RULE 1. (a) The President of the Senate shall take his/her chair at the hour to which the Senate has been previously adjourned, and shall serve as Presiding Officer. If a quorum appears to be present, the Presiding Officer shall call the Senate to order and call for a prayer to be delivered by the Chaplain of the Day. If a quorum does not appear to be present, the Presiding Officer may delay the call to order for a reasonable time until a quorum does appear to be present.

(b) The Presiding Officer shall then call for recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.

(c) In the absence of the President, the President Pro Tempore shall serve as Presiding Officer. When the President returns, he/she shall reassume the duties of Presiding Officer. In the absence of both President and President Pro Tempore, the Senate Majority Leader shall serve as Presiding Officer. In the absence of the President, President Pro Tempore, and the Senate Majority Leader, the Chairperson of the committee as named in order in Senate Rule 48 shall perform this duty until the President or the President Pro Tempore returns.

(d) The Presiding Officer shall call the Senate to order and order the roll to be called.

(e) If there is a quorum present, the previous day's journal shall be read, unless dispensed with on motion, which shall be decided by majority vote without debate. The Presiding Officer shall then entertain a motion to excuse absent members, which shall be decided by majority vote without debate. The Senate shall then proceed with the transaction of its business. If no quorum is present, a lesser number may adjourn from day to day or compel the attendance of absent members, as provided in Rule 37.

RULE 2. Unless it is otherwise specifically provided for, the Senate shall meet at ten o'clock a.m., except on Mondays, when the Senate shall convene at twelve o'clock noon. The Senate shall meet at twelve o'clock noon on the first day of any Organizational, Special, or Regular Session unless otherwise provided for.

RULE 3. When the question of a quorum has been requested, after the expiration of 10 minutes, the roll shall be called immediately and, if the absence of a quorum shall be determined, then the Senate shall stand in adjournment until the following calendar day unless otherwise provided for previously by resolution or motion. No more than one quorum call will be recognized per each two-hour period.

RULE 4. No person shall be admitted to the floor of the Senate Chamber while the Senate is in session except current members of the Legislature, former members of the Legislature, former Governors or Lieutenant Governors, except registered lobbyists; the officers and employees of the two houses; up to three employees of the President of the Senate; up to three employees of the President Pro Tempore; the Governor and up to two of his or her employees; representatives of the press; and the Directors and employees of the Legislative Services Agency. The Director of the Office of Examiners of Public Accounts, the legal counsel for the Rules Committee Chairperson, and one employee of the majority and minority caucus shall also be admitted to the floor in aid of the Senate in its work. Anyone admitted to the floor of the Senate Chamber shall be placed by the Secretary of the Senate. The Secretary shall ensure that the presence of non-members shall not impede the business of the Senate. On the first legislative day of any Regular, Special, or Organizational Session, the families of the members of the Senate shall have the privileges of the floor, but only for that specific legislative day. This rule shall be enforced by the Secretary of the Senate without such enforcement being suggested or requested by a member of the Senate.

RULE 5. The Presiding Officer of the Senate shall introduce visitors in the Senate Gallery. Such introductions shall be made at the written request of any Senator, but only at such time as will not interrupt or disturb the orderly transaction of the business of the Senate. Persons in the Senate Gallery shall, at all times, conduct themselves so as not to disturb or distract the Senate. No signs or placards of any type shall be allowed into the Senate Gallery. When any person in the gallery makes gestures to attract attention from the floor and by his or her conduct commits any other action deemed by the Presiding Officer or the Secretary of the Senate to be detrimental to the orderly business of the Senate, such person shall be warned or ousted from the gallery, at the direction of the Presiding Officer or the Secretary.

RULE 6. No person shall be allowed to lobby in the Senate Chamber while the Senate is in session. In the event a lobbied senator files a written complaint with the Secretary of the Senate stating that a former member has lobbied him/her while on the floor of the Senate, the Secretary shall notify the former member of the complaint. In the event a second written complaint is filed by a member against a former member, said former member's floor privileges shall be automatically suspended for 12 months, and the Secretary shall so notify the former member and the Senate.

RULE 7. No motion shall be deemed in order to admit any person whomsoever, or any group, within the doors of the Senate Chamber while the Senate is in session, to present any petition, memorial, or address, or to have any such petition, memorial, or address read, or for any Senator or Senators to invite any individual or group into the Senate Chamber for the purpose of honoring such group with a resolution or by any other manner, including for the purpose of the demonstration of a performing art. On any legislative day, the Senate Chamber shall be open one hour prior to the convening of the Senate, exclusively and for no other purpose than for Senators to bring individuals or groups into the Chamber for the purpose of honoring such individuals or group with a resolution or by any other manner, or for the purpose of the demonstration of a performing art.

RULE 8. (a) After the previous day's journal has been read or dispensed with, the regular order of transacting business for the Senate shall be:

1st, Introduction of bills;

2nd, House and Executive messages;

3rd, Reports from standing committees;

4th, Reports from select committees;

5th, Motions and resolutions;

6th, Uncontested local bills;

7th, Bills on third reading.

(b) Signing of bills may be executed throughout any legislative day.

RULE 9. (a) The regular order of business shall not be set aside except by a majority vote of the Senate, upon a resolution reported by the Committee on Rules, following a meeting of the Rules Committee in which a majority of its Members are recorded as voting in the affirmative to submit such resolution before the Senate. All items on such proposed Special Order Calendar shall be posted by the Rules Committee 24 hours prior to said resolution being offered, unless a majority of the Rules Committee votes to set this provision aside. This notice shall not apply during Special Sessions. Any amendment or substitute to a Rules Committee report of a Special Order Calendar shall prevail only with a concurrence of not less than 21 affirmative votes. The total debate prior to the voting of its adoption shall not exceed 20 minutes. The adoption of any Special Order Calendar shall be by a majority on a recorded vote.

(b) A Special Order Calendar may not be amended after adoption and items must be called in the order listed, but a Special Order Calendar may be superseded by a new Special Order Calendar. Business not on the Special Order Calendar may be taken up by unanimous consent.

(c) A House bill on the Senate Regular Order Calendar may be substituted for an identical Senate bill on a Special Order Calendar in a single motion carrying over the Senate bill and calling the House bill with unanimous consent. If necessary, the Senate bill may first be amended or substituted in order to make it identical to the House bill.

RULE 10. The assignment of Executive messages shall be made by the President Pro Tempore, or his/her designee. The referral of House messages containing House bills passed by the House of Representatives shall be made by the President Pro Tempore, or his/her designee. Such bills shall be read in the same manner as Senate bills. At the request of any member, the full title of a House bill or joint resolution may be read.

RULE 11. (a) No bills other than local bills, advertised or otherwise, shall be introduced in the Senate during a Regular Session after the Senate adjourns on the 24th legislative day.

(b) On motion, as provided in subsection (c), and by majority vote, a Senate bill may be recommitted by the Presiding Officer to the same or a different Standing Committee for further consideration at the discretion of the Presiding Officer, subject to appeal, at any time after its initial referral. On motion, as provided in subsection (c), and by majority vote, a House bill may be recommitted by the President Pro Tempore to the same or a different Standing Committee for further reconsideration at any time after its initial referral.

(c) Before a bill receives its second reading, only the committee Chair to which the bill was originally referred may move to recommit a bill. Thereafter, only the committee Chair to which the bill was originally referred, the President Pro Tempore, or the sponsor of the bill, may move to recommit a bill.

(d) On the 24th legislative day bills may be introduced at any time and will be processed in the same manner as bills introduced under a unanimous consent order that allows bills to be introduced any time during the day.

RULE 12. The unfinished business in which the Senate was engaged at the last preceding adjournment shall be placed at the top of the Regular Order Calendar for the next legislative day.

RULE 13. When Sunset Bills are the order of business, pursuant to Section 41-20-10 of the Code of Alabama 1975, the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference, a bill under consideration may be carried over on motion by the President Pro Tempore or his or her designee, without debate, by a three-fifths roll call vote. If no bill is pending, on motion by the President Pro Tempore or his or her designee, and without debate, the Senate may set aside the Sunset Bills and consider other business by a three-fifths roll call vote. While other business is being considered, the usual rules of the Senate apply to such business. Once the other business is disposed of, Sunset Bills again become the pending business.

RULE 14. [Reserved]

RULE 15. When reports of standing committees are in order, the chair of the committee whose report is called, or the President Pro Tempore, shall be entitled to the floor. On second reading, bills shall be read by the bill number, the sponsor, and the first line of the title, but any member may request that the title be read at length.

RULE 16. (a) Every motion shall be reduced to writing upon request of any Senator, but a separate request must be made for each motion. Written motions shall be delivered to the Secretary at the desk and read before the same shall be debated.

