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Guide to Texas Legislative Information (GTLI)
Process for a Bill
 
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.

Return of bill to originating chamber
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  This website is published by the Texas Legislative Council. This page was last updated August 30, 2010.