Each Senator represents 148,235 people and each member of the Assembly represents 49,412 people. The state is divided into 33 Senate districts and 99 Assembly districts.
Senators meet with their constituents to develop proposals to be introduced as bills.
The Senator will then work with legislative staff to draft a bill that would create a new law, or change or repeal current law. The Senator, as the primary author, shares the bill draft with other members to get co-authors and cosponsors. The bill is then presented to the Chief Clerk for introduction. The First Reading of the bill is accomplished by the Chief Clerk reading the title and the President of the Senate referring the bill to a committee. The Chair of the Committee schedules a public hearing on the bill to get the opinions of the general public.