The General Assembly meets for three months out of every year. Accordingly, the process for passing legislation has to be kept reasonably brisk--no mean feat, where statutes are concerned. So, here's how a bill becomes a law down in Annapolis after being introduced in one of the two Chambers of the General Assembly:
- First Reading--The clerk of the original Chamber reads the bill number and title of the bill in open session and assigns the bill to one of the legislative committees
- Second Reading--The Committee Report comes back, with a recommendation--Favorable, Unfavorable, Favorable with Amendments, or, on rare occasions, "No Recommendation." The Chamber then votes on any Committee amendments and then opens the floor for amendments from the representatives. These are then voted on by the Chamber.
- Third Reading--The amended bill is then voted on by the Chamber. Assuming it passes, it is then sent to the other Chamber.
- Proceedings in Other Chamber--identical to the proceedings in the original Chamber, after which, the bill, with any amendments, is sent back to the original Chamber.
- Consideration--The original Chamber considers any amendments proposed by the other Chamber. If approved, the bill is sent on to the Governor for signature. If not, then usually, a formal request is made to the other Chamber to concede their amendments. If the other Chamber demurs, then a Conference Committee is appointed composed of members of both Chambers to resolve the dispute. The Conference Committee Report is then passed on to the Chambers for approval. Assuming acceptance of the Conference Committee recommendations, then the bill is passed on to the Governor for signature.
- Governor--Once the Governor signs the bill, it becomes an enacted session law. The Governor has the option to veto the bill within 30 days of presentment, with the exception of constitutional amendments and budget bills, which cannot be vetoed. Unless vetoed, the bill becomes a law with or without the Governor's signature. The General Assembly can override a veto by a three-fifths vote.
Source: "The Legislative Process," Maryland Department of Legislative Services, at http://dls.state.md.us/data/libandinfser/libandinfser_docandpub/Legislative-Process.pdf
(accessed June 14, 2017)
