- A constituent contacts a representative and requests legislation.
- The representative submits a request for legislation to the
Office of Legislation Research and General Counsel. The appropriate
attorney reviews existing law, researches the issues, drafts and
legislation, and legislation for statutory or constitutional concerns.
- A copy of the legislation is given to the representative. The
representative approves the legislation for introduction during
the session.
- The legislation is numbered and copies are delivered to the
docket clerk in the House of Representatives, billroom, and the
Internet.
- The bill is introduced by title and read the first time then
referred to the Rules Committee where the bill is examined for
proper form and fiscal impact.
- The Rules Committee reports back to the House, orders that the
bill be printed with the fiscal note for distribution, and recommends
to the Speaker of the House the standing committee to which the
speaker should send the bill.
- The assigned standing committee-in public session- holds a meeting
to review the bill. The committee may amend, hold, table, substitute
or make a favorable recommendation on the bill.
- The committee report is read to the House of Representatives
and adopted by motion. This is considered the second reading of
three constitutionally required readings. The bill is then placed
on the calendar for the third reading.
- The bill is read to the House by title a third time and then
explained by the sponsoring representative who answers any questions
that may be asked. Other representatives may speak and propose
amendments to the bill.
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- A motion for the "previous question" closes debate
and stops further amendment to the bill. In order for the bill
to pass, the bill must receive a minimum of 38 votes which is
a majority if the 75 possible.
- If passed in the House, the bill is sent to the Senate with
a communication informing the Senate that the bill has passed
the House and requesting further action by the Senate.
- The bill is read by title a first time and referred to the President
of the Senate who assigns the bill to a standing committee. The
committee may amend, hold, table, substitute, or make favorable
recommendation on the bill. In the Senate, a motion for "previous
motion" requires a majority vote in committee. This motion
is not allowed on the Senate floor.
- The committee report is read to the Senate and the bill is placed
on the Second Reading Calendar.
- The bill is read a second time and debated. It is voted upon
and must pass in order to advance a third reading.
- The bill is then read a third time and debated. It is voted
upon and must receive a minimum of 15 votes which is a majority
of the 29 possible.
- After the bill has passed both houses, it is signed by both
presiding officers and examined by the Office of Legislative Research
and General Counsel in a process called enrolling. The office
prepares the bill in final form with all its amendments included
and returns it to the House of Representatives. This enrolled
bill is an exact, accurate, and official copy of the enacted bill.
- The final bill is printed and sent to the governor for his signature.
If the governor fails to sign the bill, the bill automatically
becomes law without his signature. The governor has the power
to veto the bill and send his objections to the presiding officers
of the House and Senate.
- A bill enacted at a legislative session is effective 60 days
following adjournment, unless another date is specified within
the bill.
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