H 563

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
  SESSION 2025
 H  Simple
  Resolution
  Adopted
  HOUSE RESOLUTION 563
  Committee Substitute Favorable 3/31/25
  Adopted 4/1/25
 Sponsors:
 Referred to:
  March 31, 2025
1 A HOUSE RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE PERMANENT RULES OF THE HOUSE OF
2      REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE 2025 REGULAR SESSION.
3 Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
4SECTION 1. The permanent rules of the Regular Session of the House of
5 Representatives of the 2025 General Assembly are:
6PERMANENT RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE
7  REGULAR SESSION OF THE 2025 GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
8 I.      Order of Business, 1-5.1
9 II.     Conduct of Debate, 6-12
10 III.    Motions, 13-19
11 IV.     Voting, 20-25
12 V.      Committees, 26-30
13 VI.     Handling of Bills, 31-44.2
14 VII. Legislative Officers and Employees, 45-49
15 VIII. Privileges of the Hall, 50-53
16 IX.     General Rules, 54-62
17I. Order of Business
18RULE 1. Convening Hour, Limitation on Legislative Sessions. – The House shall
19 convene each legislative day at the hour fixed by the House. In the event the House adjourns on
20 the preceding legislative day without having fixed an hour for reconvening, the House shall
21 convene on the next legislative day at 2:00 P.M. During January and February of 2025, no
22 sessions may be held on Friday. Without leave of the House, no session shall continue after 10:00
23 P.M. on Monday nor after 9:00 P.M. on any other days, and the Speaker shall adjourn the House
24 without motion at that point, except that a motion may be made as to the time and day of next
25 convening. Except for votes on motions to approve the Journal and to adjourn, no votes may be
26 held on any Sunday.
27RULE 1.1. Emergencies. – (a) In the event of a disaster, natural or otherwise, that
28 precludes the General Assembly from meeting in the Legislative Building, the members will be
29 notified by the Speaker where and when the House will convene.
30(b)    In the event of a State of Emergency that threatens the health and safety of
31 members, the Speaker may invoke the modifications to these rules contained in and pursuant to
32 Rule 58.1. The Speaker may terminate the use of the modifications upon 24 hours' written notice
33 to the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, and the Principal Clerk.
34RULE 2. Opening the Session. – (a) The Sergeant-at-Arms shall clear the House 10
35 minutes before the convening hour. At the convening hour on each legislative day, the Speaker
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1 shall call the members to order and shall have the session opened with prayer. At the convening
2 hour, the Speaker, or the Speaker's designee, shall lead the members in the Pledge of Allegiance
3 to the American Flag.
4(b)    If session is convened with a pro forma session pursuant to Rule 5.1, the prayer
5 and pledge may be delayed until a session that is not a pro forma session is convened.
6RULE 3. Quorum. – (a) A quorum consists of a majority of the qualified members
7 of the House.
8(b)    Should the point of a quorum be raised, the doors shall be closed, and the
9 Clerk shall call the roll of the House, after which the names of those not responding shall again
10 be called. In the absence of a quorum, 15 members are authorized to compel the attendance of
11 absent members and may order that absentees for whom no sufficient excuses are made be taken
12 into custody wherever they may be found by special messenger appointed for that purpose.
13RULE 4. Approval of Journal. – (a) The Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules,
14 Calendar, and Operations of the House shall cause the Journal of the House to be examined daily
15 before the hour of convening to determine if the proceedings of the previous day have been
16 correctly recorded.
17(b)    Immediately following the Pledge of Allegiance, the Speaker shall call for the
18 Journal report by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the
19 House, or by a Representative designated by the Chair, as to whether the proceedings of the
20 previous day have been correctly recorded. Without objection, the Speaker shall cause the Journal
21 to stand approved.
22RULE 5. Order of Business of the Day. – After the approval of the Journal of the
23 preceding day, unless the Speaker varies or alters the order, the House shall proceed to business
24 in the following order:
25(1)    The receiving of petitions, memorials, and papers addressed to the General
26Assembly or to the House;
27(2)    Messages from the Governor;
28(3)    Ratification of bills;
29(4)    Reports of standing committees;
30(5)    Reports of select committees;
31(6)    First reading and referral to committee of bills and resolutions;
32(7)    Messages from the Senate;
33(8)    Concurrence with Senate amendments or Senate committee substitutes;
34(9)    The unfinished business of the preceding day;
35(10) Calendar (each category in accordance with Rule 40 – House bills first):
36a.       Resolutions for adoption
37b.       Conference reports for adoption
38c.       Local bills (roll call), third reading
39d.       Local bills (roll call), second reading
40e.       Local bills, third reading
41f.       Local bills, second reading
42g.       Public bills (roll call), third reading
43h.       Public bills (roll call), second reading
44i.       Public bills and resolutions, third reading
45j.       Public bills and resolutions, second reading;
46(11) Reading of notices and announcements;
47(12) Reading of Representative Statements.
48RULE 5.1. Pro Forma Sessions. – (a) The following motions, votes, and matters and
49 no others are in order during a pro forma session:
50(1)    A motion and vote to approve the Journal;
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1(2)       The receiving of petitions, memorials, and papers addressed to the General
2Assembly or to the House;
3(3)     Messages from the Governor;
4(4)     Ratification of bills;
5(5)     Reports of standing committees;
6(6)     First reading and referral to committee of bills and resolutions;
7(7)     Re-referral to committee of bills and resolutions;
8(8)     Reading of Representative Statements approved, in writing, for presentation
9during the pro forma session by the Chair of the Standing Committee on
10Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House;
11(9)     Messages from the Senate;
12(10) Submission of conference reports;
13(11) A motion and vote to adjourn subject to the standard stipulations under Rule
1415.1.
15(b)     As used in these rules, a pro forma session occurs when the Speaker notifies
16 the body, either by announcement in the chamber or electronically using the General Assembly
17 email system, that no motions, votes, or matters other than those allowed under subsection (a) of
18 this rule will be taken during a future designated session.
19II. Conduct of Debate
20RULE 6. Duties and Powers of the Speaker. – The Speaker shall have general
21 direction of the Hall, subject to more specific provisions of these rules. The Speaker may name
22 any member to perform the duties of the chair, but substitution shall not extend beyond one day,
23 except in the case of sickness or by leave of the House. If the Speaker is absent and has not
24 designated a member or the Principal Clerk to perform the duties of the chair, the Speaker Pro
25 Tempore shall preside during such absence. In the case of a vacancy in the office of the Speaker
26 of the House of Representatives, the Principal Clerk shall preside over the House until the House
27 elects a Speaker.
28RULE 7. Obtaining Floor. – (a) When any member desires recognition for any
29 purpose, the member shall rise and respectfully address the Speaker. No member shall proceed
30 until recognized by the Speaker for a purpose.
31(b)     When a member desires to interrupt a member having the floor, the member
32 shall first obtain recognition by the Speaker and permission of the member occupying the floor,
33 and when such recognition and permission have been obtained, he or she may propound a
34 question to the member occupying the floor; but he or she shall not otherwise interrupt the
35 member having the floor, except as provided in subsection (c) of this rule; and the Speaker shall,
36 without the point of order being raised, enforce this rule.
37(c)     A member who has obtained the floor may be interrupted only for the
38 following reasons:
39(1)     A request that the member speaking yield for a question,
40(2)     A point of order,
41(3)     A parliamentary inquiry, or
42(4)     A question of privilege.
43RULE 8. Questions of Privilege. – Upon recognition by the Speaker for that purpose,
44 any member may speak to a question of privilege for a time not to exceed three minutes.
45 Questions of privilege shall be those affecting, first, the rights of the House collectively, its
46 safety, dignity, and the integrity of its proceedings; second, the rights, reputation, and conduct of
47 members, individually, in their representative capacity only; and shall have precedence over all
48 other questions, except motions to adjourn. Privilege may not be used to explain a vote or debate
49 a bill. The Speaker shall determine if the question is one of privilege and shall, without the point
50 of order being raised, enforce this rule.
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1RULE 8.1. Points of Personal Privilege; Representative Statements; Explanation
2 of Vote. – (a) In session and upon recognition by the Speaker for that purpose, unless otherwise
3 provided by the Speaker, any member may speak to a point of personal privilege for a time not
4 exceeding one minute to a matter of immediate importance that concerns the House collectively.
5 The Speaker shall determine if the question raised is one of personal privilege and shall, without
6 the point of order being raised, enforce this rule.
7(b)      Outside of session and during business hours designated by the Principal
8 Clerk, members may reserve time to speak from the Well of the House on a point of personal
9 privilege for a time not exceeding 10 minutes. The video system will be used to record members
10 and duplicates may be requested and fulfilled by the Principal Clerk within one week of
11 presentation, after which the recording will be deleted.
12(c)      A member may use some or all of the applicable time allotted under subsection
13 (b) of this rule to explain to the House a "Representative Statement." Upon request, that statement
14 shall be spread upon the Journal. Neither personal privilege nor a Representative Statement may
15 be used to explain a vote, debate a bill, speak to policy or politics, advocate or advise on political
16 issues or ideologies, or in any way disrupt the regular business of the House, nor shall such
17 opportunities be used to solicit support or sponsors for any bill. The format of a Representative
18 Statement shall be prescribed by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and
19 Operations of the House, but in any case shall speak only in the voice of the member submitting
20 it.
21RULE 9. Points of Order. – (a) The Speaker shall decide questions of order, which
22 once raised, are not debatable. Any member may appeal from the ruling of the chair on questions
23 of order; on such appeal no member may speak more than once, unless by leave of the House. A
24 three-fifths vote of the members present shall be necessary to sustain any appeal from the ruling
25 of the chair.
26(b)      When the Speaker calls a member to order, the member shall be seated, except
27 that a member called to order may clear a matter of fact, or explain, but shall not proceed in
28 debate so long as the decision stands. If the member appeals from the ruling of the chair and the
29 decision by a three-fifths vote of the members present be in favor of the member called to order,
30 the member may proceed; if otherwise, the member shall not; and if the case, in the judgment of
31 the House, requires it, the member shall be liable to censure by the House.
32RULE 10. Limitations on Debate. – (a) No member shall speak on, debate, or solicit
33 cosponsors for a bill or resolution at its first reading.
