Overview of the Pennsylvania Legislative Process

The first step in creating a Pennsylvania legislative history is understanding the Pennsylvania legislative process. The Pennsylvania state legislature is called the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

There are two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

This is a summary overview of the Pennsylvania legislative process:

Step 1: The idea for a bill is conceived and developed by one or more legislators.

Step 2: At the request of the sponsoring legislator(s), the text of the bill is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Step 3: Chief Clerk of House (or Senate) assigns a bill number to the bill.

Step 4: Speaker of House (or President Pro Tempore of Senate) assigns the bill to a standing committee.

Step 5: The Committee considers the bill, holds hearings, takes evidence, and decides whether to support the bill.

Step 6: If the Committee supports bill, it is presented to the entire chamber (House or Senate) on three separate days for consideration.

Step 7: If the bill (1) requires an expenditure of funds or (2) results in a loss of revenue for the Commonwealth, the bill must be sent to the Appropriations Committee while it is being considered. The Appropriations Committee provides a fiscal note for each bill it receives that indicates how much the law would cost the Commonwealth if enacted.

Step 8: During its days of consideration, legislators may debate or comment on the bill. These debates and comments are recorded in the House and Senate Journals.

Step 9: On the third day of consideration, the entire chamber votes on the bill.

Step 10: If the chamber approves the bill, it is sent to the other chamber for approval – Steps 4 through 8 are repeated.

Step 11: Once both chambers have passed identical versions of the bill, it is sent to the Governor.

Step 12: If the Governor signs the bill, it becomes law and is given at “Act” number.