(b) The requests set out below may be made by any member, except as otherwise provided in the rules. When such requests are in order, they shall be granted by the Presiding Officer without debate:

Request for reading at length,
Request for a roll call vote (To be granted, the request must be joined by at least two other members, by show of hands),
Request that a motion be reduced to writing,
Request for a question of a quorum,
Request for a division of a question.

RULE 17. A brief statement of the contents of any memorial or petition to the Senate may be made by the introducer before it is received, but such statement shall not exceed five minutes in duration. Such statements are not subject to debate.

RULE 18. (a) When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received except a motion:

to adjourn,
to adjourn to a day certain,
to recess,
to table,
to carry over,
to carry over to the call of the chair,
to recommit,
to substitute, or
to amend,

which several motions shall have precedence in the order they stand arranged. The motions to adjourn, to adjourn to a day certain, to recess, to table, and to carry over, shall always be in order, unless the time for debate on the pending question has expired, and such motions shall be decided without debate. Approval of a motion to carry over to the call of the chair is not subject to debate and requires unanimous consent of the Senate.

(b) When a bill or resolution is called for final passage, committee amendments or substitutes must be disposed of before floor amendments or substitutes may be considered. Committee amendments or substitutes are not open for amendment until adopted.

(c) To the extent necessary, floor amendments shall be read aloud so the Secretary can determine if the proposed amendment is in proper form. If the Secretary determines that the amendment is not in proper form, the Presiding Officer shall rule it out of order, and it shall not be considered. Committee amendments need not be read aloud.

(d) A bill carried over or carried over to the call of the chair shall be returned to the Regular Order Calendar. At the discretion of the Presiding Officer, a bill carried over to the call of the chair may be called by the Presiding Officer on motion by the President Pro Tempore or bill sponsor at any time when other business is not pending.

RULE 19. The motion to table an amendment or substitute shall not carry with it the original bill, resolution, or proposition.

RULE 20. (a) The Committee on Rules may report a special rule or petition that debate on any measure shall cease at a certain hour and a vote be taken on the measure. The consideration of such special rule or petition shall not exceed 20 minutes, when a vote shall be taken thereon; and if three-fifths of the members elected shall vote to limit debate, then said rule or petition shall have been adopted by the Senate. However, consideration of a special rule or petition dealing with only the Education Budget and/or the General Fund Budget and their related appropriation bills and/or a bill to redistrict the Alabama Legislature, State Board of Education Districts, and/or Alabama Congressional Districts shall only require 18 affirmative votes to adopt such special rule or petition from the Senate Rules Committee to limit debate.

(b) In addition to the procedure set out in (a) above, a petition signed by 21 or more Senators to the effect that debate on a pending measure shall cease at a certain hour and a vote be taken on the measure filed with the Secretary or the designee of the Secretary while the Senate is in session, shall have the same effect as a report of the Committee on Rules regarding debate. Filing such petition shall be considered a motion to adopt the petition and to cut off debate at the time stated in the petition. The consideration of such petition shall not exceed 20 minutes, when a vote shall be taken thereon; and if three-fifths of the members elected shall vote to limit debate, then said petition shall have been adopted by the Senate. However, consideration of a petition dealing with only the Education Budget and/or the General Fund Budget and their related appropriation bills and/or a bill to redistrict the Alabama Legislature, State Board of Education Districts, and/or Alabama Congressional Districts shall only require 18 affirmative votes to adopt such petition to limit debate.

(c) After a special rule or petition to limit debate has been adopted under (a) or (b) above, no motion or request, except a request for reading at length, shall be in order. Votes shall take place immediately at the time specified in the petition on any pending amendments, substitutes, and final passage.

RULE 21. House messages, executive messages, and conference reports may be called, and immediately handled or referred, at any stage of business by the President Pro Tempore, or in his/her absence, the Majority Leader or any member authorized in writing by the President Pro Tempore, except while the yeas and nays are being called, or during consideration of sunset bills. A motion to accede to a House request for conference is not debatable. House amendments to Senate bills, and conference reports, may be read at the request of any Senator, unless a copy of the amendment or conference report is made available to all Senators for not less than 30 minutes prior to the vote on the motion to adopt. The 30-minute period shall be subject to a motion to dispense by majority vote without debate.

RULE 22. (a) The Presiding Officer shall announce when a roll call vote is to be taken. The Secretary shall ring the quorum bell immediately prior to commencement of the roll being called. No discussion or debate shall be allowed while a vote is being taken. Those previously engaged in debate, either for or against a proposition or debatable motion, and any and all other members, shall upon announcement of such impending vote, immediately retire from the well of the Senate. Members must be in the Senate Chamber in order to announce their vote and may make such announcement at any place in the Chamber, other than the well of the Senate.

(b) When the yeas and nays shall be called for by three or more Senators, the Presiding Officer shall instruct the Secretary to call the roll on the question before the Senate. No member shall be permitted to vote after the decision is announced by the Presiding Officer. In taking the yeas and nays, and upon the call of the Senate, the names of the Senators shall be called alphabetically.

RULE 23. (a) Every Senate bill on first reading shall be referred to a standing committee by the Presiding Officer, or his/her designee, subject to Rule 54. The Secretary shall read the bill by the bill number, the sponsor, and the first line of the title, but any member may request that the title be read at length.

(b) A bill may be withdrawn by the sponsor if it has been filed with the Secretary, but has not received first reading.

RULE 24. When the reading of any paper (not including bills, resolutions, conference reports, House and executive messages and the like) is requested by a member and the reading of same is objected to by a member, the question shall be determined by a vote of the Senate without debate.

RULE 25. If the question in debate contains several points, each of which is able to stand on its own as determined by the Presiding Officer, any member may call for a division. It shall not be in order, however, to move for a division of the question on a motion to strike out and insert.

RULE 26. The rejection of a motion to strike out and insert one proposition shall not prevent a motion to strike out and insert a different proposition; nor shall a subsequent motion simply to strike out prevent a subsequent motion to strike out and insert, provided however, the Presiding Officer may rule out of order any motion to strike out and insert which he/she judges to be solely dilatory.

RULE 27. In filling blanks, the largest sum and longest times shall be put first.

RULE 28. (a) When a roll call vote has been taken on any question, except those set out in (b) below, it shall be in order for any Senator of the prevailing side to move for the reconsideration thereof. But no motion for the reconsideration of any vote shall be in order after the bill, resolution, message, report, amendment, or motion upon which the vote was taken shall have gone out of the possession of the Senate. Nor shall any motion for reconsideration be in order unless it is made on the same day on which the vote was taken, or by twelve o'clock p.m. the next legislative day, or one hour after the Senate convenes, if after twelve o'clock p.m. The motion shall be decided by majority vote without debate.

(b) It shall not be in order to move to reconsider the vote to:

recess,
adjourn,
adjourn to a day certain,
table,
excuse absent Senators,
dispense with the reading of the previous day's Journal,
confirm,
adopt a Special Order Calendar,
carry over,
carry over to the call of the chair,
adopt a Budget Isolation Resolution,
adopt a petition for cloture, or
reconsider.

(c) If a motion to reconsider is approved, the matter to be reconsidered becomes the pending business, the sponsor is entitled to the floor, and the question is open for debate, amendment, or substitution like any matter under consideration for final passage.

(d) When a majority of those members present vote in the affirmative on the question, but the proposition fails because it is one requiring more than a majority for adoption or passage, any member may move for reconsideration. No proposition requiring more than a majority of members present for adoption or passage may be reconsidered more than once.

RULE 29. Resolutions proposing amendments to the Constitution of Alabama shall be treated in all respects as bills. Resolutions requiring approval or signature of the President shall be treated in all respects as bills after their final passage in the Legislature. Resolutions granting money out of the funds appropriated for the Legislature must be introduced and reported by the Committee on Rules. This rule may be waived by unanimous consent and after the passage of two hours time from when the motion was offered.

RULE 30. All motions to go into executive session shall be decided without debate. Executive sessions shall be held with closed doors, and the doorkeepers shall clear the press rooms and galleries of all persons except Members, the President of the Senate and his or her advisor, and necessary employees of the Senate, as determined by the Secretary. The Secretary shall turn off the broadcast feed from the Senate Chamber immediately after the Senate decides to go into executive session.

RULE 31. Executive messages shall be considered with open doors unless it is otherwise requested in the message or otherwise ordered by a majority vote of the Senate.

RULE 32. All nominations and appointments shall be referred to, and be reported from the Committee on Confirmations before consideration by the entire Senate. A rejection by the Committee on Confirmations of any nomination or appointment shall be considered a rejection by the entire Senate. If the Senate rejects a nomination or appointment, the Secretary of the Senate shall forward the rejection to the appointing authority and request a new nominee to be submitted, or, in the event that the pertinent statute permits, the Senate may select a substitute appointment. Confirmation messages are not subject to a motion to recommit, but the nomination may be carried over.

