Special Feature
Our current special feature series covers steps throughout the legislative process, detailing how a bill becomes a law in Ohio.
The Legislative Process - Floor Action (Third Consideration)
In January, we covered the process of introducing a bill. February's newsletter shared about committee assignments. Now, we look at the third consideration, floor action.
After a bill is favorably reported by a committee, it is up to the House and Senate Rules and Reference Committees, typically chaired by the Speaker of the House or Senate President, to select which reported bills will be scheduled for floor debate and a vote. If selected, a bill is scheduled by being placed on the Calendar.
According to the guidebook, "When the house meets to take action based on that day’s Calendar, the bill receives its third consideration – floor action." This is where a bill is debated and legislators can comment on the bill with all their fellow legislators present. The guidebook continues "On third consideration, bills may be amended, laid on the table, referred back to a committee, informally passed, postponed, approved, defeated, reconsidered, or acted on in several other ways as specified in the rules of each house. Bills listed below the black line on the Calendar have not yet been scheduled for a floor vote." It is rare for a bill up for a vote on the floor not to receive passage from the full body of legislators.
If a bill is favorably passed on a floor vote, it then goes to the second house to go through the same process: introduction, committee referral, committee hearings, and floor action. "The second house may take no action on the bill, pass the measure without change, amend it, prepare a substitute bill, indefinitely postpone it, or defeat it just as with bills originating in that house" per the guidebook.
Next, we'll look at how House and Senate differences in bills are resolved.
