Every bill that affects the state or general local government revenues must be analyzed and an estimate of the fiscal effects, both for the short and long run, is included. Additionally, the Legislative Reference Bureau provides an analysis of the bill in clear language and how it will change an existing law. After a bill is read for the first time, a committee hearing may be scheduled.
All committee hearings are open to the public and anyone can speak for or against a particular bill.
Individuals may also register as for or against, or submit their comments in writing. The committee to which the bill is first referred must decide whether to report the proposed bill as it was introduced, to recommend amendments to the bill, or to reject it. The second reading of a bill is the state at which amendments are considered. After amendments have been proposed and debated, a third reading of the bill is done. After this reading, a full house vote is taken on whether to pass the bill to the second house.