How a Bill Becomes Law

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Anyone can propose an idea to create or change a law, but only legislators can guide through the process of becoming a law.

The proposed law is put into proper legal form (bill) by the Office of the Reviser of Statutes, legislators, and staff.

Each bill must have a legislator to sponsor it as chief author. The House allows up to 34 co-authors and the Senate up to four.

The chief author introduces the bill in the House or Senate where it is then referred to an appropriate committee.

One or more committees discuss the bill and recommend action—approval or disapproval— to the full House or Senate.

Once passed by all its committees, the bill returns to the full House or Senate where it is debated, amended and voted on.

If the bills that pass the House and Senate differ, they must be reconciled into a single version by a conference committee.

The compromise bill is sent back to both the House and Senate for a vote.

Once passed by both the House and Senate, the bill is sent to the Governor where he or she:

Signs it, and it becomes law

Vetoes it, and it is returned to Legislature

Takes No Action, and it automatically becomes law after a certain time period without signature.