How a Bill Becomes a Law in Nebraska

Nebraska Unicameral Prodedure

Bill Introduction

An idea for a new law begins at the Revisor of Statutes Office where bill drafters transform the idea into the proper legal form for a bill.

Bills are introduced during the first 10 days of the legislative session which begins this year on January 3, 2007. Bills are filed with the Clerk of the Legislature who reads the title of the bill into the record and assigns it a number.

The Legislative Fiscal Office prepares budget statements, called fiscal notes, which estimate the anticipated change in state, county, or municipal expenses or revenue under the provisions of each bill. Later, an appropriation bill ("A" bill), will accompany a bill that has a fiscal impact.

Legislative Committee Action

The nine-member Reference Committee then references each bill to one of the 14 standing committees. A public hearing on the bill is then conducted by the appropriate committee. Citizens can express their opinions to committee members. At these hearings, testimony is recorded and transcribed and becomes an official committee record.

After the hearing, committees may:

vote to send the bill to general file, with or without amendments,
indefinitely postpone (kill) the bill, or
take no action

General File

General File is the first stage of debate by the full Legislature. Amendments may be proposed by the committee and by individual senators. General File is often the most crucial stage of the legislative process. It requires a majority vote of the Legislature (25 votes) to adopt amendments, and to move a bill from General File to the next stage of consideration.

Enrollment and Review

Commonly referred to as "E&R," enrollment and review is a process by which previously adopted amendments are incorporated into a bill, and the bill is checked for technical and grammatical accuracy.

Select File

Select File is the second stage of debate, providing another opportunity for amendment, and compromise. Bills on Select File may be indefinitely postponed or advanced to the next stage. After Select File, bills are again sent to E&R and are then reprinted for Final Reading.

Final Reading

The Nebraska Constitution requires that all bills on Final Reading must be read aloud in their entirety by the Clerk of the Legislature, unless three-fifths (30 members) of the Legislature waive the requirement. A bill may not be amended or debated on Final Reading, but may be returned to Select File for a specific amendment. Bills may not be voted on for final passage until at least five legislative days after the bill is introduced, and one legislative day after it is placed on Final Reading.

A proposed constitutional amendment requires a three-fifths vote of the elected members (30) to place it on the general election ballot and a four-fifths vote (40) to place it on a primary or special election ballot. All other bills without the emergency clause require a simple majority vote before going to the governor. A bill with an emergency clause requires a vote of two-thirds (33 members) of the Legislature.

Governor’ Action

After the Legislature passes a bill on Final Reading, it goes to the Governor. The Governor has five days, excluding Sundays, to consider the bill. A bill becomes law if the Governor signs, or declines to sign it. The Governor may also veto a bill, and may line-item veto a specific appropriation. With 30 votes, the Legislature may override a gubernatorial veto.

Laws of Nebraska

Most bills passed and approved by the Governor become law three calendar months after the Legislature adjourns. However, bills may take effect before that date if they contain the emergency clause.