How a Bill Becomes a Law

From January 10 to February 24, the General Assembly will once again be in session. Legislation that affects families in Virginia will come before the General Assembly. The following is a brief overview of how a bill becomes a law. Bills can be introduced in either the House or the Senate but must pass both before they are sent to the Governor for final approval.

1. A constituent requests that Delegate Smith introduce legislation on an important issue.

2. Delegate Smith explains the proposal to a staff attorney in the Division of Legislative Services. The attorney checks existing law and the constitutionality of the proposed legislation.

3. The Division of Legislative Services drafts a bill and delivers it to Delegate Smith.

4. Delegate Smith signs his name on the bill and introduces it by laying it on the desk of the Clerk of the
House of Representatives.

5. The bill is ordered printed and referred to the appropriate committee (i.e., Education, Transportation, Courts of Justice).

6. The members of the Committee familiarize themselves with the bill through public comment and decide whether to approve it with or without amendments.

7. The committee then reports back to the House on their decision.

8. First reading. The name of the bill is printed in the calendar and read by the Clerk.

9. Second reading. The next day the name of the bill appears in the calendar and read by the Clerk again.

10. The bill’s patron (Delegate Smith) explains the bill and answers questions other legislators may ask. The House then votes whether to advance the bill to a third reading.

11. A bill that has passed the second reading without any amendments is "engrossed." If amendments are adopted, the bill is reprinted in its final form.

12. Third reading. The next day, the name of the engrossed bill appears in the House calendar and is read by the Clerk for the third time. Members of the House of Representatives cast their final vote on the bill.

13. The Clerk sends the bill to the Senate after it has passed the house. The Clerk informs the Senate that the bill has passed the House and requests the same of the Senate.

14. In the Senate, the bill goes through pretty much the same process as it did in the House. The name of the bill is read, referred to a standing committee, considered and reported back, read a second time and a third time before passage.

15. After both houses of the General Assembly pass a bill, it is printed as an "enrolled" bill, examined and signed by the presiding officer of each house.

16. The bill is sent to the Governor for his approval.

17. After being signed by the Governor, the bill is sent to the Clerk of the House and is assigned a Chapter number.

18. All bills enacted at a regular session are effective the first day of July following adjournment of the session.

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