   twice, a maker of a debatable motion shall be entitled to be
17   recognized twice and any other members shall be entitled to be
18   recognized once.
19                                  * * *
20                                 RULE 43
21                  Standing Committees and Subcommittees
22      The Committee on Committees shall consist of the Speaker and
23   15 members of the House, ten of whom shall be members of the
24   majority party and five of whom shall be members of the minority
25   party, whose duty shall be to recommend to the House the names
26   of members who are to serve on the standing committees of the
27   House. Except for the Speaker, the Majority and Minority
28   Leaders, Whips, Caucus Chairs, Caucus Secretaries, Caucus
29   Administrators, Policy Chairs and the chairs and minority chairs
30   of standing committees, each member shall be entitled to serve

20250HR0001PN0001                  - 14 -
 1   on not less than two standing committees.
 2      The Speaker shall appoint the chair and vice-chair of each
 3   standing committee when such standing committee has no standing
 4   subcommittees as prescribed herein, except the Committee on
 5   Appropriations which shall also have a vice-chair appointed by
 6   the Speaker; when the standing committee has standing
 7   subcommittees, the Speaker shall appoint a subcommittee chair
 8   for each standing subcommittee. The Speaker shall appoint a
 9   secretary for each standing committee. The Minority Leader shall
10   appoint the minority chair, minority vice-chair and minority
11   secretary of each standing committee and the minority
12   subcommittee chair for each standing subcommittee.
13      Except for members who decline chair status or minority chair
14   status in writing or who are barred from serving as a chair or
15   minority chair under this rule, the chair and minority chair of
16   each standing committee except the Appropriations Committee
17   shall be limited only to the members of the applicable caucus
18   with the most seniority as members of their respective caucus.
19   Whenever there are more caucus members with equal seniority than
20   available chairs or minority chairs for that caucus, the
21   selection of a chair or minority chair from among such caucus
22   members shall be in the discretion of the appointing authority.
23   The appointing authority may designate the standing committee to
24   which the appointing authority shall appoint a member as chair
25   or minority chair without regard to seniority. The Speaker and
26   the Floor Leader, Whip, Caucus Chair, Caucus Secretary, Caucus
27   Administrator and Policy Chair of the majority party and
28   minority party shall not be eligible to serve as chair or
29   minority chair of any standing committee and no member may serve
30   as chair or minority chair of more than one standing committee.

20250HR0001PN0001                 - 15 -
 1      Any chair or minority chair held by a member who fails to
 2   meet the requirements of this rule shall become vacant by
 3   automatic operation of this rule. If the appointing authority
 4   fails to make an appointment of a chair or minority chair prior
 5   to the organizational meeting of a standing committee or fails
 6   to fill a vacancy within seven calendar days after it occurs,
 7   such position shall be deemed to remain vacant in violation of
 8   this rule. Whenever a chair or minority chair becomes vacant or
 9   remains vacant in violation of this rule, the member of the
10   applicable caucus who meets the requirements of this rule shall
11   automatically fill the vacancy and, if there are two or more
12   such eligible caucus members for any such vacancy or vacancies,
13   they shall be filled from among such eligible members through a
14   lottery to be conducted under the supervision of the Chief Clerk
15   after giving notice of the time and place thereof to all
16   eligible members, to the Speaker, to the Majority Leader and to
17   the Minority Leader.
18      Nothing in this rule shall prohibit the appointing authority
19   from transferring a member from the chair or minority chair of a
20   standing committee to the chair or minority chair of another
21   standing committee.
22      Whenever the appointment of a chair or minority chair will
23   cause the applicable caucus to exceed its permissible allocation
24   of members on a standing committee, the appointing authority
25   shall make a temporary transfer of an eligible committee member
26   to the standing committee vacated by the member appointed as
27   chair or minority chair until a regular committee appointment
28   can be made in accordance with the rules of the House. If the
29   Speaker or Minority Leader fails to make a temporary transfer
30   within seven calendar days after such appointment, the committee

