Glossary of Terms

Vetoed: The formal action of the Governor disapproving a measure by returning it to the House of origin. The Governor’s veto may be overridden by two-thirds vote of each House. The Governor can also exercise a line-item veto, where the amount of an appropriation is reduced or eliminated, while the rest of the bill is approved. A line-item veto may also be overridden by two-thirds vote in each House.
Signed: A measure has received the Governor’s signature and is set to become law.
Active: A measure that is actively moving through the legislative process.
Inactive: An inactive measure is a dormant measure. Inactive measures may be placed in the Inactive File, a section of the Daily File where bills prepared for Floor consideration are temporarily set aside and remain dormant for various reasons. This procedural step allows the author to delay action on the bill with the option to revisit it later. To restore a bill from the Inactive File to the daily agenda, a one-day public notice is required.
Amended: An alteration made in a bill, motion, resolution or clause, by adding, changing, substituting or omitting language. Amendments must be submitted to Legislative Counsel for drafting.
Failed: A measure that has failed to make it through the legislative process.
Introduced: The transmittal of a bill from a legislator’s office to the respective chief clerk’s office for acceptance and numbering.
On Assembly Floor: Related to a bill’s location. When a bill is ready for reading or discussion it is considered on the Floor of that chamber.
On Senate Floor: Related to a bill’s location. When a bill is ready for reading or discussion it is considered on the Floor of that chamber.
In Assembly Cmte: The location of a bill that is in the legislative process and is currently in a policy committee of the Assembly.
In Senate Cmte: The location of a bill that is in the legislative process and is currently in a policy committee of the Senate.
Passed Assembly: When a bill has passed through the policy committees and Floor readings of the Assembly.
Passed Senate: When a bill has passed through the policy committees and Floor readings of the Senate.
Passed Committee: When a bill has passed through its necessary committee hearings.
Won: Our sponsored or supported bill was passed and signed into law.
Held: Status of a bill that fails to receive sufficient affirmative votes to pass out of committee.
On Gov’s Desk: When a bill has been approved by the legislature and is awaiting the governor’s signature of approval or veto.
On Ballot: When a bill that requires legislative approval is approved to appear on the upcoming election’s ballot.
Tabled: A motion to temporarily postpone consideration of a matter before a committee or the house, such that the matter may later be brought up for consideration by a motion to “take from the table.”
Dead: A bill is dead when it has failed to receive the necessary affirming votes to continue or has failed to meet a legislative deadline.