RULE 33. The final question upon every bill or resolution requiring three readings shall be put in this form: "The question is final passage of the bill (or resolution)." At the conclusion of the debate on any such bill (or resolution), and prior to the start of the roll call, any member may request that the bill (or resolution) be read at length. Any member may move to suspend the reading at length which shall require unanimous consent. After a bill (or resolution) is read at length it shall not be in order to offer any amendments to the bill (or resolution) except by suspension of the rules. A motion to recommit the bill (or resolution) after it has been read at length shall be in order. If such recommitment takes place then the bill (or resolution) shall be read again a second time and an amendment may be offered either in committee or on the floor.

RULE 34. (a) All amended senate bills shall be correctly engrossed prior to transmittal to the House of Representatives.

(b) During a Regular Session, no bill that has originated in the Senate shall be sent to the House of Representatives for its first reading in the House after the Senate adjourns on the 26th legislative day.

RULE 35. (a) No motion to alter, modify, or amend any rule or any part thereof shall be in order except on two legislative days' notice in writing, which notice shall specify precisely the rule or part thereof proposed to be suspended, modified, or amended. Before any vote shall be taken on such motion, it shall be first referred to the Committee on Rules, and said committee must report favorably with a majority of the membership thereof voting in the affirmative, before such rule change can be considered by the Senate. Any change or alteration of the rules shall require the affirmation of three-fifths of the elected members of the Senate by roll call vote and may not be accomplished by suspension of the rules.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in these rules, any rule may be suspended by the unanimous consent of the Senate. Any Senator objecting to a suspension of the rules will be identified by name and upon request of any other Senator, the name of any objecting Senator shall be entered into the record. Any action that may be taken by voice vote may be taken by unanimous consent of the Senate.

RULE 36. During the period between the end of the Regular Session and the convening of the next Regular Session, or, in the first year of a quadrennium, between the Organizational Session and the Regular Session, members may deliver bills to the Secretary of the Senate, which shall be known as "pre-filing." Such bills shall be numbered by the Secretary in the order of receipt and otherwise processed for introduction when the Regular Session has been convened. Pre-filed bills shall be assigned by the President, or his/her designee, with the concurrence of the President Pro Tempore, or his/her designee, to a standing committee for study and shall be formally referred to the same committee upon commencement of the Regular Session; provided, however, that no bill shall be pre-filed under this rule after the commencement of the last Regular Session of the Legislature in any quadrennium and before the Organizational Session following the general election.

RULES RELATING TO SENATORS

RULE 37. (a) No Senator shall absent himself or herself from the service of the Senate for as long as one day, without leave of the Senate. In case a lesser number than a quorum of the Senate shall answer the roll or a quorum call shall determine that a quorum is not present, the members present are hereby authorized to send the Secretary, the Doorkeeper or some other person for any or all absent Senators, as the majority of the Senators present shall agree. The expense of sending for an absent Senator shall be paid by the absentee, unless an excuse for non-attendance shall be made, as a quorum of the Senate shall judge sufficient. In which event, the expense of securing the attendance of such absent Senator shall be paid out of funds appropriated for the Legislature.

(b) No member of the Senate or any person who has privileges of the floor, except television cameramen, shall be admitted upon the floor of the Senate while the Senate is in session, unless properly attired.

Minimum standards of dress in the Senate Chamber and in committee meetings while in session shall consist of the wearing of a coat and tie by males and the wearing of a suitable dress or an appropriate blouse and skirt or pants suit by females.

Minimum attire for pages shall be the same as for members.

Whenever a special circumstance, such as injury, prevents a Member from meeting the dress requirements hereinabove cited, such Member shall, upon motion adopted by a majority of the Senators present and voting, be excused from the requirements of this Rule.

Whenever special circumstances arise relating to staff, the press and any others entitled to the floor, the Secretary shall decide whether such person shall be excused from the requirements of this Rule.

RULE 38. [Reserved]

RULE 39. (a) Except as provided herein, no member shall speak more than twice on any question under debate and none shall, without unanimous consent of the Senate, speak for more than one hour at each time on motions for the adoption of an amendment to a bill or substitute, a substitute to a bill, an amendment to an amendment, the bill itself, motions to concur or nonconcur, including a motion to nonconcur and request a committee on conference, or motions to confirm an appointment. Debate on resolutions and debatable motions (other than those above), shall be subject to a reasonable time limit not to exceed 15 minutes. The bill sponsor may be permitted to speak to the question as many times as is necessary to facilitate the debate or the offering of amendments, and shall have the right to conclude the debate.

(b) Points of personal privilege by members shall be limited to five minutes. The Presiding Officer may recognize a Senator for a point of personal privilege only when the Senate is not engaged in business. When recognized for a point of personal privilege, a Senator may speak upon any subject not in violation of Rule 40, and the Presiding Officer may not otherwise define the subject matter as a condition for recognition.

RULE 40. (a) Senators engaged in debate shall refrain from engaging in abusive and derogatory language in reference to other Senators or the Presiding Officer, or speaking without being recognized by the Presiding Officer, and shall immediately be called to order by the Presiding Officer if such practice occurs. When a Senator shall be called to order by the Presiding Officer, he or she shall immediately cease debating and the exceptional words shall be taken down immediately in writing by the Secretary; however, the Senator will not lose his or her time remaining for debate and may resume the microphone at the direction of the Presiding Officer.

(b) Senators engaged in debate shall address each other by their official title and last name or reference their geographical district of representation.

RULE 41. (a) Smoking shall be prohibited on the third, seventh, and eighth floors.

(b) The use of cellular telephones and pagers shall be permitted on the Senate floor only on silent or vibrating mode.

(d) Assignment of offices and desks shall be made by the Secretary of the Senate, subject to the approval of the President Pro Tempore and the Majority Leader.

RULES RELATING TO THE PRESIDING OFFICER

RULE 42. In the absence of the President when the Senate convenes, the President Pro Tempore shall preside except as provided for in Rule 1; however, any other rule to the contrary notwithstanding, when the President of the Senate chooses not to preside, the President Pro Tempore shall preside. Should the President Pro Tempore not be in the chamber or choose not to preside, the Majority Leader or any other member as designated by the Presiding Officer shall preside until such time as the President or the President Pro Tempore, as the case may be, assumes or reassumes the duties of Presiding Officer; provided, however, that such delegation may not continue to the next legislative day.

RULE 43. All questions shall be put by the Presiding Officer, and members shall signify assent or dissent by answering yea or nay. Members may also abstain. If those who vote or abstain are sufficient in number to show that a majority constituting a quorum so acted, those who thus voted or abstained only shall be counted as constituting the house for the purpose of that vote; but when any question is put and a quorum does not vote or abstain, the Presiding Officer shall, before announcing the vote, on his/her own motion, instruct the Secretary to record as present a sufficient number of those Senators physically present to constitute a quorum, though all present are not participating in the vote. For purposes of ascertaining a quorum, an abstention shall be counted as present.

RULE 44. A Senator may rise for a Point of Order, regarding the proceedings of the Senate, at any stage of business. A Point of Order is a parliamentary privilege, not subject to debate or approval of the Senate, and when a Senator rises for a Point of Order, the Presiding Officer must immediately recognize that Senator, so that the Senator may state his/her Point of Order. The Presiding Officer shall rule on all points of order, including those raising questions of germaneness of measures under consideration, taking into consideration the Constitution of the State of Alabama, Statutes of Alabama, the Alabama Legislative Joint Rules, the Senate Rules, and historic precedents of the Senate. Such ruling shall be made, within a reasonable time not to exceed 10 minutes. Every question of order shall be decided by the Presiding Officer without debate, subject to an appeal to the Senate, which appeal must be made the same legislative day. An appeal from the ruling of the Presiding Officer is likewise a parliamentary privilege of each Senator, and if a Senator who stated a Point of Order upon which a Ruling of the Presiding Officer was made so desires, that Senator, or any other, shall have the privilege of appealing from the Ruling of the Presiding Officer, and the declaration of such appeal by a Senator must be recognized by the Presiding Officer. Every appeal from the Ruling of the Presiding Officer shall be decided by a roll call vote without debate. A majority of the elected Senate membership shall decide an appeal. Whenever a Senator appeals from the Ruling of the Presiding Officer, the question before the Senate shall be: "Shall the ruling of the Presiding Officer be sustained?" The Presiding Officer may call for the sense of the Senate on any question of order or on any other matter properly before the Senate.

RULE 45. When more than one member rises seeking recognition, the Presiding Officer shall decide which member to recognize. The President Pro Tempore shall always have priority and shall be recognized first when rising for a Point of Order, as well as for the purpose of taking up House messages, executive messages, and other important matters for the operation of the Senate. The Majority Leader, in the absence of the President Pro Tempore, shall have priority when seeking recognition.