20250HR0001PN0001                 - 16 -
 1   member with the least seniority, who is eligible for transfer,
 2   shall be automatically transferred to the committee vacated by
 3   the newly appointed chair or minority chair and, if more than
 4   one committee member is eligible for such transfer, the transfer
 5   shall be implemented through a lottery conducted under the
 6   supervision of the Chief Clerk.
 7      The Speaker of the House, Floor Leader of the majority party
 8   and the Floor Leader of the minority party shall be ex-officio
 9   members of all standing committees, without the right to vote
10   and they shall be excluded from any limitation as to the number
11   of members on the committees or in counting a quorum.
12      [Twenty-four] Twenty-seven standing committees of the House,
13   each to consist of [25] 26 members except the Committee on
14   Appropriations, which shall consist of 37 members, are hereby
15   created. In addition, there are hereby created 54 standing
16   subcommittees.
17      All standing committees shall consist of 14 members of the
18   majority party and [11] 12 members of the minority party, except
19   the Committee on Appropriations which shall consist of 22
20   members of the majority party and 15 members of the minority
21   party. The quorum for each of the standing committees and
22   subcommittees shall be no less than the majority of said
23   committees. The following are the standing committees and
24   subcommittees thereof:
25      (1)   Aging and Older Adult Services
26            (a)   Subcommittee on Care and Services
27            (b)   Subcommittee on Programs and Benefits
28      (2)   Agriculture and Rural Affairs
29      (3)   Appropriations
30            (a)   Subcommittee on Health and Human Services

20250HR0001PN0001                    - 17 -
 1            (b)    Subcommittee on Education
 2            (c)    Subcommittee on Economic Impact and Infrastructure
 3            (d)    Subcommittee on Fiscal Policy
 4            (e)    Subcommittee on Criminal Justice
 5            (f)    Subcommittee on Government and Financial Oversight
 6      (4)   Children and Youth
 7      (5)   Commerce
 8            (a)    Subcommittee on Financial Services and Banking
 9            (b)    Subcommittee on Housing Finance
10            (c)    Subcommittee on Economic Development
11            (d)    Subcommittee on Local Business
12            (e)    Subcommittee on Automation and Technology
13      (6)   Communications and Technology
14      [(6)] (7)      Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities
15            (a)    Subcommittee on Utilities
16            (b)    Subcommittee on Consumer Protection
17            (c)    Subcommittee on Technology
18      [(7)] (8)      Education
19            (a)    Subcommittee on Basic Education
20            (b)    Subcommittee on Higher Education
21            (c)    Subcommittee on Special Education
22            (d)    Subcommittee on Career and Technical Education
23      (9)   Energy
24      [(8)] (10)      Environmental [Resources and Energy] and Natural
25   Resource Protection
26            (a)    [Subcommittee on Energy
27            (b)]    Subcommittee on Mining
28            [(c)] (b)    Subcommittee on Parks and Forests
29      [(9)] (11)      Finance
30            (a)    Subcommittee on Tax Modernization and Reform

20250HR0001PN0001                     - 18 -
 1    [(10)] (12)     Game and Fisheries
 2    [(11)] (13)     Gaming Oversight
 3    [(12)] (14)     Health
 4           (a)   Subcommittee on Health Facilities
 5           (b)   Subcommittee on Health Care
 6    [(13)] (15)     Housing and Community Development
 7    [(14)] (16)     Human Services
 8           (a) Subcommittee on Mental Health
 9           (b) Subcommittee on Drugs and Alcohol
10    [(15)] (17)     Insurance
11    (18)    Intergovernmental Affairs and Operations
12    [(16)] (19)     Judiciary
13           (a)   Subcommittee on Crime and Corrections
14           (b)   Subcommittee on Courts
15           (c)   Subcommittee on Family Law
16    [(17)] (20)     Labor and Industry
17           (a)   Subcommittee on Employment and Unemployment
18    Compensation
19           (b)   Subcommittee on Workers Compensation and Worker
20    Protection
21    [(18)] (21)     Liquor Control
22           (a)   Subcommittee on Licensing
23           (b)   Subcommittee on Marketing
24    [(19)] (22)     Local Government
25           (a)   Subcommittee on Boroughs
26           (b)   Subcommittee on Cities
27           [(b)] (c)   Subcommittee on Counties
28           [(c)] (d)   Subcommittee on Townships
29    [(20)] (23)     Professional Licensure
30    [(21)] (24)     State Government

