Guide to the Rules Committee

Guide to the Senate Rules Committee

The Rules Committee determines which bills advance to the floor calendar for consideration by the full Senate. Every year, people inquire about how bills are “pulled” from the committee. This guide is intended to give you the basic knowledge of the procedures and terminology used by the Senate Rules Committee.

About

The Rules Committee is unlike any other standing committee in the Senate. Every bill that is voted out of a policy or fiscal committee is sent to the Rules Committee. The committee members then decide which bills will advance to the next step of the legislative process: a vote of the whole Senate. 

You or any member of the public may attend meetings of the Rules Committee. These meetings occur in the Senate Rules Room located within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor on the second floor of the Legislative Building. Unlike policy and fiscal committees, the Rules Committee does not allow public comment. 

Membership

The Majority Leader determines how many positions will be appointed by each caucus. Currently, there are 17 members of the committee:

• Lieutenant Governor
• President Pro Tempore
• 9 members of the majority caucus
• 6 members of the minority caucus

Traditionally, the Majority and Minority Leaders, Caucus Chair, Floor Leader, and Vice President Pro Tempore serve on the committee. The Lieutenant Governor is a voting member and Chair of the committee. The President Pro Tempore serves as the Vice Chair.

The committee's staff includes the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Senate. The Senate Counsel for each caucus also regularly attends meetings.

Terminology

White Sheet

A list of bills that have been voted out of a standing committee and are currently in the Rules Committee, eligible to be pulled to either the Green Sheet or the Flash and Floor Calendars.  

Green Sheet

A list of bills moved by Rules Committee members from the White Sheet.  A bill on the Green Sheet is one step closer to the Floor Calendar. These bills are eligible to be placed on the Floor Calendar.

Flash Calendar

A list of the bills added to the floor calendar during the most recent Rules Committee meeting; a snapshot of what the committee added to the Floor Calendar. Bills are listed in the order in which they were pulled from Rules.

Floor Calendar

A list of all bills pulled from the Rules Committee and eligible for a vote by all Senators on the chamber floor. Bills on the floor calendar are listed in the order in which they were pulled. As soon as a bill passes the Senate, it is removed from the Floor Calendar.

Procedures

Moving a bill from the White Sheet to the Green Sheet

Before each meeting, the Majority Leader announces how many “pulls” each member will have and notes if members may pull a bill to the Green Sheet. Beginning with the Majority Leader, each member, in order of seating, chooses a bill to move from the White Sheet to the Green Sheet. No vote is taken. Factors for the number of pulls each senator may make include the number of bills on the White and Green Sheets and the number of bills on the current Floor Calendar. Generally, a bill only moves one step during each committee meeting.

Moving a bill from the White Sheet or Green Sheet to the Floor Calendar

Before each meeting, the Majority Leader announces how many pulls each member will get to move a bill from either White or Green Sheet to the Floor Calendar. Beginning with the Majority Leader, each member, in order of seating, makes a motion to place a particular bill on the Floor Calendar. The Senator then gives a short statement regarding the bill's purpose and a statement of support. Other members can briefly voice their opposition or support of the bill in question. A voice vote of "aye" or "nay" is then taken.  Most bills pass with a voice vote, although at any point, a member may request a roll call vote. If a member moves a bill and the motion fails, the bill stays on the White Sheet. The member does not get another chance to pull a bill. Bills that pass are then placed on the Floor Calendar in the order in which they are pulled from the Rules Committee.

Consent Calendar

Occasionally, the committee will create a Consent Calendar. These are bills with little or no opposition and without dissenting votes from the committee. They can originate from the White or Green sheets and, upon a vote from the Rules Committee, are placed on a separate pink floor calendar.

Package pulls and meetings at the rostrum

Most bills are placed on the Floor Calendar in the manner described above. However, “packages” of bills may be voted on. A package is a set list of bills selected by the majority party. At the beginning of a meeting, committee members receive a list of proposed bills in a package. The committee takes one vote for all bills listed. If needed, a committee member may make a motion to pull a bill out of the package to be voted on separately. This is called “dividing the question.” Packages are commonly used before session deadlines or if the Senate plans to address multiple bills covering one topic. Packages can also include Senate Gubernatorial Appointments, which are appointments made by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.

While most meetings occur in the Senate Rules Room, the committee may meet at the front desk on the Senate floor, called the rostrum, to consider a package pull. These brief meetings typically occur after a floor session is adjourned or at ease. Members of the committee stand around the rostrum, and the Lieutenant Governor or President Pro Tempore presides while standing on the other side of the rostrum. Like other meetings, a motion is made to approve the package of bills by voice vote.

Other duties

In addition to the duties listed above, the Rules Committee has the authority to refer any bill from the Rules Committee directly to any other standing committee.

After certain session deadlines, the committee may place bills in the “X-File” if they are no longer eligible for consideration. This removes them from calendars and the status sheet. However, bills in the “X-File” may be pulled back to the White Sheet at any time.