There is a standard legislative process of introducing a bill and passing a law such as the law that created the NJ Collaborating Center for Nursing (see www.njleg.state.nj.us, Chapter Law, 2002, c116). The following reviews the steps in the process of creating law in New Jersey. For information regarding the legislative process in other states, search their sites directly.

1. Idea is developed: A legislator decides to sponsor a bill. The legislator may ask other legislators in the same House to co-sponsor the bill.
2. Bill is drafted: The legislator directs the Office of Legislative Services to research the necessary information related to the particular bill and to prepare the bill in proper technical form.
3. Bill is introduced: During a legislative session, the sponsoring legislator gives the bill to the Senate Secretary or Assembly Clerk, who reads the bill’s title aloud. This is the first reading. The bill is printed and released to the public.
4. Committee Reference: The Senate President or Assembly Speaker usually refers the bill to a specific committee for review or send the bill directly to the second reading to expedite its consideration.
5. Committee Action: The chair of the committee schedules the bill to be considered by the committee members. This meeting is open to the public. The committee may report the bill to the House (either the Senate or the Assembly can be referred to as the House) as is, with amendments, or by a substitute bill. If not considered or reported, the bill remains in committee.
6. Second Reading: When the bill is reported to the floor, its title is read aloud for the second reading. The bill is then eligible for amendments on the floor. After the bill is given a third reading, the House must vote to return it to a second reading for any other amendments.
7. Third Reading: The President or Speaker schedules the bill for a third reading and it is considered on the floor. The bill may not go through second and third readings on the same day, except by an emergency vote of three-fourths of the members.
8. House Vote: The bill passes when approved by a majority of the authorized members (21 votes in the Senate and 41 votes in the Assembly) and is sent to the other House. If a final vote is not taken, the bill may be considered at another time or may be returned to a committee by a vote of the House.
9. Second House: The bill is delivered to the second House where it goes through the same process. If the second House amends the bill, it is returned to the first House for a vote on the changes. It receives final legislative approval when it passes both Houses in identical form.
10. Governor’s Action: The bill is sent to the Governor after final passage. The Governor may sign it, conditionally veto it (returning it for changes) or veto it absolutely. The Governor may veto single line items of appropriation bills. Bills passed in the last 10 days of a 2-year session may be “pocket vetoed” (i.e., not signed by the Governor and, therefore, not signed into law).
11. Law: A bill becomes law upon the Governor’s signature or after 45 days if no action is taken. If vetoed, a bill may become law if the Legislature overrides the veto by a 2/3 vote (27 in the Senate, 54 in the Assembly). A law goes into effect on the day specified in its text or, if unspecified, the July 4th following its passage.

Source: New Jersey Office of Legislative Services (www.njleg.state.nj.us)