What is the legislative process?

The act or process of making or enacting laws varies in Federal (U.S. Congress) and each state legislature.  Most jurisdictions have 2 chambers (house/assembly and senate).

A representative from either body can introduce a bill in their chamber.  The legislative proposal is usually referred to a smaller committee for consideration.  Hearings are typically held and debate occurs before the bill is voted on by the committee members.  If the bill is voted out of committee it can be considered by all legislators in that chamber (floor activity/vote).  If the bill passes the first chamber it goes to the other legislative body for consideration (exception is unicameral legislatures in NE and DC).  The same committee and floor process occurs and both chamber pass the legislation it is sent to the Executive’s Desk for consideration (US President or State Governors).  The Governor can veto the bill (send it back to the legislature) or sign it so it is enacted to become law.

An overview of the federal legislative process is provided below; most states follow similar procedures.

https://www.congress.gov/legislative-process

Although the legislative process is similar, tracking state legislative activity is very different than monitoring federal bills in the U.S. Congress.

1. VOLUME: each year over 100,000 bills are considered by the state legislatures (compared to 3,000 in U.S. Congress) so state government affairs professionals struggle sifting through the volume to find what is relevant to their organization and viable (likely to pass)
2. VARIETY: the bills that are introduced always varies state-by-state so the need help analyzing the patchwork of legislative proposals

VELOCITY: On the federal level, less than 3% of bills are enacted each year but state legislatures differ because they get more done (approximately 30% of state legislative proposals are enacted).  Some state legislature meet all year but others only convene for a couple of months every other year.  During that time a lot of activity occurs and bills move though the legislative process at a very rapid pace.