Take Five: What Are Conference Committees?

The 2014 legislative session is flying by, and the Indiana State Senate and House of Representatives are beginning the final phase of the lawmaking process. Now that both chambers have reviewed all legislation up for consideration, it’s time to hash out any changes made to these bills.

What happens to an amended bill?

The bill is returned to its house of origin for further consideration. If the chamber of origin agrees with the amendments, it takes a concurrence vote to send the measure to the governor for signature. If the chamber does not agree with the changes, it is sent to a conference committee to be discussed.

What are conference committees?

Amended bills are assigned to conference committees when the Senate and House have made amendments and cannot agree on the same version. They are made up of two members from each chamber – one Republican and one Democrat – and these legislators attempt to reconcile any differences. These members are called “conferees.”

What happens if they cannot reach an agreement?

Usually, conference committees are arranged because both the Senate and House would like to see the bill advance. But sometimes, conferees still cannot work out a solution. If an agreement cannot be reached, the bill “dies.”

What happens if they do reach an agreement?

If the conferees come to a conclusion, the bill returns to both chambers. From there, the Senate and House must approve the bill before it can be sent to the governor for signature.

What action can the governor take with a bill?

The governor can choose to sign a piece of legislation, veto it or do nothing with it. If he signs it, the legislation becomes law. If he does nothing, and seven days pass since it was sent to him, it becomes law without his signature.

If the governor vetoes a bill, the Senate and House have the option to override the veto. At least 26 senators and 51 representatives must approve the override in order for the bill to become law. If there are not enough votes, the bill dies.

The 2014 legislative session is scheduled to end by March 14. Watch the action live on the Indiana General Assembly’s website, or follow us on Twitter for up-to-date information.