Detailed Steps in the Bill Process

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When it concerns your rights as a motorcyclist or what you would like to see as a law concerning your right to ride in Tennessee.

     Approach your local CMT-ABATE charter with the bill proposal or concern so that we can see what can be done with your concern. We will then review your voiced opinion and let you know if it is a law thart already exist or if we will get it reviewed. Contact us via phone or e-mail or attend one of our events. We then advise you to then get involved with your local charter of CMT-ABATE. By you getting involved with us it helps us to have your voice and your passion for the concern.  

 

This is what happens next and the process to nake your Bill into Law:

     After CMT-ABATE reviews the proposed bill and the proposed bill is discussed at the BOD meeting and legislative Gatherings across the state. We submit the proposed language to the Legislative Counsel, that we know will support the Bill (Within days CMT-ABATE will receive a "golden rod" copy from Legislative Counsel containing a request number and a Legislative Counsel staff contact information. The bill should be delivered within a matter of days.)

     The bill will then obtain the legisitive supporting member's signature on the bill and put it across the desk on the Assembly Floor.

 

Now the process of the hearing and modifaction of the Bill begians:

     CMT-ABATE will remain in close contact with the legislative sponsor of the Bill for changes. (A committee may make suggestions for amendments, or opposition may negotiate for amendments.) At this point there may by hearing in Nashville that we have to attend. Once agian this is why it is inportiant for you to get involved with CMT-ABATE it is your Bill, your voice, your passion. 


The Assembly

     ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE HEARING

          Introduced bills have to be in print for 31 days prior to action.

     The sponsored legislative bill will be referred to a Policy Committee by Assembly Rules. (Once it is referred, track the bill ( at this point you can do this onlinehttp://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/Apps/MyBills/Login.aspx } and be prepared for the hearing.. This is when we update the bill files and prepare Member's statements THIS IS WHERE WE NEED YOUR HELP ON YOUR BILL THE MORE MEMBERS WE HAVE AND THE MORE STATEMENTS OR LETTERS THE BETTER THE CHANCE WE HAVE TO GET THE BILL PASSED INTO LAW.  Attend the hearing ( rember it is your bill, your voice so attend the hearing with other CMT-ABATE members) with the appointed Member.

     The Policy Committee may or may not refer the bill to the Fiscal Committee. If it is referred, make the same preparations as above, (once agian we encourage you to attend) 

     If its not referred, it will be sent directly to the Assembly Floor for vote by the whole legisitave membership.)

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THE ASSEMBLY FLOOR

     The sponsored legistive  bill then goes from the Assembly Committee to the "Second Reading File." (No action is necessary from the Member or staff.)

     The bill will then move from the "Second Reading" to the "Third Reading." (Update the bill files, prepare the Member's statement. Watch/listen to floor sessions to hear for any voting, problems or suggestions from the Floor or another Member.

     At this point the bill will eather  pass or fail. If it fails, the bill is dead. If it passes, it moves to the Senate


The Senate

SENATE COMMITTEE HEARINGS

     At this point the bill will be referred to a Policy Committee by Senate Rules. (Once it is referred, track the bill and be prepared for the hearing. Update the bill files and prepare Member's statement. We agian will attend the hearing along with a appointed Legisitive Member. ( The better the attendance and quanity of supporting letters and copies of sent E-Mails the better for the Bill.)

The Policy Committee may or may not refer the bill to the Fiscal Committee. If it is referred, make the same preparations as above. If its not referred, it will be sent directly to the Senate Floor for vote by the whole membership. This is what we hope for but attendance and support letters, pone calls, and letters play a inportiand part of the process. 
             
THE SENATE FLOOR

The bill goes from the Assembly Committee to the "Senate Second Reading." (No action is necessary from the Member or staff.)

The bill moves from the "Second Reading" to the "Third Reading." (Update the bill files, and approach a Senator about "Floor jockeying,” or presenting the bill on the Senate floor for your Member. Watch/listen to floor sessions to hear for any voting, problems or suggestions from the Floor or another Member. The bill will pass or fail. If it fails, the bill is dead. If it passes without amendment, it moves to the Governor for his/her signature. If any amendments have been adopted in the Senate, the newly passed version will first be sent back to Assembly Floor for a Concurrence vote.)


The Governor's Office

Once received, the Governor has 30 days to sign the bill. There are three possible outcomes:

• The Governor signs bill, and the bill becomes law, effective January 1st of the following year, unless an “urgency clause” has been adopted.

• The Governor does not sign the bill, and the bill does not become law.

• The Governor vetoes the bill. The bill does not become law and Governor writes a letter to the house of the bill's origin explaining why he vetoed the bill. The House of the bill's origin has the option of overriding the Governor's veto by a 2/3 vote. If this happens, the bill becomes law, effective January 1st of the following year, unless an “urgency clause” has been adopted.