RULE 46. The Presiding Officer shall give notice at each reading of a bill whether it be the first, second, or third.

RULE 47. (a) The Senate President Pro Tempore may designate the Majority Leader to perform the duties of the Senate President Pro Tempore in his/her absence, with the exception of signing of bills and resolutions, which only the President and President Pro Tempore are constitutionally allowed to do. The President Pro Tempore shall be an additional voting member of all Senate Standing Committees, superseding the number of members of each standing committee as set out in Rule 48, including Local Legislation, but excluding all other local legislation committees unless he/she is a member of another local legislation committee by geographical circumstance. The President Pro Tempore may designate in writing to the Secretary of the Senate the name of a member who is not already a member of the committee to represent him or her as a voting member under this rule. Such substitution shall be for a term of not less than one year unless the President Pro Tempore revokes such substitution in writing or such member so appointed dies or resigns from the Senate, or resigns from the committee so appointed under this rule.

(b) There shall be a Senate Committee on Assignments which shall be composed of the President Pro Tempore, the Presiding Officer, the Senate Majority Leader, and three additional members appointed by the President Pro Tempore who shall serve for the quadrennium unless removed by a four-fifths vote of the committee. The Committee on Assignments shall appoint the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and membership of all Senate Standing Committees and Select Committees. To the extent feasible, membership of each committee shall reflect the diversity of the Senate. The Committee on Assignments may change committee membership, or the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson thereof, only by a majority vote of the membership of the Committee on Assignments any time the Committee deems such changes necessary or expedient. Actions of this committee shall be reported to the Senate by the President Pro Tempore or in his/her absence by the Senate Majority Leader or any other member designated by the Committee.

(c) The Senate Majority Leader shall be elected by the active members of the majority party represented in the Senate. The Majority Leader shall have a separate budget allocation.

(d) The Senate Majority Leader shall assist the Senate President Pro Tempore with the relationship between the Senate and House leadership, and any other matters which the President Pro Tempore may deem necessary. The Majority Leader may appoint a Senator or Senators from the majority party as he or she deems necessary to serve in the position(s) of Majority Whip.

(e) A Senate conference committee on a Senate bill or a House bill shall consist of two members appointed by the Committee on Assignments, and one member appointed by the Presiding Officer.

(f) A Senate conference committee on a local bill shall consist of two members appointed by the Committee on Assignments, and one member appointed by the Presiding Officer, each from the political subdivision affected, if possible.

(g) A Senate conference committee on all resolutions shall consist of three Senate members appointed by the Committee on Assignments.

(h) There shall be the position of the Senate Minority Leader, also known as the Minority Leader, elected by the members of the Minority Party. Notification of the name of the Minority Leader shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Senate. The Minority Leader shall have a separate budget allocation. The Minority leader may appoint a Senator or Senators as he or she deems necessary from the minority party to serve in the position(s) of Minority Whip.

RULES RELATING TO COMMITTEES

RULE 48. (a) There shall be 16 standing committees. The Chairperson of each standing committee shall have the power to appoint subcommittees to aid in the work of the committee. However, all subcommittee reports shall be subject to review and approval by the standing committee as a whole. The Chairperson of each standing committee shall determine a quorum is present to conduct business, and all standing committees shall meet formally to consider bills before it. A Vice Chairperson of a standing committee may be designated by the Chairperson of his/her committee or the Committee on Assignments to sign legislation out of their committees in the Chairperson's absence. The designation must be in writing, signed by the committee Chairperson or signed by the Committee on Assignments and presented to the Secretary of the Senate. There shall be the position of Ranking Minority Member on each standing committee and subcommittee thereof. The Ranking Minority Member shall be the member assigned to the committee who is a member of the party with the second largest number of members elected to the Senate and who has served the longest time in the Senate. In the event more than one member qualifies for designation as Ranking Minority Member on a committee or subcommittee, then it shall be determined alphabetically, unless otherwise specified by the Minority Party. In no instance shall any committee report for second reading a bill which was not considered in formal committee meeting. For purposes of this rule, a formal meeting shall be one in which all the members of the committee have been notified of the time and place of the committee meeting, and the committee meeting so held with a quorum present. The standing committees of the Senate shall be on the following subjects:

(1) The Committee on Rules shall have supervision over the Revision of the Journal, Enrolled Bills, and Engrossed Bills. In addition, the Committee on Rules shall consider and report on matters required by the Rules of the Senate, as follows: motions or resolutions to set aside a regular order of business (Rule 9); motions or resolutions for a Special Order (Rules 9 and 13); special rules that debate on a pending measure shall cease at a certain hour and a vote be taken on the measure (Rule 20); propositions to suspend, modify, or amend any rule or any part thereof (Rule 35); all resolutions that may be referred to it (Rule 55). Also, the Committee on Rules shall render advisory opinions to any lobbyist who seeks advice about the rules relating to lobbying, and the committee shall make recommendations regarding the imposition of penalties prescribed for violations of the rules relating to lobbying. The Chairperson of the Committee on Rules shall have power to designate the Vice Chairperson of the Committee to act as Chairperson. Such designation shall be in writing and shall be filed with the Secretary of the Senate. The Committee on Rules shall not exceed 15 members.

(2) The Committee on Finance and Taxation Education, to which committee shall be referred bills and other matters concerning the Education Trust Fund in regard to revenues, appropriations, expenditures, state bond issues relating to projects which fall within the scope of education fund expenditures, and public debts of the state, and the administration of the state's taxation and revenue law, including measures that would require new expenditures or increases in appropriations of state funds or that would affect any reductions in state revenue, as well as comprehensive accountability of all departments and entities which are funded by the Education Budget, including, but not limited to, competent expenditures of all monies appropriated from the Education Budget and performance accountability at all levels. The Committee on Finance and Taxation Education shall not exceed 16 members.

(3) The Committee on Finance and Taxation General Fund, to which committee shall be referred bills and other matters concerning the State General Fund in regard to revenues, appropriations, expenditures, state bond issues relating to projects which fall within the scope of general fund expenditures, and public debts of the state, and the administration of the state's taxation and revenue law, including measures that would require new expenditures or increases in appropriations of state funds or that would affect any reductions in state revenue, as well as comprehensive accountability of all departments and entities which are funded by the General Fund Budget, including, but not limited to, competent expenditures of all monies appropriated from the General Fund Budget and performance accountability at all levels. The Committee on Finance and Taxation General Fund shall not exceed 16 members.

(4) The Committee on Confirmations, to which shall be referred nominations, appointments by the Governor and all other appointments requiring confirmation (Rule 32), is empowered to hold hearings and take testimony regarding those matters where deemed appropriate. The Committee on Confirmations shall not exceed 16 members.

(5) The Committee on the Judiciary, to which committee shall be referred bills and other matters concerning crime and punishment, law enforcement, the judiciary and other matters affecting the criminal or civil laws of Alabama. The Committee on the Judiciary shall not exceed 13 members.

(6) The Committee on State Governmental Affairs, to which committee shall be referred bills and other matters concerning the organization and operation of state government, state procurement practices, state bid laws, state contracts, as well as state agency sunset and reauthorization. The Committee on State Governmental Affairs shall not exceed 11 members.

(7) The Committee on County and Municipal Government, to which committee shall be referred all bills and other matters concerning the organization, operation, and government of any incorporated municipality in the State of Alabama and matters relating to the organization, operation, and government of counties in Alabama. The Committee on County and Municipal Government shall not exceed 10 members.

(8) The Committee on Education Policy, to which committee shall be referred bills addressing all education reforms in primary, secondary, post secondary, higher education and the Department of Education, as well as other matters relating to the children and youth of Alabama. The Committee on Education and Youth Affairs shall not exceed 10 members.

(9) The Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry, to which committee shall be referred all bills and matters relating to Alabama's agriculture and forestry, as well as wildlife, water resources, land, air, environmental protection, and ensuring the preservation of fish and game for future generations of Alabamians. The Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry shall not exceed 14 members.

(10) The Committee on Banking and Insurance, to which committee shall be referred all bills and other matters concerning: banks, banking, savings and loan associations, credit unions, and other financial institutions in this state, including the small loan business; and all bills and other matters concerning the business of insurance in Alabama, including bills and other matters relating to private pension and retirement systems. The Committee on Banking and Insurance shall not exceed 16 members.

(11) The Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development, to which committee shall be referred bills pertaining to job creation and economic development, the Alabama Department of Commerce, the Alabama Department of Labor, the expansion of existing industry, the creation of small businesses, the maintenance of existing small businesses, the recruitment of other small businesses, the economic development of communities, as well as matters pertaining to real estate, housing, the condition, development, and interest of the workforce, and other matters relating to economic growth, and also when appropriate, all bills and other matters related to bringing accountability to the use of taxpayer's dollars. The Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development shall not exceed 14 members.

