The first step a bill takes toward becoming a law is being introduced in either the Senate or the House of Representatives. The bill may only contain one subject and are written by a legislator or drafted by the staff of the Committee at the request of a senator or representative. The first time that the bill is read by the clerk and it is given a number. Then, it is given to a committee by the Speaker of the House. The committee then can talk about the bill and amend it if it is needed. The other choice that is made by the committee chair, is that the bill can be pigeonholed and never talked about again. This is the way that most bills are rejected. Also, the committee can return the bill without recommendation, submit a committee substitute, or report it with "do not pass". If bills make it past this step they are then discussed by the committee and amended. Then the bill goes on to a calendar of either the House or the Senate. On the date it is given, the bill is brought up to the entire house. The house then debates all the characteristics of the bill and decides if it needs to be amended. They do so if needed. If it is needed they then debate what part of it should be amended. After all the debate and no one has anything else to say, the bill is then voted on. If it passes then it is considered a perfected bill. Perfection if usually voted on by mouth, but if five members of the house request, it is voted on by roll call. After the perfected bill is rewritten with all the corrections, it goes on to a third reading and final passage. The constitutional majority is needed for the final vote. If passed, the bill is proofread for errors. The bill finishes with the signing by the House speaker and Senate president. The bill is finally passed.
