TBA Law Blog

TBA Law Blog

House Adopts Rules Package, Limits Bill Presentation Time, Issues Ticketing System for Public Gallery Access

Posted by: Julia Wilburn on Jan 10, 2024

The Tennessee House of Representatives today adopted a new rules package in a vote of 70-19 for the 113th Session. Tennessee House members may not use papers or visual aids while they discuss legislation but spectators watching legislative proceedings can still hold 8.5-by-11-inch signs this year. Additionally, House members approved a new rule to temporarily silence members ruled out of order by the speaker. For a first out-of-order offense, the member will not be able to participate in any further discussion of that current subject. If found out of order a second time, the member will have their speaking time reduced from five minutes to two minutes. On a third violation, the member will be barred from speaking on the floor for two legislative days. Guns will continue to be allowed in hearing rooms and banned from the House floor, and bill presentations in committee will be limited to five minutes. The Tennessean has more coverage of the rules package. In other action, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, implemented a new policy governing access to one of the chamber's public galleries. The West Gallery is now accessible only to those who receive a ticket from a legislator, reports WPLN. Public access to the East Gallery remains on a first-come, first-served basis, Sexton's office tells the Tennessean. The House parliamentarian says the rules allow Sexton to enact policies that address decorum without needing a vote of the members.

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