Amend HR 4 (adopting the permanent rules of the house) in Rule 4, Section 8, by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:
(d) The chair of a committee to which a bill or resolution has been referred shall hold a public hearing to consider the bill or resolution if the chair receives a written request asking for the hearing that is signed by at least two-thirds of the membership of the committee or at least 50 members of the house. The chair shall forward a copy of each request made under this subsection to the chief clerk. Members of the public must be given an opportunity to testify at the hearing. The chair shall post notice of the hearing in a manner that allows the committee to consider the bill or resolution at:
(1) the first regular meeting of the committee that occurs after the request is received that allows for compliance with the notice requirements of Section 11(a) of this rule; or
(2) if the committee does not meet regularly, a meeting held on the first legislative day that occurs after the request is received that allows for compliance with the notice requirements of Section 11(a) of this rule.
(e) In determining whether a request has the required number of signatures under Subsection (d) of this section, signatures of a member who has previously signed 20 requests under that subsection are not counted.