How a Bill Becomes a Law in Georgia

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A member of the House can initiate a bill on any matter. The Constitution provides that all appropriations and revenue-raising bills MUST originate in the House.

To introduce a bill, a member files it with the Clerk of the House not later than on hour after adjournment in order that it may be introduced and read the following day.

The bill is read to the House the next day at which time each member has a printed copy on his desk to study. When it is first read, the bill is referred to a committee by the Speaker. On the next legislative day, the bill is read for the second time so it will be ready for action by the House when it is reported to the House by the committee.

At the third and final reading, there is a debate. Amendments (definition), or even complete substitutions, may be offered by the committee that studied the bill or by a member from the floor.

Parliamentary maneuvers are sometimes exceedingly confusing to spectators. Actually, these parliamentary rules enable the House to operate in an orderly manner. For instance, when any subject is before the House for consideration, or under debate, no motion can be received, except the following in this order of precedence:

First - A motion to adjourn
Second - A motion to lay on table
Third - A motion for the previous question
Fourth - A motion to adjourn to a time definite
Fifth - A motion to indefinite
Sixth - A motion to postpone to a day certain
Seventh - A motion to commit
Eighth - A motion to amend
Ninth - a motion to print

Assuming that the bill survives parliamentary maneuvers, the vote is taken. If a measure receives a majority, which is 91 votes, it is passed and sent to the Senate for consideration.

The Senate can either pass the bill or defeat it. If passed unamended, the bill is sent to the Governor who can sign it into law or veto it.

If the legislation is amended in the Senate, it is returned for consideration by the House. When the House and Senate disagree about the amended portions, the presiding officers of each body appoint members to a conference committee which tries to find an acceptable compromise which must be approved by a majority of both houses.



	HIGHLIGHTS “The only pure and consistent advocates for a child are his or her parents or family members,” explains Betsy Primm, coordinator of Georgia Learning Resource Services Metro-North branch. “That doesn’t mean that educators don’t advocate every day for their students, but year in and year out, that is a parent’s role.”