Indiana Bill Tracking And State Guide

1. Idea Development: An idea for a bill is developed by a legislator (Representative or Senator), which could originate from a personal idea, a constituent, or the Governor. 2. Bill Drafting: The bill is drafted with assistance from the Legislative Services Agency (LSA). 3. Bill Introduction: The bill is filed in either the Senate or House of Representatives. If it is not scheduled for First Reading by chamber leadership, it "dies." 4. First Reading: The bill is read by title for the first time in its house of origin. 5. Committee Assignment: The bill is assigned to a committee for review. If the bill is not scheduled for a public hearing, it "dies." 6. Public Hearing: The committee discusses the bill, and it can be voted upon. A vote against means the bill "dies" while a vote in favor allows it to advance. 7. Second Reading: The bill returns to the house of origin for Second Reading. Amendments can be proposed and voted on. 8. Third Reading: The bill is scheduled for Third Reading. Amendments can again be proposed but need a 2/3 majority to pass. 9. Passage in First Chamber: The bill is voted on; if it passes, it moves to the second chamber. If the second chamber fails to act, the bill "dies." 10. Process in Second Chamber: The same steps (First Reading, Committee, Second Reading, Third Reading) are repeated in the second chamber. 11. Conference Committee: If there are differing amendments between chambers, a Conference Committee reconciles them. Agreement must be reached for both chambers to approve. 12. Governor's Desk: The bill is sent to the Governor, who can sign it into law, veto it, or do nothing (resulting in it becoming law). 13. Veto Override: If vetoed, both chambers may attempt to override the veto. A simple majority is needed; otherwise, the bill "dies." Finally, if signed, the bill becomes law, effective as specified within the bill.

A member of the public can get involved in the legislative process in Indiana by engaging in the following ways: 1. Contacting Legislators: Constituents can suggest ideas for bills or express their opinions on proposed legislation by contacting their local representatives or senators. 2. Participating in Public Hearings: When a bill is scheduled for a public hearing, members of the public are allowed to attend and can request to speak either in favor of or against the bill. 3. Joining as Co-Sponsors: Individuals may work with legislators to co-sponsor bills if they have a compelling idea or initiative. 4. Following the Legislative Process: Being informed about the legislative process and upcoming bills can help citizens to know when they can take action, such as attending sessions or writing to representatives.

Tracking bills is hard, especially if you rely on state legislature websites, which are often hard to navigate. Thousands of bills get filed in Indiana 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
• automated reporting
• team collaboration
• bill tagging for clients and stakeholders
• bill similarity detection
• ...and much more

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.