Legisbrief a QUICK LOOK Rnto TMPORTANT TSSUES of the DAY NCSL JUN Zott I Vol.25, No
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I NaTToNAL CoNFERENCE of SrRre LEctsLATURES llillt/l\ LegisBrief A QUICK LOOK rNTO TMPORTANT TSSUES OF THE DAY NCSL JUN zott I vol.25, No. 23 timiting BiU Introductions BY BRENDA ERICKSON For example, Colorado changed its introduction limit in 1984 and again Lawmakers' desire to pass or improve in 1988. A legislative body also may state laws, combined with limited time decide that bill introduction limits in session, result in a too-many-bills- do not work for it. For example, the and-not-enough-time challenge in Hawaii Senate, Michigan Senate and many statehouses across the country House, New fersey Senate and Gen- each year, So what do state legislatures eral Assembly, and Washington House do? They experiment with ways to tried using them, but subsequently curb the amount of legislation entering eliminated the practice. into the process. Some chambers use Exceptions or "safety valves" may be a direct approach. They limit the num- created for required legislation or ber of bills that an individual legislator emergency situations. For example: may request or introduce. Supporters believe introduction limits . LeBlslative leaders may be able help reduce the number of bills enter- to introduce more bills than ing the legislative process and allow other legislators. more time to process substantive . Limits may not apply to certain legislation. Others disagree and say bills or resolutions, such as these limits restrict members' rights appropriation bills or local bills. to propose bills and carry out their legislative resp onsibilities. The rule establishing the limit may be suspended. State Action . A limit may be exceeded with At least 24 of the nation's 99 approval by a special committee, chambers impose some sort of bill such as a Delayed Bills introduction limit. Such limits are not Committee. new however. In several chambers, they've been in place for decades. For Bill introduction limits also may serve example, North Dakota's limits may another purpose. Some are designed have been imposed as early as the to encourage early bill preparation- 1940s. The 1970s brought limits to that is, members are allowed to pre- both legislative chambers in Colo- file an unlimited number of bills, but a rado and Indiana. The Florida House, limit kicks in after session convenes. Nevada Senate, Nevada Assembly Chamber rules set the maiority of and Tennessee Senate imposed limits bill introduction limits. In Louisiana, during the 1980s. Limits started for the state constitution establishes the the Arizona House, California Senate, restriction. The Virginia Senate and California Assembly, Louisiana Senate, House establish their limits by joint Louisiana House and Wyoming Senate resolution. Examples of current bill in the 1990s. request or introduction limits in the Bill introduction limits are not always chart on the following page provide a static. They may be revised as the snapshot of the what these limits look legislatures or circumstances change. like and how they're established. Bill Request or lntroduction Limits Chamber Authority Current Request or lntroduction Limit After the fourth day of session, only seven more Arizona House House Rule 8(C) bills Not more than 40 bills in the (two-year) regular California Senate Senate Rule 22.5 session Not more than 50 bills in the (two-year) regular California Assembly Assembly Rule 49 session Colorado Senate Joint Rule 24(b) Not more than five bills in a regular session and House Florida House House Rule 5.3 Not more than six bills for a regular session First regular session-no limit lndiana Senate Senate Rule 48 Second regular session-not more than 1 0 bills or joint resolutions First regular session-not more than 10 bills lndiana House House Rule 108 Second regular session-not more than five bills Louisiana Senate Constitution Article 3, Not more than five bills that were not prefiled and House Sec. 2(A) Before 5 p.m. on Dec. 5, unlimited. Montana Senate Joint Rule 40-40 request no more than and House After that, a member may seven bills or resolutions. After a regular legislative session has convened Nevada Senate and if submitted before 5 p.m. on the 15th NGSI Gontoct Joint Rule 14 and Assembly calendar day, not more than 60 requests, in total, Brendo Ericlson from each chamber. 303-856-1!X)1 North Carolina House House Rule 31 .1 Not more than 1 5 public bills After the eighth legislative day, only three more North Dakota Senate Senate Rule 4Az bills North Dakota House House Rule 402 After the third legislative day, only five more bills House custom Request limit-1 5 bills Oklahoma House As principal autho[ only eight bills during a session After Thursday of the second week of each Tennessee Senate Senate Rule 25 annual session, not more than nine general bill introductions Tennessee House House Rule 44 Not more than 15 bills during each annual session Not more than a combined total of eight bills and Virginia Senate 2016 HJR 37 joint resolutions Resolution-not more than a combined total of 2016 HJR 37 five bills and joint resolutions Virginia House Rule-not more than 1 5 bills during the regular House Rule 37 session of an odd-numbered year Senate Rule 4-3 Not more than seven bills in any session Wyoming Senate Senate Rule 13-3 Not more than three bills in any budget session Wyoming House House Rule 13-1 Not more than five bills in any budget session National ConfetEnce of State lrgblaturcs I Wlliam T. Poun4 E (edrtire Dlr€ctor 7700 East First Place, Denver, Colorado 80230, ,03-35/,-770o I ,144 Nofth Capkol Street, N.W, Suite 515, Washington, D.C.20001,202-624-5400 www.ncsl.org I The information contained in this LegisBrief does not necessarily reflect NCSL policy..