34(b)      No member shall speak more than twice on the main question nor longer than
35 15 minutes for the first speech and five minutes for the second speech; nor shall the member
36 speak more than twice upon an amendment or a motion to reconsider, re-refer, or postpone or
37 any motion on concurrence, and then not longer than 10 minutes for the first speech and five
38 minutes for the second speech.
39(c)      A member may speak only once and for not more than 10 minutes on the
40 question of the adoption of a minority report.
41(d)      In computing the time allowed for argument, the time consumed in answering
42 questions should be considered and is taken out of any time allowed that member.
43(e)      The House, by consent of a majority of the members present, may suspend the
44 operation of subsections (b) through (d) of this rule during any debate on any particular question
45 before the House.
46RULE 11. Reading of Papers. – When there is a call for the reading of the text of a
47 paper which has been presented to the House and there is objection to such reading, the question
48 shall be determined by a majority vote of the members of the House present. Except for protests
49 permitted by the Constitution, no member may have material printed in the Journal until said
50 material has been presented to the House and the printing approved by the House, and said
51 material shall not exceed 1,000 words.
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1RULE 12. General Decorum. – (a) The Speaker shall preserve order and decorum.
2(b)  Decency of speech shall be observed and disrespect to personalities carefully
3 avoided.
4(c)    When the Speaker is putting any question or addressing the House, no person
5 shall speak, stand up, walk out of, or cross the House, nor, when a member is speaking, engage
6 in disruptive discourse or pass between the member and the chair.
7(d)    Food shall not be permitted on the floor of the House during the first hour of
8 the daily session.
9(e)    The reading of newspapers shall not be permitted on the floor of the House
10 while the House is in session.
11(f)    The consumption of food or beverages shall not be permitted in the galleries
12 at any time.
13(g)    Special recitals and performances by musicians or other groups shall not be
14 permitted on the floor of the House, and special guests of members of the House shall not be
15 permitted on the floor of the House.
16(h)    Members shall observe appropriate attire: coat and tie for male members and
17 dignified dress for female members.
18(i)    The use of a mobile device or cellular phone for the purpose of making or
19 receiving a phone call shall not be permitted in the House Chamber while the House is in session.
20(j)    Placards, stickers, or signs are not permitted in the House Chamber.
21III. Motions
22RULE 13. Motions Generally. – (a) A motion that is complex, complicated, or
23 otherwise not easily understood shall be reduced to writing at the request of the Speaker or any
24 member. No motion relating to a bill shall be in order that does not identify the bill by its number
25 and short title.
26(b)    When a motion is made, it shall be stated by the Speaker or, if written, it shall
27 be handed to the chair and read aloud by the Speaker or Clerk before debate.
28(c)    After a motion has been stated by the Speaker or read by the Speaker or Clerk,
29 it shall be in the possession of the House; but it may be withdrawn before a decision or
30 amendment, except in case of a motion to reconsider, which motion, when made by a member,
31 shall be in possession of the House and shall not be withdrawn without leave of the House.
32RULE 14. Motions, Order of Precedence. – When there are motions before the
33 House, the order of precedence is as follows:
34To adjourn.
35To recess.
36To lay on the table.
37Previous question.
38To postpone indefinitely.
39To reconsider.
40To postpone to a day certain.
41To re-refer.
42To amend an amendment.
43To amend.
44To pass the bill.
45No motion to lay on the table, to postpone indefinitely, to postpone to a day certain,
46 to re-refer, to divide the question, or to make a particular amendment, being decided, shall be
47 again allowed at the same stage of the bill or proposition.
48RULE 15. Motion to Adjourn. – (a) A motion to adjourn shall be seconded before
49 the motion is put to the vote of the House.
50(b)    A motion to adjourn shall be decided without debate and shall always be in
51 order, except when the House is voting or some member is speaking; but a motion to adjourn
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1 shall not follow a motion to adjourn until debate or some other business of the House has
2 intervened.
3RULE 15.1. Motion to Adjourn or Stand in Recess; Standard Stipulations. – A
4 motion to adjourn or stand in recess subject to the standard stipulations shall constitute a motion
5 to adjourn or stand in recess subject to the ratification of bills, messages from the Senate,
6 committee reports, conference reports, referral and re-referral of bills and resolutions,
7 appointment of conferees, introduction of bills and resolutions, committee appointments, and the
8 reading of Representative Statements.
9RULE 16. Motion to Table. – (a) A motion to table shall be seconded before the
10 motion is put to the vote of the House and is in order except when a motion to adjourn or to recess
11 is before the House.
12(b)     A motion to table shall be decided without debate; however, the proponent of
13 the matter that is subject of the motion to table shall be given up to two minutes to explain the
14 matter subject to the motion to table if the proponent has not previously explained the matter
15 prior to the motion to table.
16(c)     A motion to table a bill shall constitute a motion to table the bill and all
17 amendments thereto.
18(d)     When the question before the House is the adoption of an amendment to a bill
19 or resolution, a motion to table the bill is not in order; and a motion to table an amendment applies
20 to the amendment only, and the motion may not expressly or by implication or construction be
21 expanded to include a motion to table the bill also.
22(e)     When a question has been tabled, it shall not thereafter be considered, except
23 on motion to reconsider under Rule 18 or to remove from the table approved by a two-thirds vote.
24RULE 17. Motion to Postpone Indefinitely. – A motion to postpone indefinitely is
25 in order except when a motion to adjourn, or to lay on the table, or for the previous question, or
26 to recess is before the House. However, after one motion to postpone indefinitely has been
27 decided, another motion to postpone indefinitely shall not be allowed at the same stage of the bill
28 or proposition. When a question has been postponed indefinitely, it shall not thereafter be
29 considered, except on motion to reconsider under Rule 18 or to place on the favorable calendar
30 approved by a two-thirds vote.
31RULE 18. Motion to Reconsider. – (a) When a question has been decided, it is in
32 order for any member to move for the reconsideration thereof on the same or the succeeding
33 legislative day; provided that if the vote by which the motion was originally decided was taken
34 by a recorded vote, only a member of the prevailing side may move for reconsideration.
35(b)     A motion to reconsider shall be determined by a majority vote, except all of
36 the following shall require a two-thirds vote:
37(1)     A motion to reconsider not made on the same or the succeeding legislative
38day when a question has been decided.
39(2)     A second or subsequent motion to reconsider.
40(3)     A motion to reconsider:
41a.      A vote upon a motion to table.
42b.      A motion to postpone indefinitely.
43c.      A motion to remove a bill from the unfavorable calendar.
44d.      A motion that a bill be read twice on the same day.
45e.      A motion to remove from the table.
46(c)     A motion to reconsider the vote by which a person has been elected as Speaker
47 or Speaker Pro Tempore shall not be in order. This subsection of this rule cannot be suspended
48 except by a vote of three-fifths of all the members of the House.
49RULE 19. Previous Question. – (a) The previous question may be called only by:
50(1)     The Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House;
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1(1a)     The Vice-Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the
2House if the Chair is not in the Chamber or able to participate in debate;
3(2)     The Majority Leader;
4(3)     The member submitting the report on the bill or other matter under
5consideration;
6(4)     The member introducing the bill or other matter under consideration;
7(5)     The member in charge of the measure, who shall be designated by the chair
8of the standing committee reporting the same to the House at the time the bill
9or other matter under consideration is reported to the House or taken up for
10consideration.
11(b)     When the call for the previous question has been decided in the affirmative by
12 a majority vote of the House, the question is on the passage of the bill, resolution, or other matter
13 under consideration.
14(c)     The call for the previous question shall preclude all motions, amendments,
15 and debate, except the motion to adjourn, motion to recess, or motion to table.
16(d)     If the previous question is decided in the negative, the question remains under
17 debate.
18(e)     After the previous question is ordered by the House on the main question of
19 second reading, third reading, or a vote on overriding a gubernatorial veto, the Majority Leader
20 and the Minority Leader may each allocate three minutes of debate on the question. The Majority
21 Leader and the Minority Leader may each designate another member to act under this subsection.
22IV. Voting
23RULE 20. Use of Electronic Voting System. – (a) Votes on the following questions
24 shall be taken on the electronic voting system, and the ayes and noes shall be recorded on the
25 Journal:
26(1)     The passage as required by Section 23 of Article II of the North Carolina
27Constitution on second and third readings of any bill:
28a.       Raising money on the credit of the State,
29b.       Pledging the faith of the State for the payment of a debt,
30c.       Imposing a State tax, or
31d.       Authorizing a county, municipality, or other local governmental unit
32to:
331.      Raise money on its credit,
342.      Pledge its faith for the payment of a debt, or
353.      Impose a local tax.
36(2)     All questions on which a call for the ayes and noes under Rule 24(a) and
37Section 19 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution has been sustained.
38(3)     Both second and third readings of bills proposing amendment of the North
39Carolina Constitution or ratifying resolutions amending the United States
40Constitution.
41(4)     The passage of a bill, notwithstanding the Governor's veto thereof, pursuant
42to Section 22 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution.
43(b)     Votes on the following questions shall be taken on the electronic voting
44 system:
45(1)     Second reading of all public bills except resolutions, all amendments to public
46bills, third reading if a public bill was amended after second reading or if the
47reading occurs on a day or days following the second reading, all conference
48reports on public bills, all motions to lay public bills on the table, and all
49motions to postpone public bills indefinitely.
50(2)     Upon a call for division.
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1(3)      Any other question upon direction of the Speaker or upon motion of any
2member supported by one-fifth of the members present.
3(c)    When the electronic voting system is used, 15 seconds shall be allowed for
4 voting on the question before the House, unless the Chair shall direct otherwise. Once the system
5 is locked, the vote shall be recorded and printed.
6(d)    The voting station at each member's desk in the Chamber shall be used only
7 by the member to which the station is assigned. Under no circumstances shall any other person
8 vote at a member's station. It is a breach of the ethical obligation of a member either to request
9 that another person vote at the requesting member's station or to vote at another member's station.
10 The Speaker shall enforce this rule without exception.
11(e)    When the electronic voting system is used, the Speaker shall state the question
12 and shall then state substantially the following: "All in favor vote 'aye'; all opposed vote 'no'; the
13 Clerk will open the vote." In order to have the vote recorded, the member must vote by the
14 electronic voting system within the time allowed for that vote, unless the voting station assigned
15 to a member is malfunctioning. The Speaker shall enforce this rule without exception. After the
16 allotted time for voting has elapsed, the Speaker shall say: "The Clerk will now lock the machine
17 and record the vote." After the machine is locked and the vote recorded, the Speaker shall
18 announce the vote and declare the result.
