| Return of a bill to the originating chamber
After a bill has passed through committee deliberation and three readings in the
opposite chamber, the bill is sent back to the originating chamber. A new copy of the
bill is not prepared; rather, any amendments are simply attached to the bill. If no
amendments were adopted by the second chamber, the bill is enrolled (prepared for signing).
The enrolled bill then is signed by both presiding officers in the presence of their
respective chambers and sent to the governor. Any bill making an appropriation must be
sent to the comptroller of public accounts for certification before going to the governor.
When a bill that has been amended by the
opposite chamber is returned to the originating chamber, the originating chamber must
concur with all of the amendments made by the opposite chamber before the bill can be
enrolled. If the originating chamber does not concur with some or all of the opposite
chamber’s amendments, it may request the appointment of a conference committee to resolve
the differences between the house and senate versions of the bill.
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