The Rules: Deadline for Filing Claims Bills

According to Senate Rule 4.81(2), the Senate deadline for filing Claim Bills for the 2010 regular session is Saturday, August 1, 2009. Make sure to submit your legislation to Bill Drafting before staff leaves the Friday before deadline if you expect the Senate to consider your bills. It is important to note that the Senate rule even applies to House bills without timely-filed Senate companions; Senate won't consider them without an emergency Ruling from the Rules Committee.
Claim bills have different rules in the House. They are divided into two types: Local claim bills, on which there are no explicit limitations concerning filing dates; and General claim bills, which are subject to the same restrictions as general bills. House sponsors can file up to six bills per session. The first two member bills must be filed by noon on Tuesday, January 12, 2010; the rest have until noon on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 to be approved by the filing Clerk if you expect the bill to be given its first reading by the House.


Rule References:

Senate Rule 4.81 - Claim bills:
(2) All claim bills shall be filed with the Secretary of the Senate on or before August 1 in order to be considered by the Senate during the next regular session, except that members elected to the Senate during a general election may have sixty (60) days from the date of that election to file a claim bill(s). Senators currently serving who are re-elected during a general election are not subject to the immediately preceding provision relating to sixty (60) days. A motion to introduce a claim bill notwithstanding the claim bill filing deadline, shall be referred to the Committee on Rules for a hearing and a determination as to the existence of an emergency reasonably compelling consideration of a claim bill notwithstanding the claim bill filing deadline. A House claim bill which does not have a Senate companion claim bill timely filed under this Rule shall not be considered by the Senate. Any motion to consider a House claim bill which does not have a timely-filed Senate companion bill shall be referred to the Committee on Rules for a hearing and a determination as to the existence of an emergency reasonably compelling consideration of a claim bill notwithstanding the claim bill filing deadline. The determination by the Committee on Rules shall be reported back to the Senate. Upon a determination by the committee that an emergency does exist, the motion may be considered by the Senate and must be adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those Senators present.

House Rule 5.3 - Limitation on Member Bills Filed
(a) A member may not file more than six bills for a regular session. Of the six bills, at least two must be approved for filing with the Clerk no later than noon of the 6th Tuesday prior to the first day of the regular session. For purposes of this rule, the member considered to have filed a bill is the first-named sponsor of the bill.
(b) Bills not counted toward these limits include:
(1) Local bills, including local claim bills.

House Rule 5.2 - Member Bill Filing Deadline
Filing deadlines for member bills shall be as follows:
(a) No general bill, local bill, joint resolution, concurrent resolution (except one relating to extension of a session or legislative organization or procedures), substantive House resolution, or memorial shall be given first reading unless approved for filing with the Clerk no later than noon of the first day of the regular session.