27. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS, RESOLUTIONS, AND MEMORIALS
(a) Any member may introduce a bill, resolution, or memorial at such times as the introduction of bills, resolutions, and memorials is the order of business, and such bill, resolution, or memorial shall be numbered in the order introduced. No bill shall be introduced by title only. At the time of introduction of a bill, resolution, or memorial, the chief clerk of the House shall be furnished with the original thereof.
(b) (1) Every bill is read by title when introduced, which constitutes first reading, and at length on two different days prior to its being finally passed. Reading before the House sitting as committee of the whole constitutes second reading. Unless a member requests that a bill be read at length when the bill is being considered by the committee of the whole or on third reading, it is read by title only, and the unanimous consent of the members present to dispense with the reading of the bill at length is presumed.
(2) If a member requests that a bill be read at length when the bill is being considered by the committee of the whole or on third reading, the member making the request must remain in the House chamber for the duration of the reading. Except for brief absences not to exceed five minutes, or longer as permitted by the presiding officer, the member's departure from the House chamber is deemed to be a withdrawal of the request to read the bill at length.
(3) If a member who requests that a bill be read at length withdraws the request or if the request is deemed to have been withdrawn and, subsequently, any member of the House requests that the bill be read at length, the reading of the bill resumes at the point in the bill at which the earlier reading had stopped.
(4) If a member requests that a bill be read at length either during the committee of the whole or on third reading, the majority leader may move to suspend the reading of the bill at length and lay the bill over to a date or time certain. The motion is not subject to debate and is decided by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present if the motion is made during the committee of the whole or by the affirmative vote of a majority of all members elected if the motion is made during third reading. When the bill is brought up again, the reading of the bill at length resumes at the point in the bill at which the earlier reading had been suspended.
(5) When a member requests that a bill be read at length, the chief clerk, or the chief clerk's staff, may arrange for the bill to be read by electronic means. The chief clerk, or the chief clerk's staff, may not use more than one electronic device or more than one individual at a time to read multiple sections of the bill simultaneously. If the chief clerk, or the chief clerk's staff, arranges to have the bill read by electronic means, the reading must be at an intelligible rate understandable to a reasonable person.
(6) When a bill has been read at length pursuant to this rule, whether during the committee of the whole or during third reading, that reading satisfies the requirements of Section 22 of Article V of the state Constitution for that reading.
(c) The House, by the affirmative vote of a majority of all members elected, may adopt a resolution fixing a date after which a bill may not be introduced except as provided in said resolution.