(12) The Committee on Transportation and Energy, to which committee shall be referred bills and other matters concerning: motor vehicles; traffic regulation; highways; railways; airports; air transportation; mining and reclamation; waste and waste reduction; oil, gas, and all other energy matters; common carriers or other forms of transportation; utilities and utility systems; and ports, harbors, and docks. The Committee on Transportation and Energy shall not exceed 13 members.

(13) The Committee on Healthcare, to which committee shall be referred all bills and other matters concerning the health of the people of Alabama; the operation of programs managed by the Department of Human Resources; the needs of senior citizens; welfare reform; and any other matters which affect the health care of the citizens of Alabama. The Committee on Healthcare shall not exceed 13 members.

(14) The Committee on Children and Youth Health, to which committee shall be referred bills and other matters relating to the children and youth of Alabama; and all bills that relate to the operation of programs managed by the Department of Human Resources; and welfare reform. The Committee on Children and Youth Health shall not exceed 10 members.

(15) The Committee on Tourism, to which committee shall be referred all bills relating to increasing tourism from both domestic and international markets and the maintenance of the tourism-related industries in Alabama and any general bill providing for or dealing with pari-mutuel betting, gambling, or games of chance or affecting an existing facility thereof. The Committee on Tourism shall not exceed 12 members.

(16) The Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Safety, to which committee shall be referred bills and matters addressing military affairs, the National Guard, Reserve, veterans, and public safety. The Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Safety shall not exceed 9 members.

(17) There shall be five (5) Local Legislative Committees described as follows:

1. Local Legislation, to which committee shall be referred all bills and other matters concerning local legislation in counties other than Jefferson, Mobile, Madison, and Shelby. Local legislation under this rule shall consist of any bill that applies to any political subdivision or subdivisions of the state less than the whole, exclusive of those counties excepted under this rule. The Committee on Local Legislation shall consist of 3 members.
2. Jefferson County Legislation, to which committee shall be referred all bills and other matters concerning local legislation in Jefferson County. Local legislation under this rule shall consist of any bill that applies to any political subdivision or subdivisions of the state less than the whole. The Committee on Jefferson County Legislation shall consist of all those Senators whose districts include any part of Jefferson County.
3. Mobile County Legislation, to which committee shall be referred all bills and other matters concerning local legislation in Mobile County. Local legislation under this rule shall consist of any bill that applies to any political subdivision or subdivisions of the state less than the whole. The Committee on Mobile County Legislation shall consist of all those Senators whose districts include any part of Mobile County.
4. Madison County Legislation, to which committee shall be referred all bills and other matters concerning local legislation in Madison County. The Committee on Madison County Legislation shall consist of all those Senators whose districts include any part of Madison County.
5. Shelby County Legislation, to which committee shall be referred all bills and other matters concerning local legislation in Shelby County. The Committee on Shelby County Legislation shall consist of all those Senators whose districts include any part of Shelby County.

(b) Pursuant to the provisions of Section 53 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, there is created a Senate Ethics and Conduct Committee whose responsibility shall be to consider and, when necessary, act upon complaints of misconduct brought against an individual Senator during his/her participation in a session of the Senate or his/her participation in a standing or interim committee.

(1) The committee shall be composed of five members of the Senate elected by the Senate at the earliest possible time after the convening of the first Regular Session of the quadrennium as designated by the President Pro Tempore and the members shall serve without compensation. Of the five members of this committee one member shall be elected from the minority party of the Senate. Members shall serve for a quadrennium.

(2) The procedure for the election of members to the committee shall be as herein provided. At the appointed time of election to be determined by the Presiding Officer there shall be a call of districts. When his or her district is called, each Senator desiring to vote shall deliver to the Secretary of the Senate a list of five names of persons for whom the Senator votes. After each Senator who wishes to do so has submitted a list of five names, the Secretary shall receive the names for counting. The results of the election shall be tabulated by the Secretary under the supervision of a committee of three Senators appointed by the President of the Senate for that purpose. The Secretary shall certify to the Presiding Officer the names of the five Senators receiving the most votes. In the event of a tie vote, a second election shall be held in the same manner as the initial election was held. Senators shall vote for only the number of names that equals the number of positions on the committee to be filled. No ballot shall be counted if it contains a number of names greater than the number required to be elected. Any vacancy on the committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original members were elected.

(3) A chair and vice chair of the committee shall be elected from among the membership of the committee.

(4) If a complaint is brought against a member of the committee, that member shall not participate as a member of the committee in considering the complaint. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint a temporary replacement for that member to participate in the review of the complaint. The temporary member shall possess the same powers as other members of the committee.

(5) The committee shall receive complaints of misconduct against an individual Senator and recommend such action as it deems necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of the committee.

(6) For the purposes of this Rule, misconduct means any of the following:

1. Any conduct constituting a legal wrong that materially impairs the ability of the member to perform the duties of his or her office or substantially impairs public confidence in the Legislature.
2. Any conduct by a Senator that intentionally violates any Senate Rule in the conduct of Senate business, whether official or unofficial business, and which persists after instruction or warning in writing by the Presiding Officer if the Senate is in session, or by the President Pro Tempore if the Senate is not in session.
3. Any conduct by a Senator which, during his or her term of office, sexually harasses any other person of either sex including, but not limited to, Senate Pages. For purposes of this Rule, unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when:
4. submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment,
5. submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual, or
6. such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment. In determining whether alleged conduct constitutes sexual harassment, the committee will look at the record as a whole and the totality of the circumstances, such as the nature of the sexual advances and the context in which the alleged incidents occurred. The determination of the legality of a particular action will be made from the facts, on a case-by-case basis.
7. Any conduct by a Senator which violates any provision of the State Ethics Law, Chapter 25 of Title 36 of the Code of Alabama 1975.
8. Any conduct prohibited by the Constitution of Alabama.
9. The intentional filing of a false complaint with the committee or the filing of a complaint in reckless disregard of the truth.

(7) The procedure to be followed by the committee is as follows:

1. Only a member of the Senate may file a written complaint with the committee. The complaint shall include all of the following information:
2. The name of the Senator alleged to have committed the violation.
3. The name of the Senator filing the complaint.
4. The nature of the alleged violation.
5. Facts that support the complaint.
6. The date of the alleged violation. The complaint shall be in writing, signed by the Senator filing the complaint, and specify in detail the conduct in question. No complaint alleging a violation shall be filed more than one year after the date the alleged violation occurred. The Senator against whom the complaint has been brought shall be notified in writing by the committee and provided a copy of the complaint. Within 15 days after receipt of the complaint, the Senator may file a written answer to the complaint with the committee. Failure to file a written answer shall not be deemed to be an admission or create an inference or presumption that the complaint is true.
7. At all times during any proceeding conducted pursuant to this Rule, the Senator accused of misconduct shall be given such notice and hearing as is requisite to due process of law guaranteed under the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Alabama. Prior to taking any action, the committee shall notify the Senator accused of misconduct and shall grant the Senator an opportunity to respond at a hearing on the complaint. Since, by the very nature of a hearing on a complaint filed pursuant to this rule, the character or good name of a woman or man will be involved in the hearing, the filing of the complaint shall be confidential and the committee shall meet in Executive Session for purposes of hearing and deciding complaints filed.
8. After thorough investigation, by a majority vote, the committee may determine that no misconduct has occurred.
9. The committee, in Executive Session, may address the accused Senator by issuing a warning.
10. The committee by a four-fifths vote may recommend to the Senate as a whole that further action against the accused Senator be initiated. Such action may include, but is not limited to, censure, removal from committee assignments, barring from recognition to hold the floor, suspension, or in extreme cases, expulsion from the Senate, or referral of the complaint to the Ethics Commission or Attorney General, all of which actions require the vote of two-thirds of the elected Senators. The committee may adopt rules of procedure, not inconsistent with this rule, for the orderly conduct of its affairs, investigations, hearings, and meetings.

(c) If a law or executive order refers to the Chair of the Finance and Taxation Committee as a member or ex officio member of a committee, council, task force, or commission, both the Chair of the Finance and Taxation Education Committee and the Chair of the Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee shall serve.

(d) If a law or executive order imposes duties or responsibilities on a standing committee or standing committee chairmanship which no longer exists under these rules, the Committee on Assignments shall designate a substitute when necessary, and shall notify the Secretary in writing.

RULE 49. (a) No committee, with the exception of the Committee on Rules and the Committee on Assignments shall meet on the Senate floor while the Senate is in session. No committee shall meet off the Senate floor while the Senate is in session unless the time and place shall be previously announced by the Presiding Officer of the Senate.