20250HR0001PN0001                   - 19 -
 1          (a)     Subcommittee on Government Operations
 2          (b)     Subcommittee on Government Information Technology
 3      and Communication
 4          (c)     Subcommittee on Government Integrity and
 5      Transparency
 6          (d)     Subcommittee on Public Pensions, Benefits and Risk
 7      Management
 8          (e)     Subcommittee on Campaign Finance and Elections
 9      [(22)] (25)    Tourism [and Economic and Recreational],
10   Recreation and Economic Development
11          (a)     Subcommittee on Arts and Entertainment
12          (b)     Subcommittee on Recreation
13          (c)     Subcommittee on Travel Promotion, History and
14      Heritage
15      [(23)] (26)    Transportation
16          (a)     Subcommittee on Highways
17          (b)     Subcommittee on Public Transportation
18          (c)     Subcommittee on Transportation Safety
19          (d)     Subcommittee on Aviation
20          (e)     Subcommittee on Railroads
21          (f)     Subcommittee on Ports
22      [(24)] (27)    Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness
23          (a)     Subcommittee on Military and Veterans Facilities
24          (b)     Subcommittee on Security and Emergency Response
25      Readiness
26                                   * * *
27                                  RULE 45
28                  Powers and Duties of Standing Committees
29                             and Subcommittees
30      The chair of each standing committee and subcommittee shall

20250HR0001PN0001                    - 20 -
 1   fix regular weekly, biweekly or monthly meeting days for the
 2   transaction of business before the committee or subcommittee.
 3   The chair of the committee or subcommittee shall notify all
 4   members, at least 24 hours in advance of the date, time and
 5   place of regular meetings, and, insofar as possible, the
 6   subjects on the agenda. In addition to regular meetings, special
 7   meetings may be called from time to time by the chair of the
 8   committee or subcommittee as they deem necessary. No recess or
 9   combination of recesses shall exceed 48 hours for any committee
10   meeting or subcommittee meeting. No committee shall meet during
11   any session of the House without first obtaining permission of
12   the Speaker. During any such meeting, no vote shall be taken on
13   the Floor of the House on any amendment, recommittal motion,
14   final passage of any bill, or any other matter requiring a roll
15   call vote. Any committee meeting called off the Floor of the
16   House shall meet in a committee room. In addition to the
17   specific provisions of this rule, all provisions of 65 Pa.C.S.
18   Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings) relative to notice of meetings
19   shall be complied with.
20      At regularly scheduled meetings, or upon the call of the
21   chair, or subcommittee chair, for special meetings, the
22   membership of such committees shall meet to consider any bill,
23   resolution, or other matter on the agenda. The secretary of each
24   standing committee, or in case of subcommittees a secretary
25   designated by the subcommittee chair, shall record:
26      (1)   the minutes of the meeting,
27      (2)   all votes taken,
28      (3)   a roll or attendance of members at standing committee or
29   subcommittee meetings showing the names of those present, absent
30   or excused from attendance, and the majority and minority chairs

