It starts with an idea

The sources for bills are diverse. A legislator may introduce legislation to solve the problems of constituents - individuals or organizations. A citizens' group can bring an issue to the attention of a legislator. Or, the governor may request legislation to fulfill his or her agenda.

Get it in writing

A legislator, his or her staff, and the Legislative Service Commission work together to take an idea from concept to the concrete and draft a bill in the proper form for introduction.

Either house can introduce legislation

A member of the Ohio House of Representatives or the Ohio Senate may introduce legislation. Legislators generally seek additional co-sponsors, members of their house who agree to have their names associated with the bill.

Bills are referred to committee for action

Following introduction, a bill moves to the Reference Committee whose members assign the bill to a standing committee.

Committees deliberate

Members of the standing committee debate the merits of the bill. They are assisted by posing questions to witnesses (individuals or representatives of interested groups). At this stage, legislators may amend the bill by adding or deleting language or combining it with other measures. Committee members vote to recommend the bill for a floor vote by the entire House or Senate ("favorably report"). They may indefinitely postpone legislation or take no action, in which case the bill "dies" in committee. Legislation not favorably reported may be introduced in the next session of the General Assembly.

Following the rules

Bills favorably reported out of a standing committee are sent to the Rules Committee. This committee decides what bills will be considered by the entire membership of the House or Senate and schedules them to appear on the calendar for a vote.

Action moves to the floor

Bills are often debated and amended on the floor, according to the procedures of each house. A bill must receive a majority favorable vote to pass. Once it has passed, it moves to the other house, where the committee assignment and hearing process begin anew. If the bill is amended in any way by the second house, it is sent to the house of origin for approval of the amendments, known as "concurrence." If the original house votes down the changes, House and Senate leadership appoint a conference committee made up of members of both bodies to reconcile their differences. Then both houses must vote to accept their compromise.

The governor takes action

A bill that passed both houses is sent to the governor in the form of an "act." The governor can sign the act into law or veto it. If the governor takes no action within 10 days, the act becomes a law without his or her signature. A signed act becomes law in 90 days, while "emergency" measures and those making appropriations of money becomes law immediately. A governor's veto sends the act back to the house of origins with the governor's written objections. A three-fifths vote of the membership of both houses is required to override the governor's veto.