The California Legislature
Assembly Rules Committee
Although the procedure can become complicated, this chart shows the essential steps for passage of a bill.
Typical committee actions are used to simplify charting the course of legislation.
Some bills require hearings by more than one committee, in which case a committee may re-refer the bill to another committee. For example, bills with monetary implications must be re-referred to the proper fiscal committee in each House before they are sent to the second reading file and final action.
A bill must be amended at various times as it moves through the Houses. The bill must be reprinted each time an amendment is adopted by either House. All bill actions are printed in teh DAILY FILES, JOURNALS, and HISTORIES.
If a bill is amended in the opposite House, it is returned to the House of Origin for concurrence in amendments. If House of Origin does not occur, a Conference Committee Report must then be adopted by each House before the bill can be sent to the Governor.
Suggestion for Needed Legislation From:
Agencies, Citizens, Governor, Lobbyists
1. Prepared
Assembly Bill Prepared By Legislative Counsel.
1. Prepared
Senate Bill Prepared By Legislative Counsel.
2. Introduced
By Member, Numbered, First Reading, Printed.
3. Assigned
Rules Committee Assigns Bill to Committee.
5a. Held in Committee
Result #1:
Committe Could Recommend Bill Be Held.
5. Results
Committe Recommendations / Pass
(2 Paths)
*Note*
Between these steps, bill may not be heard by committee until 31st day after introduction,
4. Committee Hearing
Policy or Appropriations:
Chairperson and Members
Testify:
Bill, Author, Citizens, Experts, Lobbyists
Steps 3 -5B can repeat.
5b. Second Reading
Result #2
This would be the next step for both Houses.
(Steps 3 thru 5 can repeat)
6. Third Reading
Debate
Vote
Steps 6-7B can repeat.
7a. Proposed Amendments
7b. Revised Third Reading Analysis
8A. Passage Refused
8B. Ordered To...
9. The Senate
9. The Assembly
10. First Assembly Reading
11. Rules Assigns Bills to Committe
12. Committee Hearing
Policy or Appropriations:
Chairperson and Members
Testify:
Bill, Author, Citizens, Experts, Lobbyists
10. First Senate Reading
11. Rules Assigns Bills to Committee
12. Committee Hearing
Policy or Appropriations:
Chairperson and Members
Testify:
Bill, Author, Citizens, Experts, Lobbyists
Steps 12-14 can repeat.
13A. Held in Committee
Result #1:
Committe Could Recommend Bill Be Held.
13B. Second Reading
13B. Results
Committee Recommendations / Pass
(2 Paths)
14. Second Assembly Reading
15. Third Assembly Reading
Debate / Vote
14. second Senate Reading
15. Third Senate Reading
Debate / Vote
16a. Proposed Amendments
16b. Revised Third Reading Analysis
17A. Passage Refused
17B. Passed
Passed without Amendments
18. To the Governor
Passed with amendments
18. Return to Assembly Floor
Concurrence in Senate Amendments
Yes
To the Governor
19. Conference Committee
3 Assembly Members & 3 Senate Members
No
20. Conference Report
21. Assembly and Senate Adopt Conference Report
Yes
No
Repeats Step 20 and 21 until adopted.
22. Governor
Can sign, Veto, or do Nothing.
Veto
Legislature has 60 days (not including joint recesses) to overide veto with 2/3 vote in each house.
**Assembly policy committee will do governor’s Veto analysis.**
Sign
Becomes Law Without Signature
Bill is Chaptered by Secretary of State.
Bill becomes law January 1st of the folloowing year unless it contains an urgency clause (takes effect immediately) or specifies its own effective date.