Bill is sent to the clerk of the
House of the sponsoring
legislator for numbering.
Bill title, number and sponsors
are printed in the House and
Bill is sent to the appropriate joint standing committee of the
General Assembly, depending
on the bill's subject matter.
1) have the bill drafted in legal
2) combine it with other bills
and have it drafted as a
3) refer the bill to another
4) take no action so the bill fails.
The committee may also write a
new "raised" bill.
Committee holds public
hearings for the public,
state agency representatives and legislators on all bills it wishes
Committee may report the bill
favorably, defeat the bill or issue
no report (bill fails).
| Step 8
Bill requiring action by another
committee is referred to that
committee. For example, a bill
requiring expenditures is referred
to the Appropriations Committee.
| Step 9
After leaving the last committee,
the bill is sent to the Legislative
Commissioners' Office to be
checked for constitutionality and consistency with other law.
| Step 10
The Office of Fiscal Analysis adds
an estimate of the bill's cost.
The Office of Legislative Research
adds a 'plain English' explanation
of the bill.
| Step 11
Clerk assigns the bill a calender
| Step 12
Final Printing of the bill.
| Step 13
Debate and amendments in the
house of origin. House may send
the bill to another committee
| Step 14
Vote on bill.
| Step 15
A 'yes' vote sends the bill to the
other house for placement on
| Step 16
Other house votes on the bill.
| Step 17
If amended by second house,
bill is returned to first house for concurrence.
If House and Senate cannot agree, the bill is sent to a joint conference committee.
If not amended, bill is sent to the
| Step 18
If the conference committee reaches
an agreement, a report is sent to
| Step 19
If one or both houses reject the
changes, the bill fails.
|Step 20tep 20
If both houses pass the bill,
it is sent to the governor.
The Governor can:
1) sign the bill
2) veto it, or
3) take no action
| Step 21
If the Governor vetoes, the bill is returned to the house in which it
| Step 22
Vetoed bills can be reconsidered
by both houses.
| Step 23
The bill becomes law if:
1) The Governor signs it,
2) The Governor fails to sign within
5 days during the legislative
session, or 15 days after
3) The vetoed bill is re-passed by
a 2/3 vote of the elected