19(f)    One copy of the machine printout of the vote record of all votes taken on the
20 electronic voting system shall be filed in the office of the Principal Clerk, and two copies shall
21 be filed in the Legislative Library where the copies shall be open to public inspection. A legible
22 copy of the bill, amendment, or motion on which the vote was taken shall be filed with the
23 printout of the vote in the Legislative Library.
24(g)    When the Speaker ascertains that the electronic voting system is inoperative
25 before a vote is taken or while a vote is being taken on the electronic voting system, the Speaker
26 shall announce that fact to the House, and any partial electronic voting system voting record shall
27 be voided. In such a case, if the North Carolina Constitution or the Rules of the House require a
28 call of the ayes and noes, the Clerk shall call the roll of the House, and the ayes and noes shall
29 be taken manually and shall be recorded on the Journal. All roll call votes shall be taken
30 alphabetically. If, after a vote is taken on the electronic voting system, it is discovered that a
31 malfunction caused an error in the electronic voting system printout, the Speaker shall direct the
32 Reading Clerk and the Principal Clerk to verify and correct the printout record and so advise the
33 House.
34(h)    For the purpose of identifying motions on which the vote is taken on the
35 electronic voting system, the motions are coded as follows:
36(1)    To adjourn.
37(2)    To recess.
38(3)    To lay on the table.
39(4)    Previous question.
40(5)    To postpone indefinitely.
41(6)    To reconsider.
42(7)    To postpone to a day certain.
43(8)    To re-refer.
44(9)    To amend an amendment.
45(10) To amend.
46(11) To concur or not concur.
47(12) Miscellaneous.
48RULE 21. Voice Votes; Stating Questions. – (a) All other votes except those
49 required to be taken on the electronic voting system may be taken by voice vote.
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1(b)      When a voice vote is taken, the Speaker shall put the question substantially as
2 follows: "Those in favor (as the question may be) will say 'aye,'" and after the affirmative voice
3 has been expressed, "Those opposed will say 'no.'"
4(c)      No statement, explanation, debate, motion, parliamentary inquiry, or point of
5 order shall be allowed once the voice vote has begun. Any point of order or parliamentary inquiry
6 may be raised, however, after the completion of the vote.
7RULE 22. Determining Questions. – (a) Unless otherwise provided by the North
8 Carolina Constitution or by these rules, all questions shall be determined by a simple majority of
9 the members present and voting.
10(b)      No member may vote unless the member is in the Chamber between the time
11 when the question is put and the time the vote is locked. This subsection of this rule cannot be
12 suspended.
13RULE 23. Voting by Division. – Any member may call for a division of the members
14 upon the question before the result of the vote has been announced. Upon a call for a division,
15 the Speaker shall cause the number voting in the affirmative and in the negative to be determined.
16 Upon a division and count of the House on any question, no member away from the member's
17 seat shall be counted.
18RULE 24. Roll Call Vote. – (a) Before a question is put, any member may call for
19 the ayes and noes. If the call is sustained by one-fifth of the members present, the question shall
20 be decided by the ayes and noes upon a roll call vote.
21(b)      Every member who is in the Hall of the House when the question is put shall
22 vote upon a call of the ayes and noes, unless excused pursuant to Rule 24.1A.
23(c)      No member may change a vote without leave of the House, but such leave
24 shall not be granted if it affects the result or if the session in which the vote was taken has been
25 adjourned. The Speaker may, at his discretion, set written procedures to carry out this subsection.
26RULE 24.1A. Excuse From Deliberations and Voting on a Bill. – (a) Any member
27 shall, upon request, be excused in advance from the deliberations and voting on a particular bill
28 at any time that the reason for the request arises in the proceedings on the bill.
29(b)      The member may make a brief oral statement of the reasons for making the
30 request. The member shall provide to the Principal Clerk, on a form provided by the Clerk, a
31 concise written statement of the reason for the request, and the Clerk shall include this statement
32 in the Journal.
33(c)      Except as provided in subsection (e) of this rule, the member so excused shall
34 not debate the bill or any amendment to the bill, vote on the bill, offer or vote on any amendment
35 to the bill, or offer or vote on any motion concerning the bill, in committee or on the floor of the
36 House at any reading, or any subsequent consideration of the bill.
37(d)      A member may request that his or her excuse from deliberations on a
38 particular bill be withdrawn.
39(e)      By leave of the House, a member who has been excused from deliberations
40 and voting on a bill may participate in deliberations and votes on amendments to which that
41 member does not have any conflict that requires excusal.
42RULE 24.1B. Division of Amendments and Questions. – (a) Any member may call
43 for an amendment to be divided into two or more amendments to be voted on separately. The
44 motion shall be in writing, must be submitted to the Principal Clerk at the time the motion is
45 made, and must clearly state how the question is to be divided. The Speaker shall determine
46 whether the amendment admits of such a division. Upon a majority vote of the members present
47 and voting, the motion shall be adopted and the body shall debate and vote each amendment
48 separately.
49(b)      Any member may call for a bill to be divided into two or more propositions to
50 be voted on separately, provided the bill is subject to division into separate parts so that each part
51 states a separate and distinct proposition capable of standing alone. The motion shall be in
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 General Assembly Of North Carolina  Session 2025
1 writing, must be submitted to the Principal Clerk at the time the motion is made, and must clearly
2 state how the question is to be divided. The Speaker shall then determine whether the bill admits
3 of such a division. Upon a majority vote of the members present and voting, the motion shall be
4 adopted and there shall be no further amendment or debate as to further division of the distinct
5 propositions. If the question is divided, the body shall debate and vote each proposition
6 separately. If any proposition fails, the bill shall be removed from the calendar and re-referred to
7 the committee from which the bill was reported. If all parts of the divided question pass, the
8 Speaker shall announce that the entire measure has passed second or third reading. No conference
9 report and no Current Operations Appropriations Bill is eligible to be divided under this
10 subsection.
11RULE 25. Voting by Speaker. – In all elections, the Speaker may vote. In all other
12 instances, the Speaker may vote or may reserve this right until there is a tie, in which event the
13 Speaker may vote; but in no instance may the Speaker vote twice on the same question.
14V. Committees
15RULE 26. Standing Committees Generally. – (a) The Speaker shall appoint a chair,
16 or cochairs, of every standing committee, and select committee, if any. In the construction of
17 these rules, the word "chair," as applied to a committee, extends to and includes a cochair of the
18 committee. The Speaker shall have the exclusive right and authority to establish select
19 committees, but this does not exclude the right of the House by resolution to establish select
20 committees.
21(b)     The Speaker shall establish the number of members of each standing
22 committee and appoint the members in a manner to reflect the partisan membership of the House,
23 except that the Committee on Ethics shall have an equal number of members of the majority and
24 minority.
25(c)     Before appointing members of committees, the Speaker shall consult with the
26 Minority Leader. The Speaker and Minority Leader shall consider members' committee
27 preferences in making appointments and recommendations.
28(d)     The Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House,
29 the Speaker Pro Tempore, the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, and the Deputy Majority
30 Leader are ex officio members of each standing committee with the right to vote. The previous
31 sentence does not apply to the Standing Committee on Ethics. Up to two chairs of the
32 Appropriations Committee are entitled to vote in all other Appropriations Committees
33 (Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, Capital and Information Technology,
34 Education, General Government, Health and Human Services, Justice and Public Safety, and
35 Transportation).
36(e)     Either the chair or acting chair, designated by the chair or by the Speaker, and
37 five other members of the standing committee, or a majority of the standing committee,
38 whichever is fewer, shall constitute a quorum of that standing committee. A quorum of less than
39 a majority of all the members must include at least one member of the minority party. For
40 purposes of determining a quorum, the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and
41 Operations of the House, the Speaker Pro Tempore, the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader,
42 and the Deputy Majority Leader, when serving only as ex officio members under subsection (d)
43 of this rule, shall be counted among the membership of the committee only when present.
44(f)     In any joint meeting of the Senate and House committees, the House standing
45 committee reserves the right to vote separately.
46RULE 26.1. Mentions of Standing Committee Includes Select Committee. – Any
47 reference in these rules to standing committees shall extend to select committees unless the
48 context requires otherwise.
49RULE 27. List of Standing Committees. – The standing committees are:
50
51Agriculture and Environment
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1
2Alcoholic Beverage Control
3
4Appropriations
5
6Appropriations, Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources
7
8Appropriations, Capital and Information Technology
9
10Appropriations, Education
11
12Appropriations, General Government
13
14Appropriations, Health and Human Services
15
16Appropriations, Justice and Public Safety
17
18Appropriations, Transportation
19
20Commerce and Economic Development
21
22Education – K-12
23
24Election Law
25
26Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery
27
28Energy and Public Utilities
29
30Ethics
31
32Federal Relations and American Indian Affairs
33
34Finance
35
36Health
37
38Higher Education
39
40Homeland Security and Military and Veterans Affairs
41
42Housing and Development
43
44Insurance
45
46Judiciary 1
47
48Judiciary 2
49
50Judiciary 3
51
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1Oversight
2
3Pensions and Retirement
4
5Regulatory Reform
6
7Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
8
9State and Local Government
10
11Transportation
12
13Wildlife Resources
14RULE 28. Standing Committee Meetings. – (a) Standing committees shall be
15 furnished with suitable meeting places pursuant to a schedule established by the Chair of the
16 Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House. Select committees shall
17 be furnished with suitable meeting places as their needs require by the Chair of the Standing
18 Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.
19(b)     Subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this rule, standing committees
20 thereof shall permit other members of the General Assembly, the press, and the general public to
21 attend all sessions of said standing committees.
22(c)     The chair or other presiding officer shall have general direction of the meeting
23 place of the standing committee, and, in case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct therein, or
24 if the peace, good order, and proper conduct of the legislative business is hindered by any person
25 or persons, the chair or presiding officer shall have power to exclude from the session any
26 individual or individuals so hindering the legislative business.
27(d)     Procedure in the standing committees shall be governed by the rules of the
28 House, so far as the same may be applicable to such procedure. Before a question is put, any
29 member may call for the ayes and noes. The chair shall ask, "Is the call sustained?" If the call is
30 sustained by one-fifth of the members present and standing, the question shall be decided by the
31 ayes and noes upon a roll call vote. All roll call votes shall be taken alphabetically and shall be
32 subject to Rule 21(c).
