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Bill Basics: What is a Bill and How Does it Become Law?

Bill Basics: What is a Bill and How Does it Become Law?. Marie Sullivan, Director of Governmental Relations NOVEMBER 21, 2013. Purpose of a Bill. Creates, amends or deletes a law State laws are recorded as “statutes” in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW)

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Bill Basics: What is a Bill and How Does it Become Law?

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  1. Bill Basics: What is a Bill and How Does it Become Law? Marie Sullivan, Director of Governmental Relations NOVEMBER 21, 2013

  2. Purpose of a Bill • Creates, amends or deletes a law • State laws are recorded as “statutes” in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) • Only the state legislature can change an RCW • And only during session or a special session called by the Governor

  3. Introduction of a Bill • Bills are only introduced by legislators • The type of bill – HB or SB – is considered the House of Origin • Identical bills are called “companion” bills

  4. Other Kinds of Legislation • Joint memorials – jokingly called “letters to Santa Claus” • Directed at President, Congress, etc. • Joint resolutions • amendments to the State Constitution • must be approved by Washington voters • Concurrent resolutions • usually legislative business e.g., setting cutoff dates, rules

  5. Bill Process • Introduced by a legislator • First reading is on the floor, typically title only • Other legislators may sign on in support • Bill is assigned to a policy committee or – if strictly a money-related bill – to a fiscal committee

  6. First Hurdle: The Hearing • A bill may be given a hearing at the discretion of the committee chair • People testify in support or opposition of the bill or with concerns • Courtesy hearings

  7. Second Hurdle: Vote in Committee • Bill may be modified by an amendment or striking amendment • A vote will be taken and recorded, and the bill moved forward • “Subject to signature” requirements

  8. Third Hurdle: Fiscal or Rules Committees • Fiscal committee – same hearing process • Testimony is typically only on fiscal issues • If substantial modifications, it could become a 2nd substitute • When passes the fiscal committee – the bill is sent to Rules • If no fiscal impact, bill is sent to Rules

  9. Third Hurdle (cont.): Rules Committee • Led by the Speaker of the House or the Lieutenant Governor • Members “pull” bills • White Sheet to the Green Sheet • Green Sheet to the Floor • If Rules committee votes to move forward, it goes to the Floor Calendar • “Package Pull”

  10. Fourth Hurdle: Scheduled for a Vote on the Floor • Leadership and/or committee chairs discuss bills • Caucus presentations and discussions • “Working the doors”

  11. Fifth Hurdle: House of Origin Vote • Sponsor of the bill prepares talking points and speaks in support of the bill on the floor • Any Legislator in the House of Origin may offer amendments to the bill • If amended on the floor, it becomes an “engrossed” bill

  12. Fifth Hurdle (cont): Cutoff Dates • During this entire process, there are “cutoff dates” – dates by which a bill must have been moved forward to remain in consideration during the session

  13. Sixth Hurdle: Bill Introduced in Other “Chamber” • Bill is assigned to a policy or fiscal committee • The entire process begins anew • Cutoff dates apply with a more compressed schedule

  14. Seventh Hurdle: Hearing and Vote in Opposite Chamber • The bill must receive a hearing and be passed by a policy committee or fiscal committee - or both - if it has both a policy and fiscal impact • Committee chairs negotiate bills, discuss amendments

  15. Opposite Chamber Hurdles • Eighth Hurdle: Rules committee • Ninth Hurdle: Getting scheduled for a full vote • Tenth Hurdle: Voting by the full “chamber”

  16. 11th Hurdle: Reconciling Changes • If the bill was changed, it has to return to its “House of Origin” for a vote to “concur” or “dispute” the changes that were made • If bill is significant or controversial, it can be sent to a “Conference Committee” • e.g., budget, complex, lots of changes made • Bill is still subject to ever-shrinking cutoff dates

  17. 12th Hurdle: Final Steps • The bill requires full vote • Placed on consent or dispute agenda • Conference vote is up or down • The bill must be signed by both the President of the Senate (the Lieutenant Governor) and the Speaker of the House

  18. 13th Hurdle: Signed by the Governor • Governor action • Deliver date determines when clock starts for some bills • Unless there’s an emergency clause or specified “effective date,” the default effective date is 90 days after the end of the original session

  19. Save the Date! January 26-27, 2014 Legislative Conference Day on the Hill Registration Open Now! Sponsored by: WSSDA/WASA/WASBO

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