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How a Bill Becomes Law in Colorado

A bill can be introduced in the House or Senate. The process is the same for both chambers, so let's just look at the House. A House Bill is introduced by a member of the House of Representatives and the first reading is by the House clerk (also called being "read across the desk"). The Speaker of the House refers, or assigns, the bill to a committee. The committee hears the bill and votes on what to do with it (send it to another committee, send it to a committee that they know will kill the bill, approve the bill or PI [Postpone Indefinitely] the bill themselves, which in effect, kills the bill).

If the bill is approved by the committee, it goes to Second Reading on the floor of the House. The bill is then debated and voted upon. This vote is not recorded.

If the bill passes Second Reading the entire House hears the bill, debates it and amends it as it desires. Third Reading and final passage is the recorded vote. At this time the Representatives push either a green light for a yes vote or a red light for a no vote. Their vote is recorded in public record.

If the bill passes, it moves to the Senate. The first reading is by the Senate Clerk. The President of the Senate refers it to a committee. The committee considers the bill and votes on what to do with it. The Second Reading in the Senate is when the Senators debate and amend the bill as they desire. Third reading and final passage is a recorded vote. This is different in the Senate as the Senate Chambers do not have the red/green light system that the House does. The Senate can approve a bill with a voice vote. Unless a Senator asks for a roll-call vote and votes against a bill, he/she is assumed to have voted for it during the voice vote.

If the bill passes the Senate, it returns to the House since it is a House bill. If the bill has passed both houses in identical form it is sent to the Governor for signing. If the bill passed both houses in different forms and the House accepts the changes, it can be sent to the governor for signing. If the House rejects the changes made in the Senate and does not ask for a Conference Committee (composed of both Senators and Representatives) the bill is dead; If the House rejects the changes and asks for a Conference Committee, the Conference Committee attempts to iron out the differences between the two houses and the report of this committee hearing is sent to both houses. If both houses accept the compromise the bill is sent to the Governor.If the Governor signs a bill, it becomes law or becomes part of the Colorado Revised Statutes. If the Governor fails to sign a bill within 10 days during the legislative session or 30 days if the session is adjourned, it becomes law without his signature.

If the Governor vetoes a bill, it is returned to the house of origin, in the case of this bill, to the House. The House then votes whether or not to override the Governor's veto. A vote to override takes the approval of two- thirds of the Elected Membership.

Obviously, this process is greatly affected by our elected officials. If the sponsor of a bill doesn't know how to work for the bill, or doesn't care much about it, the sponsor may let it die. Sometimes legislators introduce bills they know will die but they want recorded vote on certain subject matter.

Every bill that is introduced is evaluated to see if any fiscal note should be attached. If the bill requires funding, it can be the death of the bill. Every prudent legislator weighs the cost of the fiscal note.

Each Legislator is able to sponsor five bills. He or she can sign on, or cosponsor as many bills as they chose. Cosponsoring a bill means the Senator or Representative agrees with the bill and is lending his or her name in support of it. For instance, if an agriculture bill is going to the Agriculture Committee, it's good to have several committee members co-sign the bill.

The General Assembly has 100 elected members. There are 35 Senate legislative districts and 65 House districts which are adjusted every ten years, based on changes in the distribution of the state's population. The legislative session convenes annually for 120 days starting the second Wednesday of January.

Rocky Mountain Family Council

8704 Yates Drive, Suite 205

Westminster, CO 80031

(303) 292-1800

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