33(d1) The committee chair shall set the agenda for each committee meeting. After
34 April 1, 2025, a committee may, provided there is a written request signed by at least two-thirds
35 of the members of the committee, place a bill on the committee's agenda for the next regularly
36 scheduled meeting of the committee.
37(e)     No standing committee shall meet on any day when the House shall not
38 convene except by permission of the Speaker or by approval of the House by resolution adopted
39 by a majority vote of the House.
40(f)     No standing committee shall meet during any session of the House that is not
41 a pro forma session. Standing committees shall meet at their regularly scheduled hour. Standing
42 committees may meet at other times as authorized by the Chair of the Standing Committee on
43 Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House in order to assure the availability of the meeting
44 room and that no conflicts will exist with the meetings of other bodies. Except for a meeting of
45 a standing committee for which the Speaker has given notice that the House will be at ease until
46 the adjournment of that standing committee, all standing committee meetings shall adjourn no
47 later than:
48(1)     15 minutes preceding a regular session of the House, and
49(2)     10 minutes preceding the hour of the next regularly scheduled standing
50committee meeting.
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1Action taken by a committee in violation of this rule is voidable unless taken by
2 unanimous consent at a meeting at which a majority of all the members of the committee are
3 present and at which at least one member present is of the minority party.
4(g)    Any call or notice of a standing committee meeting between legislative
5 sessions shall be sent by electronic mail to each member of the standing committee at least five
6 days prior to such meeting. If a member of the body so requests in writing to the chair of the
7 standing committee, the member shall also be notified of the meetings by mail at a designated
8 address.
9(h)    During standing committee meetings, the chair may exercise the right to vote,
10 or may reserve this right until there is a tie, in which event the chair may vote, but in no instance
11 may the chair vote twice on the same question.
12RULE 28.1. Ethics Committee Investigations Into Violations of the Open
13 Meetings Law. – (a) On its own motion, or in response to signed and sworn complaint of any
14 individual filed with the Standing Committee on Ethics, the Committee shall inquire into any
15 alleged violation by members of the House of the Open Meetings Law (Article 33C of Chapter
16 143 of the General Statutes), as the same may be amended in the future.
17(b)    If, after such preliminary investigation as it may make, the Committee
18 determines to proceed with an inquiry into the conduct of any individual, the Committee shall
19 notify the individual as to the fact of the inquiry and the charges against the individual and shall
20 schedule one or more hearings on the matter. The individual shall have the right to present
21 evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and be represented by counsel at any hearings.
22(c)    After the Committee has concluded its inquiries into the alleged violations,
23 the Committee shall dispose of the matter by taking one of the following actions:
24(1)    Dismiss the complaint and take no further action.
25(2)    Issue a private letter of reprimand to the legislator, if the legislator
26unintentionally violated the provisions of the Open Meetings Law.
27(3)    Issue a public letter of reprimand if the violation of the Open Meetings Law
28was intentional or if the legislator has previously received a private letter of
29reprimand. The Chair of the Committee on Ethics shall have the public letter
30of reprimand spread on the pages of the House Journal.
31(4)    Refer the matter to the House for appropriate action.
32RULE 28.2. Committee Meetings; Use of Remote Participation. – (a) At times
33 when Rule 58.1 is not in effect, a standing committee may conduct meetings with members
34 participating remotely provided all of the following requirements are met:
35(1)    The Speaker has not disallowed remote participation for the standing
36committee.
37(2)    Each member is able to communicate, in real time, with all other members by
38(i) in-person communication, (ii) remote communication using devices or
39programs that transmit audio or audio and video, or (iii) both.
40(3)    All documents considered by the committee are provided to members.
41(4)    The committee otherwise complies with G.S. 143-318.13(a).
42(b)    A committee member who is participating remotely shall be counted as
43 present for quorum purposes and may vote on any measure or motion before the committee. An
44 ex officio member under Rule 26(d) shall be counted among the membership of the committee
45 only when present or participating remotely.
46RULE 29. Notice of Standing Committee Meetings and Hearings. – (a) Notice of
47 meetings of standing committees that will occur at the regularly scheduled meeting times shall
48 be given by one or both of the following methods:
49(1)    Notice given openly at a session of the House; or
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1(2)       Notice mailed or sent by electronic mail to those who have requested notice
2and to the Legislative Services Office, which shall post the notice on the
3General Assembly website.
4(b)      Notice of all other meetings shall be given in the House. If the meeting is
5 scheduled to occur after adjournment, notice shall also be given by electronic mail and posting
6 on the General Assembly website.
7(c)      The chair of the standing committee shall notify or cause to be notified the
8 sponsor of each bill that is set for hearing or consideration before the standing committee as to
9 the date, time, and place of that meeting.
10RULE 29.1. Public Hearings. – (a) The chair of the standing committee may
11 schedule a time to receive public comments for the standing committee as a whole during the
12 meeting of the standing committee or after the adjournment of a regular daily House session.
13(b)      Persons desiring to provide public comments during a meeting of a standing
14 committee shall submit their requests to the chair of the standing committee. The standing
15 committee chair may designate one or more members to arrange the order of appearance of
16 interested parties. A brief written statement of testimony may be submitted without oral
17 presentation and shall be incorporated into the minutes of the public hearing.
18RULE 29.2. Minutes to Legislative Library. – The chair of a standing committee
19 shall ensure that written minutes are compiled for each of the body's meetings. The minutes shall
20 indicate the members present and the actions taken at the meeting. Not later than 10 days after
21 the adjournment of each session of the General Assembly, the chair or the chair's designee shall
22 deliver the minutes to the Legislative Library. The Speaker of the House may grant a reasonable
23 extension of time for filing said minutes upon written application of the chair.
24RULE 30. Committee of the Whole House. – (a) A Committee of the Whole House
25 shall not be formed, except by leave of the House.
26(b)      After passage of a motion to form a Committee of the Whole House, the
27 Speaker shall appoint a chair to preside in the committee and the Speaker shall leave the dais.
28(c)      The rules of procedure in the House shall be observed in the Committee of the
29 Whole House, so far as they may be applicable, except the rule limiting the time of speaking and
30 the previous question.
31(d)      In the Committee of the Whole House, a motion that the standing committee
32 rise shall always be in order, except when a member is speaking, and shall be decided without
33 debate.
34(e)      When a bill is submitted to the Committee of the Whole House, it shall be
35 read and debated by sections, leaving the preamble to be last considered. The body of the bill
36 shall not be defaced or interlined, but all amendments, noting the page and line, shall be duly
37 entered by the Principal Clerk on a separate paper as the same shall be agreed to by the standing
38 committee and be so reported to the House. After report, the bill shall again be subject to be
39 debated and amended by sections before a question on its passage be taken.
40VI. Handling of Bills
41RULE 31. Introduction of Bills and Resolutions. – (a) All bills and resolutions shall
42 be introduced by submitting same to the Principal Clerk's office by 3:00 P.M. on the legislative
43 day prior to the first reading and referral thereof. The Clerk shall number all bills and resolutions
44 in the order in which they are introduced.
45(b)      Bills shall not become resolutions provided the Senate has a similar rule.
46 Resolutions shall not become bills. Resolutions are not law but may be used when a law is not
47 necessary for the purpose contained therein. Resolutions shall not be used to appropriate funds
48 for any purpose, but may be used to create study commissions or committees or establish
49 investigative committees, to honor deceased members of the General Assembly, to express to
50 Congress the opinions of the House and the General Assembly, and to adopt House rules and
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 General Assembly Of North Carolina  Session 2025
1 internal affairs. Resolutions cannot amend, repeal, or modify a statute; nor do they have life
2 beyond the term of the session during which they are adopted.
3(c)     Every bill or resolution shall be read in regular order of business, except upon
4 permission of the Speaker or on the report of a standing committee.
5(d)     All bills and resolutions shall show in their captions a brief descriptive
6 statement of the true substance of same, which captions may thereafter be amended. Amendments
7 to captions of bills are in order only if the amendment is germane to the bill. Third reading shall
8 not be had on any bill or resolution on the same day that such caption is amended.
9(e)     A Substitute Bill shall be covered with the same color jacket as the original
10 bill and shall be prefaced as follows: "House Committee Substitute for______."
11(f)     House resolutions need not be read more than twice.
12(g)     All memorializing, celebration, commendation, and commemoration
13 resolutions, except those honoring the memory of deceased members of the General Assembly
14 or expressing to Congress the opinions of the House or the General Assembly, shall be excluded
15 from introduction and consideration in the House. The mention of a deceased member of the
16 General Assembly as a pretext to honor an institution or a living person is prohibited. Members
17 should utilize a Representative Statement, as provided in Rule 8.1, as the preferred alternative to
18 House simple resolutions that memorialize, celebrate, commend, and commemorate, other than
19 for those relating to deceased members of the General Assembly or expressing to Congress the
20 opinions of the House or the General Assembly.
21(h)     Any reference in these rules to bills shall extend to resolutions unless the
22 context requires otherwise.
23RULE 31.1. Deadlines on Introduction and Receipt; No Blank Bills; 15 Bill Limit.
24 – (a) All local bills must be submitted to the Legislative Drafting Division or the Legislative
25 Analysis Division of the Legislative Services Office by 4:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 20,
26 2025, and must be introduced not later than 3:00 P.M. on Thursday, March 6, 2025.
27(b)     All public bills or resolutions must be submitted to the Legislative Drafting
28 Division or the Legislative Analysis Division of the Legislative Services Office by 4:00 P.M. on
29 Thursday, March 6, 2025, and must be introduced not later than 3:00 P.M. on Thursday, April 3,
30 2025.
31(c)     A bill containing no substantive provisions may not be introduced in the
32 House.
33(d)     No member may introduce more than 15 public bills. For the purpose of this
34 subsection, the introducer is the member who is listed as the first sponsor. A member may assign
35 a portion of this limit to another member electronically using the procedures established and
36 published by the Principal Clerk. This subsection does not apply to the following:
37(1)     Bills or resolutions recommended by commissions or committees authorized
38or directed by act or resolution of the General Assembly (i) to report to the
392025 Regular Session of the General Assembly, or to report prior to convening
40of that session, or (ii) that are recommended to the Regular Session of the
41General Assembly by a commission or committee established directly by
42Chapter 120 of the General Statutes.
