Members of panel back new rules in House

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Members would have more time to review bills before voting on them under a rule change considered Tuesday by the House Rules Committee.

The committee approved House Resolution 1001 by House Speaker Davy Carter, D-Cabot. The resolution would change House rules so legislators would have two days to review legislation after it leaves committee before the House holds a vote.

Currently, only one day has to pass before legislation can be voted on. Theresolution then goes to the full House.

Carter said the change would give members a chance to study the legislation and speak with constituents about it.

Rep. John Vines, D-Hot Springs, questioned how the extra day’s wait may affect the busy final days of the session.

Carter said the rule can be suspended with support from 67 members.

“If it’s a timing issue, we’ll just suspend the rules to do it,” he said. “Giving everybody two days before a bill hits the House floor just makes sense. I think it’s agood rule change.”

Members would also be allowed to use electronics, such as iPads, during committee meetings. People would still prohibited from testifying electronically.

“It’s 2013. That’s just the nature of the world we live in,” Carter said.

The resolution would also let the speaker set policies about guests on the House chamber floor from April through early January when the House is not meeting.

Currently, members are not allowed to take visitors on the House floor at all, House spokesman Cecillea Pond-Mayo said.

Front Section, Pages 4 on 01/16/2013