LIfecycle of a Bill

How a Bill Becomes a Law

As a bill travels from a Legislator’s hand to the Governor’s desk, it goes through committee hearings, votes, and amendments. In this timeline we have broken the journey down into 10 steps.

Step One

Bill Introduction

December, January, February

A bill is introduced by a legislator (i.e. author), in either the Assembly or Senate, which is its House of Origin. A bill must pass through its House of Origin, then through the 2nd house, before going to the Governor.

Step Two

Committee Assignment

December, January, February

The bill is read on the Floor, then read in Rules Committee, where it is assigned to its relevant Policy Committees (up to 3 committees).

Step Three

Policy Committee Hearing(s)

December, January, February

The bill is heard in its assigned Policy Committees, which consider the bill from the perspective of their policy purview.

Policy Committee Hearings can include author statements, witness testimony, support and opposition from advocacy and community groups, public comment, and discussion by the committee. The author may make amendments, and the Committee may request amendments. The Committee votes whether to pass or hold the bill.

*Any new amendments must be voted upon again by previous Committees.

Policy Committee 1

The bill is heard in its first Policy Committee, which may make amendments, and votes whether to pass or hold the bill.

Policy Committee 2 (if assigned)

If the bill is assigned to a second Policy Committee, it is given a hearing, and the Committee votes whether to pass or hold the bill. Any new amendments to the bill in this hearing must also be voted upon by the first Policy Committee.

Policy Committee 3 (if assigned)

If the bill is assigned to a third Policy Committee, it is given a hearing, and the Committee votes whether to pass or hold the bill. Any new amendments to the bill in this hearing must also be voted upon by the first and second Policy Committees.

Step Four

Appropriations Committee (if applicable)

May, June

If the bill has a Fiscal Impact (a financial cost) to the State, it is heard in the Appropriations Committee (Approps). Approps considers bills from a fiscal perspective, can request amendments, and either passes bills or holds them on the Suspense File.

Step Five

Floor Vote

June

Bills then go to the Floor for a full vote. Amendments can again be requested of, and made by the author.

Step Six

On to the 2nd House

June through August

If a bill passes the Floor of its House of Origin, it goes on to the 2nd house, where the above process repeats.

Step Seven

2nd House Passes Bill Without Amendments

July, August

If a bill passes through the Second House without amendments, it goes straight to the Governor’s desk (see Step 10 – Governor’s Desk).

Step Eight

2nd House Passes Bill With Amendments

July, August

If a bill passes the Second House with amendments, the Assembly and Senate must come to an agreement on a single version of the bill.

Step Nine

Finalizing a Single Version of the Bill

July, August

1st, the House of Origin can pass the bill as amended by the Second House, and if so, it goes directly to the Governor’s desk.

If not, the Senate and Assembly form a Conference Committee to negotiate a single version of the bill that both houses must vote on in order for it to be sent to the Governor.

Step Ten

The Governor’s Desk

September

The Governor can either sign the bill into law or veto the bill. A Governor’s veto can be overruled by a 2/3 vote in both houses.