1. Introduction: Bills can be introduced in either the Senate or the House of Representatives. They are assigned a number and the title is read. 2. Title Reading: Every bill must be read three times, but reading the title suffices. 3. Referral to Committee: After introduction, bills are referred to a standing committee, often by the Majority Leader or Speaker of the House. 4. Committee Review: Committee members discuss, debate, and may hold public hearings on the bill. 5. Committee Action: The committee can: - Report the bill favorably - Report the bill with amendments - Take no action or vote to not report the bill If the bill is tabled, a majority vote is needed to remove it for further consideration. 6. Committee Reports: If favorable, the bill is recorded in the journal and placed on the order for consideration. 7. General Orders/Second Reading: In this stage, amendments can be proposed and a majority vote is required for passage to the next reading. 8. Third Reading: The bill is voted on and can be passed or defeated. Additional actions can also delay considerations. 9. Five-Day Rule: A bill cannot become law until it has been printed and in possession of each house for at least five days. 10. Enactment: If pass, the bill goes to the other house. If both houses pass the same form, it is sent to the Governor; if not, it may go to a conference committee. 11. Approval by Governor: The Governor has fourteen days to sign, veto, or let the bill become law by inaction. 12. Legislative Veto Response: If vetoed, the Legislature can attempt to override with a two-thirds vote or take other actions.

Members of the public can get involved in the legislative process in Michigan in several ways, particularly during the committee review stage. Here are some ways to participate: 1. Attend Public Hearings: Committee members may hold public hearings on bills they are reviewing. Members of the public can attend these hearings to express their support, opposition, or provide comments on the legislation being discussed. 2. Contact Legislators: Individuals can contact their state legislators to express their opinions about specific bills or issues. Writing letters, making phone calls, or sending emails to legislators are effective ways to communicate concerns or support for particular legislation. 3. Follow Legislative Proceedings: Members of the public can stay informed about bills and legislative activities. This helps them understand what is being proposed and how it may impact them or their communities. 4. Participate in Advocacy Groups: Joining or supporting advocacy groups that align with particular interests can amplify individual voices in the legislative process. These groups often work to lobby for specific issues and can provide guidance on how to engage effectively with lawmakers. 5. Submit Testimony: In some cases, members of the public may have opportunities to submit written testimony to a committee regarding a bill. This allows individuals to formally present their views and research on an issue. 6. Engage in Grassroots Campaigns: Grassroots efforts, such as petitions or organized community actions, can draw attention to specific legislation and influence policymakers.

Tracking bills is hard, especially if you rely on state legislature websites, which are often hard to navigate. Thousands of bills get filed in Michigan 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.