House Resolution 3

A RESOLUTION TO AMEND HOUSE RULE 95 OF THE HOUSE RULES TO DECREASE FROM TWO-THIRDS TO MAJORITY THE VOTE REQUIRED TO WITHDRAW A BILL FROM COMMITTEE.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That Rule 95 of the 2004-2008 Rules of the House of Representatives is amended as follows:

"95. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (2), (3) and (4) of this rule, every House bill, resolution or measure referred to any committee, and not reported therefrom with a recommendation by the twenty-seventh day of a ninety-day session and by the sixty-second day of a one-hundred-twenty-five-day session, and every Senate bill, resolution or measure referred to any committee, and not reported therefrom by the fifty-fifth day of a ninety-day session and by the ninetieth day of a one-hundred-twenty-five-day session, may be withdrawn from the committee on a motion made in writing, which motion must be read by the clerk immediately upon its introduction, setting forth the reasons why the bill should be withdrawn from the committee, by a vote of a majority of the members elected to the House. It may then be taken up and considered by the Committee of the Whole House in accordance with the procedure set forth in House Rule 56, or, by a majority vote of those present and voting it may be recommitted to a standing committee. During extraordinary or special sessions of the Legislature, any bill, including an appropriation or revenue bill, may be withdrawn from committee after three (3) days from the date of reference. A motion to withdraw a bill from a committee shall not be voted upon by the House on the day which the motion is made, except upon suspension of the rules by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting.

(2) Any House appropriation bill or revenue bill referred to the House Appropriations Committee or the House Ways and Means Committee and not reported therefrom with a recommendation within ten (10) legislative days after referral may be withdrawn from the committee in accordance with the procedure set forth in subsection (1) of this rule if the motion for withdrawal is made by the fiftieth day of a ninety-day session and by the eighty-fifth day of a one-hundred-twenty-five-day session.

(3) Any Senate appropriation bill or revenue bill referred to the House Appropriations Committee or the House Ways and Means Committee and not reported therefrom with a recommendation within ten (10) legislative days after referral may be withdrawn from the committee in accordance with the procedure set forth in subsection (1) of this rule if the motion for withdrawal is made by the seventieth day of a ninety-day session and by the one-hundred-fifth day of a one-hundred-twenty-five-day session.

(4) For the purposes of this rule, the term 'revenue bill' shall include only those bills whose primary purpose is to increase or decrease taxes or to authorize the issuance of bonds or the borrowing of money. Bills which are primarily for regulatory purposes which have revenue provisions included shall not be considered as revenue bills for the purposes of this rule."