Delivered via email: February 11, 2021
The new governing procedures will allow all bills to be assigned to committee. Previously, the Rules Committee was notorious for not assigning legislation the majority party did not want to see voted upon. Under the new rules in the odd year, all bills will be sent to committees, but this does not necessarily mean they will receive a vote in a legislative committee. The second year of each General Assembly is considered “budgetary and emergency legislation” matters only, allowing limitations on the number of bills being heard and acted upon. Another major change is a rule that limits the respective party leaders to 10 years serving as House Speaker or Minority Leader. While the House Rules can be easily changed, it is another sign that the House will operate differently in the 102nd General Assembly than in the past. The rules package also puts the House on more even footing with the Senate in allowing for remote legislative hearings during a pandemic. The rules resolution was heavily debated and was eventually passed along partisan lines, 70-44.
Illinois House Adopts New Rules
Under normal circumstances, the discussion of the rules that govern the General Assembly is lightly debated and passed on a partisan roll call. While these rules are important to the business of the chamber, it is usually a formality with the previous set of rules slightly tweaked before each new Illinois General Assembly begins working. However, with the election of new House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Westchester), the House rules were given special emphasis.The new governing procedures will allow all bills to be assigned to committee. Previously, the Rules Committee was notorious for not assigning legislation the majority party did not want to see voted upon. Under the new rules in the odd year, all bills will be sent to committees, but this does not necessarily mean they will receive a vote in a legislative committee. The second year of each General Assembly is considered “budgetary and emergency legislation” matters only, allowing limitations on the number of bills being heard and acted upon. Another major change is a rule that limits the respective party leaders to 10 years serving as House Speaker or Minority Leader. While the House Rules can be easily changed, it is another sign that the House will operate differently in the 102nd General Assembly than in the past. The rules package also puts the House on more even footing with the Senate in allowing for remote legislative hearings during a pandemic. The rules resolution was heavily debated and was eventually passed along partisan lines, 70-44.