How a Bill Becomes a Law

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    Bills and Resolutions start in the Legislative Council, the department responsible for the organization and operation of research, reference and Bill drafting facilities. A member tells the attorney the type Bill he wants to introduce and it is put into legal form. After the member reads and checks it, he gives it to the Clerk. A Bill or Joint Resolution cannot become law until it has been read three times on three separate days in each House, has the Great Seal of the State put on it and signed by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House.

    Bills may be prefiled before the beginning of a session. Prefiled Bills are numbered, dated and referred to committee. A list of prefiled Bills is sent to the members each week. On the first day of the session, all prefiled Bills are officially introduced and put into the record. If there are committee reports on any of the bills, they are also put into the record.

    Bills received during the session are introduced and read the first time, given a number and referred to the proper committee by the Speaker. The Constitution states that each Bill or Resolution must apply to only one subject and the subject must appear in the title. Some Bills are placed on the Calendar (agenda) without being sent to a committee. If the Bill is sent to a committee, it must stay there one week before it can be considered. (This rule protects the public and gives people time to learn about the Bill and ask for a public hearing if they want it.) If a public hearing is to be held, the committee chairman must give notice to the Clerk at least five days before the time of the hearing. This notice is published in the House Calendar.

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