Conference Committee Options for Senate Bills1

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Legal Services

(Reviewed: March 2015)

Stage of Proceedings	Possible Actions	Results
1. Consideration of House amendments

JR 4

SR 19	Senate recedes from the Senate position, concurs in amendments, and readopts bill	Bill delivered to Governor
Senate adheres to the Senate position	House recedes and readopts bill; bill delivered to Governor
House adheres; bill dies
Senate requests conference committee ("CC")	House and Senate appoint conferrees
2. Conference Committee Appointed

JR 5;

JR 6(a)	Prior to House consideration of CC report, Senate votes to recede and readopts bill	Bill delivered to Governor
Prior to House consideration of CC report, Senate votes to adhere	House recedes and readopts bill; bill delivered to Governor
House adheres; bill dies
Prior to delivery of CC report, House votes to recede and readopts bill	Bill delivered to Governor
Prior to delivery of CC report, House votes to adhere	Senate recedes and readopts bill; bill delivered to Governor
Senate adheres; bill dies
Note: After one day of actual session following referral of a bill to CC, either house, by majority vote, can demand that the CC report within 2 days after the demand (within last 5 days of session, CC must report on same day as demand). If CC doesn't report, CC is discharged and the houses may appoint a second CC or either house may adhere. (JR 7)
3. CC Report delivered to House

JR 6(b)

House votes to adhere	Senate recedes and readopts bill; bill delivered to Governor
Senate adheres; bill dies
House votes to recede and readopts bill	Bill delivered to Governor
House rejects the report, dissolves the CC and appoints conferees to a 2nd CC (note: can only have 2 CCs)	Senate agrees to 2nd CC and appoints conferees (return to stage #2)
Senate does not agree to 2nd CC; House may:

1. adhere; or

2. recede and readopt bill; or

3. reconsider rejection and adopt report
House adopts report, readopts bill	Bill delivered to Senate for action
4. CC Report adopted by House and delivered to Senate

JR 6(c)	Senate votes to adhere

House reconsiders adoption of CC report and readoption of bill; House recedes and readopts bill; bill delivered to Governor
House does not reconsider adoption of CC report; bill dies
Senate votes to recede and readopts bill	House reconsiders adoption of CC report and readoption of bill; bill delivered to Governor
Senate rejects CC report and appoints conferees to a 2nd CC

No later than next day of actual session, House reconsiders adoption of CC report and readoption of bill and appoints conferees to a 2nd CC (return to stage #2)
House does not agree to 2nd CC; Senate may:

1. adhere; or

2. recede and readopt bill; or

3. reconsider rejection and adopt report
Senate adopts CC report and readopts bill	Bill delivered to Governor