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Step 1:
Introduction of the Bill
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The
Sponsor:
When a representative or a senator introduces a bill he/she is called the
bill’s sponsor. There can be many sponsors of a bill. The bill must be
filed by the deadline. This requirement is met when original copy, signed
by a legislator, is submitted to the clerk’s office or when a written
request to have the bill drafted is submitted to the Legislative
Commissioner’s Office, which logs the date and hour of the request.
Usually in the short sessions only bills related to the budget, certified of an emergency nature, or raised [see Raised Bills] by a committee are allowed to be filed. First Reading and Committee Assignment: After the bill is filed with the clerk’s office it is assigned a bill number. Then, it is presented in the originating chamber (House or Senate) for a first reading. At this time the clerk read aloud the bill number and title, and the presiding officer assigns it to a committee. Usually, the first reading is waved and the bill is assigned to the proper committee Example of First Reading Video
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