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Association FAQs

From Bill to Law

The journey a bill takes is a very complex process. A legislator starts by introducing a bill, they are the only people who can. Once introduced, the bill is assigned to a committee, which holds a hearing and may attach a change to the bill, which is called an amendment.

At the committee hearing, opponents and supporters of the bill voice their opinion before the committee members vote to pass it or not. A bill is read three times before it becomes law.

The bill is placed on second reading once it comes out of the committee. It can be amended here also. On the third reading a vote is taken. If there is a majority in favor, the bill is passed and sent to the other chamber where the whole process starts over again.

If the bill is amended in the other house, it is sent back to the original house. Then members can agree with or reject the amendment. If they agree, the bill is passed on to the Governor, if they do not agree on the amendment, they hold a conference committee to try to iron our differences.

After a bill has passed both houses, it is sent to the Governor. The Governor can sign it into law, send it back to the legislature for recommended changes, reject or reduce an appropriation item, or veto the entire bill. The Governor has 60 days to respond to the bill and if he does not, it automatically becomes law.

If the Governor vetoes a bill, the legislature can overturn it by three-fifths majority vote.

• As a homeowner tell me what I need to do, at what time during this process: To start the process of a law MHOAI goes to legislators to get sponsors and co-sponsors to present the bill. We wait for the rules committee to give it a number and assign it to a committee. Once in a committee your involvement starts. Some committees are more friendly towards our issues than others. There are about 26 committees in both houses.
• Once assigned to a committee, homeowners need to begin contacting these officials to advise them if we do or do not support the bill. You can call a committee member that is not in your district. Your calls and letters will carry more weight if the committee member is in your district. MHOAI distributes the workload of calls among membership. If we alert your area to contact a committee, you need to do so.
• If a bill has made it to the floor, you need to contact the legislator in your district, again letting them know if you are for or against the bill. We need as many as possible in each separate district to contact their officials. There are times when a bill will be voted on, which does not allow the mailing time a letter can take.
• If the bill reaches the Governor, everyone needs to contact this office, expressing your concerns, for or against the bill which he can sign into law.