(b) Each committee shall have investigatory powers and is authorized to hold hearings on any subject under its jurisdiction, to require attendance, upon appropriate notice, of state government officials, state employees, or representatives of any entity receiving state or federal funds through a state agency to give testimony at such hearings, and to formulate reports and recommendations regarding the activities or actions of such agency or department being investigated or reviewed by such committee.

RULE 50. (a) Any local bill providing for or dealing with pari-mutuel betting, gambling, games of chance, or affecting existing facilities thereof, shall first be assigned to the appropriate Local Legislation Committee. If the appropriate Local Legislation Committee gives the bill a favorable report, said bill shall then be referred to the Committee on Tourism and Marketing for further action and be treated in all further respects as a local bill. Any general bill providing for or dealing with pari-mutuel betting, gambling, games of chance, or affecting existing facilities thereof, shall be assigned to the Committee on Tourism and Marketing.

(b) A local bill dealing with any environmental issue shall first be assigned to the appropriate local legislation committee. If the appropriate local legislation committee gives the bill a favorable report, the bill shall then be referred to a standing committee for further action and be treated in all further respects as a local bill. A local bill dealing with issues related to facilities as defined by Section 22-27-2(26) of the Code of Alabama 1975, shall not be subject to such referral to a standing committee or treatment.

RULE 51. Smoking shall not be permitted in any committee meetings held in a private office of the Senate.

RULE 52. (a) The drafts of all bills which are for introduction at any session of the Legislature, and which are not prepared by the Legislative Services Agency or the Executive Budget Office must be presented to the Legislative Services Agency for review of form only and for entry into the Legislative Data Bank.

(b) All substitutes offered on the floor of the Senate must be in the Legislative Data Bank prior to offering.

(d) All substitutes and amendments offered on the floor of the Senate shall be signed by the member prior to being offered.

RULE 53. When motions are made for reference of the same subject to a select committee and to a standing committee, the question on reference to the standing committee shall be put first. A select committee is a committee appointed by the Committee on Assignments, pursuant to Senate Rule 47(b), to study one specific question and ceases to exist when the purpose for which it was selected has been resolved.

RULE 54. A Senate bill or resolution carrying an appropriation may be referred to a committee other than the appropriate finance and taxation committee if the subject matter requires such referral in the judgment of the Presiding Officer. A House message containing a House bill or resolution carrying an appropriation may be referred to a committee other than the appropriate finance and taxation committee if the subject matter requires such referral in the judgment of the President Pro Tempore. However, such Senate or House bill or resolution shall also be referred to the appropriate committee on finance and taxation after being given a second reading.

RULE 55. All resolutions shall be referred to and reported from the Committee on Rules before consideration by the Senate. Reported resolutions of congratulation, commendation, or sympathy may be considered en masse. All Senate resolutions issued for presentation shall be signed by the Secretary and the President of the Senate.

RULE 56. When a bill has been acted upon by a standing committee, the committee's Chairperson shall endorse on said bill: This bill was referred to the Standing Committee of the Senate on ______________________________ and was acted upon by such Committee in session and is by order of the Committee returned therefrom with ______________ report by a vote of yeas __________ nays _______________ this _____ day of ___________________ 20____.

______________________________________ Chairperson

RULE 57. The final vote of a committee on a bill shall be recorded and kept as a permanent record in the office of the Secretary of the Senate. No bill shall receive its second reading without a final favorable vote of a committee attached thereto. This rule shall not apply to local bills. Whenever possible, it shall be the responsibility of the Chairperson of each committee to post at least 24 hours in advance, unless such notice shall be suspended by a majority of those present and voting in committee, notice of the committee agenda, which shall include the bill number or a short synopsis of each bill, along with the time and place of each meeting. No bill shall receive its second reading without a favorable vote by the standing committee reporting it in formal meeting. The 24 hour meeting notice shall not apply in Special Sessions.

RULE 58. [Reserved]

RULE 59. No bill shall be reported out of committee by any means without having been considered and acted upon at a meeting of the committee to which such bill was assigned. If a meeting of a Senate standing committee convenes, pursuant to notice, and the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson are both absent, then the committee may elect an acting Chairperson. However, before any bills are reported by a committee acting in such fashion, the Chairperson must still sign all reports of bills for second reading.

RULE 60. The Committee on Rules may report at any time.

RULE 61. Committee Chairpersons shall post notice of public hearings to the Legislative Information System at least 48 hours in advance of such hearings whenever possible. Such notice of public hearings should be posted as soon as possible to encourage public participation.

RULES RELATING TO

THE SECRETARY AND THE JOURNAL

RULE 62. The proceedings of the Senate, when not in committee of the whole, shall be entered on the journal as concisely as possible, care being taken to detail a true and accurate account thereof. Every vote of the Senate shall be entered on the journal, and a brief statement of the contents of each item of legislation presented to the Senate shall be inserted thereon.

RULE 63. The titles of bills and such parts thereof only as shall be affected by proposed amendments shall be inserted in the journal.

RULE 64. The Secretary shall, on the introduction of bills, make a photocopy of each bill to be designated as a second official copy, and shall make an entry in the journal as follows:

"INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

Bills were introduced, severally read one time and referred to appropriate standing committees as follows: (Here set out the number, title, and sponsors of each bill introduced and the name of the committee to which it was referred. The name of the chief sponsor shall be underscored on the original bill.)"

RULE 65. (a) When a bill shall be returned from a standing committee, the Secretary shall make the journal read: Senator ________________________, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on ______________________, reported that said committee, in session, had acted on the following bills and ordered same returned to the Senate with a _________________________, and they were severally read a second time and placed on the calendar, to wit:

(b) After final passage of bills, the Secretary shall make the journal read: The bill: [Here set out the bill number and note substitutes or amendments] Was read a third time at length and passed.

RULE 66. On the signing of bills or resolutions, the Secretary shall make the journal read: "SIGNING OF BILLS (OR RESOLUTIONS)

"The Presiding Officer of the Senate, in the presence of the Senate, after the reading thereof at length had been dispensed with by a two-thirds vote of a quorum of the Senate present, and immediately after their titles had been publicly read at length by the Secretary of the Senate, signed the foregoing bills (or resolutions), the titles of which are set out in the foregoing Message from the House, or Report from the Committee on Rules as the case may be."

RULE 67. Messages shall be sent to the House of Representatives by the Secretary, who shall endorse the final determination of the Senate thereon.

RULE 68. The Secretary shall provide the Chairperson of each standing committee with a stamp with which to make endorsements on bills. Each standing committee of the Senate shall be furnished a secretary or clerk by the Secretary of the Senate. Office space shall be provided to the President Pro Tempore, the Senate Majority Leader, and to the Chairpersons of standing committees as such space is made available to the Senate.

RULE 69. Upon adjournment of the Senate, the Secretary shall enter on the journal the hour of adjournment and the name of the member on whose motion adjournment was adopted.

RULE 70. [Reserved]

RULE 71. The Secretary shall furnish to the members daily a printed calendar of all bills and resolutions on third reading and such calendar shall be designated "Regular Order Calendar." The bills and resolutions listed therein shall be arranged in the order in which they are entitled to consideration. In the event a Special Order Calendar is adopted for more than one day, but is not a continuing order of business until disposed of, then such bills on Special Order shall be returned to their original position on the Regular Order Calendar occupied by them before the adoption of the Special Order. Whenever the calendar contains more than 25 pages, a numerical index of all Senate and House bills contained in that day's calendar (with the number of the page on which the bill appears in the calendar printed opposite the bill's assigned number) shall be printed on the last pages of that day's calendar, or on a separate pamphlet which can be slipped into the back of the calendar. After the Senate adjourns at the end of the 28th legislative day, all Senate bills shall be removed from the Senate Regular Order Calendar and shall be considered postponed indefinitely.

RULE 72. The Secretary shall cause to be printed and distributed among the members of the Senate books or pamphlets, which shall include the following information: (a) a picture and brief biography of each Senator, his or her Senate office address, Senate phone number, and committee assignments; (b) a list of Senate committees and their memberships; (c) Senate and joint rules; (d) a brief explanation of the legislative process including legislative powers, qualifications, and duties of legislators; and (e) instructions for the drafting of bills.

RULE 73. No person who is under the age of 12 years shall serve as a Page.

RULE 74. (a) Every general bill and local bill which affects State funding more than $5,000, before any vote is taken thereon by the Senate, must have endorsed thereon or attached thereto a reliable estimate of the amount of state money involved therein, and the anticipated increase or decrease in state revenue collections under the provisions of the bill. All fiscal notes provided for in this rule and other rules of the Senate must be prepared by or certified by the Chief Legislative Fiscal Officer as being substantially accurate to the best of his or her knowledge, information, and belief. The fiscal note shall also be prepared by or under the supervision of the standing committee to which the bill is referred. The fiscal note shall be endorsed on the bill or attached thereto, and shall be printed on the calendar of bills on third reading immediately following the title of the bill. Any general bill or local bill, if applicable, on second reading not having a fiscal note affixed thereto shall be recommitted to the committee from whence it came. (No general bill or local bill, if applicable, shall be given its third reading unless it has affixed thereto a valid fiscal note.)

