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Introduction: The bill is introduced by a members of the Senate or Assembly, read for the first time, then assigned to a committee by either the Senate Rules Committee or the Assembly speaker.
Committee: Hearing(s) are held in committee and testimony is taken from proponents and opponents. Generally, the committee will then amend, pass, or fail to pass the bill.
Second Reading: Bills that are passed by committee are read as a 2nd time and sent to the full floor for debate.
Floor debate (in house of origin): The bill is read a 3rd time, debated and voted on. Most bills need a majority to pass. Bills with urgency clauses, appropriation measures, and some tax-related bills need a two-thirds majority. If the bill is passed, it is sent to the second house.
Second House: Procedures for a bill to pass the 2nd house are similar to consideration and passage in the house of origin. Amendments: If the 2nd house passes a bill with amendments, the bill must be passed a 2nd time by the house of origin for concurrence. If the amendments are rejected, a conference committee is formed to iron out the differences between the two houses.
Governor: The Governor must act on (sign or veto) any bill that passes the Legislature within 12 days during the legislative session. However, the Governor has 30 days in which to act at the end of the biennium. Bills not acted upon by the Governor automatically become law. A two-thirds vote of the Legislature is required to override a Governor’s veto.
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