Legislation is a law, or group of laws. It includes Acts of Parliament and subordinate legislation made under them.
The legislative process begins with a policy idea that is sent to a Member of the Legislature (a Senator or Assemblymember) by an individual, organization, or group. The legislator then “authors” the bill. The author sends the idea and language of the bill to the Legislative Counsel’s Office where it is drafted into a final piece of legislation. The legislation then goes back to the legislator for review. The bill is then referred to one or more committees for further discussion on the subject matter of the bill. During the committee discussions, the members of the committee study the merits and flaws of the bill. They may then recommend the bill be passed, amended, or defeated. If the bill passes out of committee, it is formally “reported out” of committee and forwarded to the House floor or Senate floor. The chief author presents the bill on third reading, and if approved by the House or Senate it becomes an act.
If a bill passes through both houses of the legislature in different forms, a conference committee consisting of members from each chamber is appointed to try to resolve differences between the two versions of the legislation. The result of this effort is a new draft of the bill that both chambers agree to and pass. This version of the bill is then sent to the executive for signing or veto.