South Carolina H 3001: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE 2017 AND 2018 SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3001 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 29, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3001

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

Amended - Not Printed Bill for the House

Amended by H. 5012 (LC-0215AHB-AHB26.docx)

January 22, 2026

H. 3001

Introduced 
by Rep. G. M. Smith

S. Printed 1/22/26--H. [SEC 
1/29/2026 2:06 PM]

Read the first time December 3, 2024

________

A house RESOLUTION

to adopt the rules of the house of representatives 
for the 2025 and 2026 sessions of the general assembly.

 Amend Title To Conform

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the following 
rules are adopted as the Rules of the House of Representatives for the 2025 and 
2026 Sessions of the General Assembly:

"Rule 1

The Speaker

Speaker Pro Tempore

 1.1 The 
Speaker shall take the chair on every legislative day precisely at the hour to 
which the House adjourned at the last sitting, immediately call the members to 
order, cause prayer to be said, the Journal of the previous proceedings to be 
corrected, and if a quorum be present, proceed to other business.

 1.2 The 
Speaker shall preserve order and decorum pursuant to the rules of the House of 
Representatives, and, in case of disturbance or disorderly conduct in the 
galleries, or in the lobby, may cause the same to be cleared. The Speaker shall 
take measures to strictly enforce the provisions of House Rule 3.6 and will 
ensure that every member takes his seat, acts with decorum at all times, 
refrains from disrespect to the institution of the House or the Senate and to 
all personalities, observes decency of speech, and confines himself to the 
question under consideration when the House is in session. Any person guilty 
of contempt of the House may be ordered into custody by the House and dealt 
with as it deems proper.

 1.3 If 
any member, in speaking or otherwise, transgresses the Rules of the House, the 
Speaker shall call him to order, or any member may call such transgressions to 
the attention of the Speaker who shall call the transgressor to order. If 
repeated cries of order are ineffective, the Speaker may call a member by name, 
and if the Speaker deems it necessary, he shall state the offense committed. 
The member may be heard in his exculpation and shall withdraw, and the House 
shall consider his punishment or any further proceedings to be had.

 1.4 The 
Speaker shall sign all acts, joint resolutions, memorials, writs, warrants, and 
authorizations for payment or other papers authorized by the House.

 1.5 The 
Speaker shall decide all points of order, subject to an appeal by any member, 
and he may require the member raising a point of order to cite the rule or 
other authority in support of the question. A member may withdraw a point of 
order the member has raised. Upon appeal, no member shall speak more than once 
and for no longer than twenty minutes each, except by permission of the House.

 1.6 The 
Speaker may vote in all cases (except when he may be personally or pecuniarily 
interested). If the House be equally divided, the question shall be decided in 
the negative. The presiding officer may give information or explain any matter 
before the House; he may speak on points of order in preference to other 
members, and as often as he may deem necessary, but he shall not enter into any 
debate or endeavor to influence any question before the House while presiding. 
Provided, the Speaker, in his discretion, may address the body concerning 
matters of importance to the House.

 1.7 The 
Speaker shall be elected on the opening day of the organizational session by 
the membership of the House. Pursuant to this rule a person elected Speaker 
may not serve more than five consecutive terms in that office.

 1.8 The 
Speaker Pro Tempore shall be elected on the opening day of the 
organizational session and shall preside in the absence of the Speaker. If a 
conflict of interest arises involving the Speaker and the performance of his 
duties the Speaker Pro Tempore shall perform the duties of the Speaker 
to the extent that the conflict of interest exists. Provided, the 
Speaker or the Speaker Pro Tempore, whoever may be presiding at the 
time, may name a member to preside, but such substitution shall not extend 
beyond an adjournment. In the absence of the Speaker and the Speaker Pro 
Tempore for more than one day, the House may elect a Speaker Pro Tempore 
to serve until the return of the Speaker or Speaker Pro Tempore. When 
the Speaker Pro Tempore is absent for more than three consecutive 
statewide legislative days, the House of Representatives may elect an acting 
Speaker Pro Tempore who shall serve until the return of the Speaker Pro 
Tempore. The acting Speaker Pro Tempore may continue to serve on