How a Bill Becomes a Law

Senate

House

Bill is introduced in the Senate

Bill is Referred to an appropriate Senate standing committee

Bill is revised in subcommittee. If approved by the standing committee bill is sent to the full Senate

Bill is debated by the full Senate. If approved, it is sent to the House

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Bill is introduced in the House of Representatives

Bill is referred to an appropriate House standing committee

Bill is revised in subcommittee. If approved by the standing committee, it is sent to the Rules Committee

Rules Committee decides when the bill will be debated by the full House

Bill is debated by the full House. If approved, it is sent to the Senate. If the Senate has passed a related bill, it goes to a conference committee.

Conference committee irons out differences between the two versions of the bill

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Passsed version of the bill is sent to the president

President signs the bill (or allows it to become law without signing it)

Bill becomes a law

President vetoes the bill and sends it back to Congress

Congress overrides the veto with a two-thirds vote in both houses

Bill becomes a law

Compromise version of the bill is voted on by the full Senate

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Compromise version of the bill is voted on by the full House

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the senator and their staff research a problem and bring their ideas to a bill drafter to transform idea into proper legal form)

Introduced during the first 10 days of the legislative session (January) by filing it with the Clerk of the Legislature

Reference Committee determines which bills go to each one of the 14 standing committees

Most bills must have a public hearing where citizens can express their opinions.

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First time full Legislature has opportunity to debate and vote

Senators consider amendments

Stage where most compromises are met

Takes a majority, 25 votes, to move a bill to next step