Debate

The Legislative Process: 76-1

DEBATE

Upon conclusion of committee work, the subcommittee chairperson usually becomes the bill's floor manager. The floor manager is responsible for presenting the bill to the chamber for debate and for monitoring the bill's progress during the debate. The Majority Leader calls bills up for debate. During debate, amendments may be offered by individual legislators. Amendments are distributed to the members of the chamber prior to their consideration by the body and are compiled in the daily clipsheets. Amendments are approved by a simple majority of legislators voting their approval. The floor manager is aware of all amendments pending on a bill as well as any other actions that take place which may affect the bill.

When debate on a bill and its amendments is complete, the floor manager moves that the bill be read for the last time and placed upon its passage. This tradition of reading the bill's title and number dates from early days of the Legislature when bills were read in their entirety to the members because the members did not have printed copies.

If a constitutional majority (at least 51 Representatives or 26 Senators) vote "yes," the bill moves to the other chamber; if fewer than the majority votes for it, the bill is defeated. Votes on bills and amendments may be reconsidered by the chamber on a motion by a member who voted with the prevailing side on the issue. If the motion to reconsider is approved, a new vote is taken on the bill or amendment. If the bill is then approved by a majority vote and all motions to reconsider have been cleared, it is messaged, or delivered, to the other chamber. Amendments adopted by the originating chamber are incorporated into the bill before it is delivered to the second chamber. These engrossed bills are normally printed on pink paper.

The procedure for a bill in the second chamber is basically identical to the procedure in the chamber of origin. If the bill is amended by the second chamber, the amendments are not incorporated into the bill but are combined into a single amendment, which is messaged back to the chamber of origin for approval, disagreement, or further amendment. Should the originating chamber concur with the amendment, the bill has passed both chambers in identical form and will be enrolled and prepared for review by the Governor. If the originating chamber refuses to concur with the second chamber's amendment, the bill is returned to the second chamber, which may recede from or insist upon the amendment. If the originating chamber amends the second chambers amendment, the bill is returned to the second chamber for consideration of the amendment to its amendment. If the second chamber insists upon its amendment, a conference committee is appointed to consider the differences.

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Last update: 1995
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