How a Bill Becomes a State Law

Do you ever wonder how the laws that govern our state came to be? Is there a law that you think should be changed? If so, there is a process that private citizens (like you), businesses and legislators use to pass new laws or amend (change) our current laws.

Any changes to state laws, known as bills, begin in either the Ohio Senate or the Ohio House of Representatives. These are the two chambers that make up the Ohio General Assembly. Representatives submit their ideas to whichever chamber they are a member of and a group of people writes a draft of the new bill in proper legal form. The bill is given a number that will be used as it moves through the system.

Once numbered, the bill is assigned to an appropriate committee that handles topics related to the proposed bill. Lawmakers consider the proposal and may ask experts to tell them more about the proposed bill~ this is called hearing testimony. After discussion and testimony, the committee may decide to pass, or report on the bill, without changes; they may amend it, or substitute changes or fail to take action on it.

If the bill is approved by the committee, it will move on to the rules committee to determine when and if it will be voted on by the entire chamber.

Next, the bill is presented to the entire chamber where it will be voted upon. The chamber may pass it, with or without amendments; defeat it or postpone action until a later date. For a bill to continue through the legislative process, it must be approved by a majority of members.

After a bill is approved by the chamber in which it was started (either the House or Senate), it then goes to the second chamber, where it follows the same general hearing process. The chamber may pass it as is or with changes of its own. Bills passing the second chamber with no changes go on to the governor for approval. However, if the chamber makes changes, the bill must go back to the original chamber for its members’ approval. When the two chambers cannot agree, the bill may go to a conference committee to work on a compromise. If the differences are resolved, the bill goes to the floor of both chambers for final approval.

Once a bill has been approved by both chambers, called the General Assembly, it is reviewed by the governor. If the governor approves the bill, it is signed and takes effect generally after 90 days. The governor can take no action and allow the bill to become law after 10 days or veto it, sending it back to the General Assembly with an explanation for the veto. If the bill appropriates (promises) state money, the bill takes effect immediately upon the governor’s signature. Lastly, in appropriation bills, the governor can void specific sections with a line-item veto.