How a bill becomes law in Indiana

Editor’s note: Mirror Indy created this guide from articles published separately by Capital B Gary and WFYI.

As Indiana’s legislature dives into the 2025 session, many residents may be curious about the process a bill goes through on its way to become law in Indiana. There are several critical steps, from its proposal in the Senate or House of Representatives to the governor’s desk for final approval.

Step 1: Drafting and proposing a bill

The process begins when a member of the Indiana General Assembly — either in the House of Representatives or the Senate — drafts and proposes a bill. The bill is read aloud on the chamber floor, marking its introduction, and is then assigned to a relevant committee.

Step 2: Committee hearing – the first crucial hurdle

Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee, such as the Education Committee or Public Health Committee. The committee chair decides whether the bill will get a hearing. Hearings are a key step, providing an opportunity for public testimony, debate, and potential changes to the bill.

However, many bills die at this stage if they are not granted a hearing before the committee deadline. If a committee approves the bill with a majority vote, it advances to a full vote in the chamber where it was introduced.

The committee level is crucial for a bill. The chair of the committee decides whether to give a bill a hearing. When a hearing is granted, the committee hears public testimony, amends the bill and votes on it. If the bill receives a majority vote in its respective committee, it moves to a full vote by the entire chamber — either the 50-member Senate or the 100-member House.

Getting involved in the legislative process

by Indiana Public Broadcasting

Call your legislator

There is a representative and a senator that represent you. Go to the Indiana General Assembly’s website to learn who your legislators are, and how to contact them and their staff.

Testify at a committee

There are two points in the process where you can make your voice heard. It is very rare for a bill to advance without at least some public testimony.

The Indiana General Assembly’s website has a calendar of committee hearings updated one week in advance. Committee hearings are always held during business hours. You can sign up via a form right before the meeting starts. The committee chair will call your name during public testimony.

Step 3: Second reading

When a bill makes it out of committee, it advances to a second reading, where amendments to the bill are proposed and discussed by the entire chamber. If amendments are passed, they are incorporated into the bill. If not, the bill remains the same as it was introduced.

Step 4: Third reading

Next is a third reading, where the final version of the bill is debated and voted on by the entire chamber.

Step 5: Opposite chamber review

A bill receiving a majority “yes” vote on third reading advances out of the chamber. Once it passes a chamber, it goes to the other chamber: Bills that pass the Senate go over to the House, and vice versa. There, the bill goes through the aforementioned steps in the new chamber.

If no amendments are made to a bill, the third reading in the second chamber is the final step before the bill goes to the governor’s desk.

Step 6: Conference committee

A bill that passes both chambers but is amended by the second chamber goes to a conference committee, where representatives and senators work together to create a version of the bill that works for both sides.

Step 7: Final vote and the governor’s decision

If a bill makes it out of the conference committee, it comes back to the chamber where it started for a final vote. A majority “yes” vote sends it to the governor’s desk. The governor can then either sign the bill into law or veto it. In Indiana, the legislature can override a governor’s veto with a majority vote.

This article was written by Capital B Gary reporter Calvin Davis.

The following guide was created by Indiana Public Broadcasting. You can download or print it in English and Spanish.

Legislative Session Guide_IPB