43(2)     Joint resolutions or House resolutions.
44(3)     Bills introduced by the Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and
45Operations of the House providing for action on gubernatorial nominations or
46appointments or for action on appointments by the General Assembly
47pursuant to G.S. 120-121.
48(e)     In order to be eligible for consideration by the House during the first Regular
49 Session, all Senate bills other than (i) finance or appropriations bills that would be required to be
50 re-referred to the Appropriations or Finance Committee under Rule 38, (ii) those providing for
51 action on gubernatorial nominations or appointments, (iii) those providing for action on
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 General Assembly Of North Carolina  Session 2025
1 appointments by the General Assembly pursuant to G.S. 120-121, (iv) those providing for
2 amendments to the North Carolina Constitution, (v) those containing statutory amendments
3 necessary to implement proposed amendments to the North Carolina Constitution, (vi) those
4 establishing districts for Congress or State or local entities, (vii) those addressing election laws,
5 (viii) those ratifying an amendment or amendments to the Constitution of the United States, and
6 (ix) adjournment resolutions must be received and read on the floor of the House as a message
7 from the Senate no later than Thursday, May 8, 2025; provided that a message from the Senate
8 received by the next legislative day stating that a bill has passed its third reading and is being
9 engrossed shall comply with the requirements of this subsection and provided that the Senate has
10 a similar rule.
11(f)     This rule, other than subsections (c) and (d), does not apply to bills (i)
12 establishing districts for Congress or State or local entities, (ii) introduced on the report of the
13 Committees on Appropriations, Finance, or Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, (iii)
14 ratifying an amendment or amendments to the Constitution of the United States, (iv) providing
15 for action on gubernatorial nominations or appointments, or (v) providing for action on
16 appointments by the General Assembly pursuant to G.S. 120-121. This rule does not apply to
17 resolutions pertaining to the internal affairs of the House or adjourning the General Assembly
18 sine die or to a day certain.
19RULE 32. Referral to Standing Committees; Serial Referrals; Re-referral of Bills
20 From One Standing Committee to Another Standing Committee; Re-referral to Committee
21 on Rules. – (a) Each bill not introduced on the report of a standing committee shall immediately
22 upon its first reading be referred by the Speaker to such standing committee, select committee,
23 or committee of the whole as the Speaker deems appropriate. The Speaker at the same time may
24 order that, if the bill is reported with any favorable recommendation or without prejudice, it be
25 re-referred automatically upon the committee report to another committee designated in the
26 order. Each joint resolution or House resolution not introduced on the report of a standing
27 committee shall immediately upon its first reading either be referred by the Speaker to a standing
28 committee or be calendared on the date designated by the Speaker, as the Speaker deems
29 appropriate.
30(a1) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this rule, any bill establishing districts for
31 Congress or State Senators or State Representatives may be placed on the calendar without being
32 referred by the Speaker to a committee and on the same legislative day of its introduction or
33 receipt from the Senate.
34(b)     Upon consent of the sponsor of the bill, the Speaker, the chair of the standing
35 committee from which the bill is to be re-referred, and the chair of the standing committee to
36 which the bill is to be re-referred, the chair of the standing committee from which the bill is to
37 be re-referred or the Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
38 may move for a re-referral to another standing committee, and the bill shall be re-referred upon
39 vote of the majority present during a regular session of the House.
40(c)     The Speaker may remove a bill from the committee to which the bill has been
41 referred and may re-refer the bill to another committee.
42(d)     All public bills and resolutions reported by any standing committee must have
43 also been reported by the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House prior to
44 being calendared for consideration by the House. This rule may be waived by leave of the House.
45RULE 33. Papers Addressed to the House. – Petitions, memorials, and other papers
46 addressed to the House shall be presented by the Speaker. A brief statement of the contents
47 thereof may be made orally by the introducer before referral to a committee, but such papers shall
48 not be debated or decided on the day of their first being read unless the House shall direct
49 otherwise.
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1RULE 34. Introduction of Resolutions and Bills. – (a) House Bills shall be
2 designated as "H.B.___." (No. following). A Joint Resolution shall be designated as "H.J.R.___."
3 (No. following). A House Resolution shall be designated as "H.R.___." (No. following).
4Whenever any resolution or bill is filed for introduction, it shall comply with the
5 procedures established and published by the Principal Clerk.
6(b)      Except as provided in subsection (c) of this rule, no bill may be filed for
7 introduction if the draft contains names preprinted on the bill jacket and body of the bill (either
8 as primary sponsors or cosponsors) unless each such member has signed or initialed the jacket.
9(c)      A bill may be filed for introduction without the signature or initial of each
10 member whose name appears on the preprinted bill jacket as a primary sponsor if each such
11 member has approved being included as a primary sponsor using the member's electronic
12 dashboard.
13RULE 35. Public and Local Bills. – (a) The Legislative Services Officer shall cause
14 such bills as are introduced to be duplicated in such numbers as may be specified by the Speaker.
15 Copies shall be available in the Printed Bills Room and made available to the committees to
16 which the bill is referred, to individual members on request, and to the general public.
17(b)      A public bill is a bill affecting 15 or more counties. A local bill is one affecting
18 fewer than 15 counties.
19RULE 36. Report by Standing Committee. – (a) Reports. – Bills and resolutions
20 may be reported from the standing committee to which referred with such recommendations as
21 the standing committee may desire to make.
22(b)      Favorable Report. – When a standing committee reports a bill with the
23 recommendation that it be passed, the bill shall be placed on the favorable calendar on the day
24 designated by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the
25 House, but not on the same day that it is reported except by leave of the House, and no later than
26 the fourth legislative day after submission of the report or Senate message under Rule 43.2 or
27 Rule 43.3(a), unless:
28(1)      The bill is re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations or Committee on
29Finance under Rule 38 or was serially referred under Rule 32; or
30(2)      The bill has not yet been placed on the calendar, and the Speaker refers the
31bill to another committee.
32 In order to place a bill on the calendar for a legislative day, notice shall be given by the Chair of
33 the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House orally in the House or
34 in writing to the Principal Clerk. When a committee substitute is adopted and receives a favorable
35 report by the standing committee, the chair shall submit to the standing committee the question
36 of an unfavorable report on the original bill. The standing committee's action, if any, on the
37 original bill shall be reported at the same time the committee substitute is reported.
38(b1) Favorable Report of Bills Proposing Congressional or State Districts. –
39 Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this rule, a bill establishing districts for Congress or State
40 Senators or State Representatives that is reported favorably by a committee may be placed on the
41 favorable calendar on the same day it is reported.
42(c)      Report Without Prejudice. – When a standing committee reports a bill
43 without prejudice, the bill shall be placed on the favorable calendar in the same manner as
44 provided in subsection (b) of this rule.
45(d)      Postponed Indefinitely. – When a standing committee reports a bill with the
46 recommendation that it be postponed indefinitely and no minority report accompanies it, the bill
47 shall be placed on the unfavorable calendar.
48(e)      Unfavorable Report. – When a standing committee reports a bill with the
49 recommendation that it not be passed and no minority report accompanies it, the bill shall be
50 placed on the unfavorable calendar.
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1(f)     Minority Report. – When a bill is reported by a standing committee with a
2 recommendation that it not be passed or that it be postponed indefinitely but it is accompanied
3 by a minority report signed by at least one-fourth of the members of the standing committee who
4 were present and voting when the bill was considered in standing committee, the question before
5 the House shall be: "The adoption of the minority report." If the minority report is adopted by
6 majority vote, the bill shall be placed on the favorable calendar for consideration. If the minority
7 report fails of adoption by a majority vote, the bill shall be placed on the unfavorable calendar.
8RULE 36.1. Fiscal Notes. – (a) The Chair or Cochair of the Appropriations
9 Committee, of the Finance Committee, or of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and
10 Operations of the House, upon the floor of the House, may request that a fiscal analysis be made
11 of a bill, a resolution, or an amendment to a bill or resolution which is in the possession of the
12 House and that a fiscal note be attached to the measure, which request shall be allowed when, in
13 the opinion of the Speaker, the fiscal effects of that measure are not apparent from the language
14 of the measure. When a request is properly made under this subsection, the bill is removed from
15 the calendar until such time that the fiscal note is attached to the measure.
16(b)     The fiscal note shall be filed and attached to the bill or amendment within two
17 legislative days of the request, and a copy shall be sent by electronic mail to each member. If it
18 is impossible to prepare a fiscal note within two legislative days, the Director of Fiscal Research
19 shall, in writing, so advise the Speaker, the Principal Clerk, the Majority Leader, the Minority
20 Leader, and the member introducing or proposing the measure and shall indicate the time when
21 the fiscal note will be ready.
22(c)     The fiscal note shall be prepared by the Fiscal Research Division on a form
23 approved by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the
24 House as to content and form and signed by the staff member or members preparing it. If no
25 estimate in dollars is possible, the fiscal note shall indicate the reasons that no estimate is
26 provided. The fiscal note shall not comment on the merit, but may identify technical problems.
27 The Fiscal Research Division shall make the fiscal note available to the membership of the
28 House.
29(d)     A sponsor of a bill or amendment may deliver a copy of the bill or amendment
30 to the Fiscal Research Division for the preparation of a fiscal note. The sponsor shall attach the
31 fiscal note to the bill when filed or to the amendment when its adoption is moved.
32(e)     The sponsor of a bill or amendment to which a fiscal note is attached who
33 objects to the estimates and information provided may reduce to writing the objections. These
34 objections shall be appended to the fiscal note attached to the bill or amendment and to the copies
35 of the fiscal note available to the membership.
36(f)     Subsection (a) of this rule shall not apply to the Current Operations
37 Appropriations Bill or the Capital Improvement Appropriations Bill. This rule shall not apply to
38 a bill or amendment requiring an actuarial note under these rules.
39RULE 36.1A. Distribution of Proposed Committee Substitutes. – (a) No proposed
40 committee substitute may be considered by a standing committee unless the proposed committee
41 substitute shall have been distributed electronically no later than 9:00 P.M. of the preceding
42 calendar day to the members of the committee and to the member who is listed as the first primary
43 sponsor. This requirement may be waived by leave of the standing committee.
44(b)     Subsection (a) of this rule does not apply to a proposed committee substitute
45 establishing districts for Congress or State Senators or State Representatives.
