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This resolution would require the Senate to wait before taking up most bills, resolutions, amendments, treaties, and other measures, based on how long they are. The idea is to give senators more time to read legislation before voting on it. In general, the Senate could not consider a measure until at least one session day has passed for every 20 pages, with an extra session day if there are leftover pages. Senators could also raise a formal objection if a measure is brought up too soon, and that objection could only be set aside by a three-fifths vote of the Senate.
- The waiting period would apply to bills, resolutions, conference reports, amendments between the two chambers, treaties, and similar matters.
- A senator could raise a point of order if the Senate tries to consider something before the required waiting time has passed.
- That point of order could not be easily blocked with a motion to table.
- To waive the waiting rule, the Senate would need an affirmative three-fifths vote, and debate on that waiver would be limited to 3 hours, split equally between both sides.
Official Summaries
This resolution permits Senators to object to the consideration of a measure unless a required amount of time has passed since the measure's introduction. Specifically, the resolution requires that one session day elapse for every 20 pages included in the measure (plus one session day for any number of remaining pages less than 20). An objection raised on these grounds may be waived or suspended only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Senators.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 18 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 18
Providing for sufficient time for legislation to be read.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 9, 2025
Mr. Paul submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on Rules and Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Providing for sufficient time for legislation to be read.
Resolved,
SECTION 1. TIME FOR READING OF LEGISLATION.
(a) In General.--It shall not be in order for the Senate to
consider any bill, resolution, message, conference report, amendment
between the Houses, amendment, treaty, or other measure or matter until
1 session day has passed since introduction for every 20 pages included
in the measure or matter in the usual form plus 1 session day for any
number of remaining pages less than 20 in the usual form.
(b) Point of Order.--
(1) In general.--Any Senator may raise a point of order
that consideration of any bill, resolution, message, conference
report, amendment, treaty, or other measure or matter is not in
order under subsection (a). A motion to table the point of
order shall not be in order.
(2) Waiver.--Paragraph (1) may be waived or suspended only
by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly
chosen and sworn. All motions to waive under this paragraph
shall be debatable collectively for not to exceed 3 hours
equally divided between the Senator raising the point of order
and the Senator moving to waive the point of order or their
designees. A motion to waive the point of order shall not be
amendable.
(c) Constitutional Authority.--This resolution is adopted pursuant
to the power granted to each House of Congress to determine the Rules
of its Proceedings in article I, section 5, clause 2 of the
Constitution of the United States.
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