(b) All resolutions creating a committee or program wherein the expenditure of funds out of the State Treasury is authorized must contain the same fiscal note as defined in paragraph (a) above and must be referred to the Committee on Rules.

RULE 75. (a) No resolution, as provided for in Subsection (C) of Section 71.01 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022 (a Budget Isolation Resolution) may be introduced until the bill described in the resolution appears on the regular calendar. Further provided that Rule 35, relative to the provision that one Senator may object to suspension of the rules, shall not be applicable to resolutions pertaining to budget isolation and said resolution shall be considered at such time as the bill is called for third reading, notwithstanding the provision of Rule 55. Further provided that such resolution shall have been prepared by the Legislative Reference Service or the office of the Secretary of the Senate.

(b) Debate on Budget Isolation Resolutions (BIR) shall be limited to 10 minutes total debate, must be passed by a vote of three-fifths of a quorum present, and if adopted the BIR shall not be subject to a motion to reconsider.

RULE 76. The indices of the Senate Journals shall include a topic index of all bills referenced in the journals, a numerical index, a sponsor index, and an index of "Miscellaneous Subjects." The indices shall be distinguished from the textual material by the use of paper of a distinctive color and the indices shall be prefaced by a page of explanatory material that will instruct a person totally unfamiliar with the journals on the most efficient means of locating particular items of information. Speeches received in the two houses in joint sessions and printed in full in the House Journal shall carry an abridged statement in the Senate Journal and a distinct reference to the full text in the House Journal.

RULE 77. [Reserved]

RULE 78. Senate Resolutions of commendation, congratulations, or sympathy shall be prepared and certified during interim periods, or when the Senate is in session, and signed by the Secretary and the President of the Senate, but shall not be entered into the Journal of the Senate. These resolutions are prepared by the Secretary as a courtesy for individual Senators and are not acted upon by the entire Senate. When the Senate is in session, at the request of the sponsor, such resolutions shall be referred to the Committee on Rules.

RULE 79. If no member of the Joint Transportation Committee requests referral of bills subject to Section 29-2-8 of the Code of Alabama 1975, to the Joint Committee at the bill's second reading, the committee shall be deemed to have no recommendations concerning such bill, and referral is waived.

RULE 80. substitute or amendment offered to a bill or resolution on the floor of the Senate greater than three pages in length shall be subject to a motion to dispense with the reading of the substitute or amendment. Such motion shall be decided by majority vote without debate. Should such motion prevail, the Secretary of the Senate shall distribute to each member's desk a copy of the substitute or amendment as soon as practical. If the motion prevails, no vote shall be taken on the substitute or amendment until the copies are delivered to each member's desk.

RULE 81. The Senate encourages "Local Courtesy" when voting on local bills and members are requested to vote for local bills that relate to political subdivisions that they do not represent in order for these local bills to receive the constitutional majority needed to become law. Any member may contest any specific or all local bills as delineated in Rule 8 by filing a letter each legislative day with the Secretary of the Senate.

RULE 82. Any motion relating to creating or filling a vacancy in the office of President Pro Tempore shall be in writing with a day certain for the vote, which day certain may not be less than five legislative days after the motion is filed. Any vote relating to the removal of a Member serving as President Pro Tempore shall prevail only with a concurrence of a two-thirds vote of the elected members of the Senate.

JOINT RULES OF ORDER AND PROCEDURE

Rule 1. Messages from one house to the other shall take precedence over all other questions.

Rule 2. When House and Senate bills are signed by the presiding officer of the House or Senate, the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate shall notify the other house and request the signature of the presiding officer to the same, and as soon as the message is read, the presiding officer shall immediately sign the bills in the presence of the House or Senate, as prescribed by the Constitution.

Rule 3. No local or special bill shall be introduced into either house unless the member who introduces it discloses at the time the fact that the notice required by the Constitution and laws has been given and submits one copy of the notice and proof thereof attached to the bill.

Rule 4. No bill amending a section or part of the code by reference to the section or other subdivision of the code shall be introduced in either house unless the title thereof contains a brief statement of the general subject, independent of references to the code section, to which such section or subsection relates.

Rule 5. The Secretary or the Clerk, when a bill is duly enrolled and signed by the presiding officers of both houses, shall deliver the bill to the Governor noting thereon the day and hour and minute of delivery and shall make a written report to the house where the bill originated showing the number of the bill and time of delivery, which shall be spread upon the Journal.

Rule 6. All official printed legislative documents placed in the custody of the Secretary and the Clerk shall be assigned a number by the Secretary or the Clerk and the number, year, and the session shall clearly appear on the title page of the document.

Rule 7. No bill or resolution may be introduced unless it has been entered into the Legislative Data System by the Legislative Services Agency or the Executive Budget Office. The draft of any bill which is for introduction at any session of the Legislature, and which is not prepared by the Legislative Services Agency or the Executive Budget Office, shall be presented to the Legislative Services Agency, Legal Division for review, preparation of a synopsis, and entry into the Legislative Data System.

Rule 8. The privileges of the floor of both houses are accorded the Director and employees of the Legislative Services Agency and the Chief Examiner of the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts.

Rule 9. The presiding officer of the Senate shall preside when the two houses meet in joint sessions.

Rule 10. During the period between the end of a regular session and the convening of the next regular session, except for the period between the end of the last regular session in the quadrennium and the last day of the organizational session, members may deliver bills to the Secretary or Clerk. This shall be known as "pre-filing." Such bills shall be numbered by the Secretary or Clerk in the order of receipt and otherwise processed for introduction when the regular session has been convened. Pre-filed bills shall be assigned as provided in the rules of each respective house to a standing committee or subcommittee for study. A pre-filed bill shall not be voted on by a committee until each house has convened in a regular or special session and the bill is in position for a committee to vote.

Rule 11. Resolutions of sympathy, commendation, or congratulations shall be by House resolution or by Senate resolution and shall be filed with the Secretary or the Clerk who shall cause the respective journals to reflect that such resolution was filed by inserting the title thereof in their respective journals; the Secretary or the Clerk, respectively, shall prepare appropriate copies for distribution; provided, however, by suspension of the rules, such resolutions shall be made a part of the journals.

Rule 12. (a) No bill amending an existing statute shall be accepted for introduction in the Legislature unless the language to be deleted is stricken through (example: stricken through); and the language to be inserted is underscored (example: underscored).

(b) All amendments to bills shall refer to the page and line or lines to be amended by number and shall specify the language to be deleted and added.

Rule 13. No bill shall be accepted by the Secretary or Clerk for introduction in either house unless it is a legible copy, typed on 8 1/2" by 11" paper with numbered lines which are double spaced.

Rule 14. All bills or resolutions that have been amended in the house of origin shall be engrossed by that house prior to being delivered to the other house.

Rule 15. No resolution, as provided for in Subsection (C) of Section 71.01 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, shall be introduced until the bill described in the resolution appears on the regular calendar of the house in which the resolution is offered. Such resolution shall not be introduced unless it has been prepared by the Legislative Services Agency, Legal Division or the office of the Secretary or the Clerk.

Rule 16. All House bills and Senate bills, except local bills, shall have printed at the top of the bill a brief synopsis of the contents.

Rule 17. Every bill making an appropriation, except the General Fund Appropriation Bill and the Education Trust Fund Appropriation Bill, shall clearly stipulate in the bill's title the amount and the source from which the appropriation is to be made.

Rule 18. Any bill that proposes an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama shall include in the text of the bill specific language that shall appear on the ballot if the bill is passed by the Legislature.

Rule 19. When both the House and Senate, respectively, lack a sufficient number of members on the same day to constitute a quorum at the time of convening, and the Governor has declared a state of emergency pursuant to Section 31-9-8 of the Code of Alabama 1975, then that day will not be considered a legislative day.

JOINT RULES RELATING TO COMMITTEES

Rule 20. (a) Each standing committee, except committees on local legislation, is designated as an interim committee when the Legislature is not in regular or special session.

(b) An interim committee, or a subcommittee of the interim committee, may meet to consider pre-filed bills assigned to it or other subject matters assigned by the presiding officer of the House or pursuant to the rules of the Senate, or both. An interim committee or subcommittee shall not travel outside Montgomery unless the travel is approved in advance by the presiding officer of the House or the Lieutenant Governor, or in the absence of a Lieutenant Governor, the presiding officer of the Senate.

