County Commission | The Magazine March 2019 | Page 14

FROM THE COVER Crucial Road Funding: It All Starts in the House Proposed laws that would raise revenue must start in the House. To achieve the goal of finally supplying county infrastructure with long-overdue critical funding, legislation will have to successfully travel through both chambers of the Alabama Legislature before moving to the governor’s desk for her signature. 1 The House Rules Committee decides which bills come up on the floor, and the committee’s list of chosen bills is called a “Special Order Calendar.” During floor debate, the House may change the bill with amendments or a substitute. 2 The committee may change the bill with amendments or a substitute (an amendment in the form of the whole bill). The Senate Rules Committee decides which bills come up on the floor, and the committee’s list of chosen bills is called a “Special Order Calendar.” During floor debate, the Senate may change the bill with amendments or a substitute. The committee may change the bill with amendments or a substitute. 3 4 5 The House and Senate must pass the bill in identical form. If the Senate revises a House bill, the House can agree to the changes or send the bill to a conference committee to resolve the differences. 14 | MARCH 2019 If the governor rejects the bill, the House and Senate can override the veto. 6