legislation > how a bill becomes law

The State of Minnesota follows a process to pass state laws. A general overview of the Minnesota process is explained on this page. The two links below (from State websites) describe the bill-making process in more detail.

MN State Legislature: How a Bill Becomes Law in Minnesota

Capitol Steps: How Six Bills Became Laws

OVERVIEW

The Minnesota Legislative session lasts two years. The 2009-2010 session has ended. A new two-year session (2011-2012) will start in January 2011.

Start and end dates for each session are important to know because all bills must meet certain deadlines within that time period. For explanations of deadlines, go to:

MN State Legislature Committee Deadlines

The Minnesota Legislature operates (conducts business) a few months each year. When not in session, legislators are at home in their communities. (Non-session months are known as the interim months.)

LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

The idea

A bill starts with an idea (i.e., protect dogs and cats from harm by regulating dog and cat breeders in Minnesota).

The main point of the "process" is to turn the idea into law (making the idea legal) by moving it through two legislative bodies: the Minnesota Senate and the Minnesota House of Representatives.

These two legislative bodies are made up of legislators who represent communities throughout Minnesota. The State is divided into 67 political districts with each district having one Senator and two Representatives, all of whom are voted into office by the residents (called constituents) of that district. 

There are a total of 67 Senators in Minnesota, and 134 Representatives. These legislators are known as law-makers because, through their votes, they can determine what ideas become laws. Constituents, by talking with legislators, can help shape their opinions.

For maps showing the district boundaries and other details, go to: MAPS

NOTE: Minnesota is divided into districts for state legislators (legislative), who meet and conduct work at the State Capitol in St. Paul, and for federal legislators (congressional), who represent the State of Minnesota in Washington D.C..

The steps

The legislative process for creating and passing a bill is not precise. There are numerous variables, twists and turns, and starts and stops during the process.

The diagram below is a general overview of the process.

One of the main points to remember are deadlines. At the beginning of each session, deadlines are posted which clearly state what dates must be met during that particular session for a bill to be passed.

Five other general points to keep in mind:

1. Authors

Every bill has an author in both the Minnesota Senate and the Minnesota House of Representatives ("House"). The authors introduce their bill and each bill is assigned a file number. The authors request committee hearings for the bills, speak at hearings, educate legislators about the issue and bills, and guide the bills through the process. When first introduced, the bill's language is the same in the Senate and House and the two bills (House File and Senate File) are known as companion bills.

2. Committees

Every bill must pass through one or more committees (by stated deadlines) in both the Senate and the House of Representatives for it to move forward. The number and type of committees may vary based on the language within the bill. Committees are considered experts on different subject matters. (Every legislator sits on specific committees, based on their interest and/or expertise.) The Committee Chair determines whether a bill is granted a hearing. A hearing allows a bill to be "heard" by committee members, where public and expert testimony are given. Please note:

• For specifics about what happens after the committees have heard a bill, go to: How a Bill Becomes a Law

• A bill can also be placed in an omnibus bill. An omnibus bill is a large bill that includes several different issues under one general topic.

 

3. Amendments

The Senate and House are two distinctly different bodies. As the bill passes through the different House and Senate committees, changes (amendments) to the bill's language can be made by committee members. Legislators who sit on the House or Senate committees may not have the same opinions or viewpoints, so amendments between the two bodies may differ. This means even though the language in the two bills may start out the same, it may change during the process.

4. Full Legislature: Senate and House of Representatives

The Minnesota Legislature has 201 members, made up of 67 senators and 134 representatives. If the bills pass through the House and Senate committees, all state legislators will have an opportunity to vote for or against the bill. For a bill to pass the full Minnesota Senate, 34 "yes" votes are needed. For a bill to pass the full House, 68 "yes" votes are required. Once passed, the bill is submitted to the Governor. Please note:

• A bill might be seen by the full House and the full Senate at different points in the process. For specifics, go to: How A Bill Becomes A Law

• If the language in the House and Senate versions of the bill is not identical (and the House or Senate do not agree with the additional changes), the bills go to a conference committee to work out the differences.

5. Governor

The Minnesota Governor can choose to veto a bill or sign it (and it becomes law).