Parent Advocacy >How the Legislative Process Works

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Every year bills follow the same process through the Legislature:

The Basic Guidelines

• All bills must be approved by both houses, the Assembly and the Senate, and signed by the Governor.
• The Governor has 30 days from the day the Legislature adjourns to sign or veto a bill. If the Governor does not act on the bill within the required time, it becomes law without his signature.
• Legislative sessions run for two years.
• Bills that do not meet deadlines during the first year may be heard during the second year, but their house of origin must pass the bill by the end of January of the second year.

The following Legislative Process Flow Chart shows the way a bill moves in the process to being passed or vetoed:

Click on the boxes for more information

This material has been made available through the generosity of On The Capitol Doorstep, 926 J Street, Suite #1007, Sacramento, CA 95814, 916.442.5431

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