By State Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R-Jasper)
Hundreds of bills are filed each year by members of both chambers of the General Assembly during a legislative session.
After a bill is filed in the Senate, the Senate Pro Tem assigns it to a committee.
Committees allow legislators to use their expertise in given fields to ask questions and hear from the public and industry experts.
This year, I am serving on the Senate Committees on Education and Career Development, Elections, Family and Children Services, Insurance and Financial Institutions, and Local Government.
The chairs of the committees decide which bills they will hear, and lawmakers are given time to present their bills.
Committees play an important role in the legislative process because this is the time when many members can raise concerns, offer feedback and discuss ways that the bill might be improved. Much of the work done to fine-tune legislation happens at the committee level.
It is also during committee hearings that members of the public have a chance to offer their opinion on legislation. Bills may also be amended during committee hearings, which can add, remove or change aspects of the bill.
After a bill passes out of committee, it can either be recommitted to another committee for further discussion or sent to the Senate floor for a second reading.
If a bill passes the Senate, it is then sent to the House of Representatives where the Speaker of the House assigns the bill to one of their committees and the bill goes through the same process as it did in the Senate.
If the bill passes through the Senate and the House chambers, then it goes to the governor's office for his signature before it becomes law.
As always, constituents can reach out to me with any questions or concerns they may have by filling out a "Contact Me" form at IndianaSenateRepublicans.com/Schmitt or by phone at 1-800-382-9467.
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State Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R-Jasper) represents Senate District 48,
which includes Crawford, Dubois, Gibson, Perry, Pike and Spencer counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
