Nebraska's Lawmaking Process: Bills To Laws

The process by which a bill becomes a law in Nebraska is commonly referred to as the legislative process. The first step is for someone to identify a problem, research it, and develop a proposed solution in the form of a legislative bill. Although ideas can come from anywhere, only members of the Legislature can sponsor a bill. Once a bill is introduced, it enters the committee stage, where it is assigned to a standing committee and given a public hearing. After the hearing, the committee may vote to send the bill to the general file, postpone it, or take no action. If the bill passes the committee stage, it must then pass three rounds of floor consideration: General File, Select File, and Final Reading. If a bill passes the Final Reading, it goes to the governor for approval. The governor has five days to decide whether to sign or veto the bill; if they do nothing, the bill automatically becomes law.

Bill introduction

The legislative process in Nebraska starts with a senator bringing their idea for a new law to a bill drafter. The bill drafter works with the senator to transform the idea into the proper legal format for a bill. Unlike some states, bills introduced in Nebraska may only contain a single subject. Bills must be introduced during the first 10 days of the legislative session, which begins each January.

Once the bill is drafted, a senator introduces it by filing it with the Clerk of the Legislature. The clerk reads the bill's title into the record, assigns it a number, and prints copies for public and legislative use. The Legislative Fiscal Office prepares budget statements estimating the anticipated change in state or political subdivision expenses or revenue under the provisions of each bill. This statement is called a fiscal note. The fiscal office also prepares appropriations bills ("A" bills), which accompany bills that have a fiscal impact.

The bill introduction is the first step in the legislative process, and it is crucial as it sets the tone for the rest of the process. It is important to note that while ideas for legislation can come from government, elected officials, businesses, lobbyists, and citizens, only members of the state legislature can introduce a bill. By doing so, the legislator becomes the bill's sponsor.

The bill introduction process ensures that the proposed legislation is well-defined, clear, and follows the correct legal format. It is a critical step in the law-making process, as it lays the foundation for the subsequent steps, including committee hearings, debates, and votes.

Overall, the bill introduction stage in Nebraska's legislative process is a collaborative effort between senators and legislative staff, ensuring that proposed laws are carefully considered, properly formatted, and financially evaluated before proceeding to the next stages of the legislative journey.

Bill referral

The bill referral stage is the second step in the Nebraska legislative process. After a senator has introduced their idea for a new law to a bill drafter, who works with them to transform the idea into the proper legal format for a bill, the bill referral stage begins.

The nine-member Reference Committee assigns each bill to the appropriate standing committee. This is the first committee stage of the process. The standing committees of the Nebraska Legislature conduct a public hearing for every bill introduced. This is different from some other states, where public hearings are not held for every bill.

The standing committee may then act to advance a bill to the General File, with or without committee amendments, or it may choose to indefinitely postpone (or 'kill') the bill, or take no action and hold the bill in the committee.

If the bill is advanced to the General File, it has three chances, or attempts, to advance before it is indefinitely postponed. This is the first of three rounds of floor consideration that a bill must successfully pass through to become a law.

Public hearing

In Nebraska, every bill receives a public hearing. This is a crucial stage in the legislative process, as it allows citizens from across the state to voice their opinions and have their say on proposed bills. It is an opportunity for the public to provide testimony, highlighting the positive and negative aspects of the legislation and suggesting any changes they believe should be made. This ensures that a wide range of perspectives are considered and gives Nebraskans a direct role in shaping the laws that will govern them.

The public hearing stage is conducted by the standing committees of the Nebraska Legislature. These committees play a vital role in scrutinising bills and ensuring that they are thoroughly examined before proceeding to the next stage. The committees listen to the citizens' testimonies and may also consider any proposed amendments to the bill. This stage of the process is designed to be inclusive and democratic, allowing for a diverse range of viewpoints to be expressed and considered.

After the public hearing, the committees have several options regarding the bill's progression. They may choose to advance the bill to the General File stage, with or without proposed amendments. This means the bill will continue its journey towards becoming a law. Alternatively, the committee can decide to indefinitely postpone the bill, effectively killing it, or they may opt to take no action and hold the bill in the committee for further review or discussion.

The public hearing stage is a unique feature of Nebraska's legislative process, as not all states conduct public hearings for every bill. This stage ensures that the lawmaking process is transparent and accountable to the people of Nebraska. It empowers citizens to have a direct impact on the laws that will govern them and provides a platform for diverse voices to be heard. This aspect of Nebraska's democracy promotes civic engagement and helps to ensure that laws are responsive to the needs and concerns of the state's citizens.

Overall, the public hearing stage of Nebraska's legislative process is a critical step that allows for citizen participation, transparency, and accountability in lawmaking. By providing a platform for diverse viewpoints and giving citizens a direct say in the legislative process, this stage helps to shape fair and representative laws that reflect the values and priorities of Nebraskans.

Committee action/inaction

Once a bill has been introduced, it enters the committee stage of the process. First, the Reference Committee determines which standing committee will hear the bill.

A standing committee may act to:

• Advance a bill to General File (with or without committee amendments)
• Indefinitely postpone (kill) the bill
• Take no action and hold the bill in committee

If a bill reaches a committee, it is placed on the committee's calendar. A bill can be referred to a subcommittee or considered by the committee as a whole. During this step, the bill is examined carefully and its chances for passage are determined. If the committee does not act on a bill, it is the equivalent of killing it.

Bills are often referred to a subcommittee for study and hearings. Hearings provide the opportunity to put on the record the views of the executive branch, experts, other public officials, supporters, and opponents. Testimony can be in person or submitted in writing.

General file

A bill on General File has three chances, or attempts, to advance before it is indefinitely postponed. Committee amendments and other amendments, if any, are considered prior to a vote to advance to Enrollment and Review Initial.

If a bill is advanced from General File, it moves to the Enrollment and Review Initial stage of the legislative process, where all amendments adopted are engrossed into the bill. The bill is then reviewed for technical flaws. If any such flaws exist, Enrollment and Review amendments are filed to be adopted on Select File.

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