Referred to Rules Committee

After its first reading, every House bill and every Senate bill arriving in the House is automatically referred to the Rules Committee (House Rule 18(a)). The Rules Committee may then refer it to a standing or special committee for a hearing (Rule 18(b)).

Amendments, motions for final action and conference committee reports are referred to the Rules Committee as soon as they are filed (Rule 18(e)). A floor amendment that the Rules Committee has not sent to the House is out of order — it cannot be offered.

In even-numbered years the Rules Committee may send to committee only budget bills and bills it finds, by a majority of its members, to be an emergency or of substantial importance to the operation of government (Rule 18(b)).