How to Read a Bill

Reading a Senate or House bill can be a daunting task, but with a little guidance, anyone can learn how to do it. Here are some steps to follow when reading a bill:

Step 1: Locate the bill:

The first step is to locate the bill you want to read. Bills can be found on the websites of the Senate or the House of Representatives, or on the Library of Congress website. Once you have located the bill, note its title and the bill number.

Step 2: Understand the structure of the bill:

All bills have a similar structure, which includes an introduction, a series of sections, and a conclusion. Understanding this structure will make it easier to navigate the bill. The introduction will include the title of the bill, the name of the sponsor, and a brief summary of its purpose. The sections will contain the details of the bill, and the conclusion will include any amendments or additional information.

Step 3: Read the bill:

Begin reading the bill from the beginning, starting with the introduction. Take note of any definitions that are provided, as these will be important to understanding the bill. Read each section of the bill carefully, making sure to understand the language used and the implications of each provision. Pay attention to any changes to existing laws, and note any new regulations or requirements that the bill proposes.

Step 4: Take notes As you read through the bill:

Take notes on important points, questions that arise, and any areas that you don't understand. This will help you to remember the key points of the bill and to follow up on any areas of confusion.

Step 5: Understand the legislative process:

It's important to understand the legislative process so that you know where the bill stands and what the next steps are. Bills go through several stages before they become law, including committee hearings, debates, and votes. The bill may be amended during this process, and it may even be combined with other bills. Keep track of where the bill is in the process so that you can stay informed about its progress.

Step 6:

Seek additional information If you have questions about the bill or need additional information, don't hesitate to seek it out. You can contact your representative or senator for more information, or you can consult resources such as the Congressional Research Service or the Congressional Budget Office.

Reading a Senate or House bill can be time-consuming, but it's an important part of being an informed citizen. By following these steps and taking the time to understand the bill, you can stay informed about the legislative process and the issues that are important to you.

UNDERSTANDING HOW TO READ LEGISLATIVE BILLS

[Light face brackets] are used only in bills amending an existing law. They indicate that anything enclosed thereby appears in the existing law, but that it is proposed to omit it from the law as amended. The brackets and anything enclosed by them are carried along into the pamphlet law version of the bill, if the bill is finally enacted; thus, the reader of the pamphlet law can tell the exact date that the bracketed material was removed from Pennsylvania law. All bracketed language is law. shaded so the reader knows that the language has been marked to be removed from law.

Underscoring is used only in bills amending an existing law. It indicates that the underscored matter does not appear in the existing law, but that it is proposed to insert it in the law as amended. The underscored matter will be carried into the law if the bill is finally enacted.

Ellipses (* * *) are used only in bills amending an existing law. They indicate omitted law which is not proposed to be changed in the bill.

[ Dark ] face brackets are used only in bills that have been amended, either in committee or on the floor of either House. They indicate brackets inserted by such amendment and have the same effect as light face brackets.

Strike out type is used only in bills that have been amended either in committee or on the floor of either House. They indicate that anything so printed appeared in a previous print of the bill but is to be deleted, and will not appear in the text of the law if the bill is finally enacted. Strike out type is also used to remove language in an original enactment that is not yet law.

CAPITAL LETTERS are used only in bills that have been amended, either in committee or on the floor of either House. They indicate that the matter in capital letters did not appear in the original print of the bill, but was inserted into the bill by amendment in either House. The matter in capital letters will be carried into the law, if the bill is finally enacted in ordinary print, unless it is also underscored, in which case it will be printed in italics.

Strike out type and CAPITAL LETTERS indicate only the amendments made to the bill at the last previous state of passage. All prior strike out amendments are dropped entirely from the new print and all insert amendments previously shown in CAPITAL LETTERS are reset in lower case type. The one exception to this rule is a House bill amended more than once in the Senate or a Senate bill amended more than once in the House will, on the second and subsequent printings cumulate all amendments made in the latter House, so that all amendments in which concurrence by the House of origin is required will stand out.

The line immediately preceding the title of the bill shows the stage of passage at which the amendments appearing on that print were made. All preceding printer’s numbers of each bill are shown in consecutive order in a line at the top of the first page of each bill.