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BASIC BILL PASSAGE PROCESS
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1. The bill is introduced (First Reading) in either the House or the Senate.
2. The bill is assigned to a Committee.
3. The Committee takes testimony on the bill and makes recommendations to the full chamber.
4. The bill is read again (Second Reading) and is adopted or rejected.


5. If the bill is adopted, it is read a third time (Third Reading) and is adopted or rejected. If the bill fails to pass on Third Reading it dies. If the bill passes, the bill moves to the second chamber and the process is repeated.


a. If the bill is amended in the second chamber it is sent back to the originating body where they must concur with the changes. If they concur, the bill proceeds in the second chamber to Third Reading. If the original chamber does not concur with the changes, a Conference Committee is appointed to settle the differences. If no compromise is reached, the bill dies.


6. If the bill passes the second chamber it is sent to the Governor. The Governor has four options when the bill arrives on his desk.

a. The Governor can sign the bill into law, or it becomes law after a period of 60 days passes without the Governor's signature.

b. The bill can be amended through the Governor's Amendatory Veto powers.

c. If the bill is an appropriations bill, the Governor has the option of using his Line Item or Reduction Veto.

d. The Governor can veto the bill in its entirety.
7. If the General Assembly wishes to override the Governor's veto, it takes a 3/5ths majority vote during the Fall Veto Session.