46RULE 36.2. Actuarial Notes. – If required by State law:
47(a)     Every bill proposing any change in the law relative to any:
48(1)     State, municipal, or other retirement system funded in whole or in part out of
49public funds; or
50(2)     Program of hospital, medical, disability, or related benefits provided for
51teachers and State employees, funded in whole or in part by State funds;
 Page 18  House Resolution 563
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1 shall have available at the time of its consideration by any committee a brief explanatory
2 statement or note which shall include a reliable estimate of the financial and actuarial effect of
3 the proposed change, as provided in G.S. 120-114. The actuarial note shall be attached to the
4 jacket of each proposed bill which is reported favorably by any committee and shall be clearly
5 designated as an actuarial note. A bill described in subdivision (a)(1) of this rule shall be referred
6 to the Committee on Pensions and Retirement upon its introduction in accordance with
7 G.S. 120-111.3.
8(b)    The sponsor of the bill may present a copy of the bill with a request for an
9 actuarial note to the Fiscal Research Division. The Fiscal Research Division, at the request of the
10 sponsor of the bill or in its own discretion, shall request the chief administrative officer of the
11 system or program affected by the bill to have the actuary of the system or program prepare an
12 actuarial note on the bill and to transmit the note to the sponsor of the bill and the Fiscal Research
13 Division not later than two weeks after the request is received, unless an extension of time is
14 agreed to by the sponsor as being necessary in the preparation of the note. The actuarial note
15 shall be attached to the jacket of the bill. The provisions of this subsection may be waived by the
16 sponsor of a bill affecting local government retirement or pension plans not administered by the
17 State or any local government program of hospital, medical, disability, or related benefits for
18 local government employees not administered by the State.
19(c)    The note shall be factual and shall, if possible, provide a reliable estimate of
20 both the immediate effect and, if determinable, the long-range fiscal and actuarial effect of the
21 bill. If, after careful investigation, it is determined that no dollar estimate is possible, the note
22 shall contain a statement to that effect, setting forth the reasons why no dollar estimate can be
23 given. No comment or opinion shall be included in the actuarial note with regard to the merits of
24 the bill for which the note is prepared. Technical and mechanical defects in the bill may be noted.
25(d)    When any standing committee reports a bill to which an actuarial note is
26 attached at the time of committee consideration, with any amendment of such nature as would
27 substantially affect the cost to or the revenues of any system or program, the chair of the
28 committee reporting the measure shall obtain from the administrator of the affected system or
29 program an actuarial note of the fiscal and actuarial effect of the proposed amendment. The
30 actuarial note shall be attached to the jacket of the bill. An amendment to any bill shall not be in
31 order if the amendment affects the costs to or the revenues of a State-administered retirement or
32 pension system, or program of hospital, medical, disability, or related benefits for teachers or
33 State employees, unless an actuarial note as to the actuarial effect of the amendment has been
34 made available.
35RULE 36.3. Local Legislation Affecting State Highway System. – A local bill
36 affecting the State Highway System shall be referred to the Committee on Transportation.
37RULE 36.4. Content of Appropriations Bills. – No provision shall be contained in
38 any of the following bills unless it pertains to the appropriation of money or the raising or
39 reducing of revenue: (i) the Current Operations Appropriations Bill; (ii) the Capital Improvement
40 Appropriations Bill; (iii) any bill generally revising appropriations for the second fiscal year of
41 a biennium. If a point of order is made against such a provision and is sustained, the presiding
42 officer shall refer the bill to the committee from which it came, with instructions for the chair of
43 the committee to immediately report out a substitute or amendment removing the offending
44 provision.
45RULE 37. Removing Bill From Unfavorable Calendar. – A bill may be removed
46 from the unfavorable calendar upon motion carried by a two-thirds vote. A motion to remove a
47 bill from the unfavorable calendar is debatable.
48RULE 38. Reports on Appropriation and Revenue Bills. – (a) All standing
49 committees, other than the Standing Committees on Appropriations, when favorably reporting
50 any bill or resolution that:
51(1)    Carries an appropriation from the State; or
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1(2)       Requires or will require in the future substantial additional State monies from
2the General Fund or Highway Fund to implement its provisions shall indicate
3same in the report, and said bill or resolution shall be referred to the Standing
4Committees on Appropriations for a further report before being acted upon by
5the House.
6(b)     All standing committees, other than the Standing Committee on Finance,
7 when favorably reporting any bill that in any way or manner raises revenue, reduces revenue,
8 levies a tax, authorizes the levying of a tax, an assessment, or a fee, or authorizes the issue of
9 bonds or notes, whether public or local, shall indicate same in the report, and said bill shall be
10 referred to the Standing Committee on Finance for a further report before being acted upon by
11 the House. This subsection shall not apply to bills only imposing fines, forfeitures, or penalties.
12RULE 39. Discharge Petition. – (a) A motion to discharge a committee from
13 consideration of a bill may be filed with the Principal Clerk by a primary sponsor of that measure
14 if accompanied by a petition asking that the committee be discharged from further consideration
15 of the bill. No motion may be filed until 10 legislative days after the bill has been referred to the
16 committee. No petition may be filed until notice has been given on the floor of the House that
17 the petition is to be filed and the primary sponsor giving notice has obtained a fiscal note from
18 the Fiscal Research Division on the bill, which note shall be attached to the petition. Members
19 may sign the petition only in the office of the Principal Clerk, and when the signatures of 61
20 members appear on the petition, the Principal Clerk shall place that motion on the calendar for
21 the next legislative day as a special order of business. Members may withdraw their names at any
22 time until 61 names appear. If the motion is adopted by the House, then the committee to which
23 the bill or resolution has been referred is discharged from further consideration of the bill, and
24 that bill is placed on the calendar for the next legislative day as a special order of business. The
25 Principal Clerk shall provide a form for discharge petitions.
26(b)     This rule shall not be temporarily suspended without one day's notice on the
27 motion given in the House and delivered in writing to the chair of the standing committee, and
28 to sustain that motion two-thirds of the members shall be required.
29RULE 40. Calendars and Schedules of Business. – The Clerk of the House shall
30 prepare a daily schedule of business, including the Calendar of Bills and Resolutions for
31 consideration and debate that day, in accordance with the Order of Business of the Day (Rule 5).
32RULE 41. Reading of Bills. – (a) Every bill shall receive three readings in the House
33 prior to its passage. The Speaker shall give notice at each subsequent reading whether it is the
34 second or third reading.
35(a1) The first reading and referral to standing committee of a House bill shall occur
36 on the next legislative day following its introduction. The first reading and referral to standing
37 committee of a Senate bill shall occur on the next legislative day following its receipt on
38 messages from the Senate. This subsection does not apply to any bill establishing districts for
39 Congress or State Senators or State Representatives.
40(b)     Except for bills establishing districts for Congress or State Senators or State
41 Representatives, no bill shall be read more than once on the same day without the concurrence
42 of two-thirds of the members present and voting; provided, no bill governed by Section 23 of
43 Article II of the North Carolina Constitution herein shall be read twice on one day under any
44 circumstance.
45RULE 42. Effect of a Defeated Bill. – (a) Subject to the provisions of subsections
46 (b) and (c) of this rule, after a bill has:
47(1)     Been tabled,
48(2)     Been postponed indefinitely,
49(3)     Failed to pass on any of its readings, or
50(4)     Been placed on the unfavorable calendar,
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1 the contents of that bill or the principal provisions of its subject matter shall not be considered in
2 any other measure originating in the Senate or originating thereafter in the House. Upon the point
3 of order being raised and sustained by the chair, that measure shall be laid upon the table and
4 shall not be taken therefrom except by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting.
5(b)     No local bill shall be held by the chair to embody the contents of or the
6 principal provisions of the subject matter of any statewide measure which has been laid on the
7 table, has failed to pass on any of its readings, or has been placed on the unfavorable calendar.
8(c)     Subsection (a) of this rule does not apply to a bill that has received an
9 unfavorable report from a committee if the committee has also in the same report reported
10 favorable to the bill as amended or to a proposed committee substitute to the bill.
11RULE 43. Amendments. – (a) No amendment to a measure before the House shall
12 be in order unless the amendment is germane to the measure under consideration.
13A House amendment deleting a previously adopted House amendment shall not be in
14 order. No amendment that is clearly unconstitutional shall be in order.
15Only one principal (first degree) amendment shall be pending at any one time. If a
16 subsequent or substitute principal amendment shall be offered, the Speaker shall rule it out of
17 order. However, any member desiring to offer a subsequent or substitute principal amendment in
18 opposition to the pending amendment may inform the House by way of argument against the
19 pending amendment that if it is defeated the member proposes to offer another principal
20 amendment, and the member may then read and explain such proposed amendment.
21Perfecting (or second degree) amendments may be offered and considered without
22 limitation as to number, and in the event of multiple perfecting amendments, they shall be voted
23 upon in inverse order.
24(b)     The following rules apply when considering (i) the Current Operations
25 Appropriations Bill; (ii) the Capital Improvement Appropriations Bill; (iii) any bill generally
26 revising appropriations for the second fiscal year of a biennium:
27(1)     Amendments cannot increase total spending within a committee area beyond
28the total for that committee as shown in the committee report.
29(2)     Amendments can only affect appropriations within the departments, agencies,
30or programs within the jurisdiction of the committee.
31(3)     Amendments cannot increase total spending, from any source, beyond the
32total amount shown in the committee report.
33(4)     Amendments that cause the budget to be unbalanced are not in order.
34(5)     Amendments cannot spend reversions.
35(6)     Amendments cannot make nonrecurring reductions to fund recurring items.
36(c)     When offering an amendment, the member shall deliver the signed original
37 amendment to the Principal Clerk and a copy to the Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar,
38 and Operations of the House.
39RULE 43.1. Engrossment. – Bills and resolutions which originate in the House and
40 which are amended shall be engrossed before being sent to the Senate.
41RULE 43.2. House Concurrence in Senate Amendments to House Bills. – When
42 the House receives a Senate amendment to a bill originating in the House, it shall be placed on
43 the calendar in accordance with Rule 36(b).
44RULE 43.3. Committee Substitutes Adopted by the Senate to Bills Originating in
45 the House; Procedure for Treatment of Material Amendments Thereto. – (a) Whenever the
46 Senate has adopted a committee substitute for a bill originating in the House and has returned the
47 bill to the House for concurrence in that committee substitute, it shall be placed on the calendar
48 in accordance with Rule 36(b).
