ARTICLE IV - BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS

4.10 BILLS AFFECTING STATE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES. (a) Except as provided in Rule 1.15, a House or Senate bill that directly, substantially, and specifically affects any present or future financial obligation, budget policy, or revenue of the State must be referred as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) to the appropriate Committee before the bill receives its second reading. A bill that negligibly affects any present or future financial obligation, budget policy, or revenue of the State is not subject to mandatory referral under this rule.

(b) A bill subject to paragraph (a) reported by a finance committee must, if recommended to pass, be subsequently referred to the Ways and Means Committee, unless the bill has a negligible fiscal impact and is subject to direct reference to the Floor under Rule 6.05.

(c) A bill with a substantial impact on the tax revenues or tax policies of the State must be referred to the Committee on Taxes. A bill reported by the Committee on Taxes containing a substantial fiscal impact must be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. For purposes of this paragraph, "tax" excludes any fee, charge, exaction, or assessment, a primary purpose of which is to recover direct or indirect costs incurred by the state or other governmental entity or as a payment for benefits received.

(d) The chairs of the Committees on Taxes and Ways and Means shall advise the Speaker on the application of this rule and may determine whether or not any given piece of legislation must be referred to the committee they chair.

Rule 4.11
Rule 4.03
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