20250HR0001PN0001                  - 21 -
 1   or their designees shall verify by their signatures all votes
 2   taken and the roll or attendance of those members present,
 3   absent or excused before said records are submitted to the Chief
 4   Clerk, and
 5      (4)   dispatch of bills and resolutions before the committee.
 6   Such records shall be open to public inspection. On the first
 7   legislative day of each week the House is in session, the chair
 8   of each standing committee shall submit to the Chief Clerk for
 9   inclusion in the House Journal only, the roll or record of
10   attendance of members at standing committee or subcommittee
11   meetings held prior thereto and not yet reported, along with the
12   record of all votes taken at such meetings. All reports from
13   standing committees shall be prepared in writing by the
14   secretary of the committee. Members of a standing committee may
15   prepare in writing and file a minority report, setting forth the
16   reasons for their dissent. Such committee reports shall be filed
17   with the Chief Clerk within five days of the meeting. All
18   meetings at which formal action is taken by a standing committee
19   or subcommittee shall be open to the public, making such reports
20   as are required under Rule 44. When any member, except for an
21   excused absence, fails to attend five consecutive regular
22   meetings of the member's committee, the chair of that committee
23   or subcommittee shall notify the member of that fact and, if the
24   member in question fails to reasonably justify absences to the
25   satisfaction of a majority of the membership of the standing
26   committee of which he or she is a member, membership on the
27   committee or subcommittee shall be deemed vacant and the chair
28   of the standing committee shall notify the Speaker of the House
29   to that effect. Such vacancy shall then be filled in the manner
30   prescribed by these rules.

20250HR0001PN0001                  - 22 -
 1      Whenever the chair of any standing committee shall refuse to
 2   call a regular meeting, then a majority of the members of the
 3   standing committee may vote to call a meeting by giving two days
 4   written notice to the Speaker of the House, setting the time and
 5   place for such meeting. Such notice shall be read in the House
 6   and the same posted by the Chief Clerk in the House Chamber.
 7   Thereafter, the meeting shall be held at the time and place
 8   specified in the notice. In addition, all provisions of 65
 9   Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings) relative to notice of
10   meetings shall be complied with.
11      Records, bills and other papers in the possession of
12   committees and subcommittees, upon final adjournment of the
13   House shall be filed with the Chief Clerk.
14      The chair of each standing committee shall have the power to
15   administer oaths and affirmations to witnesses appearing before
16   the committee.
17      No committee report, except a report of the Appropriations
18   Committee, shall be recognized by the House, unless the same has
19   been acted upon by a majority vote of the members of a standing
20   committee present at a committee session actually assembled and
21   meeting as a committee, provided such majority vote numbers at
22   least [12] 13 members, and provided further a quorum is present.
23   No committee report of the Appropriations Committee shall be
24   recognized by the House, unless the same has been acted upon by
25   a majority vote of the members of such committee present at a
26   committee session actually assembled and meeting as a committee,
27   provided such majority vote numbers at least 17 members, and
28   provided further a quorum is present.
29      When the majority of the members of a standing committee
30   believe that a certain bill or resolution in the possession of

20250HR0001PN0001                 - 23 -
 1   the standing committee should be considered and acted upon by
 2   such committee, they may request the chair to include the same
 3   as part of the business of a committee meeting. Upon failure of
 4   the chair to comply with such request, the membership may
 5   require that such bill be considered by written motion made and
 6   approved by a majority vote of the entire membership to which
 7   such committee is entitled.
 8      Whenever the phrase "majority of members of a standing
 9   committee or subcommittee" is used in these rules, it shall mean
10   majority of the entire membership to which a standing committee
11   or subcommittee is entitled, unless the context thereof
12   indicates a different intent.
13      To assist the House in appraising the administration of the
14   laws and in developing such amendments or related legislation as
15   it may deem necessary, each standing committee or subcommittee
16   of the House shall exercise continuous watchfulness of the
17   execution by the administrative agencies concerned of any laws,
18   the subject matter of which is within the jurisdiction of such
19   committee or subcommittee; and, for that purpose, shall study
20   all pertinent reports and data submitted to the House by the
21   agencies in the executive branch of the Government.
22      The Committee on Appropriations shall have the power to issue
23   subpoenas under the hand and seal of its chair commanding any
24   person to appear before it and answer questions touching matters
25   properly being inquired into by the committee, which matters
26   shall include data from any fund administered by the
27   Commonwealth, and to produce such books, papers, records,
28   accounts, reports, documents and data and information produced
29   and stored by any electronic data processing system as the
30   committee deems necessary. Such subpoenas may be served upon any