Rule 21. (a) A Committee on Conference to reconcile the difference on pending legislation between the two houses of the Alabama Legislature shall consist of six members, three members of the House and three members of the Senate. Appointments to Committees on Conference shall be made as provided in the rules of each respective house.

(b) (1) Whenever possible, notice of meetings of Committees on Conference shall be posted at least one hour prior to the meeting in the same manner as the posting of notice of standing committee meetings.

(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (1), on the 12th legislative day of any special session or on the 30th day of any regular session the notice requirements of this rule shall be satisfied if the meeting time and place of a conference committee is announced publicly by the presiding officer of the House and the presiding officer of the Senate or the designee of the presiding officer.

(c) A Committee on Conference on an appropriation bill shall only address differences in monetary amounts or language differences between the House-passed and Senate-passed versions of the pending legislation. The Committee on Conference shall not introduce a new appropriation item, earmark funds for any item that did not appear in either the House-passed or Senate-passed version, or propose new language that did not appear in either the House-passed or Senate-passed version. The conference committee shall not increase the appropriation to any entity above the higher amount passed by either the House or Senate. The provisions contained in this subsection may be suspended, by written motion to suspend this rule, as to particular items of appropriation or language by a majority recorded vote of the House membership and by a majority recorded vote of the Senate membership.

(d) A Committee on Conference shall not report unless there be an affirmative vote of at least four members which shall consist of at least two votes by the conferees from each house. The report of the Committee on Conference shall be attached to the pending legislation and returned to the house of origin for such action as that house may deem appropriate. The house of origin may take one of the following courses of action:

(1) It may concur in the Committee on Conference report and, in the event of this action, the bill and the conference committee report shall be sent to the other house for action.

(2) It may reject the conference committee report, in which case the pending legislation is automatically void.

(3) It may reject the report of the Committee on Conference and request that a new committee be appointed by the presiding officer of the House and, for Senate members, pursuant to Senate rules. In the event the house of origin adopts the Committee on Conference report, the pending legislation together with the report of the Committee on Conference, shall be submitted to the other house for action in the same manner as in the house of origin.

(e) (1) In the event the minority wishes to submit a report, the house of origin shall first consider the majority report.

(2) In the event of a majority report rejection, the minority report may be considered and, if concurred in by the house of origin, the same shall be presented to the other house for action by that house.

(f) The Committee of Conferees shall report substantially as follows:

We, the Committee of Conferees appointed to reconcile the difference between the two houses concerning House Bill/Senate Bill ___, have met, considered the matter, and agreed to the following: (Example: Substitute for HB/SB_____ is attached). (Example: Amend HB/SB_____ as follows:)

______________________________

Name

______________________________

Name

______________________________

Name

CONFEREES OF THE HOUSE

______________________________

Name

______________________________

Name

______________________________

Name

CONFEREES OF THE SENATE

Rule 22. The Legislative Services Agency, Fiscal Division shall prepare and provide to all members of the Legislature a report of all changes (word and number) in a conference committee report on any appropriation bill from the bill as passed in the respective house of the Legislature.

Rule 23. All amendments or revisions to redistricting plans, following introduction as a bill, shall be drafted by the Reapportionment Office.

Rule 24. Drafts of all redistricting plans which are for introduction at any session of the Legislature, and which are not prepared by the Reapportionment Office, shall be presented to the Reapportionment Office for review of proper form and for entry into the Legislative Data System at least 10 days prior to introduction.

Rule 25. (a) The title of a general bill the purpose or effect of which is to impose a requirement for a new or increased expenditure of funds held or disbursed by the governing body of a municipality or county, or an instrumentality thereof, shall include a statement to that effect.

(b) If the requirement contained in a general bill subject to subdivision (a) is one which is excluded from the requirements of Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, the bill shall contain a section so stating and the basis for the exclusion.

(c) After introduction of a general bill the title of which contains the statement required by subsection (a), and does not contain a section stating the bill is excluded from the requirements of Section 111.05 and the basis for the exclusion, the Legislative Services Agency, Fiscal Division shall determine whether the bill has an aggregate fiscal impact of less than $50,000. If the Legislative Services Agency, Fiscal Division determines that the aggregate fiscal impact is less than $50,000 annually, it shall notify the sponsor so that the bill may be amended to comply with subsection (b).

(d) A general bill subject to subdivision (a) that does not contain a section stating it is excluded from the requirements of Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, shall not be transmitted to the other house unless it is passed by a two-thirds vote of the members of the house voting on the bill.

JOINT RULES RELATING TO LOBBYING

Rule 26. Prohibitions. No lobbyist shall be permitted upon the floor of either house while it is in session, except as otherwise provided. No lobbyist shall circulate a cloture petition.

Rule 27. Obligations of Lobbyist. (a) A lobbyist shall supply facts, information, and opinions of principals to legislators from the point of view from which he or she openly declares. A lobbyist shall not offer or propose anything to improperly influence the official act, decision, or vote of a legislator, including the gathering, dissemination and/or distribution of false, misleading, and/or malicious information by his or her employees, employers, or agents.

(b) A lobbyist, by personal example and admonition to colleagues, shall uphold the honor of the legislative process by the integrity of his or her relationship with legislators.

(c) A lobbyist shall not knowingly and willfully falsify a material fact or make any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation or make or use any writing or document knowing the same contains any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or entry.

Rule 28. Rules Committee Advisory Opinions. A lobbyist, when in doubt about the applicability and interpretation of the rules relating to lobbying in a particular context, may submit in writing a statement of the facts involved to the Joint Committee on Rules, which consists of the House Rules Committee and the Senate Rules Committee, and may appear in person before the committee.

Rule 29. Penalties for Violations. In addition to any prosecutions or penalties otherwise provided by law, any person determined to have violated the rules relating to lobbying shall be censured, reprimanded, placed on probation, or prohibited from lobbying for the duration of the session and from appearing before any committee of the Legislature. The determination shall be made by a majority of the respective house upon recommendation of the Joint Committee on Rules. The Joint Committee on Rules, before making the recommendation, shall conduct a hearing, after notifying the person alleged to have violated this rule and granting such person an opportunity to appear at the hearing.

Rule 30. Secretary or Clerk to Provide Forms. Upon the request of any member of the Legislature, the Secretary or Clerk shall obtain and provide to the requesting member a copy of any lobbyist registration form filed with the State Ethics Commission.

Rule 31. Committees to be Diligent. Committees shall be diligent to ascertain whether those who appear before them in other than an obviously individual capacity have conformed with the requirements of law relating to lobbying, and to report violations. No committee member knowingly shall permit a person required by law to be registered as a lobbyist who is not registered as a lobbyist to be heard.

Senate Rules 2023

Index to the Rules of the Senate of Alabama (by Rule Number)

ABSENCE

ADJOURNMENT

AMENDMENTS OR SUBSTITUTES

APPEAL OF THE CHAIR

APPROPRIATIONS

ASSIGNMENTS, COMMITTEE ON

ATTENDANCE

BILLS

BUDGET ISOLATION

CALENDAR

CALL OF CHAIR

CALL TO ORDER

CHAPLAIN OF THE DAY

CLOTURE PETITION/LIMIT DEBATE

COMMITTEE, FINANCE AND TAXATION

COMMITTEE ON ASSIGNMENTS

COMMITTEE ON CONFIRMATIONS

COMMITTEE ON RULES

COMMITTEES, SELECT AND SPECIAL

COMMITTEES, STANDING

CONFERENCE, COMMITTEE ON

CONFIRMATIONS,

DAY CERTAIN

DEBATE

DIVISION OF THE QUESTION

DOORKEEPER

ETHICS AND CONDUCT COMMITTEE

EXECUTIVE MESSAGES

EXECUTIVE SESSION

FISCAL NOTES

GAMBLING

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

JOINT TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

JOURNAL

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

LOBBYING

LOCAL BILLS

MAJORITY LEADER

MAJORITY WHIP

MEMBERS

MEMORIALS AND PETITIONS

MESSAGES

MEETING DAYS AND TIMES

MINORITY LEADER

MINORITY WHIP

MOTIONS

NOTICE IN WRITING

ORDER OF BUSINESS

PAGES

PARI-MUTUEL BETTING LEGISLATION

PERSONAL PRIVILEGE

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

POINT OF ORDER

PRAYER

PRE‑FILING OF BILLS

PRESIDENT

PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE

PRESIDING OFFICER

PRIVILEGE OF FLOOR

PUBLIC HEARINGS

PUBLICATIONS

QUESTION

QUORUM

QUORUM CALL

RECONSIDERATION

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

RESOLUTIONS

ROLL CALL

RULES

RULES, COMMITTEE ON

RULING OF CHAIR

SECRETARY OF SENATE

SPECIAL ORDER CALENDAR

SUBSTITUTES OR AMENDMENTS

SUNSET BILLS

TIME OF MEETING

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

VISITORS