Authored by Speaker Froilan C. Tenorio, House Resolution 17-16 states that bills and resolutions for introduction may be pre-filed not less than 24 hours before a session.
The previous rule required a 72-hour notice.
According to the new rules, the House “shall meet in six regular sessions.”
The first will be held between the second Monday of January and April 1 of the first year; the second, not more than 30 days after July 31; the third, before April of the second year; the fourth, not more than 30 days after July 31; the fifth, not more than 60 days before April of the third year; and the sixth, not more than 30 days after July 31.
The speaker may also call special sessions between regular sessions for not more than 10 consecutive days, which may also be called by the governor.
The House “shall meet regularly not more than three times a week.”
Public sessions will still be open to the public except for an executive session as authorized by two-thirds of the House members.
Joint sessions of the House and the Senate may be called by their presiding officers. The speaker will preside over the joint session but the Senate president “shall sit beside him.”
There will be no more special meetings.
But if there is a need to convene in times of typhoon, flood, fire and other emergencies, the speaker may call for an emergency meeting at a site other than the regular venue.
During an emergency meeting, the House “shall state in writing the reason for its finding that an emergency exists” and “file an emergency agenda and the findings on the emergency” with the House clerk.
