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How a Bill Becomes a Law
A bill may be introduced in either the Senate or House of Representatives.
A committee studies the bill and often holds public hearings on it.
A favorable report moves the bill to the calendar.
The bill may then be placed on a special order calendar for debate before the entire body.
The bill is subject to second reading and amendments, then third reading and debate on a different day, before final passage.
After passing in the Senate, the bill goes through the same procedure in the House of Representatives.
If amendments are adopted in the other house, the house of origin must concur for the bill to move forward.
When the identical bill is passed in both houses, it is signed by the respective officers and sent to the Governor.
The Governor signs the bill into law or vetoes it. If the Governor fails to act on the bill within 7 or 15 days, it becomes law without his or her signature.
