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- Bill filing
Depending on the length of the legislative session, the deadline for filing bills is either Jan. 9
or Jan. 11 – generally. There are exceptions for filing the two-year budget after a
gubernatorial election.
- First reading
This is a procedural step. Bills are typically moved forward in big groups together. From
here, a bill is assigned to one of 23 House committees or one of 22 Senate committees.
- Committee hearing
This is where Hoosiers, businesses and other stakeholders may testify to the committee
about the bill. Even if the bill passes its initial committee, it may be reassigned to another
depending on the content or the potential fiscal impact of the bill.
- Second reading
Anyone in the chamber can offer an amendment, which must be approved with a simple
majority.
- Third reading
The bill’s overall merit is voted on in the chamber. Depending on the length of the session,
House bills must be heard for third reading by Feb. 5 or Feb. 27 and Senate bills by Feb. 6 or
Feb. 28.
- Send to opposite chamber
Bills go through the exact same process in the opposite chamber.
- First reading
The same process as step 2.
- Committee hearing
The same process as step 3.
- Second reading
The same process as step 4.
- Third reading
Depending on the length of the session, House bills but be heard for third reading in the
Senate by March 5 or April 18. Senate bills must be heard in the House by March 4 or April
17.
- Conference committee
If changes were made in the opposite chamber, either the bill’s author agrees to those
changes and sends it to the governor, or the bill is sent to conference committee. The largely private group of representatives and senators reconcile the changes made to legislation.
If they come up with acceptable language, it’s voted on by both chambers again, and then
sent to the governor.
- Governor’s desk
Very rarely, the governor may veto legislation. Since Gov. Eric Holcomb took office in 2017,
he’s vetoed eight bills. The legislature overrode four of those.