Sponsor
Nancy Mace
Representative · R-SC
Representative · R-SC
The resolution trades stricter limits on Member–staff cohabitation to strengthen staff protections and institutional accountability against imposing new restrictions and potential privacy intrusions on Members and staff.
House employees (federal staff) will gain stronger workplace protections because the rule would prohibit cohabitation with Members, reducing opportunities for abuse, favoritism, or conflicts of interest.
House operations and oversight will become clearer and more accountable because clarifying and expanding rules around staff-Member relationships reduces ambiguity in conduct expectations.
Members, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners who currently live with staff will face new restrictions or possible disciplinary consequences, disrupting existing living arrangements.
Members and staff could experience intrusion into their private domestic arrangements and personal privacy if the prohibition is applied broadly or without clear definitions and exemptions.
Based on analysis of 1 section of legislative text.
Adds a House Rule XXIII clause prohibiting cohabitation between Members/Delegates/Resident Commissioner and House employees and renumbers existing clauses.
Official title: Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner from cohabitating with any employee of the House of Representatives.
Introduced July 30, 2026 by Nancy Mace · Last progress July 30, 2026
Adds a new House rule that prohibits Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner from cohabiting with House employees and renumbers the existing clauses in Rule XXIII accordingly. The change inserts the new prohibition immediately after current clause 21 and redesignates the old clause 22 as clause 23.