How a Bill Becomes a Law in Nebraska
Idea |
New ideas or proposal to either create a new law or change a current law. |
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Fictional Example |
Nebraskans who use hearing aids approach the Legislature to provide tax credits for the purchase of hearing aids. |
Introduction |
Introduce to Legislature by a Senator or group of Senators. |
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Fictional Example |
Sen. Smith introduces LB 101, which provides an income tax credit up to $1,000 for the purchase of a hearing aid. |
Committee |
Put into the appropriate committee. Public hearings are held by the Committee. |
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Fictional Example |
The Revenue Committee is assigned LB 101. The committee holds a public hearing where people with hearing aids explain why the bill would help them. |
General File |
First time for the Legislature to debate and vote on the bill amendments to be added. |
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Fictional Example |
LB 101 is debated on the Floor of the Legislature for the first time. Sen. Johnson offers an amendment to decrease the tax credit to $500. The amendment is adopted. The bill is voted on and avanced to Select File. |
Enrollment & Review |
Bill now can have amendments added, the bill is checked for technical and wording accuracy. |
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Fictional Example |
LB 101 is changed to a bill that provides an income tax credit up to $500 for the purchase of a hearing aid. |
Select File |
Second time for the Legislature to debate and vote on the bill. Bill can either be indefinitely postponed or advance to the next stage. If amendments are added the bill goes back to Enrollment & Review. |
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Fictional Example |
Sen. Smith, who introduced LB 101, offers an amendment to increase the tax credit to $750. His amendment is defeated, but the bill is advanced to Final Reading. |
Final Reading |
Final passage of the bill for a final vote, by the Senators. Amendments can be made and are sent back to Select File. |
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Fictional Example |
LB 101 receives its final reading, and it is passed by a vote of 40-7-2. It is sent to the Governor's Office to be signed. |
Governor |
After the bill passed on Final Reading, the Governor has five (5) days to decide to either approve the bill, or to veto the bill. The Legislature can override the bill, but it takes the vote of 30 senators. |
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Fictional Example |
Gov. Richards signs LB 101. OR Gov. Richards vetoes LB 101, and the bill goes back to the Unicameral where his veto is overriden by a vote of 39-9-1. |
Law |
Bill becomes a law. |