How a bill becomes law The official legislative process begins when a bill is numbered – H.R. signifies a bill in the House of Representatives, and S.B signifies a bill in the Senate. Lawmakers receive inspiration for new legislative proposals from a variety of sources, including constituents like you. Step 1 Referral to Committee – Bills are assigned to committees in the House and Senate by the House Speaker of the House or the Senate President. Step 2 Committee Action At this stage the committee carefully examines a bill and determines its chances for passage, this is lead by the committee chair. According to Ohio Law each introduced bill must receive at a minimum one hearing before the committee. This may only be the Sponsorship (legislator who crafted the bill) testimony. If the Committee Chair chooses not to have additional hearings, then the bill dies in committee. The only remedy is reintroduction at a later time. Testimony can be given in person or as a written statement. The committee may make changes in the form of amendments to the bill during this time. An amendment can be recommended to the bill by any member of the committee. Amendments may be “tabled” or not considered for inclusion. Step 3 Subcommittee Review Often, bills are referred to a subcommittee for study and hearings. This is usually the case for budget or appropriation bills. Hearings provide the opportunity to put r on the record the views of agencies, the public, experts, supporters, and opponents of the legislation. Testimony can be given in person or as a written statement. The committee may make changes in the form of amendments to the bill during this time. Step 4 Committee Actions After reviewing a subcommittee report on a bill, or amending a bill the committee full committee will vote on the final version of the bill to be recommended to the House or Senate. Step 5 Final Vote‐ When a bill is recommended to the House or the Senate for a vote on the floor, the Bill sponsor is again aloud to speak on the merits of the bill. At this time any Legislator on the floor may offer an amendment to the final bill. The amendments are accepted or rejected by either the Senate President or the Speaker of the House.
Glossary of Legislative Terms‐ Amendment – changes to the bill’s language by adding, substituting, or omitting portions of it. Caucus‐ meeting of the republicans or Democratic members of the legislature to determine policy and /or to choose leaders. Chairman/woman‐ highest‐ranking member of the committee who belongs to th majority party. Majority leader‐ highest ranking member of the committee who belongs to the minority party Committee‐ group of members assigned to give special consideration to certain bills. It is headed by a chairperson and has formal rules. (Ex House committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources. Companion Bill‐ similar or identical bills introduces into the House and Senate Constituent‐ a resident od a district represented by an elected officials Sponsor‐ legislator who has introduced a bill to the speaker or president and who will push for its passage Cosponsor‐ a member who formally added his or her name as a supporter to another members bill. An initial cosponsor is one who was listed at the time of the bill’s introduction District office‐ the office or offices, within a member’s district