1. Introduction: The bill is introduced in either the Senate or the House. 2. Numbering: The Chief Clerk numbers the bill. 3. First Consideration: The bill passes its first consideration. 4. Second Consideration: For local bills, the procedure changes at this stage. The bill is passed on second consideration and held on the Clerk's desk. 5. Local Approval: Local bills must be approved by the local legislative delegation. The Speaker may refer the bill to a committee, in which case it follows the normal committee process. 6. Signature Collection: The bill must receive the signature of each member of the local delegation affected by the legislation. 7. Consent Calendar: Once signed, the bill is placed on the Consent Calendar. 8. Engrossing Process: From this point onward, the procedures for local bills align with those for general bills. 9. Finalization: Unlike general bills, local bills do not amend the code but become part of the Private Acts for that particular year. 10. House Procedure: The steps for passing local bills in the House follow the same process as for general bills.

A member of the public can get involved in the legislative process in Tennessee by engaging with their local legislative delegation. Here are some specific ways to participate: 1. Contact Local Legislators: Reach out to your local representatives to express your views on proposed local bills. You can do this by sending emails, making phone calls, or attending town hall meetings. 2. Attend Legislative Sessions: Members of the public can attend sessions at the State Capitol where bills are discussed and voted on. Engaging in these sessions can provide insights into the legislative process and allow you to voice your opinions on specific bills. 3. Participate in Committee Meetings: Although local bills might not always go through a standing committee, if they are referred to a committee, attending these meetings allows you to learn more about the proceedings and provide input. 4. Stay Informed: Keep an eye on local bills that may affect your community and follow their progress. 5. Advocate for Local Bills: If you support a particular local bill, you can organize advocacy efforts with other community members to show support to your local legislative delegation and encourage them to consider the bill favorably.

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