FORMS OF LEGISLATION

BILLS

Legislative proposals drafted for consideration by the General Assembly usually take the form of a bill. Bills propose changes to existing statutes, create new laws, or appropriate funds. Bills must be approved in the same form by both chambers of the General Assembly and the Governor before they become law. Most legislative proposals are bills and are called either Senate Files (prefaced SF) or House Files (prefaced HF).

PREFILED BILLS

A legislator may request that a bill be drafted during the interim between legislative sessions. The bills drafted during an interim will not be formally filed until the beginning of the next legislative session. A legislator can request that such a bill be prepared for introduction on the first day of session. These types of bills are called prefiled bills.

STUDY BILLS

Study bills are used to determine reception of an issue by the General Assembly. They are developed under committee sponsorship for committee consideration. The Governor and state agencies may also have their ideas drafted as study bills. Study bills are called either Senate Study Bills (prefaced SSB) or House Study Bills (prefaced HSB) and receive study bill numbers. Should a study bill attain committee approval, the study bill will be introduced with the committee as the sponsor and receive a Senate or House File number, and be eligible for debate on the floor of the chamber of introduction.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS

Requiring adoption by both chambers, concurrent resolutions deal with joint rules of the two chambers and temporary legislative matters or express the sentiment of the Legislature. Often, concurrent resolutions provide for joint conventions or adjournment of the General Assembly. Concurrent resolutions require a simple majority vote for adoption. Concurrent resolutions are called either Senate Concurrent Resolutions (prefaced SCR) or House Concurrent Resolutions (prefaced HCR).

SENATE OR HOUSE RESOLUTIONS

Also known as simple resolutions, these proposals are filed for consideration only by their chamber of origin. Resolutions usually express appreciation, congratulations or sympathy. Resolutions are also used for the appointment of special chamber committees and, perhaps most importantly, are used for the adoption of chamber rules. Resolutions require a simple majority vote for adoption and are called either Senate Resolutions (prefaced SR) or House Resolutions (prefaced HR).

JOINT RESOLUTIONS

This type of resolution is used for temporary measures which have the effect of law. Joint resolutions are used to propose amendments to the State Constitution and the United States Constitution, to nullify administrative rules, and to accept bequests of property on behalf of the State. They follow the same course through the Legislature as do regular bills and require a constitutional majority vote in both chambers for adoption. They require the Governor's signature only if an appropriation or a temporary law is involved. If the Governor's signature is required, the Governor maintains normal veto powers and the Legislature maintains its power to override vetoes of joint resolutions. Joint resolutions are called either Senate Joint Resolutions (prefaced SJR) or House Joint Resolutions (prefaced HJR).

Iowa General Assembly

Index

© 1995 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

Comments? webmaster@legis.iowa.gov

Last update: 1995
URL: /DOCS/GA/76GA/LSB/LegHandbook/LegProcess/Forms.html
jhf