It Starts With An Idea
All bills start with an idea. Whether it be from a constituent, lobbyist, government official, corporation or nonprofit—all are allowed a say in the legislative process. The role of representatives is to turn various ideas into action.
File A Request
The legislation process starts when legislators file a request for legislation with the Office of Legislative Research and General Council (OLRGC), where their request is assigned to an attorney with knowledge on the subject area of the bill request.
Draft, Revise & Publish
Once drafted, attorneys send the draft to the lawmaker who made the request. Once revisions are completed and the draft is approved by the lawmaker, the bill is numbered by the OLRGC and distributed for public viewing.
Introduction & Committee Assignment
Whether it originated in the House of Representatives or Senate, the bill must be read three times in each body. After being read for the first time in its originating body, the bill is sent to the Rules Committee where bills are held until referred to a standing committee. A bill can be killed in the Rules Committee by being held there and never assigned to a standing committee.
Committee Presentation & Public Comment
Once in a standing committee, the bill must be placed on an agenda by the chair of the committee, at least twenty-four hours before the hearing. The sponsor of the bill is responsible for presenting it to the committee. Members of the committee are able to ask questions about the bill and give feedback, and the public is usually able to make comments as well.
Committee Action
The standing committee can modify the bill by either amending it—altering small sections of the text—or by substituting it—altering large sections of the text that change the entire bill. After an opportunity to discuss the bill, the committee can vote on whether to hold a bill in the committee, giving the sponsor more time to work on the bill and have the chair possibly place it on a future agenda, or whether to give the bill a favorable recommendation. If the bill does not receive a favorable recommendation, its journey through the process is over.
House and Senate Floor
Once a bill receives a favorable recommendation from a standing committee, it is then placed on a “calendar,” or schedule of bills, in the House or Senate.
A bill has an opportunity for amendments or substitutes once in the House, and twice in the Senate. Each time, representatives and senators also have an opportunity to ask questions of the sponsor and debate the bill. Most bills have to receive a majority vote (once in the House, twice in the Senate) to pass.
Repeat the Process
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Successfully Passed, Onto The Governor’s Desk
Once a bill has been passed by both houses, it is signed by both the Speaker of the House and the Senate President and returns back to the Legislative Research and General Council (OLRCC) to be enrolled. It is then passed along to the Governor where they have 20 days to take action. The Governor can sign a bill or veto a bill. If vetoed, the legislature can override the bill with a ⅔ vote in both houses.
Once the process is complete, the bill is officially a law!
Learn More: https://le.utah.gov/lrgc/billtolaw.pdf
To learn more about what bills Alliance for a Better Utah is tracking across a range of progressive issues, check out our bill tracker.
