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Rule Restrictions on Floor Amendments to Appropriations Bill(s)

Legislative Budget Procedures: Deliberation on the Recommended Budget

Legislative Budget Procedures Executive Summary

Rule Restrictions on Floor Amendments to Appropriations Bill(s)

Source: National Conference of State Legislatures, December 1997.

Key:
-- = Not applicable
N/R = No response

*Notes:

Colorado--The amendment must identify the source of the increase.

Connecticut--An amendment must be accompanied either by a cut of equal or greater value or by a source of increased revenue.

Florida--Floor amendments must be filed before a bill can be considered.

Georgia--In both houses, a "cut" amendment must pass before an "add" amendment will be considered.

Guam--Unicameral Legislature.

Massachusetts--The speaker of the House establishes rules for debate on the general appropriations bill each year by majority vote. Members can propose amendments that affect debate.

Nebraska--Unicameral Legislature. Appropriations Committee amendments take priority over all other amendments, in the first stage of debate only.

Nevada--No amendment has ever been successful.

North Carolina--An amendment adding money must have funding from a cut in some other area or from an increase in revenues, or must have sufficient unobligated revenue available.

Pennsylvania--A special rule is adopted each year that requires an amendment to be accompanied by a cut of equal or lesser value.

South Carolina--In both houses, an amendment adding money must be accompanied by a cut of equal or greater amount or include provisions to raise revenue. Both houses have a "germane-ness" requirement. In the Senate, a two-thirds vote is required for adoption of permanent law provisions attached to appropriations bills.

Texas--No restrictions, but the Senate tradition is that no amendments are adopted, except perfecting amendments by the author (committee chair).

Vermont--Amendments must be germane.

Washington--A 60 percent vote is required to amend the budget bill as reported to the floor by the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

West Virginia--No amendments are allowed to a conference report. Adding or changing language is prohibited in both houses.

Published March 1998; posted January 2004.
The publication to which this table belongs, Legislative Budget Procedures: A Guide to Appropriations and Budget Processes in the States, Commonwealths and Territories, is available wholly and solely online.
Email mailto:statebudget-info@ncsl.org?subject=Legislative Budget Procedures: Rule Restrictions on Floor Amendments to Appropriations Bill(s) for more information.
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