LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION!

How a Bill Becomes a Law

 

The legislative process begins when a legislator (representative or senator) introduces a bill. The bill is then referred to a committee. The committee holds hearings on the bill. The first hearing is sponsor testimony in which the sponsoring legislator explains the contents of the bill to the members of the committee. The second hearing usually provides an opportunity for supporters of the bill to tell the committee why they like the bill. And the third hearing is reserved for opponents of the bill. The chairman of the committee has the option to hold additional hearings if necessary. The general public is welcome to testify at any of the hearing where the appropriate testimony is being heard. For example, if a member of the general public is a supporter of the bill they can testify at the second hearing. All hearings are open for anyone who wishes to attend.

 

After the bill goes through the committee process and is voted out of committee it is sent to the full house for a vote.

 

After one house passes the bill it moves to the other chamber to be considered. The committee process is repeated and the bill must pass both the committee and the full house.

 

Although the bill has been approved by both houses, the versions will likely differ. If the first house agrees with the changes, the bill passes and it is sent to the governor for his signature. Once the governor signs the bill, it becomes law.

 

However, if the chamber of origin votes does not like the changes (which is usually the case), the bill is sent to a Conference Committee so the House of Representatives and the Senate can work out their differences with the bill.

 

A Conference Committee is made up of three members from the House of Representatives and three members from the Senate. The six-member Conference Committee examines the differences in the bill.  The committee then compromises on the differences to make the bill acceptable to both houses.

 

After the bill is voted out of  Conference Committee it goes back to both the full House of Representatives and the full Senate in identical form (no more changes can be made to the bill by either legislative body) and must be voted on in that identical form. If both the House and Senate pass the bill, it's sent to the Governor for his signature.

 

Once the bill is sent to the governor he can: sign the bill, veto the bill, or let it become law without his signature.