Missouri's Lawmaking Process: Bills To Laws

The process of how a bill becomes a law in Missouri is a lengthy one. It involves the introduction of a bill, its first and second readings, a public hearing, a committee executive session, the perfection of the bill, its third reading and final passage, the governor's signing, and finally, the publication of the law. This complex procedure ensures that all proposed legislation undergoes rigorous scrutiny and debate before becoming enacted as law.

Introduction of a bill

The introduction of a bill is the first step in the legislative process. In Missouri, bills may be introduced by any senator or representative during the session. Bills may be written by the legislator or drafted by the staff of the Committee on Legislative Research at the request of a senator or representative.

Members may pre-file bills beginning on December 1 preceding the opening of the General Assembly session. Bills pre-filed are introduced on the first day of the session. Members may introduce bills through the 60th legislative day of the session.

When introduced, a bill is assigned a number and read for the first time by its title by the Senate or House reading clerk. It then goes on the calendar for a second reading and is assigned to a committee by the speaker of the House or the president pro tem of the Senate.

The first reading of a bill is a formality. It is read out loud before the members of the Board and in public. There is no discussion on the bill during the first reading.

After the first reading, the bill is referred to a specific committee for study and recommendation. The committee chair schedules hearings to review the bill. There may be multiple committee meetings on a bill. During the committee hearing, the sponsoring legislator will present their bill to the committee members, discuss its merits, and ask that it be sent to the full Board of Aldermen with a "do pass" recommendation.

Sometimes, the committee will make changes to the bill before sending it back to the floor. These changes are called Committee Substitutes or Amendments. After the committee review and any amendments or committee substitutes are approved, a vote is taken to pass the bill out of the committee and send it back to the Full Board for consideration.

First and second readings

When a bill is introduced, it is assigned a number and read for the first time by its title by the Senate or House reading clerk. It is then placed on the calendar for a second reading and assigned to a committee by the Speaker of the House or the President Pro Tem of the Senate.

The first reading of a bill is usually done on the first day of the session. Members may pre-file bills beginning on December 1 of the year preceding the opening of the General Assembly session. Bills pre-filed are introduced on the first day of the session. Members may also introduce bills through the 60th legislative day of the session.

The first reading is a formality, with the bill being read by its number and title only by the House reading clerk. After the first reading, the bill is placed on the calendar for a second reading. Following the second reading, it is assigned to a committee by the Speaker of the House.

The second reading is also a formality, with no discussion of the bill taking place. After the second reading, the bill is referred to a specific committee for further study and recommendations. The committee will consider the bill and report it back to the full board for a second reading.

Committee executive session

The committee executive session is a critical phase in the legislative process, where the fate of a bill is decided upon by the committee members. This session is open to the public, but no external testimony is allowed. The committee members thoroughly deliberate and vote on the bill, deciding whether to recommend it to the House or not. They have several options:

• Report the bill with the recommendation that it "do pass".
• Recommend passage with committee amendments, which are attached to the bill.
• Report the bill with a recommendation that a committee substitute for the bill "do pass".
• Report the bill with the recommendation that it "do not pass".
• Report the bill to the House without any recommendation.

The committee's recommendation plays a pivotal role in shaping the bill's future trajectory. If the committee recommends that the bill "do pass", it proceeds to the next stage, where it is placed on the "perfection calendar". On the other hand, if the committee recommends that the bill "do not pass", it will not be taken up by the House unless a substantial number of members (82 in the Missouri House) vote to take it up.

The committee executive session is a decisive checkpoint, where the bill's merits are scrutinized and its future course is determined. It is a democratic process that ensures that bills are thoroughly vetted before progressing further in the legislative journey.

Perfection of a bill

Perfection is usually voted on by a voice vote but, on the request of five members, a roll call shall be taken. If a majority of members vote to perfect, the bill is reprinted in its original or amended form. The vote is usually a voice vote but may be by roll call and must, like any other motion, be by roll call if at least five members request it. The newly printed bill carries the word "Perfected" above the bill number.

The bill then goes on the calendar for Third Reading and Final Passage. Only technical corrective amendments may be introduced at this stage, but members may debate the bill. At the conclusion of the debate, a recorded vote is taken. Approval by a constitutional majority of the elected members (82 in the House) is required for final passage. If the bill receives the required minimum of 82 votes, it is sent to the Senate, where it is again read a first and second time; referred to a committee for a public hearing; reported by the committee; amended on the floor and offered for final approval.

Third reading and final passage

After a bill has been perfected and reprinted, it goes on the calendar for a third reading and final passage. At this stage, only technical corrective amendments may be introduced, but members of the House may debate the bill. Once the debate is concluded, a recorded vote is taken. For a bill to pass, it must receive a minimum of 82 votes, which is a constitutional majority of elected members. If the bill passes, it is sent to the Senate, where it is read for the first and second time, referred to a committee for a public hearing, reported by the committee, amended on the floor, and offered for final approval. If the Senate makes changes to the bill, it is sent back to the House with a request to approve the changes. If the House approves the changes, the bill is "Truly Agreed to and Finally Passed" and sent to the Governor for consideration. If the House rejects the Senate's changes, a conference may be requested, and five members from each house are designated as a conference committee to agree on a compromise. If both houses approve the conference committee report, the bill is declared "Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed". It is then reprinted with the words "Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed" printed above the bill number. If either house rejects the conference committee report, the bill may be returned to the same or a newly appointed conference committee for further conferences.

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