Joint Rules; amend to allow legislators to participate remotely in committee meetings and floor sessions beginning in 2025.
Impact
The introduction of HC14 is particularly significant in the context of health safety considerations, as the bill stipulates that if the Speaker of the House and the Lieutenant Governor determine that in-person meetings pose an increased health risk, meetings may be conducted remotely for the duration decided by the leadership. This could be particularly relevant to public health crises, where gathering in person might not be advisable. By allowing electronic participation, the resolution aims to ensure continuous legislative operations even during challenging times.
Summary
House Concurrent Resolution 14 (HC14) proposes amendments to the Joint Rules of the Mississippi Senate and House of Representatives, aiming to facilitate remote participation in legislative proceedings. Starting with the 2025 Regular Session, the resolution mandates that all committee meetings and floor sessions can be conducted using electronic or other technological means. This change seeks to enable members to partake in debates and votes without needing to be physically present, which may enhance accessibility and flexibility within the legislative process.
Contention
While proponents of HC14 argue it provides necessary adaptability and modernizes legislative participation methods, there may be concerns regarding potential drawbacks. Critics could worry about the implications of remote participation on the transparency and effectiveness of legislative debates, as well as issues related to equity in technology access among lawmakers. Moreover, there may be questions about how effectively remote voting could be monitored compared to traditional in-person votes, and how this may impact the legislative process overall.
Concerning the authority of the executive committee of the legislative council to establish policies for legislators to participate remotely in meetings of committees consisting of members from both chambers that are held at any time during ...
Allows a pregnant member or member that has given birth in the past six (6) months to appear remotely and permits any member that participates in a meeting remotely to vote at that meeting, provided that the meeting is held in person.
Allows a pregnant member or member that has given birth in the past six (6) months to appear remotely and permits any member that participates in a meeting remotely to vote at that meeting, provided that the meeting is held in person.
Allows certain individuals, including those on active duty or fulfilling reserve obligations, to participate remotely in certain governmental meetings.
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.)
HOUSE RESOLUTION AMENDING THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE YEARS 2023 AND 2024 (Amends the House Rules to enable any member to have up to 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.)