Sponsors (38)
The bill speeds restoration of representation and reduces scheduling ambiguity for seating new House members, but it does so by imposing tight timing rules that can create procedural strain on House operations and pressure newly elected Members to take their oaths quickly.
Voters in districts with vacancies get their elected representative seated much faster (within five legislative days after certification), restoring representation, constituent services, and voting access sooner.
Provides a clear, uniform procedure for the Speaker and an incoming Member to schedule oath-taking (including allowing a jointly agreed later date), reducing scheduling disputes and ambiguity about when a Member should be seated.
Imposes timing and operational deadlines that could force the House to seat Members during brief (e.g., pro forma) sessions or otherwise create procedurally contentious quick changes in chamber composition, complicating leadership scheduling and floor operations.
Creates pressure on newly elected Members to be sworn quickly even if administrative, legal, or personal matters remain unresolved, risking rushed decisions about taking the oath or accepting the seat.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires that a person elected in a House special election be offered the oath and seated within five legislative days after certification, unless a later date is jointly agreed.
Introduced January 15, 2026 by Adelita S. Grijalva · Last progress January 15, 2026
Requires that a person elected in a special election to fill a House vacancy be given the chance to take the oath and be seated as a sworn Member no later than five legislative days after the special election results are certified. If the person chooses not to be sworn within that five-day window, the Speaker and the person can agree on a later oath date. The law also says that a "legislative day" includes any day the House is in session, including pro forma sessions, and takes effect on enactment.