Understanding The Process: Colorado Lawmaking

The process of how a bill becomes a law in Colorado involves several stages and requires public input and advocacy. The Colorado Legislature, also known as the General Assembly, consists of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives, with 35 and 65 members respectively. A bill must pass through both chambers to become a law, and each chamber has different committees that focus on specific issues such as education, finance, or health. The process begins with the introduction of a bill by a Senator or Representative, who is the bill's sponsor, and other legislators may sign on as co-sponsors. The bill is then assigned a number and a committee, or sometimes multiple committees, for a public hearing. During the hearing, the sponsor presents the bill, answers questions, and the committee calls for public testimony. The committee then decides whether to amend the bill or vote on it as introduced. If the committee passes the bill, it moves to the House or Senate floor for a second reading, where legislators can amend and vote on the bill in its final form. If the bill passes the second reading, it moves to the third reading, which cannot take place on the same calendar day, and generally only technical amendments are offered. If the bill passes the third reading in the first chamber, it moves to the second chamber where the same process is repeated. If the bill passes the second chamber without amendments, it is sent to the Governor for action. However, if the bill is amended by the second chamber, the sponsor can recommend that their colleagues accept the amendments, reject them, or request a conference committee to work out a compromise. If the bill passes both chambers, it goes to the Governor, who can sign it into law, let it become law without a signature, or veto it. If the Governor vetoes the bill while the General Assembly is still in session, the Assembly can override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote from each chamber.

A bill must pass both chambers, the House and the Senate

For a bill to pass in Colorado, it must pass both chambers of the Colorado Legislature: the House and the Senate. The Colorado Legislature has 100 members: 35 Senators and 65 Representatives. Each legislator serves on several committees, appointed to these positions by their political party's leadership.

The bill must pass through a series of hearings and votes. Passage of a bill requires a majority: 33 votes in the House and 18 votes in the Senate. A bill has a House sponsor and a Senate sponsor. The bill is read in the House or Senate (wherever it is introduced) and is given a number and a committee assignment. The bill may be assigned to more than one committee.

The committee reviews the bill in a hearing. Supporters and opponents can testify for or against the bill; citizens can attend the hearing and testify on the bill. The committee decides whether to amend the bill (by adding language, taking language out, or substituting language for the original language) or vote on it as introduced. Then the committee votes to pass the bill, refer the bill to another committee, or kill the bill. If the committee passes the bill, it goes to the House or Senate floor, depending on which chamber introduced it. The bill is read to the entire House or Senate. The legislators can amend the bill (and vote on the amendment). Then they vote on the bill in its final form.

If the full chamber passes a bill, it takes a “third reading” vote as its final approval before sending it to the other house. If the first chamber passes a bill, the bill goes to the other house and the process repeats. If a bill passes both chambers, but the versions of the bill are different, the bill goes to a conference committee. The House and Senate leaders appoint conference committee members who try to work out the differences and end up with one compromise bill. The compromise bill then goes back to both chambers for final votes.

The bill is assigned a number and a committee

Once a legislator agrees to sponsor a bill, the bill is assigned a number and a committee for a public hearing. The bill number will depend on whether the bill originates in the House or the Senate. Bills that originate in the Senate are entitled "SB" for Senate Bill, followed by the year, and then three numbers (e.g., SB23-001). Bills that originate in the House are entitled "HB" for House Bill, followed by the year, and then four numbers (e.g., HB23-1001).

Committees usually have a specific issue that they focus on, such as education, transportation, or public health. During the committee hearing, the bill's sponsor(s) will first present the bill to the committee and answer any questions. The committee will then call for public testimony, which is the only opportunity for the public to participate on the record in the legislative process. After the public testimony, the committee will consider any amendments to the bill and then vote on whether to pass the bill forward, refer it to another committee, or kill the bill. If the committee passes the bill, it goes to the House or Senate floor, depending on which chamber introduced it.

If the bill is assigned to multiple committees, it will proceed from one to another each time it passes its committee vote until it has fulfilled each of its committee assignments.

The committee reviews the bill and decides whether to amend it

Once a bill has been introduced and assigned to a committee, the committee will review the bill and decide whether to amend it. The committee hearing on the bill is a crucial stage in the legislative process, as it is the only opportunity for the public to participate on the record. During the hearing, the bill's sponsor(s) will present their bill to the committee and answer any questions. Then, the committee will call for public testimony, where supporters and opponents can testify for or against the bill. After hearing public input, the committee will consider any proposed amendments to the bill. Amendments can be offered by committee members or, if the sponsor of the bill is not a committee member, they may need to ask a legislator who serves on the committee to offer amendments on their behalf. Amendments can involve adding, removing, or substituting language in the bill. Once any amendments have been considered, the committee will vote on whether to pass the bill, refer it to another committee, or kill the bill (technically known as "Postponing Indefinitely" or PI). If the committee passes the bill, it will move on to the next stage of the legislative process, which involves a vote of the full House or Senate.

The bill goes to the House or Senate floor, depending on the chamber of introduction

Once a bill has been introduced and assigned to a committee of reference, it must pass through the committee phase before it can go to the House or Senate floor. This is the second reading stage, known as the "Committee of the Whole" or "COW".

During the second reading, the entire chamber forms a committee to debate the merits of the bill and offer amendments. A voice vote is required for approval, although a member of the chair may request a standing vote. Once the bill and all amendments are approved, it is written into a new document called the "engrossed bill", which is then placed on the calendar for a third reading.

The third reading is when the final debates and recorded votes on the bill occur. If the bill is approved by a recorded vote, the engrossed bill, including any amendments, is then combined into a "Reengrossed bill".

If the bill passes the third reading, it is now called a "Rerevised bill". The rerevised bill is then sent back to the first chamber, where all amendments must be approved. If all amendments are approved, it is then sent to the governor for action.

However, if any amendments are rejected, the sponsor can request a conference committee, which must be made up of three members from each chamber. The purpose of this conference committee is to iron out the differences between the two chambers and reach an agreement. If they are able to come to an agreement, the bill is sent back to both chambers. If both chambers adopt the report, the bill is sent to the governor for their action.

If the full chamber passes a bill, it takes a third reading vote as its final approval

If a bill passes the first chamber, it will then be sent to the other house to repeat the entire process. However, before it is sent to the other house, the bill must take a "third reading" vote as its final approval. This is the third reading vote, which, by rule, cannot take place on the same calendar day as the bill's second reading. Generally, only technical amendments can be offered at this stage. If the bill passes this stage, it will then be sent to the other house.

If the bill passes both chambers but there are differing versions of the bill, it will go to a conference committee. The committee will consist of members from both chambers who will try to work out the differences and reach a compromise. If a compromise is reached, the bill will go back to both chambers for final votes. If the bill passes both chambers, with or without a conference committee, it will be sent to the Governor.

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