There are a few major steps of the legislative process that a bill must go through before it is enacted into law.
1. Introduction
Bills may be introduced in either chamber (house or senate) of the Legislature. Senate bills are filed with the Secretary of the Senate and House bills with the Clerk of the House. Upon introduction, bills are assigned a bill number.
2. Referral to Committee/Committee Process
After introduction, a bill is also referred to a standing committee in the Senate by the Majority Leader and in the House of Representatives by the Speaker of the House.
For example, legislation intended to ban the use of cell phones while driving would likely be referred to the Transportation Committee.
All bills involving an appropriation, for example funding for a new park, must be referred either directly to the appropriations committee or to an appropriate standing committee and then to the appropriations committee.
Committee meetings allow stakeholders to voice support or opposition to pending legislation and work with the bill sponsor on any changes. It is not uncommon for language to be amended during the committee process.
The three most common outcomes for committee hearings are:
1.Report the bill with favorable recommendation.
2.Vote to not report a bill out of committee
3.Take no action on the bill
3.Enactment by the Legislature
If a bill passes, it is sent to the other chamber of the Legislature where the bill follows the procedure outlined above, resulting in defeat or passage.
If a bill is passed by both houses in identical form, the bill is ordered enrolled by the house in which the bill originated. Following enrollment and printing, the bill is sent to the Governor.
4.Approval by the Governor
Upon receipt of an enrolled bill, the Governor has fourteen days to consider the bill. The Governor may:
1.Sign the bill, which makes it law
2.Veto the bill and return it to the house of origin with a message stating the Governor's objections.
3.Choose not to sign or veto the bill. If the bill is neither signed nor vetoed, the bill becomes law fourteen days after having reached the Governor's desk if the Legislature is in session or in recess.
1. Introduction
Bills may be introduced in either chamber (house or senate) of the Legislature. Senate bills are filed with the Secretary of the Senate and House bills with the Clerk of the House. Upon introduction, bills are assigned a bill number.
2. Referral to Committee/Committee Process
After introduction, a bill is also referred to a standing committee in the Senate by the Majority Leader and in the House of Representatives by the Speaker of the House.
For example, legislation intended to ban the use of cell phones while driving would likely be referred to the Transportation Committee.
All bills involving an appropriation, for example funding for a new park, must be referred either directly to the appropriations committee or to an appropriate standing committee and then to the appropriations committee.
Committee meetings allow stakeholders to voice support or opposition to pending legislation and work with the bill sponsor on any changes. It is not uncommon for language to be amended during the committee process.
The three most common outcomes for committee hearings are:
1.Report the bill with favorable recommendation.
2.Vote to not report a bill out of committee
3.Take no action on the bill
3.Enactment by the Legislature
If a bill passes, it is sent to the other chamber of the Legislature where the bill follows the procedure outlined above, resulting in defeat or passage.
If a bill is passed by both houses in identical form, the bill is ordered enrolled by the house in which the bill originated. Following enrollment and printing, the bill is sent to the Governor.
4.Approval by the Governor
Upon receipt of an enrolled bill, the Governor has fourteen days to consider the bill. The Governor may:
1.Sign the bill, which makes it law
2.Veto the bill and return it to the house of origin with a message stating the Governor's objections.
3.Choose not to sign or veto the bill. If the bill is neither signed nor vetoed, the bill becomes law fourteen days after having reached the Governor's desk if the Legislature is in session or in recess.