49(b)     The Speaker shall rule whether the committee substitute is a material
50 amendment under Section 23 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution which reads:
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1      "Revenue bills. – No law shall be enacted to raise money on the credit of the State, or to
2 pledge the faith of the State directly or indirectly for the payment of any debt, or to impose any
3 tax upon the people of the State, or to allow the counties, cities, or towns to do so, unless the bill
4 for the purpose shall have been read three several times in each house of the General Assembly
5 and passed three several readings, which readings shall have been on three different days, and
6 shall have been agreed to by each house respectively, and unless the yeas and nays on the second
7 and third readings of the bill shall have been entered on the journal."
8If the committee substitute was referred to standing committee, the standing
9 committee shall:
10(1)     Report the bill with the recommendation either that the House do concur or
11that the House do not concur; and
12(2)     Advise the Speaker as to whether or not that committee substitute is a material
13amendment under Section 23 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution.
14(c)     If the committee substitute for a bill is not a material amendment, the question
15 before the House shall be concurrence.
16(d)     If the committee substitute for a bill is a material amendment, the receiving of
17 that bill on messages shall constitute first reading, and the question before the House shall be
18 concurrence on second reading. If the motion is passed, the question then shall be concurrence
19 on third reading on the next legislative day.
20(e)     No committee substitute adopted by the Senate for a bill originating in the
21 House may be amended by the House.
22RULE 44. Conference Standing Committees. – (a) Whenever the House shall
23 decline or refuse to concur in amendments put by the Senate to a bill originating in the House, or
24 shall refuse to concur in a substitute adopted by the Senate for a bill originating in the House, or
25 whenever the Senate shall decline or refuse to concur in amendments put by the House to a bill
26 originating in the Senate, or shall refuse to concur in a substitute adopted by the House for a bill
27 originating in the Senate, a conference committee may be appointed by the Speaker upon the
28 Speaker's own motion and shall be appointed upon request by the principal sponsor of the original
29 bill, the chair of the House standing committee that reported the bill, or the sponsor of the
30 amendment in which the Senate refused to concur; and the bill under consideration shall
31 thereupon go to and be considered by the joint conferees on the part of the House and Senate. In
32 appointing members to conference committees, the Speaker shall appoint no less than a majority
33 of members who generally supported the House position as determined by the Speaker.
34(b)     The conference report may be made by a majority of the House members of
35 such conference committee and shall not be amended. If the Senate has a similar rule, only such
36 matters as are in difference between the two houses shall be considered by the conferees and the
37 conference report shall deal only with such matters. If the Senate does not have a similar rule, a
38 conference committee report which includes significant matters that were not in difference
39 between the houses shall be referred to a standing committee for its recommendation before
40 further action by the House.
41(c)     If the conferees fail to agree or if either house fails to adopt the report of its
42 conferees, new conferees may be appointed.
43(d)     Except by leave of the House and except as otherwise provided in this
44 subsection, no vote shall be taken on adoption of a conference report until the next legislative
45 day following the report. Except by leave of the House, no vote shall be taken on adoption of a
46 conference report on either the Current Operations Appropriations Bill or a bill generally revising
47 the Current Operations Appropriations Act until the second legislative day following the report.
48(e)     Notwithstanding subsection (d) of this rule, a conference report for a bill
49 establishing districts for Congress or State Senators or State Representatives may be placed on
50 the calendar for the legislative day the report is submitted.
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 General Assembly Of North Carolina  Session 2025
1RULE 44.1. Transmittal of Bills to Senate. – Unless ordered by the Speaker or
2 two-thirds vote of the members present and voting, no bill shall be sent from the House on the
3 day of its passage, except on the last day of the session.
4RULE 44.2. Veto Override. – A vote on overriding a gubernatorial veto may be taken
5 up on the legislative day it is received in the House from the Senate or Governor or any other
6 legislative day it is printed on the calendar published by the Clerk of the House pursuant to Rule
7 40.
8VII. Legislative Officers and Employees
9RULE 45. Elected Officers. – (a) The House shall elect its Speaker from among its
10 membership.
11(b)      The House shall elect its Speaker Pro Tempore from among its membership
12 who shall perform such duties as the Speaker may assign.
13(c)      The House shall elect a Principal Clerk, who shall continue in office until
14 another is elected. The Speaker may appoint a Reading Clerk and shall appoint a
15 Sergeant-at-Arms, both of whom shall serve at the Speaker's pleasure. The Principal Clerk,
16 Reading Clerk, and Sergeant-at-Arms shall have and perform duties and responsibilities, not
17 inconsistent with these rules, as the Speaker may assign. Unless directed otherwise by the
18 Speaker on behalf of the House, the Principal Clerk or an employee designated by the Principal
19 Clerk shall receive House bills not approved by the Governor.
20RULE 46. Assistants to Principal Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms. – The Principal
21 Clerk and the Sergeant-at-Arms may appoint, with the approval of the Speaker, such assistants
22 as may be necessary to the efficient discharge of the duties of their respective offices.
23RULE 47. Speaker's Staff; Chaplain; and Pages. – (a) The Speaker may appoint
24 one or more staff members to the Speaker, a Chaplain of the House, and pages to wait upon the
25 sessions of the House.
26(b)      When the House is not in session, the pages shall be under the supervision of
27 the Supervisor of Pages.
28(c)      The Speaker, at the request of a member, may appoint honorary pages.
29RULE 48. Member's Staff. – (a) Each standing committee shall have a committee
30 assistant. The committee assistant to a standing committee shall serve as staff to the chair of the
31 standing committee.
32(b)      Each member shall be assigned a legislative assistant, unless the member has
33 a committee assistant to serve as legislative assistant.
34(c)      The selection and retention of legislative assistants shall be the sole
35 prerogative of the individual member or members. Such staff shall file initial applications for
36 employment with the Director of Legislative Assistants and shall receive compensation as
37 prescribed by the Legislative Services Commission. Their period of employment shall comply
38 with the period as established by the Legislative Services Commission unless employment for an
39 extended period is approved by the Speaker. The legislative assistants shall adhere to such
40 uniform rules and regulations not inconsistent with these rules regarding hours and other
41 conditions of employment as the Legislative Services Commission shall fix by appropriate
42 regulations. The Director of House Legislative Assistants shall be appointed by the Speaker.
43RULE 49. Compensation of Legislative Assistants. – No person employed, serving,
44 or appointed under Rules 46, 47, and 48 shall receive during such employment, appointment, or
45 service any compensation from any department of the State government, and there shall not be
46 voted, paid, or awarded any additional pay, bonus, or gratuity to any of them; but they shall
47 receive only the pay now provided by law for such duties and services.
48VIII. Privileges of the Hall
49RULE 50. Admittance to Floor. – (a) No person except members, officers, and
50 designated employees of the General Assembly who have been issued identification tags as
51 provided by this rule, and former members of the General Assembly who are not registered under
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 General Assembly Of North Carolina  Session 2025
1 the provisions of Article 2 of Chapter 120C of the General Statutes, shall be allowed on the floor
2 of the House during its session, unless permitted by the Speaker or otherwise provided by law.
3 Employees of the General Assembly shall wear identification tags, approved by the Legislative
4 Services Officer, when on the floor of the House.
5(b)     Except when a committee is meeting on the floor of the House, a person who
6 is not authorized to be admitted to the floor under subsection (a) of this rule shall not be allowed
7 to enter the Chamber until at least five minutes after adjournment or recess of the House.
8RULE 51. Admittance of Press. – Reporters wishing to take down debates may be
9 admitted by the Speaker, who shall assign such places to them on the floor or elsewhere, to effect
10 this object, as shall not interfere with the convenience of the House. Reporters admitted to the
11 floor of the House shall observe the same requirements of attire for members contained in Rule
12 12(h).
13RULE 52. Extending Courtesies. – Courtesies of the floor, galleries, or lobby shall
14 be extended at the discretion of the Speaker and only by the Speaker. Requests by members to
15 extend these courtesies shall be delivered to the Speaker. No member shall orally ask the Speaker
16 to extend these courtesies during the daily session.
17RULE 53. Order in House Chamber, Galleries, and Lobby. – In case of any
18 disturbance or disorderly conduct in the House Chamber, galleries, or lobby, the Speaker or other
19 presiding officer is empowered to order the same to be cleared to the extent they deem necessary.
20IX. General Rules
21RULE 54. Attendance of Members. – Members and officers of the House shall
22 request leaves from the service of the House with the Principal Clerk.
23RULE 55. Documents to Be Signed by the Speaker. – All acts, addresses, and
24 resolutions and all warrants and subpoenas issued by order of the House shall be signed by the
25 Speaker or other presiding officer.
26RULE 56. Printing or Reproducing Materials. – There shall be no printing or
27 reproducing of paper(s) that are not legislative in essence except upon approval of the Speaker.
28RULE 57. Placement or Circulation of Materials. – Persons other than members of
29 the House shall not place or cause to be placed any materials on members' desks in the House
30 Chamber without obtaining approval of the Speaker. Any material placed on members' desks in
31 the House Chamber, or circulated to House members anywhere in the Legislative Building or the
32 Legislative Office Building, shall bear the name of the originator.
33RULE 58. Rescission and Alteration of the Rules. – (a) These rules shall not be
34 permanently rescinded or altered except by House simple resolution passed by a two-thirds vote
35 of the members present and voting. The introducer of the resolution must on the floor of the
36 House give notice of intent to introduce the resolution on the legislative day preceding its
37 introduction.
38(b)     Except as otherwise provided herein, the House upon two-thirds vote of the
39 members present and voting may temporarily suspend any rule.
40RULE 58.1. Temporary Modifications Due to State of Emergency. – (a) The
41 following modifications to these rules shall apply 24 hours after receipt by the Majority Leader,
42 the Minority Leader, and the Principal Clerk of written notification filed by the Speaker:
43(1)     RULE 12(i) shall read as follows: "(i) The use of a mobile device or
44cellular phone for the purpose of making or receiving a phone call shall not
45be permitted in the House Chamber while the House is in session, except the
46Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, and a designee of a Leader under Rule
4722.1(c) may use a mobile device or cellular phone during a vote to
48communicate in real time with members who have filed a voting designation
49pursuant to Rule 22.1, provided the use does not otherwise disrupt the
50decorum of the chamber."
