HOUSE RESOLUTION AMENDING THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE YEARS 2025 AND 2026 (Amends the House Rules to enable any member to have up to three (3) bills that are held for further study either substituted in committee or allowed to have a committee vote for placement on the floor calendar exclusively at the discretion of the Speaker.)

Plain-English Summary

This resolution proposes a change to the internal operating rules of the Rhode Island House of Representatives for the 2025-2026 legislative session. Specifically, it deals with what happens to bills that get "held for further study" in committee — a procedural status that effectively stalls a bill and prevents it from moving forward for a vote.

Under this proposed rule change, any individual House member could have up to three of their stalled bills either brought back for a committee vote or substituted with revised versions in committee. However, there is an important condition: this can only happen at the exclusive discretion of the Speaker of the House, meaning the Speaker alone decides whether to allow this to occur. No member can force their bill forward on their own — the Speaker retains full control over whether to exercise this option.

This rule change primarily affects Rhode Island state legislators and, indirectly, the residents and interest groups who support legislation that has previously been stuck in committee. On one hand, it creates a potential pathway for stalled bills to get a second chance. On the other hand, because the decision rests entirely with the Speaker, it concentrates significant authority in the Speaker's office to determine which bills — and which members — benefit from this opportunity. The resolution has been referred to the House Rules Committee for consideration.