1. Beginning as Ideas: Ideas for legislation can originate from various sources including Senators, Representatives, lobbyists, or citizens. Citizens with ideas may approach their senator to discuss them, leading to research and drafting of a bill. 2. Proposal of the Bill: A Senate Bill can be sponsored by any Senator, often with additional cosponsors. 3. Introduction of the Bill: The Secretary of the Senate assigns a number to the bill and sends it to a committee. 4. Committee Hearing: The committee holds a hearing where members and the public can voice their opinions. The committee then votes to release the bill back to the Senate, which can occur with a "favorable" or "on its merits" vote. 5. Report & Ready List: Once released from committee, the bill is read in the Senate and placed on the ready list for further consideration. 6. Debate on the Bill: The President Pro Tempore schedules the bill for debate on the Senate floor. Senators can express support or opposition, suggest changes, or propose amendments. 7. The Vote: A roll call vote is conducted where each senator votes yes, no, or not voting. Senators may change their votes before the bill's passage is declared by the Secretary of the Senate. 8. Process is Repeated in the House: If the Senate bill passes, it goes to the House of Representatives for a similar process, where it can be passed, defeated, or amended and sent back to the Senate. 9. Bill Becomes Law: After a bill passes both chambers, it is delivered to the Governor. It can become law in one of three ways: - The Governor signs it. - It becomes law without a signature if the Governor does not return it within ten days. - The General Assembly can override the Governor's veto with a three-fifths vote in both chambers.

A member of the public can get involved in the legislative process in Delaware in several ways: 1. Contacting Legislators: Individuals can reach out to their state representatives or senators to express their opinions, provide input, or advocate for specific issues or bills. This can be done through phone calls, emails, or in-person meetings. 2. Attending Committee Meetings: Citizens can attend committee hearings where bills are discussed. This allows them to stay informed on the legislative process and voice their opinions during public comment periods. 3. Participating in Public Hearings: Public hearings are held to gather input from the community on specific legislation. Community members can attend and provide testimony regarding their views on the bills being considered. 4. Joining Advocacy Groups: Many organizations focus on specific issues (e.g., education, healthcare, environment) and actively lobby for changes in legislation. Joining these groups can amplify an individual's voice and involvement. 5. Staying Informed: Keeping track of bills and legislative sessions throughout the legislative process can help the public stay engaged and aware of important issues. 6. Using Social Media: Engaging with legislators and sharing opinions on social media platforms can raise awareness and build support for specific legislative initiatives. 7. Voting: Participating in elections is essential for influencing who represents them in the legislature and the types of laws that are enacted. Voting on ballot initiatives can also impact legislation directly.

Tracking bills is hard, especially if you rely on state legislature websites, which are often hard to navigate. Thousands of bills get filed in Delaware every year (and about 180,000 bills nationwide). If you want to be an effective advocate, you need to know where legislation of interest stands, and act quickly.

FastDemocracy's free version allows you to track an unlimited number of bills - no strings attached. We'll send you a daily or weekly email on your priority bills and give you tools to research bills and legislators.

FastDemocracy Professional is for anyone who tracks bills in a professional capacity. It features

• real-time bill, amendment and hearing alerts
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1. Sign up here for a free FastDemocracy account.

2. Head to Tracked Topics to select issue areas you care about.

3. Use the search bar on top if you're looking for something specific.

4. Click "Track Bill" for any legislation you'd like to monitor a bit closer. That's how you add it to your Tracked Bills. You can also click on a bill to learn more, see the bill summary, most recent actions, votes, news and tweets. You can also contact legislators or share your bills on social media.

5. You can track an unlimited number of bills for free and we'll send you a daily or weekly email if your tracked legislation moves.

6. Do you need real-time alerts, outreach tools, bill lists, and professional functions? Then FastDemocracy Professional is the right fit for you.

7. Track bills on your smartphone using our free mobile app.

You can use the Find Your Legislators tool to find them, see their voting records, and contact them.