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 General Assembly Of North Carolina  Session 2025
1(2)     RULE 13(a) shall read as follows: "RULE 13. Motions Generally. – (a) A
2motion that is complex, complicated, or otherwise not easily understood shall
3be reduced to writing at the request of the Speaker or any member. No motion
4relating to a bill shall be in order that does not identify the bill by its number
5and short title. No motion may be made, nor business presented, by a member
6who has filed a voting designation pursuant to Rule 22.1 affirming the member
7will not be present in the House during the time the designation is in effect
8and has not been revoked."
9(3)     The rules are amended by adding a new rule to read: "RULE 22.1. Designated
10Voting. – (a) A member who is not present may designate either the Majority
11or the Minority Leader to cast the member's vote if the member has filed a
12voting designation with the Principal Clerk and at least 61 members have
13voted in the House Chamber when the question is put, after which the Speaker
14shall call upon the Majority and Minority Leaders to cast the votes of members
15who have made a designation pursuant to this Rule.
16(b)     A designation shall be in writing and on a form made available by the Principal
17 Clerk. In order to be effective for that legislative day, the designation must be received by the
18 Principal Clerk at least one hour prior to the time the House is scheduled to convene. The
19 designation shall state the member will not be present in the House, shall identify either the
20 Majority or Minority Leader as the member's voting designee, and shall include both a
21 commencement and expiration date. A designation may be revoked at any time by notifying the
22 Principal Clerk.
23(c)     The designated Leader may appoint another member to cast all votes
24 designated to that Leader."
25(4)     RULE 22(b) shall read as follows: "(b) Except as provided in Rule 22.1, no
26member may vote unless the member is in the Chamber. This subsection of
27this rule cannot be suspended."
28(4a) RULE 24(c) shall read as follows: "(c) No member may change a vote
29without leave of the House, but such leave shall not be granted if it affects the
30result or if the session in which the vote was taken has been adjourned.
31No member who cast a vote using the designated voting procedure allowed
32under Rule 22.1 may change that vote without leave of the House, but such
33leave shall not be granted if it affects the result or if the session in which that
34vote was taken has been adjourned. A member who voted using the designated
35voting procedure allowed under Rule 22.1 may request a vote change by
36submitting a written request to the Leader the member originally designated
37who shall deliver the request to the Principal Clerk who shall officially receive
38it. The Principal Clerk shall provide a form to be used by members to request
39a change to a vote cast pursuant to Rule 22.1."
40(5)     RULE 26(e) shall read as follows: "(e) The chair or acting chair, designated
41by the chair or by the Speaker, and five other members of the standing
42committee, or a majority of the standing committee, whichever is fewer, shall
43constitute a quorum of that standing committee. A quorum of less than a
44majority of all the members must include at least one member of the minority
45party. For purposes of determining a quorum, the Chair of the Standing
46Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House; the Speaker Pro
47Tempore; the Majority Leader; the Minority Leader; and the Deputy Majority
48Leader, when serving only as ex officio members under subsection (d) of this
49rule, shall be counted among the membership of the committee only when
50present or participating remotely pursuant to Rule 28(a). A committee member
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 General Assembly Of North Carolina  Session 2025
1who is participating remotely under Rule 28(a) shall be counted as present for
2quorum purposes."
3(6)    RULE 28(a) shall read as follows: "RULE 28. Standing Committee
4Meetings. – (a) Standing committees shall be furnished with suitable meeting
5places pursuant to a schedule established by the Chair of the Standing
6Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House. Select
7committees shall be furnished with suitable meeting places as their needs
8require by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and
9Operations of the House. Committees may conduct meetings with members
10participating remotely and such members may vote on any measure or motion
11before the committee provided all of the following requirements are met:
12(1)      Each member is able to communicate, in real time, with all other
13members by (i) in-person communication, (ii) remote communication
14using devices or programs that transmit audio or audio and video, or
15(iii) both.
16(2)      All documents considered by the committee are provided to members.
17(3)      The committee otherwise complies with G.S. 143-318.13(a)."
18(7)    RULE 36(b) shall read as follows: "(b) Favorable Report. – When a
19standing committee reports a bill with the recommendation that it be passed,
20the bill shall be placed on the favorable calendar on the day designated by the
21Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the
22House, and no later than the fourth legislative day after submission of the
23report or Senate message under Rule 43.2 or Rule 43.3(a), unless:
24(1)      The bill is re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations or
25Committee on Finance under Rule 38 or was serially referred under
26Rule 32; or
27(2)      The bill has not yet been placed on the calendar, and the Speaker refers
28the bill to another committee.
29In order to place a bill on the calendar for a legislative day, notice shall be
30given by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and
31Operations of the House orally in the House or in writing to the Principal
32Clerk. When a committee substitute is adopted and receives a favorable report
33by the standing committee, the chair shall submit to the standing committee
34the question of an unfavorable report on the original bill. The standing
35committee's action, if any, on the original bill shall be reported at the same
36time the committee substitute is reported."
37(8)    RULE 41 shall read as follows: "RULE 41. Reading of Bills. – Every bill
38shall receive three readings in the House prior to its passage. The Speaker
39shall give notice at each subsequent reading whether it is the second or third;
40provided, no bill governed by Section 23 of Article II of the North Carolina
41Constitution herein shall be read twice on one day under any circumstance."
42(9)    Notwithstanding Rule 44(d), a conference report may be placed on the
43calendar for the legislative day on which the report is received. The Speaker
44shall provide notice as soon as practicable to the Majority Leader and the
45Minority Leader if the Speaker anticipates a conference report will be placed
46on the favorable calendar the same day the report is received.
47RULE 59. Cosponsorship of Bills and Resolutions, Removal of Sponsorship. – (a)
48 Except by leave of the primary sponsor, or as provided in subsection (d) of this rule, no member
49 may be listed as an additional primary sponsor on a bill after the bill has been filed. Except as
50 provided in subsection (d) of this rule, any member not listed as a preprinted cosponsor on the
51 computer-generated draft edition who wishes to cosponsor a bill or resolution which has been
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 General Assembly Of North Carolina  Session 2025
1 introduced may do so by 5:00 P.M. of the calendar day following the adjournment of the session
2 during which such bill or resolution was first read and referred, but only electronically under
3 procedures approved by the Principal Clerk.
4(b)      Members wishing to cosponsor legislation prior to preparation of the draft
5 should indicate such to the drafter at the time the bill is requested and before filing the bill with
6 the Principal Clerk's office. The names of the members who are the primary sponsors shall be
7 listed in the order requested by them, followed by the words (Primary Sponsors); and the
8 remaining names of such members cosponsoring shall follow on the draft edition and first edition.
9 No more than four members may be listed as primary sponsors. Names of persons cosponsoring
10 bills thereafter under subsection (a) of this rule do not appear on subsequent editions but shall be
11 listed in the bill status system as cosponsors.
12(c)      No member shall permit anyone, other than that member's committee
13 assistant, legislative assistant, office assistant, or another member, to have possession of and
14 solicit for bill or resolution sponsorship, the jacket of a bill or resolution.
15(d)      Should any member wish to remove the member's sponsorship of a bill that is
16 substantially changed by a Senate amendment or a Senate committee substitute, the member shall
17 notify the House Principal Clerk before the bill is considered for concurrence. If no sponsors
18 remain on the bill, the House Principal Clerk shall notify the Chair of the Standing Committee
19 on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House who may request that other members sponsor
20 the bill. Removal of the first primary sponsor's name from a bill does not reduce the total number
21 of bills introduced by the member under Rule 31.1(d), and sponsorship of a bill after removal of
22 all sponsors is subject to Rule 31.1(d).
23RULE 60. Correcting of Typographical Errors. – The Legislative Services Officer
24 may correct typographical errors appearing in House bills or resolutions or House amendments
25 to Senate bills provided that such corrections are made before ratification and do not conflict
26 with any actions or rules of the Senate and provided further that such correction be approved by
27 the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, the
28 Speaker, or other presiding officer.
29RULE 61. Assignment of Seats. – After initial assignment of seats, a member shall
30 continue to occupy the seat to which initially assigned until assigned a permanent seat; once
31 assigned a permanent seat, the member shall occupy it for the entire biennial session. In event of
32 vacancy, the Speaker or the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations
33 of the House may assign such permanent seats as are necessary to maintain seating.
34RULE 61.1. Office Assignments. – The Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules,
35 Calendar, and Operations of the House shall assign to each member an office space. When
36 available, chairs of standing committees shall be assigned an office adjacent to the room in which
37 the standing committee generally meets if the Chair so desires. The Speaker shall be assigned an
38 office of his or her choice.
39RULE 61.2. Convening and Assigning Seats in the New House. – (a) The Principal
40 Clerk of the previous House of Representatives shall convene the House of Representatives at
41 12:00 P.M. on the date established by law for the convening of each regular session and preside
42 over the body until the members elect a Speaker. In the case of a vacancy, inability, or refusal to
43 so serve, the duty shall devolve upon the Sergeant-at-Arms of the prior House, and in the case of
44 a vacancy in that office, or inability or refusal to so serve, the duty shall devolve upon the Reading
45 Clerk of the prior House.
46(b)      It shall be the duty of the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar,
47 and Operations of the House of the prior House to assign temporary seats to the members of the
48 House of Representatives in its Chamber. In the case of the inability or refusal to serve of the
49 Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, the Speaker
50 of the prior House of Representatives shall appoint a person to assign seats to members of the
51 House of Representatives in its Chamber. In the event that the party that had a majority of
 House Resolution 563  Page 27
 General Assembly Of North Carolina  Session 2025
1 members in the prior House will no longer have a majority of members in the new House, then
2 the duty assigned in this subsection to the Chair of the Committee of the prior House shall instead
3 be the duty of the person nominated as Speaker by the majority party caucus for the new House,
4 or some member-elect designated by the Speaker-nominee. In the event no party will have a
5 majority, then the duty assigned in this subsection to the Chair of the Committee of the prior
6 House shall instead be the joint duty of one person chosen each by the caucuses of the two parties
7 having the greatest numbers of members.
8RULE 61.3. Livestreaming Sessions. – To the extent any session of the House is
9 livestreamed, the methods used for the livestreaming shall comply with the policies and
10 procedures established and published by the Principal Clerk.
11RULE 62. Matters Not Covered in These Rules. – Except as herein set out, the rules
12 of Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure shall govern the operation of the House.
13SECTION 2. This resolution is effective upon adoption.
 Page 28  House Resolution 563