How a Bill Becomes a Law

A Look at How a Bill Becomes a Law

Drafting and Introduction

The Senators and Delegates meet with their constituents to develop proposals to be introduced as bills.

They work with the legislative staff to draft a bill that would create a new law, or change or repeal the current law. The Senators and Delegates then introduce their bills in their respective houses.

Do you know who represents the district in which you reside? If not, the "Who's My Legislator?" tool will give you a look at your state and national representatives.

A Look: Representation

Each Senator represents about 215,000 voters.
Each Delegate represents about 85,000 voters.

A Look: Districts

There are 40 Senate districts.
There are 100 House districts.

Committee Meetings

Senators and Delegates are assigned to committees. During committee meetings, they hear from subject experts, the public and others about why legislation should or should not be enacted.

After listening to testimony, the committee will vote to recommend the passage or defeat of the bill. They may also offer changes (called amendments) at this time. If the committee recommends passage of the bill, it then goes before the entire Senate or House of Delegates for consideration.

This is the public hearing portion of the legislative process. It is where you might get involved!

A Look: Senate Committees

The Senate has 11 committees. Each Senator serves on about four committees.

A Look: House Committees

The House has 14 committees. Each Delegate serves on about five committees.

Committee Action

After a bill is introduced, it is referred to the appropriate standing committee. In the Senate, bills are referred by the Clerk of the Senate.

In the House of Delegates, bills are referred by the Speaker. The standing committees have scheduled meetings or public hearings every week to address the bills referred to them. In these meetings, legislators and the public may present their opinions on the bill.

A Look: Senate Committee Action

If the bill passes in a Senate committee, it goes to the floor of the Senate for all 40 Senators to hear the reading of the bill.
To send a bill to the floor of the Senate, Senators vote yes.
To stop a bill from going to the floor of the Senate, Senators vote nay no.

A Look: House Committee Action

If the bill passes in a House committee, it goes to the floor of the House for all 100 Delegates to hear the reading of the bill.
To send a bill to the floor of the House, Delegates vote yes.
To stop a bill from going to the floor of the House, Delegates vote no.

Floor Action

In accordance with our State Constitution, the title of the bill must be read three different times.

The bill may be amended once it has been read a second time. The pros and cons of the bill may be debated on the third reading.

A Look: Readings in the Senate

First Reading in the Senate - this means all Senators will vote on the bill soon.
Second Reading in the Senate - this means Senators can make changes to the bill. They can only talk about the changes. Then, they vote yes to accept the changes or no to stop the changes.
Third Reading in the Senate - this means Senators take turns debating the whole bill. Then, they vote yes to pass the bill or no to stop the bill.

A Look: Readings in the House

First Reading in the House of Delegates - this means all Delegates will vote on the bill soon.
Second Reading in the House of Delegates - this means Delegates can make changes to the bill. They vote yes to accept the changes or no to stop the changes. Then, they debate the entire bill before voting again.
Third Reading in the House of Delegates - Delegates vote yes to pass the bill or no to stop the bill.

Opposite Chamber

If the bill passes, it is then sent to the other chamber.

In the other chamber, a bill will go through a similar process of committee action, floor debate, and voting.

A Look: House Bills in the Senate

House bills are read three times in the Senate.
Adoption of committee amendments/substitutes, debate and vote on passage occurs on third reading.

A Look: Senate Bills in the House

Senate bills are read three times in the House.
Like House bills in the Senate, all action occurs on third reading.

What Happens Next?

If the bill passes both the Senate and the House of Delegates without any amendments, it then goes to the Governor. If the bill is amended, it is then returned to the original body for approval.

If each house insists on its own form of the bill, a committee of conference is usually created.

A Look: Committees of Conference

Senators and Delegates are assigned to committees of conference.
In the Senate, the Chair of the committee to which the bill was first referred makes the determines which Senators will negotiate differences in opinion.
In the House, the Speaker selects Delegates to negotiate differences in opinion.

A Look: Conference Reports

Once differences are resolved, a compromise report sent to each house for approval. If it is approved, the report is then sent to the Governor.

Governor's Action

If a bill passes both the Senate and the House of Delegates, it is sent to the Governor.

Governor has four options.

Sign the bill into law.
Take no action and after a specified time, the bill may become law without their signature.
Amend the bill and return it to the Virginia General Assembly.
Veto the bill and return it to the Virginia General Assembly. If the bill is vetoed, the Senate and House of Delegates may override the Governor’s veto with approval of two-thirds of the members of both houses.

A Look: Reconvened Session

The Senate and the House of Delegates return to Richmond for one day in April.
On that day, Senators and Delegates take turns discussing changes that the Governor wants to make to bills.
If Senators and Delegates like the Governor's ideas, they vote yes. If Senators and Delegates don't like the Governor's ideas, they vote no.

A Look: Special Sessions

The Governor can call the Senate and House into special session.
The Senate and House can petition themselves back into special session.
Otherwise, once the regular session adjourns, legislators return to their districts.

A Look at the Steps of a Bill (Interactive Activity)

Click here for directions.

Directions: For the interactive activity, select the correct number that corresponds with the steps in each row. For the print version, write the number you think matches the primary steps a bill must go through to become law.

Additional Resources Needed: None.

A Look at the Steps of a Bill (Printable Resource)

Click here for directions.

Summary: Using the information above, practice how much you learned about the primary steps a bill must go through to become law. A template is also available for you to practice writing a law of your own! If you want to know how a real bill looks, click here.

Directions: Select the correct number that corresponds with the steps in each row. Write the number you think matches the primary steps a bill must go through to become law. Each handout is available in portable document format (.pdf). Click on the images below to open any of the files.

Additional Resources Needed: Printer, 8 1/2"x11" printer paper, and a pen or pencil.

Outcome: Your knowledge about the steps in how a bill becomes a law will improve, and you will have practiced writing a law of your own.

Steps of a Bill - Printable

ALook_BillSteps.pdf

Bill Template - Printable

ALook_BillOutline.pdf

Steps of a Bill - Answer Key

A LOOK_ A Look at the Steps of a Bill (Answer Key).pdf

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