20250HR0001PN0001                    - 24 -
 1   person and shall have the force and effect of subpoenas issued
 2   out of the courts of this Commonwealth. Any person who willfully
 3   neglects or refuses to testify before the committee or to
 4   produce any books, papers, records, accounts, reports, documents
 5   or data and information produced and stored by any electronic
 6   data processing system shall be subject to the penalties
 7   provided by the laws of the Commonwealth in such case. Each
 8   member of the committee shall have power to administer oaths and
 9   affirmations to witnesses appearing before the committee. The
10   committee may also cause the deposition of witnesses either
11   residing within or without the State to be taken in the manner
12   prescribed by law for taking depositions in civil actions.
13                                * * *
14                               RULE 50
15                           Public Hearings
16      Each standing committee, subcommittee or select committee to
17   which a proposed bill, resolution or any matter is referred
18   shall have full power and authority to study said bill,
19   resolution or other matter before it, as such committee, shall
20   determine is necessary to enable it to report properly to the
21   House thereon. To this end, a standing committee, subcommittee,
22   or select committee, may as hereinafter provided, conduct public
23   hearings. No standing committee, subcommittee or select
24   committee shall hold any public hearings without prior approval
25   by [a majority vote of the members of the standing committee
26   and] the Speaker or the Majority Leader of the House. The
27   Speaker or the Majority Leader of the House shall withhold
28   approval of public hearings based only on budgetary
29   consideration.
30      When a public hearing has been authorized as aforesaid, the

20250HR0001PN0001                 - 25 -
 1   chair of the standing committee, subcommittee chair, or select
 2   committee chair as the case may be, shall instruct the Chief
 3   Clerk to give written notice thereof to each House Member not
 4   less than five calendar days before the proposed hearings and
 5   post the same in or immediately adjacent to the House Chambers.
 6   Such notice, which shall contain the day, hour and place of the
 7   hearing and the number or numbers of bills or other subject
 8   matter to be considered at such hearing, shall also be given the
 9   supervisor of the news room, and to the news media. In addition,
10   all provisions of 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings),
11   relative to notice of meetings shall be complied with.
12      Public hearings held by a standing committee shall be chaired
13   by the chair of such committee, unless absent, in which case an
14   acting chair shall be selected in the manner prescribed by these
15   rules to serve. Public hearings held by standing subcommittees
16   shall be chaired by the subcommittee chair thereof, but the
17   chair of the parent standing committee, as an ex-officio member
18   of the subcommittee, shall have the right to attend and
19   participate in the hearing proceedings. In the absence of the
20   subcommittee chair, an acting chair shall be appointed in the
21   manner prescribed by these rules.
22      All public hearings shall be open to the public and
23   reasonable opportunity to be heard shall be afforded to all
24   interested parties who have requested an appearance before the
25   committee. The minority chair shall be entitled to invite at
26   least one testifier who shall be entitled to testify at the
27   public hearing. In addition, it shall be the responsibility of
28   the committee in conducting its hearing to request the
29   presentation of testimony by any person who, in the opinion of
30   the committee, is qualified to present pertinent and important

20250HR0001PN0001                 - 26 -
 1   testimony.
 2      Such committee shall, so far as practicable, request all
 3   witnesses appearing before it to file written statements of
 4   their proposed testimony. The chair shall have the right to fix
 5   the order of appearance and the time to be allotted to
 6   witnesses. Witnesses may submit brief pertinent statements in
 7   writing for inclusion in the record. The committee is the sole
 8   judge of the pertinency of testimony and evidence adduced at its
 9   hearings.
10      The chair, in presiding at such public hearings, shall
11   preserve order and decorum, in and adjacent to the committee
12   room while the hearing is being conducted and shall have the
13   authority to direct the removal from the committee room of any
14   person who fails to comply with order and decorum of the
15   committee.
16      Proceedings of all public hearings shall be electronically
17   recorded and posted on the Internet as soon as practicable
18   thereafter. Such electronic records shall be preserved by the
19   Chief Clerk until authorized to dispose of same by an
20   affirmative vote of three-quarters of the entire membership of
21   the Rules Committee. A transcript may be requested by any member
22   at that member's expense. Any records and any reports of the
23   committee shall be filed with the Chief Clerk and shall be made
24   available to any person in accordance with reasonable rules and
25   regulations prescribed by the Chief Clerk. Upon payment of a
26   reasonable cost to be determined by the Chief Clerk, a person
27   may obtain a copy of the available records.
28      All written testimony at committee hearings shall be posted
29   on the Internet as soon thereafter as practicable.
30      The Chief Clerk shall not make payment of any expenses

