P O L IT IC A L
A C T I O N ________________
The passage of a legislative bill
Editor's Note: In this example, legislation the Senate and sent to the other chamber
begins in the House. However, legislation upon passage.
can be introduced in either the House or
After research and input from members,
the OPEU lobbyist drafts a report pertain
ing to a particular bill that members feel
should be introduced during the legislative
session. The OPEU lobbyist meets with
various legislators and thus obtains a
sponsor for the bill.
On the assigned House calendar day, the
bill Is read, debated and voted upon.
sponsoring legislator. It is numbered and
read by title. The Speaker of the House
assigns the bill to committee.
If the bill Is approved, the Speaker of the
House signs the bill and It is transmitted to
the Senate.
In committee, hearings and public
testimony help shape the final form of the
bill. The committee votes on the bill and
upon passage it is sent to the full House.
The Senate President assigns the bill to a
committee.
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In committee, hearings and public
testimony help shape the final form of the
bill. The committee votes on the bill and
upon passage it Is sent to the full Senate.
On the assigned Senate calendar day, the
bill is read, debated and voted upon for
final passage. The Senate President signs
the bill and it is returned to the House.
If the House and Senate are In agreement,
the bill is transmitted to the Governor,
where It is signed, allowed to become law
without his signature or vetoed.
If the conference committee cannot reach
an agreement, the bill will die in the con
ference committee.
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jf the House and Senate are not in agree
ment, a conference committee — compos
ed of senators and representatives — is
appointed to meet and work out
disagreements.
If the conference committee reaches an
agreement, the bill is sent back to the
House and Senate for passage and then
transmitted to the Governor.