HOW a BILL BECOMES a LAW

An Overview

A bill may be introduced in either the Senate or House of Representatives.

After introduction, the bill is then referred to a committee - which may or may not call for a hearing.

The committee can then pass, reject, or take no action on the bill.

If the bill is passed, the committee report on the passed bill is read in open session of the House or Senate, and the bill is then referred to the Rules Committee.

The Rules Committee can either place the bill on the second reading of the calendar for debate before the entire body, or take no action.

At the second reading, a bill is subject to debate and amendment before being placed on the third reading calendar for final passage.

After passing one house, the bill goes through the same procedure in the other house.

If amendments are made, the other house must approve the changes.

When the bill is accepted in both houses, it is signed by the respective leaders and sent to the governor.

The governor signs the bill into law or may veto all or part of it.

If the governor fails to act on the bill, it may become law without a signature.

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(Note: our original Predictable Tax Amendment did not require the signature of the governor. Amendments require a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate and then, and only then, would it be placed on the ballot for the people to have their say.)