20250HR0001PN0001                 - 27 -
 1   incurred as a result of a public hearing without the prior
 2   written approval of the Speaker or the Majority Leader of the
 3   House.
 4                                * * *
 5                               RULE 53
 6                       Discharge of Committees
 7      A member may present to the Chief Clerk a resolution in
 8   writing to discharge a committee from the consideration of a
 9   bill or resolution which has been referred to it 15 legislative
10   days prior thereto (but only one motion may be presented for
11   each bill or resolution). The discharge resolution shall be
12   placed in the custody of the Chief Clerk, who shall arrange some
13   convenient place for the signature of the members. A signature
14   may be withdrawn by a member in writing at any time before the
15   discharge resolution is entered in the Journal. When [50] 25
16   members of the House[, 25 of whom shall be from the majority
17   party and 25 from the minority party,] shall have signed the
18   resolution, it shall be entered in the Journal and the title of
19   the bill or resolution and the name of the committee to be
20   discharged shall be printed on the calendar. [Once filed, a
21   discharge resolution shall be valid to discharge the underlying
22   bill or resolution from a standing committee of the House
23   without an additional intervening period, not just the committee
24   with possession of the bill or resolution at the time of the
25   filing.]
26      Any member who has signed a discharge resolution which has
27   been on the calendar at least one legislative day prior thereto
28   and seeks recognition, shall be recognized for the purpose of
29   calling up the discharge resolution and the House shall proceed
30   to its consideration without intervening motion except one

20250HR0001PN0001                 - 28 -
 1   motion to adjourn; however, no discharge resolution shall be
 2   considered during the last six legislative days of any session
 3   of the House. A majority vote of all the members elected to the
 4   House shall be required to agree to a resolution to discharge a
 5   committee. When any perfected discharge resolution has been
 6   acted upon by the House and defeated it shall not be in order to
 7   entertain during the same session of the House any other
 8   discharge resolution from that committee of said measure, or
 9   from any other committee of any other bill or resolution
10   substantially the same, relating in substance to or dealing with
11   the same subject matter.
12                                   * * *
13                                  RULE 59
14                              Lay on the Table
15      A motion to lay on the table is debatable by the Majority
16   Leader, the Minority Leader, the maker of the motion, the maker
17   of the amendment under consideration and the prime sponsor of
18   the bill under consideration. It is not subject to amendment and
19   carries with it the main question and all other pending
20   questions which adhere to it, except when an appeal is laid on
21   the table. The passage of a motion to lay an individual
22   amendment on the table shall not cause the subject bill or
23   resolution and all other amendments to be laid on the table.
24                                   * * *
25                                  RULE 61
26                          Previous Question
27      A motion for the previous question, seconded by 20 members
28   and sustained by a majority of the members present, shall put an
29   end to all debate and bring the House to an immediate vote on
30   the question then pending, or the questions on which it has been

20250HR0001PN0001                   - 29 -
 1   ordered.
 2      A motion for the previous question may be made to embrace any
 3   or all pending amendments or motions and to include the passage
 4   or rejection of a bill or resolution. The motion for the
 5   previous question is only debatable by the Majority Leader and
 6   Minority Leader. Debate shall be limited to three minutes for
 7   each leader. A motion for the previous question may only be made
 8   after two hours of debate on the main question then pending or
 9   after 10:00 P.M.
10                                * * *




20250HR0001PN0001                 - 30 -