Anaya Nolan
In Minnesota, any individual, consumer group, corporation, governmental unit, or governor can propose a bill. However, only a legislator, constitutional officer, or state agency can request the revisor of statutes to put a bill into the proper legal form. Each bill must have one legislator in each body to serve as its chief author, who will introduce, present, and defend the bill. A bill must be read three times on the floor of each body and pass through several committees before it can be passed and sent to the governor for approval. The governor can sign the bill, veto it, or choose not to act on it, which would automatically turn it into a law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of steps for a bill to become a law | 8 |
| Legislative proposal | Anyone can propose a bill—an individual, consumer group, corporation, governmental unit, or governor |
| Authors | Each bill must have one legislator in each body to serve as the chief author of the bill |
| Introduction | When a bill is introduced, it is assigned a file number by which it is known |
| Committee consideration | The chair of the committee to which the bill was referred will decide when and if to give the bill a hearing |
| Second Reading, General Register and General Orders | Once a bill has passed through all of the required committees, it is sent to the full House or Senate and given its second reading and placed on the list of bills that the body may consider |
| Debate, Third Reading and Passage | The chief author presents the bill, members may debate the merits of the bill and offer amendments, and a roll call vote is taken |
| Conference committee | When the House and the Senate pass companion bills with language that is not identical, a conference committee is formed to find a compromise |
| The governor | The governor has several options: sign the bill, veto it, "line item" certain expenditures, or do nothing |
Legislative proposal
The legislative proposal stage is the first step in the eight-step process of turning an idea into a Minnesota law. It is the stage where anyone—an individual, consumer group, corporation, governmental unit, or governor—can propose an idea for a bill. This idea can be for an entirely new law, an amendment to a current law, or a repeal of a law.
Before a bill can be considered, it must be put into proper legal form by the revisor of statutes. Only a legislator, constitutional officer, or state agency can ask the revisor to prepare a bill. The revisor of statutes is responsible for putting the proposed idea into the proper legal format. This is an important step to ensure that the bill follows the correct structure and format required for it to be introduced and considered by the legislature.
Each bill must have one legislator from each body (the House and the Senate) to serve as the chief author. The chief author is usually the one who requests the revisor to prepare the bill and introduces the bill in their respective body. They also present the bill in committees and on the floor. Other legislators can show their support for the proposal by signing on as "co-authors". There can be up to 34 co-authors in the House and four in the Senate. While co-authors are listed on the bill, they often do not take an active role in the passage of the bill.
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Authors
Anyone can come up with an idea for a bill, be it an individual, consumer group, corporation, governmental unit, or governor. However, only a legislator, constitutional officer, or state agency can ask the revisor of statutes to prepare a bill. Each bill must have one legislator in each body to serve as the chief author of the bill, who is usually the one to ask the revisor to prepare the bill. The chief author in each body introduces the bill, presents it in committees, and on the floor.
Other legislators may sign on as "co-authors" to show their support for the proposal. There may be up to 34 co-authors in the House and four in the Senate. Co-authors are listed on the bill but often do not take an active role in the passage of a bill. The chief author presents the bill during the second reading, and members may debate the merits of the bill and offer amendments.
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Introduction
How a Bill Becomes a Law in Minnesota
The process of how a bill becomes a law in Minnesota is a complex and lengthy procedure, with many steps and requirements that must be met. The state's legislative process is designed to ensure that laws are carefully considered and reflect the interests of Minnesota's citizens. The Minnesota Legislature, consisting of 134 members of the House and 67 members of the Senate, plays a crucial role in this process. Each legislator has the ability to author an unlimited number of bills, resulting in thousands of bills introduced during each session.
The journey of a bill begins with a legislative proposal, which can come from anyone, including individuals, consumer groups, corporations, governmental units, or the governor. However, only legislators, constitutional officers, or state agencies can request the revisor of statutes to put an idea into proper legal form. The revisor plays a critical role in ensuring that bills meet the necessary legal standards before they can be introduced.
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned a unique file number, such as "H.F. 1531" for the House or "S.F. 1331" for the Senate. These numbers are assigned chronologically as bills are introduced. The introduction stage also includes the bill's "first reading," where it is referred to the appropriate committee for further consideration.
The introduction of a bill is just the first step in a multi-stage process that involves committee consideration, multiple readings, debates, amendments, and votes. For a bill to become a law in Minnesota, it must navigate through these stages successfully and gain the approval of both chambers of the Legislature, as well as the governor.
The process by which a bill becomes a law in Minnesota is a collaborative effort involving legislators, committees, and the governor. It is designed to be rigorous and thorough, ensuring that the laws enacted reflect the needs and interests of the state's citizens. In the following sections, we will delve into the details of each step, from the introduction of a bill to its final passage and enactment.
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Committee consideration
The committee chair to which the bill was referred will decide when and if to give the bill a hearing. All committee meetings are open to the public. Committees often hear testimony from those in favour or opposed to a bill before taking action. Committees often amend the language of the bills.
Committees may vote on whether a bill should pass or may delay consideration of it by 'laying it on the table'. A bill must receive the votes of a majority of the members present and voting in order to pass. Bills that are passed may be sent to another committee or to the floor for consideration by the entire House or Senate.
Committees are an important part of the legislative process in Minnesota, as they allow for further review and revision of a bill before it reaches the floor of the House or Senate. This helps to ensure that the bills are well-vetted and have a chance to be improved before becoming law.
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The governor
Once a bill has been passed by the House and the Senate, it is sent to the governor for consideration. The governor has several options: they can sign the bill, in which case it becomes a law. They may veto it and provide an explanation for their decision, or they may choose to "line item" certain expenditures and sign the rest of the bill into law if it involves spending money.
If the governor does not sign or veto a bill within three days of receiving it, it automatically becomes law. However, if the bill is passed during the last three days of a legislative session in the second year of the biennium, the governor has up to 14 days to take action. If no action is taken within this time frame, the bill does not become law.
It is worth noting that the Legislature can override a governor's veto if two-thirds of the members in both bodies vote to do so.
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Frequently asked questions
Anyone can come up with an idea for a bill, and before it can be considered, it must be put into proper legal form by the revisor of statutes.
Each bill must have one legislator in each body to serve as the chief author of the bill. Other legislators may sign on as “co-authors” to show their support for the proposal. There can be up to 34 co-authors in the House and four in the Senate.
When a bill is introduced, it is assigned a file number by which it is known. In the House, it is a house file number, e.g., H.F. 1531; in the Senate, a senate file number, e.g., S.F. 1331. Numbers are assigned to bills in chronological order as they are introduced.
The chair of the committee to which the bill was referred will decide when and if to give the bill a hearing. Committees often hear testimony from those in favor or opposed to a bill before taking action and often amend the language of the bills.
Once the House and Senate have agreed on and passed the identical bill, it is sent to the governor for his consideration. The governor may sign it, in which case the bill becomes a law, or veto it as a whole and provide an explanation for his decision.
