Vermont's Lawmaking Process: Bills To Acts

The process of a bill becoming a law in Vermont is a complex one. The bill must pass through several stages of review and approval by committees and chambers before it can even reach the governor's desk. Even if it does, the governor has several options for how to treat the bill, including signing it into law, letting it pass without a signature, or vetoing it. Only bills that successfully navigate these steps become state laws.

Bills are introduced and assigned a number

Bills are introduced when one or more lawmakers release a bill for introduction. The bill is then assigned a number. Bills introduced by House members start with "H," and Senate bills start with "S." Bills are numbered in consecutive order of introduction each two-year biennium: H.1, H.2, and so on.

Each bill is introduced on the House or Senate floor and referred to a committee. Committees are panels of lawmakers who discuss and vote on bills related to a specific topic, such as agriculture, education, or health. The chair of each committee, appointed by leadership in the opening days of the two-year legislative biennium, decides which bills the committee takes up and when. Committee members may discuss the bill, hear testimony from stakeholders, or vote to amend the bill.

Most bills "die in committee," meaning the committee never discusses the bill, or members discuss it but never take a vote. If a majority of committee members do vote to advance a bill, it returns to the chamber.

Bills are assigned to a committee

Once a bill is introduced on the House or Senate floor, it is referred to a committee. Committees are panels of lawmakers who discuss, debate, and vote on bills related to specific topics such as agriculture, education, or health. The committee chair, appointed at the beginning of the two-year legislative biennium, decides which bills the committee takes up and when.

Committee members may discuss the bill, hear testimony from stakeholders, or vote to amend the bill. Most bills "die in committee," meaning the committee never discusses the bill, or members discuss it but never take a vote. If a bill is not voted on, it cannot advance any further in the legislative process and is essentially dead.

If a majority of committee members vote to advance a bill, it returns to the chamber. At this stage, the bill may be referred to another relevant committee for further review and discussion or directly taken up by the full chamber for a "second reading." During the second reading, all members of the chamber can debate the bill and propose and vote on amendments.

Bills are voted on by the committee

Once a bill is introduced on the House or Senate floor, it is referred to a committee. Committees are panels of lawmakers who discuss and vote on bills related to a specific topic, such as agriculture, education, or health. The committee chair, appointed at the beginning of the two-year legislative biennium, decides which bills the committee takes up and when. Committee members may discuss the bill, hear testimony from stakeholders, or vote to amend the bill. Most bills "die in committee," meaning the committee never discusses the bill, or members discuss it but never take a vote.

If a committee takes up a bill, its members may vote to amend it. They can also vote to advance the bill, which would send it back to the chamber. In the case of a tie, the committee chair can cast the deciding vote. If a majority of committee members vote to advance a bill, it returns to the chamber, where it may be referred to another relevant committee or taken up for a "second reading" by the full chamber.

During the second reading, all members of the chamber can debate the bill and propose and vote on amendments. Members then vote on whether to advance the bill to a "third reading." This vote can be taken by voice, division, or roll call. If a majority of those present vote in favor of the bill, it advances to the third reading, which typically takes place the next day the chamber is in session.

At the third reading, members can again debate the bill, propose and vote on amendments, and then vote again. If the bill is approved on third reading, it moves to the other chamber, where it goes through the same process.

Bills are voted on by the House or Senate

Once a bill has been introduced and referred to a committee, it may be referred to another relevant committee, or the full chamber may take it up for a "second reading". In each chamber, a bill must be "read" three times. The bill's introduction is considered its "first reading".

On the second reading, all members of the chamber can debate the bill and propose and vote on amendments. Members then vote on whether to advance the bill to a "third reading". Votes may be taken in one of three ways: by voice, meaning members shout "yea" or "nay" at the same time; by division, if requested by any member, meaning those voting "yea" stand up and then those voting "nay" stand up; or by roll call, if requested by any member, meaning each member's vote is recorded individually. If a majority of those present vote in favor of the bill, it advances.

In the Senate, the lieutenant governor generally does not vote but may break a tie. In the House, the speaker may cast a tie-breaking vote or a vote that would lead to a tie.

The third reading typically takes place the next day the chamber is in session. Members can again debate the bill and propose and vote on amendments. They then vote again. If the chamber approves the bill on the third reading, it moves to the other chamber.

Bills are sent to the governor's desk

Once a bill has been approved by both the House and the Senate, it is sent to the governor's desk. The governor must then act on the bill within five days (excluding Sundays). The governor has three options: they can sign the bill into law, let the bill pass into law without their signature, or veto it. If the governor chooses to veto the bill, it will be sent back to the Legislature, typically accompanied by a "veto message". This message may express outright opposition to the bill or suggest changes. For a bill to become a law after being vetoed, a two-thirds majority in each chamber of the Legislature must vote to pass it. If either chamber fails to achieve this majority, the bill is dead. However, if both chambers vote to override the governor's veto, the bill will become law.

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