It is possible for a bill to complete the legislative process in four days through the use of companion bills. Companion bills are identical bills introduced at the same time in both houses. After a bill passes one house, and is in the Calendar of the second house, it is substituted for the identical bill in the other house which is in the Orders of the day for its third reading. Few companion bills are introduced during a legislative session. Besides bills the Legislature may express its feelings in simple, concurrent, or joint resolutions.
Simple resolutions require action by only one house.
They are used to handle procedure, organization, or to express the sense of the chamber on a particular matter. Frequently, the House or Senate pass a simple resolution to adjourn in honor or memory of an individual. Concurrent resolutions adopted by both houses are used to mandate legislative studies and send messages to other branches of government. They are sent to the Governor, but do not have the force of law. Joint resolutions are used to ratify amendments to the U.S. Constitution, to direct an executive branch agency to conduct a study, or to enact a temporary law.