Although the lieutenant governor is free to refer legislation in the senate to any standing committee, unofficial subject matter jurisdictions are usually established and followed to prevent duplication of effort by committees. In the house of representatives, the membership of committees is determined in part by seniority and in part by appointments by the speaker. Each representative sits on at least one committee, and most representatives sit on two or three committees. The house typically has approximately 30 standing committees. In the senate, the membership of committees is determined entirely by appointment by the lieutenant governor.
Senators typically sit on three or four committees each.
The senate typically has approximately 10 standing committees. Immediately after a bill has been referred to committee, a determination must be made as to whether a fiscal note or other impact statement is required and, if so, a copy of the bill is sent to the Legislative Budget Board for preparation of the note or statement. In preparing the note or statement, the Legislative Budget Board may consult the state agencies affected by the legislation. In the house, the fiscal note must be attached to the affected bill before a public hearing on the bill may be held, and if the bill is reported from committee, the fiscal note must be attached to the bill when it is printed and distributed to the members of the house. With regard to other impact statements, a bill may proceed through the legislative process before the impact statement is completed, but a copy of the impact statement must be distributed to the members as soon as it has been completed.