As Indiana’s legislature opens the 2025 session this week, many residents may be curious about the process a bill goes through on its way to become law in the Hoosier state. 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.
For freshman state Sen. Mark Spencer, this process is uncharted territory. Spencer said he was careful and thoughtful while crafting his first bills to ensure he was inclusive of all of District 3 which includes Lake Station, New Chicago, Hobart, Merrillville and Gary.
“I drafted and attempted to draft legislation that would not only help people in those particular areas I serve, but all of Indiana,” Spencer said.
One of his inaugural proposals, Senate Bill 248, addresses firearm safety. The bill states that caregivers who recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally fail to secure a loaded firearm in their residence or vehicle can be charged with neglect of a dependent if the firearm is used to cause bodily injury or death. The offense would be classified as a Level 6 felony.
“That’s the value-add part, and that’s how I would go in and synthesize that process to try to, of course, bring home a win for our constituents in [District] 3, but also look for how it could have a domino effect and affect someone in southern or central Indiana as well.”
Step 2: Committee Assignment – 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. Spencer’s bill has been assigned to the Corrections and Criminal Law Committee for review.
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. This is the first reading. 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.
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.
How Residents Can Shape the Legislative Process
While the process of lawmaking rests solely with lawmakers, as State Rep. Ragen Hatcher points out, constituents, too, can have a role. She encourages residents to be as vocal as possible in their support of or opposition to bills.
“We ask that the residents who may be against the bill or for a bill that helps Northwest Indiana to email the other legislators,” she said. “So those ones that may be surrounding Gary or surrounding Northwest Indiana, that may be on the Republican side, those emails make a difference,” said Hatcher.
“The calls make a difference. If you call their assistant and say, ‘Hey, we want this legislator to vote against this bill,’ they take note of that.”
Spencer also encourages residents to be involved.
“Show up,” Spencer said. “Even if it’s electronically. There are forums, you have school board meetings, and teacher’s union meetings. They’re right around the corner.” Capital B Gary will continue to provide updates throughout the 2025 legislative session to inform residents who want to engage with their lawmakers and participate in shaping state laws.