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The Ohio Legislative Process Broken Down
- Buckeye Birth Coalition
- May 12
- 2 min read
Ever wondered how a new law actually gets passed in Ohio? Each bill follows a step-by-step process designed to ensure that it gets a fair shot—and plenty of scrutiny. Here’s a simple breakdown of how it all works, based on information from legislature.ohio.gov.
Step 1: It All Starts with an Idea
Every law begins as an idea—maybe from a legislator, a concerned citizen, or a community group (like the Buckeye Birth Coalition). A member of the Ohio House or Senate works with the Legislative Service Commission (a team of legal experts) to draft the bill’s language.
Once it’s written, the bill gets officially introduced in the House or Senate and is assigned a number.
Step 2: Off to Committee
After it’s introduced, the bill is sent to a committee that specializes in the topic—education, health, finance, etc. This is where the real discussion happens. The bill’s sponsor explains why the bill matters, and then others can speak up in support or opposition. Amendments can also be made at this stage. If the committee votes in favor, the bill moves on.
Step 3: The Full Chamber Votes
Next up, the bill goes to the full House or Senate—whichever chamber it started in. Lawmakers debate the bill, possibly suggest more changes, and then vote. If a majority says “yes,” the bill passes and heads to the other chamber for the same process.
Step 4: The Other Chamber Weighs In
Now it’s the other chamber’s turn. If the bill started in the House, it now goes to the Senate, and vice versa. It gets reviewed by a committee again, followed by another full-chamber vote. If both sides pass the bill without changes, great! It’s ready for the governor. But if one chamber makes edits, the original chamber has to agree to them—or the two chambers form a “conference committee” to work out a compromise.
Step 5: The Governor Gets the Final Say (Almost)
Once both chambers agree on the final version, the bill goes to the governor. The governor has three options:
Sign it – and it becomes law.
Veto it – sending it back with objections.
Do nothing – and after 10 days (not counting Sundays), the bill automatically becomes law.
If the governor does veto it, the General Assembly can override the veto with a three-fifths vote in both chambers.
Step 6: When Does the Law Take Effect?
Most laws go into effect 90 days after being filed with the Secretary of State. But if the legislature declares it an “emergency” (and enough members agree), it can take effect immediately.
A Few Extra Rules to Know
Three-Day Rule: Every bill has to be “considered” on three different days in each chamber unless lawmakers vote to skip that.
Single-Subject Rule: Bills can only focus on one topic. No sneaking in unrelated changes at the last minute.
Two-Year Cycle: The General Assembly operates on a two-year session. If a bill doesn’t pass by the end of that cycle, it has to be reintroduced in the next session.
Keep tabs on each of our bills currently under review!