IDEA
A legislator(s) decides to sponsor a
bill. Ideas come from many
sources: constituents, interest
groups, and government agencies.
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT
& ACTION
The President of the Senate or the
Speaker of the House refers the bill
to a standing committee. A
subcommittee, assigned by the
standing committee, then studies the
bill and reports its conclusions to the
full committee. The committee may
pass the pill or pass an amended
version of the bill. The committee may
also send the bill to the floor without
recommendation.
FLOOR DEBATE
The bill is placed on the calendar, a
listing of all bills officially eligible for
debate. At this time legislators may
file amendments to the bill.
VOTE
A constitutional majority, at least
26 senators or 51 representatives,
must vote "yes" in order for the bill
to proceed to the second chamber.
AMENDMENT
The bill and any amendments filed
are debated by the whole chamber.
Amendments must be approved by
a simple majority of those
legislators voting.
SECOND CHAMBER
If the bill passes the second
chamber without amendment, it is
sent to the Governor. If the second
chamber amends the bill it must
be sent back to the chamber of
origin for approval of those
amendments. If the chamber
cannot come to an agreement on
the version of the bill, a conference
committee is appointed.
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GOVERNOR
After the bill passes both
chambers in identical form, it
is sent to the Governor. The
Governor may sign the bill, veto
the bill, or take no action.
LAW
The bill becomes a law upon
the Governor's signature or
after three days during the
session if the Governor takes
no action. Bills received by the
Governor during the last three
days of the session have to be
signed or vetoed within 30
days. If the Governor takes no
action after the 30-day time
period, the bill is considered
vetoed.
BILL DRAFTED & FILED
Legislator(s) requests the idea be
drafted into a bill by the Legislative
Services Agency, Legal Services
Division. The bill draft is sent to
the Senate or the House where
it is assigned a number and is then
sent to the President of the Senate
or the Speaker of the House.
H O W A N I D E A B E C O M E S A L A W I N I O W A
Designed by Alondra Gonzalez Carrillo, Class of 2021