Legislators, however, often introduce bills suggested by other individuals or organizations. Bills vary in length from a single paragraph to hundreds of pages. The constitution requires that a bill relate to only one subject, which must be stated in the title. Bills that don't adhere to this rule have been ruled unconstitutional.
Some bills pass with little discussion.
Others are subjected to much examination and undergo major changes before becoming law. Amendments may be proposed by a committee or any legislator, but bills can be amended only by a vote of the House or Senate. If changes alter a bill significantly in committee, these changes may be rolled into the bill as one amendment, called the committee substitute. All bills are introduced by delivering them to the House or Senate Clerk, after which they are referred by the Committee on Committees to an appropriate standing committee. Several weeks may pass before a bill is reported out of committee and returned to the floor.