Understanding Connecticut's Lawmaking Process

The process of turning a bill into a law in Connecticut is a complex and lengthy one, involving many stages and participants. The process begins with the proposal of a bill, which can be introduced by individual legislators or committees. These proposals are then sent to the relevant committees for review, where they may be drafted into legal language, combined with other bills, or referred to another committee. Following public hearings, the bill is sent to the Legislative Commissioners' Office, the Office of Fiscal Analysis, and the Office of Legislative Research, before being debated and amended in the house of origin. The bill then moves between the two houses of the General Assembly, where it can be amended, before being sent to the governor for approval. The governor can sign, veto, or take no action on the bill, with the latter two options triggering a potential override vote in the legislature.

Bill proposal

The process of a bill becoming a law in Connecticut is a lengthy one, involving many steps and participants. The bill proposal is the first step in this process.

A bill can be proposed by individual members of the legislature or by committees. The legislators who propose a bill are called its "sponsors", and other legislators can "sign on" to a bill as co-sponsors to show their support. Bills can only be proposed early in the session. Ideas for bills may come from lawmakers, constituents, or be brought to the legislator by an individual, group, or organization.

There are several different kinds of bills that can be introduced: Proposed Bills, Committee Bills, Raised Bills, and Governor's Bills. Individual legislators may introduce "Proposed Bills", which are drafted in general terms, often with just a sentence describing the goal or subject matter of the legislation. The deadline for filing proposed bills is early in the session—approximately two weeks after the beginning of the session.

Committees may also propose bills, which are screened by the committee leadership before filing. If a committee bill is selected by the committee leadership to go forward, it will be drafted in full statutory language. Even if a proposed bill is not selected, it doesn't mean it has died. It might be seen later as a raised bill, as part of a raised bill, or as an amendment to a related bill. Raised bills are drafted in formal statutory language and have been developed by committee leadership. They have later deadlines than Proposed or Committee bills. Finally, Governor's Bills are usually budget-related and are submitted by the Governor to the General Assembly.

Committee referral

Once a bill has been introduced, it is sent to the appropriate joint standing committee of the General Assembly, depending on the bill's subject matter. There are 26 legislative committees that consider bills, and each committee has dedicated staff, including analysts from the Office of Fiscal Analysis, the Office of Legislative Research, and the Legislative Commissioner's Office.

Committees can also propose or "raise" bills. Often, one or more legislators' bills are converted into a committee bill. Committees can have the bill drafted in legal language, combine it with other bills, refer it to another committee, or take no action, in which case the bill fails. The committee may also write a new "'raised' committee bill".

The committee holds public hearings for the public, state agency representatives, and legislators on all bills it wishes to consider. The committee co-chairs, and sometimes ranking members, meet in private to decide which bills will receive a public hearing. Committee staff conduct the public hearings, generally in the middle of the session.

The leaders then decide in private which bills to schedule for a committee vote. Bills scheduled for a vote are put on the agenda of a committee meeting. At the meeting, members have an opportunity to ask questions of the legislator who sponsored the bill. Sometimes the bill's language is changed or "substituted" at the meeting. The public does not have an opportunity to speak in Committee meetings but can watch.

The committee then votes on any proposed amendments or "substitute language" and then on the full bill, as amended. The committee must vote on each bill by their Joint Favorable (JF) Day deadline, or it does not move on in the process. JF Days vary for each committee.

Bills are often referred to other relevant committees for votes, and a bill must pass each committee to which it is referred to move on to the calendar of either the House or Senate. Bills that pass out of committee and are considered by either house of the General Assembly get both a fiscal note from the Office of Fiscal Analysis and a bill analysis from the Office of Legislative Research.

Public hearings

The committee holds public hearings for all bills it wishes to consider. Committees may propose or "raise" bills themselves, or they may come from individual legislators. The committee leadership screens the bills and decides which will receive a public hearing. The public hearings are conducted by committee staff, who also decide which bills will be scheduled for a committee vote.

During a public hearing, individuals can sign up to testify and provide written copies of their testimony. It is important to be brief and direct, stating your position early in your testimony. The committee members are the ones who will ultimately vote on the bill, so it is important to address them directly and provide factual and accurate information. Advocates for a bill should also be prepared to answer questions and address any concerns or amendments that may be proposed.

After the public hearing, the committee will decide whether to report the bill favorably, defeat it, or take no action. If the committee reports the bill favorably, it will be sent for a full vote of the Connecticut General Assembly. This is known as a "Joint Favorable Report" (JF). The JF report includes a summary of the supporting and opposing testimony, as well as the vote tally. The committee must vote on each bill by its JF Day deadline for it to move forward in the process.

Amendments

If a bill passes the first chamber, it then goes to the other chamber for a vote and can be amended and debated there as well. If changes are made, the bill must return to the first chamber for another vote on the new version. For a bill to become a law, it must pass both chambers in the exact same form.

Governor's approval

Once a bill has passed both the House and the Senate, it is sent to the governor for approval. The governor has five days during a session and fifteen days post-session after receiving the bill to either sign it into law, veto it, or let the clock run out and the bill becomes law without their signature. If the governor vetoes the bill, the legislature must vote by a two-thirds majority in each house to overturn the veto, which rarely happens. If the governor does not veto the bill, it becomes a public act.

The governor's role in the legislative process is critical, as they have the power to approve or reject bills passed by the legislature. The governor's signature is required for a bill to become a law in Connecticut. The governor can also choose to take no action on a bill, which has the same effect as signing it into law. This is often done when the governor does not want to publicly support a bill but does not object to its content.

In addition to signing or vetoing bills, the governor can also propose legislation in the form of "Governor's Bills." These are usually budget-related and are submitted by the governor to the General Assembly. Governor's Bills are drafted in formal statutory language and have the same force as laws passed by the legislature. They are typically related to the state's budget and financial matters, but the governor can also propose bills on other topics.

The governor's role in the legislative process is not limited to signing or vetoing bills. They can also play a crucial part in shaping and influencing legislation before it reaches their desk for approval. The governor can work with legislators and advocate for specific policies or amendments to be included in bills. The governor's office can also provide input and suggestions during the drafting process, ensuring that the final bill aligns with their priorities and policies.

The governor's involvement in the legislative process extends beyond bill approval. They have the power to call special sessions of the legislature, issue executive orders with the force of law, and fill vacancies in elected offices. The governor also plays a critical role in overseeing the implementation and enforcement of laws, working with state agencies to ensure that the laws are carried out effectively.

Frequently asked questions