Legislative Process in the Second House and Action by the Governor

Following the passage of a measure in the Nevada legislature house of origin, it is transmitted to the second house. If the second house passes a bill in identical form as passed in the first house, it is sent to the Nevada governor. Resolutions that are passed without change are sent to the secretary of state.

If the second house amends a measure it has received, the bill is returned so the house of origin can consider the amendments. If the house of origin accepts all of the second house amendments, the bill is sent to the governor. If the amendments are rejected, the bill is returned to the second house for a decision whether or not to withdraw the proposed changes. Most often, the second house will not recede and the bill is assigned to a conference committee that is composed of members of both houses (usually three members from each house). The conference committee attempts to reconcile the differences and presents its recommendation in the form of a conference report. If both houses accept the report, the bill, which often is amended further, goes to the governor. If either house rejects the conference report, a second (and final) conference committee is appointed to try to work out the differences. The bill dies if the members of the second conference committee fail to agree.

The governor must act on a bill within five days—Sundays and day of receipt excepted—after receiving the measure from the legislature, if it still is in session. If the session has already ended, the governor has ten days to act. The governor may sign the bill into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without signature. This last option is rarely used. Nevada's governor does not have a "pocket veto," in which the U.S. president and some governors can prevent a law from being enacted by not signing the measure. In Nevada, the governor may choose to express some displeasure with a bill by not signing it, but without an official veto it will become law. A vetoed bill is returned to the house of origin for a vote. A two-thirds majority vote of both houses is required to override the governor's veto and allow the bill to become law.

A bill vetoed by the governor after the end of a legislative session is returned to the next regular session. Bills become effective as law on October 1 following the end of the session unless otherwise specified in the measure.

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