The Legislative Process: Step Two

Bill Introduced in First Chamber

After the bill has been properly drafted, the sponsor introduces it into his or her chamber. In other words, Representatives introduce bills in the House and Senators introduce bills in the Senate. Bills are designated as either House Bills or Senate Bills, depending upon the original sponsor. Even when the bill moves to the other chamber, its original designation remains. This is called the bill’s “house of origin.”

Bills are also numbered in order from the time of introduction, and the numbering continues throughout the entire General Assembly session. For example, House Bill 25 was introduced in the House and was the twenty-fifth bill introduced in the House during that General Assembly.
Once that General Assembly ends, all pending bills die and can no longer be considered. At the start of a new General Assembly, the bill numbering starts over and any legislation from the previous General Assembly must be re-introduced to be considered again.

After the bill is introduced, it is said to be on “first reading.” All bills must be “read” to the chamber three times. This does not, however, mean that the actual full text of the bill is literally read out loud. The Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate must merely read the bill number and its title aloud. After the bill has been read aloud the first time, it moves on to the next step.

Continue to step three: the bill goes to the legislative committee