Joint rules

(1) In every case of difference between the two houses, upon any subject of legislation, either house may request a conference and appoint a committee for that purpose, and the other house may grant the request for a conference and appoint a committee to confer. The presiding officer of each house shall appoint on each conference committee three members, selecting them so as to represent, in each case, the majority and minority positions to the extent possible as relates to the subject matter, and the majority and minority caucuses. The committees, at the earliest possible hour, shall confer upon the differences between the two houses indicated by the amendment or amendments adopted in one house and rejected in the other.

(2) Conference committee deliberations shall be conducted in a manner consistent with the rules of the house of representatives and senate applicable to deliberations of standing committees.

(3) Public notice of a conference committee meeting shall be given by the secretary of the senate, for house bills, and the chief clerk of the house of representatives, for senate bills, prior to the convening of the meeting by distributing meeting notices via the legislature's email system.

(4) The papers shall be left with the conferees of the house of representatives if a senate bill, and with the conferees of the senate, if a house bill, and the holders of the papers shall first present the report of the committee to their house. Every report of a conference committee must be recommended by a majority of the conference committee members of each house. Conference committee reports must be recommended at a meeting duly convened by the chief clerk of the house of representatives for senate bills or the secretary of the senate for house bills.