A resolution amending the Standing Rules of the Senate to prohibit the consideration of legislation in the Senate unless the text of the legislation that will be considered has been made publicly available in electronic form for a mandatory minimum review period.

This resolution permits Senators to object to the consideration of any measure unless the cost estimate and text of the measure has been available for a minimum amount of time.

Specifically, Senators may object to consideration of a measure if the cost estimate produced by the Congressional Budget Office for the exact text of the measure has not been available for at least 24 hours. An objection raised on these grounds may be waived or suspended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Senate.

The resolution further permits an objection to the consideration of any measure that has not been publicly available in electronic form for the mandatory minimum review period. This period is the greater of (1) the number of minutes that are equal to two times the number of pages in the measure, or (2) 72 hours, as calculated from the time the measure is made publicly available.

The resolution also requires Senators to certify that they have read each measure prior to voting on it.

Bill 118 sres 18, also known as a resolution amending the Standing Rules of the Senate, aims to prohibit the consideration of legislation in the Senate unless the text of the legislation has been made publicly available in electronic form for a mandatory minimum review period. This means that before any legislation can be debated or voted on in the Senate, the text of the bill must be accessible to the public in electronic format for a specified amount of time.

The purpose of this resolution is to increase transparency and accountability in the legislative process by ensuring that the public has adequate time to review and understand proposed legislation before it is acted upon by lawmakers. By requiring that the text of bills be made available electronically, this resolution seeks to make it easier for the public to access and analyze the content of legislation, ultimately leading to a more informed and engaged citizenry.

If passed, this resolution would have significant implications for how legislation is considered in the Senate, as it would establish a clear requirement for the availability of bill text in electronic form before any action can be taken. This could potentially lead to a more deliberative and transparent legislative process, as lawmakers and the public would have more time to review and discuss proposed legislation before decisions are made. Overall, Bill 118 sres 18 represents a step towards greater openness and accessibility in the Senate's legislative proceedings, and has the potential to enhance public trust in the legislative process by ensuring that lawmakers and citizens alike have the opportunity to fully understand and engage with proposed legislation before it is enacted.